Stern Taken Off Radio in Six Cities

[NYU 0]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's largest radio station chain took shock jock Howard Stern off the air in six markets, saying his sexually explicit show did not meet the company's newly revised programming standards. The move came on the eve of Thursday's congressional hearing on broadcast indecency.

 

The Stern show was heard on six stations owned by Clear Channel Communications, though it is distributed to dozens of others by its owner, Infinity Broadcasting. It was not immediately clear how long Stern would stay off the Clear Channel stations.

 

Stern's show has graphic references to sex and regularly includes strippers and pornographic movie stars as on-air guests. The show that prompted Clear Channel to act aired Tuesday and included a man discussing an alleged sexual encounter with hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

 

On Thursday, Stern told listeners he had been unaware of the move by Clear Channel.

 

 

``I could blow my stack. I'm trying to be cryptic,'' he said. ``To tell you the truth, I don't know what's going on. They are so afraid of me and what this show represents.''

 

 

Stern's suspension was the second time in two days that Clear Channel has acted against a disc jockey. The company on Tuesday fired the DJ known as ``Bubba the Love Sponge,'' whose show drew a record fine of $755,000 from the Federal Communications Commission. The program aired in four Florida cities and included graphic discussions about sex and drugs ``designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners,'' the FCC said.

 

 

Clear Channel's moves are the latest examples of broadcasters responding to pressure from federal regulators and lawmakers who say too much of radio and TV programming has become unsuitable for children.

 

 

Executives from ABC, Fox, NBC, Pax and Clear Channel Communications were scheduled to testify Thursday before the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee. The committee has recommended increasing the maximum fine for indecency from $27,500 to $275,000.

 

 

In response to letters from Federal Communication Commission Chairman Michael Powell, NBC, CBS and Fox outlined steps they were taking to curb indecency. Among them: Airing live programs on time delays, displaying ratings for programs on their Web sites, reviewing standards and practices, launching ad campaigns to let parents know about the V-chip, and reminding affiliate stations they may reject network programming viewed as unsuitable for their communities.

 

 

ABC has not yet responded to Powell.

 

 

Powell's letters to the National Association of Broadcasters and the four major networks followed CBS' Super Bowl halftime show, which ended with Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson's breast to 90 million viewers.

 

 

``True and lasting change will only be achieved if the broadcast community recommits to its public service roots and its tradition of abiding by community standards of decency,'' Powell wrote, urging a return to a voluntary code of conduct, which was dropped in 1982 under Reagan administration pressure.

 

 

Under FCC rules and federal law, radio stations and over-the-air television channels cannot air material that refers to sexual and excretory functions between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when children may be tuning in. The rules do not apply to cable and satellite channels and satellite radio.

 

 

Dr. Frank Wright, president of the National Religious Broadcasters, questioned how long the broadcasters' concern about indecency will last.

 

 

``Some of this hand-wringing in public is from the very people who have brought us a rogue's gallery of shock jocks,'' said Wright, whose association of Christian radio and TV broadcasters counts 1,700 members.

 

 

Officials at Clear Channel announced a new indecency policy Wednesday that includes companywide training, possible fines against DJs, and automatic suspensions for anyone accused by the FCC of violating indecency rules on the air.

 

 

Announcing that Stern's show was suspended, Clear Channel said the radio host disregarded the company's effort to limit indecency.

 

 

``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,'' John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said in a news release. ``It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency.''

 

 

Infinity Broadcasting in 1995 paid the largest cumulative fine to date, $1.7 million, for various violations by Stern's radio show.

 

And in a related story.....having to deal with Bubba the Love Sponge....

 

Clear Channel fires "Bubba the Love Sponge"

 

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb 24 (Reuters) - Florida radio personality "Bubba the Love Sponge," who was accused of airing indecent material by federal regulators, has been fired, media group Clear Channel Communications said on Tuesday.

 

The Federal Communications Commission last month proposed a $755,000 fine against Clear Channel, the biggest operator of radio stations in the United States, because of sexual material broadcast during a "Bubba the Love Sponge" program on WXTB-FM in Tampa and three other Florida radio stations.

