I can't believe they'd drop Rush. As I said, you've got to count the actual numbers, not just the percentages. And the article didn't give a timeframe: I know after the (awful) elections, my interest in politics dropped. I still listened to Rush (but usually reading or something while he was on), but for TV I've been throwing an I Love Lucy tape in -- all politicked out for a while.
Savage, on the other hand, well, I guess he's an acquired taste. I can't believe his numbers were ever as high as Rush's, so the percentage comparison wouldn't be meaningful.
I'm afraid you might be right about the Red Sox ruining everything. So do they want to be a talk station or a sports station? (Reminds me of that cable TV exec who was justifying high cable rates because "sports are expensive." Yeah? I hate sports -- all sports! Drop 'em all for all I care, or let people who actually like sports pick up the tab!)
Supposedly they have to pay to carry Rush and Savage (though I thought Savage was "free" to them) and this may be part of
cost cutting...Who knows.
I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to bring back
Peter Blute who now does mornings for WCRN in Worcester. May also wind up bringing syndicated Glenn Beck (they now run him Saturday nights) aboard. WRKO is kind of the "affiliate"
for Premiere, who has Rush, Noory, Drudge, and Beck.
It sounds like they're already doing lots of sports:
Celtics, Red Sox, and BC football, etc. with sister
station WEEI around to TALK sports.
Sports is hot talk radio--many stations who are
dropping Air America are picking up ESPN or
Fox Sports (cheap to run, yet makes ad money!)