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.

[Destro]

OH NO DIS IS QUITE TENSES....

[FreeReign]

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.

Smart response, as was my original comment back in post #246.

Post #246: Disband the FCC and let Congress pass laws that regulate the public airwaves.

[Robert_Paulson2]

they can persist... MIGHT be arrested or charged... an can then come back the next day and do it again and again and again.

The issue about the ten shouters, as it relates to this discussion however, would NOT be what they shout, but the noise they make when doing it. As long as they keep it down they could advocate, discuss or talk about whatever they chose ON THE PUBLIC PROPERTY... they could even stand there and speak about sex to each other or interested "other" patrons of the public library, if they did not get too loud.

NOTHING can be done.
They can go in there and do it, in dirty clothes, without showering for weeks, stinking to high heaven... and that has gone to the highest levels of the legal system. YOU have no right to NOT be offended by WHAT people say.

Pehaps you could try complaining if they are standing around on the public venue talking AFTER curfew, or sunset, or business hours, but you will get NOWHERE EVER trying to control what they say in public venues.

Be careful what you wish for. You may get it.

[GeronL]

Howard Stern should have been banned from radio decades ago... he was 80 right?? =o)

[Husker24]

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

Its just the beginning, and then a backlash will ensue, and Republicans wont benifit.

[the invisib1e hand]

don't get it. all of sudden howard stern's show is indecent? what was it until now, a model of broadcast etiquette?

[GeronL]

His show is funny and entertaining, and if people can't get past that, they shouldn't ruin it for the rest of us.

He can always go and buy his own radio stations

[Destro]

Howard Stern gets peopel elected. Let us see what he and his fan base will do now. He is like a machine once he gets into battle mode.

[GeronL]

No censorship is involved. The owners have every right to decide what goes on the air on their stations.

Stern can buy his own station.

[Husker24]

It all started when Janet Jackson showed 2 seconds of breast on national tv, and everybody made such a big damn deal of it. Once again over reaction and then backlash.

[OldFriend]

Oh, I get it........the Patriot Act is the reason ugly filth is not acceptable on the airwaves.

Was the Patriot Act the reason why so many of us complained to Viacom about their hateful movie about Ronald Reagan?

I just had no idea, thank you for enlightening me.

[Revel]

Good riddance! Now lets hope he does walk in and resign on Monday. That would be a blessing for society.

[cnote55]

I don't recall JANET ripping her clothes off

[OldFriend]

Evidently community standards is an alien concept to those who like to wallow in the gutter.

I prefer to be able to put the radio on, turn the dial, and not be assaulted by gratuitous vulgarity, racial or ethnic insults.

I don't want to hear anything that I wouldn't want to hear my children say in my presence or that I wouldn't say in their presence.

[fiftymegaton]

Just heard on the local Pittsburgh news that the Stern Show will be axed by the local Clear Channel station(WXDX) from it's line-up. I can't believe the show is basically being cut by Clear Channel because of the pressure from the FCC because of pressure from SOME people who DO NOT listen to the show but are somehow offended and so now NO ONE can listen.

[Destro]

The FCC has no stated "community 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.

[billbears]

His show is funny and entertaining, and if people can't get past that, they shouldn't ruin it for the rest of us.

You have got to be kidding me. I remember 8 or 8 or 9 years ago (may be a little longer) he was on the heavy rock station in Charlotte (95.7). Turned it on to just to hear what everyone was talking about. 5 minutes later turned it off. This guy is absolute trash. Now they need to take Bob and Tom off the air. Those guys are just about as bad

[OldFriend]

What you are really saying is that only your opinion matters. Opposing opinions are disallowed!

Evidently, voicing one's opinion on FR is becoming verbotten.

[Revel]

"I guess Clearchannel wants to commit suicide."

If this is suicide then it is a reflection of a Society that is committing suicide. Children listen to this because there parents are not good parents. These children grow up to be without morals or values. That includes putting values on another human life. They become self-centered. Then we look around and wonder what happened to good neighbors. Gramsci could not have dreamed it could work so well. God already warned us it would come. I was just talking to teacher I knew back in school today. He said that things have really changed. It is difficult to really teach now. The kids have little respect and don't pay attention. He blames as the number one problem...Family Values.

Thank you Howard Sterns and all those like you for turning our whole society upside down.

[cnote55]

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STUNT "ACCIDENT" and someone thinking (i guess) then spewing out BS. stern CONCIOUSLY makes statements.