Howard Stern suspended from Clear Channel stations

Forbes ^ | 2-25-04

[Indy Pendance]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shock jock Howard Stern's show was yanked Wednesday from Clear Channel Communications Inc. radio stations after an incident on his show Tuesday, the first casualty of its zero tolerance policy on indecency.

"It was vulgar, offensive and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency," Clear Channel Radio Chief Executive John Hogan said in a statement.

"We will not air Howard Stern on Clear Channel stations until we are assured that his show will conform to acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting," he said.

Clear Channel has about 1,200 stations in the United States though it was not immediately clear how many aired his show.

Stern's show is syndicated by a unit of Viacom Inc.

[dead]

I don't see the FCC saying anything about Gibson's movie.

Of course you don't. A Republican is currently president, so all the dumbass conservatives will suddenly embrace the idea that the government should supercede the market and kick off material they don't agree with.

It's working like a charm. Just don't bitch later when they kick off the "racist vitriol" of Rush Limbaugh, or you'll reveal yourself a hypocrite.

[rastus macgill]

Yeah the Government needs to do something about this new offensive Mel Gibson movie.I hear the fans even oppose marriage! And we all know it will lead to pogroms Katie Couric said so this morning!

[RightthinkinAmerican]

Seventh-grade level menses humor out of vogue? Say it isn't so! I wonder how long until the shallow-minded people who like that sort of crap grow tired of all the infantile programming on today's TV and radio.

[RightthinkinAmerican]

You're an idiot.

[kropcke]

Big fan...Big fan.

(and yes, I'm conservative as heck - he's just funny...get over it ;)

[Robert_Paulson2]

It's not the FCC, Paulson

---

yes sink, it is.

and from what you say, you would applaud the FCC even if you KNEW beyond any shadow that THEY were doing this stuff.

[FreeReign]

Freedom of speech means that you and your ten loudest buddies can walk into a public library and start screaming at the top of your lungs for hours?

Actually, they can... but after a while, if they persist after being asked to quiet down or leave, they can be forcibly removed from the property. PERHAPS even charged with disturbing the peace, but NOT likely. If leos were to try to muzzle them physically however... they would lose their jobs and face civil lawsuits, possibly even criminal charges. YOU CANNOT shut folks up who you don't want to hear.

So then they can persist, be arrested and charged and then sentenced for disturbing the peace at the public library *or* they can go home to their own private property and scream as loud as they want -- unmuzzled.

Exactly my point. Thanks for making it.

[Destro]

God save us from sophisticated humor. Sam Kinnison beats PDQ Bach everytime.

[Ichneumon]

THIS is "offensive"? THIS??? How ridiculous.

From what I've heard, that's *not* the part that got them into trouble.

Clear Channel has a bunch of morons running it.

Don't jump to conclusions.

[Husker24]

I guess Clearchannel wants to commit suicide.

[sinkspur]

You're overwrought.

Folks know objectionable stuff when they see it: Jackson is, Stern is, dirty-mouthed presenters at the Academy Awards are.

Limbaugh ain't.

[FreeReign]

Freedom of speech does not mean you can poop in public Of course not - freedom of speech means you can talk about it.

Freedom of speech means that you and your ten loudest buddies can walk into a public library and start screaming at the top of your lungs for hours?

Stupid example since the Libraries are not meant for that. Radio segments are meant to entertain.

Public spaces are meant for the "enjoyment" of the public as decided by a consensus of the public. Your response is stupid.

[Robert_Paulson2]

It's not the FCC Paulson... then later.. But, the FCC (and most normal human beings) have a problem with descriptions of sex acts and the use of the "n" word on the airwaves... This "crackdown" is long overdue...

---

your spinning too fast sink. (and yes I normally agree with you on a LOT of things) Which is it? is it "NOT the FCC, Paulson", or is this "CRACKDOWN LONG OVERDUE?"

Censorship and arm twisting to get the same effect AS censorship by the fed is wrong. and an abuse of power, specifically an abridgment of the first amendment by other means. It's wrong.

And I don't listen to stern or anybody like him. It's MORE repulsive to me however, to contemplate censorship, than it is to be force fed Howard.

[Keeper of the Turf]

I guess Clearchannel wants to commit suicide.

Good Lord...Howard was pulled from SIX stations and you call that 'Clear Channel commiting suicide'???

[LurkerNoMore!]

Jeff Healy's "Angel Eyes" ..... One of my all time favorites.

[Destro]

Public spaces are meant for the "enjoyment" of the public as decided by a consensus of the public.

Oh yea? What consensus?

The FCC has no standards. All radio and television broadcasters - to borrow a phrase from Animal House - are always on double secret probation. They never know what they will be fined for and for what reason. The FCC is totally arbitrary in their censorship criteria. When you live under a system where no rules are in place beyond the whims of the overlord it is a tyranny. If you want broadcast standards to be fair - write them down so people know what is allowed and what is not.

[cnote55]

first of all rap music with that type of language DOES NOT GET PLAYED on CC or any other station at 10am, you have to PAY for it when blacks are not PC so if you want to hear about blacks and watermelon in the same sentence?PAY FOR IT and keep it away from children who have yet to learn about our diverse country

[Lancey Howard]

WHAT DID HE DO TO GET SUSPENDED?

Notice how you are about the fourth poster to ask and no response yet? Know what that means?
NOBODY LISTENS TO THE IMBECILE ANYMORE!

[goodnesswins]

I didn't read that the government was censoring Clear Channel....I thought they decided to do this themselves....I'm confused.

[jabotinsky]

I AM SO F$%^%ING MAD YEAH ITS ALL CAPS

BUSH AND THE MORALISTIC SELF RIGHTEOUS RIGHT LOST MY VOTE. I WAS CONTEMPLATING NOT VOTING FOR BUSH FOR A WHILE...BUDGET DEFECITS, NO BORDER IN TH ESOUTH ETC ETC

BUT THIS IS IT, I WORK VERY LONG HOURS 6/7 DAYS, STERN GAVE ME A FEW MOMENTS OF LAUGHS IN THE MORNING.

bush AND HIS BIBLE THUMPING YAHOOS HAVE GONE TOO FAR.

NOW I WILL VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT, EVEN KERRY.

I AM STILLA RIGHT WINGER BUT THE ARROGANCE OF THE BIBLE THUMPERS MUST BE OPPOSED.

AND BABABOOEY TO YALL.