Posted on 04/15/2008 8:48:56 AM PDT by raccoonradio
This morning's Taylor on Radio-Info (in a lead story titled "countdown for Hannity?") says Hannity's contract with ABC gives him the right to leave beginning one year after a sale of the company. The afternoon talkshow host is claiming that Citadel's deal with Disney for 22 ABC Radio stations and the ABC Radio Networks constitutes just such an event, and that he's interested in other deals. The anniversary date would be mid-June, and T-R-I says other "interested parties" may include "Hannity & Colmes" syndicator Fox, Clear Channel-owned Premiere, Jimmy deCastro's Content Factory - and Tribune, the new home of Hannity's old friend from CC/Premiere, Sean Compton.
Citadel is insisting that last June's transaction was a merger, not a sale, and thus doesn't trip the change of control provision in Hannity's contract. The result may be a new contract - with one of Citadel's rivals, or a re-worked contract with Citadel, to keep Hannity happy
Sean Hannity may be poised to bolt, in 57 days. Just about the last thing Citadel wants is to lose Sean Hannity out of the ABC Radio Networks lineup. He’s not only a monster biller, he’s the kind of 800-pound gorilla that helps your affiliate people get other programming on the air. T-R-I has talked before about the one-year change provision in Hannity’s contract, and here’s the Cliff Notes version of what I think the situation is: Sean has the freedom to leave, starting one year after a sale/change of control. Citadel’s going to argue that last Summer’s mid-June deal with Disney for the 22 radio stations and the network wasn’t a change of control, but a “merger.” Where might Hannity stray to? One interested party should be Fox (for whom he does his “Hannity & Colmes”). Another is Clear Channel/Premiere. Also Jimmy de Castro at the Content Factory in Chicago (who promised to make Dan Patrick his own brand). But how about Tribune? Sean Compton just left Premiere to go work with Randy Michaels at Tribune. You might think it’s ironic that Hannity’s deadline comes just weeks after Compton exited Clear Channel/ Premiere - when Compton had helped put the Hannity show on numerous CC stations. But I have the sneaking sensation that Compton might bring his interest with him to Tribune. As for CC/Premiere: Sean would probably love to drop into the noon-3pm slot should Rush Limbaugh ever decide to go smoke cigars fulltime. So Citadel’s got an interesting 57 days ahead of it...
(When I tried to post this on Hannity board I got tossed for "rumor mongering" and "contempt of host". What if the rumor wind up coming true? Citadel-ABC probably runs his site/board, so I can see why they'd want to squash this news.)
>>As for CC/Premiere: Sean would probably love to drop into the noon-3pm slot should Rush Limbaugh ever decide to go smoke cigars fulltime.
Three hours a day, that’s all we ask...at an earlier time,
if el Rushbo decides to retire? Hmm!
You’re a great American! Let not your heart be troubled. Coming up, Newt Gingrich, Dick Morris and Joe Lieberman.
yadda yadda yadda
Sean gives liberals too much time for my taste. I think Jason Lewis is Rush’s someday heir.
This would be great if he wasn’t on for 3 hours right when I drive home from work. Then I would have another listening choice.
More via http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com
by Brian Maloney
Apparently unhappy with the recently- merged company’s political and business direction, talk radio syndication biggie Sean Hannity is exiting Citadel - ABC Radio (NYSE:CDL) for a yet- to- be- disclosed rival. The move could dramatically reshape programming lineups on a number of major stations.
According to a highly- placed source inside the company, Hannity is unhappy with Citadel - ABC for two reasons: its dismal financial performance and the liberal ideological leanings of CEO Farid Suleman and COO Judy Ellis, which are said to have interfered with good relations between the parties.
Rumors of the move were first reported yesterday by the New York Radio Message Board and independently confirmed with a key insider by your Radio Equalizer late Sunday evening. Rumblings of a Hannity exit from Citadel were first revealed in late 2006 by yours truly, but the situation has apparently deteriorated markedly since then.
For the struggling Citadel - ABC operation, this news couldn’t come at a more inopportune moment: it has recently reported huge losses and shares have fallen by 88% over the past three years.
Syndicated in over 500 markets nationwide, Hannity’s afternoon drive show is said to bring in $35m in annual revenue, which will now be lost as Sean jumps ship. The program is considered to be the second- biggest cash generator in ABC Radio’s network lineup, with his compensation at a reported $5m per annum.