 

In proposing the fine, the FCC said the programming had involved cartoon characters discussing sexual activities and had been meant to pander to listeners.

 

"We recognize the importance of understanding and airing content that is consistent with the standards and sensibilities of the local communities that we serve," Clear Channel said in a written statement.

 

 

The decision comes two days before lawmakers in Congress again will take up the issue of the growing coarseness of programming on the nation's television and radio airwaves, this time to hear from the broadcasters.

 

 

Clear Channel Radio Chief Executive John Hogan will be among half a dozen executives who will testify before the House Commerce subcommittee on telecommunications and the Internet.

 

 

U.S. media groups such as San Antonio, Texas-based Clear Channel, which also on Tuesday reported that its quarterly profit was little changed, are facing angry lawmakers and regulators at FCC who are trying to increase indecency fines.

 

 

U.S. law bars the airing of obscene speech and limits the broadcasting of material with sexual or excretory references. Lawmakers are proposing to hike fines tenfold, to as much as $3 million for violating the limits.

 

 

"Bubba the Love Sponge," who had legally changed his name from Todd Clem, was fined $23,000 by the FCC in 1998 for airing indecent material. Two years ago, he was acquitted of animal cruelty charges after a pig was castrated and killed during one of his broadcasts.

 

 

The "Bubba" program had been ranked first in its morning broadcasting slot among younger Florida listeners.

Both from CNN.com

 

This is censorship at its absolute worst. Regardless if you're a fan of Stern or Sponge, this could really become an extremely serious issue sooner rather than later. This kind of censorship is only going to continue until TV and radio have been completely castrated. Freedom of speech?! Where the hell is it?!

 

And imagine....all this because of one simple tit.......

[Guest El Satanico]

fucking FCC and uptight American citizens.

 

Clear Channel is the death of American radio

[Art Sandusky 0]

"America was founded by people who were kicked out of England for being too uptight."

 

I can't remember who said that, but it's so so telling.

[Guest stardust]

Hopefully people will calm down about it and stop acting like Puritanical zealots. And whatever happened to parenting and parents actually regulating how much TV their kids watch and what they see and hear on the TV and radio? Stern's show is a night time show, which is a time when most children are in bed anyway. Instead of trying to be the decency police these people need to start thinking about serious issues and let parents do their jobs. And as for Jackson's breast at the Super Bowl, I still think she was wearing a pasty anyway, and it's not like anyone could really see anything since the camera was so far away. And hell, the song they were singing included the line "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song," and that's a song that can be heard at any time of day on any Top 40 radio station. It's all just stupid, and it's a slippery slope they're starting to slide down.

[Guest El Satanico]

"America was founded by people who were kicked out of England for being too uptight."

 

I can't remember who said that, but it's so so telling.

George Carlin is the man responsible.

[BlackFlagg 0]

"America was founded by people who were kicked out of England for being too uptight."

 

I can't remember who said that, but it's so so telling.

I believe that was Eddie Izzard

 

 

You can just hear this country's collective ass getting tighter everyday....fuck censorship, fuck the fcc....and fuck everyone now that I think about it.

[The Tino Standard 0]

I never quite understood the point of Stern having pornstars, strippers, lesbians and other women naked in the studio. He's on the radio... What exactly are LISTENERS getting out of it?

 

Anyway, it's his show and people obviously love it (Hey, I loved his movie a few years back, and while I'm not a regular listener, I'll listen to his show now and then). This censorship stuff is just too much. Someone needs to hit the Common Sense Button very soon.

[Guest Miss Indy Queen]

This is pretty ironic considering last week Stern was complaining about the ridiculous rules the FCC has put on his show. Stern and the rest of the gang were talking about something (I tuned in and only heard some of it) and I believe Stuttering John said something about Anal and the Producer named Tom came barging in saying he can't say that. So that put Stern on a roll complaining about this to the point he says it's not fun anymore. I'm not sure what exactly put the axe with Clear Channel but Rick Solomon was on tuesday morning and callers were calling in asking questions. People just need to really chill out with this because I highly doubt children listen to his show in the morning or watch the show late at night.

[Guest El Satanico]

"America was founded by people who were kicked out of England for being too uptight."

