Glenn Beck lost his TV show because of sponsor pullouts

[Canuckistanian]

Will that work with Limbaugh?

Limbaugh pioneered the current radio syndication model by practically giving away his show (as long as they accepted some of his national advertisers' ads).

But can his organization afford to lose the national ads? I mean, how big is he, really?

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Beck was booted

thanks to "ColorofChange.org", which became a clearinghouse for information on boycotting companies advertising during the shows of egregious blowhards.

[FSogol]

2. "How big is he, really?" Around 350 pounds.

Not sure Clear Channel cares. Rush is part of the propaganda division of the GOP. I 'm sure they can keep him on at a loss for a long time.

[Canuckistanian]

4. But ultimately, it's a business decision

And business rules all. Ask Glenn Beck.

I'm sure the propaganda division loved Beck (and "Dr. Laura", too).

But they're both GONE.

[FSogol]

5. True, but

The sad truth is there are only so many national programs, that companies like Sleep Number Bed can advertise on. After the controversy dies down, they will quietly resume their ads with him.

While I applaud the people hitting the advertisers (and it did work against Glenn Beck), the more successful long term course is to get the GOP to disown him.

PS. Edited to add: Don't forget that Bain Capital owns Clear Channel.

[Lint Head]

3. Hope the same thing happens to Pig Limpballs.

Misogynistic arrogant prick bigot!

[KharmaTrain]

6. Different Animals...

Dreck was also a pain in the ass in Roger Ailes side...that had as much to do with him being booted as him losing advertisers. It also didn't help that dreck lost more than half his audience is a year. The boycott had a minimal effect as Faux Noise is one arm of a large animal...it can afford to lose money (and has).

Rushbo's deal is very different. He "works" for Premier Networks...a subsidiary of Clear Channel that is own by Bain Capital. He's the "franchise" on hundreds of failing AM station around the country and one of the few names that can still attract an audience (albeit very old, very white, very male) to these antiquated frequencies. He's cheap programming (why he's on during middays) who helped put hundreds of local talents out of work. Sure, they could replace rushbo but his successor wouldn't hold the name recognition that Cheap Channel has been able to turn into money for many years.

And that brings up one last point. Rushbo isn't an unknown commodity. People have been trying to "boycott" him off the air for over 20 years and he has a solid cast of advertiers who will stick with him. If one drops out another will find their way in. In short, rushbo is one of the few "assets" in a failing company's portfolio.

[Canuckistanian]

7. That's what I was afraid of

Probably the only reason AM radio exists today as a major marketing tool is because of him. I suspect Rush's programs subsidize their other operations.

If Rush goes, so do those stations (at least in their current form).

On the other hand, it may bring back local talent (and content) to these small-town stations

[KharmaTrain]

10. Not Under The Status Quo

You are spot on that rushbo is a major marketing tool and the large corporates rely on large bulk buys now cause the value of their product has dropped so much...behind cable TV and now the internet. AM radio can barely compete against the neighborhood shopper. Unfortunately when there's yet another downturn the corporate's answer is further consolidation and letting go of more people. It's a nasty spiral that's destroyed the medium...so much so that rushbo is one of the few "valuable" assets that's left.

I'm one who is a strong supporter of local radio; having worked with it and seen all the good things it does for a community. The internet has become the alternative and eventually the corporates will cut their losses and wholesale sell frequencies. Some of this has already happened but as the debts continue to mount and the listeners vanish that day comes closer.

Rushbo's days are numbered...it may be 6 months or a year or 3 year, but eventually his "golden microphone" will turn to rust and radio will be transformed back into a more local and diversified medium.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Not different

Limbaugh lost 33% of his audience between 2010 and 2011:

http://www.politisite.com/2011/05/23/arbitron-conservative-talk-radio-loses-a-third-of-audience/

In fact, the entire RW noise-machine is bleeding audience as the schtick has worn thin and technology has opened up tens of thousands of streaming stations from around the world.

In a nutshell, the dollar bill rules and when folks like him and his vaudeville freak show don't produce, then like what happens to an old ox, they are put out to pasture, and the owner finds someone or something else.

[KharmaTrain]

9. When You Hear The Names John Hogan & Bob Pitman...

...then rushbo's got something to sweat. Those are the men who run Cheap Channel and so far they've been as quiet as a church mouse. They've got millions tied up in Rushbo just like a major league team does in a top player...they're gonna make as much as they can out of their investment.

You are correct that hate radio (and the industry in general) is in steep decline...and more the reason why rushbo is valuable no matter how offensive he is or how many advertisers he loses. Cheap Channel will respond by firing more local people and further consolidate their stations.

I've been hoping for rushbo's fall since he first started his bilefest in '88 and I have personal reasons, but I also know the sad state of the radio industry and how co-dependent rushbo and cheap channel/bain have become. I'll start to believe there's a chance of rushbo being endangered when I hear or read that Mr. Hogan (who has no spine) or Pitman speak out against him. So far it's been crickets.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. I heard his very first broadcast

on 770 WABC radio during what was originally Lynn Samuel's timeslot at noon. I have also been waiting for 24 years for him to go.

Ironically enough, Howard Stern also crossed the line, but made an even bigger $$$ bonanza for himself on satellite radio (nearly bankrupting Sirius). In any case, this removed him from the public airwaves. And so too can this gasbag make more by leaving and heading to pay radio. He could conceivably have a 24/7 "channel" (like Stern) where his zombies can live and feed $$ to SiriusXm, leaving local "free" stations cleansed of his vitriol.

I really don't think Clear Channel is going to cling much longer to the old terrestrial radio model. The up and coming Cumulus (2nd behind Clear Channel) is probably giving them fits and they would be fools not to look for a different business model. I have noticed that slowly more and more zombie stations are being sold or are bringing back local jocks, and I welcome the change, slow as it is... but change nonetheless.

[KharmaTrain]

12. So Did I...

...actually I worked at one of his original affiliates on 8/1/88...and even had the chance to interview him (very amusing...I bring it out at parties). I also had the "chance" to meet Edward McLaughlin...rushbo's svenghali who created the template of hate radio. There are many parallels between rushbo and Stern...Stern's svenghali being Mel Karmazin (a major reason Howard ended up at SiriusXM). In many ways rushbo ripped off Stern's brash approach...creating outrage about politics vs. Stern's outrage over social and sexual matters.

Clear Channel's attempts at digital have been a disaster. First they came up with HD Radio...trying to hold onto their existing monopoly on the airwaves with a sub-standard digital audio system that's been a major flop. Now they're trying "I-Radio"...an app that offers a limited number of stations and is blown away by far better apps and services (Pandorra). The company faces several billion in debts that Bain keeps trying to reschedule and kick down the road but the clock is ticking. Generally Bain will wait 5 years after they take control of a company and either make money with it and sell it or scrap the parts and see what they can salvage. That 5 years is next year and many signs indicate that Bain is getting itchy about staying in a business where revenues and "stick" (or property/license) values decrease every year.

Slowly there is a move back to more local radio, but, as you say, it's moving very slowly. The big disadvantage of operating locally is the death of local retail...the "Wal Marting" of the small and medium markets that wiped out the businesses that used to advertise on radio. I expect we'll see a mass sell off of stations in the coming years...and many others just being shut off due to their inability to be financially viable. Whatever evolves, the days of rushbo and the slash and burn radio he championed is numbered...and not a day too soon!

Cheers...