Posted on 05/17/2007 9:24:50 AM PDT by raccoonradio
Today and tomorrow morning, Greater Media's FM talker WTKK 96.9FM is simulcasting NBC's Chief White House Correspondent morning show try-out on cable news channel MSNBC and NYC's WFAN AM 660. Gregory is also being joined by former WRKO personality Leslie "The Radio Chick" Gold as he auditions for the new morning program with trade industry reports of him being seriously considered by NBC and CBS Radio as a permanent replacement for Don Imus(BRW 5/11). Imus was fired last month for racist remarks he made about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.
WTKK has been featuring Mike Barnicle in the morning drive since April 16th. Barnicle normally hosts the 9am-10am hour on the FM Talk station.
If the deal goes through, it would be a virtual flip of the former arrangement in which MSNBC licensed "Imus in the Morning" from CBS Radio, which produced the morning talk show. Under the proposed deal, MSNBC would own and produce the show and CBS Radio would be the licensee and distribute the show to national affiliates such as Boston's WTKK 96.9FM.
David Gregory Gregory NBC and CBS' WFAN radio are looking at NBC News White House correspondent David Gregory as their next Don Imus.
Sources said NBC is considering Gregory as a permanent replacement for Imus on MSNBC and that the network is in talks with WFAN on a deal to simulcast the show.
If the deal happens, it would essentially flip around the former arrangement, where MSNBC licensed "Imus in the Morning" from WFAN, which produced it. Imus' show was syndicated through CBS Radio and Westwood One.
Under a new deal, MSNBC would own the show and have creative control, and WFAN would be the licensee.
Gregory has been one of several stand-ins for Imus since his ouster from the network three weeks ago. Next week he is hosting the show Wednesday through Friday and will be simulcast on WFAN.
Sources said Gregory is intrigued by the idea of hosting the show on a permanent basis, and NBC execs believe he could bring the kind of high-powered political interviews that drove Imus' show.
But that would mean leaving a high-profile White House post, and the opportunity to continue as a regular stand-in on "Today," leaving a big hole to fill for NBC News.
MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines declined to comment on the talks. "We've had a variety of fantastic fill-in hosts and look forward to David filling in during the 6-9 slot next week," he said.
CBS Radio, which owns WFAN and manages Westwood One, declined to comment. Spokeswoman Karen Mateo said WFAN has tried a number of personalities to replace Imus, including former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason and Geraldo Rivera.
Other fill-ins for Imus have included MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and radio hosts Larry Elder, Stephanie Miller and Michael Smerconish.
WFAN was the only CBS-owned station that carried Imus, but the show was a lucrative property in syndication.
Imus has hired First Amendment attorney Martin Garbus, who said last week he plans to file suit against CBS to recover the remaining $40 million on Imus' contract.
I expect some of the Boston callers will be happy to get the chance to talk with the this hoser.
is he a weeper?
So funny that the Imus toadies are now competing for his time-slot. Where were those suck-ups when Imus needed them? lol Of course, they ‘couldn’t be reached for comment.’ lol Make no mistake about it, Imus was a mean spirited guy that nobody will miss, but the toadies in their toadiness are giving all of us a lesson in the complete lack of integrity in media.
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