03-06-2012, 04:57 PM
On ratings - I'll just speak of my own market since I have better info on that, though I've heard in a general way that right now there is more market for NPR and for "balanced" commercial talk rather than for the more extreme partisan talkers.
On of the nation's first all-conservative talk stations, KVI Seattle, reverted to an all-music format in 2010 after 17 years of the talk format, which had tanked in the ratings. That leaves two other AM conservative talk stations, one w/Rush, and neither has as big a market share as KUOW, one of the local NPR stations.
Rush's demographic, older conservative white men who fear change, is declining, and he is not bringing in new younger listeners. Same for Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Beck already tanked. Rush may just continue to die a natural death in terms of ratings, but he can hasten that if stunts like this last one keep up.
It's funny how often you see talk like "Rush has the number one show" without reliable numbers to back it up. I think there is more bravado to his reputation than fact.
On of the nation's first all-conservative talk stations, KVI Seattle, reverted to an all-music format in 2010 after 17 years of the talk format, which had tanked in the ratings. That leaves two other AM conservative talk stations, one w/Rush, and neither has as big a market share as KUOW, one of the local NPR stations.
Rush's demographic, older conservative white men who fear change, is declining, and he is not bringing in new younger listeners. Same for Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Beck already tanked. Rush may just continue to die a natural death in terms of ratings, but he can hasten that if stunts like this last one keep up.
It's funny how often you see talk like "Rush has the number one show" without reliable numbers to back it up. I think there is more bravado to his reputation than fact.