Clear Channel on the block?

That's what the Financial Times is hearing. The newspaper says that the nation's largest radio station chain, with a huge L.A. presence, has held "serious talks" about taking the company private with several buyout groups, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Apparently, it's all very preliminary, but the founding Mays family is at least considering a buyout. Earlier in the day, CNBC said pretty much the same thing. The company has shown a recent willingness to shake things up - most especially by spinning off L.A.-based Live Nation, the big concert booker, into a separate public company. It's also sold shares of its outdoor advertising unit, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. Among Clear Channel's L.A. stations: KBIG, KOST, KIIS, KHHT and KYSR. As you can imagine, the stock was up today on the speculation.