 

I can't remember who said that, but it's so so telling.

I believe that was Eddie Izzard

Really?

 

Well, I know George Carlin said something along those lines

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I never quite understood the point of Stern having pornstars, strippers, lesbians and other women naked in the studio. He's on the radio... What exactly are LISTENERS getting out of it?

 

Well, he does have his TV show on E! last time I checked. Of course, its censored, but I'm just saying.

[NYU 0]

I'm not sure what exactly put the axe with Clear Channel but Rick Solomon was on tuesday morning and callers were calling in asking questions.  People just need to really chill out with this because I highly doubt children listen to his show in the morning or watch the show late at night.

From what I heard, this whole controversy is over a caller asking Solomon if he ever "banged any n***ers or s**cs before." (I'm not even sure exactly what we could say on these forums now, hence the editing)

 

Of course, it was a caller that used this language and he was promptly hung up on. But the FCC doesn't look at matters like that. They've been gunning for Howard for years and years and figured, with the Congressional hearing coming up, they would take the quickest advantage they could.

 

Again, just imagine: A boob falling out during a FOOTBALL game has led to possibly the biggest mess ever when it comes to Freedom of Speech.

[Bored 0]

"America was founded by people who were kicked out of England for being too uptight."

 

I can't remember who said that, but it's so so telling.

I believe that was Eddie Izzard

Really?

 

Well, I know George Carlin said something along those lines

This isn't what you were thinking of but the Carlin line (even though the reference is a bit dated) to use for this would be:

Did you know there are two knobs on the radio? One turns it off and the other, *smacks forehead* changes the station!

[bob_barron 0]

People just need to really chill out with this because I highly doubt children listen to his show in the morning or watch the show late at night.

I've been listening to Howard Stern since I was 4. I love that guy

[Highland 0]

It's ridiculous: The same hippies that were crying for freedom of expression were trying to escape from the stiffling confines of the 50's have now become even more uptight and anal than those to whom they were opposed to back then.

Someone I was talking to on AIM thought that this is mostly an election ploy to get people's minds off of more important issues like the economy. Maybe, maybe not.

But the backlack from the Justin/Janet stunt is the worst threat to freedom of speech and expression that I can remember, and I thought the social attitude change in the wake of 9/11 was bad enough.

Edited February 26, 2004 by Naibus

[starvenger 0]

fucking FCC and uptight American citizens.

 

Clear Channel is the death of American radio

Amen to that. Getting rid of "controversial" shows is just another step in Clear Channel's homogenizing of the radio waves.

[Guest Smark-Raving Mad]

Anybody know what the six markets actually are? I didn't get a chance to listen this morning, so I hope Philly's not one of them.

[NYU 0]

The Six Markets:

Pittsburgh

Ft. Lauderdale

Orlando

Rochester

Louisville

San Diego

 

There is also a serious possibility that Infinity Broadcasting could be dropping Stern soon. That would basically mean he'd be off the air.

[Guest El Satanico]

Maybe this is Stern's way of retiring.

 

Hasn't he said he's getting tired of the gig in interviews or something?

[The Tino Standard 0]

I never quite understood the point of Stern having pornstars, strippers, lesbians and other women naked in the studio. He's on the radio... What exactly are LISTENERS getting out of it?

 

Well, he does have his TV show on E! last time I checked. Of course, its censored, but I'm just saying.

He was doing those things long before he was on E!

[nl5xsk1 0]

I never quite understood the point of Stern having pornstars, strippers, lesbians and other women naked in the studio. He's on the radio... What exactly are LISTENERS getting out of it?

 

Well, he does have his TV show on E! last time I checked. Of course, its censored, but I'm just saying.

He was doing those things long before he was on E!

Technically he was on TV (on WOR) before E! even existed, but that show went off the air so long ago I don't think that it should count in this argument.

 

I think that the Stern listeners were such ballwashers for him that just hearing him talk about how hot a girl was or something good enough for them. I remember back when I could stomach his show, and people would call in and say that they were having a hard time concentrating on driving to work while they were hearing him talk about how hot what he was seeing was.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Bubba the Love Sponge got fired? Somewhere right now Hulk Hogan is crying.

