POLITICO: Cumulus to drop Limbaugh and Hannity at end of the year

[trojanrabbit]

Rather than pay fees to Cumulus to carry these shows it makes more sense to put them on their own properties, reduce local talent costs, and save those fees.

???

Premiere is paying Cumulus to air Limbaugh/Hannity? I must be missing something. Maybe I'm not caffeinated enough this morning yet.

And as a Stephanie Miller listener, yes she has many times echoed Colmes' sentiments about the boycott doing more harm than good for political talk radio in general.

 

[FredLeonard]

Rather than pay fees to Cumulus to carry these shows it makes more sense to put them on their own properties, reduce local talent costs, and save those fees.

???

Premiere is paying Cumulus to air Limbaugh/Hannity? I must be missing something. Maybe I'm not caffeinated enough this morning yet.

And as a Stephanie Miller listener, yes she has many times echoed Colmes' sentiments about the boycott doing more harm than good for political talk radio in general.

Before somebody comes by and takes this seriously...

No! Cumulus pays Premiere. So does every other station. The amount stations are being charged for these shows is the basic issue. Stations pay and are required to run program spots (even when shows are preempted). If stations can't make a profit over and above the costs of these shows selling the remaining avails, then Rush and Hannity are bad investments.

Notice how when somebody talks about how the right has a near monopoly on talk radio, ditto-heads say it's "just business." But now they change their tune. If Premiere wants to keep Cumulus, they should offer stations a better deal.

 

[trojanrabbit]

Rather than pay fees to Cumulus to carry these shows it makes more sense to put them on their own properties, reduce local talent costs, and save those fees.

???

Premiere is paying Cumulus to air Limbaugh/Hannity? I must be missing something. Maybe I'm not caffeinated enough this morning yet.

And as a Stephanie Miller listener, yes she has many times echoed Colmes' sentiments about the boycott doing more harm than good for political talk radio in general.

Before somebody comes by and takes this seriously...

No! Cumulus pays Premiere. So does every other station. The amount stations are being charged for these shows is the basic issue. Stations pay and are required to run program spots (even when shows are preempted). If stations can't make a profit over and above the costs of these shows selling the remaining avails, then Rush and Hannity are bad investments.

Notice how when somebody talks about how the right has a near monopoly on talk radio, ditto-heads say it's "just business." But now they change their tune. If Premiere wants to keep Cumulus, they should offer stations a better deal.

The statement still makes no sense to me even if you think there's a typo and substitute Clear Channel for Cumulus. But then I know little about the business of radio.

 

[FredLeonard]

The statement still makes no sense to me even if you think there's a typo and substitute Clear Channel for Cumulus. But then I know little about the business of radio.

Much about the business of radio makes no sense. Maybe that's a big part of why radio is in decline.

Originally, stations either paid for a program and sold time in the show. Or networks and syndicators sold time and stations got the show, either for free or the station got paid for carrying the show (plus could sell spots in the show or adjacent to it).

Originally, Rush was what's called a barter show. The syndicator (first Ed McClaughlin, then Jacor) sold spots. Stations got the show in return for running the spots and could sell some spots on their own. In the mid-90s, Jacor (then run by Randy Michaels) started charging stations. Mostly, they got away with it. The fees to carry the show kept going up, before and since Clear Channel acquired Jacor.

Why does Clear Channel charge fees? The answer is the same as to the old saw about why do dogs lick themselves? Because they can.

Now, this model is the norm. Many shows charge fees (and sell spots). TV broadcasters and cable channels charge fees to cable and satellite companies (which they pass on to us) and sell spots.

 

[storrs19]

Limbaugh rushing out of Cumulus Media to WOR, Sean Hannity in tow

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...g-cumulus-wor-article-1.1411314#ixzz2aPVV8af1

Chicago will be a big headache for CC - WGN not an option, WIND would never pay.

True. I can't see Salem paying all that cash for either of them, especially when they have their own stable of hosts. WGN is definitely not an option - it would kill that station, and they've actually started to improve as of late.

I agree 100% WGN 720 is about the only AM station I listen to any more (really the only terrestrial station I listen to if truth be told). I don't listen to any of the political spiel shouters preaching to the choir. It's all regurgitated and boring to me. Internet radio is the best and that gets 90% of my listening time

 

[salemjedi54]

CC owns KFXR 1190 in Dallas Fort Worth

From what I can see, it's not really a talk station.

But it is a talk station owned by Clear Channel in DFW.

 

[FightingIrish]

CC owns KFXR 1190 in Dallas Fort Worth

From what I can see, it's not really a talk station.

But it is a talk station owned by Clear Channel in DFW.

And the 1190 frequency did air Limbaugh for a time back in the '90s.

 

[TheBigA]

CC owns KFXR 1190 in Dallas Fort Worth

From what I can see, it's not really a talk station.

But it is a talk station owned by Clear Channel in DFW.

Fine. So if CC has stations in these markets, why are they even negotiating with Cumulus? Why not just say "take it or leave it?

 

[FredLeonard]

Fine. So if CC has stations in these markets, why are they even negotiating with Cumulus? Why not just say "take it or leave it?

Because Clear Channel's stations are not flame throwers, at least not like Cumulus' stations. And because they know not all listeners will follow Rush and Hannity. Add it up and the two shows see a decline in audience numbers.

 

[ajc_trw]

Fine. So if CC has stations in these markets, why are they even negotiating with Cumulus?  Why not just say "take it or leave it?

Because Clear Channel's stations are not flame throwers, at least not like Cumulus' stations.  And because they know not all listeners will follow Rush and Hannity.  Add it up and the two shows see a decline in audience numbers.

cough KFI cough

cough KABC cough

 

[FredLeonard]

Except in LA, where Rush is already on the Clear Channel-owned station.