WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Don Imus Fired By CBS Radio

Don Imus Fired By CBS Radio

Don Imus will no longer be on the air for CBS Radio.

Thursday, CBS announced its decision to cease broadcasting the "Imus in the Morning" radio program, effective immediately, on a permanent basis.  Imus in the Morning was carried on 61 stations across the United States and distributed over the Westwood One radio network.  The cancellation of the program comes after Imus made racially-charged comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team, which reached the finals of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, this Spring.

"From the outset, I believe all of us have been deeply upset and repulsed by the statements that were made on our air about the young women who represented Rutgers University in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship with such class, energy, and talent," said CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves, in announcing the decision.  "Those who have spoken with us, the last few days, represent people of goodwill from all segments of our society - all races, economic groups, men and women alike.  In our meetings with concerned groups, there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society.  That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds, as we made our decision, as have the many emails, phone calls, and personal discussions we have had with our colleagues across the CBS Corporation and our many other constituencies."

"I want to thank all those who came to see us to express their views," Moonves continued.  "We are now presented with a significant opportunity to expand on our record on issues of diversity, race, and gender.  We intend to seize that opportunity as we move forward together."

The announcement by CBS Radio comes on the heels of MSNBC television announcing they would drop their simulcast of Imus' show.  NBC News President Steve Capus said he made the decision after reading e-mails and having lots of discussions with NBC workers and the public.

MSNBC's action comes after a growing list of sponsors, including American Express, Sprint, Nextel, Staples, Proctor and Gamble, and General Motors, said they were pulling ads from Imus' show indefinitely.  Civil rights activists and others have called for CBS, which syndicates the show, to fire the host.