Whiny liberals complaining about Rush Limbaugh aren’t the real threat, it’s greedy media companies without a clue:

Cumulus, which merged with Citadel Communications (which itself had absorbed ABC Radio) a few years back, has made peculiar choices searching for “the next Rush Limbaugh”, with an ill-fated push to syndicate moderate Mike Huckabee, which ended up a disaster. From the left, it tried to do the same with Geraldo Rivera, but that fared even worse.

That might not matter if not for the fact that it owns the nation’s biggest news/talkers (WABC, WLS, WBAP, KGO, KSFO, WJR, sad-sack KABC and more), legendary outlets it has seemingly worked tirelessly to run into the ground.

But Hannity and Limbaugh really have little to do with this disturbing trend. Talk would be much worse off without them. Instead, corporate befuddlement at how to program stations combined with a shortsighted refusal to develop promising new talent (they might leave for the competitor!) has led to its potential downfall. …

In good hands, the news-talk format still has a lot of life left in it. Just today, Phoenix-area residents who’ve lost power as a result of heavy rain and flooding are relying on stations like Bonneville Broadcasting’s KTAR for the latest information.

But with major station groups overseen by hedge fund owners (think Sears, K-Mart, JCPenney, for other examples of how well this generally works out), there really are few “good hands” out there.

Behind the scenes, those who still work in the industry, trade reporters and analysts seem to agree on the problem, but differ greatly on the solution. Some think political talk is driving away the audience, while others assert it’s a matter of presentation and style, which can make any topic interesting.

Overall, however, fear of blacklisting keeps most from speaking out, but a few with guts are out there sounding the alarm.

More at Media Equalizer.