General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStruggling Clear Channel And Rush Limbaugh's $400 Million Payday
Whether Limbaugh's show is in the midst of the death throes, only time will tell. But one thing is clear, the radio industry has never seen anything like the sponsorship controversy surrounding Limbaugh's once-untouchable program. And it's certainly never seen anything like the wholesale decision by his syndicator, Premier Radio Networks, to suspend barter ads for two weeks in an apparent effort to ride out the controversy. That was soon followed by news that advertisers are requesting Limbaugh's affiliated stations provide "Rush-free programming grids" so sponsors can verify that their brands aren't appearing on his show.
"It's unprecedented," Holland Cooke, a talk radio consultant, tells Media Matters. He says Premiere's startling advertising move "suggests things are worse than we know."
The question is: How long will stations be able to sustain the ad losses on Limbaugh's show, and how does the host justify his $400 million pay in the face of the advertiser revolt?
The boycott comes at a bad time for Premier's parent company, Clear Channel. A conservative-friendly media behemoth with a soft spot for right-wing radio, Clear Channel continues to struggle not only with a depleted radio audience as more and more consumers migrate away from the AM/FM dial, but it's also sagging under the weight of massive debt.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201203160002
Old and In the Way
(37,540 posts)Eric Boehlert is all over this on Twitter. And who gets paid $400MM to tell the truth? You can get the truth for free, here.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)they're Propaganda Central and they have done SO much damage to the political climate of America
movonne
(9,623 posts)did on the Dixie Chicks...
Wish FOX news would go away too. A world without Rush and Fox and my mom might become sane again....
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)1. The national raadio advertisers are a big part of the bread and butter for the Rush radio program revenue. Those advertisers are basically gone. That is both very bad short and long-term damage and will cost Clear Channel millions.
2. The next problem is that a huge amount of radio affiliates are owned by Clear Channel. So not only will they get hit with the loss of national advertisers, those local stations are being hit by the loss of local sponsors (such as car dealerships, insurance agents, restaurants, etc.) That creates a double whammy for Clear Channel.
3. Back to the national advertisers, a number of the Rush cancellations have also asked not to be aired in ANY political talk radio. Therefore the loss of revenue will be felt on Rush and a number of other right wing talk programs.
4. They still need to pay Rush's HUGE salary with significantly lower revenues.
5. As radio syndicate contracts come up local stations (non-Clear Channel) may very well negotiate lower dollar deals or simply drop Rush in the coming months and years. That will cost them even more.
I haven't heard much about how many local advertisers are pulling out too.
Mariana
(14,861 posts)If we want to get this lousy creep off the air, the pressure needs to stay on. We need to continue to make phone calls and write letters to the stations themselves and to any local businesses that are still running ads on his show.
Faygo Kid
(21,478 posts)No American in my entire life has been more worthy of contempt than Rush Limbaugh. He has been pure evil for more than 20 years, and I have heard his hatred spewed as a peer for all of that time. I never dismissed him as irrelevant. I have always despised him, and have been inspired to work for decency and rational discourse as a result of what is clearly his insanity.
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Now if only KHVH would get the message.
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)I didn't know about Rushie boy being deleted here....
Insanity still rules here as you can see....
Stay sane as long as you can...
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)still on KHVH.
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)Tumbulu
(6,292 posts)but I share your feelings entirely.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)It's $40 million a year, plus some commissions from advertising, which I heard adds up to maybe about $6 million (until recently). However, I think it is a ten year contract.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)caseymoz
(5,763 posts)Of course, I was extrapolating charitably to the figure when I said ten, as in trying to figure out how it could be close to true. My most likely, if hazy, memory was that it was six and he has a few years left on it.
And he made $24 million a year on his previous contract, I remember that clearly. So he hasn't made $400 million over ten years, nor is it likely, in my memory, that he was supposed to.
But if the author had only written more clearly, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Who cares? It's still more money than anyone can use or count or imagine.
USArmyParatrooper
(1,827 posts)and Rush will continue to blow hot air for many years to come.
