As it looks forward to the shareholder vote on the tumultuous $19.5 billion, $39.20 a share takeover offer from Bain Capital Partners LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, Clear Channel Communications Inc. (NYSE: CCU) reported strong second-quarter earnings from its roadside billboard business. Overall revenue rose to $1.8 billion, up 5% from 2006, and net income climbed from $48 million to $68.6 million. Diluted EPS before discontinued operations was $.42, up from $.34 from 2006 but below the $.44 projected by analysts surveyed by Thompson.

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE: CCO), of which CCU owns 90%, continued to drive the corporate earnings with net income up 45% to $68 million and EPS of $.19 vs $.14. The radio segment, which CCO is in the process of selling off, was up only 1%.

The company's stock has followed the general market trend in the past few days, off $1.35 from its $38.20 month high, but on the rebound today.

On tonight's MAD MONEY show on CNBC Jim Cramer was comparing new, and old, media stocks. While his first pick was Daktronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:DAKT), with its focus on digital advertising, his second pick was decidedly old media. Cramer mentioned that the companies buying the billboards are a good "play." In that market, Cramer thinks Lamar Advertising Company (NASDAQ:LAMR) is a winner. Could it be? Yep, the "A" word... he thinks it could even be an acquisition target. There is a new rating system for outdoor advertising, and the company doesn't even have 1% of its billboards as digital.

LAMR is up almost 2% in after-hours trading at $64.43. It closed up 0.5% at $63.30 in regular trading and has a $44.99 to $63.36 trading range over the last 52-weeks. So it is at a new high and the only time it was ever this high was back at the 1999-2000 turn when the ad economy was on fire. It has a $6.4 billion market cap and he thinks a management buyout or private equity offer could provide a floor for the stock.

He thinks this is more acquirable than Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCO).

[Photo CodyR]