Posted on 11/21/2001 6:36:40 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
DRUDGE
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN NOV 18 2001 19:00:25 ET XXXXX
O'REILLY PLOTS LIMBAUGH SLOTS; FOXNEWS STAR TO LAUNCH RADIO SHOW
**Exclusive**
The man with the Number One TV show on Cable and the Number One book in the nation is now determined -- to become a top radio voice!
FOXNEWS's Bill O'Reilly has been actively pitching a 2-hour daily radiocast -- to air directly opposite RadioKing Rush Limbaugh, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
The timing of O'Reilly's radio career -- and his decision to take on Limbaugh directly -- is bound to raise eyebrows.
It is not clear if O'Reilly views the Limbaugh franchise as weakened and vulnerable since Limbaugh announced earlier this season that he has lost his hearing, or if the timing of the O'Reilly move is simply a natural progression of his media success.
[O'Reilly's TV program has easily topped CNN's LARRY KING LIVE night after night, in recent weeks, defying all conventional wisdom.]
The show, to air Noon to 2 pm Eastern Time, has been considered by ABC and CBS's syndication arm WESTWOOD, and others, according to industry sources, with a deal said to be imminent.
Limbaugh's ratings have remained high throughout his medical ordeal. The Phase One Trend of ARBITRON's Fall Book show Limbaugh, heard on more than 600 stations, miles ahead of the pack in top cities.
O'Reilly critics see the jump to now challenge Limbaugh as a low blow, ripe for backfire.
"The timing is God-awful," said one executive. "Limbaugh's listeners are loyal, they will see this as Bill O'Reilly ganging up on their man -- while he is handicapped!"
One radio programmer who has been pitched the O'Reilly program defended the move.
"This is the free market at work! I think O'Reilly will bring a new fresh perspective to talkradio," said the network source.
Impacting...
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON NOV 19 2001 14:38:12 ET XXXXX
RUSH WELCOMES O'REILLY TO RADIO RACE
RadioKing Rush Limbaugh on Monday welcomed FOX NEWS CHANNEL's Bill O'Reilly to the business after it was revealed how O'Reilly has been quietly plotting to directly challenge Limbaugh with a daily radio show.
"There are other people O'Reilly will have to overcome to get to me," said Limbaugh. "It is a capitalistic society, competition is good for everyone... I'm excited about it."
Limbaugh, who is heard on more than 600 stations, teased: "If we can help him get any stations -- he should call us!"
O'Reilly's pitch, to air Noon to 2 pm Eastern Time, has been considered by ABC and CBS's syndication arm WESTWOOD, and others, with a deal said to be imminent.
Rush
As I've said before, I welcome everybody into this medium of radio that I love and excel at so much.
That welcome is especially heartfelt if it represents a chance to further balance that out-of-balance factor that exists in the media today. I don't know what Bill O'Reilly's politics are from day to day, as I'm not familiar enough to know what guides him, but like a lot of television people, he clearly wants the freedom and enjoyment of doing a show without the dozens of producers and executive producers nattering away at him that you must have to produce a television program.
So there's really no story here as much as people would like there to be. I mean, there are 600 radio stations that I'm on, yet people treat this as if I own the noon-to-three Eastern Time block - well, I do, but I had to earn it. The point is, I'm directly opposed to other people. There are a lot of people that Mr. O'Reilly or anybody else is going to have to overcome before he even gets to me. So I welcome him aboard. It's a capitalist society, and competition improves everybody, and I'm excited about it. If we can help him get some stations, he should call us.
O'Reilly
"I don't consider Matt Drudge a journalist..." "I have to say, I've never, ever been as angry." "Vicious, vicious assault by Matt Drudge"...
"I don't know how Mr. Limbaugh's taking it. I don't know him. I mean, we've never spoken, we're not friends or anything. But I've told my people to stop all radio talk. We're going to pull back until I can talk to Rush Limbaugh myself. Cause look, I don't want to bring this guy any pain. Everybody sympathizes with any American who would have this kind of thing happen in the prime of your life, you lose your hearing. And if this is causing Rush Limbaugh any angst at all, I'd rather not do any kind of radio."
What a smarmy creep this O'Reilly is.
O' Reilly has a schtick that's hot right now, but he's not a the brightest fellow in the world. And look at his competition -- Larry King?
O'Reilly is a Carnival barker. He loves Drudge for this.
bump it up!
Rush has never asked for nor desires any sympathy.
The only feud I see is between O'Reilly and Drudge.
"I don't know how Mr. Limbaugh's taking it. I don't know him. I mean, we've never spoken, we're not friends or anything. But I've told my people to stop all radio talk. We're going to pull back until I can talk to Rush Limbaugh myself. Cause look, I don't want to bring this guy any pain. Everybody sympathizes with any American who would have this kind of thing happen in the prime of your life, you lose your hearing. And if this is causing Rush Limbaugh any angst at all, I'd rather not do any kind of radio."
Note the bolded sentences. This admission by O'Rotten just verifies what Drudge reported. O'Rotten WAS plotting a competing radio show. Now he's mad because he's been "outed". Ha Ha Ha! Good on Drudge!!!
(PS: I think Drudge greatly admires and likes Rush. Rush often uses material and articles from the DrudgeReport.)
My first reaction when I heard Rush say this was O'REILLY doesn't know what his politics are from day to day, either. As to what guides O'Reilly - that's easy - the sound of his own voice, and selling his latest book.
I think he'd make a great talk show host, if he would let his callers talk, but he is no threat to Rush, deaf or not. Bill is not a conservative, nor a Republican. He is a strange mix of liberalism and O'Reillyism. He is principled, does his homework, but not centered in any belief other than his catholicism.
He has fought and worked his way to the top and I give him credit where credit is due. Sometimes I love his show othertimes I have to tune out or break the TV. He is over simplistic and was most effected in his life by the class discrimination he encountered in his early life, especially as a student at Harvard. He discovered that he was simply not "Their kind of People". That, in and of itself, is a reccommendation, not an insult. Nevertheless, that is the filter through which O'Reilly views the world.
I am a Rush fan and although I sometimes disagree with him, he is usually right in his take on things. I am more than impressed with his handling of suddenly finding himself deaf, continuing, missing barely a beat, to broadcast his show.
Mr. O'reilly has every right to persue his radio show if he wants. I don't think Rush is intimidated at all. Bill should however, watch out he doesn't topple over.
Don't be. Be impressed at the simple fact that there are people who get what they want done. Period.
O'Reilly is full of himself and he seems to believe the press he gets. Fatal for success.
I still watch his program much of the time, but I am more prone to change chanels now, once I realized how off-base he can be.
That was my reaction also.
At a deeper level for broadcasting and show-biz, O'Reilly is nothing compared to Limbaugh. Without Limbaugh there's be no O'Reilly, probably not Fox News.
And, Larry King, idiotic as he is, was also a major influence on the whole medium.
O'Reilly will never come close to either of them.
But neither will most.
You've got him in your radar
This is the guy that favors Gun Control, and actually believes that Global Warming is real. - With a head full of feathers like that, how could he compete with Rush?
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