That is all.
jorno67
(1,986 posts)I wish you weren't, but the Republicans are very forgiving when it comes to their own kind.
ladywnch
(2,672 posts)but since the GOP can't seem to keep their feet out of their mouths for 24 hours on this subject, (and the Dems are more than happy to encourage them) I don't see it going away by the end of 2 weeks. And when he gets back on the air, I can't believe that he wouldn't be so arrogant so as to make some kind of comment about it and whip it up all over again.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)I mean, I actually do think he's blown a circuit.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)ladywnch
(2,672 posts)secondly, GOOD! I hope he keeps this shit front and center for quite some time to come. I"m sure he is arrogant enough to think, "I'm RUUUSSSSSSHH, no one is going to tell ME what I can talk about, say about anyone I want to, as often as I want to. I am GAAWWWD!!!!" Let us just hope I'm right.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)He's stepped in it and lost advertisers. People aren't going to let this blow over, and any time he says something even remotely controversial - which is every time he opens his mouth - there will be bitching to the advertisers.
When money runs from you, it's time to accept that even more money will run from you if you keep doing the same thing. Rush knows nothing else, so money will keep running from him.
tex-wyo-dem
(3,190 posts)Less likely:
1.). The RW power structure will put pressure on advertisers to support Rush. Some will go back and the oligarchy will prop up the show for a while to make up the difference. Sooner or later, the controversy will blow over and advertisers will slowly return.
More likely:
2.). Rush will be too toxic for a majority of advertisers to return and Clear Channel will be forced to remove his program from many/most markets. Rush's EIB network will start bleeding cash unless he decides to shut the operation down or (quite likely) move on to satellite radio where he can pretty much say whatever he wants (a la Howard Stern). Unfortunately in this scenario, it's possible that he could get a substantial contract if he can convince the satellite provider (Sirius or other) that a majority of his listeners will follow him over to the subscription service.
If this is the case (#2), it's fine with me...at least we'd get his vile ass off the public airwaves.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)Rush's listeners, by and large, aren't that wealthy, and the few who are are also cheap. They'll listen to Rush if it's free, but they're not going to get satellite to do it.
Additionally, Rush has provided no evidence that his audience is as large as he claims. New ratings methods have made his actual audience size doubtful.
He might find a sat-channel dumb enough to pick him up, but he's likely to wilt there pretty quickly, IMHO. No, Rush is going to be doing self-supported streaming from his website, and after $40 million a year, the revenue from that is going to be a huge comedown.
Or he'll become just another angry, white conservative blogger, which seems a great destiny for him.
pstokely
(10,533 posts)I would if they raised the rates to pay for a huge salary for him. They already paid to much for Howard Stern.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Limbaugh will still be blowing hot air, just not so much of it.
JHB
(37,163 posts)Every other time he's pissed someone off the outrage was effectively confined, so no action gained much traction. This case comes after months upon months of recent RW attacks (threatening to default on the deficit over Planned Parenthood, getting Komen to attack PP in a manner that was actually directly against their stated mission, the parade of radical state laws like the ultrasound bills and personhood laws that would effectively outlaw contraception, etc.).
Those things were driven by forces outside Limbaugh, they're not done yet, and as long as they keep trying to shove their agenda into everybody's face (and other anatomy) Rush's foaming will stay fairly fresh in peoples' minds. He'll have a lot more trouble disentangling himself from it because he can't control it. He doesn't unilaterally get to quietly drop the matter for a few weeks to let it blow over, as he's done in the past.
Whatever happens in the end, I don't think he'll be able to completely go back to business as usual.
pstokely
(10,533 posts)to the point where they'll lay off hundreds (janitors, part time DJs) to pay for him
Junkdrawer
(27,993 posts)...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002406917
caseymoz
(5,763 posts). . . but people thought it would even go this far. Despite what Fox spins, trying to contain the damage to Rush and not to the rest of conservatism, what Rush said offended many conservative women, too. His insult to Fluke was not the worst thing. He didn't even apologize for saying women should post pornos if they want money for contraception, because "we" want to watch. "We" as in you and other conservative pigs, Rush? Or just males with the money?
Both Rush and conservatives try to distract from this, but it isn't working.
Rush now has no female audience, and I haven't heard Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann or anyone like that come to his defense. Maybe they have, but it hasn't been very public. The only ones who have are spinsters paid specifically to defend conservatism and all its works on Fox. And there argument is that liberal commentators said things just as bad. No, I don't think so. Rush's female audience is probably below one percent of the total now.
