Posted on 07/29/2013 3:51:53 AM PDT by raccoonradio
In a major shakeup for the radio industry, Cumulus Media, the second-biggest broadcaster in the country, is planning to drop both Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from its stations at the end of the year, an industry source told POLITICO on Sunday.
Cumulus has decided that it will not renew its contracts with either host, the source said, a move that would remove the two most highly rated conservative talk personalities from more than 40 Cumulus channels in major markets.
The decision comes after negotiations between Cumulus and Premiere Networks, the division of Clear Channel that distributes Limbaugh and Hannity's shows, broke down due to disagreements over the cost of the distribution rights, the source said. Cumulus is known to drive a hard bargain on costs, and Clear Channel is known to seek top dollar for big names.
As industry insiders caution, Cumulus and Clear Channel have come to the brink before during contract negotiations only to resume talks. But the source told POLITICO that Clear Channel was unlikely to reduce the cost for distribution rights to a level that would satisfy Cumulus.
Cumulus declined to comment for this story: "Cumulus is not in a position to comment about negotiations with talent under contract, no matter what the rumor of the day might be," a spokesperson told POLITICO.
But in recent weeks, Cumulus has been quietly reaching out to radio talent agents and political insiders about new local and regional station hosts to fill some of the airtime that will be left vacant by Limbaugh and Hannity, industry sources said. Cumulus is also expected to move some of its existing talent -- which includes Mike Huckabee, Mark Levin, and Michael Savage -- into one of the slots.
Premiere, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night, is expected to carry Limbaugh and Hannity on stations in many of the markets where they are currently signed with Cumulus, should the negotiations not go through. A spokesperson for Limbaugh was not immediately available for comment; Hannity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Back in May, a source close to Limbaugh told POLITICO that the host was considering ending his affiliation agreement with Cumulus because CEO Lew Dickey was blaming the company's advertising losses on Limbaugh's controversial remarks about Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown law student. On an earnings call two days later, Dickey reported a $2.4 million first-quarter decline in revenue related to talk programming, which he attributed, indirectly, to Limbaugh's remarks about Fluke.
Dickey is expected to hold another earnings call this week, though it is unclear if he will address the contract negotiations.
in 2008 when Hannity fawned all over Rudy Giuliani, I knew I was through with Hanity.
Rush is another matter. but I do not think there will be a blip between December 31 and January 1. I believe both Rush and Hannity will be picked up by another national radio network and make cumulus lose their shirts...
I would not go that far, but he is BORING for the reasons you have outlined. "i cannot listen to him for more than 5 minutes"
One of my favorite talk show hosts was Neal Boortz. My station carried him for a long time...when he left and Cain took his place the station dropped Cain. They play Geraldo’s show instead. This station has lost alot of listeners for this time so I am hoping the contract will not be renewed. This station is owned by Cummulus.....they will suffer if they lose Limbaugh and Hannity too.
Well then, I simply won’t listen to a Cumulus radio station nor buy from their sponsors.
Cumulus has 570 stations and 5,500 full time employees. Clear Channel has 850 stations and 20,800 employees. Clear Channel has been in the unusual position of having it's most popular products controlled by its largest competitor.
I already have the radio presets reset in all of our cars.
The “title” is misleading. When a star athlete leaves a team for another,and a raise in pay, you don’t write “team A Dropped” the athlete
I can’t listen to Hannity.
If I do, I start talking like Hannity...
I absolutely agree.
Dang, that just what happened here in Fayetteville on AM 640.
I'd be interested in knowing how the audience for Rush, Hannity, etc. splits on listening patterns. Radio isn't tv. TV viewers are couch potatoes. Most radio listeners are doing something, probably driving or working, and using the radio for company. Repetition is important in any message delivery format, but even more so if the audience is mobile, ever-changing, intermittent, focused on some other activity and only listening with one ear.
If you are in the habit of listening to Hannity or Rush for three hours at a stretch, I'd guess you're in a small minority. I'm an outlier in the other direction; I catch a few minutes now and then while driving, but rarely hear more than 10 minutes at a stretch. Hannity around here is late afternoon/early drive time; he's usually still on when I leave the office, but not for long. I rarely catch any of Rush unless I have a mid-day errand to run; otherwise I'm at my desk.
True.
They guys I have learned to most from are pretty much gone from the broadcast scene now, except for Mark Steyn.
The two most educational talk hosts were Barry Farber and G. Gordon Liddy. They would give background and supporting information which went far beyond the current news cycle.
I like Rush and his analyses, but most of his stories I am already aware of, thanks to Free Republic.
Oh goody!!!...I can’t wait to hear that icon of charisma and entertainment, Mike Huckabee, take over for Rush. (snicker)
#11 - well stated. Yeah, I can’t listen to Hannity regurgitate what I knew far in advance of the same light dawning upon him.
I have a confession to make.
I used to listen to Rush faithfully, especially in the 1990s, until the last year. I was a big fan of TV show in the ‘90s also.
Now, after Clinton won a second term in 1996, then we barely got Bush the Younger over the finish lines in 2000 and 2004, the GOP has caved to the Dems since 2007,Obama got elected in 2008, Obamacare passed in 2010,and then Obama got re-elected in 2012, I wonder if Rush has any ability to influence anything at all.
Even now, he comments and comments, but the situation is getting more dire by the day, and there is no leadership on our side, except for the occasional post by Sarah Palin, or speech by Ted Cruz, or Rand Paul.The 2014 mid-terms are the backstop to save America, and if we lose that, it’s all over but the shouting.
I wonder if we are all getting played.
I am tired of losing, of not being effectual, of watching my country go down the tubes.
I have to turn off even Fox now, because I don’t want to waste half my time listening to the other side in a so-called “fair and balanced” setting, because I am sick of the other side, quite frankly.
I just don’t see where Rush or Sean have any skin in the game, but are doing quite well financially stoking the flames on the right and for what? To support the GOP, which is Dem Lite at this point and afraid of their own shadow?
At his age and with his wealth, Rush should lead in some way other than bellowing into the microphone.
Maybe that’s unfair to Ruah, but twenty years of constant agitation over the antics of the Left and watching their progressing success has left me hollow.
I find like minds on FreeRepublic, that’s my only solace.
I call my Congresscritters and do what I can to educate my family and friends, and am probably slated for a boxcar in the future once the phony President consolidates all power.
But what can we do?
I am looking for someone to lead the way.
End of rant.
What you said! This is why I quit watching Hannity, among others, as I really don't give a s##t anymore what the leftists he has on have to say.
I can’t listen to Hannity. His run on questions are no more than a filibuster when he has a leftist on the radio.
I have difficulty listening to Rush anymore because of the repetition. I spend twenty minutes of monologue hearing the same thing repeated twenty different ways, and I’m gone.
I’ve been listening to Beck, but he’s so doom and gloom, and “tune in tonight for the full story” promotion, that I look forward to the days of JUST Pat and Stu.
WPHT in Philly dumped Rush, Beck, and Hannity a couple of years back.
Rush was replaced by the unlistenable Michael Smerconish, who doesn’t seem to be there any more, and Dick Morris, of all people, seems to have replaced him.
Any idea how their ratings fared after they did all this, and how do they compare with WWIQ, where Rush, Beck, and Hannity now reside in the Philly market?
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