I haven't forgotten about you, Imus supporters.
In six days, when he officially becomes a non-sports guy for good, maybe I will. But not yet!
If this has been written somewhere else, I apologize for the non-scoop, but I believe based on logic, logistics and vibes I've gotten from Fuse-land that Mr. Imus' RFD-TV simulcast will emanate from the studios of Fuse, across Seventh Avenue from WABC radio's studios.
This would enable him to do three hours of TV on one side of the street and his last hour from the other side. Interesting.
I guess we'll know for sure Monday.
Speaking of Fuse, although I've never actually watched the channel, it played an important role in the evolution of my thinking on the NFL Network vs. Big Cable battle.
That's because it illustrated the mutual back-scratching on which the basic cable system is built.
In the autumn of 2005, Cablevision (which owns Fuse) had Versus (then known as OLN) on its sports tier. Comcast (which owns Versus) wanted it on digital basic, especially with the new NHL package kicking in.
Solution? Simple: Comcast agreed to carry Fuse. Cablevision agreed to move Versus. End of problem. And more channels on basic cable.
Comments (24)
Sorry but who really cares about Don Imus? is he really relevant anymore? What has he really contributed to society in the last twenty five years? I know that there are followers to Don but these people should get their priorities straight. Jim Jones had followers too and we know how that turned out.
Neil, there is no bigger sports radio story as we keep telling you. You have the face of WFAN starting his show against a new WFAN morning show. Plus, you have tons of on-air loyalists at WFAN who may appear next Monday on WABC against the new WFAN morning show. This is high stakes poker. Would be great if you'd, as many have suggested, find out if WFAN/CBS Radio have an official policy towards the new WABC show for their personalities. I would suspect that there is a strong likelihood that francessa, russo, maybe even benigno, all appear next Monday on WABC. Both francessa and russo are incredibly loyal to Mr. Imus and will want to yuck it up with him in the morning. So you'll have situation where WFAN personalities are spending mornings on WABC..
Jeff the only way WFAN/CBS Radio allows any of their on-air personalities to go on that show is if they quit their jobs and give up their jobs first. Stuff like that simply isn't done in radio, and Russo has a relationship with Boomer and probably wouldn't stab him in the back like that. I would also imagine that as of Friday, if it hasn't been done already, CBS Radio has gagged their on-air personalities from speaking about Imus. Now, if they have a book to discuss that may be another thing altogther. Expect to see a lot of RFD-TV personalities and Boston media clowns like the "journalist" Barnicle.No CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC politicians or anyone relevant to society today.
If this guy is broadcasting from FUSE maybe he can incorporate their only interesting show PANTS OFF/DANCE OFF into his boring as hell show.
Now the rest of you bugging Best about this meaningless of topics (FAN visitors to WABC) stop bugging him, he doesn't care and neither do any of the other fans of sports media reading this blog (and it is a sports media blog, not an all-media blog, so Imus doesn't belong here PERIOD!)
Funny how that little 11 Penn Plaza Television operation gets traffic. And here's the connection to sports tv.
From what you're reporting I see the genesis of how the rumor began that MSG might have won the Imus TV sweepstakes - the MSG, NY program is broadcast live from 11 Penn, the Esiason tv show is taped there, and it's right across the street from the WABC studios at 2 Penn Plaza and MSG. Odd that Cablevision will be a winner in this -- they get the studio rental fees etc. and the video switching company the studio signal goes to before it gets to RFD-TV is also Cablevision's located in Bethpage.
Sandy,
If your predicting that David Gregory will no longer be on Imus, that is great news. Predicting I-Fans won't have to hear another Meacham Christmas/Easter story becaues Newsweek (MSNBC Partner) does not allowing its geeky columnists on the new IMUS? Even better news. No Jim Nance (who never came through with the Rolex,) is okay by me. Phil Simms? will miss him but Imus gets Bradshaw and Joe Buck back. Imus will be fine...
