The complicated process to fill the void on terrestrial talk radio following the death of Rush Limbaugh has begun as one major player in the industry has named its choice to replace the late conservative talker.
Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, which delivers syndicated sports, news, and entertainment content to a nationwide audience, announced conservative pundit Dan Bongino as their choice for a new nationally syndicated program.
“The Dan Bongino Show” will air Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. ET and is set to launch May 24 in markets nationwide, including stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
“I’m excited to embrace the immense power of radio to connect with my listeners live for three hours every day. This is an incredible privilege, and I pledge to honor the trailblazing work of those who came before me,” said Mr. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who has since become a bestselling author and Fox News commentator after he left the federal service in 2011.
“The Dan Bongino Show’ will tackle the hot political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric. As a former Secret Service agent and NYPD officer, Bongino is uniquely positioned to provide commentary and analysis that directly questions the philosophical underpinnings of both the left and big-government Republicans,” Westwood One said in a statement.
“With the launch of The Dan Bongino Show, Westwood One now offers a 24-hour, Monday–Friday news/talk lineup that also features established news/talk superstars Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, Chris Plante, and Jim Bohannon,” the company said.
The announcement triggered considerable press coverage and speculation about the move.
Is Mr. Bongino “the new Rush Limbaugh?” asked the Associated Press.
Westwood One syndicated Limbaugh’s program over 30 major stations. In the meantime, smaller individual networks have opted to fill the airtime with their own productions.
“Erick Erickson, an Evangelical right-leaning commentator, has taken over Mr. Limbaugh’s slot on Atlanta’s WSB; Mark Kaye, a radio host and popular Snapchat personality, has taken the time on Jacksonville’s WOKV; and radio and podcast host Derek Hunter has taken over the slot on Baltimore’s WCBM,” noted The Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile iHeart Media’s Premiere Network — which originally syndicated Limbaugh’s show — has continued to air “The Rush Limbaugh Show” using archived segments on topics which enhance the news of the day, with guest hosts filling in between clips, the Journal said.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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