[Guest SP-1]

Here's the thing: The United States has an organization that regulates the airwaves. When someone becomes a DJ or airs anything on United States airwaves, they are subject to the governing authority over that. When they decide to not follow the rules of said governing authority, they open themselves up to the punishment.

 

That's the way it works. And no amount of getting angry or fussing is going to change it. People who don't care what goes on around them exist. But so do people who do care. And both sides represent American interests. Both sides have to be represented in a middleground of rules.

[NYU 0]

Here's the thing:  The United States has an organization that regulates the airwaves.  When someone becomes a DJ or airs anything on United States airwaves, they are subject to the governing authority over that.  When they decide to not follow the rules of said governing authority, they open themselves up to the punishment.

 

But why now? Why not 10 or 15 years ago when the show was the absolute hot topic of controversy? At this point, the Howard Stern Show is relatively tame compared to what it was. Yet, it's being singled out now more than ever. It can't be denied that the FCC is doing this to cover themselves on Nipplegate. They want to show that they're making contributions on the fight against indecent programming, and who's a better target than Howard Stern? But the timing, and seemingly the reason that sparked it all, does not make sense.

 

Those on a radio show really can not be considered liable for their callers. They can do their best to screen the callers, but once they reach the air, not much more can be done. Howard didn't say the racial slurs himself. No one on his show did. It was a caller that did it in a disappointing attempt to be funny, and it wound up backfiring. Yet, how can Howard can be considered at fault for something a caller said? From what I heard, for the most part, the slur was edited out anyway with the delay. So what's the problem?

 

The problem is, once again, the FCC is looking for a scapegoat.

 

That's the way it works.  And no amount of getting angry or fussing is going to change it.  People who don't care what goes on around them exist.  But so do people who do care.  And both sides represent American interests.  Both sides have to be represented in a middleground of rules.

 

But come on, what are we talking about here? I understand that the purpose of the FCC is to regulate decent programming, but who's to determine what is decent? I could understand them stepping in if Howard got on the radio and demanded all his listeners to take out all the blacks of the world in an evil, sadistic attack. I could understand them stepping in if Bubba started calling out to his listeners, asking them to bomb their local government building to make a stand. These are things that OBVIOUSLY should be monitored against. But talking about sex? Talking about a lesbian in the studio? Mentioning cocaine on the air? THESE are fireable offenses? These are the kind of topics that need to be fought against for the common good of society? Sex and drugs? Talking about hate crimes and attacking the government are dangerous to society and should obviously not be allowed. But talking about sex on the air is what freedom of speech falls under! It doesn't hurt anybody and it doesn't put any lives in danger!

 

When does it become enough? Soon, we'll take away all those that talk about sex and drugs on the radio. Then, those songs that have any suggestive sexual, drug, or "offensive" content will be banned from the airwaves. We'll soon come to making sure simple words like "hell", "damn", and "ass" are banned from being spoken on the radio. Any topic that can be considered offensive to another will be taken off the air eventually. This would mean no more talk shows on politics - Bye Bye Rush Limbaugh. Sporting fans will begin to become alienated with calls about how other teams are better than the home team, so those fans will start a pettion. Sports call-in radio shows will be gone. What will we be left with? Stations and stations of classical music, jazz, and broadcast tests.

 

You need to draw the line somewhere because that is what the airwaves of the country will resort to. By banning radio shows like this, for no real foreseeable reason at this point, this country is regressing. We would be going back to the days where talking about a controversial topic in public is taboo. And, at this point, it doesn't really help anybody in the end.

[Guest El Satanico]

Clear Channel covering their asses for Congress, is the only reasonable explanation as to why they'd take Stern off the radio now.

[Guest SP-1]

Good night you're over-reacting. Televisions now allows the F-Bomb in a desciption sense, we're probably edging closer to nudity on network television and you're freaking out because two DJ's occupying timeslots that children can get access to easily are removed?

 

America is FAR from heading into cleanup mode in its entertainment. FAR from it.

[NYU 0]

Good night you're over-reacting.  Televisions now allows the F-Bomb in a desciption sense, we're probably edging closer to nudity on network television and you're freaking out because two DJ's occupying timeslots that children can get access to easily are removed?

