Re: Rush and Dr Laura

[Dib9@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-07-09 12:59:07 EDT, Terry Wood writes:

<< Dan, I was quoting the article in the Paper, those are the stations and the
 words of the reporter who wrote the story.  <<snip>>  Now in
 order for a station to carry rush and stern and imus  they must be able to
 sell time on the air, when the cost outdistances the revenue available or
 the ratings donot cover the costs, then you cut,  Rush is going down in
 ratings and Imus up.  There is a difference though, Imus and Stern work for
 Uncle Mel,  Rush is a Rush owned show! >>

Did the story quote someone as saying "Smaller Stations are refusing to carry
him because the listenership is down and the GREED factor on his part" or was
this supposed to be an objective statement by the reporter?  If it was not a
quote, the statement is commentary not reporting.  My reaction to your post
was based on my assumption that these were your words.

I don't disagree with you about the reasons for cuts.  I have made the same
point about cuts at other stations.  My point on WTSN is these cuts are part
of a series of moves being made that seem to be part of a race to the bottom.
What is replacing Rush and Laura?  Probably lower quality barter programming
like Ollie North or the Talk America Network.

Rush's show is now owned by Jacor so he answers to a corporate master just
like Imus and Stern.

As for Rush's ratings, they are down, as are the ratings for poltical talk
shows across the board.  Political talk was in, now it is not.  The interest
in politics generally is very low.  Rush remains the top national political
talk radio show.  No other show comes close.  Rush may be past his peak, but
it is still a very successful show with a strong line up of stations.  People
in the WTSN listening area can still listen to Rush on WGAN and WHDH.

Dan Billings
Bowdoinham, Maine

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