Ryan Seacrest Signs $60 Million Radio Deal

Ryan Seacrest's plan for world domination got a little easier yesterday. The American Idol host, E! News anchor and Keeping Up with the Kardashians producer signed a $60 million deal with radio giant Clear Channel Communications to keep his gig as host of "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" for another three years.

“He has emerged as somebody who you believe is searching through everything out there and telling you what is the very best about popular culture at that moment,” Robert W. Pittman, chairman of Clear Channel's media and entertainment platforms, said to the New York Times. “He’s trusted.”

Part of Seacrest's deal involves creating content for traditional radio and syndicated content for the Web. But Seacrest's main interest in re-signing was his connection to listeners. “I really took a big step back and looked at all the moving parts of my business,” he said, “and I kept coming back to the power of Clear Channel’s distribution. I honestly went to bed the last couple of weeks thinking about whether I would be disappointed if I didn’t have that, and would I miss the dialogue I have with listeners every day.”

The agreement states that Seacrest will continue his morning show "On Air with Ryan Seacrest," which is broadcast from 5-10 a.m. in Los Angeles. The syndicated afternoon version of the show will expand from three hours to four, and he will continue to host the American Top 40 countdown. –ISHITA SINGH