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More Advertisers Exclude Ads From The Rush Limbaugh Show

April 04, 2012 5:08 pm ET by Media Matters staff

As part of the continuing exodus of advertisers from The Rush Limbaugh Show, Arby's and Proactiv both confirmed they will no longer run ads during Rush Limbaugh's show. Ads from both advertisers recently started running during Limbaugh's program.

While Arby's noted that they "do not buy ads on national radio programs," the company confirmed on Twitter that its ads would no longer run during Limbaugh's show, advising that it is taking "the necessary steps to discontinue advertising during this show":

In a message sent to Media Matters, Proactiv explained the recent ads were "run in error," as it had previously asked to be pulled from inventory around Limbaugh's show; it confirmed that it will work with the network to ensure that its ads are excluded from Limbaugh's program going forward:

Arby's and Proactiv are the latest advertisers to publicly state that they will not advertise on The Rush Limbaugh Show following Limbaugh's three-day attack on Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown law student. Limbaugh's attacks came after Fluke spoke before elected officials about the various ways her classmates rely on prescription birth control, including a story about a friend who takes it to manage ovarian cysts.

A list of all the companies that have issued public statements confirming that they will no longer advertise on Limbaugh's show is available here.

Tags: Rush Limbaugh, The Rush Limbaugh Show, Premiere Radio Networks

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- by Turkeysocks (April 04, 2012 5:14 pm ET)
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  Nothing hurts a man then a woman's scorn, but I think in this case, it's women's scorn.
  
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  - by pkmcklively (April 04, 2012 8:26 pm ET)
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    I am a father with two daughters a little younger than Ms. Fluke. **I** am driven to do whatever I can to rid the airwaves of this misogynistic hate-speak. I worry about those men who listen to his rants and lies and somehow end up interacting with one of my daughters. It has reached a level where there are probably as many men involved in this as women.
    
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  - by mari2jj (April 06, 2012 12:07 am ET)
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    {ppr Rush is looking so wild eyed these days since his meme is being ignored by all thinking people. We are Republicans but Rush has ALWAYS embarrassed us and he never did speak for true Republicans. He so easily glossed over the fact that the great emancipator was a Republican who is no doubt rejoicing now that we finally elected a black person. I did not vote for Obama but I am very proud our country elected him. And after the mess our guy handed Obama, you know from a surplus to debt as far as the eye could see, Obama has done the best anyone could expect. Especially with the unpatriotic announcement that our party would only be happy if Obama failed. Well he has not and that is what is driving racist Republicans nuts these days.
    
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- by nixter (April 04, 2012 5:20 pm ET)
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  Looks like ads are being pulled because Flush is such a lovable cuddly soft warm hearted innocent play toy.
  
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  - by westmassman (April 05, 2012 12:27 pm ET)
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    Looks like ads are being pulled because Flush is such a lovable cuddly soft warm hearted innocent play toy.
    
    You take sarcasm to a new height.
    
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- by pete x tp (April 04, 2012 5:36 pm ET)
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  I still don't buy the claims that they were unaware that the ads were being sired during Lushbo's show. Successful corporations don't become successful if they don't know where their money, including ad dollars, is being spent. They damn-well knew and waited until the volume of complaints reaches a certain level that demands an answer.
  
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  - by dave (April 04, 2012 5:55 pm ET)
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    All these ads being pulled, and Rush was still heard on the air today. Go figure. Rush will still be on the air next year at this time, MMFA. This is not Imus, this is Rush.
    
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    - by Adendrools (April 04, 2012 6:34 pm ET)
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      Dive wrote: All these ads being pulled, and Rush was still heard on the air today.
      
      And.......Do you think this country is better off for that? If you think the world needs more vial hatred, just bread.
      
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    - by curiousindependent (April 04, 2012 6:52 pm ET)
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      Golly, weren't you saying just about the same thing about Beck?
      
      How'd that work out for you?
      
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    - by bintx (April 04, 2012 6:55 pm ET)
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      This is not Imus, this is Rush.
      
