Rush's debacle spreads

According to an article in Huffington Post, more than 50 sponsors have pulled their support from Rush Limbaugh's show.   By Thursday, his show was practically devoid of paid ads.

Of 86 spots aired, 77 were "free public service announcements donated by the Ads Council;  another 7 were from companies "in the process of pulling their spots."

It's even spreading.  Apparently here's the way this works:  large numbers of advertisers pay for radio advertising, which is handled by Traffic Managers.    Advertisers get to specify certain things, like which part of the day and what types of programs to avoid.  So it's not quite like Super Bowl sponsors, where a few big name companies choose to be the identified sponsors of the program.

Nevertheless, the Limbaugh debacle is having a spreading effect.  The following is an excerpt from a memo on Radio-Info.com:

"To all Traffic Managers: The information below applies to your Premiere Radio Networks commercial inventory. More than 350 different advertisers sponsor the programs and services provided to your station on a barter basis. Like advertisers that purchase commercials on your radio station from your sales staff, our sponsors communicate specific rotations, day-part preferences and advertising environments they prefer…

They’ve specifically asked that you schedule their commercials in day-parts or programs free of content that you know are deemed to be offensive or controversial (for example, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Leykis, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity). Those are defined as environments likely to stir negative sentiment from a very small percentage of the listening public."

Not only has this given a huge megaphone to the original cause for which Sandra Fluke was barred from testifying before the Republican-dominated committee, but it is having a devastating effect -- even if it's only temporary -- on the hate-filled talk radio industry.

Ralph