Radio Network Giant Cumulus To Drop Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity Shows

Radio network giant Cumulus is reportedly going to drop the shows of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity after a battle over distribution costs came to an impasse.

Cumulus has decided that it will not renew its contracts with either host, the source said, a move that would remove the two most highly rated conservative talk personalities from more than 40 Cumulus channels in major markets. The decision comes after negotiations between Cumulus and Premiere Networks, the division of Clear Channel that distributes Limbaugh and Hannity's shows, broke down due to disagreements over the cost of the distribution rights, the source said. Cumulus is known to drive a hard bargain on costs, and Clear Channel is known to seek top dollar for big names. As industry insiders caution, Cumulus and Clear Channel have come to the brink before during contract negotiations only to resume talks. But the source told POLITICO that Clear Channel was unlikely to reduce the cost for distribution rights to a level that would satisfy Cumulus.

Some on the left have called the move a response to the ongoing boycott of Limbaugh's advertisers, but that does not appear to be the case. Limbaugh reacted to the news on his show today: "You are gonna be able to get this radio program on as many, if not more, radio stations down the road than it's on now, and what you're being treated to is just a public business negotiation."