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.…
Article comments
26 - Mike
The suspending of Howard Stern is ridiculous. Shouldn't the FCC have given them a list of what is acceptable and what isn't before this knee jerk reaction? And whatever happend to turning the channel if you don't like what's on? If you don't want your kids listening Stern then pay attention to what your damn kids are doing. If people don't want to be involved with their kids and pay attention to what they are listening to, don't punish the rest of us!
27 - Eric Olsen
This action wasn't by the FCC, it was Clear Channel, and they only carried the show on six stations. I agree entirely that with the delay there was no excuse to run the n-word. When would that have ever been a-okay?
28 - Pete
So wait, they are canning Stern for what a caller said? Thats rediculous. Someone else drops the N-bomb and he takes the heat? Even on a 90 second delay they couldn't haveedited that? I dunno, something smells of setup.
29 - Natalie Davis
BFD. ClearChannel blows anyway. Stern's show ran on six CC stations; the other 74 stations are still on board. Personally, I think Stern is better off without those CC jerks, who have only added to the ruination of US radio.
DOWN WITH CLEARCHANNEL!
30 - Joe
Stern said " F*$& all you FCC faggots your probably a bunch of uneducated n------ who because of your Daddy think you are above the law. I dare you to ban me, its happened before and I am still here your all so affraid of me you have to resort to these n*%&$% like tactics"
31 - Craig Lyndall
I never heard him say that.
32 - Rosario Farruggio
This is definitely a step backwards.
Censorship of this type of material should not be allowed. One of the things that makes our country great is freedom of speech. We have gone to war for less.
People, spend your time with real issues instead of censoring Stern, who makes a lot of people happy and a very few unhappy. But like they say, the sweaky wheel gets the oil.
33 - TDavid
I've heard the 'N' word several times on the radio in mostly historical and literary context -- like when they were talking about Huck Finn and the use of the word, so the presense of the 'N' word by itself isn't necessary bleepable.
I'm surprised Natalie chimes in with the Big Fucking Deal (ok "BFD" to be precise) comment. Natalie, are you saying this comment wasn't offensive to you or that it's not a big deal about Clear Channel's action against Stern? If it's the former than that would surprise me.
In the context presented above, of course it should have been bleeped. The engineer on the dump switch should be reprimanded more harshly because that is his job to filter the garbage.
The "just change your dial thing" (#26), Mike, is a totally bogus argument and I do have to wonder if you are a parent? If so, then how old are your kids?
Parents cannot realistically police their children 24/7 365, though in our family we surely do try our best to give proper guidance and controls, and since we are talking about public airwaves, then there should be some way to filter this out for parents who do not want their children to be able to receive this type content.
This is one of the reasons to begin with that there are community decency standards. Reasons why porn rags need to have black plastic cover in viewable areas, movies need to be behind counters or in special adult areas, etc.
We have internet filtering and computer regulation software. There is channel controls on the cable TV. There needs to be something for radio also if these shock jocks are continued to be allowed to go out over the public airwaves in day time hours with some of this garbage.
Stern obviously feels like you, Mike. If you don't like it, then change the dial, blah blah blah. Fine then just give parents a way to block that from travelling over public airwaves. That's a fair tradeoff for both parties, don't you think?
(now some cute wizard will come along and say the solution is called the "off switch")
34 - TDavid
Rosario - I respectfully disagree that this particular example is censorship.
The FCC has a list of rules for broadcasters. Very specific things that get right down to what can and can't be said (there's a list of 7 words that can never be said: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, mother-fucker, and tits [some history here])
They even have specific time limits of how long (in minutes) commercials can be for children's programs!
So it really comes down to a matter of playing by the rules, not censorship here, and Stern has pushed the envelope for too long, IMO.
Personally, I happen to find some of what he does funny (I enjoyed the movie Private Parts though from what I've heard it's more fiction than non-fiction), but I absolutely, positively do not think his radio show is appropriate for children. At least the few times that I've heard it anyway.
Maybe he's cleaned it up since I last heard it and my opinion is certainly flexible.
