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MSNBC.com’s Tillinghast ‘Quite Pleased’ That MSNBC Dropped Imus Show

By Staci D. Kramer - Wed 11 Apr 2007 07:01 PM PST

The uproar over Don Imus came close to affecting advertising on MSNBC.com, but the NBCU decision late Wednesday to cancel the “Imus in the Morning” simulcast because of the host’s racist remarks was just in time. Like other MSNBC TV shows, Imus, on the network for more than 10 years, had a subsection on MSNBC.com—bio material, daily show info, quotes and more. Charlie Tillinghast, president of MSNBC.com, told me by email:"We had received some calls from advertisers today about the situation, but with MSNBC TV dropping the Imus show, that has gone away. MSNBC.com has been only tangentially involved in this, but I am quite pleased with the decision to drop the show.” He added, “MSNBC.com did not communicate that fact (about the advertisers) to NBC News, so it played no part in their decision.”
-- The “Imus on MSNBC” subsection is being removed now.  Some remnants were up when I last checked.
-- Traffic was high on the story from the start. Tillinghast: “We ran this story on our cover over the last few days when the competition did not. Because we were running this story as part of news, not just the Imus subsection, the traffic has been high in different parts of the site.”

Posted in: Advertising, Companies, NBC Universal



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11 Responses:
  • From r.potter Thu 12 Apr 2007 04:41 AM

    I am sick and tired of people with nothing better to do with their day than to attack and anaylze a three word comment made by Imus.  What about the Duke lacrosse players?  Can we have a national apology by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and the alleged accuser with delusional ideas that pointed the finger at these three lacrosse players and cost these players over 3 million dollars?  Imus made a mistake, BIG deal!  It is far, far less than what is played out in real life against WHITE male citizens.  Discrimination in this country is not against the female basketball players - it is far worse to be a white male in this country today than ever before. THe white male is the most discriminated group in our country and much more than any other-just watch the news and see!!!  If you are a white male, good luck pal!  You don’t have a chance!

  • From Paul Sei Thu 12 Apr 2007 09:53 AM

    The day has come for the Black community to quit worrying about comments made by caucasians, until they make a true concerted effort at cleaning up their own mess. With the numerous hip-hop and so-called rap artists who speak far more vile words toward the Black women, for Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson to seek media attention for what Imus said is pur hypocrisy!
    I know that I nor many of my caucasian friends shall never again tune in NBC! And we’re considering boycotting all the manufactures who possessed no sense of loyalty to Don Imus, by withdrawing their support!

  • From s. Smith Thu 12 Apr 2007 10:55 AM

    Don Imus was the last powerful, independent goyum in the media. The cancellation of the Imus simulcast on MSNBC had very little to do with the Rutgers comments. Don Imus and Bernie Mcgurk were the only uncontrolled independent voices against the Right wing Israeli LIKUD party that controls US foreign policy and most of the MEDIA.  The management of NBC used this incident to get IMUS off the air. Does anybody really believe that NBC allows Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson decide policy for their network. MSNBC cancelled Imus for the same Reason they cancelled Phil Donahue, (their most highly rated show), shortly before the invasion of Iraq
    and put on Richard Perle, Michael Ladeen and the rest of the Neocon agents of the Likud party, night after night selling the Iraq invasion calling it a “cake walk” etc. Imus is a good man who would not sing the tune of the powerful interests that control the American media.

  • From P J. Martell Sun 15 Apr 2007 04:49 PM

    Shame on all of the spineless dweebs who used Imus to pimp their books to the American people, and then, when their pockets were full, turned on him at the very moment he needed some support. Et tu Newsweek?

  • From irene Mon 16 Apr 2007 04:29 PM

    I watched Imus and when I didn’t want to hear what he had to say I pressed the mute button. I feel that hearing that phrase over and over again on every news station would do more to hurt the teams self esteem, every station repeated it over and over again.  Thank You MSNBC for cancelling the show because now I don’t turn it on and I have 3 hours to do other things. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson need to apologise to the duke players and tell the rappers to clean up their act.

  • From Kay Thu 19 Apr 2007 09:47 AM

    Shame on you !  You carried Imus for years and never threw him away before.  I never knew about MSNBC before I started watching Imus , and found it to be my only news channel to watch.  Turning on today it looks like “highschool girls"s week to try out for the t-v news”. No familair faces anywhere.Disgust and dismay and you’v lost ALOT of viewers .  Hope it was worth it .  Kay

  • From patty Thu 26 Apr 2007 10:10 AM

    Just say “NO” to MSNBC.

  • From Cecil Dawson Tue 01 May 2007 06:34 AM

    Bring Back Imus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • From patty Sun 13 May 2007 06:31 AM

    The morning try outs are a joke.  I guess MSNBC didn’t have a “plan B” before they fired Imus.  It just goes to show what a bunch of amateurs are running this network.  The network is in shambles since they fired Don Imus.  When will they figure out, there is no replacement for Imus in the Morning?

  • From Charles McCrory Thu 17 May 2007 04:16 PM

    I am STILL angry at the executives of MSNBC for firing IMUS. I hope your viewership continues to plummet. The show is LAME-O.  I am now back to listening to NPR and hope someday that Sirius will hire IMUS and I will drop my cable and buy a satellite radio package. Go to hell MSNBC.  Go to hell.

  • From pat Dillard Fri 05 Oct 2007 10:35 AM

    Bring back Dateline and Primetime. New scheduled shows are disgusting. Our only choices are game shows and reality shows which cost nothing o produce by taking contestants off the street and no script, no SAG actors to pay.

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