The world doesn't start or end with CBS, NBC and their silly partners. Just wait to sweeps week - they will all be back, as Kinky says "Let Saigons be Bygones". Russert will eventually be back. CBS NBC news and entertainment divisions will be back. Also, WFAN is dying ($) without Imus. Mike and Mad Dog will be begging for a chance to get on Imus!
Who put you in charge of Watchdog anyway..
Frank, you can't be serious with this question:
"What has he really contributed to society in the last twenty five years?"
Hospital wing, autism and sids research, improved and new VA hospitals, and spending his summers living as family with kids with cancer and blood diseases. What have you contributed?
Channel--Nobody put me in charge, but as his right, Best is ignoring you all and you all won't leave him alone until you get answers. What you all need to understand--CBS personalities were on this show because it was a CBS Radio show, NBC personalities were on the show because it was an NBC TV show. These networks wanted the exposure for their personalities. WFAN wanted the exposure for theirs. RFD-TV has no exposure. None of these people will be on, because their employers wont want them on.
I don't know why you think Bradshaw and Buck will be there. I would suggest to you if he gets any guests at all-expect Limbaugh and Hannity and others from WABC before anyone else. I would expect to see Howard Stern there before Russert since he did nothing to come to Imus' defense and is an news executive at NBC, the same network that canned him.
I hope for your sakes he can do a good show, but right now his career is as close to dead as dead can be. The only TV network in the entire world that wanted this show was RFD, a network no one sees. Not even Versus wanted this or Spike or USA. Citadel broadcasting forced the programming director of WABC to fire a top-rated show to put him on. Only one station has picked the show up in syndication as far as we know, WTKK in Boston, which didnt have a morning show because the guy they wanted was being sued by his old station (Howie Carr). So good luck to Imus. What Neil Best should be finding out for you (and the rest of us) is who the sportscaster is, that is relevant to this blog.
MIke and Mad Dog aren't dying to be on Imus, trust me.
Isn't it interesting that the loudest Imus haters like Frank actually know very little about the man or his show?
Welcome back, Don.
The reason WFAN was able to make money and stay on the air was b/c of morning show. Now that the morning man is at a new station it effects WFAN"s ratings, the amount of advertising dollars WFAN recieves, etc. This is a huge sports radio story with enormous effects on WFAN. This is why Neil will tell us what Chernoff says b/c I have to believe that mike/dog will be on there Monday with Imus. They are too valuable to be fired at the moment so I suspect they can do what they choose. Neil, I defer to your reserach and call to Chernoff for us. Thanks.
Neil does the best job on Imus reports. WFAN using a baseball term when striking out, they "fanned". A swing and a BIG MISS.
I here blah, blah, blah. Most of what Boomer and Craig say in 4 hours can be summed up in 5 minutes on Imus. Sports are discussed on IITM along with many other subjects.
Anyone negative about Imus can listen to WFAN, WOR, or NPR. They are so ignorant.
Another thing about who can say what and what would happen if they did to Imus by phone. WFAN (CBS) radio would be stupid to stipulate to their employees to not talk with Imus on air. And if said employee signed a contract stating such or an amendment to their contract, Imus doesn't want to talk with them. They are just as bad as the weasels that fired him. This goes for any major broadcast Company. NBC, MSNBC etc.
Frankly the course is set for the new "Imus in the Morning". And who talks with him is not as important as what he has to say to us his fans.
Thanks again Neil. Your the Best.
the proof will be in the first sweeps book. as far as the cbs and nbc people coming back. they will be if it's to their advantage, they won't be if it isn't. if his show is relevant and interesing and getting lots of buzz, they'll be back....I am confident it will be a ratings winner. I am confident that within 6 months it will be widely syndicated on radio nationally, and picked up by Comcast and Time Warner, among others.....
