The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

09 June 2008

Laura Ingraham Radio Absence Still Mysterious

AWKWARD MOMENTS

Ingraham Takes Award, Doesn't Explain Radio Silence





*** WITH IMPORTANT UPDATED DETAILS ***


Less than a week after her sudden absence from the radio airwaves, syndicated talker Laura Ingraham found herself in a truly awkward position while picking up a radio industry award Saturday evening.

And today, the mystery over her program's fate has only deepened.

During the 2008 New Media Seminar, a talk radio convention held in Manhattan, Ingraham received the "Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Woman to Talk Radio".

Touching on her past accomplishments in talk radio, Ingraham gave a brief speech to attendees, which included your Radio Equalizer. But she had not a word to say about her broadcast disappearing act.

Standing just a few feet away was Talk Radio Network honcho Mark Masters, whose firm syndicates Ingraham. Regardless of any potential conflict that may have emerged between the two parties, neither said anything during the ceremony. Nonetheless, one could feel a certain amount of tension.

During the convention, many attendees approached your Radio Equalizer looking for information about her fate. But the biggest clue to date has come from Ingraham herself, with this note now posted on her website (UPDATE-- it's been removed from the site):


IMPORTANT NOTE TO LAURA LISTENERS

Due to contractual obligations, for the present time I am unable to reveal why I am not currently hosting The Laura Ingraham Show. Rest assured, this absence is not of my choosing, nor is it health or family related. I am ready, willing and eager to continue the conversation we started seven years ago about politics and the culture. (Heck, if cancer couldn't keep me off the airwaves for long, nothing will.)

Keep checking the site for a schedule of my appearances on the Fox News Channel. All queries regarding my on-air status should be directed to Talk Radio Network's management at 541 474 2297 or send an email. Thanks for sticking with me, and...Power to the People!


Earlier this evening, your Radio Equalizer contacted a reliable industry source who backed up Ingraham's version of events. Discounting earlier rumors that Laura had abandoned her own show, possibly to take a Fox News Channel slot, the insider said "she didn't walk off anything".

As to the reason for the possible lockout by her network, others speculate it's related to rumors she's been shopping her program to other syndicators in advance of her contract's upcoming expiry date.

Stay tuned for further details.


UPDATE: according to an industry source, Ingraham may have brought some of her troubles upon herself by possibly violating the terms of her contract: "Laura was 'locked out' because she's been negotiating secretly with individual Citadel-ABC program directors to get on their stations in the event they lose Sean Hannity. She's looking to make $4 million a year, far more than her show currently generates in terms of revenue.

"She was operating behind the back of Mark Masters and the Citadel-ABC people have been talking to her. She does not want to quit radio, quite the contrary. She really wants TV, too," said the insider.

Ingraham is apparently looking to move her show into a live midmorning slot on key ABC talk stations should Hannity leave the company, as many expect. This scenario would see hosts from WABC, WMAL/ Washington and WBAP/ Dallas slide into afternoon drive slots.


UPDATE: at the New York Times, Brian Stelter reports that Ingraham is headed to the FOX News Channel for a potential show of her own.


FOR
New England regional talk radio updates, see our other site.


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23 Comments:

  • This may be your big chance Maloney.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 09 June, 2008 21:08  

  • Gotta be a contract dispute.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 09 June, 2008 22:46  

  • She was probably locked out because she said something nice about Mike Huckabee.

    You go Laura!!!

    By Blogger Joseph, at 09 June, 2008 23:45  

  • sounds like she pulled a Howie Carr.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10 June, 2008 09:05  

  • Ingraham was a guest on Imus and pretty much said the same thing as you reported was on her website.

    By Blogger Charlie on the PA Turnpike, at 10 June, 2008 12:12  

  • Negotiating on the sly...

    I thought Ingraham was supposed to be an American Christian, very different from the sort of Christian Tertullian would be.

    Going after money!!! I suggest as a Catholic she read an anti-capitalism encyclical [it had the Italian communist Party cheering] published a few decades ago by the then Pope.

    I guess honesty and integrity are foreign to her.

    Capitalism opposes the ethics of Christianity and vice versa because the former is rational self-interest versus self-sacrifice. But then American Christianity a long time ago conveniently overlooked that.

    Ingraham is no Buckley thats for sure and her knowledge on issues such as finance and economics are poor.

    By Blogger Saint Devote, at 10 June, 2008 19:09  

  • david joe
    She could be providing for herself and giving to the church you have no idea what she does with her money, not that it is any of your business. Since you are a Democrat. You would think she should give all of her excess income to the government so they can give it to people who are not making what she is able to make. I must have missed that verse in the bible” Give ye money to government and let them give to the needy.” That must be in the dem’s bible.

    Go ahead and vote for Jimmy junior and the republicans will win back the congress in two years and take back the white house in four.

