It’s been years in the making. The Bubba The Love Sponge ratings tampering case in Tampa was scheduled to begin today. However, we were told Monday morning the trial has been delayed and there is no start date scheduled.
Bubba The Love Sponge (Todd Clem) is accused of paying a Nielsen panelist to juice his ratings. Nielsen filed a $1 million lawsuit against the host and is trying to make a very public example of Bubba when it comes to tampering with radio’s ratings system. Bubba claims Nielsen and Cox conspired to set him up and he’s expected to put Nielsen’s methodology into question.
Here are just a few of the people expected to testify. Randy Michaels The panelist who claims Bubba paid him, Nicholas Tabachuk. Nielsen’s Brad Kelly and Matt O’Grady. From Beasley Broadcasting, Brian Beasley and Justin Chase. JVC CEO John Caracciolo. Cox Market Manager Keith Lawless. Genesis Communications CEO Bruce Maduri. WHPT Morning Man Mike Calta. And, Rhody Bosley.
Bubba claims that Nielsen and Cox undertook actual and overt actions in this conspiracy. And, Bubba claims, that as a result of Nielsen and Cox’s malicious and unlawful actions, and their agreement and conspiracy to commit said actions, Bubba and BRN have suffered and will continue to suffer damages in an amount to be proven at trial.
Back in 2016, Bubba admitted to having a friendship with a cooperating panelist but denied he gave the panelist specific instructions on what to do. Nielsen says it has proof Bubba broke the rules regarding tampering with ratings. Some of he exhibits expected to be shown in court are e-mails, Facebook messages and tweets between Clem, Calta, radio executives and others.
(This corrects an earlier version of the story which stated the trial was set to begin today)
Why 820 decided to replace their growing morning program with washed-up Bubba is insane. That shock-jock shtick had run its course years ago, Bubba’s been fired from every gig he’s had and brings no value to todays radio market, his attempt to prop-up ratings suggests even he knows he’s done.
Unsavory
Note to RJP:
They must beat those dead horses. They are entered in the next race!
A wrist slap should be good enough. Why drag this out and beat a dead horse. I have known many people who have received diaries. How is one diary going to influence listernership?