Limbaugh fees?

[OhioMediaWatch]

The Rush-ABC connection was solely Ed McLaughlin.

Ed used to be an ABC Radio executive, and started the EFM Media operation when he left the network.

Rush's show was indeed distributed on the old ABC Talkradio satellite channel, but only because Ed took over the time left open by ABC Talkradio leaving the midday daypart open. Rush did his show out of WABC/New York, a deal finagled by McLaughlin.

But Rush's show was never a part of the ABC lineup, and he never worked for that company (aside from if WABC paid him separately for the 2 hour local show he did for them the first year or so).

 

[del_griffith]

I knew he was not part of the ABC product, but his show replaced I believe Owen Spann on the bird frequency that carried the ABC product.

I don't know the exact change of all affiliates. I think that had more to do with the big sticks making a switch and making time available rather than McLaughlin's sale to Premeire. Matter of fact, I don't remember the date that happened.

 

[gr8oldies]

IIRC, the show was sold to Randy Michaels before there was a Premiere. Rush was actually not paid a salary from WABC; his compensation was the use of the facilities for the national show. Plus, to get out of the KFBK contract Rush had to have an offer in a top 10 market. There's a book that came out about 1992; think the author was paul Colford, that detailed what happened.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I knew he was not part of the ABC product, but his show replaced I believe Owen Spann on the bird frequency that carried the ABC product.

Ah, thanks...I'd forgotten the last ABC host in that slot. I think Rush basically inherited many of Owen Spann's stations just by being on the satellite channel after Owen's national show ended. He started his empire with something like 60 affiliates on day one. (Owen Spann, IIRC, was a local host at ABC's KGO.)

Yeah, Ed M. got a lot out of his old home...the use of the WABC studios, the use of abandoned satellite time, and a pretty good foundation to start what became a monster show. Of course, no one imagined it'd grow into its present form.

IIRC, again, Jacor actually bought Premiere (and of course, Randy Michaels ran Jacor). I seem to think it was roughly a couple of years before Clear Channel bought Jacor.