Shock jock Stern axed after fine
Howard Stern said the fine was part of a "McCarthy-type witch hunt"
Radio DJ Howard Stern has been dropped by US media giant Clear Channel after regulators fined it $495,000 (£270,000) for indecency in his show.
The "shock jock" had been suspended from Clear Channel's six stations in February after the company said one broadcast was "vulgar and insulting".
But he has now been permanently dropped by the company as a result of the fine.
Stern, who will continue on other stations, hit out at the crackdown on offensive broadcasts as a "witch hunt".
Clear Channel said it was not willing to shoulder the "great liability" of broadcasting the popular and outspoken presenter.
Today's decision is a step forward towards imposing meaningful fines
Michael Copps
Federal Communications Commission
"The Congress and [regulators] are even beginning to look at revoking station licenses," Clear Channel Radio president John Hogan said. "That's a risk we're just not willing to take."
The Texas-based company is the largest US radio station operator with more than 1,200 outlets.
The fine marks the first time US media regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has counted each offensive comment within a single show as a separate violation of its rules.
It recommended the maximum $27,500 (£15,000) penalty for 18 violations on Stern's show, in which he interviewed Rick Salomon, who was filmed having sex with hotel heiress Paris Hilton.
It is pretty shocking that governmental interference into our rights and free speech takes place in the US
Howard Stern
FCC commissioner Michael Copps said: "Today's decision is a step forward towards imposing meaningful fines."
Clear Channel can now either pay the fine or appeal within 30 days, an FCC spokeswoman told BBC News Online.
Stern responded: "It is pretty shocking that governmental interference into our rights and free speech takes place in the US."
The Clear Channel stations affected are in Cocoa Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Honeoye Falls, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and San Diego, California.
The Stern show will still be carried on 35 stations owned by Infinity, including outlets in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
But the FCC is also planning to investigate Infinity's broadcast of the same Stern show.
Story Here
― Stern Howard, Friday, 9 April 2004 14:40 (twenty-one years ago)