IMUS CLOSE TO TV DEAL

Report: Imus-RFD-TV Deal Close

THE TENNESSEAN reports that an announcement of a deal between RFD-TV and DON IMUS for a TV simulcast of his new CITADEL radio show may come "possibly as soon as this week." The paper says that the deal is expected to boost RFD-TV from its present 30 million homes to 50 million homes by the end of 2008. RFD-TV President PATRICK GOTTSCH would not confirm that a deal is imminent but says that the network is in talks with the talk host and that verbal agreements to add the network to systems operated by COMCAST and TIME WARNER have beem reached with deals expected to be signed within the week.

"The biggest obstacle we've had in the last three years is convincing urban-based program directors in NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., and LOS ANGELES, and so on that they need to be carrying this 'rural' network," said GOTTSCH. "IMUS helps us cross those borders." RFD-TV will launch a high definition channel on DECEMBER 1st, carrying the proposed IMUS show, "RALPH EMERY LIVE," "CROOK AND CHASE," and a lineup that will be different from the analog network's programming.