MSNBC Drops Imus Show Over Racially Disparaging Remarks

NEW YORK, April 12: NBC News has cancelled Don Imus’s talk
show on MSNBC over racially charged comments he made about the women’s
basketball team at Rutgers University.

MSNBC simulcasts the Imus in the Morning Talk Show that originates on CBS Radio. Both organizations
suspended Imus after his remarks last week, in which he referred to the members
of the basketball team as “nappy-headed hos.” Following NBC’s decision, CBS
today followed suit, axing the radio show, effective immediately. CBS
Corporation’s president and CEO, Leslie Moonves, said, “I believe all of us
have been deeply upset and revulsed by Imus’s comments.”

Moonves continued: “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."

Announcing Imus’s cancellation on MSNBC, an NBC News
statement noted: “This decision comes as a result of an ongoing review process,
which initially included the announcement of a suspension. It also takes into
account many conversations with our own employees. What matters to us most is
that the men and women of NBC Universal have confidence in the values we have
set for this company. This is the only decision that makes that possible. Once
again, we apologize to the women of the Rutgers basketball team and to our
viewers. We deeply regret the pain this incident has caused.”

According to reports, the decision to cancel the show on
MSNBC was made jointly by NBC Universal’s president and CEO, Jeff Zucker, and
NBC News president Steve Capus.

The two cancellations follows news that a slate of
advertisers, among them General Motors, American Express and Sprint Nextel,
have refused to sponsor the show in the future. However, Capus said in an
interview on MSNBC last night that economics did not play a role in NBC’s
decision: “What price do you put on your reputation?” Capus said. “And the
reputation of the news division means more to me than advertising dollars.
Because if you lose your reputation, you lose everything.”

The New York Times
reports that NBC pays CBS about $4 million a year to simulcast the show, and an
additional $500,000 per year to produce the show for TV. In return, the company
has received a “modest profit,” according to the Times. At CBS Radio, however, the show brings in about $20
million in advertising and syndication revenues, according to reports.