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Clear Channel Yanks Howard Stern
Aired February 26, 2004 - 15:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The nation's largest radio chain indefinitely yanks Howard Stern's show off its stations. Clear Channel says Stern's show on Tuesday violated its zero-tolerance policy for indecent content.
Let's go to CNNfn's Greg Clarkin in New York for more on this -- hi, Greg.
GREG CLARKIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.
You know, it was late yesterday that Clear Channel Communications suspended the "Howard Stern Radio Show" from six of its 1,200 stations, the six that carry his show. Now Clear Channel says Stern violated the company's new set of decency standards. Those were standards Clear Channel adopted just days ago.
Today, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan showed up on Capitol Hill to a House subcommittee. He testified there that the company is cleaning up its airwaves. But before Hogan did that, he apologized.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HOGAN, CEO, CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS: So let me start my testimony today with an apology to our listeners, to the public in general, and to you in this room. We were wrong to air that material and I accept full responsibility for our mistake. And while we cannot take back those words that were aired on our radio stations, we are taking steps to ensure that it will not happen again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLARKIN: Now, Hogan has been busy this week suspending Stern and issuing new decency guidelines and firing another radio personality, one that goes by the name Bubba the Love Sponge.
Now, why the newfound fervor to clean up the airwaves? Well, Congress and regulators have been outraged since Janet Jackson's wardrobe mysteriously malfunctioned during the Super Bowl halftime show. As for Stern, he has been suspended from the six stations, but he still airs on stations across the U.S. thanks to a lucrative syndication deal.
And here's a bit of what he had to say when he took to the airwaves this morning.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) HOWARD STERN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I got a call from my agent saying you're suspended in six markets. Actually, he told me I was just suspended in San Diego. I didn't know I was suspended in every market.
ROBIN QUIVERS, CO-HOST: That Clear Channel has.
STERN: I go, what did I do wrong? He goes, no one really knows and they don't either. They've got to come up with something.
QUIVERS: They've got to find something.
STERN: Because the guy had to go testify in front of Congress, the head of Clear Channel. And I feel bad for him. I can't imagine the pressure they're putting on this guy, and I feel bad for Mel and everyone.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
CLARKIN: Now the Mel mentioned there would be Mel Karmazin. He's president of Viacom, whose radio unit Infinity carries Stern's show on more than 40 stations.
Now, the crackdown on Stern caught the attention of Rush Limbaugh this afternoon. And here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Smut on TV gets praised to the hilt. Smut on TV wins Emmys. Smut on TV gets critical acclaim, the smuttier the better. And then, on radio, there seems to be a little bit of a different standard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLARKIN: Now, speaking with broadcast executives, this morning, they say Clear Channel's moves this week were done with an eye of image building. And they caution to keep in mind it's a politically charged year, it is an election year, and they question just how long this emphasis on cleaning up the airwaves will last -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, you can bet we'll continue to follow the fallout.
Greg Clarkin, thanks.
CLARKIN: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 26, 2004 - 15:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The nation's largest radio chain indefinitely yanks Howard Stern's show off its stations. Clear Channel says Stern's show on Tuesday violated its zero-tolerance policy for indecent content.
Let's go to CNNfn's Greg Clarkin in New York for more on this -- hi, Greg.
GREG CLARKIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra.
You know, it was late yesterday that Clear Channel Communications suspended the "Howard Stern Radio Show" from six of its 1,200 stations, the six that carry his show. Now Clear Channel says Stern violated the company's new set of decency standards. Those were standards Clear Channel adopted just days ago.
Today, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan showed up on Capitol Hill to a House subcommittee. He testified there that the company is cleaning up its airwaves. But before Hogan did that, he apologized.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HOGAN, CEO, CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS: So let me start my testimony today with an apology to our listeners, to the public in general, and to you in this room. We were wrong to air that material and I accept full responsibility for our mistake. And while we cannot take back those words that were aired on our radio stations, we are taking steps to ensure that it will not happen again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLARKIN: Now, Hogan has been busy this week suspending Stern and issuing new decency guidelines and firing another radio personality, one that goes by the name Bubba the Love Sponge.
Now, why the newfound fervor to clean up the airwaves? Well, Congress and regulators have been outraged since Janet Jackson's wardrobe mysteriously malfunctioned during the Super Bowl halftime show. As for Stern, he has been suspended from the six stations, but he still airs on stations across the U.S. thanks to a lucrative syndication deal.
And here's a bit of what he had to say when he took to the airwaves this morning.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) HOWARD STERN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I got a call from my agent saying you're suspended in six markets. Actually, he told me I was just suspended in San Diego. I didn't know I was suspended in every market.
ROBIN QUIVERS, CO-HOST: That Clear Channel has.
STERN: I go, what did I do wrong? He goes, no one really knows and they don't either. They've got to come up with something.
QUIVERS: They've got to find something.
STERN: Because the guy had to go testify in front of Congress, the head of Clear Channel. And I feel bad for him. I can't imagine the pressure they're putting on this guy, and I feel bad for Mel and everyone.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
CLARKIN: Now the Mel mentioned there would be Mel Karmazin. He's president of Viacom, whose radio unit Infinity carries Stern's show on more than 40 stations.
Now, the crackdown on Stern caught the attention of Rush Limbaugh this afternoon. And here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Smut on TV gets praised to the hilt. Smut on TV wins Emmys. Smut on TV gets critical acclaim, the smuttier the better. And then, on radio, there seems to be a little bit of a different standard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLARKIN: Now, speaking with broadcast executives, this morning, they say Clear Channel's moves this week were done with an eye of image building. And they caution to keep in mind it's a politically charged year, it is an election year, and they question just how long this emphasis on cleaning up the airwaves will last -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, you can bet we'll continue to follow the fallout.
Greg Clarkin, thanks.
CLARKIN: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
