Regarding the FCC censorship....

[cphilip]

Thank you cphillip, that is what I was saying all along in the last thread.

Well that being said it should not be slipped in where you don't expect it. Like the Superbowl fiasco. Thats were the FCC needs to concentrate its efforts. Not on some show that you EXPECT and can ANTICIPATE that you should or should not listen. So I am kind of moderate on that point. To some extent.

[cphilip]

I can agree with you on that. However, Having it out there where kids can be exposed to it is the problem. Whether it is an older child on their school bus playing it, bus driver, etc....

The airwaves are a public trust and therefore must be regulated by the government. If TV can't get away with that Smut during the day hours, why should radio be any different.

Don't get me wrong, I am not for censorship. THis is not censorship though. This is regulation og COMMERCIAL programming. Howard doesn't work for free. This isn't NPR. He wants to make his money, then follow the rules. That simple!

Posted some twords that while you were. I agree there is some places we need oversite. To a certain extent.

[shartley]

Have you read the transcripts?
http://www.howardstern.com/oprah.html

First, they came for Janet Jackson, but I didn't care because her showing her boob was offensive to me,
Then they came for Howard Stern, but I didn't care because I think blumpkins and lesbians are disgusting,
Then they came for...

Where does it end? You don't like it, don't listen/watch/whatever. We shouldn't be child-proofing the world.

And punkcat and other who said put it on sattelite radio: the FCC wants to get their mitts on that, too.

Check out:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb101691.htm

Glad to see the FCC has their priorities straight!

Who controls the knob?

Vote with your feet. Turn it off and don't buy products that advertise on them. Its your right to do so. But I not really all that keen on having goverment do that for me. I can do it myself.

[RoadDawg]

I for one support Howard. If people don't want their children to listen to it, do the parental thing and turn it off. Meanwhile those of us that DO like Howard, have the right to listen to him w/o having to pay. Don't know if anyone heard the latest with mr Ryan Seichrest (sp). Well he recently took over a morning show here in SoCal (Kiss FM part of Clear Channel). Well the first day he was on they didn't have a delay. Well needless to say the "F" word, "s" word and a few other cuss words came out LIVE ON AIR. This all happened while Clear Channels president (hogan) was talking to senate about Stern's inappropriate radio program and how he was "ashamed" of it. Yet that show hasn't gotten anything as of yet, but yet Howard talks about bodily functions and he gets fined. I just don't get that. With Howard you expect his behavior so you can choose to listen or not. Believe me that kids will hear such talk at school, yes even Elementary school. Yes it is public domain and yet cussing, sexual behavior etc still go on.

The Super Bowl fiasco was just that. If you've seen the tape of how Janet reacted afterwords kinda gave me the impression she didn't plan it. (Celebrity's Uncensored 24 I believe on E!) Personally I had to watch the tape several times and even see pictures afterwords to learn that it even happened. I thought it was just a pasty, but it ended up being nipple jewelry. But if I remember correctly Lil Kim showed up to a award show (MTV I think) wearing half a dress (one boob flopping out with a pasty on it) and no one said much. It was even on news programs afterwards but it died quickly. Sex/Cussing is out everywhere now. Listen to any hip hop station and there is at least one song per 30 minutes that is mostly blanked due to cussing or whatever. Yet I still hear a few songs that describe adult situations and get allowed on the air. Stop hunting one man and go after everything or don't do it at all.

[MayAMonkeyBeYourPinata]

The FCC has gone a wee bit overboard, and seems to be a bit hypocritical.

For instance, Mancow Muller was fined for playing a BLEEPED Clinton Parody song.

While a Mexican station, throws Spanish obscenities left and right without even a slap on the wrist.

[lamby]

[soapbox]I work in the media industry and there is ALOT more to this FCC crap than you are all aware of.

First, this is fine is not something thing is minor we are talking 100s of grand per event per affiliate. The Janet boob issue is still being contested as to to wether it was one action (network being fined) or fineable for every affilite that aired the nipple without cutting away with a 5 second bypass. If you multiply the number of ABC affilites time the current $25,000 fine you are looking at a HUGH loss of revenue for ABC.

