As to why programmers put Hannity on: if you've got the one-two combo of Rush-Hannity, you've probably got a chance to have someone punch up your station and leave it there. Now, I will add that when Hannity doesn't have the Rush lead-in, I'd wager his performance is not the same.
Now, I am no conservative, and I rarely agree with what Rush says, but I will not deny that he is fun to listen to because he is having fun - no matter what. Hannity, however, takes himself way to seriously - and it's not the same, because he's filling that everyman, I-shop-at-Wal-Mart-too role (even if he's talking about buying really expensive hybrid GM SUVs). Which is a shame, because I've been told that when Hannity was Rush's number one fill-in, he was a different host.
Now, if Hannity were to leave, you can bet Premiere would be chomping at the bit to slot him in after Rush. (Forget putting him on that godawful Fox News Talk service - you're gonna put him on the number one brand). Then, they would practically own the dayparts that matter in talk - from Beck to Rush to Hannity - for SIX days a week (remember, all three have weekend best-ofs now). Then, whenever el Rushbo decides to hang 'em up and smoke cigars full-time (that line shamefully stolen from somewhere else), you move Hannity into the mid-day slot (which I think would happen no matter who is syndicating the show) and don't miss too much of a beat.
If Hannity were to leave ABC and not end up at Premiere, there's no way someone would be dumb enough to put him up against Rush. The only affiliates that would clear him live would be the ones who don't have Rush - and those are usually the number two or three talk stations in a market. Most of the current affiliates would probably air him tape delay - MAYBE, considering all the risks you run with a delayed show sounding out of date, especially on busy news days. (Oy vey, like the time my station ran Beck after Rush...)
In the end, Hannity's smart - and he's a broadcaster. Money's one thing, but ownership of the show and stability of your owner is another. He sees that Citadel ain't ABC, and it never will be. He's made enough now to build the home studio like Rush and have his own golden (or silver) microphone, and know he could write his own ticket to just about any syndicator he wants - or start his own, lease the sat time, and let someone else handle the sales (which Premiere could also do on both counts).
But would Scott Shannon still be able to voice the liners for the show? THAT'S the $64,000 question!
