Don Imus settles with CBS
From the Associated Press
9:49 AM PDT, August 14, 2007
NEW YORK —
Don Imus has reached a settlement with CBS over his multimillion-dollar
contract and is negotiating with WABC radio to resume his broadcasting
career there, according to CBS and a person familiar with the
negotiations.
Imus and CBS Radio reached a settlement that would pre-empt the
dismissed radio personality’s threatened $120 million
breach-of-contract lawsuit, CBS spokesman Dana McClintock said today.
No terms of the settlement were disclosed.
The person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press that Imus
is taking steps to make a comeback with WABC-AM. The person, who spoke
on condition of anonymity because the news had not been announced, also
said the deal with CBS calls for a “non-disparaging” agreement that
forbids him from speaking negatively about his former employer.
The settlement and possible comeback come more than four months after
Imus created an uproar over his racist and sexist comments about the
Rutgers women’s basketball team.
Just before his dismissal, Imus signed a five-year, $40 million
contract with CBS Radio (owned by CBS Corp.). Famed First Amendment
lawyer Martin Garbus said in May that Imus planned to sue CBS for $120
million in unpaid salary and damages.
WFAN, the New York radio station that was Imus’ flagship, also
announced today that former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason will take
over the morning time slot along with Craig Carton, a New Jersey radio
personality.
WABC is a talk-radio station that features political and topical shows with such stars Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.
Imus, 66, was dismissed April 12 after describing the Rutgers women’s
basketball team as “nappy-headed hos” on his nationally syndicated
radio program, which was also simulcast on MSNBC. (General Electric
Co.’s cable TV channel now has the “Morning Joe” program with Joe
Scarborough.)
Garbus had said Imus would sue for the contract’s unpaid part. He cited
a contract clause in which CBS acknowledged that Imus’ services were
“unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical,
controversial.”
The clause said Imus’ programming was “desired by company and …
consistent with company rules and policy,” according to Garbus.
::Tullycast:: 