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Hannity fires Cumulus?
Hot Air ^ | August 16, 2013 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 08/16/2013 6:35:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Worth a mention, because the buzz on this negotiation was that Cumulus was looking to dump Sean Hannity, not the other way around. To say that there may be bad blood in play is putting it mildly, although nothing official has been announced yet:

Conservative radio superstar Sean Hannity has reportedly fired Cumulus Media, telling the network that he definitely won’t be re-signing when his contract expires.

The way Cumulus treats its employees is, apparently, one reason Hannity is leaving is Cumulus. The company treats its employees “like dirt,” sources tell Inside Music Media, to which Talkers magazine attributes a Hannity quote:

“Hannity is fed up with the Dickey Brothers and the alleged bullying culture of Cumulus Media saying privately, ’The Dickey Brothers are the single worst operators in the history of radio.’”

Last night, Dylan Byers reported that a split was likely, but wisely cautioned readers to wait for the press releases:

In the latest plot-twist in negotiations over rights to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity’s radio programs, Cumulus now looks set to drop its affiliation with Hannity entirely while re-upping its deal with Limbaugh in virtually all markets, according to sources familiar with the contract negotiations.

POLITICO learned of the plans on Thursday night when Cumulus-syndicated radio host Michael Savage told his listeners that he anticipated taking over Hannity’s time slot later this year on Cumulus stations. …

Limbaugh and Hannity are the number-one and number-two ranked talk radio hosts in the country, respectively. To date, Cumulus carries each Limbaugh and Hannity’s shows on more than 40 stations around the country, with some overlap in certain markets.

And a cautionary note: Until you read the press release, these deals remain fluid. In late July, Cumulus was set to drop both hosts; two days later both negotiations were back on the table. What you’re reading is where things stand as of the timestamp.

Bear that last part in mind when considering how this was getting spun until this afternoon. Some assumed Cumulus wanted to dump Hannity, supposedly over falling ad revenue. Instead, it looks like both sides played hardball — and according to Inside Music Media, Clear Channel may be poised to scoop up Hannity and eat Cumulus’ lunch. Or heck, Cumulus may end up coughing up a better bid, too.

Right now, it might be best to follow Byers’ advice and wait for the press releases, or at least a scorecard.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: hannity; seanhannity; talkradio
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To: Bullish

And his freakin Nerf football.


21 posted on 08/16/2013 8:56:55 PM PDT by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: NVDave
that high??? *whistle*
..it's still 3000% more IQ that most media "talent" & 0'Blowfly have.

22 posted on 08/16/2013 8:58:31 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (who'll take tomorrow,$pend it all today;who can take your income & tax it all away..0'Blowfly can :-)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hannity long since jumped the shark.


23 posted on 08/16/2013 9:06:55 PM PDT by oldbill
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To: fabian

I’m really starting to wonder about Rush myself. It’s one thing to repeat something so it sinks in for the listener, but the past couple of months he’ll scream the same phrase ten or fifteen times in a couple of minutes.


24 posted on 08/16/2013 9:39:11 PM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hannity is syndicated by Premiere Radio, which is a branch of Clear Channel. Clear Channel and Cumulus are #1 and #2 in the radio business, respectively, and they’re archrivals.

Cumulus owns Sean’s flagship, WABC, and Clear Channel owns rival WOR. Cumulus has about 40 stations that carry Hannity. The issue is whether they will continue to do so or find alternate programming.


25 posted on 08/16/2013 10:36:38 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Milton Miteybad
They’re dumping a lot of the proven local talent they inherited in favor of less expensive alternatives.

In DC, they dumped their 24-year local FM morning host (11th in the market) and replaced him with a show they syndicate out of Atlanta, which is tacky and appears to be designed for frat boys. They dropped from 11th in the timeslot to 16th virtually overnight.

26 posted on 08/16/2013 10:39:47 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: bimboeruption

Nothing good can come of working for total jerks. When you find yourself in that situation, leave.


27 posted on 08/16/2013 10:45:59 PM PDT by varmintman
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To: jiggyboy

Yes..probably too much sex with Marta and too much fame going to his head. Happens to the best if not perfectly centered.


28 posted on 08/16/2013 10:48:35 PM PDT by fabian (" And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, and the forests will echo in laughter")
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To: bimboeruption

The GOP water carrier is having some problems. About time! I haven’t been able to listen to his BS propaganda for years.


29 posted on 08/16/2013 10:50:11 PM PDT by foundedonpurpose (It's time for a fundamental restoration, of our country's principles!)
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To: TBP

Same thing happened in Dallas with a 20 year plus morning guy.

I wasn’t a huge fan of his and seldom listened to him, but it seemed odd. He had pretty good ratings.


30 posted on 08/16/2013 11:02:20 PM PDT by berdie
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Cumulus has been a disaster for radio stations in general. It was this company that let go a lot of local radio hosts on KNBR, KGO and KSFO in the San Francisco area--many of them with long employment histories and good ratings.

Is it small wonder why Sean Hannity is leaving Cumulus? He will likely join Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks, who still has Rush Limbaugh (the #1 talk show in daytime) and Coast to Coast AM (the #1 talk show overnight), both major moneymakers.

31 posted on 08/16/2013 11:51:17 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Savage could get aced out just for flapping his lips on this. Advice: Know when to shut up.

If Savage does get that time slot, they'll be looking for a replacement within months due to the ratings collapse. Hannity is at least listenable. Savage is not.

32 posted on 08/17/2013 8:33:57 AM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (Obama is an historic President. He's America's first 'Dear Leader' President.)
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To: TBP

In DFW, Cumulus failed to renew the contract of Mark Davis at WBAP, which brought in Ben Ferguson as a replacement. Nothing against Ben Ferguson, but he would have to live another 100 lifetimes to become one-half the broadcaster Mark Davis is. Davis moved over to KSKY and is now brutally pummeling his replacement. It’s not even close to being a fair fight. The Dickey Bros. win the booby prize yet again!


33 posted on 08/17/2013 8:40:20 AM PDT by Milton Miteybad (I am Jim Thompson. {Really.})
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To: DuncanWaring
Anyone who asks “Doesn’t 0bama realize the problems his policy blahblahblah is causing?” is a moron.
Of course 0bama realizes the problems his policies cause; that’s why they’re his policies.
Hannity’s been asking “Doesn’t 0bama realize the problems his policy blahblahblah is causing?” for years.

True enough.

34 posted on 08/17/2013 1:10:24 PM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: Milton Miteybad

I guess that’s why I haven’t heard Davis in Rush’s fill-in lineup lately.


35 posted on 08/17/2013 10:29:22 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Bullish
This Velma?


36 posted on 08/18/2013 12:13:43 PM PDT by the jogger
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To: bimboeruption
With his friends Karl Rove and Toe-Sucker Morris.

If he ever did lose his radio show, I'm sure The Architect could get him a lucrative gig fleecing unsuspecting Republican donors out of their $10 and $20 donations in upcoming elections.

37 posted on 08/18/2013 12:25:29 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'm a Christian, pro-life, pro-gun, Reaganite. The GOP hates me. Why should I vote for them?)
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To: advertising guy

And I am thankful to be able to set the Hannity thread up. :)


38 posted on 08/21/2013 5:32:54 PM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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