Stern Affiliates Getting Cold Feet?

Newsmax ^ | 4-11-04 | Carl Limbacher

[truthandlife]

Only a quarter of the radio stations contacted by the New York Post say they're willing to go to the mat to continue broadcasting Howard Stern's radio show.

Seventeen stations, representing just under half of Stern's 35 national affiliates, were surveyed by the Post's John Mainelli late last week, after steep FCC fines prompted Stern's syndicator, Clear Channel, to drop him from the roster of six of their outlets.

"Only four station managers expressed unabashed support [for Stern]," reports Mainelli. "Another is on the fence, and 12 more avoided all comment."

He calls the result of his thumbnail survey a "bad omen, considering that big fines" may be levied against the stations that still carry Stern.

Still, that prospect didn't seem to dampen the support of Al Parinello, who owns Stern affiliate WJSE in Atlanta City.

"He has the highest-rated program on any station at any time in Atlanta City," said Parinello. When asked if he'll renew Stern when their five-year contract expires later this year, he told the Post, "Absolutely."

But others contacted by Mainelli sounded less sure.

"We're just evaluating everything right now – we're looking at what all our options are," said Charles Cohn from WLXO in Lexington, Ky. "The government is not fooling around and its power is bone-crunching," said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers Magazine. He predicted "dire consequences, at least in the short term" for the stations that stand by Stern.

He adds, however, "If you want to do the right thing, be defiant."

[GreatOne]

Stern should have been run off the air years ago. His show is nothing more than pornography, and, contrary to common opinion, is not covered by the 1st Amendment. If his audio filth can be on the air, then why can't we have visual porn on network t.v.? After all, porn is a billion dollar industry, so a lot of money will be made, just like Stern's show.

[Prince Charles]

Where will the mouth-breathing morons go for entertainment once Stern is flushed down the drain?

[Guillermo]

They will remain in the sewer, where some other trash peddler will feed their lusts.

[geedee]

Where will the mouth-breathing morons go for entertainment once Stern is flushed down the drain?

They'll become Democratic Congress-critters.

[Captiva]

Jennings: We have on the phone with us as well Robert Higgins, who lives in the neighborhood and is on the ground and can see inside the van. Mr. Higgins.

Caller: Ah, yeass, ah, how are you?

Jennings: Ah, just about as tense as you are, sir.

Caller: Oh, my Lord, this is quite tenses.

Jennings: What can you see?

Caller: Ah, what I'm lookin' at ri' now is I'm lookin' at the van, and I see OJ kinna' slouchin' down lookin' very very upset. Now lookee here, he look very upset. I don' know what gon' be doin'.

Jennings: Can you... can you... can you see him doing anything specific? Is he merely sitting there?

Caller: He is just a-sittin' 'round, you know, just a-lookin' like he be very nervous

Jennings: Can you hear anything, Mr. Higgins?

Caller: It's just too much commotion, I here in the back of a news van, so I can' really hear that goo' but I can see it all. An' I see OJ. I see OJ, man, and he looks scared. An' I would be scared 'cause there's cops all deep in this.

Jennings: Thank you, Mr. Higgins.

Caller: An' Babba Booey to y'all!

[justanotherday]

The height of ABC reporting. 'nuff said.

[upchuck]

after steep FCC fines prompted Stern's syndicator, Clear Channel, to drop him from the roster of six of their outlets.

I don't believe Clear Channel is Stern's syndicator. A quick search turned up this:

Last month, the FCC proposed fining Stern's employer, Infinity Broadcasting, $27,500 for a Stern show broadcast July 26, 2001, on WKRK-FM in Detroit. It featured discussions about sexual practices and techniques.

from the Miami Herald (link^).

At any rate, Stern is an obscene jackass that deserves a pulled plug.

[College Repub]

The stuff they are fining CC over was also discussed in just as graphic detail by Oprah Winfrey on the public airwaves. Should she be thrown off the air as well?

[entheos]

The stuff they are fining CC over was also discussed in just as graphic detail by Oprah Winfrey on the public airwaves. Should she be thrown off the air as well?

The FCC has a response to Infinity's objection of their ruling in regards to Stern's broadcast. Read points 10, 11, 12, and 13 at the following web site:

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2004/FCC-04-49A1.html

I think the FCC could rule that the descriptions aired on Oprah Winfrey's show were clinical in that a psychiatrist was explaining the activities involved, and it was in a context of a program that addressed the troubles with teen sexuality. Stern obviously didn't have the activities described in such a context, and therefore, the FCC ruled against the broadcast.

God forbid that I'm an Oprah defender, but the Oprah comparison fails in the definition of indecency that the FCC uses to fine a station broadcasting indecent material in the hours of 6am to 10pm. In fact, Sten must be extremely jealous of Oprah's ability to be so much more successful than Stern.

I'm personally fed up with Stern in that he has turned this whole FCC campaign against public indecency as a personal campaign to go against the entire George W. Bush administration. He's just trying to rile his listeners to support a political agenda I never supported, and his show has become nothing more than a program more appropriately suited for the George Soros radio network.

Stern has already made millions being as filthy as he could be, and he'll continue to make millions in other venues even if his radio program ends. In fact, he probably would welcome an end to his radio career so that he can focus more on his production company.

For now, tune out Stern and the entire George Soros network!

[KingNo155]

bump ! Stern lost me right before his movie came out ... I gave him another chance.. saw the movie, I did like it!... but now I can't support him he crossed the line! btw I heard his first broadcast from NYC in the 80's and loved his show thru the years...but now its just a boring rant!

[Smartass]

Howeird ... The Grim Reaper cometh.

[AD from SpringBay]

Hey Stern - it's about the money. And now you're not making it so you'll be dropped. Haw haw haw. Go join Rosie O' on the filthy mouthed comedy tour and travelling lesbian show.

[elmer fudd]

I listened to Stern's show a couple of times, but it seemed that the dialog was nearly always about the same.

"Are you shaved?" Heh, heh, heh!!!"
"Do you do anal?" Heh, heh, heh!!!"

It's like the Beavis and Butthead school of broadcasting and it's amazing to me that anyone would find it tittilating since it's a just a radio program. I get as turned on as the next guy when I see a pretty girl talking about sex, but just listening to a bunch of morons interviewing a slut gets old after about 5 minutes.

Honestly, I can't stand any of the morning radio shows. When I tune to FM radio it's because I want to hear MUSIC. It seems that anytime before 11 a.m. all I hear are a couple of idiots repeating the same sexual inuendo and chuckling about it.