Posted on 02/25/2004 11:47:40 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2004--Clear Channel (NYSE:CCU) today announced a strong new "Responsible Broadcasting Initiative" to make sure the material aired by its radio stations conforms to the standards and sensibilities of the local communities they serve.
"Clear Channel is serious about helping address the rising tide of indecency on the airwaves," said Mark Mays, president and COO of Clear Channel Communications. "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 on Clear Channel radio shows."
Mays said the company will institute a zero tolerance policy for indecent content which will include company-wide training and automatic suspensions for anyone that the FCC alleges has violated indecency rules on the air.
"If the FCC accuses us of wrongdoing by issuing a proposed fine, we will take immediate action," Mays said. "We will suspend the DJ in question, and perform a swift investigation. If we or the government ultimately determine the offending broadcast is indecent, the DJ will be terminated without delay," Mays said.
John Hogan, chief executive officer of Clear Channel Radio, added, "If a DJ is found to be in violation of FCC rules, there will be no appeals and no intermediate steps. If they break the law by broadcasting indecent material, they will not work for Clear Channel."
In addition, the company announced that all of its contracts with on-air performers are being modified to ensure that DJs share financial responsibility if they utter indecent material on the air.
"From now on, every contract that Clear Channel enters into with on-air talent will include this provision," said Hogan. "While that won't relieve Clear Channel from our responsibility as a broadcast licensee, we believe it will have a significant deterrent effect on indecent content."
Reiterating its call for a "Decency Task Force," Clear Channel also has volunteered to fully participate with other representatives of the broadcast, cable and satellite industries to develop an industry-wide response to indecency and violence in the media.
"In our view, industry-developed guidelines should be as effective as government-imposed regulations without running afoul of the First Amendment protections that we all respect," said Hogan.
Clear Channel Communications Inc. (NYSE:CCU), 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.
Sure, many of their stations host Rush, or other conservative talk hosts(Hoo-yah Chris Baker!), but IMHO that doesn't excuse the garbage that they mix in.
My favorite show on their local affiliate, WRBA.
I especially like those commercials for "J.D.'s"
Grew up listening to JB+B in Charlotte back when they were on WBCY the first time. John Boy left for awhile, even listened during that short span of the Catfish + Billy show.
Who do you blame for JFKerry's f8ck comments? What regulations were implimented to "improve standards"?
If Kerry had said the same on Stern, what would the consequences have been?
Consequences from the FCC? I doubt any, other than possibly a letter of warning to the syndication, but even that I seriously doubt.
I have no porblem with what Clear Channel is doing - it's a business decision made by the business, it is not the government doing it......although that at least used to be the role of the FCC.
Why is there porn and vulgarity on cable and satellite under the same hammer winning awards?
Cable and satellite are not public airways in the same manner as the broadcast channels and am & fm radio are.
Regulation of the public air waves have long been the purview of the FCC.
I guess some adults have finally woken up and have realized that they've been asleep at the wheel for too long. But now that they are attempting to do their job they are being criticized for it.
Where was the public outcry at J F-ing Kerry's comments? What did the government tell us as to how society was negatively affected or "asleep at the wheel for too long"? If people are off by the diction used on cable, let alone "public", why would they support it? Stop dancing around this crap and tell me who the government is to tell us why we cannot smoke if we so choose. Who makes the decisions/laws?
In addition, Kerry was quoted many times verbally refusing to appologize, "What is the big F8cking deal?"
During a public speech on 2/01 Bustamante said n8gger.
In a FOX interview on 3/01 Byrd used n8gger many times - on the air.
What if Bush had done the same?
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