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Commissioners accept iHeartMedia’s donated public-service campaign to promote county services
Summary
The board approved a plan to accept donated public service announcements from iHeartMedia and directed the county administrator to work with the company on message topics and scheduling. The donation covers production and airtime on iHeart’s local stations and was accepted 7–0.
Hillsborough County commissioners on April 2 accepted an offer from iHeartMedia to donate a public service campaign promoting Hillsborough County services across the company’s local radio cluster.
Commissioner Hagan explained the donation grew from a relationship with iHeart and said the company would produce and air timely messages at no charge, and that the county could change messages as needed. Commissioner Hagan suggested examples including hurricane preparedness, human-trafficking awareness, mosquito fish giveaways, water conservation, county fair promotion and other public-service topics.
Jeff Liss of iHeartMedia told the board the donation is part of iHeart’s effort to serve listeners; he cited Nielsen data showing iHeart’s nine local stations reach about 1.8 million listeners and that more than 60% of listening comes from Hillsborough County. The board referred the matter to the county administrator to work with iHeart on a plan for topics and scheduling, and it recorded a unanimous vote to accept the donation and proceed.
Sample spots provided during the presentation promoted county parks and the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center and directed listeners to hcfl.gov for more information. Commissioners said the donated campaign would allow the county to reach a broad local audience with public-service messages at no county media cost.
The board’s action directs county staff to coordinate message topics and timing with iHeartMedia and authorizes ongoing changes to the campaign as county needs dictate. The motion carried 7–0.
