BAUERLE SLAMS RUSH

[GeorgeKramer]

Great rant by Tommy B today about how Rush doesn't get it when it comes to a realistic approach and view of the nation's political landscape.

If you heard it then you know what I am talking about. Tom mocked Rush and referenced Rush's frequent discussions about the flavor and temperature of the tea he sips while he does his show.

Tom ended his diatribe by saying "I just did what program directors all across the country who carry Rush's show WISH they could say."

Touche Tommy! Wenger and Reid may spank you for that, but it needed to be said!

 

[GeorgeKramer]

Tom is still taking some cheap shots at Rush as his shows closes today.

He's fired up and I'm sure there are certain Rush diehard fans who will be calling WBEN to complain that Tom is mocking and ridiculing their hero.

Not that Rush cares, but if other hosts whose shows lead into his show act like this, it could become an issue.

Again, I applaud Tom for speaking his mind. Management may not like it (or maybe they do and approved if Tom suggested prior to his show he may criticize Rush?) but it's something that was VERY interesting to hear from a veteran broadcaster who once used to praise Rush and probably has sent Rush love notes via e-mail for his "broadcast excellence."

Even closing the show today, Tom poked at the bush again, mocking Rush and his tea-drinking. LOL!!!

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Rush is a nut job. Like we don't already know this?

Talking but Rush = Promo Good, bad it makes no difference.

What's the rub Bub?

 

[jas2525]

Great rant by Tommy B today about how Rush doesn't get it when it comes to a realistic approach and view of the nation's political landscape.

For those of us who weren't listening (because of what we THOUGHT we would be hearing), please give the gist of his criticism of Rush.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Gee, it makes you wonder if Entercom might be coming up on the end of Rush's contract, and may be considering not handing him a king's ransom to continue on WBEN. Realistically, if 'BEN dumps him, where else could he go in Buffalo? Cumulus sure ain't gonna pick up THAT tab, and there's no room for him in the Rand building.

Then again, it could just be little Tommy being little Tommy, who's unhappy when it's not all about HIM.

 

[jas2525]

Gee, it makes you wonder if Entercom might be coming up on the end of Rush's contract, and may be considering not handing him a king's ransom to continue on WBEN. Realistically, if 'BEN dumps him, where else could he go in Buffalo? Cumulus sure ain't gonna pick up THAT tab, and there's no room for him in the Rand building.

Then again, it could just be little Tommy being little Tommy, who's unhappy when it's not all about HIM.

Any idea what they pay for Rush?

Truth be told, given that WBEN really has no challenger, they could dump Rush altogether wihtout fear. I heard his numbers are far from the best on the schedule anyway. They really don't need to pander to the lunatic fringe.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Rush is just a lunatic. Glen Beck is the fringe.

 

[Bob1370]

They might be best off reviving Newsday as a half-hour news block at noon, and then bringing in local talent for the remainder of the noon-3 daypart leading into Sandy. Rush likes to talk about how he charges his stations "confiscatory" rates to carry him. Let's take him at his word for the sake of argument. If "confiscatory" is a good description of what he's charging Entercom, WBEN's cost would be way less to hire a local host even with the complete package of full-timers' benefits; numbers probably at least as good 12+ (and potentially younger-skewing); and net profit from the daypart far higher. If the Rush contract is running out, dumping him is as close to a no-brainer programming move as you can get.

 

[John C]

Rush is just a lunatic. Glen Beck is the fringe.

What about Michael Savage? I don't listen to any of them much but my impression is that Savage is the farthest to the right?

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

Didn't hear it. It would be helpful if GK provided more details or paraphrased the specific language. But simply because Bauerle rips Rush, it doesn't mean Entercom is going to walk away from America's best known national right wing talk show host. Yes, Entercom essentially controls the AM band in Buffalo and there's always the possibility the local brain trust has had its fill of paying "confiscatory fees." And really, is WECK, WLVL, WJJL, WUFO, WHLD or WSPQ going to sign Rush? Hah! WBFO will play All Christmas before that happens. Cumulus has a game plan, the Edge has no need. Town Square has four music FMs that are kickin' assets and taking names.

It could be there's something to the conspiracy theory about El Rushbo's end times, and this being a radio board, there's no shortage of opinions. Could it be that Entercom, especially with the move to FM, believes Rush is a detriment to attractring younger listeners rather than an asset? Rush isn't where Paul Harvey was before Harvey went to the border blaster in the great beyond, but if Rush meets an untimely, premature demise or decides to walk away, what are all his affiliates left with, besides a big, gaping three hour hole in their daytime lineup? THAT would be a problem.

