A couple weeks ago, I wrote that if SiriusXM dropped Fox News Talk (John Gibson, Tom Sullivan, Spencer Hughes, Brian without the Judge, Alan Colmes), that they would likely fold, as they have made very little progress in landing significant over the air affiliates, probably in part that regular radio cringes each time the hosts mention being on SiriusXM
While Fox Talk is gone from the XM and streaming, it is continuing on Sirius, at least for now.
The FCC just approved the change of control with John Malone of Dish TV taking control of SiriusXM from Mel Karmazin. I’m still holding to my prediction you’re going to see Rush on SiriusXM before his Clear Channel contract is up.
Art, I bet before Rush goes to SiriusXM he tries his hand at syndication. HE’S the guy with 600 + stations, why does he need a middleman? I think they would want to play ball too, rather than see him go to sat.! Where are they going to find his kind of talent to compete? And he has always shown loyalty to his carriers, not wanting to undermine radio. There is a lot of security in having hundreds of customers rather than one.
Plus I think it would appeal to his ego to turn the EIB Network into a network, and I think he would relish the challange of creating that kind of legacy.
I’ve mentioned a few times that I thought it unfortunate that EIB is just a brand to stamp in coffee mugs and not a reality. I would really like to hear James Golden in his own show and see Rush developing the talent that will live beyond his tenure.
The advertiser boycott and the fact that Bob Pittman is a lifetime major donor and activist in the Democratic Party are the two main reasons I doubt Premiere and Rush are going to continuing holding hands. Rush is approaching “normal” retirement age.
Rush already has his own syndication in a sense, Rush 24/7. Premiere used Rush’s clout to force package deals on stations – you can have Rush if you carry the show live for three hours, air the morning short form, carry best of on the weekend and carry Sean Hannity (whose joint contract with CC and Cumulus is running out in the next year or two). But self-syndication would be hard. Cumulus is dumping Rush as fast as they can. If he left Clear Channel, would their stations remain as affiliates?
SiriusXM just announced their year end results. They have 23.4 million paying subscribers. If Rush caused them to add 1 million new (or reactivated accounts, that would be around $200 million/year in additional revenue, with the only incremental expense being what they would pay Rush.
You’re right that Rush has held firm to he’s going to stay with the ones that brung him to the dance – but that wasn’t Bob Pittman.
Hmmm, so Fox doesn’t stream the John Gibson or Tom sullivan? Bummer, I listen to Tom sullivan when Medved goes pro-clinton or pro-illegal alien.
Sullivan is rational and does take a few calls.
Honestly though, I have not listened as much to any onethis year after the Obo got re-elected. I just didn’t want to hear anything cause I am not empowered, just dis-enfranchised. No voice no good.
So I went to christmas music and country music again.
I only recently started listening again, but I am disappointed in Beck and his laughing-Hyenas. That’s all they do in the new year.
Daily, I see the Blackhawk and Apache helicopters flying over my county, often with ‘guns up’ in violation of Posse Comitatus, and I know why they prepare, it is not far off. Thanks Obo.
sad
Parrott
Fox News Radio still streams and a few stations carry them unless I haven’t noticed a change yet
http://streamingradioguide.com/streaming-radio-shows-by-syndicator.php?syndicatorid=16
John Gibson just mentioned Sirius plans to drop Fox News Radio on February 15th