US racism row DJ settles with CBS

"Shock-jock" Don Imus was sacked for making a racist remark

US radio talk show host Don Imus has reached a settlement with broadcaster CBS, four months after he was fired for using racist and sexist language.

Mr Imus had threatened to sue CBS for $120m (£61m), claiming a breach of his multi-million dollar contract.

US media reports suggest the deal may be a step towards reviving his career.

Mr Imus caused uproar in April when he called the mostly black members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on his show.

"Ho" is slang for prostitute and "nappy-headed" is a derogatory term for the hair of many black people.

'Repeat offender'

CBS and Mr Imus's lawyer, Martin Garbus, released a joint statement on Tuesday, saying: "Don Imus and CBS Radio have mutually agreed to settle claims that each had against the other regarding the Imus radio programme on CBS.

"The terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be disclosed."

US media reports suggest Mr Imus is looking to sign up to another radio station but no details have been confirmed.

The Reverend Al Sharpton, a leading black civil rights leader who called for Mr Imus's dismissal in April, told Reuters news agency that he would be monitoring the talk show host closely in any new role.

"Mr Imus has the right to work but we have the right to make sure that this repeat offender does not return and continue what he has done historically," Mr Sharpton said.

In his last broadcast before his dismissal, Mr Imus - known as a controversial "shock jock" - admitted his comments had been "really stupid".

Mr Imus' show was worth about $15m (£7.6m) annually to CBS through advertising and syndication fees, the Associated Press news agency said.

It had about 3.5 million listeners a week in 2005, according to media research, and the MSNBC simulcast was estimated to draw about 330,000 viewers per week.