Stern suspended!

[Ned]

BTW, Rush opened his program today with a strong defense of Stern.

[Shogun Gunner]

I saw that also (regarding the Washington Post registration). At least its free. There are lot of online newspapers that are going to subscription services...bummer, but I guess they have to pay the bills.

The FCC is way out of whack on many of its initiatives. It sounds like to me that political activism is the key. I have no idea who, or what organization I need to turn to, but I am looking for a way to express my political views on free speech. I'm serious.

I have no problem with Stern and other media outlets with cutting edge material. I have two daughters, so I take the responsibility of managing what they watch/listen to. They don't even know who Howard Stern is because it isn't on when they are in the car. Also, parental controls on TIVO and parental involvement -- my wife and I take the responsibility instead of expecting the entire nation to conform to our sensibilities. Apparently Americans are afraid of breasts.

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by Ned
BTW, Rush opened his program today with a strong defense of Stern.

Interesting, considering how Stern has ripped him recently. I guess all broadcasters are feeling the pressure leading to a "circling of the wagons".

[Ned]

He is continuing with his outrage at the FCC power right now.

[Shogun Gunner]

Michael Powell is hurting his future political career IMO.

[Ned]

He believes the FCC does censor content, including political content. He thinks this censorship violates the First Amendment.

[-Jrabbit]

I would agree with that.

Back to the idea of deregulation and how it lemits consumer choices in programming, I found this at Google's cache of www.clearchannelsucks.org

ClearChannelSucks.org is a free speech website dedicated to educating the public about entertainment giant Clear Channel. Clear Channel owns over 1,200 radio stations and 37 television stations, with investments in 240 radio stations globally, and Clear Channel Entertainment (aka SFX, one of their more well-known subsidiaries) owns and operates over 200 venues nationwide. They are in 248 of the top 250 radio markets, controlling 60% of all rock programming. They outright own the tours of musicians like Janet Jackson, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Madonna and N'Sync. They own the network which airs Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, Casey Kasem, and the Fox Sports Radio Network. With 103,000,000 listeners in the U.S. and 1,000,000,000 globally (1/6 of the world population), this powerful company has grown unchecked, using their monopoly to control the entire music industry.

Interestingly, the site is currently down...

[Shogun Gunner]

This consolidation of the radio market leads me to believe that people will abandon the medium and turn to Internet based discussions/broadcasts/etc. especiallly if the latest news continues unabated.

Since the internet marketplace is still largely undeveloped -- and hence largely unregulated -- people will coalesce around new channels for content/discussion.

Those DJs in NYC, Opie and Anthony got fired a year back for violating FCC decency standards and have gone to Satellite radio. A pay for service has different rules similiar to internet.

[Ned]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
I would agree with that.

Back to the idea of deregulation and how it lemits consumer choices in programming, I found this at Google's cache of www.clearchannelsucks.org



Interestingly, the site is currently down...

-jrabbit, how can you be against governmental censorship and at the same time suggest in the very same post that we censor Clearchannel to the likes of people who don't like Clearchannel?

Double-standard?

[Ned]

Originally posted by Shogun Gunner
This consolidation of the radio market leads me to believe that people will abandon the medium and turn to Internet based discussions/broadcasts/etc. especiallly if the latest news continues unabated.

Since the internet marketplace is still largely undeveloped -- and hence largely unregulated -- people will coalesce around new channels for content/discussion.

Those DJs in NYC, Opie and Anthony got fired a year back for violating FCC decency standards and have gone to Satellite radio. A pay for service has different rules similiar to internet.

I agree with this.

However, -jrabbit appears to be arguing for even more government control over radio.

[Shogun Gunner]

I'm not picking that up from what he posted....

Sounds like he's identifying the cozy relationship between gov't and big business through the issue of broadcast licences. He specifically identifies the reduction in choices due to monopoly control of the airwaves.

[Ned]

Shogun, COSY????!!!!!!!

Clearchannel is under assault from all sides to censor what it does.

[Whoha]

So this is a private company, not the government, whats the issue here? Boycott Clear Channel if you feel that much about this issue.

[Q Classic]

i dislike clearchannel. every time i see their ad in ohare near the cta station, i have this sudden urge to deface it.

[Sava]

So this is a private company, not the government, whats the issue here? Boycott Clear Channel if you feel that much about this issue.

the GOVERNMENT is intimidating Clear Channel with threats of massive fines...

I love all these hypocritical conservative morons. The Passion of The Christ is graphically violent, yet it's a work of art, moving, a must see... but yet, Janet's boob shown for like half a second is a travesty, an outrage, moral decay...

How come all these moron conservatives want the "market" to handle our health care, education, etc... but yet, the "market" can't regulate what is shown on TV or heard on radio. If people find Stern offensive and obscene... THEY HAVE A ****ING CHOICE.... THEY CAN TURN OFF THEIR ****IGN RADIO...

stupid ****ing conservative fascist ****s