Trust me... in addition to interesting conversation, music, and humor, Imus is going to engage in the first REAL dialogue about race and race relations in this country. Some of it will be uncomfortable, but it will be substantive, and honest.
Why would anyone believe Imus' show will be a ratings winner at WABC? It did horribly in the ratings at WFAN. His big thing was that he was able to pull ad revenue because of target advertisers.
I don't know who Sandy is. All I can think about is the dog from "Little Orphan Annie".
Sandy accuses you Neil of us pestering you. We or us is kind of like lumping a bunch of people in a club of haters.
Let's make it simple. I will use the K I S S method.
Imus returns. Those that don't come on lose. Those that do come on do. End of discussion.
Have a nice life Sandy. And Neil you do what you want to do. No one makes you do what you like to do.
Neil, you are the Best.
Neil is not ignoring the I-Nation. He knows we are loyal and not so one-dimensional to only be interested in the sports topic of the day. Thanks, Dee, for responding to Frank. Not contributing to society? Most of us cannot play in Mr. Imus' league. Don Imus is a class act and will find many interesting people who will be happy to talk to him. Not having to look at or listen to the slugs who ran the other way when he needed them is a perk to me. Personally, I can't wait for Dec. 3 and I predict that RFD-TV will do quite well next year.
GET A LIFE SANDY!!! NEIL IS NOT IGNORING US!!! NEIL YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!
Imus had high profile guests before MSNBC. What's the attraction? Radio audience. Before the debacle, New York City and Boston were Imus' two largest markets. Rest assured his radio career will pick up right where it left off and will only grow with Citadel's ability syndication capabilities.
MSNBC, NBC and their partners like Newsweek weighed the Imus show down. Imus made these drones look good, squeezing out personality and making them somewhat interesting. Good riddance.
RFD has added Imus to evolve the network to reach a broader audience. Hiring Imus involves a big financial commitment, expect them to leverage that investment. RFD is not going to stand still they will make significant moves, witness the NYC studio...
Imus from a revenue view point, single handedly out produced the entirety of WABC's programming. Financially Citadel and WABC have made the right decision.
WFAN is dying ($) and Mike and the Mad Dog do not have the juice to make up the financial hole caused by the Imus Debacle. Last summer Mike almost ran himself into the ground trying doing double shifts. He did the shifts to retain the morning to evening audience all for naught.
What would make anyone think that Imus listeners are not sports fans?
Wait for sweeps weeks when they will all come out!
Neil (you are the) Best - Who is Imus sports guy ?
Sandy said its okay, so you can tell us…ThanX
Best, just call Chernoff all ready and find out the answer to the WFAN policy for WABC. Honestly, you can end the madness.
Neil
I get Fuse that works too, Hope you and family had a good Thanksgiving.
Hey Barney,
Go change your diaper....Neil don't give these losers the "scoop" that they need so bad....the all important wfan policy regarding IMUS. That being said, I hate all you IMUS seniors.
Sincerely,
Barney is Deranged
Hey 'Barney is Deranged',
How old are you with your 'potty fixation', five? You really should get a grip on your anger (and your bowels apparently) -- don't hate the player, hate the game.
We "Imus seniors" come in all ages -- I happen to be both young and quite cute, or so I've been told. Sounds like you are sitting home alone and need to "flush" some issues.
If you don't like reading about Imus or if you choose not to watch or listen, then don't. Probably your time could be better spent seeking help through counseling with your "potty" and anger issues.
On Monday the third, I will be watching Imus on DirectTV and many will be listening on WABC. Welcome back I-Man.
Have I offended you or someone here? You censored my last comment yesterday which I thought was rather mild.
You have my email address so please notify me.
Neil Your the Best
Sandy said "right now his career is as close to dead as dead can be."
Lazarus like Cadaverous Don Ho rises from the dead...
The show will be carried on 61 stations outside of New York.
http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/2007/11/27/gm-to-evaluate-imus-show-before-committing/
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