Beck's radio empire crumbling as 2011 begins
Beck is off the radio in NY now and soon in Philly, while Boston ratings crumble
Beck's radio empire crumbling as 2011 begins
Glenn Beck's new year started a few days late, with a signal that he's hoping that 2011 will be even more momentous than the first two years of the Obama presidency, when his massive resistance to the White House catapulted the right-wing media icon onto the cover of Time magazine and made Beck a millionaire many times over.
"We cannot survive as a nation much longer," said Beck in a New Year's message posted on his website, not unless there is a "fundamental transformation" -- quite an ironic statement since many of Beck's biggest fans turned away from Obama because of the president's use of that very same term.
Added Beck: "We must take a page from our own history at the Alamo and 'draw a line in the sand.' We must decide who we are, what we are capable of and look to the heavens to chart our course...I will not accept that America's best days are behind Her, that there is no such thing as American exceptionalism." To add some meat to his verbal bravado, Beck -- who reportedly earned $32 million in 2009 and certainly topped that last year -- also claimed he was hiring 40 more people to build a new division he called E4 Experiences, for Enlightenment, Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship.
The new Beckian blast of bluster could serve one other purpose: Covering up that fact that Beck's most fundamental enterprise -- the radio network that launched the one-time failed "Morning Zoo" jock to national stardom in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks -- is fast imploding behind him.
Today's blow is the most significant and the most shocking: Beck will be off the air in America's largest media market, New York City, in a matter of days:
Glenn Beck may be one of the hottest talk show hosts in the country, but he apparently left New York's WOR cold.
WOR (710 AM), one of the city's two biggest talk radio stations, said this morning it is dropping Beck's syndicated show as of Jan. 17 and replacing him with a familiar New York name: Mike Gallagher.
"The reason is ratings," said WOR program director Scott Lakefield. "Somewhat to our surprise, the show wasn't getting what we wanted."
To call this a major embarassment for Beck is an understatement. After all, he's been based in New York -- where he tapes his nightly television show for Fox News Channel -- for the last four years. And he's not being replaced by some hot new up-and-coming talent, but a lower-priced and unexciting retread in longtime veteran Gallagher -- a clear sign that WOR isn't bluffing or exaggerating to say that Beck's ratings in the Big Apple were truly awful.
What's more, by Jan. 17 Beck is all but certain to be off the air in another major U.S. market, Philadelphia. When it was announced last fall that Philly's WPHT, then known as "The Big Talker," was adopting a more locally oriented format and dumping both Beck and Sean Hannity, there was widespread speculation that another local station would rush to pick up the right-wing free agents. That hasn't happened, and their Philadelphia run is slated to end next week.
And there's also evidence that New York and Philadelphia are not a fluke, that Beck is bombing generally in the nation's population center on the Eastern Seaboard. Check out his latest results in Boston:
Despite a lineup featuring Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity, conservative-based "Rush Radio" has yet to gain any traction with listeners in liberal Boston. The latest Arbitron PPM rankings have Clear Channel's WXKS-AM (1200) mired toward the bottom of the Beantown ratings heap, with an overall 0.7 (age 6+ AQH) in the November PPM and a cume of 81,000. The Boston Herald slices that down further, noting a mere 0.2 rating and 45th place in the 25-54 demographic. That's lower than when the AM station played Spanish music.
These developments could have a significant and concrete impact on the radio side of Beck's business empire, because major national advertisers typically demand exposure in all top-10 national media markets, something that Beck will soon no longer be able to provide.
Clearly, Beck's reactionary message doesn't resonate in some of the more progressive bastions of the East Coast; Beck's movie-theatre events like "The Christmas Sweater" or "Broke" performed poorly in seaboard venues while selling out in the heartland. However, there may be a deeper problem for the radio host. Beck's radical anti-Obama message -- "we surround them" -- struck a chord with a newly scared minority of hardcore conservatives in 2009, but since then Beck's warnings and pronouncements have grown increasingly apocalyptic and dire in order to build and hold his audience, yet his predictions -- hyperinflation, for example, which he also uses to pitch gold coins -- have mostly not come to fruition.
Meanwhile, his short-term-successful efforts to cash in on his popularity have led to a strategy of massive overexposure -- epitomized by the 8/28 rally in Washington but also including several books (was "The Overton Window" really just six months ago?) and a non-stop schedule of public events with massive ticket prices, often $130 a ticket to hear him speak. One such appearance at New Jersey's Great Adventure, midway between New York and Philadelphia, drew a tiny crowd, an early hint perhaps of his radio ratings problems. So now Beck starts 2011 not by retrenching but by expanding -- with new offerings, more paid content on the Internet and more shrill and desparate warnings about the fate of the Republic.
