12.1.07: IMUS RETURNS!!!!!! (report)

Report: Imus To Return December 1
October 8, 2007

Last week, it was reported that Don Imus was close to finalizing a deal with Citadel to return to the radio. Now sources tell the Washington Post that Imus' comeback has a start date of December 1. The Post reports that a new contract between Imus and Citadel Broadcasting will likely be finalized by the end of the week. Sources also told the paper that, as predicted, Imus would be taking over mornings at WABC/New York, with his show back in syndication once again.

There are also suggestions that Imus would bring his show back to TV as well, and he has floated the idea that the show could be a fit on the new Fox Business Network, though no official negotiations have begun.
While nothing has been said on the record yet, Citadel CEO Farid Suleman did tell the New York Times over the weekend that "[Imus] did something wrong. He didn’t break the law. He’s more than paid the price for what he did. I think he should be evaluated by what he does going forward." Suleman did not, however, confirm or deny that Citadel was in negotiations with Imus.

Advertising Age has asked some top advertisers if they would return to running spots during Imus' show, if he comes back. While General Motors had suspended its advertising on his show when the controversy began in the spring, a spokeswoman for GM told Ad Age the company wouldn't buy ad time until it knew what his new program would be about. Natalie Swed Stone, OMD's head of radio buying, added that she "couldn't see why" advertisers wouldn't want to return to running ads with Imus once again

BREAKING: IMUS NEAR CITADEL/ABC DEAL???

Imus fans: Your wait is almost over!

Citadel Broadcasting is close to finalizing a contract with Don Imus that would bring the controversial radio host back to the airwaves, a person familiar with the discussions said Tuesday.It was not immediately clear from where Imus would be heard, but Citadel owns WABC in New York, making its morning slot a logical destination. It also owns WPLJ-FM.

Currently the ABC spot is occupied by Ron Kuby and Curtis Sliwa.Citadel and its chief executive, Farid Suleman, have been rumored to be interested in Imus for months, and WABC long has been considered a logical platform for him to launch a comeback.He would bring along his longtime newsman, Charles McCord, who last appeared on WFAN Aug. 31.

Less clear is what role, if any, a more controversial member of Imus' old crew, Bernard McGuirk, would play. One possibility is a nonspeaking role as a producer/writer.

Imus was fired by CBS Radio and removed from WFAN April 12, eight days after making comments that many regarded as sexist and/or racist directed at the Rutgers women's basketball team . His show also had been simulcast on MSNBC.