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Rush Limbaugh sets new deal
More TV & Radio NEW YORK (AP) -- Approaching his 20th anniversary as talk radio's most dominant force, Rush Limbaugh has signed a lucrative new deal with Premiere Radio Networks that will keep him on the air until 2016.
Premiere wouldn't disclose details on Wednesday, but Limbaugh told The New York Times in an article to be published Sunday that he would be getting a nine-figure signing bonus and would make about $38 million a year.
Limbaugh's three-hour show, broadcast from his office in Florida, is heard on some 600 radio stations across the country. More than 14 million people listen to him at least once a week, according to Talkers magazine. Sean Hannity is second with more than 13 million listeners.
"This is exactly where I want to be, doing what I was born to do, with an amazing audience and phenomenal support from affiliate stations and sponsors," Limbaugh said in a statement. "I'm having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have."
He declined an interview request from The Associated Press.
Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" this year showed his continuing influence in political discourse. He urged his listeners to vote for Hillary Clinton to keep the Democratic nomination fight going in the hopes of hurting Barack Obama.
Limbaugh, however, is no big fan of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, even though he prefers him to Obama. Limbaugh, 57, said in January that if McCain were nominated "it's going to destroy the Republican Party."
Keeping Limbaugh in the fold is crucial if radio is going to be competitive with the Internet and satellite radio, said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers.
"It shows that there's a strong commitment on the part of one of the leading companies in our industry to remain viable for the next decade," he said. "If radio is going to continue and to survive it's got to do what it takes to keep its biggest players happy and exclusive to radio."
Premiere Radio Networks, which is owned by Clear Channel Radio, is also partners with Limbaugh in "The Limbaugh Letter," a monthly newsletter, and the Web site RushLimbaugh.com. The company also syndicates "The Rush Limbaugh Morning Update," a 90-second commentary that airs Monday through Friday.
Charlie Rahilly, Premiere president, said advertiser and affiliate demand for Limbaugh's show is at an all-time high.
Despite the reported big price tag, Rahilly said: "It's a really rational decision ... It's great for Premiere and Clear Channel."
He said there are new media opportunities that can make the deal more lucrative in the coming years. For example, the possibility of streaming Limbaugh material on demand on the computer, or making commentaries available on wireless devices, are potential future ways to raise revenue.
Posted by gnreed on July 3, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good. Now hopefully he can afford treatment for his drug addiction he has admitted to having.
Posted by huckster on July 3, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you mean the one he already received treatment for and has overcome, gnreed? you libs are hate mongers.
Posted by RubyRed482 on July 3, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can we be SURE he has overcome it? Is he getting drug tested? If you know anything about AA/NA, you know that "once an addict, always an addict." And if you want to call someone a hate monger...Call Rush Limbaugh that. Do you actually LISTEN to the guy? He OOZES hate!
Posted by seekthetruth80 on July 3, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And The Propaganda Machine Rolls On....
Posted by gnreed on July 3, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
libs are hate mongers????? I believe the far right wing Christian Republicans already have that title.
Posted by newabileneresident on July 3, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well, his local drug dealers will be happy. That'll keep him high for a while.
Posted by hatestheramps on July 3, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rush is getting paid more than the CEO of Exxon- Mobil and the President of the US. There must be an AWFUL LOT of people who like him, including me. Sorry liberals. He will be there zinging you for at least 8 more years.
Posted by gnreed on July 3, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Sorry liberals. He will be there zinging you for at least 8 more years."
Unless the drugs get to him first. You never know.
Posted by seekthetruth80 on July 3, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So if you dislike El-Rushbo that makes you a lib?
You guys are really stuck in the Matrix, aren't you?
Sure Rush is making bank - who would expect anything different? Joseph Goebbels also made a buck or two in his hay day.
Posted by huckster on July 3, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
libs will excuse anyone for personal problems except a republican.
at least yall are consistent in your hate.
Posted by rannc on July 3, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rush is making some big bucks for his Company. He should be rewarded.