It will only mask the stench of failure for so long.
Comment removed.- Let me guess...Knowing that you repeat Becks hate points each day here I would be willing to bet its the crying man himself, Glenn Beck.
— Les Ismore - Bloated Billy, in all seriousness, no one wants to raise the debt limit if it werent necessary, it wouldnt be done. But as George Bush found on 7 separate occasions, it had to be raised. After 8 years of fiscal mismanagement it is needed to keep us solvent because 2 years of accountability is not enough to allow the Democrats to bring our debt back to the pre-Bushian levels. Two unfunded wars, the largest increase to entitlements in 20 years (Medicare Part D), the chickens have come home to roost. We can ignore the problem like the teabaKKKers want to do or act on it including a long term plan to reduce the deficit by enacting deficit reducing legislation like HCR, like most Americans want to do. — Les Ismore
- Comment removed.
Let me get this straight - the guy's booming in the heartland but not in NY and Philly and - by your estimation - he's a stinking failure? This is exactly the attytood that was REJECTED a coupla months ago. You leftists crack me up....— michael_b- Will, your contempt for Beck has no bounds. In case you forgot, he is the #3 talk show in the country. Where is your show? Oh, that's right, you don't have one. WPHT is making a big mistake going local, and putting your buddy Smerc on instead of Sean. I think personally they are going to the cheap, much like WOR. Ratings are what matters. Can you tell me Dom G will draw more ratings than Glenn? Smerc over Sean? I love Dom, but like him better at night. Not sure why PHT is saying live and local, when the morning guy is from Kansas City, and Smerc is being taped and replayed since the live show is on the same time as Rush. Keep trying Will.— Bush3
- Eventually the whole country will catch up with the fact that it's Wall St. criminality, not government spending, that's taken this country to the cliff's edge. At that point it will be over for Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh and all the right wing apologists for the oligarchy.— Stan Shapiro
- Hey Will, how many jobs are you gonna create this year? Seems to me Beck has you beat by about 40. Or do you only count government or union jobs when calculating those "created or saved"? Pathetic.— pjsz1261
- It wouldn't surprise me if the Obama Admin was somehow behind this move. They've been saying for awhile that TV stations like Fox News are too powerful.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- It's enjoyable watching Beck fail and watching the posters on this site be sucked down the drain with him. The insane right-wing isn't what people actually want and when people's fears ease, that will be seen.— HandNik
- Handnik, you're liberal loonies were just destroyed in an election, and your conclusion is "insane right wing" isn't what people want? I think they just very clearly said "insane left wing" is not what we want. "Watching Beck fail"... AAAAhahahaha. You must have an interesting definition of failure. This guy is PRINTING MONEY. He's about to be, if not already, part of the .1% that TPS complains controls 99% of American wealth. — IggleFan68
- Not being around the "democrat propaganda machine" back in Philly and reading this in Texas, wake up buddy. This Black American Indy/Republican left there 31yrs ago for a reason. To get far away from folks like you. People of right mind, no pun intended, have seen what you represent. Yes, the Republicans aren't squeaky clean. However, I know exactly were I stand within the platform. This Black American never asked ANY working man or woman redistribution of the household earnings while capable of working. Folks like you keep racism and class war philosophy alive. You are a media terrorist that prey on a segment of society there that don't know any better. That city has been run by Democrats for over 50 plus years. Nothing has CHANGED in the community that you alleged to help (yes more than about time they help themselves) Black Americans. There over the Thanks Giving holidays and every Black American man looked like the folks I was sent to eradicate in the middle east. This is what the Democrat Party created in Philadelphia and other predominately city controlled by them. Again this coming from a Black American Vet that laughs out loud about banter from brainwashed followers in regards to Beck and Rush. Because here's the REAL DEAL. Why would ANY race worry about a segment of society that has nothing, follow the same theory of living and continue to still not progress under the Democratic Party? The same party that said that Robert Byrd was just mad about politics when he joined the KKK. The very same party that housed the Kennedy Clan. The very same party that had the seated President throw racist logs like a wood chuck. aarrrgghhh— STIII
- Kudos to HandNik.....you are right....the racist, hateful folks seem to think in their small twisted little minds that most of American is afflicted with the same ignorance that binds them, but they are wrong. There are more tolerant, open minded, not afraid of people who don't look or think like them individuals in this country. It is going to be sooooo much fun to watch their collective heads explode in a few short years when they are the minority........I think they are secretly afraid that the MAJORITY will do to them what they have spent centuries doing to every other group in this country.......Don't tell them, but they can't buy enough guns or bullets to protect them from what they have coming to them, and it won't even be violence.......they'll just have to wait and see....They should be thinking...Do Unto Others......— philligrl
- Comment removed.
