Shock Jock Update

• Don Imus, who is returning to radio on December 3 on New York's WABC-AM, will have his TV simulcast back. According to Associated Press (via ABC News' website), the lucky network (if you can call it that) is RFD-TV, seen mostly on satellite in 30 million homes, which will carry the program twice a day. RFD, which programs to rural audiences with ratings blockbusters such as "The Cattle Show", "National Tractor Pulling" and the "Largent and Sons Hereford Cattle Auction", sounds like a curious choice for Imus to make his comeback (see: the NHL on Versus). But then again, Imus has his corporate-sponsored charity ranch in New Mexico that he used to plug on the air, so it isn't too much of a stretch. Will RFD launch a campaign to get cable companies to carry the network, duplicating the success of the NFL Network and the Big Ten Network? Or will we notice it only when Imus says something really stupid and gets fired again?
• Much has been said and written in the Twin Cities media about Tom Barnard (who, like Imus, is now a Citadel Broadcasting employee) and his KQRS (92.5 FM) Morning Crew offending Native Americans with their crude comments, and why they should go off the air. In this case, more is being said than done. Barnard and his minions aren't going anywhere, and KQ isn't going to do anything to them. They have the most popular show on Twin Cities radio (driving guys like Imus and Howard Stern out of the market), making oodles of money for the station and for Citadel, so they could afford to hire the best attorneys to beat back any challenge from minority groups who complain about the content. Meanwhile, the attitude at KQ seems to be: If you don't like it, turn it off.