BOCA RATON, FLA. — To Newsmax viewers, he’s known as the host of a weekend cable news show. For podcast listeners, his “Newsmax Daily” offering provides a “humorous and entertaining analysis” of current news, with distribution on such platforms as iHeartRadio.
Now, Rob Carson is leveraging his podcast skills by becoming the latest individual who seeks to be heir to the Conservative Talk Radio Throne left empty by the late Rush Limbaugh.
Newsmax on Monday revealed that it is syndicating The Rob Carson Show to radio stations across the U.S.
The preferred time slot: Noon-3pm Eastern, the time slot enjoyed by Limbaugh’s program until his passing earlier this year.
The first affiliate: WCBM-AM 680 in Baltimore, which shifts Bruce Elliott back to morning drive with co-host Sean Casey as The Derek Hunter Show returns to the 9am-Noon time slot.
Carson’s ties to Limbaugh could indeed draw listeners to his program, notwithstanding his “Rob Carson’s What in the World” program on the fast-growing Newsmax TV operation, headquartered a floor below tower company Vertical Bridge in Boca Raton. Carson “cut his teeth writing the biggest political satire for Rush Limbaugh for over 20 years,” Newsmax points out. “Through five Presidencies, Rob relentlessly dogged the Establishment with song parodies and commercial parodies that infused politics with comedy and pop culture. He plans on bringing that iconoclastic perspective to his new syndicated show.”
That’s perhaps enough to give Carson a ringing endorsement from WCBM GM Marc Beaven. “In our continuous search to give the listeners of Maryland the very best in conservative radio, we are proud to announce the addition of Rob Carson to our lineup. Rob brings major market talk radio skills to the Baltimore market and his presence solidifies WCBM as the best place to receive conservative programming.”
WCBM is independently owned and overseen by VP Nick Mangione Jr. The licensee is represented on Commission matters by Scott Flick of Pillsbury Law.
Carson’s new radio show promises to combine “thoughtful political commentary with audio clips in a hilarious stream of consciousness that makes listeners laugh out loud.”
In addition to newsworthy guests, “Rob will hit the call-in boards and let his fellow Americans play a big role in the show,” Newsmax adds.
Carson’s air name is in homage to childhood idol Johnny Carson, who grew up 10 miles from Rob’s hometown of Neola, Iowa.
“Bringing Rob Carson to talk radio allows us to better reach viewers and listeners with information that matters,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said. “We have had tremendous demand from our TV viewers for more Newsmax on radio and Rob is our first response to that demand.”
Overseeing the rollout of the program for AM and FM stations is Newsmax Radio CEO Lee Kinberg. He said, “Rob Carson is one of funniest talents and Newsmax fans have flocked to his TV show and podcast, so radio is a natural next step. We see Rob as the natural heir to Rush Limbaugh, a guy from the heartland who cares about the country, but also enjoys a good laugh.”
Steve Lapa of Lapcom Communications assisted in developing The Rob Carson Show.