So Bauerle's rant could be nothing but Tom being Tom, or it could be the first or many gradual steps of phasing out Rush, who by the way, had very respectable ratings Men 25-54, although it's been a while since I've had access to ratings. If nothing else, Tom has this board speculating, which means twelve people are paying attention. Kinda like having all the incoming lights flashing on the studio talk/request/contest line... it just means five people want to express an opinion, request a song, or hope they're caller #9 to win that all expenses paid weekend getaway at the Sweaty Palms Motor Inn next to the Pig Palace in Sloan.

One more thing. Don't expect WBEN to return to Newsday at Noon. It's 2011, not 1983. WBFO-FM and WNED-AM are hammering away with good alternative talk radio supplemented with local and national news. Half a dozen cable networks are churning a 24-7 news grinder and at least two local TV stations still have a local noon news block.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Heh. Considering that the majority of posters on this board are probably in 'BEN's prime demo, isn't it interesting that only ONE person heard that particular rant? And we're radio guys.

 

[Bob1370]

"One more thing. Don't expect WBEN to return to Newsday at Noon. It's 2011, not 1983."

Don't underestimate the appeal of a noontime long form news block. It's sure to draw a lot of workplace and in-car listening that the TV noon newscasts won't get, and if it's 30 minutes in length it'll have time for more local stories than any newscast on 'BFO or "NED will fit in--not to mention a lot of revenue potential to go along with the listenership. Call me nostalgic for harking back to a program that was part of my daily work life for three years (from the show's premiere in 1978 to 1981)--but we knew we had a show that was filling a need, even at a time when the old WEBR was wall to wall news from before sunrise until sunset. Don't think the need, or the audience, has gone away....and it could still make some serious local ad $$$.

 

[Paul_Warren]

For a minute there, I thought Rush had left the studio messy.

I think Rush has a contract that pays him about $33 million a year through 2016. (Next presidential election cycle.) If he can no longer support whatever fee is being charged affiliates, and especially if his audience numbers decline, that becomes an interesting cash squeeze for Premier Networks.

Rush started out on mostly AM stations that had little to lose by taking the gamble. He could follow a similar arc back down. What if he became available in a market like Buffalo, and the going rate got down within the reach of stations such as WECK? Entercom would have to make room for him somewhere in its Buffalo cluster to prevent that from happening, because Rush's ability to pull an audience won't go out like a light switch, and right now he'd probably be worth a 4-share or more in middays even on a marginal signal.

 

[fybush]

Maybe, maybe not. CC/Premiere was hoping that moving Rush in-house in Boston (after many years on WRKO 680) would provide enough of a ratings boost around which to build a new talker on what amounted to a new AM signal to most listeners in the market. But even with Rush as its centerpiece, "Rush Radio 1200" has been a ratings disaster. The audience didn't follow Rush over to the new station, even in the parts of the market where its signal is viable, and 1200 (which dumped the "Rush Radio" branding pretty quickly) has struggled to get even to a 1 share.

 

[jas2525]

I think Rush has a contract that pays him about $33 million a year through 2016.

His contracts have been fairly well publicized. I was just curious if anyone knows what WBEN is likely paying for him.

What if he became available in a market like Buffalo, and the going rate got down within the reach of stations such as WECK? Entercom would have to make room for him somewhere in its Buffalo cluster to prevent that from happening, because Rush's ability to pull an audience won't go out like a light switch, and right now he'd probably be worth a 4-share or more in middays even on a marginal signal.

From what I gather, WECK wouldn't even be able to pay that money for what might be a reasonable gamble. But to what end anyway? They would only pick up Rush as a centerpiece to a talk format---which they've already tried and failed at.

Fact is, given market dynamics, WBEN has nothing to worry about in the event they drop what is not even the biggest ratings-getter on the station.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

sooo he rippppppped / slammed Rush
(the talk show guy, not the band right)
-
who doesnt gossip about others; rush still gets paid,
and rush most likely wont ever find out and
if he does, dont think he would care - -
lol
this would be different and more serious :

The GM, or higher up takes the airwaves with
an announcement on homeland security or
the future of the station (etc)
and he plays the sound clips/bytes and
ripppps his own boss . . . that never flies,
(reference: charlie sheen)

he slammed rush a little, good 4 him! lol