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I saw this coming a mile away after Clear Channel instituted its new decency rules

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040225/255963_1.html

Howard Stern Show Taken Off Clear Channel Stations
Wednesday February 25, 6:44 pm ET

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2004--Clear Channel Radio has suspended the broadcast of Viacom's Howard Stern show, consistent with its Responsible Broadcasting Initiative announced earlier today. After assessing the content of yesterday's Howard Stern show, Clear Channel worked with local market managers to take swift and decisive action.

"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. "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.

Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU - News), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a global leader in the media and entertainment industry with radio and television stations, outdoor advertising displays, and live entertainment venues in 65 countries around the world.

See us on the web at www.clearchannel.com

IMHO, good.

I agree, I don't think he is very funny. Stuttering John (one of his sidekicks) left for the Tonight Show a few days ago and Stern is pretty pissed about that. Now he must be really pissed.

It's about time!!!!

I loved that Clear Channel said before Congress,"I don't think Howard Stern has changed, but rather Clear Channel has made some changes."

Good for them!!! It's about time we start cleaning up society a bit.

I agree.

The only thing that I have an issue with is the proposed idea that the government is going to institute federal laws on what people can and cannot say on the radio. I think that it is the station and/or channels job to make their own rules on decency.

The only thing that I have an issue with is the proposed idea that the government is going to institute federal laws on what people can and cannot say on the radio. I think that it is the station and/or channels job to make their own rules on decency.

CPD,

Don't you see this is the same underlying issue as gay marriage? The government is moving in a direction that is dangerous... and the goes against the basis of a "FREE society" as provided by the constitution...

ken

uh oh, I am a Stern fan, hahahaha. oh well. I sometimes do not agree with what he does but its mainly about entertainment. He's still on in my state but he is depressed about this whole thing.

WHOA, people hold on here. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. Clear Channel made a policy after the fallout from Janet Jackson, Howard violated their policy and CC booted him off their stations. The FCC had nothing to do with this. The FCC has always had rules on what can be aired, but they basically fine the station/company for violations. Same for TV, certain things can't be aired on TV shows. Nothing new there. Stern still has his show, just not on Clear Channel stations. There should be limits on what can be on TV and radio, but what those limits are is whats up for debate I guess.

Let me, ask you ALL a question: Is Stern a conservative VOICE?

PS. What if any connection exists between Clear Channel and Bush?

So now can they get rid of Jerry Springer and Maury please????!!!

Let me, ask you ALL a question: Is Stern a conservative VOICE?

PS. What if any connection exists between Clear Channel and Bush?

Stop. Stern makes fun of everybody equally, if anything he is liberal. Connection? Clear Channel is based in San Antonio so I'm sure there is some Halliburton/Enron-esque cabal going on right? Who cares if there is a connection? CC is the largest radio station company in the country, i'm sure there are many connections to many people. Lowry Mays, who founded the company, went to Texas A&M which is where I went to school, the A&M business school is named after him and the George Bush library is at Texas A&M. Egad!! Start an investigation!!!! We'll call it Sterngate!!

cecil,

Please don't assume you KNOW why I asked these questions, and they weren't really connected to each other. However as I take a look at the media landscape I don't see many OVERTLY liberal voices left with major audiences... I really didn't know what Stern was but I thought he was a libertarian.

Actually the connection I was fishing for is Clear Channel's vice-chairman Thomas Hicks and then governor Bush but also the Carlyle group and coincedently they are all tied together at Texas A&M if someone cares to look...

But you are right it is probally "nothing". Some might disagree however...

ken

PS. DC's correct again, just say NO to TV...

The reason you don't have overtly liberal voices on the radio is quite simple. And this has been discussed before. RATINGS. Liberal radio personalities just don't generate revenue and listeners like conservative ones do. Not making a judgement but thats the truth. If nobody is listening, a radio station ain't going to carry your show, plain and simple. Profit is more important than having equal opinions. NPR may be the one exception.

BTW, Bush was Governor of the second most populous state in the union for two terms, before that he owned the Texas Rangers and his family is from Texas. So there are going to be connections, I just don't see the point in trying to examine them. All politicians know people, no biggie.

EDITED TO ADD: Stern is considered a "shock jock" so his show has no political leaning, as opposed to Rush, Sean Hannity, etc. He entertains (depending on your definition) as opposed to informing.

Howard Stern---Trash radio/TV.

If the government doesn't regulate some form of decency then there would be NO limitations on what anybody could do whether in public or on TV/radio. Is that the kind of world YOU want to live in ? Not me.

cecilVA, your not suggesting that NPR offers equal opinions, are you? ;)

I agree with you about the liberal voices on talk radio, there is a good reason why Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh have done so well. They only decent liberal that I know of on talk radio is Fox News Live, with Allen Colmes. I don't agree with his views, but he does live up to Fox News' motto, "fair and balanced".

Bottom line, people enjoy listening to good honest debate, not liberal whining.

BTW, DC, this is what I was refering to in my post about the government getting involved in entertainment matters.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,112615,00.html

Why SHOULD lawmakers be hearing testimonies about public entertainment? If Clear Channel owns the show, then they should be the ones handling it, not Capitol Hill.

If they want to make BASIC small limitations as to what can be said on radio, then OK, but they should not be inflicting punishment on Howard Stern, that is CC's job.

In response to Kenny J's post earlier, I don't think that our goverment should be defining marriage, that is not their job. And even though I am against Gay marriage, I still do not believe that it is the federal governments job to tell us what is a marriage, and what is not. I believe that this decision should be left to the people, and the decison should be made by a vote on our ballot this fall.

JMHO..........