    By Blogger pf1, at 11 June, 2008 01:08  

  • So how does her "good friend" and FNC colleague Hannity react? Does he slough off her treachery in trying to undermine his bargaining strength?

    How will this female permanent O'Reilly sub "spin" this one? Maybe ol' Bill can sic his "gotcha" correspondent on her if she doesn't go on the record about her actions?

    FNC screwed up in not giving John Gibson his show back. How is LI gonna take it when the younger and hotter Megan is returned in late summer/early autumn?

    By Blogger Unknown, at 11 June, 2008 01:19  

  • David-Joe, there are over 2400 verses in The Bible regarding money. None of them say a Christian cannot or should not acquire wealth.

    In fact, most of those verses teach Christian how God wants them to handle and use money. They "steward" the money, and how they steward it reflects their character.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11 June, 2008 04:44  

  • In quality of information and entertainment, her talk radio show is second only to Limbaugh's. Hope she's back soon.

    By Blogger Dlanor, at 12 June, 2008 23:26  

  • Laura,
    We in New York are supporting you 100 percent. We'll stay with you where ever you land. Stay strong as we know you are, all things will work for he best. Best Regards, Stve and Family

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 14 June, 2008 22:47  

  • Go Laura!! Stay strong!!

    By Blogger Unknown, at 16 June, 2008 13:34  

  • Laura Ingraham, we miss you. Wishing the best for you and hoping you can get on the air live, in the AM. We are getting sick of Imus and think a Live Laura Ingraham show would be refreshing and entertaining.
    In Boston awaiting your return to the airwaves!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 23 June, 2008 12:35  

  • I have enjoyed Laura's program over the years but in all honesty I like Monica Crowley's wit and have enjoyed having her in Laura's place. Part of me wants Monica to take her place.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 24 June, 2008 10:14  

  • whatever the case, all involved better get their act together real soon. The show is losing market share day by day at this point. The current syndicators product is going down the toilet, Laura's audience numbers will be down from the long absence (some never to return) so her negotiating power has peaked - she better get back on the airwaves soon or ABC will be getting a bargain basement price on the Laura Ingram show and she'll be settling for a 12-3 am time slot. Her numbers were not the best in the industry to begin with so nobody will win from a prolonged absence, except maybe fox news.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 25 June, 2008 12:16  

  • I HAVE WATCHED, AND LISTENED TO, LAURA INGRAHAM EVER SINCE THE VERY FIRST TIME I SAW HER ON THE FOX NETWORK. I REALLY HAVE A VERY HARD TIME CONCENTRATING ON WHAT SHE'S SAYING WHEN I'M WATCHING HER BECAUSE OF HER NATURAL, HOME-SPUN, DROP DEAD BEAUTY.
    MAN, SHE IS JUST TOO HOT...!
    I KEEP HAVING THE FANTASY OF EATING HER LIPSTICK AND GLOSS OFF HER WHILE SHE'S SPEAKING...!
    YOU GO LAURA...! NO ONE CAN EVEN COME CLOSE TO YOU ON RADIO OR T.V.!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 25 June, 2008 19:15  

  • laura should stay gone. she is a oreilly want to be. far right loon.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 01 July, 2008 07:13  

  • Saw this about that:

    http://jackrabbitcafe.blogspot.com/2008/07/please-dont-ever-give-laura-ingraham.html

    By Blogger JohnnyRussia, at 16 July, 2008 00:39  

  • you leftists are so afraid of talk radio that you will say any thing to try to destroy the hosts.
    you are so angry that your leftist try at talk radio can't get any listener

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 27 July, 2008 19:02  

  • Oh, my goodness! Us "leftists"!

    Hide the kids, Jesus. here come the "leftists"!

    Laura Ingraham is a bottom-feeding swine in a sewer of filthy sheep.

    And when pigs and sheep collide, you get the line-up on your local state-run right-wing talk-radio station.

    And it's a short right-turn to your house...

    By Blogger JohnnyRussia, at 28 July, 2008 01:23  

  • I am shocked at the rudeness and obnoxious behavior of Laura Ingraham. I wouldn't listen to her discuss any subject at any time. Too full of herself.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 26 August, 2008 21:22  

  • I've listened to Laura off and on for about four years. Listen closely, and one soon comes to realize that she has nothing of substance to say. All she does all day long is mock people with whom she disagrees. She offers no insight of her own and I sincerely doubt she has presented an original thought the entire run of her show.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 17 December, 2008 23:19  

  • Laura gave 'them' a window of opportunity to ease her off the air --but i wonder where are Beck, Hannity and Larson, i'm not hearing even any moral support for her ,kind of reminds you of the parable that ends.....and then they came for me and there was no one left.there must have been a better way to handle this that would not involve her listeners -if indeed,it is all over bar the shouting, then i will only accept Michelle Malkin in her stead....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 24 March, 2009 11:46  

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