Don Imus, pretty much an overpaid, little-account radio host for years, has no more radio to host. By the way, Imus was making $8 million dollars a year.
First he lost advertisers (GM, Ford), then his MSNBC simulcast.
Now CBS has removed him from the airwaves.
Losing Imus will be a financial hit to CBS Radio, which also suffered when shock jock Howard Stern departed for satellite radio early last year. The program is worth about $15 million in annual revenue to CBS, which owns Imus’ home radio station, WFAN-AM in New York, and manages Westwood One, the company that syndicates the show across the country. CBS Corp. is also the parent company of CBSNews.com.
The Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson met with Moonves to advocate Imus’ removal, promising a rally outside CBS headquarters Saturday and an effort to persuade more advertisers to abandon Imus.
DON IMUS: When will Al Sharpton be apologizing to them? (Duke lacrosse team)
CARLIN: I’m unaware of such a press conference.
IMUS: I’ll be darned . . .
Okay, Sharpton & Jackson; you’ve nailed Imus. The radio world is quaking, wondering: me next?
What about Tawana Brawley?
What about Crystal Gail Mangum?
In my opinion, however, there are two things upon which most of us can agree:
1. Don Imus was stupid.
2. Note to aggrieved blacks: perhaps people will respect you when respect yourselves culturally.
BZ
I’m waiting for the black attack on rap, nifong, and the host of other “Insulting” blacks against whitey…
Racial equality is a good thing, Al $harpton’s version, is nothing more than black power and politically correct racism.
Al $harpton should be held to account for his racist actions.
$harpton is the grand master of the racist movement of the 21st century. Imus is nothing more than an outspoken idiot.
Please understand one thing. Imus’ ratings were in the toilet. He could have been let go any time now anyway.
I’ll bet Imus already has a new home.
Bushwack: that’s my point. The culture of rap and disrespect isn’t bringing black culture up, it’s bringing that culture and that of others down.
BWH: correct about Imus. I’m of this opinion: it’s a “free market economy” and people vote with their pocketbooks. If advertisers fled, then Imus goes. Simple. On the other hand, the reaction and then the OVER-reaction is what I fear — the impact on FREE SPEECH itself. There should NOT be a limitation on speech and writing and opinion. On ANY side: left OR right.
BZ
All: just watch. Imus will get a contract on Satellite radio. Because Satellite radio is becoming the boneyard of Terrestrial radio. Stern went from 20 million listeners a day to 400,000 listeners a day. Big difference. And it matters to Howard Stern, trust me. He’s making good money and Imus will too, but Sirius and the other satellite company, hosts for former big names, are nothing more than kick-back Farm Teams for Terrestrial Radio. The Fuck Factor for satellite radio — that is, the freedom to run a potty mouth — goes cold and runs old after a while. Real entertainment will last and be recognized.
Sirius and XM are trying to buy one another because people are not renewing their subscriptions. Stern is going down and Imus is also going down.
Another example of letting go — let the Free Market Economy decide and, apparently, it has spoken, hasn’t it?
BZ