Indianapolis' WIBC has broadcast Rush Limbaugh's show for 22 years. Despite this long history, parent company Emmis Communications announced April 13 that they are dropping Limbaugh's show from WIBC's lineup.
The loss of a media platform is a significant historical event, but not really significant in any other fashion -- nor is the meaning being given to it by the Left as accurate as it could be. But then, since accuracy would be far less interesting to listen to, I don't expect accuracy to be coming from the Left any time soon.
Charlie Morgan, an executive for Emmis, indicated that the decision to drop Limbaugh was about the "long-term direction of the station," but also acknowledged that there was a "business element to the decision." Underscoring the business considerations, Morgan explained to the Indianapolis Business Journal that the absence of Limbaugh could actually help WIBC's advertiser prospects:
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| Was true, but now those who do believe this are not seeking Rush's show to be an accurate source for more information. |
There are some--primarily national--advertisers that refuse to air commercials during Limbaugh's show, Morgan explained. Emmis officials began notifying its advertisers of the change Monday.
"We believe this could open us up to a new group of advertisers,"
Limbaugh's show has been plagued with woes ever since advertisers began fleeing in the wake of Limbaugh's multi-day attack on then-law student Sandra Fluke. Thousands of local and regional businesses refuse to advertise on Limbaugh's show and the bulk of national advertisers are now reportedly boycotting his program. The cumulative effect of Limbaugh's advertiser difficulties has created a problem so substantial that it has actually spilled over and is hurting conservative talk radio as a whole.
The Wall Street Journal recently confirmed the industry-wide damage resulting from Limbaugh's beleaguered program. According to the report, the exodus of national advertisers has played a significant part in reducing talk radio advertising rates to about half of what it costs to run ads on music stations, even though the two formats have "comparable audience metrics."
Further, the report also provides a look at the millions of dollars individual stations have lost. The chart below, which was taken from the Journal report, gives a before and after look at the advertising revenue of talker stations in some of the largest markets. Notably, three of the stations that carried Limbaugh originally (KFI, WSB, and WBAP) experienced the greatest losses:
Conservative Talk Radio describes the type of show that is most popular of the genre Talk Radio. Rush has been the high water mark in this category for years, Unfortunately his position affects the whole, since Glenn Beck for example is seen as the same type of entertainment. For the most part, this is an accurate association to make -- but it is also true that Rush's behavior poisons the well for everyone in the same category.
The Wall Street Journal recently confirmed the industry-wide damage resulting from Limbaugh's beleaguered program. According to the report, the exodus of national advertisers has played a significant part in reducing talk radio advertising rates to about half of what it costs to run ads on music stations, even though the two formats have "comparable audience metrics."
Further, the report also provides a look at the millions of dollars individual stations have lost. The chart below, which was taken from the Journal report, gives a before and after look at the advertising revenue of talker stations in some of the largest markets. Notably, three of the stations that carried Limbaugh originally (KFI, WSB, and WBAP) experienced the greatest losses:
The propaganda of the Left declares that : WIBC is just the latest in a string of reminders that Rush Limbaugh is bad for business. The Journal report also confirmed that advertisers continue to leave and stay away thanks to a dedicated group of independent organizers in the Flush Rush and #StopRush communities. Their participation matters and is having a tremendous effect.There is enough credence in this to be believable, but what I find in the reports and the demographics is that the audience of these shows are no longer the "customers" of the companies who use these stations as a profitable medium for marketing. Yes, Rush is an ass, but when has that really mattered?
Ed Schultz Defends Rush Limbaugh Against Media Matters
HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 06.15.2012 | Media
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WASHINGTON -- Ed Schultz and Sean Hannity have found something they can agree on: It was wrong for liberals to launch a campaign targeting Rush Limbau...
Rush Limbaugh Cost Radio Company 'Millions,' CEO Says
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The head of one of the biggest radio companies in the country said Monday that the advertiser boycott of Rush Limbaugh cost him "millions" in 2012. ...
Limbaugh Boycott Targets Netflix, Other Advertisers
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UPDATE 1: A Netflix rep told the Hacking Netflix blog that it does not buy radio ad time specifically for the Limbaugh program. A Netflix spokesperson...
Rush Limbaugh Sponsor Explains Why It's Sticking By Its Man
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He said he's sorry, didn't he? One sponsor that's sticking with Rush Limbaugh spoke out Monday. LifeLock, the anti-identify theft outfit, said it w...
Web Users Join Rush Limbaugh Boycott
Read More: Boycott Rush, Rush Limbaugh, Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, Rush Limbaugh Sponsors Boycott, Boycott Rush Limbaugh, Topicrushlimbaugh, Rush Limbaughs Sponsors, Rush Limbaugh Sandra Fluke, Video, Rush Limbaugh Sponsors, Slidepollajax, Carbonite, Boycott Rush Limbaughs Sponsors, Rush Limbaugh Boycott,Technology News
UPDATE 1: Limbaugh issued an apology on Saturday. He said, in part, "My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created...
Rush Limbaugh Boycott Gains Steam
Read More: National Organization for Women, Sleep Train, Sen. Leland Yee, Pro Flowers, Rush Limbaugh, Hu Jintao, Domino's Pizza, Grace Meng, Rush Limbaugh Boycott, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Los Angeles News
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rush Limbaugh's imitation of the Chinese language during a recent speech made by Chinese President Hu Jintao has stirred a back...