- "Are you kidding me?---Not one word on here indicates racism or hate"....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Start with comment #1 from Bloated Billy Atkins, our resident hate-monger, Glenn Beck sniffer and stalker. — Les Ismore
It's not solely ratings. It's advertising revenue less syndication fees that drive the decision. With radio advertising revenues plummeting across the industry, it is the premium priced content that gets out of balance. Beck is going to have to drop his fee to stay competitive in the down market. Or he could follow the ideology of the left and use violence and government intervention to try to enforce his out-of-market price, and wonder, like leftists often do, why the jobs went to someone else.— Mr. Smith- He's a fraud. His colors are, showing his christian fundamentalism is showing. It's only a matter of time before he's a has been.— shamdog
- Comment removed.
- ===]]] You are a media terrorist that prey on a segment of society there that don't know any better [[[===
Classic. STIII is so concerned about his fellow African Americans being exploited that he brands the entire race as being too stupid to see something he claims is obvious.
Nothing quite like the logic of a Republican toady, I must say.— Talking point sleuth - First this:
===]]] Haha---Cause people in real relationships KNOW THE FIRST THING YOU DO when arguing, is put away the name calling [[[===
Then this:
===]]] ---It is immature and indicates a lack of intellect---And I bet you are also portly!!!! [[[===
Yet another classic.
Nothing brings out the logically-challenged quite like one of Will's Glenn Beck red meat posts.
— Talking point sleuth - ===]]] By this means, greenie policies put pensioners in bed ... and hasten them to their coffins. [[[===
Yet more brilliant analysis from sloboat. Clearly, all those Brit libz are out go kill grandma. Just like that socialist/communist/whitey-hating/nazi/terrorist sympathizing/buddy-of-terrorists/illegal alien/Kenyan/Muslim Obama.
Be afraid, sloboat. Be very, very afraid.— Talking point sleuth - Just mailed in my voter registration to change parties. I am now a registered Republican and will do everything in my power to get Failin Palin the nomination in 2012. Like taking candy from a baby!— The Fundamentals of the Economy are Fine
I guess Will would rather listen to Al Sharpton on 900 Am?— tiger- Comment removed.
- Am I the only one who has noticed the increase in commercials and infomercials on radio and TV? The economy is bad, in spite of claims that it is in "recovery". Advertisers have less money to spend. Media have to face a weaker market. Yeah, maybe Beck and Hannity will charge less; maybe not. But as listeners our standard of living will be lower without them.— Falls Ed
- Oh, looks like Bloated Billy Atkins had to change his name again after another day of his spittle spraying hatred. But the funny thing is to watch Bloated Billy repeat the Beck talking points of the day.
— Les Ismore - I think this is the change we have been waiting for. An end to the fear mongering of Beck and Palin. Wait till the American public gets a taste of the teabaKKKer's legislation. The teabaKKKer right needs to get a vote on HCR before anyone realizes that the donut hole will be closing for millions of Americans. And they really need to repeal that section of HCR about pre-existing conditions. After all, it is the American way to let families go into bankruptcy over the illness of the child. If a family cant afford chemo-therapy, then they should rely on the kindness of strangers. As RG would say, thats parenting.
