Premiere Takes Two-Person Approach To Fill Rush Limbaugh Time Slot.

The guessing game of who will succeed Rush Limbaugh in Premiere Networks’ coveted noon-3pm schedule is over. The network made the official announcement at 3pm Thursday that it has selected Clay Travis and Buck Sexton to take over the slot held by Limbaugh for three decades. Branded as “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show,” the new offering launches Monday, June 21.

In choosing Travis, 42, and Sexton, 39, the network is aiming to attract a younger audience while carrying on the tradition of the late conservative talk radio trailblazer. The two hosts, who are each giving up successful syndicated shows of their own, will “tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor,” Premiere said in a press release.

Travis hosts the Fox Sports Radio show and podcast “Outkick the Coverage,” which airs on more than 350 affiliates nationwide from 6-9am. He is also the founder of the pop culture and politics based media company Outkick, which he is selling to Fox Corp.

“I’ve loved spending the past six years building ‘Outkick The Coverage’ into one of the most-listened-to sports talk shows in the country, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to join Buck Sexton as we launch this new program in the most coveted timeslot in the talk format,” said Travis. “While no one will ever replace Rush Limbaugh, Buck and I are excited to continue advancing the causes he held dear, most importantly American exceptionalism, a fervent embrace of capitalism, and a belief in a robust marketplace of ideas. At a time of rabid cancel culture and toxic identity politics, we will be the voice for many who feel scared to say what they think for fear of the censorious online mob. We can’t wait to get started.”

Based at iHeartMedia talk WOR New York, Sexton currently hosts a 6-9pm show for Premiere syndicated to over 180 stations. A former CIA officer and NYPD counter-terrorism expert, Sexton has filled in for Limbaugh on “The Rush Limbaugh Show.”

“I could not be more thrilled – and am deeply humbled – by the opportunity to host this new program with my co-host, Clay Travis,” said Sexton. “We think it’s important to carry on the tradition of Rush Limbaugh and bring truth to the masses. One thing I can promise all EIB listeners out there: we’re with them and we will always fight for them with the show Clay and I do every day.”

Premiere has continued to feature archival clips from Limbaugh, set up by a trio of guide-hosts, since Limbaugh passed away in February.

Who will fill his enormous shoes has been rumored, debated and strategized since Limbaugh’s Feb. 3, 2020 disclosure of advanced lung cancer. It was the talk of Talk Show Boot Camp in March where the two-person concept was tossed out as an option that has proven successful with sports radio and local talk radio which often use a pair of co-hosts.

“We couldn’t be happier to have Clay and Buck - two incredibly talented personalities from our Premiere family – at the helm of this new program,” said Premiere President Julie Talbott. “Rush Limbaugh is irreplaceable, but we’re confident they will continue his legacy by delivering their own brand of intelligent, informed and entertaining talk radio, while providing our partners with a powerful platform to connect with their consumers.”

“The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” will also be available as a podcast on the iHeartRadio Podcast Network.

Travis’s final “Outkick The Coverage” broadcast and podcast will be Friday (May 28). Fox Sports Radio’s Jonas Knox will guest host “Outkick The Coverage” until a new replacement host is named. Travis will continue to co-host “Fox Bet Live,” a daily gambling TV show for FS1, along with the “Wins & Losses With Clay Travis” podcast. He will also continue to write at OutKick.com and do a daily “OutKick the Show” podcast/webcast.