(Major shakeup for the radio industry) Cumulus planning to drop Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity

[alp227]

19. "remove (Limbaugh and Hannity) from more than 40 Cumulus channels in major markets."

Last edited Mon Jul 29, 2013, 12:56 AM - Edit history (2)

I already posted about the possibility of Rush losing a bunch of markets irrevocably when this news was just a rumor before the summer.

Below I will break down markets where Rush is carried on a local Cumulus station and speculate if any other stations in the area will be able to take in Rush. I see that in many markets Rush will move to lower-power stations that don't cover as large regions as the cumulus stations do.

(Hmm I only count 34 stations in my search of RushLimbaugh.com comparing the state-by-state list there w/ wikipedia's list of radio stations owned by Cumulus media.)

Among large markets:
Chicago, IL/WLS: Most likely Rush will replace the (tape-delayed) Dennis Miller on Salem-owned WIND 560. Salem Radio is sorta the right wing version of Air America Radio as most Salem stations carry the same lineup of syndicated shows, but WIND carries the Premiere Networks-distributed Glenn Beck show. Premiere also distributes Rush. WISN 1130 out of Milwaukee is also an alternative for Rush fans if WIND doesn't take the show.

Dallas, TX/WBAP: Rush could move to Clear Channel-owned KFXR 1190 and replace that station's 11am CT delayed presentation of Glenn Beck. Alternatively there is the Salem-owned KSKY.

Detroit, MI/WJR: Bye bye. Salem-owned WDTK 1400 is the only other talk station in Detroit/Ann Arbor metro other than WJR, and during the 12-3 ET Rush timeslot WDTK carries the Salem-distributed Dennis Prager live. Nearest Rush station is WTAM 1100 out of Cleveland with a VERY weak signal in Detroit Metro due to an AM 1090 in Detroit area.

New York City/WABC: 77 WABC has been the flagship Rush station since 1988, as the Eric Cartman of talk radio launched his national show from that station after nearly a decade as a local-level host. Once the Cumulus contract sunsets, Rush and Sean shows will most likely move to WABC's 50-kW heritage competitor, WOR 710, which was recently bought by Clear Channel.

Washington, DC/WMAL: Most likely the independent WTNT 730 "The Truth", whose slogan was once "Washington's conservative talk station", can pick up the show. WCBM 680 out of Baltimore also carries Rush live. if you look up WTNT's website you'll notice it's got a shitty brokered time format most of the week! Alternatively, Salem-owned WWRC 1260.

HOWEVER, SOME smaller markets may no longer be polluted with Rush, but other stations may swap the show with other stations. Or strong distant stations may be able to serve dittoheads in the outskirts.

Albuquerque/KKOB: The only other talk stations in the ABQ/Santa Fe area are either another Cumulus station (dismiss that) and progressive stations KTRC/Santa Fe and KABQ/Albuquerque. Do note that Clear Channel owns KABQ; thus the possibility of KABQ replacing Dial Global-dist. Ed Schultz with Premiere-dist. Rush should NOT be dismissed as Clear Channel owns Premiere!

Albany, GA/WALG: No other stations in the home of the University of Georgia where Limbaugh show may fit. Albany dittoheads will need to listen to a noisy signal of WSB 750 out of Atlanta if they are somewhere w/o internet access.

Appleton, WI/WOSH: Rush is on a nearby Green Bay station, WTAQ.

Binghamton, NY/WNBF: Dittoheads here can listen to Rush on (a weaker signal of) WHCU out of Ithaca (my birthplace!)

Blacksburg, VA/WFNR: Rush can be heard from nearby WFIR/Roanoke.

Boise, ID/KBOI: Rush could end up tape-delayed one hour on rival KIDO if the station replaces Glenn Beck with Rush.

Chattanooga, TN/WGOW: The other talk station in Chattanooga is this crazy Christian fundmanetalist WJOC, and that station has Alex Jones (a cheaper show) during the Rush timeslot. Seems that Rush fans without the Internet will need to listen to Atlanta's WSB-AM under a lot of static. Oh, shout out to Chattanooga political cartoonist Clay Bennett!

Colorado Springs, CO/KVOR: CS is also Michelle Malkin's hometown. The other CS talk station, KZNT, is a Salem station that carries Prager. However, Denver 50 kW blowtorch KOA does have good coverage in CS.

Columbia, MO/KFRU: Dittoheads in the home of the University of Missouri can still get their Rush fix via KWOS out of Jefferson City or (a weaker signal of) KMBZ/Kansas City.

Dubuque, IA/WDBQ: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit.

Fayetteville, AR/KFAY: The home of the University of Arkansas has no other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit.

Fayetteville, NC/WFNC: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit.

Flint, MI/WWCK: Competitor WFNT, which is 5 kW vs. WWCK's 1 kW, could replace its delayed Glenn Beck presentation with a live Rush presentation.

Fort Walton Beach, FL/WFTW: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit as lower-power competitor WFDM carries a statewide syndicated host (Burnie Thompson) during the Limbaugh show.

Huntsville, AL/WVNN: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit. However, WEKI, based in nearby Decatur, could replace Prager with Rush.

Johnson City, TN/WJCW: Rush could move to WFHG-FM and replace that station's delayed presentation of Laura Ingraham.

Kalamazoo, MI/WKMI: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit.

Killeen, TX/KTEM: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit, unless dittoheads are willing to put up with weaker signals on KLBJ/Austin or KWTX/Waco.

Knoxville, TN/WOKI: This station could swap rush to WETR for Cumulus-dist. Mike Huckabee.

Lake Charles, LA/KAOK: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit, but KLVI Beaumont and KTRH Houston, Clear Channel-owned Limbaugh affiliates, may be audible in the area.

Lansing, MI/WJIM: Higher-powered competitor WILS (WILS is 25 kW, WJIM 890 W) currently carries Glenn Beck delayed during the Rush timeslot and may take Rush.

Little Rock, AR/KARN: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit.

Macon, GA/WMAC: Limbaugh could possibly move to WRWR-FM in nearby Warner Robins replacing WRWR's delayed Glenn Beck presentation.

Montgomery, AL/WLWI: Rush could move to Clear Channel's WACV.

Pensacola, FL/WCOA: (Hi Mike Papantonio!) WNRP could replace its live presentation of Dennis Miller.

Reno, NV/KKOH: KKOH could swap Rush to FM talk station KNEZ in exchange for the Cumulus-distributed Mike Huckabee Show.

Rockford, IL/WROK: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit, unless dittoheads are willing to listen to noisy signals of WIBA/Madison or whichever Chicago station is the next to have Rush.

Topeka, KS/KMAJ: No other stations in the area where Limbaugh show may fit, unless Topeka dittoheads want to listen to KMBZ out of Kansas City with some interference.

York, PA/WSBA: York can hear Rush on two other stations: WHP Harrisburg or WCBM Baltimore.