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, according to industry sources.
HALLELUJAH!!
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 the media that Clear Channel was unlikely to reduce the cost for distribution rights to a level that would satisfy Cumulus.
Cumulus declined to comment. "Cumulus is not in a position to comment about negotiations with talent under contract, no matter what the rumor of the day might be," according to a spokesperson.
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, 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, and Hannity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Back in May, a source close to Limbaugh said 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.
According to recent surveys the number of those who support the disturbing, propagandist hate mongering which has been a hallmark of both programs is dwindling. When listenership dwindles, advertisers pull out, and when advertisers pull out it becomes no longer feasible to keep a radio show on the air.
I am almost tempted to believe that the departure of both Limbaugh and Hannity is the direct result of a newly enlightened public. But let's not be fooled. There is still a segment of the population who's sentiments were echo's whenever either of the two were on the air. But now that Limbaugh and Hannity will no longer be allowed to poison the airwaves with their rhetoric, these people will become the silent minority. Relics of a bygone era who were manipulated into going against their own best interests.
PR
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