| NoOneButYou1975 26.02.2004 07:25 |
04:34 AM CST on Thursday, February 26, 2004 Associated Press WASHINGTON – The nation's largest radio station chain announced Wednesday it was suspending shock jock Howard Stern's radio show after issuing new rules to limit indecency and address criticism of what airs on TV and radio. Clear Channel Radio said it suspended broadcast of Stern's show after assessing the content of his show Tuesday. "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." Hogan said the show would not air on Clear Channel stations until officials are assured it will conform to acceptable broadcasting standards. Attempts to reach Stern's spokesman for comment late Wednesday were unsuccessful. Under pressure from regulators and lawmakers, some TV networks are delaying live broadcasts to delete offensive material and doing more to let parents know how they can block specific programs. The National Association of Broadcasters says it will hold a conference on indecency next month. The rules issued by San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications came on the eve of the second congressional hearing this month on broadcast indecency. Hogan is scheduled to testify along with top officials from TV networks. Congress is considering increasing the maximum fine for indecency from $27,500 to $275,000, a move that the Federal Communications Commission endorsed even before the tumult over singer Janet Jackson's exposed breast during the nationally televised Super Bowl halftime show. "In the history of broadcast indecency, there have been these moments where it makes headlines," said Jeremy Lipschultz, a professor of communication at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "In the short term, broadcasters become much more careful. You're going to see people playing it safe. The long-term problem is the same one we've had, which is it's very difficult in the end to precisely define what is indecent or not. " |
| NoOneButYou1975 26.02.2004 07:26 |
Under FCC rules and federal law, radio stations and over-the-air television channels cannot air material containing references 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. Responding to an FCC query, CBS, NBC and Fox said they would run advertisements promoting the V-chip – technology built into a TV set to prevent children from watching certain shows – air live programs on time delays and remind affiliate stations that they can reject network programs unsuitable for their communities. ABC had yet to respond. Clear Channel's new policy includes companywide training about indecency, possible fines against DJs, and automatic suspensions for anyone accused by the FCC of violating indecency rules on the air, company officials said. The initiative came one day after the company fired the DJ known as "Bubba the Love Sponge," whose show drew an FCC-record fine of $755,000. 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 is serious about helping address the rising tide of indecency on the airwaves," said Mark Mays, president and chief operating officer. "As broadcast licensees, we are fully responsible for what our stations air, and we intend to make sure all our DJs and programmers understand what is and what is not appropriate." Mel Karmazin, president of Viacom Inc., discussed indecency issues during a conference call last week with officials and station managers of the company's Infinity Broadcasting radio subsidiary. Infinity, which owns 120 stations, asked them to increase efforts to avoid indecent programming, such as using a seven-second delay on shows with live talk, spokesman Dana McClintock said. Infinity, owned by Viacom, in 1995 paid the largest cumulative fine to date, $1.7 million, for various violations by Stern. |
| deleted user 26.02.2004 08:43 |
It's about time. |
| deleted user 26.02.2004 09:18 |
That should have been done a very long time ago. |
| MexQueenFM 26.02.2004 12:41 |
good, a little late, but good |
| Mr.Jingles 26.02.2004 13:40 |
Howard Stern was really funny at times, though there were times when he crossed the line. Anyways, lately it's been getting boring because almost all guests are porn stars or strippers. And what can we say about the same perverted questions... - Do you shave? - Do you like anal? - Have you ever done it with a chick? - How old were you lost your virginity? - Have you ever banged a black dude? |
| Daburcor? 26.02.2004 14:09 |
I don't like him. Hopefully this sticks. |
| Penis - Vagina 26.02.2004 14:22 |
Like I said in the Stuttering John thread, Stern was fun for awhile, but he just does the same stuff over and over. I think he could be really good at celebrity interviews, joking and asking things that other hosts wouldn't dare.. but without being quite as vulgar. |
| NoOneButYou1975 28.02.2004 18:36 |
