NOVEMBER 05, 2007 -

WABC-AM Picks up Imus

Citadel Broadcasting Corp. confirmed that Don Imus will return to the radio airwaves Dec. 3 on WABC-AM in New York. Imus will host from 6 to 10 a.m., replacing longtime, highly rated morning duo, Ron Kuby and Curtis Sliwa. Kuby was let go; Sliwa is expected to stay on in another timeslot. Imus reportedly signed a five-year deal worth between $5 million and $8 million annually. His show will be syndicated nationally by ABC Radio Networks.

"One of the odder aspects of this is that Imus makes a racist comment, and the damage is done to a civil rights lawyer," Kuby reflected one day after he was canned at WABC-AM, abruptly ending a successful eight-year morning drive-time run.

But Imus has the reputation, the buzz, the potential for national syndication. As for Kuby, he heads into radio silence looking forward to ... sleeping late.