“Rush Radio” Coming To Boston?

Yes, those old rumors are back once again after a long hiatus. When will Clear Channel finally create its own news-talk outlet for the Hub? The bigger question is why this didn’t occur years ago.

Without question, a CC-owned-and-operated news-talker in our area would instantly have a major impact on the broadcast landscape.

There are a few reasons to believe the buzz this time, but unanswered questions as well. Let’s examine the situation:

— Clear Channel has a major problem: two of its biggest syndicated programs, the Sean Hannity Show and Glenn Beck Program are not currently carried on a major station in the tenth-largest radio market. In addition, the highly successful Mark Levin Show (overseen by bankrupt Citadel, at least for now) is also up for grabs here. For purposes of national advertising rates, this is a big hole that should have been plugged long ago.

— Nationwide, the company is stealing Rush Limbaugh away from stations it doesn’t own, such as what occurred in Providence when it was moved from its longtime home at WPRO-AM and handed to CC’s WHJJ-AM.

— With its recent format switch in Raleigh, CC’s made it clear it will bring the “Rush Radio” format to additional cities (same thing there, his longtime, non-CC station lost the program).

— Clear Channel’s shaky finances seem slightly more stable at the moment, freeing it up to once again focus on programming.

— But where would it go? It’s hard to believe the company would move Rush to another AM station. Clearly, an FM outlet is needed.

— Unless Rush’s WRKO contract is up soon or contains a loophole, none of this is in the cards.

The bottom line: Clear Channel needs its top programs to air in every major market, making the current situation unacceptable.