you know what gets me is that the Chairman of Clear Channel Radio, Mr. Hogan sitting there in front of a House Commerce subcommittee and act like this is the first time he’s heard vulgarity on the air, makes me wonder if A. He has ever listened to any of the radio stations his company owns. B. Or he is a complete idiot. This is the biggest load of horse manure since Mr. Ed was on TV. These radio executives will play along until the public furor dies down. (Or this year’s election is over with, whatever comes first) and then you will see the return of the same type of programming as before. It may not be Bubba the Love Sponge, or Opie and Anthony doing these routines. But others are waiting in the wings to take their place. The Genie is already out of the bottle. If you really want to see an end to vulgarity on the airwaves, the first thing that must be done is to remove Michael Powell as Chairman of the FCC and replace him with one of the two members who for years have called for the end of companies like Clear Channel having the ability to buy up every broadcasting property it can get its hands on. |
| D.Blythe 29.02.2004 01:11 |
No obscene material after 6 a.m.? That is Howard Stern's whole schtick is it not? Bodily functions, sex, what else? |
| deleted user 29.02.2004 01:35 |
i actually kinda like howard stern... dunno why really... run away! run away! *dodges the cows, chickens, goats, and other farm animals being catipulted* (Monty Python & the Holy Grail) |
| NoOneButYou1975 29.02.2004 18:28 |
There are tons of worse violations of indecency than Sterns show. The government is the biggest hypocrite when it comes to family values. They can't seem to keep their pants on other than their wives. They are bought by special interest groups, so why take them seriously. They haven't working for the people for some time now. Why let them supress the First Amendment? |
| Michael Allred 03.03.2004 22:19 |
Ah, censorship...America truly is the land of the free. If you don't like Stern, turn the dial. What's "offensive" to you or if it's something you don't like really has no place in the discussion because for every person who hates Stern, there's a devoted fan. Preferences should not be placed above free speech. and the FCC? One of the most corrupt government agencies around. Members of the FCC have accepted 2500 trips to places such as Las Vegas from *the very people they are supposed to be keeping an eye on* I for one do not like the fact that MY own choices, as a mature adult, are being taken away from me simply because some grandmothers and right-wing republicans are turned off by it. but if we're going down this route, I say ban Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson from the air. They are far worse because they preach hate and incite violence. |
| deleted user 04.03.2004 13:33 |
'but if we're going down this route, I say ban Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson from the air. They are far worse because they preach hate and incite violence. ' What? Hate and violence? Agreed they are a couple of twinkies, fanatics if you will, but I never heard them speak violently or inciting riots. But as you say Michael, turn the dial. Like I do when I see the pompus ones. I don't like either of them. They way they come across does not show love (Christs love) but arrogance and condisention. Oh well. They have thier fan base. I'm glad it's not me. A person I would like to see off the air is our dear friend Rush Limburger. |
| Penis - Vagina 04.03.2004 15:27 |
Unfortunately I think it's more the peoples' fault than the government. All these idiots who start writing and complaining whenever something supposedly offends them. Then it's local stations putting pressure on networks, and advertisers threatening to pull out. The government cares deeply about us. They don't want our economy ruined by big networks losing advertising dollars, so they bow to pressure and threaten the supposed offenders like this. They also care about the economy so much that they allow companies to continue selling unsafe products, such as Teflon, because there's no way an entire industry will be ruined by a little thing like the health of Americans. In fact they need to get sick in order to continue the healthcare system making money the way it does. Translation: Our government likes big business, oil, wants nothing more than to see people paying and paying and getting sicker and sicker. They want our money and they want us dead. That's why I support GIG, the global internet government. link ah yeah |
| NoOneButYou1975 04.03.2004 15:30 |
lol deacon |
| inu-liger 04.03.2004 15:33 |
PLEASE tell me you're not thinking of supporting Charles' crap GIG project?! He's worse than Bush Jr.! |
| Penis - Vagina 04.03.2004 15:57 |
penis People-Environment-Nature-Illiteracy-Strategy, or penis for short, is the initiative that drew me to it. |
| NoOneButYou1975 04.03.2004 19:36 |
ah yeah |
| NoOneButYou1975 04.03.2004 19:36 |
PLEASE tell me you're not thinking of supporting Charles' crap GIG project?! He's worse than Bush Jr.! Bush Jr is worse than his own shadow puppet :P |