Howard Stern/Clear Channel Watch

[joesbucks]

I would like to start a watch of the markets that Clear Channel took the Howard Stern Show off the air.

[joesbucks]

Radio station giant Clear Channel Communications Inc. said on Wednesday it was dumping nationally syndicated shock jock Howard Stern from its stations under a new "zero tolerance" policy toward indecency. The Stern show was carried by Clear Channel stations in six markets -- Fort Lauderdale, Rochester, Orlando, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Louisville.

I would like to start a Freeper Watch of those markets to see if Clear Channel stands by it's new found principals or if they relent and return Howard to the air after the furor dies down. Please watch for him to return to the market on other stations as CC is sometimes famous for shuffling formats on stations owned in their clusters to create market chatter.

[prisoner6]

Persoanlly I think the shole thing stinks of PR. Or maybe there's some legal problem CC is knotted up about, so they're having him cool it for a couple of days.

AFAIK he's off the air this morning in Pittsburgh. I listened in and didn't hear him. Then again I never listen to him...not even sure I tuned the correct station.

prisoner6

[FierceDraka]

Stern's show sucks.

There. I said it.

When I was living in Florida, I'd listen to him on my way to work. Well, the ten minutes of show that they'd have in between 20 minute commercial breaks, anyway.

Then one day, during one of the above-mentioned 20 minute commercial breaks, I started flipping through the dial, and I heard the distinctive laughs of Bob Kevoian, Tom Griswald, and Chick McGee! The Bob and Tom Show had just been picked up in Ft Myers, and (with me being an Indianapolis native) I never bothered with Stern again.

[FierceDraka]

"I am not a number, I am a free man!"

Best. Line. Ever. From one of the best shows ever, "The Prisoner".

[Dane]

Actually Stern's program is syndicated by Clear Channel's main competitior, Viacom.

This may be the excuse they were looking for to get out of those contracts for those CC stations, since I think the majority of those 6 stations were carrying Stern before CC bought them up in the late 90's.

Anyway I never liked Stern and listened to his radio show for a couple of minutes and caught a couple of snippets from hsi cable show. JMO, but I think his picture should be the definition of the term arrested development.

[tm22721]

XM is becoming the venue of choice anyway.

The same thing happened to broadcast TV when cable and satellite came online (viewership dropped to 15%).

Too many FM stations, too many commericals, too much pandering to the lowest common denominator. And now too much censorship.

BUMP

[Huck]

Radio that you pay for...who woulda thunk it? I tell you what...I have considered it. But mostly I listen to cds. What I would like is wireless access to my own database of music. Unless there is an xm station playing non stop dead shows, I need another option.

[keysguy]

To all,
Radio is as tough as it gets. To be successful you have to endure defeat forever. I hate sterns show, it's sleeze and way too many spots all in a row. But I also don't like big brother telling people to get off the air just cfhange the channel. Let the people make that choice. I hosted a three hour morning drive show for almost two years after being on the air for over 20 years. I was successful but had to quit cause of bad station management. It can be done.But we don't want big brother controlling the air waves any more than they already do.

[Extremist]

I listened to part of Tuesday's Stern show but bailed when he went on yet another tirade about the FCC and Bush, saying he'd do anything in his power to get Bush out of office. It is said that other comments he made on that same day's show caused CC to yank him. Sometimes irony can be fun.

[dave981]

I especially enjoy the reactions from some of his supporters that are contending this is a "violation of Sterns Freedom of speech". Over at Fox News they have this article citing Chaunce Hayden a "a celebrity journalist and past guest of the radio program".

He said Clear Channel's actions against Stern are "quite frightening." "It is 100 percent a freedom of speech issue," he told Fox News on Thursday, acknowledging that the show sometimes does "go too far."

I love how the "Freedom of Speech" is supposed to trump everything. How about Freedom of assembly/association? Freedom of commerce? The freedom to enter into contracts, and to break contracts when rules are violated?

Then he goes on: But he said, "that's what the show is. You don't have to watch the show. You can turn the dial...You have a choice...How can government take choice away from us?"

If you wanted choice, get XM - Stern is on the PUBLIC airwaves, hence there are rules surrounding what is allowed to be said.

[Poodlebrain]

I think you are correct. It will be interesting to see what programming Clear Channel replaces Stern with in those markets, and how their ratings will be impacted. Buying a syndicated show from your principal rival must have been embarrassing to Clear Channel, and this gives them a plausible out claiming the moral high ground.

Clear Channel better have some solid programming to replace Stern, or they will certainly take a substantial financial blow from this decision.

[prisoner6]

Would you believe that show put me on the conservative path?! I was in my early to mid teens when it aired in the US in the summer of ...ummmm....65 - 66 I think. I have the first and last episodes on tape along with a couple of others. I'll probably spring for the DVD set eventually.

It was a "must see" for my Kidz as they grew up. My original tag line was..."I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered! My life is my own. I am not a number, I am a Free Man!"

Although a bit dated, it's still great to go back and watch the show. There have been rumors of a remake (with Mell Gibson) but that appears to be on the back burner for now.

Interestingly enough have you ever noticed that while the show is about one's independence and individuality, fans of the show - (much as Trekkies later!) - gather yearly in The Village at Port Merion, dress as the characters and re-enact the episodes. By doing so they "conform", lose their identity, become just another face in a homogenous crowd of people dressed and speaking alike.

Apparently we are all prisoners and there really IS NO ESCAPE from The Village.

IT's all very nice really, once you get used to it.

BCNU

prisoner6