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The tiny radio station in San Bernardino who prides itself on being "an important part of the Inland Empire by offering local news on the hour, seven days a week, produced by local veteran newscasters who live and work in the Inland Empire" are sure getting a lot of attention because of a syndicated talk show host in New York City.
AP is reporting that KCAA will be in court with CBS on Tuesday in Riverside to fight for its right to continue to air reruns of the recently-axed Don Imus.
In the wake of MSNBC and CBS firing Imus for his racist and sexist comedy involving a college basketball team, last week the IE AM station announced that they would air reruns of the veteran host's show, beginning with the show that ended his career.
KCAA's chairman Fred Lundgren explained that although he agreed that Imus' humor that day was "deplorable" and "inexcusable", he would be forced to air the material because of dire financial reasons.
“I hate to say it, but without Imus, we’re pretty much toast.”
In a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, CBS says KCAA is violating copyright protections and wants the small station fined $150k for each violation.
KCAA attorney Brian Oxman said the station is trying to educate the public. CBS Radio said it asked the station to stop. The defendants "have made it clear ... that only a judicial decree will prevent them from persisting in their actions," CBS says in court filings.
KCAA chairman Fred Lundgren wrote to CBS attorneys saying the station plans to continue airing the shows through April 27 but would then destroy its Imus materials and tapes.- AP