Rush Limbaugh show to leave WPTF

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Chris Baysden

Rush Limbaugh’s popular and controversial talk radio show, a syndicated sensation that has been a mainstay on WPTF AM-680 for more than two decades, will be moving off the Raleigh station at the end of the year – a development that could signal an impending format flip at a local Clear Channel station.

Curtis Media President and Chief Operating Officer Phil Zachary, whose company owns WPTF, said Monday that Dec. 31 will be Limbaugh's last day on the news talk station.

“Losing Limbaugh was frankly not very pleasant for us,” says Zachary, who found out about the move from Premiere Radio Networks a little more than a month ago.

Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications, syndicates Limbaugh's program as well as shows featuring fellow conservative pundits Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.

Based on developments in other markets, Zachary speculates that San Antonio, Texas-based Clear Channel may be planning a format flip that would turn a local FM station into a conservative talk-radio station.

Asked about the possibility of such a move, local Clear Channel General Manager Dick Harlow said Monday, “Call me at 4:45.” He then added that he had a meeting with his staff at 4 p.m.

A RUSH TO WRDU?

One possible candidate for a flip is WRDU, a 100,000-watt station that changed from its longtime rock format to country music back in October 2006. The station has struggled to gain traction against traditional country powerhouse WQDR, which is owned by Raleigh-based Curtis Media.

In the most recent summer ratings period WQDR scored a 6.4 share, compared to 2.2 for WRDU.

Limbaugh's program currently airs from noon to 3 p.m. on WPTF. Curtis Media has decided how to replace Limbaugh, Zachary says, but he wouldn't reveal details of the plan yet.

“We will definitely plug in local talent,” Zachary says. “I hate to lose Rush, but I'm excited about the possibilities.”

WPTF also has a syndication deal with Premiere Radio Networks for Sean Hannity's show, which airs in the evenings locally. Zachary says that deal runs until the middle of next year. He expects WPTF will either lose or drop Hannity by then.

The Limbaugh news wasn't the only local radio programming change of note on Monday. The sports radio station 620 AM unveiled a new lineup Monday morning and re-branded itself as part of the process.

Capitol Broadcasting Co. announced in August that it had struck a three-way deal with Raleigh-based McClatchey Broadcasting and Curtis Media that would expand CBC's sports radio coverage. As part of the deal, CBC would acquire WDNC 620 The Bull, WCLY 1550 AM, and the rights to the sports programming on WRBZ 850 The Buzz.

Raleigh-based Capitol in early October launched ESPN Deportes – a Spanish language sports format – on 1550.

While the deal for 620 has not officially closed yet, programming changes already are under way. The 620 station now features a mix of programming that previously was spread across both 850 and 620.

As a result of the deal, local hosts Adam Gold and Joe Ovies have moved their morning show from 850 to 620. They're followed by syndicated shows featuring Dan Patrick (9 a.m. to noon), Jim Rome (noon to 2 p.m.), Scott Van Pelt (2 p.m. to 4 PM) and Mark Packer (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

Though it's syndicated, Packer's “Primetime with the Packman” show is based in Charlotte and often focuses on sports topics of regional interest in North Carolina.

Capitol also owns and operates 99.9 The Fan, the Triangle's only FM sports radio station. In addition, the company owns WRAL-TV, the Durham Bulls baseball team and a number of other properties.

Former 850 host David Glenn now has a syndicated show that will run on 99.9 from noon until 3 p.m.

George Habel, vice president of Capitol Sports, says that CBC intends to keep local sports radio talk programs on both 620 The Buzz and 99.9 The Fan. The FM station's afternoon drive-time show features local hosts Mark Thomas and Mike Maniscalco, while its morning-commute offering is a syndicated show featuring ESPN personalities Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg.

“I would say that both stations are getting the same resources,” Habel says. “We're not running 620 as though it were the step-child.”

Capitol broadcasts Carolina Hurricanes games on 99.9. It also broadcasts North Carolina State University sports events on sister station 101.5 FM, which typically broadcasts a music format.

Habel says that the acquisition of the new station will not spur Capitol to move the NCSU games to one of the sports radio stations. The company will keep them on 101.5 because its signal is stronger than either of the sports radio stations' signals.

Curtis Media is buying 850 from McClatchey.

Zachary says that Curtis has not yet decided what to do with the station yet. For now, the station will simulcast programming from one of the other sports radio stations still in the market.

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