      And?
      
      You might want to read this, dave. People are fed up with the hate coming from the AM radio dial. Further, educated, intelligent people can now easily look up his crap on the internet . . . they know he's an uneducated, hate-filled liar.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
    - by highlyunlikely (April 04, 2012 6:58 pm ET)
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      after a brief absence, the soulless cretin returns with the same line of crud. Go figure.
      
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      - by mari2jj (April 04, 2012 7:21 pm ET)
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        People have fled his program in droves, Sponsors will wise up if this continues. I have never watched Rush's program but my husband did but no more. Rush's hate filled meme about this woman was just too much for my husband who is a Christian and who has Christian values although he is a far right Republican.
        
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        by mari2jj (April 06, 2012 12:17 am ET)
        
        For us, our Christian value prompt us to avoid Rush's show. We want our absence and others too, to show up on Arbitron figures and in the end, all of Rush's bravado is just that. He did this to himself by his disgusting comments about this young woman. And true to form, he did not even get his facts straight. But Rush traveled this bridge way to far this time and we will not stand for his misogynist comments om OUR airways. Good for Fox for their discipline although it was paltry. Still, the great one was totally embarrassed and that was Divine justice.
        
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        by Bronwyn (April 06, 2012 10:17 am ET)
        
        Good for Fox for their discipline although it was paltry.
        
        What Fox discipline?
        
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    - by Turkeysocks (April 04, 2012 7:28 pm ET)
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      There's a problem Dave. Rush's program is a freebie program, meaning that you don't pay when you listen to it, the ad's that companies run are the ones who pay for it's expenses. Once those advertisers pull their ad's, that's less money that the show makes.
      
      A show like Rush's can't run long without those ad's. He won't be on next year, and if he doesn't find enough advertisers to cover at least basic expenses, Rush probably won't be on air by the time summer rolls around.
      
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    - by kravitzkravitz (April 04, 2012 8:58 pm ET)
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      As noted yesterday, most of the cross-country broadcast sponsor samples are very heavy on companies owned by right wing conservatives who have already said they are doubling down on support of Rush. That, and he's got contracts which some broadcasters are waiting for their end. The show isn't pulling good sponsors. Time is being given cheap. The last hour has a lot of PSAs for a guy who should have none. It won't be a forever thing.
      
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    - by n'est-ce pas (April 04, 2012 10:08 pm ET)
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      Idiot dave, you're such an idiot. Makes me wonder what you were saying about the advertiser boycott of Glenn Beck....
      
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    - by oneleft (April 05, 2012 12:09 am ET)
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      you've been dersturmered and you don't even know it. sad to be you.
      
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    - by warhurts (April 05, 2012 12:50 pm ET)
      
      Whats your point? Imus is a saint compared to scumbag rush.
      
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  - by 17andLiberal (April 04, 2012 6:09 pm ET)
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    I might actually believe in Proactiv's case. That company advertises everywhere.
    
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    - by Bongo Fury (April 04, 2012 6:23 pm ET)
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      I'm sure glad Arbys stopped advertising. I really enjoy their food and mocha shakes. I'll be back there for sure.
      
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      - by mari2jj (April 06, 2012 12:24 am ET)
        
        Be sure to remind the next cashier you pay that you appreciate Arby's moral stand about Rush. I do so every time we visit Arbys and now remind them we are new customers due to their moral stand. I do this for others that have dropped their Rush advertising, too. Good for them for their moral stand.
        
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    - by kravitzkravitz (April 04, 2012 9:00 pm ET)
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      Same goes for Five Hour Energy, heard yesterday. They buy tons of rotation, not specific spots of time.
      
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    - by notsure5 (April 05, 2012 5:10 pm ET)
      
      That's what I thought, and that makes it that much more impressive that they would single out a program like this.
      
