Clear Channel buys rival’s Vegas billboard locations

Grace Leong

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 | 11:12 a.m.

Clear Channel Outdoor, a division of Clear Channel Worldwide of San Antonio, Texas, said Monday it acquired 43 billboard locations of Show Media Outdoor Advertising of Las Vegas to grow its market share in the Las Vegas Valley.

The deal, which was closed last week at an undisclosed price, involves the purchase of 43 Show Media billboards in "prime locations near West Sahara and the tourist corridor around I-15 and Swenson Street, Tropicana Ave. and Spring Mountain Road," said Scott Carlovsky, Clear Channel's sales manager.

"This acquisition will give our advertising clients (in industries including) gaming, home building and (legal services) more opportunity to brand their identity in the tourist area and west side of (Las Vegas,)" said Jodi Gutstein, Clear Channel's marketing manager.

"Show Media doesn't have an installation and fabrication plant. It subcontracts (that) work to Jones Media of Las Vegas. Clear Channel, however, has its own installation and fabrication plant in Las Vegas. But we will be retaining Jones Media for some of our contracts," Carlovsky said.

Laurence Hallier, Show Media's president and owner, said the company, headquartered at 4577 S. Industrial, will retain its office and its four employees and plans to continue building billboards and selling advertising on billboard space in Las Vegas.

"We did not have to sign a non-compete agreement as part of the deal," he said. "Our decision to sell the 43 billboard locations was based on our relationship with Clear Channel. We'd sold Taxi Tops of Las Vegas (a taxi top advertising company advertising in 14 cities nationwide) to Clear Channel Worldwide about two years ago for $120 million."

Hallier also owns Sky Media of Las Vegas, which advertises inside airplanes, and Celebrity Cars, an exotic and luxury car dealership in Las Vegas.

In addition to its outdoor billboard division in Las Vegas, Clear Channel Worldwide also owns Las Vegas radio stations KSNE 106.5-FM, KFMS 102-FM, KWNR 95.5-FM and KQOL 93.1-FM.