IM going to be the lone voice of dissent here. I do not like being told what I can say or listen too by anyone. If people do not like Stern (and I do not) turn the channel. No one is making you listen.

An aftershock of this decision by CC is that 96 Rock here in Atlanta is bleeping most of there songs. What are they bleeping? Well let me tell you. Gun, drugs, abortion, colt .45. Those were bleeped from one freakin song. Ridiculous.

That kind of overreation is sorta expected though Norm. Don't worry, things will return to normal in a few weeks, liberals tend to "forget" things quickly. ;) :D

I Still flipped and caught his *** this morning. His late night show on T.V. O.k. Why? Late at night, and its on cable and can be blocked from children. His radio show on at whatever time in the morning? To me different thing. I neither like nor dislike the guy. He does what he does in my opinion for money. To me that is sad. I don't care to listen to him because I know what I look like nekkid and I don't get off on the caliber (sp) of guests he brings on the show. Nor do I find it interesting. But I am not as influential as a formitable (sp) teen.

I do not like being told what I can say or listen too by anyone. If people do not like Stern (and I do not) turn the channel. No one is making you listen.

Norm,

You and I completely agree on this!!!

ken

Norm!!! Kenny J is coming back from the dark side!!! :D

BTW, Bush was Governor of the second most populous state in the union for two terms, before that he owned the Texas Rangers and his family is from Texas. So there are going to be connections, I just don't see the point in trying to examine them. All politicians know people, no biggie.

Cecil,

Mr. Hick's is the #5 life time financial contributor to Bush elections. So that is significant on some level but apparently NOT to you...


Stern is considered a "shock jock" so his show has no political leaning, as opposed to Rush, Sean Hannity, etc. He entertains (depending on your definition) as opposed to informing.Yes but IF he were to become politically aligned his audience is VAST... Anyway we are getting away from the Big picture which is it is supposed to be the PEOPLE that determine what's appropriate NOT the government!

SMALL government is GOOD government...

ken

PS. It was also Clear Channel that was funding PRO war rallies and not playing Dixie Chicks records during the run up to the war.

Ken

Norm!!! Kenny J is coming back from the dark side!!! NOPE I exist outside of the narrow LABEL you use to try and understand me... ;)

ken

Ahhhh, I see. So in other words, you are very unpredictable, and I will never know which side you truly support? ;)

Nope that was not my implied meaning. I was trying to say that YOUR opinion of me prevents you from seeing me as "I am" since you see me as you THINK I am... We ALL perceive reality THRU our assumptions and you assume much about me which isn't accurate...

ken

Anyone here know what Fascism is and has historically "looked" like on the ground?

It seems that people have no problem with government censorship as long as it's not THEIR rights/opinions that are being censored.

Excerpt from Rush Limbaugh on censorship:

'SMUT ON TV GETS PRAISED. SMUT ON TV WINS EMMYS. ON RADIO, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT STANDARDS,' LIMBAUGH EXPLAINED.

'I'VE NEVER HEARD HOWARD STERN. BUT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN THIS, I GET A LITTLE FRIGHTENED.

'IF WE ARE GOING TO SIT BY AND LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS, IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO 'CENSOR' WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG... WHAT HAPPENS IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF JOHN KERRYS, OR TERRY MCAULIFFES START RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. AND DECIDE CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE LEADING TO VIOLENCE?

'I AM IN THE FREE SPEECH BUSINESS. ITS ONE THING FOR A COMPANY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE PARTY TO IT. ITS ANOTHER THING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO IT.'

I think that is pretty significant that Rush is essentially supporting Howard Stern. Talk about two exact opposites on the entertainment spectrum.

Kenny, okay so he is a big contributor. Most companies contribute to BOTH parties so they can have sway when someone takes office. Its as old as politics itself. Give lots of money to a campaign then try to get the ear of the candidate by using your wallet. Both sides do this, right or wrong. Don't see the point in bringing it up.

And kenny you are right (yep I said that) small government is good government. But lets all remember that the FCC (the gov't) has always had rules regarding what can/can't be aired. Don't think that should be called "censorship", there should be some degree of control on public airwaves. Now when the government starts shutting down radio stations, then there is a problem.

IM going to be the lone voice of dissent here. I do not like being told what I can say or listen too by anyone. If people do not like Stern (and I do not) turn the channel. No one is making you listen.

An aftershock of this decision by CC is that 96 Rock here in Atlanta is bleeping most of there songs. What are they bleeping? Well let me tell you. Gun, drugs, abortion, colt .45. Those were bleeped from one freakin song. Ridiculous.

Slightly off topic but back in about 1966 or 67 or thereabouts there were some songs by an American band based on the Peanuts cartoon strip - Snoopy v The Red Baron - I think one of them was. Anyway as you would know the nickname for Von Richthofen was the Bloody Red Baron. His aircraft was painted scarlet hence the reference to blood red.

So the song carries the line in one of the verses "The bloody red Baron of Germany". Back then here in Australia radio stations were required - note required as in directed - to bleep out "bloody" from the song. For crying out loud! You see in Australia we use "bloody" as an expletive. I might hit my thumb with a hammer and exclaim "bloody hammer!" On the cursing scale here it is not a big one. But back in the 1960s radio stations were directed to beep out "bloody" even though it wasn't even hinting at "bloody" as a curse word. Absolutely stupid, so stupid it makes me cringe with embarrassment even thinking about it. Thankfully now things have changed. But it was a tough fight for those who believed in freedom of expression to get things changed to where they are now.

So what has this to do with the thread? Just this. Don't let your government tell you what to see, say or think. Don't let them choose for you. We had it here for years I never want to see it again.

Dear GMan26,


What do you know about Howard Stern that we
don't know?? :p