Fail. No one will tune in, except a few Rush loyalists - I won’t for sure. No one can replace Rush.
“Fail. No one will tune in, except a few Rush loyalists - I won’t for sure. No one can replace Rush.”
*******************************************************************
It’s true that no one will be as good as Rush. But, come on, do you think we really should have three hours of RADIO SILENCE to honor Rush?
Ditto. None of these “replacements” are actual heirs to the throne. Initially, we were told that Rush’s show would continue, with the “guide hosts” and relevant clips of wisdom from El Rushbo. And, according to the WSJ, that format was still retaining 75-80% of Rush’s audience, which is a surprisingly strong performance, and a true testament to the power of the Limbaugh brand.
Of course, it was inevitable that other syndicators would begin offering their programs to Rush affiliates in the wake of his passing. Truth be told (as someone who worked in the broadcasting salt mines years ago), some of the stations were approached while Rush was still alive, and I’m sure general managers and program directors listened to the pitch—you have to be prepared for all contingencies, and radio syndication is a cut-throat business. The greatest talk host of all time is dying? Well, let’s try to drum up a little business and recruit a few more affiliates after he passes on.
The move by Premier is a bit more surprising, since (a) we were told the current format would continue and (b) it seemed to be working. Premier and IHeart must have been spooked by some of the large affiliate defections and may have detected some weakening in the most recent ratings, hence the roll-out of the Clay Travis/Buck Sexton show.
As Rush would say, “flag the tape;” (or in this case, post). I’ll go out on a very short limb and predict the Travis/Sexton program will be a flop. Both are very good in their own right, but they’ve never worked together, and they’re supposed to have instant chemistry from Day One. The pairing suggests a compromise; half the suits from Premier wanted Buck, the rest wanted Clay Travis, so the solution is...put them together.
After Rush’s death, I predicted that Buck would eventually inherit the 12 noon - 3 pm slot. He’s sharp, talented and adapted to radio very quickly. But the addition of Travis was a surprise—guessing Premier is hoping his huge social media following will bring more listeners to the show.
However, this is also worth noting: in his note to fans about his new gig, Travis never mentioned Buck Sexton once. Let’s see...you’re about to embark on a nationally syndicated radio show, backed by the biggest company in the business (Premier) and you never reference the guy who is going to be your co-host? There may be trouble brewing in the studio even before the first show.