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The Daily Stern

12 comments on The Daily Stern

The Daily Stern

: TAKE THAT, CLEAR CHANNEL: Stern is holding a press conference now to announce that he’s adding nine markets, going back on in many of the markets where Clear Channel pulled him — including swing-state Florida — and adding new markets. He’s still talking about going to satellite when his contract is up in 18 months and he’s still saying that if large personal fines are signed into law by Bush, he will just play music and shut up. But in the meantime, Viacom has shown its support — and balls — adding stations for Stern.

12 responses to “The Daily Stern”

  1. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Viacom has shown its support — and balls — adding stations for Stern.
    This is a business decision, why does this show balls? You make Stern out to be this great crusader, some little guy standing up to the government. When this is and has always been about how much money Stern and Viacom can make. It has always been about money, you have to give him credit there, he knows how to make a lot of it. And I’m sure he will somehow characterize this as some battle he won against the Bush administration, too.

  2. jason Avatar
    jason

    there’s an open bold tag after the “take that clear channel” text.

  3. James Stephenson Avatar
    James Stephenson

    Capitalism works. If someone is willing to take the fines and still make money they will.
    But according to Jeff he was going to be taken off the air. Guess not and I think I even predicted that if he was popular in those regions someone would pick him up, well lo and behold. I was right.
    Michael Cox is the man we need to get out of the FCC by the way.

  4. shark Avatar
    shark

    WAY TO GO VIACOM! WAY TO BOLDLY MAKE A PROFIT OFF THE SYNDICATION FEES!!!!! THAT IS THE BOLDEST AND BALLSIST PROFIT TAKING EVER!!!!!
    Puhleeze.
    CC made a business decision. Viacom made a business decision.
    We’ll see which turns out to be the better one. (I’m guessing Viacom at this point)

  5. pianoman Avatar
    pianoman

    That’s impossible. I thought The Man was going to Stop Howard From Talking. I thought the VRWC was going to Get Howard Off The Air. I thought Bush was going to Put Howard In His Place.
    Guess not.
    Howard’s new employers can avoid FCC problems by letting Howard know that gratuitous references to human feces and anal sex should be limited.
    Tried listening to Howard this morning. Ya know, I used to be a fan….used to listen four hours a day.
    But now? It’s not fun. And it’s not funny. It’s neither fun, nor funny.

  6. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    I still listen for about 3 + hours everyday, but it is getting harder and harder. How many months in a row can you proclaim that your free speech is being taken away when you are able to proclaim it to however many millions every morning?
    In any case, did anyone happen to get the website for the survey results that a guest mentioned yesterday. I did not get the guys name but he claimed to have a done (or commissioned) a survey that showed many of Howard’s listeners are swing voters. Then the conversation turned to Bush bashing orgy…..

  7. tony Avatar
    tony

    its over for dubya

  8. Ron Mwangaguhunga Avatar
    Ron Mwangaguhunga

    Michael Powell decided not to go the route of the competent bureaucrat. Stupid move. He had to make waves. Ambition won out over just doing a good job. First on media consolidation, now on “decency.” I hope Dubya gets crushed in the swing states by Stern Swingers, and I hope he realizes that it was his ambition that seperated the Republicans from the White House for a generation. Just say no the the morality “nanny state.”

  9. dmtnyc Avatar
    dmtnyc

    What’s most upsetting about this whole thing is that Stern has become exactly what he used to mock so well — a pompous, humorless, narcissistic millionaire martyr. One prays for a new Stuttering John to ambush Stern at a press conference and puncture that rapidly expanding ego.
    All Stern would need to do to win this battle is to walk away — go to Satellite radio, or go online, or do anything that would radically alter the landscape of broadcasting. The broadcasting industry would (rightfully) collapse in on itself in a panic, the FCC would be left holding the bag, and he would become what he obviously wants to be, and often has been — a pioneer, a rebel. Instead, he’s coming off as badly as Lenny Bruce did near the end, when the poor schlub would spend entire shows reading his court transcripts, driving away his audience and gaining no new supporters. Howard’s just tired, and he should admit it, retire gracefully, and leave on top. Instead, we get this insulting pity party tripe that runs utterly opposed to what he once was, and could still be. The worst part is, it makes the very real danger of FCC over-regulation seem like just another batty far-left conspiracy theory (hey, Howard — I think maybe Bush is a little too busy fighting a war and running for reelection to care about your strippers, anal sex jokes, and Booey-stumping — get over yourself).

  10. shark Avatar
    shark

    LOL insightful commentary from Tony.
    This despite the fact that Bush gains 7 points on Kerry while his unfavorables bottomed out

  11. Leland Avatar
    Leland

    Interesting, Howard Stern is holding a press conference about growing the market in which his speeches are heard…
    Gee Jeff, say again how the Freedom of Speech is under assault?

  12. TampBayFLA Avatar
    TampBayFLA

    Gee Jeff, say again how the Freedom of Speech is under assault?
    Yeah really…we’re getting him in Tampa/St.Pete for the first time ever, so he makes into another top 15 market. Take that VRWC!!! Now I too can take my marching orders from him like Jeff does!