After Being Yanked by Clear Channel, Howard Stern Predicts His Broadcast Demise

AP ^ | Mar. 6, 2004

[nuconvert]

After Being Yanked by Clear Channel, Howard Stern Predicts His Broadcast Demise

Mar 6, 2004

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Shock jock and self-proclaimed "King of All Media" Howard Stern believes his reign on the radio is coming to an end. "The show is over," he announced Friday morning on his nationally syndicated radio program. "It's over."

It's not - at least not yet. But Stern predicted that a Federal Communications Communication crackdown on indecency on the airwaves will force his salacious show off the dial.

"I'm guessing that sometime next week will be my last show on this station," said Stern, adding that he expected the FCC to hit him with a whopping indecency fine. "There's a cultural war going on. The religious right is winning. We're losing."

A telephone call to Infinity Broadcasting, which syndicates Stern's show, was not returned Saturday to discuss Stern's comments.

On Friday, Stern devoted the first 2 1/2 hours of his show to his anticipated demise, a change of pace from the usual fare of naked women and toilet humor.

Clear Channel Communications yanked Stern from stations in San Diego, Pittsburgh, Rochester, N.Y., Louisville, Ky., and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 25. The company said the suspension would last until the Stern show met its programming guidelines.

"This time they have to fire me," Stern said. "I'm through. I'm a dead man walking."

On Thursday, Clear Channel paid a record $755,000 fine levied last month by the FCC for indecent material aired by several of its stations

[Shethink13]

This is government infringing on Free Speech. Clear Channel removed him due to pressure and fines from the FCC. The FCC is run by 90 year old men with no sense of humor or respect for the Constitution. The only thing the FCC should be doing is making sure one station doesn't broadcast into some other stations range. They are now the arbitors of decency?

BS! If Howard Stern wants to be heard, then let him invest all the money he earned acting like an arrested-development a##hole in his own broadcasting network.

He can talk all he wants, nobody is stopping him. Having the right to speak does not equal the right to be heard.

I find it amusing that he's perfectly willing to take risks and push the envelope on SOMEONE ELSE'S DIME! If he thinks it's so important to the Republic that he be heard, let him risk his own dough.

[Godebert]

"That is the hypocrisy of the retarded right. We want less government....except when it comes to stuff we don't like. They want the government to pass laws against gays, stop Howard Stern and please oh please save us from naked people! We can't handle it....what a crock or crap. "

The "retarded right"? You live in San Francisco, don't you?

[Shethink13]

Why not put parent controls on your T.V. so you won't be "forced" to watch it when you flip the channels? Why do you need big brother to do it for you?

That's not how it works. Why should anyone have to pay to NOT hear something? It should be the ones who WANT to hear something that should be shelling out the dough.

[atomicpossum]

Howard--

One problem with nailing yourself to a cross as a martyr--you can never get in the last nail....

[Shethink13]

So you will be similarly gleeful when Rush is yanked down the road?

When it gets to the point when Rush's show is 95% smut, filth and porn, I will gleefully rejoice when it gets yanked.

You Stern supporters act like his show is being yanked because of some type of political statement he's making. I've got a clue for you - it ain't his politics that is causing his grief.

Didn't you guys get the memo? Obscenity is not protected speech.

[Tahts-a-dats-ago]

If I may restate that a bit. We're all free to express our opinions, even in dissent. That freedom does not include the right to use other people's private property for free expression and -- in this case -- that freedom does not include the right to use public property to express anything you want.

You said it better than did I. Thanks.

[Tahts-a-dats-ago]

Stern crossed the line of minimum standards for decency. Those standards were comprised by the public and are enforced by the FCC.

I'd agree that all of the examples you gave are over the line. I'd bet that Stern's show gets far more complaints - that's why he gets so many fines.

Howard can take his show to a private forum and let the ratings decide if his standards are acceptable. He doesn't meet the standards set for a public forum.

[NYCVirago]

He's also saying he's going to go to satellite radio according to the website that tracks what he says daily (marksfriggin.com).

He'd have to take a 90% paycut in order to do it, though -- there's no way satellite radio is going to pay him 18+ million a year for his show.

[NYCVirago]

Actually, the day before he was taken off the air, he said he could no longer support Bush. It was the a combo of the Senate hearings into Janets boob.....and then the marriage protection amendment that turned him. He has been very anti-Bush lately. He went on the same rants against Clinton when the FCC fined him.

And he still endorsed Clinton the next year, didn't he? Besides, Stern was bashing Bush before the Senate hearings even happened.

[NYCVirago]

Believe me, some future LIBERAL FCC will rule that Rush engages in "obscene Hate Speech" and yank him from the air. It is the fondest dream of liberals and they will use any excuse no matter how lame to get Rush off the airwaves. The door has already been opened with the persecution of Howard.

Since when do liberals need precedents to do anything? Even if this didn't happen with Howard, the libs would still like to shut down Rush if they could get away with it.

[Feiny]

"it is a proper function of government to stop indecency over the public airwaves.
"

Can you please point out that clause in the Constitution? I must have missed it.

[nuconvert]

Well, let's look at the headline..........."After being yanked...Stern Predicts His Broadcast Demise."

It's that Stern Predicts His demise" part that makes me "gleeful", as you put it. I LOVE the mental picture of him saying that. I only hope his prediction comes true. And FAST!
Now, would I be "gleeful" if Rush were "yanked"? Hmmm......I don't listen to Rush....I really don't care one way or the other about him......nah, I don't think I'd be "gleeful". Unless of course he started acting like a sex-obsessed, sophomoric, bullying a-hole. Then if he were yanked, I'd be "gleeful"

[Howlin]

"There's a cultural war going on. The religious right is winning. We're losing."

And "we" would be who?

[Feiny]

I have tried to reason with people on this thread, but they do not think like we do. Apparently, they need the federal government to be their guardians against whatever offends them. They give ammo to the liberals who call all republicans fascists.


You do not have the right not to be offended.

[oceanview]

so then the major networks could show hardcore porn over the air? what power does the government have to stop CBS from showing hardcore porn?

[Feiny]

Don't be stupid.

[oceanview]

you are claiming the government has no right to enforce any kind of decency policy on the public airwaves. so why can't CBS show sex acts on television? or use any kind of language they want? what restricts that?

[ColdSteelTalon]

"I'm guessing that sometime next week will be my last show on this station," said Stern, adding that he expected the FCC to hit him with a whopping indecency fine. "There's a cultural war going on. The religious right is winning. We're losing."

Yes howard we are winning, We survived the Roman empire, and we will survive you and the decline of the west.

[FITZ]

What's wrong with those wanting porn to take responsibility and actually subscribe to get it? I don't want it so why should it be beamed into my house? All Am/Fm radios don't come with parental controls.

[FITZ]

I think you guys are being too dramatic --- nothing at all is stopping Stern from going on that XFM radio or cable television --- no one is being denied their porn or vulgarity --- his isn't losing his rights to vulgar free speech --- but no one has an absolute right to the public airwaves.