 

America is FAR from heading into cleanup mode in its entertainment.  FAR from it.

I'm not acting as if those effects will come overnight. But if these firings go through, it's very possible we could begin to get to those points.

 

All those incidents you talked about - it was all before Nipplegate. That one incident with Janet Jackson changed the entire monitoring system of the FCC. Do you think they want to deal with Congress calling for hearings and fines? I doubt it. That whole hearing about the F-Bomb being allowed in a description sense on television, I am absolutely sure it's being reconsidered now. Tell me, how many network - or even cable - shows have you heard use "fuck" yet? Personally, I haven't heard any.

 

Nudity on national television? Since the Superbowl? When and where? ER had to recently edit an episode where someone's breast was partially revealed. Why? Because of how pathetically PC America is becoming. Doesn't exactly prove your point.

 

I'm saying that this could potentially become a huge deal with the airwaves in America. Call it what you want, but these two DJs are being censored.

 

And correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the morning slot. Children should be getting ready for school. Their parents should be helping them. Their parents should be driving their children for school, or getting them ready for the busstop. The children should then be IN school. There shouldn't be a way for them to get a hold of the radio and listen to Howard Stern, if they have parents that are taking part in the morning routine. If the parents are involved, the children don't have easy access to this timeslot because they're being monitored on the way to school. Be reasonable here. It's not like we're talking about the after-school slot.

 

Congress is starting to get involved in FCC matters. Colin Powell's son has made it a goal of his to clean up the airwaves the best he can. TV and radio will not go back to the way it was before. Take a closer look at what will be on the radio and television in the upcoming months. If this trend continues, it's inevitable that America will soon be entering a cleanup mode in its entertainment - a cleanup mode that could become much more drastic than firing two "shock-jocks."

[BlackFlagg 0]

This isn't what you were thinking of but the Carlin line (even though the reference is a bit dated) to use for this would be:

Did you know there are two knobs on the radio? One turns it off and the other, *smacks forehead* changes the station!

The FCC, the Federal Communications Commission, decided all by itself that radio and television were the only two parts of American life not protected by the free speech provisions of the First Amendment to the Constitution. I'd like to repeat that because it sounds vaguely important:

 

The FCC, an appointed body, not elected, answerable only to the President, decided on its own that radio and television were the only two parts of American life not protected by the free speech provisions of the First Amendment to the Constitution!

 

Why did they decide that? Because they got a letter from a reverend in Mississippi! A reverend Donald Wildman in Mississippi heard something on the radio that he didn't like... Well reverend, did anyone ever tell you that there are two knobs on the radio? Two knobs on the radio! Course, I'm sure the reverend isn't too comfortable with anything that has two knobs on it... Well hey, reverend, there are two knobs on the radio! One of the turns the radio off, the other changes the station! Imagine that, reverend! You can actually change the station! It's called freedom of choice, and it's one of the principles this country was founded on! Look it up in the library, reverend, if you have any of them left when you've finished burning all the books!"

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

The Six Markets:

Pittsburgh

Ft. Lauderdale

Orlando

Rochester

Louisville

San Diego

Hahaha. There goes one more reason out of maybe a few to listen to the Nerve. This puts a wide smile on my face.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

You know who's ultimately to blame for this whole thing?

 

George W Bush

 

Seriously, in the 8 years Clinton had in office, the FCC completely backed off of pursuing must minor indecency charges against Radio/TV (mainly against the pornography industry, but its all the same really)

 

As soon as Bush took office, one of the first things he did was to get the FCC to go back after pornographers. Its just a logical next step that the FCC would see some of the stuff thats aired on TV/Radio and decide that it needed to be cleaned up as well, after about 8 years of being allowed almost free reign. Its also why some of the stuff that some people have been doing for several years is now not allowed.

 

And if you really want to buy into a conspiracy theory, some say that Janet/Justin were paid off by the government to do what they did at the Super Bowl so the FCC could step in and say that they needed to exert more power over the TV networks because of what was being allowed to air.

[Slayer 0]

I've already posted my thoughts in this thread (boo to multiple threads!)

 

but needless to say, I'm less than happy about this trend