Libs have a problem with success.
The Liberal programs tanked because they were nothing but emotional bleating.
I enjoy listening to reality, not the irrational emotion of Liberals.
Posted by reaganite on July 3, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are you libs so terrified of Rush?
I haven't listened to his show in over a decade but I guess I should start again.
Anything that terrifies you so badly has to be good.
Posted by reaganite on July 3, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
seekthetruth80
"You guys are really stuck in the Matrix, aren't you?"
Be careful, the mind control satelites are zeroing in on you.
Quick, use this!
http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html#BUILD
Posted by rannc on July 3, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
huckster,
"libs will excuse anyone for personal problems except a republican"
Yes, their heroes are moral and societal failures like Paris Hilton, Tim Robbins and Robert Downey, Jr.
The list goes on.
Posted by gnreed on July 3, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rush is a social failure as well. DRUG ADDICT.
Posted by reaganite on July 3, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gnreed
"Rush is a social failure as well. DRUG ADDICT."
And worth 400 million more than you.
Must really hurt that a "social failure" and "DRUG ADDICT", makes you so bitter...
Posted by gnreed on July 3, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't hurt me. I am not a drug addict and would much rather listen to music than his line of BS everyday. No bitterness here. LOL
Posted by gnreed on July 3, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I kind of like Rush now. He continues to help the democratic party each time he opens his mouth. People are sick and tired of the hatred and his diarhea of the mouth.
Posted by dalai-llama on July 4, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Liberal programs tanked because they were nothing but emotional bleating."
The irony is palpable.
Posted by Gus on July 4, 2008 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rush Limbaugh has done more to advance the popularity of Barack Obama than anyone out there. He's an idiot who's influence remains with the same audience he's had for 15 yrs. It won't change. Idiocy flocks to idiocy. The "conservatives" find solace and comfort in listening to someone who spouts their view and promotes their delusional thinking.
By the way...his operation chaos didn't change the outcome. Obama won, he will win in November.
Y'all keep listening...and when he's over and out, tune into Sean Hannity.
Posted by ropers40 on July 4, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I listen to him once a week when I need to realize my sanity has not left me as his has him
Posted by ropers40 on July 4, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh I forgot to add " I am a liberal and I approve this commercial"
Posted by ropers40 on July 4, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
opps left out evil before liberal
Posted by texrunner2003 on July 5, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is amazing how liberals look at drug addiction. If you are someone like Patrick Kennedy, who has been to rehab three times, you are courageous. If you are someone like Rush you are nothing but an addict and always will be.
Ted Kennedy has a history of alcohol abuse and drove off of a bridge from a party with a young woman who was not his wife and left her to died in the car and not report the accident for hours and hours. We all know why, don't we? He was intoxicated.
At least, Rush has never murdered anyone!
Posted by hatestheramps on July 5, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rush was hooked on Prescription pain killers, because he hurt. They were prescribed by his Doctor. There are many many people in America that have done that. They just didn't make his mistake of being the most success Conservative Talk Show Host in history so the liberals will hate them for it. That is all in the past and he continues to provide a great service to humanity. He didn't go out and buy Cocaine, Marijuana or Heroin. Why do you think the liberals hate him so much? Because he is killing them. Operation Chaos was not to keep Obama from getting the nomination, it was just to keep Hillary in the race to the very end so both of them would waste a lot of campaign money on each other that could have been saved to fight the Republicans. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Posted by Abilene_Libertarian on July 5, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rush WHO?
Posted by ropers40 on July 6, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem with Rush is he is someone who will rant and rave about such things, yet he is doing it himself.
Posted by GaryBuseysBartender on July 6, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did somebody say that the liberal programs tanked because they were nothing but emotional bleating? Please! The liberal programs were not successful because those who would enjoy listening to them actually work for a living, and don't have time to listen to the radio all day. If you listen to Limbaugh or Hannity, you either don't have a job or you spend your day listening to the radio anyway, which means you're not actually doing your job. Let me guess, you have a liberal doing it for you?
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