WPTF/WSJS lose Limbaugh

[kba]

From the Radio-Info "breaking news" page:

Premiere pulls Rush Limbaugh affiliations in Raleigh and Greensboro

Curtis Media’s WPTF, Raleigh (680) and WSJS, Winston-Salem (600) have carried Limbaugh’s daily show for over 20 years, but Curtis executive Phil Zachary says Premiere won’t renew the show beyond December 31. Zachary says “this was not unexpected, but it nevertheless isn’t any easier to swallow.” The Curtis President/COO says the company will go for a local show that “serves the 94% of our market population who don’t listen to Rush Limbaugh.” Curtis recently added the North Carolina News Network to its broadcast holdings in the station/network swapping among Capitol Broadcasting and McClatchey. It expects to name the Limbaugh replacement for both WPTF and WSJS by December 1. Clear Channel-owned Premiere Radio Networks hasn’t announced its new affiliates for the Research Triangle and the Triad markets.

Any bets where Rush is headed?  The new all-news 'RDU?   Talkradio 93.9?

[carolinaradio]

And News talk 94.5 in Greensboro?

[tothedj]

Interesting possibilities, especially in the Triangle, if "Clear Channel" was smart, WRDU or WKSL should go to a "News/Talk" format, the Raleigh/Durham market needs some competition, WRDU can't compete against WQDR, and WKSL should consider going back to AC like they were when "Sunny 93.9" was around.

[RonaldMcReagan]

Rush gets ratings, but he also alienates a huge portion of the potential audience.  

What is Bill Loomay going to do now if he can't just parrot what Rush says each day?

PTF should piss everybody off and put on Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Rev/Dr. Barber...angry black talkers all day.

[John Thomas8]

WZTK comes in quite clearly in the triangle and hosts their fair share of conservative talkers.  I prefer their two local morning guys, but I like a little honestly with my talk radio.

[Hourly]

Now this will be interesting.  My money is on WRDU flipping but who the hell knows with Clear Channel.  Could it possibly be 850?  I prefer talk 101. 1 myself but will be interested to see how the Curtis brass respond to a new competitor.  Let the games begin!

[RadioDze]

Stranger things have happened, but I doubt Rush will end up at 101.1 or 850, as they're part of Curtis Media along with 680 and 600/1200.  The most likely scenario is, as has been stated in other posts, one of Clear Channel's underperforming FMs in each market going talk.  In a very very wild card but unlikely Raleigh market scenario, I could see Capitol somehow further consolidating their sports formats in lieu of a talker. While there's some added options in Greensboro, there's really nowhere else to go in Raleigh than Clear Channel.

[John Thomas8]

American radio would improve 6.9 brazillion percent if clear channel would fold.

[Atticus]

And News talk 94.5 in Greensboro?

You've got to be kidding on this one!  Not an informed guess at all.  94.5 is one of the MOST successful formats CC has.  They make huge bucks with 94.5.  More like bye-bye Buzz or that urban station they have 105.7(?)  Those stations are underperforming.  No doubt, however, that a new News/Talk is on the way for Greensboro.  I'm rooting for 101 to win the battle.

[Christopher Chenn]

Now who in their right ind would go Talk with Obama getting ready to pull the plug on it.  Wait, I get it. Anyone who has a 'right' channel would balance it off with a 'left' channel. Kinda like stereo of opinions.