Few people would argue that Clear Channel Communications is a media behemoth. In addition to the dozens of television stations, concert venues and billboards in its portfolio, Clear Channel also owns a staggering 1,200 radio stations, give or take a few.

And despite owning such a large chunk of the (so-called Liberal) media, Clear Channel is very much a company that leans conservative. Founder and chairman Lowrey Mays is a friend of George Bush and was appointed to a state technology counsel when Bush was Governor of Texas. In the past, Clear Channel has solicited its employees to contribute to its right-leaning political action fund. Since January 1998, it has given about 2/3 of its political donations (over $1 million worth to to the Republican party. It has used its radio stations as a “bullhorn” to promote the war in Iraq. Consequently, it has refused to allow anti-war ads on its billboards, but has no problem with using those same billboards for its own issue advocacy:

(Small Print: from Billboard #1: “”Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. A political public service message brought to you by Clear Channel.” / from Billboard #2: “A reminder from Clear Channel Outdoor”)

So should it come as any surprise when Clear Channel decides to team up with Team Fair & Balanced, otherwise known as Fox News?

Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation’s largest radio station operator, has selected Fox News Radio to provide national news for most of its news and talk stations in deal expected to nearly double Fox’s radio presence.

No terms of the five-year cash deal were disclosed Monday. But Fox, a unit of News Corp., said if all options in the agreement are exercised, its radio service could have more than 500 affiliates by the middle of next year.

The deal helps Fox News compete with more-established radio news providers, including ABC Radio and CBS Radio. Fox News will air on many of Clear Channel’s most prominent news and talk stations, including those in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta and San Diego.

Fox currently provides one-minute newscasts to 275 stations. Starting next year, it will provide more than 100 Clear Channel stations with a 5-minute newscast at the top of each hour, a nightly news broadcast and serve as San Antonio-based Clear Channel’s primary source on breaking national news.

Of course, if FCC Chairman Michael Powell has his way, these numbers could rapidly multiply during the next five years. Score one for that dastardly liberal media. Anyone want to make a bet on which candidates will be given favorable coverage in the next few election cycles?