Cumulus Media is expected to drop Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity's radio shows at the end of the year, according to an industry source who told POLITICO's Dylan Byers. Cumulus, the second largest radio network in the country, will no longer distribute the top two highest-rated talk radio shows that are broadcasted in 40 major markets.
After ongoing negotiations between Cumulus and Premiere Networks, the Clear Channel division that syndicates both shows, Cumulus has reportedly been reaching out to other conservative personalities to replace the airtime during Limbaugh's noon to three p.m. show, and Hannity's three to six p.m. show.
Negotiations between Premiere and Cumulus broken down over the cost of distribution rights, Byers reported.
Since May, Rush Limbaugh and Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey have been negotiating about his contract's renewal after a flurry of advertisers stopped airing their content on the host's program. After the host insulted Sandra Fluke on-air, more than 140 advertisers severed their relationship with the Limbaugh program and Dickey publicly blamed Limbaugh's comments for driving them away.
Cumulus has declined to comment on the story.