Clear Channel jumps into the upfront fray.

This article reports on the first annual Gone From Home presentations of Clear Channel Worldwide to be held on May 12, 2003 in New York. The country's largest radio station operator wants to cut up-front deals across its four Gone From Home divisions: the radio division; the live division, which includes music, theatricals, and motor sports; the outdoor division; and the interactive division. Clear Channel already captures 20 percent of all radio advertising dollars and is now gunning for a share of advertisers' television and print budgets. Executives from six broadcast television networks either declined comment or were not available for comment. The event will take place at the Clear Channel-owned Ford Theater in Times Square, and Lori Wellinghoff, senior vice-president of Clear Channel Advantage, is expecting around 1,600 attendees. She also said that network up fronts tend to be packed with a lot of buyers and planners. Radio personality Rick Dees will emcee. Appearances will also be made by the cast of The Producers and Rush Limbaugh, among others. What could work in Clear Channel's favor is the projection of a torrid $9 billion television up front and currently tight television marketplace.