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Clear Channel gets tough, suspends Stern

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spinfreezone

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Joined
Apr 15, 2003
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Clear Channel Suspends Stern's Radio Show

February 25, 2004 11:00 PM EST


WASHINGTON - The nation's largest radio station chain announced Wednesday it was suspending shock jock Howard Stern's show after issuing new rules to limit indecency and address criticism of what airs on television and radio.

Clear Channel Radio said it suspended broadcast of Stern's show after assessing the content of his show Tuesday.

"Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content and Howard Stern's show blew right through it," John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said in a news release. "It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency."

Hogan said the show would not air on Clear Channel stations until officials are assured it will conform to acceptable broadcasting standards.

Attempts to reach Stern's spokesman for comment late Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Under pressure from regulators and lawmakers, some TV networks are delaying live broadcasts to delete offensive material and doing more to let parents know how they can block specific programs. The National Association of Broadcasters says it will hold a conference on indecency next month.

The rules issued by Clear Channel Communications came on the eve of the second congressional hearing this month on broadcast indecency. Hogan is scheduled to testify along with top officials from TV networks.

Congress is considering increasing the maximum fine for indecency from $27,500 to $275,000, a move that the Federal Communications Commission endorsed even before the tumult over singer Janet Jackson's exposed breast during the nationally televised Super Bowl halftime show.

"In the history of broadcast indecency, there have been these moments where it makes headlines," said Jeremy Lipschultz, a professor of communication at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "In the short term, broadcasters become much more careful. You're going to see people playing it safe. The long-term problem is the same one we've had, which is it's very difficult in the end to precisely define what is indecent or not. "

Under FCC rules and federal law, radio stations and over-the-air television channels cannot air material containing references to sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children may be tuning in. The rules do not apply to cable and satellite channels and satellite radio.

Responding to an FCC query, CBS, NBC and Fox said they would run advertisements promoting the V-chip - technology built into a TV set to prevent children from watching certain shows - air live programs on time delays and remind affiliate stations that they can reject network programs unsuitable for their communities. ABC had yet to respond.

Clear Channel's new policy includes companywide training about indecency, possible fines against DJs, and automatic suspensions for anyone accused by the FCC of violating indecency rules on the air, company officials said.

The initiative came one day after the company fired the DJ known as "Bubba the Love Sponge," whose show drew an FCC-record fine of $755,000. The program aired in four Florida cities and included graphic discussions about sex and drugs "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners," the FCC said.

"Clear Channel is serious about helping address the rising tide of indecency on the airwaves," said Mark Mays, president and chief operating officer. "As broadcast licensees, we are fully responsible for what our stations air, and we intend to make sure all our DJs and programmers understand what is and what is not appropriate."

Mel Karmazin, president of Viacom Inc., discussed indecency issues during a conference call last week with officials and station managers of the company's Infinity Broadcasting radio subsidiary. Infinity, which owns 120 stations, asked them to increase efforts to avoid indecent programming, such as using a seven-second delay on shows with live talk, spokesman Dana McClintock said.

Infinity, owned by Viacom, in 1995 paid the largest cumulative fine to date, $1.7 million, for various violations by Stern.
 
I'm sittin' here right now watchin' "Private Parts" and thinking the guy started with some morals and decency.

As for the fines, it's not going to stop what they don't want until the fines are at least equal or more than the income from the huge ratings.

Interesting stories, Howards history, and the Clear Channel thing.
 
Well, they didn't call him the "shock jock" for nothing...I'm still in shock after hearing the news. But, you could kind of see it coming.

At least I heard the Rick Solomon interview. :rolleyes:
 
But, you could kind of see it coming
Yeah, we could really see that coming almost 20 years as a "shock jock", dude it's time to put down the crack pipe!!!
 
Freddie Spencer said:
Yeah, we could really see that coming almost 20 years as a "shock jock", dude it's time to put down the crack pipe!!!

Don't know if your coming down on Stern or not but you're avatar kind of contradicts that, doesn't it? :rolleyes: Nice avatar, by the way.
 
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...

You gotta love social conservatism. Who knew that censorship would clean up our society?

Canadians have hard-core porn on TV. We have V-chips. Who's worse off when it comes to societal problems? Let's get to the root of the problem, not just point out a scapegoat. If you don't like Howard Stern, don't listen.

We need to rethink this whole protectionism thing. Is this really necessary?
 
I kind of outgrew Stern a few years ago, but I respect his right to do what he does given the totally nonspecific rules regarding 'decency'. Jeez, Jerry Springer has trailer biches fighting and yanking each other's Kmart halter tops off, all the while cursing each other in language that would make a stevodore blush. Yeah, they drop a bunch of bleeps around, but it doesn't prevent anyone with a basic grasp of the english language from understanding what's being said. What Howard got busted for was the same thing he's been doing for years, its just that the FCC decided to crack down one day.

...and another thing. I heard about this on the local 'TV news' last night, and they pitched it as "Howard Stern booted off the air". In a 30 second blurb, they made it sound as if he had been yanked off completely. I get up this morning and check my normally accurate news source, the Chicago Tribune, only to find out that solely the Clear Channel stations (six in total) that carried his show were dumping him. So, six out of around fifty stations. OK.

After twenty years in the aviation industry and witnessing 'TV News' completely skew aviation related events to their twisted interests, I guess I should be beyond disbelief. Call me an optimist.
 
Interesting that that Mr. Stern finally finds himself off the air due to FCC standards. (It's an election year.)

Quite frankly, the guy should have been put out to pasture years ago, because he's simply NOT funny. At all, ever. His movie was pretty good, but I listened to his show years ago on WWDC in Washington, and had to stop because he never made me laugh or was very entertaining. Whatever happened to the greaseman? That guy could make you laugh so hard your sides hurt. (West Virginian national anthem comes to mind)

I know you Stern fans love the guy, but I just don't see why.
 
I know you Stern fans love the guy, but I just don't see why.

I agree, he doesn't entertain me. That said, this shock-jockism might have been effective long ago, but now, it's middle of the road radio. Just look at who carries Stern's show, Clear Channel Communications, the mega "McRadio" chain with it's lowest common denominator (music, talk, news, etc.) programing. They did to radio what USA Today did to newspapers. What a shame. The next president needs to get Bush's buddy out of the FCC so they can step in and knock down this monopoly.
 
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I don't really care for Howard's show...that's why it's a good thing my TV has a CHANNEL button and an OFF button! Good grief, if something offends you, don't watch it!!!
 

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