35 - Brent
If you ask me, I honestly don't find any of it offensive. The problems isn't with Howard. The problem is this whole "Politically Correct" age we live. Everyone is so concerned about "protecting" our children, not offending anyone, etc. I listen to Howard every morning. He's pioneered a new age in radio. The problem isn't Howard, no. The problem is uptight people like I'm reading here.
36 - TDavid
Brent - you "honestly" don't have a problem with your children hearing stuff like what's outlined above, really?
I suppose one argument is that they probably hear worse at the schoolyard every day. But two wrongs don't make a right.
37 - Mike
Stern just pulled from Pittsburgh today... Anyone know where to get an internet feed or daily mp3's of the entire show?
Thanks,
Mike
38 - scripteaze
************ OFF TOPIC ************************
You know, who really gives a rats ass?,
Balck ppl get miss black america, but if we were to have a miss white america, we would be rasist, balck ppl get the nego college fund, but we cant have a white college fund, they get a black ebony magazine, but yet we cant have an ivory one..lol, black people are funny, they yell rasisim all day, but they really need to look in the mirror..Also, Every damn time i turn on a black comic, i hear them talking about balck people all the time, but if we do it, and yes we do, they yell rasist..give me a fuckin break. Also, i did not buy or sell or trade black people, white people 100 years ago did, so stop your fuckin crying
39 - mike
RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
40 - Natalie Davis
TDavid, I hate the comment to be sure, but that doesn't mean someone doesn't have the right to say it. I side with the guy who says "change the channel"; that's why the channel changer exists. And yes, a parent's job is hard, but it is not society's job to protect my kids -- it is MY job. If I don't wnat my kids listening to Stern -- and I don't -- it's up to me to make sure that they don't.
So yeah, the BFD is about the odious ClearChannel's action. Howard will be fine; he is in good company with the Dixie Chicks.
41 - TDavid
I didn't say that the guy couldn't say what he said, I just have a problem with when and where he chose to say it. I do agree with you about parental responsibility for children and not society, however, this issue for me is really more about the FCC rules and my personal feelings aside (which I think I've sad ad nauseum above) I see FCC violations.
Changing the channel doesn't really fly with the current FCC regs. If enough people feel that the FCC rules as written are problematic then the focus should shift to lobby for change with the FCC.
Thanks for the candor, Natalie.
42 - Natalie Davis
Well, I am not a fan of the FCC. I would lobby for nuking (figuratively, natch) the whole agency.
By the way, everyone -- if you use the word "fucking" as an adjective (i.e. the fucking government, the fucking Demublicans), chances are the FCC won't blink the proverbial eye, at least so long as no one complains about it.
43 - オンラインカジノ
congrats mate! Fine job and fine site!
オンラインカジノ
44 - jack e. jett
my tv show was taken off the air in austin and san antonio texas as well as a college station in philly because i use the word fuck and showed a scene from a lloyd kaufman film that had a brief shot a breast.
i say...fuck em...fuck em all.
jack e. jett
45 - Eric Olsen
oooh
46 - Josh
Um, I'm not quite sure what constitutes 'clear channel stations'. I live in Ohio where The Howard Stern show is on the 'E!' channel. Is that a clear channel station?
Anyway, I find it hard to believe that Stern used the word 'nigger' on his show, especially since Robin Quivers is always there with him.
47 - Bob A. Booey
Clear Channel is one of the two radio industry giants that own most of the stations in America. Infinity, which employs Stern, is the other. Howard remains on dozens of Infinity stations, but he was taken off the air on the 6 Clear Channel stations that carried him (Louisville, Miami, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and a couple of other places I don't remember).
The incident he got pulled off for was one of his dumb callers using the N-word when they called in. Howard rarely utters the word himself, and when he does, it's never in a negative way. It's usually to point out when someone else is being racist and has used the term (like Don Imus).
That is all.
48 - ally
Senor Stern:
I would like to advise you to red Jean Pauley's book "Out of the Blue"
love,
AllY
49 - gerold
howord is a pervert sick basterd