These next two years will be looked upon by historians as Americas Dark Age. Unfortunately we are stuck with the rights militant ignorance for the next 2 years.— Les Ismore - Les, the vote on Healthcare reform will be symbolic, not impactful. What will REALLY make a difference is the House repealing specific pieces of the legislation (like the ones that actually make it unconstitutional). Those moves could actually gain traction in the Senate and get passed (whether Obama would sign it is doubtful). From my perspective, I don't want them spending tons of time on it -- FOCUS ON JOBS. If there is an AWFUL section of the Obamacare bill, let's get that repealed, but the last group of clowns was voted out BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY STUPID. There's plenty of areas of agreement between the parties -- get stuff done to improve job creation and economic recovery. — IggleFan68
- I couldnt agree more. It is a fools errand to try to repeal things like pre-existing conditions etc. based on a misread "mandate". Any "mandate" they have about healthcare is the result of 18 months of lying to the American people about what is in HCR. If they really had guts the repubs would try to repeal it after the seniors and others finally found out the truth; no death panels, the largest deficit reduction package in history and so much more. — Les Ismore
- Seems you were lied to. If it reduced the deficit, then why is the deficit increasing? Congress recently passed the Medicare doc fix, which will erode a lot of the projected savings. However, if they didn't docs would flee Medicare in droves. and Obama recently tried to sneak back in the end of life counseling that was originally removed after it looked suspiciously like a death panel. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/us/politics/26death.html?_r=1
In addition, people cannot keep their insurance if they like it. Check on the grandfathering rules, if a company slightly tweaks their plan, they lose grandfathered status. Finally Obama recently came out and admitted that premiums and spending will actually increase under HCR. Guess he's bending the cost curve the wrong way.— RG - For sourcing, here's Jake Tapper calling Obama out on how recent projections show how the cost curve is expected to go up, not down, contrary to his promise. Of course he weasels out and offers some rambling response. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/obama-press-conference-todays-qs-for-o-9102010.html — RG
- Nobody is "letting" a family go into bankruptcy. It is the family's choice spend ont he medical treatments that may or may not work. Heck, I'd spend every last dollar, if, after consulting with the doctor, I thought treatment would work. What I wouldn't do is believe that I am entitled to other people's money simply because my family was unfortunate. And once again, the irony is thick in your posts. After going on about fear mongering, you engage in your own fear mongering by postulating what would happen if HCR were repealed. — RG
- "It is the family's choice spend ont he medical treatments that may or may not work. Heck, I'd spend every last dollar, if, after consulting with the doctor, I thought treatment would work. " RG, if we lived 100 years ago, and we could, as Sharon Angle once suggested, barter chickens for healthcare, I would agree with this incredibly naive view. However, we live in an age where a family with a cancer stricken child will have to spend 100's of thousands of dollars in treatment and followup care. And if that family doesnt have that kind of money, then the child dies. I know, thats parenting... — Les Ismore
- The child may die even if they get the treatment, as the disease may be incureable. i'm sorry that I don't buy into you're oh so sophisticated view that other people should be forced to pay for your misfortune. If my house burned down, am I entitled to rebuild it with tax dollars? — RG
- the statement, "no one should go bankrupt because they got sick" is absolutely ridiculous to me. I can think of no greater reason to go bankrupt than to protect my or my loved ones health. — IggleFan68
- Exactly. Gosh forbid if someone should have to exhaust all their resources before having someone else pick up the tab. — RG
- Beck is not a failure; Losing New York was probably expected considering the audience. Beck's audience is the heartland of America, the real patriots and real Americans, not the leftists of the big cities. And a guy like you calling Beck a failure is really very funny.— frankfj
- Glenn Beck's show will still be able to be heard in 80% of the households in the greater NYC area, thanks to Al Gore's first invention. The concept of national figures syndicated on local broadcasting is an anachronism. Local radio stations will only serve a purpose of broadcasting local "talent" who don't have sufficient following to have an internet channel.— Mr. Smith
- "Heck, I'd spend every last dollar, if, after consulting with the doctor, I thought treatment would work. What I wouldn't do is believe that I am entitled to other people's money simply because my family was unfortunate."
In a culture that pits people against each other based upon an ideology that places one's own interests IN OPPOSITION TO every other consideration - that idolizes independence AGAINST any form of interdependence - that dehumanizes its citizens with apathy toward those without access to affordable health insurance or decent healthcare..........well, that's hell, and, Glenn Beck's possible demise notwithstanding, I'm not at all sure that decency will win the day. You people seem to think your fellow human beings would WANT to "spend every last dollar" to remain in hell.— Simone - So decency is stealing from others to pay for your misfortune? Personally, my "hell" is quite comfortable, sorry you have such a poor outlook on life and are incapable of independence.. Stinks to be you. — RG
Wow, color me amazed. Three of the most liberal urban areas in the country (New York, Philadelphia, and Boston) don't like listening to one of the most right-wing radio shows out there. Yeah, can't possibly imagine why that would happen. Next up, Bunch will blog about how Beck is dropped by a station in San Francisco.
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