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  - by Guthy|Renker (April 04, 2012 6:19 pm ET)
    
    To clarify as a direct marketer, our media buying strategy is independent of programming. We work with the networks and buy across the broadcast day, vs. selecting specific shows. While we do not actively purchase commercial air time specifically during Rush Limbaugh, as national advertisers began to pull their spots off the show, our spots were inadvertently run by the network in their place. This was not our choice and is in no way an endorsement of the messages shared on the programming. We’ve pulled our ads and are in discussions with the network about any that continue to run. Thank you.
    
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  - by pkmcklively (April 04, 2012 8:16 pm ET)
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    http://boycottrushlimbaughssponsors.com/boycott-these-local-radio-sponsors/twitter-these-limbaugh-sponsors/ Check this out, just one point of view on how or why a company doesn't know about their ads being placed on Limbaugh's show.
    
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- by HuskersLoveBo (April 04, 2012 6:37 pm ET)
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  Once again people, Rusty the Chickenhawk's program allocates a certain number of commercials each hour to their local affiliates. The local affiliates sell these spots to local/regional/national companies depending upon their size of their audience. When the local affiliates sell airtime, some of their larger accounts simply buy so many ads to run between certain times. As a result, some of these ads can end up running on his program if his program has not sold out.
  
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  - by mari2jj (April 06, 2012 12:28 am ET)
    
    However, we are still free to exact a price from any company that allows their ads on the racist Limbaugh show. And believe me, i write, call, blast and get furious with those that ignore Rush's totally un-Godly racist rant. And when they finally pull the ads, I also write them and thank them because it takes guts for them to buck this goof.
    
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- by Dolphin197396 (April 04, 2012 7:01 pm ET)
  
  I'm sure Rush will claim this is all part of his plan to reduce commercials for his loyal numb-skull fans.
  
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- by pkmcklively (April 04, 2012 8:13 pm ET)
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  The effort continues, daily! As new soldiers join the army, the war against women is being fought with our wallets and pocketbooks. After a company is notified that their ads are being used to support Limbaugh's show, if they choose to stand by this man, we will NOT buy their goods or use their services and we will spread the word. If we each do our part, do a little or do a lot, but we do something we will win the Rush Limbaugh battle in this war.... help us boycott rush limbaugh's advertisers and send him off to satellite or off the air all together!
  Join us: http://boycottrushlimbaughssponsors.com
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by blk-in-alabam (April 04, 2012 8:34 pm ET)
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  If an ad is run on a show do radio stations have a formula to determine how the ad income is spilt,and distributed????.............."We did not know our ads were runing on the Rush Limbaugh Show"`...........When companies were saying the same thing about their ads on the Glen Beck show.Fox news blamed it on ad rotation...........Is it possible that the advertiser crack down on Rush Limbaugh has something to do with ad income theft????????
  
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- by mmllee0987 (April 04, 2012 11:57 pm ET)
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  Is the loss of advertising hurting Rush business wise? He doesn't seem to be tempering his comments on his show. I don't listen that often so I really can't judge.
  
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  - by blk-in-alabam (April 05, 2012 12:07 am ET)
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    If the Rush Limbaugh Show operated on a radio show business model he would currently be hurting "business wise".........The Rush Limbaugh show's business model is one where billionaire sugar daddies pay him to be a propaganda tool to trick people into voting against their own best interest..They make money on the back end off of congressional goodies..It makes no difference if Rush Limbaugh's show makes money.They will make sure that their valuable tool gets paid
    
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    - by highlyunlikely (April 05, 2012 1:13 am ET)
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      I wonder if the term "loss leader" is applicable at this point. Murdoch famously runs NYPost for propaganda and can afford the enormous amount it costs him.
      
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    - by mari2jj (April 06, 2012 12:41 am ET)
      
      But even radio broadcasters need listeners. And if people abandon his show, it will eventually cause him big hurt' Plus this vad publicity is just toxic for any company. But it needs to be sustained and long lived before it really hurts him. His audience may even increase as people are interested now in watching his freak show. But sponsorship is still king and stations will soon tire of him if in addition to loosing sponsots, Rush's listener numbers continues to drag down and down!
      
