DON Imus is ending his si mulcast deal with RFD-TV — clearing the way for his possible landing on Fox Business Network.
Imus is reportedly deep in talks to bring his morning radio show to the fledgling FBN — a move that would be a shot-in-the-arm for both the cable network and the radio host.
Imus has been without a big-time TV outlet since the foot-in-mouth scandal two years ago that cost him his longtime jobs at WFAN and MSNBC after he made racially insensitive remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
The addition of Imus would be a big boost for Fox Business Network,which also began two years ago with the intention of challenging CNBC.
“I think he’ll be good for them in the short term . . . because Imus is one of those rare personalities who is sort of like a whole universe unto himself,” says Michael Harrison, publisher/editor of radio trade bible Talkers magazine.
“He’s a generator of publicity and, in the short term, [FBN] needs that to generate awareness of who they are.”
Imus’ WABC Radio morning show has been simulcast on RFD since December 2007 — the same arrangement he had when his WFAN morning show aired simultaneously on MSNBC.
FBN, which, like The Post, is owned by News Corp., declined comment yesterday, apparently because details of its deal with Imus were not yet completed.
Harrison says that, if Imus lands at FBN, the fact that his show isn’t business-driven won’t be a major hurdle.
“I think he’s sort of like tofu — he takes on the flavor of whatever food he’s with,” he says, alluding to Imus’ success at all-sports WFAN and the rural-aimed RFD, a channel that was available in New York only on satellite.
Imus’ last RFD simulcast will be tomorrow. His deal officially ends Tuesday.
“I will always appreciate the support of Patrick and RFD-TV in launching the new ‘Imus In The Morning’ program,” Imus said in a statement.
“I wish RFD-TV the best of luck moving forward.”
Imus will continue with his nationally syndicated WABC show.
A spokesman for Imus declined to comment yesterday.