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

[Central Scrutiniser]

And I'm sure "the children" are thrilled when Uncle Scrutinizer asks them to "sit" on his lap.

Are you trying to insinuate something? Either speak your mind, or shut the hell up before you wander into dangerous territory.

[Central Scrutiniser]

It amazes me how many people claim to love freedom and want a small government, but they need the government to protect them from a radio shock jock! I don't listen to Howard, I just turn to another station, its a pretty radical step, I know, but I'd rather make the choice than have it foisted on me.

[imfleck]

Sorry nuconvert, this isn't targeted directly at you, rather it's targeted at the article and audience.

Here we go, once again, with the religious right intentionally circumventing the first amendment under the guise of morality.

I post this knowing that I'm going to get flamed by a lot of the members in this forum. I don't care if Howard Stern is the devil himself. He has a right to say whatever he wants to say and I have a right to hear him. I understand that the airwaves are public and that somehow or another the government feels compelled to police them. I also understand that there is a minority in this country who feel that only their opinion on what anyone should be listening to matters. To this I say that I have just as much right to the airwaves as you do.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, TURN THE STATION.

How dare anyone censor what I want to hear. This isn't about the children, or corruption of weak-minded individuals. This is about one group of people imposing their morals onto another group of people by use of the government.

Here's an idea: How 'bout letting the marketplace decide what should or shouldn't be on the airwaves? I would think that if the radio show isn't listened to then sponsors wouldn't buy time. That's the ultimate censor. The simple fact that A LOT of money is paid to various radio stations and syndicates for airtime during the Howard Stern Show indicates that there are a lot of people who like what they're hearing.

[imfleck]

To preserve his show for those who do want to listen to what he has to say, he should get his own satellite radio show. Unfortunately that would convince the religious freaks that they were right, and worse yet, it would probably compel those same freaks to start getting their righteous noses into other places where they don't belong. It won't stop with The Howard Stern Show. That's just the beginning.

Who's going to start throwing away radios because of a four hour show? I would think that those who don't want their kids listening to the show would educate their children on what they feel is appropriate listening material.

TURN THE RADIO DIAL. It's the simplest of all solutions.

[imfleck]

I think the government ought to go after conservative radio shows. They offend me and a lot of other people who don't pander to the religious right. </sarcasm> (I'm waiting for THAT discussion...)

OMG, you're right! I can JUST TURN THE STATION!

[philetus]

This thread on Stern is a waste of bandwidth.

[imfleck]

Yup, and there's the sticky situation that those clammering for the imposition of their beliefs onto others have brought.

[FITZ]

Nothing stops you from signing up to cable to get Stern's show --- there's no limitations on porn --- but porn broadcast to kids can be limited. You guys are just being a little dramatic --- Stern isn't being censored --- there are lots of cable channels.

[FITZ]

I think this issue is much easier for those with no kids --- but do we have a country where no family values can exist? I grew up listening to radio as a kid -- and I could flip channels on the television without my parents seeing that and whipping me. There is XFM available now --- Stern can easily move his show to that and those who don't like it won't buy XFM.

[bert]

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

An acknowlwdgement of reality. He doesn't distinguish between right and religious right but close enough I guess.


After years of not engaging, just a few minor skermishes and victories have the opponents throwing in the towel. If this is true, I say on to Bagdad!! The road seems open.

[imfleck]

Those stations wouldn't be bundled if they didn't make any money.

When you're adjusting your portfolio I don't think you'd keep the bottom nn percent, would you? You'd probably cast those stocks off and find better performing ones.

The same applies to radio and TV. If they don't make money then they get discarded, and they only make money when sponsors pay for them because a lot of people are listening/watching.

You can choose to not have this "vulgar and evil" enter your living room. TURN THE CHANNEL. The "twentysomthings" have as much right to watch or listen to what they want to watch or listen to as much as you do.

[imfleck]

There are probably four people on this thread who actually care about free speech. The others want to force their morals upon you.

[imfleck]

It is lurid and mostly devoid of art.

TURN THE STATION.

[imfleck]

I'd like you to provide some evidence that his daughters are "ASHAMED" of him.

"As I understand it" doesn't count.

[imfleck]

I suspect that Howard's liberal arts education provided him with some awareness of Voltaire.

[imfleck]

Again, you're right. But the government shouldn't be in the business of unemploying him and that's exactly what you're proposing they do.

[imfleck]

Why should Howard Stern invest a penny when the marketplace is more than happy to pay him $20M a year?

If his sponsors decide that he doesn't reflect their corporate views, they should stop paying him, and then he'd go away.

[imfleck]

I'm not sure they even make TV's anymore that don't allow you to block particular channels as you flip through them. Try a different argument.

The airwaves belong to me and the corrupt hordes as much as they belong to you.

Read the instruction manual and TURN THE STATION.

[imfleck]

I think the marketplace would correct itself and the government wouldn't need to stop anyone from showing hardcore porn.

[Salo]

Thus far, it has only been Clear Channel. I am under the impression they are doing this because they wish to avoid FCC sanctions.