Aug 14, 2007 12:35 pm US/Central
Imus Settles With CBS Over Firing
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Don Imus reached a settlement with CBS on Aug. 14, 2007.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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 Tuesday.
No terms of the settlement were disclosed.
A CBS spokesperson confirmed with The ShowBuzz that a settlement has been reached. "Dollar amount rumored is grossly false," the spokesperson said.
Imus was fired from both CBS radio and MSNBC after using the words "nappy headed hos" to describe the Rutgers women's basketball team in April. He apologized for what he said and even appeared on the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show to further apologize.
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, which is 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 Tuesday 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.
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.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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