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| Old timer signs another radio deal to stay on. |
Old fart Rush Limbaugh signed a four year deal to stay on the airwaves at least until he reaches 72 years old. Despite losing his hearing and possibly his vision, Limbaugh will continue his reign as the "King of Talk Radio."
He has been taking a slimmer contract due to iHeart Media struggles. The deal probably has him signed on for less than $10 million.
Brian Stelzer of CNN reported that Trump was there to launch an "Evangelicals for Trump" coalition. After lodging his usual complaints about news outlets that challenge him, he turned to praise some of his biggest radio and TV boosters.
"We have great people," Trump said. "Rush just signed another four-year contract. He just wants four more years, okay. Rush, Sean Hannity, Laura -- a lot of great people -- Tucker's been great, 'Fox & Friends,' right?"
Trump went on, listing off other supporters in the media. But the Limbaugh shout-out was curious because the host and the syndicator had not announced a new deal yet. Premiere's most recent acknowledgement about Limbaugh's contract was back in August 2016, when he re-upped.
It turns out the president had some inside information -- perhaps from one of Limbaugh's visits to Trump's properties.
Trump and the radio host were seen eating launch and chatting with others at Trump's West Palm Beach golf club a few days before Christmas.
The two men have been allies for many years, pre-dating the president's run for office.
"Rush is a great guy & a great character," he tweeted back in 2012.
Limbaugh campaigned with Trump at the president's final midterms rally in 2018.
And just the other day, Trump tweeted out a thank-you to Limbaugh "for the tremendous support he has given to the MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Movement and our KEEP AMERICA GREAT Agenda!"
Trump added, "He is a major star who never wavered despite the Fake News Hits he has had to endure. His voice is far bigger than theirs!
Limbaugh reaches tens of millions of people through radio stations across the country, web streams, and appearances on Fox News. He marked his 31st year in national syndication last August.
His show "continues to be the most-listened-to national radio talk show in America," according to Premiere.
Thanks to his Sandra Fluke attacks, media buyers are extremely cautious about placing ads on shows like his, Sean "Softball" Hannity and Mark Levin. Limbaugh still has 604 radio affiliates. He still has some power within the Republican Party.
However, it's waning because his audience are old, white, over 55 years old and ridiculously dumb.
The impact of advertising boycotts hurt conservative and progressive radio agitators. Companies believe talk radio hosts are too controversial for ad buys.
Major corporations won't do business with them. That leads to radio stations and affiliates closing.
That's why you hear Michael Savage, Bill Press, Laura Ingraham, Mike Malloy and Herman Cain on podcast now. They cannot prosper without ad buys so they're changing to podcasts and they'll have subscribers willing to shelves a few to keep them on.
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