• Mediaweek, Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:15 AM

As part of its portable people meter strategy, Clear Channel's five FM stations in Houston have cut the number of commercial breaks hour down from three to two. While the company declines comment, it explained the new approach in an email to the clients and their agencies.

"Effective immediately Clear Channel Houston Radio is moving from three stop sets per hour to two stop sets per hour...in order to increase our PPM numbers even more," it said. "The great thing about PPM is we will see the benefits of this much more quickly than we were able with the old diary method."

In order to get better ratings, the company adds that it is programming longer music sweeps while not adding ad minutes or units to any hour. Company research shows people are listening through the commercial breaks, while it will also reduce promos to a minute an hour.

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