Boston Herald Reports Imus A Short-timer on 969 FM Talk

[David Tomm]

IIRC, Imus signed a five year contract with WFAN/Westwood One when Mel 
Karmazin was still with Infinity back in 2001.  I would think that deal 
should be running out by now, unless it was reworked when the show 
moved to the MSNBC studios.  Considering his cost and diminished money 
demo ratings not only at his affiliates but at WFAN as well (so the 
story goes) maybe he will finally hang up the cans.  The only thing 
still keeping him on the air is the publicity he gets for the Ranch and 
the money generated by the yearly Radiothon.  Now that he originates 
the show from MSNBC, theoetically he could be dropped by Westwood One 
and WFAN and still continue on TV.  If Imus loses Boston and there have 
been rumors that Providence (WHJJ) may follow suit--two of his biggest, 
most durable markets, it could be the end of the line for the 
I-man....at least on the radio.

Despite having Imus, WTKK has emerged as a formidable competitor to 
WRKO for the conservative talk audience over the last few years.  Maybe 
a local morning show will bring the station to the next level and land 
the crushing blow to The Old, Tired Talk Station on 680....

--Dave Tomm
"Mike Thomas"

On Sep 11, 2005, at 3:16 PM, Laurence Glavin wrote:

> Today's Boston Sunday Herald "Inside Track" reports that management
> at WTKK-FM is getting tired of the oft-absent Don Imus and his schtick,
> and that they may say sayonara when the contract expires next April
> (assuming Imus doesn't expire before then).  This may explain why they
> have experimented with live local talk in that time slot during the
> cranky cowboy's vacations. 
>