WPTF/WSJS lose Limbaugh

[kba]

From the Radio-Info "breaking news" page:

Premiere pulls Rush Limbaugh affiliations in Raleigh and Greensboro

Curtis Media’s WPTF, Raleigh (680) and WSJS, Winston-Salem (600) have carried Limbaugh’s daily show for over 20 years, but Curtis executive Phil Zachary says Premiere won’t renew the show beyond December 31. Zachary says “this was not unexpected, but it nevertheless isn’t any easier to swallow.” The Curtis President/COO says the company will go for a local show that “serves the 94% of our market population who don’t listen to Rush Limbaugh.” Curtis recently added the North Carolina News Network to its broadcast holdings in the station/network swapping among Capitol Broadcasting and McClatchey. It expects to name the Limbaugh replacement for both WPTF and WSJS by December 1. Clear Channel-owned Premiere Radio Networks hasn’t announced its new affiliates for the Research Triangle and the Triad markets.

Any bets where Rush is headed? The new all-news 'RDU? Talkradio 93.9?

 

[carolinaradio]

And News talk 94.5 in Greensboro?

 

[tothedj]

Interesting possibilities, especially in the Triangle, if "Clear Channel" was smart, WRDU or WKSL should go to a "News/Talk" format, the Raleigh/Durham market needs some competition, WRDU can't compete against WQDR, and WKSL should consider going back to AC like they were when "Sunny 93.9" was around.

 

[RonaldMcReagan]

Rush gets ratings, but he also alienates a huge portion of the potential audience.

What is Bill Loomay going to do now if he can't just parrot what Rush says each day?

PTF should piss everybody off and put on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Rev/Dr. Barber...angry black talkers all day.

 

[John Thomas8]

WZTK comes in quite clearly in the triangle and hosts their fair share of conservative talkers. I prefer their two local morning guys, but I like a little honestly with my talk radio.

 

[Hourly]

Now this will be interesting. My money is on WRDU flipping but who the hell knows with Clear Channel. Could it possibly be 850? I prefer talk 101. 1 myself but will be interested to see how the Curtis brass respond to a new competitor. Let the games begin!

 

[RadioDze]

Stranger things have happened, but I doubt Rush will end up at 101.1 or 850, as they're part of Curtis Media along with 680 and 600/1200. The most likely scenario is, as has been stated in other posts, one of Clear Channel's underperforming FMs in each market going talk. In a very very wild card but unlikely Raleigh market scenario, I could see Capitol somehow further consolidating their sports formats in lieu of a talker. While there's some added options in Greensboro, there's really nowhere else to go in Raleigh than Clear Channel.

 

[John Thomas8]

American radio would improve 6.9 brazillion percent if clear channel would fold.

 

[MaskMan]

And News talk 94.5 in Greensboro?

You've got to be kidding on this one! Not an informed guess at all. 94.5 is one of the MOST successful formats CC has. They make huge bucks with 94.5. More like bye-bye Buzz or that urban station they have 105.7(?) Those stations are underperforming. No doubt, however, that a new News/Talk is on the way for Greensboro. I'm rooting for 101 to win the battle. ;D

 

[Christopher Chenn]

Now who in their right ind would go Talk with Obama getting ready to pull the plug on it. Wait, I get it. Anyone who has a 'right' channel would balance it off with a 'left' channel. Kinda like stereo of opinions.

 

[MaskMan]

Doubt Obama will pull the plug. He couldn't even if he wanted to. As for News/Talk, think about it, the Baby Boomers are all older and the newspapers are going belly-up, more and more people are turning to news radio for their news. Seems to me like the timing is pretty good. Just judging from how many stations around the country are going to talk, I'd say programmers are predicting it's a growing format.

 

[dustintv]

Perhaps the WLOE/WMYN combo might pick up Limbaugh? Although I highly highly doubt it and the suggestion now seems ridiculous.

 

[drive-in]

If I had to guess, I'd look for WMKS to flip to talk with the new year.

 

[carolinaradio]

Whatever....but La Preciosa is not exactly what it once was. Hit Music Now just hired a new PD, I don't think they will fool with it yet. In G'boro, if anything like this happens, it will probably be 94.5 then second choice would be 100.3, it does around what 'GBT does or better (12+ and 18-34). JMO.

Funny that there will be no Rush in RDU and apparently no Delilah, and they are both CC'S Premiere. Makes me wonder if they'll do a double flip and go all-Christmas at 93.9, add Delilah then go to AC after the holiday season then go talk on 106.1.

 

[Nate Wesley]

PTF should piss everybody off and put on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Rev/Dr. Barber...angry black talkers all day.

Do they have to be black AND angry, or just one? :

/stereotyping

 

[Christopher Chenn]

PTF should piss everybody off and put on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Rev/Dr. Barber...angry black talkers all day.

Do they have to be black AND angry, or just one? :

/stereotyping

Since we already have angry white and right on the right channel, we need happy black and left on the left channel.
I do believe we are in a period when 'talk' will be explored more. Even possible 'Local Talk' may have a better chance. Wouldn't that be sumtin'. I think the audience is voting down little by little the 'same as it ever was' music formats.

 

[carolinaradio]

The only "Rush Radio" URL that Clear Channel has registered is http://www.rushradio945.com recently.

 

[BS1012]

Whatever happens, I hope WZTK doesn't get screwed over -- they're one of the best stations in the region.

But in general I'm not big on the idea. If two CC stations flip to talk, we'll have talk on three FM stations plus AM 680 and 1200. Not to mention NPR and the various sports talk stations.

Meanwhile, the music variety still sucks.

 

[Matt]

If Premier has done this to WPTF and WSJS, I wonder if they're planning something similar in Charlotte with WBT? If they DID pull Rush from WBT, they would likely put him on WBCN 1660, which might be a bit risky.

Something to keep my eyes on.

Later . . . .

 

[wncc]

If Premier has done this to WPTF and WSJS, I wonder if they're planning something similar in Charlotte with WBT? If they DID pull Rush from WBT, they would likely put him on WBCN 1660, which might be a bit risky.

Something to keep my eyes on.

Later . . . .

I doubt it due to the fact CBS owns 1660 rather than CC.