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