.jpg)
(AP/photo)
Desperately needing to increase viewership, Fox Business News may decide that simulcasting shock jock Don Imus' controversial "Imus in the Morning" radio show is just the jolt needed.
Two weeks ago Matea Gold reported in The Los Angeles Times that FBN was in final negotiations with the controversial personality.
Speculation of an FBN deal ticked higher yesterday when Imus and the RFD cable network announced they had mutually agreed to end their arrangement. Imus' last simulcast on the network aimed at rural America will be this Friday, August 28, 2009.
In 2007, Imus stood square at the cross roads of political free speech and political correctness over the airwaves with his infamous "nappy-headed hos" comment regarding the Rutger's womens basketball team. The subsequent outrage resulted in MSNBC dropping his simulcast, followed by firing by CBS radio. (Yet, Oberfuhrer Olbermann and Madcow Maddow who have a cumulutaive record of hate speech against anyone or anything "not left wing" are now placed upon pedestals by NBC and GE management. Times, oh yes they are a changing.)
Imus has been rehabilitating his image over the past two years and is now back up to 65 affiliates in his radio stable.
While Fox is not commenting on negotiations, bringing aboard Imus fits the NewsCorp style and is in line with comments made by chairman Rupert Murdoch during the Q4 earnings conference call in which he predicted profit increases in the high single digits for FY10.
Imus certainly has his following, and would no doubt add eyeballs to FBN's current dismal count, but this writer is a bit perplexed.
Why would a new network trying to forge it's own image in the 21st century media market, hook its wagon to a personality so tarnished, and quite frankly, just not that good anymore?
Murdoch has been masterful at succeeding when conventional wisdom said he should fail, bringing on Imus will test that wisdom once more.
Comments
He is still good you fat bastard!
Tarnished? IMUS was almost a victim of the politically correct Left aided by their sycophantic media know-it-alls. The idiotic controversy regarding stupid unfunny (but not racist) remarks about the Rugers Women's Basketball team was pure nonsense - as proven by the fact that sleazemeister Sharpton was involved.
It seemed obvious to this observer that IMUS and FOX would get together since Roger Ailes and IMUS are long-time friends. And as to relevancy, the IMUS show has long been timely and current and fits it nicely with FOX NEWS.
RFD-TV is on a par with a high school TV station.
alttho agreed upon how could white ammerica rfd dowwn size imus by kicking off the minoritys tony and k and al sharpton not notice
everyon hammered i mus he did his best adios k and t and goodby ted where is al sharpton rfd doesnot want a white boy with innteracial friends/guests now tnow the news is so biiz
blind willie mctell who sings the blues better paul gee nailed it hope igot some part of that right if i didnlt figure it out i had to john prine said that i type for ted kennedy died and imus was the only jock to bring his intteracial forum to the front on his last pgm onwhite tv who said..... and after bringing t and k to the show they were bumpted by rfd but imus hung with them and where will you get thewhere was al sharpton when rfd downsized t and k whereis the indy weird news imus al al sharpton al where were you when t and k hey al ted died tand k got bumped al you are out imus is in because of honesty and integrety i cxanltype or spelll yeah but not at the same time....... paul gee cool al...in hiding imus in the morning
I don't care what channel Imus is on - as long as it is on my channel line up! He is what gets me shifted out of neutral at 6 am each weekday morning, otherwise, I'd never get myself to rise and shine!!! LONG LIVE THE I-MAN!
fluffy and paul could not have said it better i said it like hunter thompson and was bleeped go figure makes me more indecipherable fluff was corect i donlt care what channel just so i have iman at 5 to help me face the wierd world but hey joe d we miss you and the mick but hey al sharpton where were you when keirath and tony were downsized? al one way sharpton born and bred rasciast iman open minded adios ted drink for him he canlt drink anymore but drink a soft drink in my and iman codition adios ted and al bleep sharpton is bleep
I'd almost even watch (shutter) CNN if Imus was on...but that's never a worry since Imus is smart enough to know that CNN SUCKS. Almost as much as MSNBC SUCKS. I switched from cable to DirecTV ONLY because the stupid morons at Comcast (which also SUCKS) didn't carry RFD...and I HAD to have RFD...because of the I-man. The IMUS IN THE MORNING program is the only morning show on TV worth watching.
Hurry back to TV Imus, we need you, you wrinkled up grouchy old pepper sandwich munching bastard!
PS...finally GOOD RIDDANCE to Karith Foster...although probably a nice enough person...NOT FUNNY...and, at least on TV...a TWIT. Tony Powell, however, is GREAT!
CHANGE...IT'S ALL YOU'LL HAVE LEFT!
hurry back america needs the truth.
Come on Fox,please announce when the I-man will appear.
Iman come on down,we miss you and rest of your crew.Hope your health issues are better and wish you the best.Looking foward to your return to the TV media.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!