As for ratings, in New York City under the new Portable People Meter system, he pulled an impressive 5.4 12+ share for February. That was just shy of Rush Limbaugh’s blockbuster 5.6. Nationally, Hannity’s audience is second only to Limbaugh’s.
The move comes on the heels of a recent round of massive layoffs at Citadel - ABC, which saw a number of talk hosts canned, while management ranks at some outlets remain bloated.
Beyond Citadel’s sagging stock price, Hannity is said to be concerned with the leftist political bent of its corporate suits, which has created some awkward moments. In particular, COO Ellis has been reluctant to even be seen near the FOX News Channel host.
And since they took the reins of the merged company, Suleman and Ellis have made a number of peculiar decisions, including an emphasis on the 65+ audience rather than younger, more advertiser- friendly demographics. That has included a mega- deal with talk fossil Don Imus.
Also highly questionable were baffling decisions to remove Rush Limbaugh from WPRO-AM in Providence and fire nationally- known conservative morning talker Melanie Morgan from KSFO/ San Francisco.
The impact of Sean’s departure will be significant for all parties involved: Citadel - ABC loses millions, while his show will be pulled from key ABC Radio stations in some major cities. At the same time, it will have to compete against his new program, most likely to be syndicated by Clear Channel’s Premiere Radio Networks, home to Rush Limbaugh.
Will Hannity’s exit hasten the demise of this troubled company? How will buyout king Teddy Forstmann, whose firm owns 30% of CDL, respond to this latest setback? And what will be done to save some of the nation’s biggest news- talkers from collapse?
UPDATE: Could this story change the outcome? We’re hearing reaction has been intense within the radio industry and may have lit a firecracker or two over at Citadel’s HQ. Will this rude awakening lead to a renewed interest in keeping Hannity in the fold? Is it about resources, ideological conflicts, or something else?
Either way, time is of the essence: Hannity is free to exit as of 12 June 2008.
LOL. That pretty much sums up every Hannity show I've ever heard. spot on.
“And — Oh, I wrote a book.”
Well, he’s not the only one. My fave Howie Carr is sure to mention his book signings (come to Holyoke and get Dave
Hunt to sign your copy, too!). Laura Ingraham. And Mr. Savage: “Borders, language, culture, buy my books. Borders, language, culture, buy my books, I’ll be right back.”
(note: was leafing through a copy of Savage Nation at a book
store and saw he mentioned Jean Shepherd as an influence,
only it was mis-spelled “Gene”. Not sure if that was his
error or some editor...)
Personally, I can only take a little of the repetitive nature of his show. The constant barrage of talking points used to make his point with each guest. Ex. Rev Wright “G-d D$%m America, Michelle Obama “I’ve never been proud”...just too much for me. I’ll take Levin and Ingraham over Hannity any day.
is Hannity quitting to run Rudy's Senatorial or Gubernatorial campaign?
His clinging love for Rudy, turned me off to his show permanently.
He was a great replacement last week. I always liked Roger Hedgecock too.
....Or it could end up that if Sean decides to leave and he has been subjected to A LOT of abuse from a certain Rev. Jerimah Wright and one or two other folks, then those hours he holds, 3-6 PM could be offered to TGO ( The Great One ), Mark Levin who has been getting REALLY HOT as of lately.
...And I miss Roger Hedgecock because when he did sub for Rush, he came with an “edge”.
Maybe Jason Lewis is being groomed to be Rush’s heir, but he is still being viewed as still being “new”.
He does 4 hours a day in San Diego. He also has a free podcast: Roger On Demand
Thanks!
I forgot that one.
Also, “Tonight on Hannity and Colmes, Natalie Holloway’s mom!”
No, he may move to another syndicator.
I’m getting worn out by Laura Ingraham, whose show used to be my favorite. (Her show is better when Tammy Bruce is hosting it. Tammy seems brighter and more interesting.) We get tired of the constant Catholic focus when Laura is on. First thing this morning, Pope’s coming, and that’s how she opened the show. Turned to KFI640 for Bill Handel.
I don’t listen for religion; I want a discussion of social and political issues. When I want to hear about religion, I turn on Charles Stanley.
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