Colorado Media Newsroom
July 28th, 2013, 07:20 PM
From Radio Insight:
Politico.com is reporting that Cumulus has decided not to renew its syndication contracts with Clear Channel’s Premiere Radio Networks for Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity when they expire at the end of the year.
The decision comes 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, the source said. Cumulus is known to drive a hard bargain on costs, and Clear Channel is known to seek top dollar for big names.
As industry insiders caution, Cumulus and Clear Channel have come to the brink before during contract negotiations only to resume talks. But the source told POLITICO that Clear Channel was unlikely to reduce the cost for distribution rights to a level that would satisfy Cumulus.
This is a decision that has been expected for quite some time as both companies have made moves to prepare for this possible outcome. Cumulus began hiring possible replacement talent for its Conservative Talk stations in Geraldo Rivera, Mike Huckabee, and Michael Savage. Clear Channel purchased 710 WOR New York in order to have a possible affiliate for the hosts in market #1.
The move will affect about 40 stations across the country including major market affiliates such as 770 WABC New York, 890 WLS Chicago, 820/96.7 WBAP Dallas, 630/105.9 WMAL Washington, and 760 WJR Detroit that carry both shows and 790 KABC Los Angeles and 560 KSFO San Francisco that air Hannity.
Politico also reports that Cumulus has begun reaching out to agents and political insiders to begin filling the to-be vacated timeslots on the affected stations.
more (http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84395/report-cumulus-to-drop-limbaugh-hannity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=report-cumulus-to-drop-limbaugh-hannity)
Politico.com is reporting that Cumulus has decided not to renew its syndication contracts with Clear Channel’s Premiere Radio Networks for Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity when they expire at the end of the year.
The decision comes 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, the source said. Cumulus is known to drive a hard bargain on costs, and Clear Channel is known to seek top dollar for big names.
As industry insiders caution, Cumulus and Clear Channel have come to the brink before during contract negotiations only to resume talks. But the source told POLITICO that Clear Channel was unlikely to reduce the cost for distribution rights to a level that would satisfy Cumulus.
This is a decision that has been expected for quite some time as both companies have made moves to prepare for this possible outcome. Cumulus began hiring possible replacement talent for its Conservative Talk stations in Geraldo Rivera, Mike Huckabee, and Michael Savage. Clear Channel purchased 710 WOR New York in order to have a possible affiliate for the hosts in market #1.
The move will affect about 40 stations across the country including major market affiliates such as 770 WABC New York, 890 WLS Chicago, 820/96.7 WBAP Dallas, 630/105.9 WMAL Washington, and 760 WJR Detroit that carry both shows and 790 KABC Los Angeles and 560 KSFO San Francisco that air Hannity.
Politico also reports that Cumulus has begun reaching out to agents and political insiders to begin filling the to-be vacated timeslots on the affected stations.
more (http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84395/report-cumulus-to-drop-limbaugh-hannity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=report-cumulus-to-drop-limbaugh-hannity)