Reagan Show Replaced by Limbaugh : Radio: After two years on KSDO-AM in San Diego, the ex-President's son is dropped to make room for the conservative commentator.

Reagan Show Replaced by Limbaugh : Radio: After two years on KSDO-AM in San Diego, the ex-President’s son is dropped to make room for the conservative commentator.

By KEVIN BRASS

Jan. 31, 1992 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

SAN DIEGO — In order to make room for Rush Limbaugh’s syndicated talk show, KSDO-AM (1130) confirmed Wednesday that it is dropping the weekday afternoon show hosted by Michael Reagan, the son of former President Ronald Reagan.

The younger Reagan, who worked in sales and marketing, hosted a TV game show in Canada, raced boats and did fill-in radio work before joining KSDO three years ago, took over the afternoon slot two years ago.

Contacted Wednesday, Reagan said he wants to stay in radio and that he is already developing a nationally syndicated show.

“I wasn’t surprised by the move,” Reagan said. “I love doing the show but I also understand the budget constraints. Someone had to come underneath the ax.”

KSDO general manager Mike Shields said Reagan’s last day on the air will be today and that Limbaugh’s show will begin airing Monday on a taped-delay basis from noon to 3 p.m. Reagan will remain with the station while he develops his other projects, Shields said.

The decision to make the change “is not so much a reflection on (Reagan’s) performance as much as the potential of having Roger (Hedgecock) and Limbaugh back-to-back,” Shields said.

Limbaugh now airs weekday mornings on XTRA-AM (690), which announced Wednesday that it will switch to an all-sports format Monday.

Shields said he has been negotiating for several months to get Limbaugh, arguably the hottest conservative property in radio. Limbaugh is on the air in more than 100 markets and was the subject of a recent “60 Minutes” profile.

“Mike worked real hard and did everything we asked of him,” Shields said. “We just felt there was more upside with Rush.”

KSDO’s ratings dropped in the most recent survey, but Shields said Reagan’s numbers were “pretty good.”

Limbaugh’s ratings were unspectacular on XTRA. San Diego is one of only three markets in the country where Limbaugh’s ratings dropped, Shields said, but a station research project found Limbaugh’s name recognition to be high locally.