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.

[Petronski]

I think Stern is garbage, so I don't listen. Where he really belongs is XM Radio or the other one, so kids can't get access.

[Taffini]

Howard Stern is a lost soul.

He is just putting in time.

[montag813]

While they were talking about this stuff the delay was hit multiple times. Howard was talking about the first breast he saw as a kid. He said it was a black woman in National Geographic with plates in her lips and rings around her neck

THIS is "offensive"? THIS??? How ridiculous. Clear Channel has a bunch of morons running it.

[goodnesswins]

Freedom of speech does not mean you can poop in public....if someone wants to start an x-rated radio station, let them.....and make those who want to listen to it pay, bigtime.

[Destro]

I was stuck in the city after seeing 9/11 right in front of my office window - Stern then Opie and Anthony helped pass the time away since the radio news just kept repeated traffic information.

[weegee]

Obviously the censor has never seen a copy of National Geographic (especially in the days when there was no Maxim).

[Roarkdude]

It's good but...we need pay radio (maybe xm radio will become this) where there can be a market for adult and/or indecent shows. I like the gov keeping the public airways "clean" but there ought to be a private, gov free place as well.

[montag813]

The action comes after CC executives reviewed comment made on Stern's Tuesday broadcast, including on on-air caller's comments: 'Ever bang a famous n***** (stars added) chick? What do they smell like? Watermelons?'...

It was a CALLER who said this, not Stern. This is like blaming the NFL for the Jackson/Timberlake stunt. How dumb. "Watermelons". Oh no! The "N" word...horrible. C'mon already. Listen to the first 30 seconds of any random rap song and prepare to be truly offended and revolted. This is trivial.

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmmm.....and on Ash Wednesday......Hmmmmm

[isom35]

so john replaces ed hall? did they fire hall or was he leaving anyway?

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

I heartily concur. I'm sick to death of the cheap, facile crud that's being passed off as entertainment these days.

While I agree with the feeling that much of today's entertainment is cheap and crude, I cringe at the notion of censorship. I mean, isn't the easiest solution to turn off the TV or radio? I hate to think that my personal preferences somehow limit the free speech and freedoms of other people when my ability to control what I'm exposed to is so easy.

[WhiteGuy]

I couldn't disagree with you more.

[contessa machiaveli]

everyone has an on/off switch. if you don't like what you're hearing on howard's show, exercise some discipline and use it.

i don't want the government to dictate what i can see and hear. i'm not 8 years old.

[Destro]

bless you for the stern link. I never knew it existed.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Good. About time a corporation decided to take a stand about what it airs and what it doesn't air. Howard Stern can say ANYTHING he wants. No one says Clear Channel has to broadcast the same.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Is CBS/Viacom/MTV/NFL being held responsible for Janet's stunt?

[weegee]

Consider how Political Correctness labels any talk against same sex marriage as "homophobia" and "hate speech" and discussion of quotas in affirmative action as "racist".

[OldFriend]

You are defending Savage's on air comments about wishing a man would die of AIDS already?

Has FR become a parallel universe?

Class and dignity are passe?

Having sensible conversations about the things you believe is somehow only bearable if interspersed with vulgarity?

[Destro]

You need to keep your hands out of my pants.

[montag813]

Freedom of speech does not mean you can poop in public....if someone wants to start an x-rated radio station, let them

Apparently freedom of speech means that my kids are forced to watch lesbians french kissing on the network news when they report about gay marriage. That is far more offensive to me than anything Stern has ever done.