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      - by oadas (April 06, 2012 5:03 am ET)
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        I feel like I am living in a communist country. Its ok to boycott an advertiser but to threaten and bully a sponser is down right disgusting. Just to shut up someone whos views are different from yours. No wonder all of the politicians, hollywood and extremely rich think you will all be ok with a socialist country where you are all the pheasants and the politicians and hollywood will take care of all of you. You will all have the same house, same cars, same kind of jobs, nothing too hard because people who expect things will get just enough, but not too much. You will not have to make any decisions, think for yourselves or have a say in anything. You will all do as your told. Yea, shut down the opposing view. Because if this was really about Fluke, then there are a bunch more who demorilize women, calling them s - - -, yet I have seen nothing, about shutting them down, oh, but they have the same point of view as you. Yea just keep acting like a bunch of sheep and follow media matters every lie.
        
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        by Bronwyn (April 06, 2012 10:14 am ET)
        
        Yea just keep acting like a bunch of sheep and follow media matters every lie.
        
        When did Media Matters lie? What lies?
        
        Reply Report Abuse
  - by warhurts (April 05, 2012 12:54 pm ET)
    
    It appears rash limpballs has been deballed.
    
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- by fkdspm (April 05, 2012 9:15 am ET)
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  Proactive is for teens. There's no need for them to sponsor his show. Rush's audience is older. Much older.
  
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  - by highlyunlikely (April 05, 2012 4:06 pm ET)
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    Could be the white supremacist types. They tend to be young.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
- by cream rises (April 05, 2012 10:51 am ET)
  
  Rush's world is imploding. Clear Channel is staggering under $20 Billion of debt, $15 Billion due in 2016. They went out last night with a market cap of $2.8 Billion. They owe 10x what they are worth with declining revenues. Bonds are trading at 20% in open market, with interest rates historically low. The stock CCO hit a new 52 week low last week (CCO). Great article in WSJ 3 1/2 weeks ago outlining structure between CCoutdoors, CCcommunications, Bain and Lee. Bain has acknowledged that this has not be their best investment. Forbes article Feb 2012. Clear Channel Outdoor stockholders brought suit against Clear Channel for a $1 billion dollar loan made recently (I guess RL isn't raking it in), under ridiculous terms, and they know the co is about to default and restructuring so chances of principal being paid back are between slim and none.
  So who is going to sign RL's paycheck? Do you think Enron, Woldcom, and Lehman Bros honored guarantees when there was nothing left in the till. And where will he go? Cumulus wants Huckabee, Sirius has H. Stern, and doesn't have deep enough pockets to bring on another shock jock. You can't get water from a rock. Yes, he may still be on the air for a few more years, but if Ms. Fluke brings a civil case against him (2 year statute in FL), the jury can award punitive damages above what she sues him for.
  
  As a woman, I believe free speech is a right. Slander is not. And as to everyone who is complaining about censorship, Clear Channel dropped the Dixie Chicks right after they made the comment about Bush and Texas
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by Guthy|Renker (April 05, 2012 6:49 pm ET)
  
  As a direct marketer, our media buying strategy is independent of programming. We work with the networks and buy across the broadcast day, vs. selecting specific shows. While we do not actively purchase commercial air time specifically during Rush Limbaugh, as national advertisers began to pull their spots off the show, our spots were inadvertently run by the network in their place. This was not our choice and is in no way an endorsement of the messages shared on the programming. We’ve pulled our ads and are in discussions with the network about any that continue to run.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by JKJones (April 05, 2012 9:56 pm ET)
  
  Rush Limbaugh, the Republican mouth peace, has made relentless attacks on women and anyone who isn't part of his special group. It is too bad that Mit Romney or any of the presidential candidates haven't denounced him.
  Looks like the GOP has no real courage when it comes to the protection of the American people.
  Well, I'm an independent and I know who I'm not voting for. I am looking for someone who is courageous enough to stand up under relentless attack.
  I am not voting for anyone who isn't brave enough to potentially sacrifice his political career for morality. I think most politicians well do anything to get what they want.
  
  Reply Report Abuse

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