Rush Limbaugh might no longer be heard through airwaves come the end of the year. Cumulus Media, the second largest broadcaster in the U.S., has decided not to renew their contract with the right-wing radio host, according to a POLITICO report.
In addition to dropping Limbaugh, Sean Hannity will also be removed from Cumulus stations. The two highly rated radio personalities would be cut from some 40 Cumulus channels broadcast in the U.S.
According to a POLITICO source, they stated “the decision came after negotiations between Cumulus and Premiere Networks, the division of Clear Channel that distributes Limbaugh and Hannity’s shows, broke down due to disagreements over the cost of the distribution rights.” It’s surmised that Clear Channel’s high cost for distribution rights will never be low enough for Cumulus Media to reach a bargaining agreement.
Cumulus wouldn’t comment on the matter and, instead, a spokesperson told POLITICO, “Cumulus is not in a position to comment about negotiations with talent under contract, no matter what the rumor of the day might be.”
Some speculation came back in May when Cumulus Media’s CEO Lew Dickey blamed a “first-quarter decline in revenue related to talk programming” on Limbaugh’s controversial and sexist remarks about Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown student and women’s health advocate, according to POLITICO, after he called her a “slut” and said “she’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception.”
While Limbaugh didn’t say whether or not Cumulus Media was going to drop him from their stations come 2013, he addressed his listeners on Monday in a responding statement to POLITICO’s report: “Nothing is going to change. You are going to be able to get this radio program on as many, if not more, radio station down the road that it’s on now, and what you’re being treated to is just a public business negotiation.”
According to POLITICO, Premiere Networks are planning to air Limbaugh and Hannity in the same markets where they are currently signed on with Cumulus Media if a negotiation isn’t reached.
Described as a major “shakeup in the radio industry,” many people await the outcome—whether or not a Limbaugh fan.
Source Article from http://www.nationofchange.org/limbaugh-and-hannity-be-dropped-cumulus-stations-1375365461
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