O’Reilly on Radio: It’s a ‘Done Deal’

newsmax ^ | Sunday, Dec. 23

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Fox News Channel phenom Bill O’Reilly is gearing up for a network radio show on Westwood One beginning this March, NewsMax learned this weekend.

A source familiar with Westwood, the nation’s largest provider of content to radio stations, said the new O’Reilly program was "a done deal.”

As it stands, O’Reilly will go head-to-head with conservative Rush Limbaugh, the nation’s most listened to radio host, in the 12 to 3PM EST slot.

O'Reilly will also join Westwood's stellar lineup of radio talent, which includes Don Imus, Laura Ingraham, Tom Leykis, G. Gordon Liddy and Jim Bohannon.

Our source said O’Reilly is anxious to get started, and Westwood has already begun lining up stations.

One major hiccup is finding O’Reilly a New York outlet, the nation’s biggest radio market and one believed to be key to an early syndication success.

Currently, talk station WABC in New York carries Rush Limbaugh.

Westwood is already in negotiations with WABC competitor, 50,000 watt powerhouse WOR, which airs "King of Talk” Bob Grant during rush hour.

Currently, WOR has no political talk for its Grant lead-in during the 12-3 slot. Still, WOR execs won’t give Westwood the time.

WOR has offered to air O’Reilly, but on tape delay in the evening.

But that move may mean O’Reilly’s radio program will compete with its top-rated cable program.

A success on talk radio will solidify O’Reilly as one of the top media properties in America.

His radio audience could easily be several times larger than his cable one, and industry experts say O’Reilly could easily pull $10 million a year from his radio gig – significantly more than his multi-million Fox deal.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

great news

[tbeatty]

I thought O'Reilly denied the whole radio thing and bagged on Drudge for reporting such "lies."

[classygreeneyedblonde]

I never heard that

[xm177e2]

Look here

[Brimack34]

He not only said Drudge was lying about this he also claimed he would not do a show untill he talked to RUSH himself. Why would he go back on his word? All he will talk about is ban SUV's and let's do somthing about this Globel Warming problem.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

You think maybe drudge is a wee bit jealous

[RickyJ]

O'Riley better pick a different time slot if wants any listeners. Rush will kick his TV as@.

Sean Hannity wouldn't dream of going up against Rush's show, and he's infinitely better than O'Riley

[GreatOne]

If this is true, I'm done with O'Reilly and his t.v. show. One of the things about him is that he says he is is an honest, shoot-from-the-hip guy. If he's going into radio after the big deal he made out of Drudge's report, he just lost me as a viewer.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Well maybe he thinks Rush will retire or something and he wants the listerners from that time slot

[ilgipper]

It would be interesting. On one hand, many Rush fans also love O'Reilly. They may or may not stay loyal to Rush. O'reilly also gets many people watching him on tv that are not Rush listeners. The question is whether these folks will tune into radio. I don't think Rush will lose much, if any, ratings.

[McGavin999]

His ego's out of hand if he thinks he can go up against Rush. He'll be oversaturated with both radio and the TV program. As it is, he's on twice a night on FOX. I like O'Reilly a lot, but I wouldn't miss Rush to listen to him.

[smileee]

I did!

[katykelly]

I'll stick with Rush and Hanitty as clean up, but good luck to O'Reilly.

[tonyinv]

Maybe Rush can go on CNN against O'Reilly at 8pm, he'd be lead-in to King. Man now that would be a battle, I think Rush would win that one hands down too.

[The Cajun]

1 hour of O'reilly = entertaining.
2 hours of O'Reilly = a little too much O'Reilly.
3 hours of O'Reilly = beginning to grate on nerves.

3 hours of Rush - entertaining.

[sbelew]

I like O'Reilly well enough - BUT, compared to Rush, he's a lightweight. He's gonna get clobbered.

[beaversmom]

I'll be listening to O'Reilly if he's in the Denver market. He's one of my favs. Gee, what a line-up we'll have here. Rush on 850, Sean on 710, and O'Reilly on ?. Can't wait.

[John Farson]

I hope O'Reilly does get a 12-3 radio show. Competition can only improve Rush's show. Hopefully, it will encourage Rush to limit the time he spends talking about golf, motivational b.s., etc.

I wonder if this news was released because Rush's cochlear implant operation was a success...

[Dolphy]

O'Reilly became pretty tongue twisted on Drudge. I lost a lot of respect for him when he said he didn't know what his people were doing...apparently forgetting the guests he beats up for not knowing what the whole of their organizations are doing.

O'Reilly can't compete with Rush. He doesn't have the humor, the ability to entertain or the depth to have more than 5 minutes of knowledge on any subject.