Shock Jock Howard Stern Pulled Off Air
24 minutes ago
By JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The nation's largest radio station chain announced Wednesday it was suspending shock jock Howard Stern's radio show after issuing new rules to limit indecency and address criticism of what airs on TV 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 (news - web sites) 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 (news - web sites) 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.
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.
24 minutes ago
By JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The nation's largest radio station chain announced Wednesday it was suspending shock jock Howard Stern's radio show after issuing new rules to limit indecency and address criticism of what airs on TV 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 (news - web sites) 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 (news - web sites) 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.
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.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by awesomeagain:
how in the hell is stuttering john making $500 grand a year...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
100% agree. he is fingernails on the chalkboard annoying. why leno hired him is beyond me. john is NOT funny and he is the kind of person you seek to beat up ASAP. i watch leno a lot - but with john on the show - that might stop.
as for this matter - just one more example of how the masses is asses - and how the bible belt holier than thou losers are trying to take over the world. thank goodness howard is NOT on a clear channel station in L.A. (i am fairly certain KLSX is not owned by CC).
how in the hell is stuttering john making $500 grand a year...
100% agree. he is fingernails on the chalkboard annoying. why leno hired him is beyond me. john is NOT funny and he is the kind of person you seek to beat up ASAP. i watch leno a lot - but with john on the show - that might stop.
as for this matter - just one more example of how the masses is asses - and how the bible belt holier than thou losers are trying to take over the world. thank goodness howard is NOT on a clear channel station in L.A. (i am fairly certain KLSX is not owned by CC).
I use to like Stern but his act became too repetitive, always the same old juvenile goofs.But like him or not, the FCC appears on a lost cause mission off the Bowl Boob.
In Casino they were obligated to change F U to Freak you, but it was OK to show the head in the vice deal. Killing and violence is more than acceptable, just don't say those naughty words. It's a funny world we live in.
In Casino they were obligated to change F U to Freak you, but it was OK to show the head in the vice deal. Killing and violence is more than acceptable, just don't say those naughty words. It's a funny world we live in.
In response to the remark about 'free speech', that's not correct. 'Free speech' doesn't cover you in every conceivable situation, of course, because there are regulations (see FCC) and laws in this country that define it. Try saying 'I've got a bomb' on an airplane or shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre (two old examples) and see how that works out. In this context, Stern knows what the regulations are, it's simply been his job to try to get away with as much as he can until he gets slapped on the wrist because he makes so much money doing it. Howard is paid for his show by Clear Channel, and Clear Channel exists to make a profit (hopefully) - if Clear Channel senses that the current political environment might bring down a lot more wrath on them in the form of fines and/or suspended broadcast licenses for repeated violations of the regulations by Howard and his staff, then I'd submit it was a prudent step on their part. I'd also like to point out that for all we know, this is just a big act, designed to get more people to listen to the show. Either way, since Howard is being paid for a show whose content he knows is clearly regulated by FCC standards, there's simply no 'free speech' issue here. By the way, if you saw Howard's contract I'm positive you will see standard clauses to the effect that the radio station has a perfect right to do this.
Personally, I couldn't care less if he's on or off - I used to live in NJ for a number of years and I heard his material for a few weeks (some people told me he was great) before I tired of his repetitive, high-school humor and simply played CDs on my drive to work once he syndicated his show to a Philadelphia rock-n-roll station that I used to listen to. But just because I don't like him doesn't mean I care if others listen, assuming he isn't running afoul of the regulations - and if you think the regs are flawed, get them changed.
Personally, I couldn't care less if he's on or off - I used to live in NJ for a number of years and I heard his material for a few weeks (some people told me he was great) before I tired of his repetitive, high-school humor and simply played CDs on my drive to work once he syndicated his show to a Philadelphia rock-n-roll station that I used to listen to. But just because I don't like him doesn't mean I care if others listen, assuming he isn't running afoul of the regulations - and if you think the regs are flawed, get them changed.
I believe Howard Stern works for Infinity and is picked up in syndication by Clear Channel. So its really not that big a blow to him after all.
I believe Infinity is owned by CBS. (Who loves controversy
)
Boston: WBCN 104.1 FM (infinity)
Los Angeles: KLSX 97.1 FM (infinity)
New York: WXRK 92.3 FM (viacom)
Washington: WJFK 106.7 FM (infinity)
San Francisco: KITS 105.3 FM (infinity)
Chicago: WCKG 105.9 FM (infinity)
Those are the stations who broadcast him in the 6 largets markets, so I think its a bit premature to say he's "off the air".
I believe Infinity is owned by CBS. (Who loves controversy
Boston: WBCN 104.1 FM (infinity)
Los Angeles: KLSX 97.1 FM (infinity)
New York: WXRK 92.3 FM (viacom)
Washington: WJFK 106.7 FM (infinity)
San Francisco: KITS 105.3 FM (infinity)
Chicago: WCKG 105.9 FM (infinity)
Those are the stations who broadcast him in the 6 largets markets, so I think its a bit premature to say he's "off the air".
