"Rush Limbaugh: Don’t Blame Me For WABC’s Declining Ad Sales" Hinckley

[BurnedOutOnTheBoards]

This New York Daily News story is currently The Drudge Report's Headline:

[url]http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/rush-limbaugh-don-blame-article-1.1335773 [/url]

Can't decide if it's real animosity or just negotiations going on.....either way, several posts here have suggested a Rush exit from WABC.

 

[scripps]

The truth is that conservative monologue radio is on the decline. Rush can spin it any way he wants but behind the scenes at Premiere, some real declines will need to be dealt with. Cumulus is smart to step in and point out the truth but their pending problem is that they don't have any compelling and unique talent to replace him with.

 

[TheBigA]

He can say what he want, but the problem isn't limited to WABC. It was blamed as one of the reasons his syndicator Premiere had a loss last year. And other CC-owned stations went through ratings and revenue problems last year.

 

[KFodor]

The truth is:

Many of these stations have also reduced their commitment to local news by firing or laying off news staffers and that, too, will drive away listeners. It's called "News-Talk" for a reason.

Limbaugh, and conservative talk, does well in a lot of markets where the ownership continues a commitment to local news.

 

[TheBigA]

Many of these stations have also reduced their commitment to local news by firing or laying off news staffers and that, too, will drive away listeners.

Huh? You have facts on that? I look at news-talk stations around the country, and most still have a local news staff, and all took big hits to the ratings last fall.

In NYC, why should anyone who wants to hear local news tune away from WCBS or WINS? Those two stations have local news covered. No need for anyone to go anyplace else.

 

[Seltzer]

Lew Dickey can try to blame Rush all he wants. Truth is, it's his inability to run major market radio stations that is the real problem.

 

[TheBigA]

Lew Dickey can try to blame Rush all he wants. Truth is, it's his inability to run major market radio stations that is the real problem.

I wonder if anyone read the final sentences in the article:

WABC has opened a substantial lead in recent years over its primary news/talk rival in New York, WOR. In the latest Arbitron ratings, WABC averaged 2.8% of the audience to 1.2% for WOR.

 

[Malika]

Rush started his first NY show at WABC. It is fitting that he gets tossed from there.
He has been saying the same thing forever and has lost a lot of listeners.

 

[davideduardo]

Rush started his first NY show at WABC. It is fitting that he gets tossed from there.
He has been saying the same thing forever and has lost a lot of listeners.

He's not getting tossed from WABC.

The talk has it that since Clear Channel has purchased WOR, they will move Rush, who works for Clear Channel, to a Clear Channel station and away from one that they do not own.

 

[radiorob2.0]

If you're into the whole BCG Matrix Rush and other similar programming is entering into being a dog. The growth isn't there as it once was and cashflow is shrinking. If he does move to WOR, which is likely and the worst kept secret in the industry, it will be fascinating to see if the audience follows.

 

[FredLeonard]

The truth is:

Many of these stations have also reduced their commitment to local news by firing or laying off news staffers and that, too, will drive away listeners. It's called "News-Talk" for a reason.

Limbaugh, and conservative talk, does well in a lot of markets where the ownership continues a commitment to local news.

It's called "news-talk" because they talk about news. It used to be called "news-talk" because they programmed news and talk. Where are these "news-talk" stations that continue to have a commitment to local news? Are any still programming a local news block in morning drive? Do they have somebody reading news on four different stations and use canned sound bites or do they have an actual reporting staff? Most of these talkers get their news from Metro (now owned by Clear Channel). Local hosts are gone; so is local news.

 

[TheBigA]

Where are these "news-talk" stations that continue to have a commitment to local news? Are any still programming a local news block in morning drive? Do they have somebody reading news on four different stations and use canned sound bites or do they have an actual reporting staff? Most of these talkers get their news from Metro (now owned by Clear Channel). Local hosts are gone; so is local news.

One example is WHAM in Rochester. They do an all-local morning news show, with local hosts. They also have several local talk shows. However, they've been hurt by falling revenues that hit AM news-talk last year. I could name others, if you like. But typically they have no other in-market competition. The problem in NYC is the success of WINS, as well as more localized news stations for the suburbs.

 

[Jimme]

Cumulus should be glad to see Limbaugh. Remember, they have a secret weapon - Mike Huckabee. The Huckster is going to soar wth thoughtful and non-offensive talk, remember. Out with Rush - in with Huckabee (ducking)

 

[TheBigA]

Cumulus should be glad to see Limbaugh. Remember, they have a secret weapon - Mike Huckabee. The Huckster is going to soar wth thoughtful and non-offensive talk, remember. Out with Rush - in with Huckabee (ducking)

The other guy Cumulus has on their talent roster now is Michael Savage.

 

[wadio]

Cumulus should be glad to see Limbaugh. Remember, they have a secret weapon - Mike Huckabee. The Huckster is going to soar wth thoughtful and non-offensive talk, remember. Out with Rush - in with Huckabee (ducking)

Must be a typo ... I think you meant "snore," not "soar."

 

[benson86]

WBEN in Buffalo, NY has local morning news, 5-9. Local talk (Tom Bauerle) from 9-12, Rush 13-3, Local talk (Sandy Beach) from 3-6, Evening News from 6-7, and Hannity (on delay) from 7-10. They are always rated in the top 3 stations in Buffalo. If you program it, they will listen.

 

[benson86]

Sorry, Rush 12-3

 

[OC3]

Okay...so say Rush and Hannity leave WABC and go to WOR. 2 Questions...(1) How much does WABC save in fees? and (2)Does having those guys off WABC make it an easier sale for agency business and perhaps make WABC more money with less ratings and expense?

 

[FredLeonard]

Cumulus should be glad to see Limbaugh. Remember, they have a secret weapon - Mike Huckabee. The Huckster is going to soar wth thoughtful and non-offensive talk, remember. Out with Rush - in with Huckabee (ducking)

The other guy Cumulus has on their talent roster now is Michael Savage.

Doctor Weiner is on in the late evening. When Cumulus signed him, they moved the show to back to follow Mark Levin. Neither is ready for prime time.

Looks like Huckabee is getting his own choir to preach to. "Dittoheads" is taken; wonder what they will call themselves. Smerconish tried going up against Rush with "thoughtful and non-offensive talk." He has since "soared" to SiriusXM. Salem has been doing "thought and non-offensive" talk for years. They are still bouncing along on the runway. It seems the angry White blue collar geezer demo wants red meat - thoughtless and offensive talk. Like Rush, Beck, Hannity and Fox.

Broadcasters keep ignoring the obvious. Conservative talk had a good run (if you count from before Rush to Bob Grant, Joe Pyne, Morton Downey, Jr... a half century). Any radio format is going to run its course; so is any radio personality. There is a format that attracts money demo listeners and does not turn off advertisers. It's been getting ratings and making money for 20 years. But nobody else seems to have the brains to replicate it. It's just across the river: NJ 101.5. They are not executing the format as well as they used to but it's still the closest thing spoken word radio has to a class act.

 

[TheBigA]

Doctor Weiner is on in the late evening. When Cumulus signed him, they moved the show to back to follow Mark Levin. Neither is ready for prime time.

We'll see. The point is that he has an established listener base, and they'd follow him to another day part.

Broadcasters keep ignoring the obvious.

I don't know that they are. You can see Cumulus isn't throwing good money after bad in this format. The one that's getting their attention and money now is country.