Clear Channel Dumps Howard Stern; What About Infinity?

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 2/26/04 | Susan Jones

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - It took only a week for shock jock Howard Stern to break Infinity Radio's new "zero tolerance" policy for indecent broadcasting, conservative critics said.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, Stern spent "nearly one hour of his show discussing explicit sexual activities between Rick Solomon and Paris Hilton," the American Family Association alleged.

In a statement, AFA said it would ask its members to begin filing official indecency complaints against Infinity-owned stations if Viacom President Mel Karmazin doesn't immediately fire Howard Stern.

Stern's show is syndicated by Infinity Broadcasting, which is owned by Viacom. Viacom also owns CBS and MTV.

Clear Channel Radio, meantime, announced it has suspended broadcasts of the Howard Stern show, "consistent with its Responsible Broadcasting Initiative."

Clear Channel said it acted after "assessing the content" of Stern's Feb. 24 show.

"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," said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio in the press release issued Wednesday.

"It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency. 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," Hogan said.

(One day before pulling Stern's show, Clear Channel fired a "Bubba the Love Sponge," a Florida radio personality, whom federal regulators accused of airing sexually explicit material on several Florida stations.)

Viacom's Karmazin issued an order last week, saying, "Any station airing programming that has any sexual or excretory content needs to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that the programming in not even arguably indecent."

Karmazin said anyone refusing to comply with the directive would be "fired for cause."

The American Family Association has now joined other conservatives in demanding that Karmazin follow through on his pledge by firing Howard Stern.

"If Karmazin is serious about cleaning up his compoany, firing Howard Stern is the only option, said AFA Chairman Don Wildmon. "Howard Stern cannot be controlled by Karmazin or anyone else," he added.

Two weeks ago, members of a House Commerce subcommittee blasted Karmazin for Janet Jackson's breast-baring moment at the MTV-produced Super Bowl halftime show -- which aired on CBS.

It was after his Capitol Hill grilling that Karmazin warned his Infinity radio executives to clean up their act -- or else.

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[Dane]

Clear Channel pulled Howard off of 6 of its radio stations. Looking at the other thread you would think that was akin to book burning to some Howard fans.

Never liked Howard Stern, listened to his show and watched his cable show a couple of times and always thought that his picture should be the definiton of the term arrested development.

[wireman]

Who is the American Family Association?

Donald Wildmon. The most sanctimonious a-hole on two feet. The morality Nazis are on the move in our country, and if you don't think exactly like them, look out.

[Ff--150]

In a statement, AFA said it would ask its members to begin filing official indecency complaints against Infinity-owned stations if Viacom President Mel Karmazin doesn't immediately fire Howard Stern.

Though marginally so, this is as significant as a realistic portrayal of Jesus, for perhaps Someone is finally stirring up the Pot...?

[ovrtaxt]

Nevertheless, it's a privately owned company, and they can make a market decision if they want. The FCC didn't mandate this, the corporation did. I have no problem with it.

[anniegetyourgun]

Not to worry...immorality is winning....and hatred for those "evil Christians" is rising.

[Howie66]

Oh boy!

"Nazi"


This has got to be one of the most overused words in the liberal/socialist lexicon. I sure would love to see them come up with something new. Then that would require some thought and imagination, so I quess that won't happen any time soon.

[ElTianti]

Does every second of media have to be consumable by the youngest children? Can any of the broadcast media be for adults?

[Huck]

I used to listen to howard but gave it up several years ago. You know when you think someone used to be really good, but they aren't anymore, and then you figure out it isn't that they have changed, but rather that you have? That's what happened to me. Out of habit, I will still once in a blue moon tune in to see if something funny is happening, but there usually isn't. I guess I am an old fart now. Depending on the guest, I'll listen to Imus, which once upon a time was sacrilege. The only radio show I regularly tune in to is Bob Grant. Now THAT's entertaining talk.

[Wolfie]

Its a private corp, they can do what they want. I've already e-mailed the local station that carried him that I won't be listening anymore until he's back.

[StoneColdTaxHater]

I tend to agree with you, I think we have gone WAAAAAy overboard ever since the Super Bowl. While I beleive nudity and graphic languae should not be on TV I think we need to grow up just a little before the decency police are snooping in our homes next. We have people out of work, we are at war and we are all in a lather over Janet's boob. Spare me!

[anniegetyourgun]

Wow...seems everybody is screaming for the tawdry, salacious, and vulgar Stern! That just seems fittin' these days.....

[sakic]

Donald Wildmon. The most sanctimonious a-hole on two feet. The morality Nazis are on the move in our country, and if you don't think exactly like them, look out.

Pay attention. It's our government that is doing this. Criticize politicians in power and lose your license to broadcast.

Imagine the outcry here if we now had a Democratic president and Rush Limbaugh was being pulled off of radio stations by the government.

[wireman]

Clear channel didn't make this call based on a sense of civic duty or good business.

They are simply afraid of the FCC so they are kissing a little gov't butt.

[sakic]

The FCC didn't mandate this, the corporation did.

To believe that a company is trying to lose millions of dollars in revenue is idiotic. The FCC should not even exist.

[kittymyrib]

Families used to be able to listen to the radio together on the PUBLIC AIRWAVES. You can be as lewd as you want in the privacy of your own home. And by the way, I hope you don't have children because they pick up the offensive conduct of the adults around them and spread it around at school. That's why parents need to monitor whom their children associate with.

[garbanzo]

Criticize politicians in power and lose your license to broadcast.

Whether or not you like lesbian dial-a-date or the homeless game, when people can't criticize government officials on the public airwaves without risking their business licence or jobs, we've really crossed over to the dark side.

[WhiteGuy]

"AFA said it would ask its members to begin filing official indecency complaints"


What, these do-gooders can't think for themselves?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Does every second of media have to be consumable by the youngest children? Can any of the broadcast media be for adults?

This is a joke, right?

From billboards to radio to 8PM Sitcoms to the Supebowl halftime show...all of it is very adult-themed (in a childish way). Common sense used to rule these things...but that has been deceased on a national level for quite some time.

By the way, I am not for the censorship of Stern. (I actually find his pro-abortion, pro-Kerry stances to be the most personally offensive.)

[whereasandsoforth]

Howard was off the air for quite some time in the Dallas area. He's back now, but his absence did not cause the city to fall into the Trinity River or anything.

Personally, I think it is ridiculous to have this happen. I don't listen to Stern or his kind because I don't want to. I find it silly and lewd. But I don't care who does listen in.

But, on the other hand, I don't mind a bit of a shake-up every now and then to remind those in need that there are limits to what the airways will allow. Those limits are just as important and no more obscene that the content of programs in question.