Limbaugh Rushes Into a New Deal

Radio host inks a $400 million deal with Clear Channel that keeps him on the air until 2016

For those of you who can't envision an election season without Rush Limbaugh's fair and balanced political perspective, fear not.

On the eve of The Rush Limbaugh Show's 20th anniversary, the conservative talk-radio host has signed an estimated $400 million deal with Clear Channel Communications that will keep him on the air through 2016, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

According to Limbaugh, that hefty sum includes a $100 million signing bonus. His existing $225 million, nine-year contract was due to expire in 2009.

"First and foremost, I’m a businessman," Limbaugh told the NY Times Magazine recently, when asked about the very favorable terms of the new agreement, which amounts to the most lucrative contract in radio since Howard Stern inked an unprecedented five-year, $500 million satellite deal (which factored in production, studio and staff costs).

"My first goal is to attract the largest possible audience, so I can charge confiscatory ad rates. I happen to have great entertainment skills, but that enables me to sell airtime."

And buy a lot of stuff.