Saturday, March 10, 2012
The sudden Rush to dump Rush spawns advertiser exodus of right-wing shock radio
by Larry Geller
Amazing—98 advertisers suddenly realizing they have been supporting programs containing “offensive or controversial” content and deciding to change their ways.
People power seems to work.
Ninety-eight major advertisers—including Ford and Geico—will no longer air spots on Premiere Networks’ ‘offensive’ programs. Insiders say the loss will rock right-wing talk radio.
…
Valerie Geller, an industry insider and author of Beyond Powerful Radio, confirmed the trend. “I have talked with several reps who report that they're having conversations with their clients, who are asking not to be associated with specifically polarizing controversial hosts, particularly if those hosts are ‘mean-spirited.’[The Daily Beast, Rush Limbaugh Scandal Proves Contagious for Talk-Radio Advertisers, 3/10/2012]
Valerie must know. No, no relation.
Check out the full story at the link.
Hawaii’s KPUA was the first in the country to take a principled stand and dump Rush. Perhaps that bold move, which achieved national attention, raised the consciousness of advertisers to the fact that they were paying for the wrong message.
What of KHVH? they are not a Premier Networks station, so would be unaffected. So far it’s not clear that there is any anti-offense offensive working to reform that station’s program choices.
In a way, I feel sympathetic towards the right-leaning folks who listen to Rush and similar programs on that station. After all, this is Hawaii, and everywhere they turn, they’re faced with the Aloha Spirit. People let them into lanes on highways. Supermarket staff are often really helpful. Bus riders usually let everyone get off first before rushing on. Drop a quarter and someone will help you look for it (unlike New York, where they say you won’t even hear the sound of it hitting the floor). So a little Rush fills their need for hate, innuendo, some smears, misogyny, whatever it takes to make their day.
In time, the sponsors will come back, because their audience is still faithful.
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