Imus canned by MSNBC (CBS too)

[Dan Strassberg]

This will NEVER be proven, but it seems to me completely certain that
someone high up in the chain of command at CBS, while discussing with Imus
his declining ratings, their effect on the upcoming spring sweeps, and the
effect they were likely to have on the revenues produced by Imus's show (and
hence on Imus's longevity and future earnings), told Imus to be more
outrageous because being outrageous was the surest way to boost ratings. (I
don't even know the name of anyone high up in the CBS chain of command, so I
certainly have no clue who might have said this, but the conversation MUST
have taken place. I imagine that the higher-up said nothing about the ways
in which Imus might choose to be more outrageous. After all, Imus virtually
wrote the book on outrageous radio.) Well, Imus and McGuirk had it all
figured out perfectly--up to a point. They got publicity worth TENS of
MILLIONS of dollars. From what I've heard about the interchange with
Sharpton on Sharpton's show, that part also went off without a hitch. Where
Imus and McGuirk miscalculated was in the length of the backlash's legs. I
can't believe that the dual firings by MSNBC and CBS were part of their
plan, although the two-week suspension surely must have been. Indeed, Imus
was probably prepared for a longer suspension. However, if CBS and then
MSNBC recant and reinstate Imus's show, or if Mel Karmazin and Sirius rescue
the I-man, the Imus/McGuirk outrageous-stunt plan may yet prove to have been
one of the biggest winners in radio history. Right up there with Opie and
Anthony at St Patrick's.

---- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Nelson" <raccoonradio@mail.com>
To: "Bill O'Neill" <me@billoneill.us>; "Boston Radio Interest"
<boston-radio-interest@rolinin.BostonRadio.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 4:51 PM
Subject: Re: Imus canned by MSNBC (CBS too)


> The other shoe has dropped. Wire services apparently reporting CBS has
fired Imus...Howie Carr just mentioned too
>
> ----- Original Message
>