Hannity Fires Cumulus, Liberal Media Wrong Again

NewsBusters.org ^ | August 16, 2013 | Noel Sheppard

[Kaslin]

For weeks the liberal media have been almost orgasmic over rumors that the Cumulus radio network was dumping conservative talk show host Sean Hannity.

On Friday, Inside Music Media's Jerry Del Colliano reported that it's actually Hannity that's dumping Cumulus (subscription required):

Sean Hannity, the popular conservative radio and TV talk show host, turns down a recent Cumulus offer to renew his contract to continue aitring [sic] his show on 40 of their stations.

And now Lew "Trickey" Dickey has apparently seized the low road again.

He allowed Michael "I hope you get AIDS and die, you pig" Savage to go on Cumulus stations and predict that he - the 71-year-old talker - will replace Hannity in afternoon drive. [...]

Sources close to the situation who wish to remain anonymous in my witness protection program say it's the other way around.

I have known for weeks that the opposite is true.

According to Del Colliano, Cumulus has been trying as recently as the past few weeks to get a new contract with Hannity but Hannity said no.

He's done with Cumulus.

Sources close to Hannity told Del Colliano that he feels Cumulus treats its employees “like dirt…sub-human.”

As such, Hannity and his syndicator Premiere (owned by Clear Channel) asked Cumulus for a release to negotiate a new deal elsewhere, but Cumulus has still not responded.

Hannity can't renew his Clear Channel deal until late October. According to Del Colliano, “Cumulus knows that renewal will be completed in a New York minute.”

Just how wrong were liberal media members on this?

According to Del Colliano, Clear Channel is “100% behind Hannity and will replace 80% of the Cumulus stations as soon as the current deal is up.”

This will allow Hannity to stay on 500-plus stations carried through Premiere.

For the record, sources close to Hannity told me Friday that Del Colliano's gotten it 100 percent correct. Another prominent, independent source also confirmed this moments ago.

According to Del Colliano, Clear Channel is “100% behind Hannity and will replace 80% of the Cumulus stations as soon as the current deal is up.”

This will allow Hannity to stay on 500-plus stations carried through Premiere.

For the record, sources close to Hannity told me Friday that Del Colliano's gotten it 100 percent correct. Another prominent, independent source also confirmed this moments ago.

This also squares nicely with what Alan Colmes predicted back in July.

Yet this likely won't stop liberal media members from dancing in the streets once again prematurely celebrating the death of conservative talk radio and one of its most successful leaders.

The perilously liberal Huffington Post is already at it with an article published a few hours ago titled "Sean Hannity Reportedly Set To Be Dropped From Cumulus Network."

Nothing can be further from the truth, but the truth rarely has much to do with what passes for journalism these days.

Something else to consider is that Cumulus knows that Hannity wants out - they've likely known it for a while! - and are using the liberal media to bash him as he exits.

As usual, they're more than happy to play the role of willing accomplices.

[Paladin2]

Weiner hasn't had much interesting to say of late.

I'm not sure why he's so combative, but of late, if I were G.B., I wouldn't let him in.

[rdb3]

This also squares nicely with what Alan Colmes predicted back in July.

Yeah, but I don't like Skeletor.

[matt04]

The “intellectual” libs at HuffPo are thrilled and firmly believe Hannity was dumped. They are advocating to get all non-liberal talk off the air.

[Kaslin]

Sorry but

[Kaslin]

I mute him every time he opens his mouth

[SkyDancer]

Oh yeah. And Savage will be a great replacement. /sarc

[InterceptPoint]

It will be interesting to see if Hannity takes over the 12-3 spot on Clear Channel’s KFI in Los Angeles. That would be quite the prize since he would follow Limbaugh who is on KFI from 9-12. Local times of course.

[pluvmantelo]

I think the poster is referring to the fact that Savage is persona non grata in the United Kingdom.

[Cyber Liberty]

Took me a moment, too. Then I remembered what Savage’s real name is, and it all fell into place.

[Catsrus]

I have to laugh at the gullibility of some of the posters on here who believed the earlier reports about Cumulus dropping Sean. They, like the libs, were dancing for joy. This makes me concerned for the so-called conservatives on this forum.

[raybbr]

I have to laugh at the gullibility of some of the posters on here who believed the earlier reports about Cumulus dropping Sean. They, like the libs, were dancing for joy. This makes me concerned for the so-called conservatives on this forum.

Do you actually listen to Hannity? God, he's boring. I stopped listening years ago when I realized I would listen to him for an hour or so and never learn anything.

[the jogger]

So Savage was half-right, changes are a coming for him but Hannity’s far from done in talk radio.

[Catsrus]

I don’t listen to him every day, but I do like him for the most part. My main problem is that he has 2 opposites on to debate and that I don’t like. All they do is talk over each other and if I wanted to hear a liberal point of view - I can get that from any main media outlet. I don’t listen to talk radio to learn something - because of the time slot Sean is in - Rush gets the early headlines for the day.

People seem to get bored very easily - and always looking for the next thrill - until that thrill is gone - then its on to the next.

So, to answer your question - yes, I do listen to him, just not every day. I don’t listen to any of them every day - except for Mark Levin.

[Gene Eric]

Hannity must grow. He must stop arbitrarily interrupting his guests, raise his expectations regarding his knowledge set, and resist the temptation to discuss childish content.

Hannity is boring. He’s intelligent but intellectually lazy.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Sean is conservatism 101, plus he draws the ladies, so he has his place.

He also gives Levin a TV pulpit, which is magnanimous, and no small thing.

In fact, he’s giving Levin an entire hour tonight at 9.

[Gene Eric]

Savage’s cawfee tawk schtick is unbearable.

[Gene Eric]

>> In fact, he’s giving Levin an entire hour tonight at 9.

No way?!

[raybbr]

Okay, but do you ever learn anything from listening to Hannity?

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Yes. Talking about “The Liberty Amendments.” Town hall forum with leading conservatives. This is very big.

Book is #1 on Amazon. Karl Rove is not amused.