Downward spiral taking a toll? Limbaugh awkwardly tries to burnish new advertiser, listener numbers

[richardmyers]

Downward spiral taking a toll? Limbaugh awkwardly tries to burnish new advertiser, listener numbers

On Friday, October 26, Rush Limbaugh tried to reverse the downward spiral. Rush launched a two-pronged attack on his two disastrous fronts — "dwindling" ad revenues, and an audience that, in at least one audience segment, is barely half what it was in January of 2012.

When Rush gets desperate, he showcases the new advertisers and new listeners. Except that he appears not to have any.

Limbaugh routinely "educates" his audience with sham calls, using shills from his syndication company's Premiere On Call subdivision. These callers miraculously get through to Rush (on the direct line?), and typically seem to offer precisely the soft ball comments that feed the Limbaugh narrative. Today the Rush team scripted in a bonus: the opportunity to breezily pretend that Rush is a perfect angel on the air.

Out of Limbaugh's millions of listeners, two new listeners in a row called in today. By chance, they were both Democrats, and they both blessed Rush for showing them the light. Here's a transcript of one of the calls...

[Octafish]

1. Like the filth that remains after snaking an old sewer main, the fraud Flushbo stands exposed.

ABC and the rise of Rush Limbaugh

EXCERPT...

There are about 11,000 radio stations in the U.S., and Capital Cities/ABC is by far the largest player. Either through outright ownership or the sale of numerous services, they reach about half the radio stations in America, and this number is growing. With the Fairness Doctrine repealed, Capital Cities was able in 1988 to begin broadcasting one-sided editorials on conservatism. ABC Radio Network President Edward McLaughlin scoured the nation's radio stations for conservative talent, and his search led him to Sacramento, to a little known disc-jockey named Rush Limbaugh. Rush had attracted an audience with his vigorous and spirited defense of Oliver North during the Iran-Contra hearings. McLaughlin brought him to New York City for a one-month "on-air" trial at Capital Cities/ABC's flagship radio station, WABC. For the next two years, ABC put him on the fast track, handling all his marketing, advertising and promotion. For legal purposes, and to protect ABC's image of supposed objectivity, Rush formed his own media company, Excellence in Broadcasting. But to this day (~1994) Rush continues to broadcast out of WABC's studios in New York.

[KharmaTrain]

2. 2013 Will Be An Ugly Year For Rushbo...

...and Bain/Cheap Channel/Premiere for the following reasons:

1.) He's about to lose some of his biggest stations...WABC, WLS, WBAP, KSFO and others owned by Cumulus who will either replace him with Mikey Hucklenutz or move rushbo's show to the hinterlands. While Cheap Channel just bought WOR in New York and will probably pick up WGN in Chicago and get other stations to take rushbo he'll have far greater competition than he's ever had to deal with.

2.) Bain/Cheap Channel face $15 billion plus dollar debts and rumors are rampant of massive firings and cutbacks after the election. The values of their stations cratered and revenues are a fraction of what they were a decade ago. Paying $40 million is a luxuary that's getting harder and harder for them to afford. Radio was hoping they'd get a big chunk of the billions being thrown around this year but they got trickled on...most rushpublican never bothered to advertise since these stations were advertising for them 24/7 for free.

3.) Terrestrial radio continues to lose interest and audience...sports talk is replacing hate as one of the last refuges for an industry that "deregulated" itself into oblivion...and rushbo's a big part of that fall...

[Angry Dragon]

3. Too bad Bain does not ship rush to China

he would do well there spewing the party line

[Blue Idaho]

4. That drug addict's best days are behind him.

He's yesterday's news, he's last week's fish, he's a relic of the Bush years and no one who's anyone gives a shit about that mean spirited old fuck.

He is the last mastodon standing in the swamp. He's history and his advertisers know the world is moving past him.

[JEFF9K]

5. Rush's arguments.

Some of Rush's arguments are so illogical that you don't need to know any of the facts to see that he is lying. He recently said that Obama's "purpose" is to weaken the country.

[-LOKI -BAD FOR YA]

6. thanks for this wonderful post

i believe rush with have a hard time justifying his paycheck after nov 6 an he knows it .mitt with not subsidize him after the election. all the big money gone . he might be able to hang around as a thorn in obamas side but his relevant has gone .the next elect is 2016 .that four years i do not think he can last that long.