[BC] Re: Imus Firing

[Alan Kline]

One thing that hasn't been discussed, at least publicly, is how much 
pressure might have been brought to bear on CBS by the NCAA. Remember 
that Imus made his comments about a team which played in the NCAA 
womens' basketball championship, and remember that the NCAA is one of 
CBS' most cherished business partners. CBS paid something like $6 
billion for the rights to the Final Four for the next umpteen years. Do 
you think they're going to do *anything* to alienate the NCAA?

For all of Les Moonves' posturing about doing the right thing for their 
other employees, it all comes down to caving in when the right people push.

It's a sad day when the network which once defied Congress to protect 
journalistic freedoms collapses so easily.  And all the more ironic when 
one considers that CBS is still fighting the FCC over the Janet Jackson 
and "Without a Trace" incidents. They might as well give up on those...

I guess this truly was a "Bad Day at Black Rock"...

ak

Xmitters at aol.com wrote:
> Hello:
> 
> I am rather confused about something and maybe you can help me sort this out:
> 
> Imus was suspended for two weeks and _then_ his advertisers pulled their 
> commercials. HELLO! I'm sure those advertisers were paying a premium price to 
> advertise in the Imus show. If Imus is suspended, you would have to be one stup
> id 
> advertiser to continue paying those prices when the main draw for the 
> demographic that you're paying for, is not on the air. The news coverage is mak
> ing 
> this removal of sponsors sound as it those sponsors are protesting to what was 
> said.
> 
> Then MSNBC decides not to carry the Imus show. Same reasoning! Imus is 
> suspended, why carry his show!!
> 
> Today, CBS fires Imus because of the sponsor reaction supposedly to his 
> comments. Does CBS have memory failure?? They are the ones that gave Imus a 
> suspension. What did they expect the advertisers to do? Continue to pay top dol
> lar 
> for an Imus fill-in? Who would be dumb enough to do that?
> 
> I just do not understand this part of the Imus ordeal. I have  my own 
> opinions about what he actually said and respect those who object to the commen
> ts and 
> those who don't. I am not confused about the offensiveness of what he said. 
> 
> I AM confused about how CBS handled the suspension/firing; that's the part 
> that makes no sense.
> 
> Help me unravel this.