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article imageRush Limbaugh Renews Long-Term Contract, Drudge Claims it is a $400 Million Deal

Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos in Entertainment | 15 comments | 1016 views
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Premiere Radio issued a release stating that conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh has renewed a long-term contract with them. Drudge is reporting it is a $400 million deal.
Premiere Radio has announced the signing of a long-term contract with Rush Limbaugh and Drudge has headlined that it is a $400 million dollar deal.

From the release on the Premiere Radio website:

Rush Limbaugh, who's heard weekly by nearly 20 million listeners on about 600 radio stations nationwide, renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of The Rush Limbaugh Show many years into the future. The deal also includes continued syndication of The Rush Limbaugh Morning Update, a 90-second commentary that airs Monday through Friday. Furthermore, Premiere Radio, in partnership with Mr. Limbaugh, will continue to oversee The Limbaugh Letter, a monthly newsletter with a subscriber base in the hundreds of thousands, and RushLimbaugh.com, one of the most popular broadcast media websites that incorporates Rush24/7, a subscription service.


Limbaugh comments for the release by saying, "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. I'm having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have. There's a relationship between the audience and the host here that is second to none. We’re going to continue to provide Broadcast Excellence and have a lot of fun along the way."

The Radio Equalizer announced earlier in the day that the contract was nine figures as well as the news that the New York Times Sunday Magazine is going to publish an 8,000-word piece about Limbaugh.

Drudge claims that his information comes from a "newsroom source" and in his article it makes it clear that the $400 million figure is a "total package" and the package includes a 9-figure signing bonus for the new deal.

Drudge also claims that the New York Times piece will inform the public that Limbaugh will be buying a G550 jet and is making an estimated $38 million a year.

The actual times piece can be found online already right here and is nine pages long.

According to that Times piece, it says that the G550 jet cost Limbaugh $54 million and their information on the new contract deal is that it will be for 8 years:

When we met he was on the verge of signing a new eight-year contract with his syndicator, Premiere Radio Networks. He estimated that it would bring in about $38 million a year. To sweeten the deal, he said he was also getting a nine-figure signing bonus. (A representative from Premiere would not confirm the deal.)


This new contract will make Rush Limbaugh the highest paid radio personality today and according to some, it is breaking all broadcast pay records.
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  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #1
    W O W
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  David Silverberg
    #2
    $38 million a year?? Wow, that wowed me, considering that I have a certain distaste for shock-jock radio personalities, where Limbaugh fits perfectly. Couldn't that money be better spent on struggling indie radio stations who can barely pay their bills?
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #3
    @ David Silverberg
    $38 million a year?? Wow, that wowed me, considering that I have a certain distaste for shock-jock radio personalities, where Limbaugh fits perfectly. Couldn't that money be better spent on struggling indie radio stations who can barely pay their bills?


    Probably but this is his deal. On my blog I asked if he wanted to adopt me....sheeesh.
    Guess if I want him to consider it I should actually start listening to talk radio. (smirk)
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Mr Garibaldi
    #4
    @ Susan Duclos...I should actually start listening to talk radio. (smirk)


    I believe that's been suggested to you a few times in the past...lol.
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #5
    @ Mr Garibaldi
    I believe that's been suggested to you a few times in the past...lol.


    Yeah, every time I do a piece about him..oh well. I DO read the shows transcripts if to see if he said anything so outrageous as to be news worthy.
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Chris Hogg
    #6
    This new contract will make Rush Limbaugh the highest paid radio personality today and according to some, it is breaking all broadcast pay records.


    I don't believe that is correct. Howard Stern got a $500 million contract for five years. I don't think there was ever any breakdown of it being a split between stock/cash/incentive/performance or whatever, but it's still more than Limbaugh.

    I didn't think Limbaugh could pull in this kind of money -- good article.
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #7
    @ Chris Hogg
    I don't believe that is correct. Howard Stern got a $500 million contract for five years. I don't think there was ever any breakdown of it being a split between stock/cash/incentive/performance or whatever, but it's still more than Limbaugh.

    I didn't think Limbaugh could pull in this kind of money -- good article.


    Thanks, but wasn't Stern's also including his TV show that the same people backed?
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Chris Hogg
    #8
    @ Susan Duclos
    Thanks, but wasn't Stern's also including his TV show that the same people backed?

    Don't know Sue?!?
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #9
    @ Chris Hogg
    Don't know Sue?!?


    Well damn, now I have to go look...LOLOL
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #10
    Got it.. it was the SIRIUS deal, which is a paid subscription DISH Network satellite TV and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, with commercial free shows.

    So on one hand yes it is a larger contract, yes it is Radio, but on the other hand it is with a paid subscription service, with commercial free capabilities.

    SIRIUS also is free of FCC content rules.

    So the answer is yes, more money, but completely different type of radio show.

    Still looking for if Stern is still on TV and if it is part of the deal.
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Chris Hogg
    #11
    @ Susan Duclos
    Still looking for if Stern is still on TV and if it is part of the deal.

    He has his own on-demand TV network so I know he's still on air, but don't think it's part of his Sirius contract.
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #12
    Stern is actually worth listening to! He is so vulger and rude and diverse - so entertaining! ;)
  • avatar Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Susan Duclos
    #13
    @ Chris Hogg
    He has his own on-demand TV network so I know he's still on air, but don't think it's part of his Sirius contract.


    Thanks. Couldn't find verification one way or another.



    @ Nikki W (karateblossom)
    Stern is actually worth listening to! He is so vulger and rude and diverse - so entertaining! ;)


    I don't listen to him either.

    I rather read transcripts..heh
  • okieboy Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  okieboy
    #14
    Finally, the voice of sanity gets the recognition it deserves.
    Way to go Rush.....keep info-taining us!!
  • Kevin Willis Posted Jul 7, 2008 by  Kevin Willis
    #15
    Good job, Rush. I'm not sure how Clear Channel is going to recoup their investment, given that Rush had already hit the limits of the marketplace--complete saturation of terrestrial radio, and natural limits to where he can expand his audience and thus demand higher advertising rates. And since there's no room to repackage the product in regards to resell, reruns, or alternate markets, it'll be hard to make that money back. But . . . good for Rush. I love his show, and he certainly should be getting paid more than all the mainstream news anchors combined!

    And I'm adding this link, so I get to post comments to blogs from work. Thanks!

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