2ndAmForComputers
(3,527 posts)...is actually hope.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,050 posts)That fixes everything! Right?
benld74
(9,911 posts)Clearchannel made its bed a long time ago. They swaggered and talked big because they were the gorilla in the room and they knew it. Now they are hurting, and the 'regular' people will be the ones who get hurt, job losses etc.
NCcoast
(480 posts)That's just astounding. The corporate oligarchy spends a lot of money to create and maintain an alternative reality. I guess it's worth it to them.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)As I understood it, it's $40 million a year, with some commissions from advertising amounting, as I remember to about $6 million, until recently that is. It's a multi-year contract, though, and I don't remember the duration. I don't think it's ten years, I think it's more like six.
NCcoast
(480 posts)I heard he was pulling down $56 million. Which is still a ridiculous amount of money to pay this divisive gasbag.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)Doesn't Mittens have interest in Clear Channel. Let's hope he loses some money on this one.
Chipster
(155 posts)This is the last week of national advertisers being off of Ru$h Limbaugh's program; it ends Friday 3/23. Now is the time to plan an on-going strategy.
Here are 35 reasons that show Limbaugh has a *pattern* of breaking FCC regulations: http://bit.ly/yJZ8od
Bad as Ru$h's language was about Fluke, the real reason he should be off our public airwaves is that he used them to solicit pornography ("post videos on the Internet so we can all watch."
You can file an online complaint with the FCC at:
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
ElRu$hBo is facing some new competition, too, according to the Wall Street Journal.
With the slogan "more conversation, less confrontation," the syndicator behind "Huckabee," Cumulus Media Networks, has been pitching the new show to advertisers as a less combative alternative to Mr. Limbaugh. Cumulus is a unit of Cumulus Media Inc., CMLS +0.89% which owns 570 radio stations.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577285963776745648.html
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Everyone knows it. He's become toxic goods and a threat to conservatives.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)I mean, suggesting that women wanting contraception should post pornos to earn the money, because "we want something for it. We want to watch?" Even Jenna Jameson is affronted by that.
His audience is probably now 96% male.
sadbear
(4,340 posts)DUers from Houston should know what I'm talking about.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)The very system you value above everything, above the life of the 99%, above the rights of women, above the hunger of children, above peace and justice and above the ecology of the only planet that we must all live on will be the very thing that brings your filthy lie machine crashing down to the ground!
Lord I hope to see the day that evil anti american, anti Christian lyin devils like Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage and all the other lessor right wing demons drown in their own bile!
Maybe we can still stop these homegrown taliban bastards before they impose their sharia law on us all and extinguish the freedom that so many Americans died to give us.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)progressoid
(50,011 posts)unionworks
(3,574 posts)This s.o.b.s final signoff is long overdue.
Mopar151
(10,006 posts)The concert business? Motorsports? They bought USHRA (IIRC)/Monster Jam (monster trucks) and IHRA (Drag racing), ended up selling both to Feld Entertainment, who also owns Ringling Bros.. IHRA was purchased from the Bader family, owners of the Norwalk, Oh. track. Bill Bader quit as head of IHRA, and his successor, Aaron Polburn screwed the pooch pretty well, including a tieup with Evan Knoll / Torco Race Fuel - who had his checkbook taken away by his family (Knoll Gas), amidst reports of an "old head injury", now under indictment for massive tax fraud involving tax rebates on non-highway gasoline.
PearliePoo2
(7,768 posts)How many French fries are left in your carton now?? Enough to make a "Happy Meal"?
LOL!
AsahinaKimi
(20,776 posts)Make Clear Channel sink LIKE
Matariki
(18,775 posts)Good riddance, in advance.
Blue Owl
(50,547 posts)hmm, I could think of something other than massive debt...
patricia92243
(12,607 posts)Everything is political and the advertisers know it. If President Obama continues to be President, Rush is history. Hopefully it will happey way earlier than the election.
Wasn't Connie Chung and Dan Rather "retired" when they came up against a president.
pstokely
(10,533 posts)His power rose with Clinton
Hubert Flottz
(37,726 posts)The blob is wounded.
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,878 posts)Time for him to go. NOW.
Initech
(100,129 posts)Limpballs is not worth the $400 million his contract stipulates not in a million years. Outrageous executive / crony pay and workers make shit. If you ask me I say they deserve what they get unless they start fixing this.
pstokely
(10,533 posts)They'll find ways to keep him on, unless stockholders protest