There is the other fact that we as local affilites (I work for Fox) will now have to babysit every single second of programming as any little thing, like someone whiping the finger during a live sports show becomes a fineable offence. How are we supposed to monitor this?

Who at the local level makes the decision what is airable and what is not? If I am running master control (which I do at times) am I responsible for all decisions? I am the last line of defence before it hits the transmitter. Does that mean I need to memorize some bloated government regulation on censorship and be held to uphold the guidelines? If this is true, what about lip syncing the words? I can understand when people are swearing even if it is beaped out. Does that mean when you see a coach on a sideline of a football game drop an f-bomb even with no audio I have to cut to black to protect myself and my station from being fined?

I am sick of the government tring to protect people from themselfs. Just like phillip said, if you dont like it, dont watch it. If you have a major problem with a show or program find out which advertisers are supporting that show and contact them stating that "due to your advertising involvement in XYZ show, which I feel is below the standards of morility and decentcy, my household will no longer support your company, or your products. We will return to you as customers as soon as you pull all advertisements for your product from said show".

Free market enterprise works. If it makes money people will do it. That means a MAJORITY of viewers want it. Look at HBO... the season finally of the "Soprano's" last year had a higher viewership (nielsen rating) than anything on "network" tv. This is the fist time this has ever happened and it is scaring the Network execs. Cable is starting to no longer be "the other option" but "the only option" for shows that people WANT to see.

I think the FCC should ease the restrictions on the broadcasters and let us have the same right as cable to make it a fair playing field. [/soapbox]

[1stdeadeye]

While a Mexican station, throws Spanish obscenities left and right without even a slap on the wrist.

That's beacuse no one in the FCC speaks Spanish!

[1stdeadeye]

[soapbox]I am sick of the government tring to protect people from themselfs. Just like phillip said, if you dont like it, dont watch it. If you have a major problem with a show or program find out which advertisers are supporting that show and contact them stating that "due to your advertising involvement in XYZ show, which I feel is below the standards of morility and decentcy, my household will no longer support your company, or your products. We will return to you as customers as soon as you pull all advertisements for your product from said show".

If you label the shows as TV-MA, I can be okay, maybe. But they need to be labeled! It's not fair for me as a parent watching tv with my child to be hit out of left field with something inappropriate!

Free market enterprise works. If it makes money people will do it. That means a MAJORITY of viewers want it. Look at HBO... the season finally of the "Soprano's" last year had a higher viewership (nielsen rating) than anything on "network" tv. This is the fist time this has ever happened and it is scaring the Network execs. Cable is starting to no longer be "the other option" but "the only option" for shows that people WANT to see.

I think the FCC should ease the restrictions on the broadcasters and let us have the same right as cable to make it a fair playing field. [/soapbox]

BS FLAG HERE!!!!!! Broadcasters do not and can not have the same rights as cable stations!!!!!!!

Why? Broadcasters use the public airwaves and send their signals out to the public. They are using a public property to make money! Therefore they must answer to that same public. Don't like it? Then do what the cable companies did. Spend billions of $s to create a private transmission network! That is the difference between broadcasters and cable. Cable owns their transmission medium. I can choose to buy cable or not! I (the public) own the airwaves! I can not choose to buy broadcast tv. That signal is out there irregardless.

[than205]

Why can't they make a "V" chip for a radio?

Why aren't those dang kids getting breakfast, getting to school or in school?

I think if we're all honest it's not a free speech issue. However, I do believe that some (changed from lots) of what Howard has to say is educational (if you tilt your head and squint). Really, he does get people to think about some issues that maybe need to be discussed.

He is very funny at times, and at times I find myself turning to it for a little levity. Other times I turn from it, to get away from the narcissism.
I don't plan on paying for it. So, I will miss it. Will I listen to anyone else? Not likely.

[1stdeadeye]

Why can't they make a "V" chip for a radio?

I would be good with that. As long as parents can control it.

Why aren't those dang kids getting breakfast, getting to school or in school?

Did you read my example? If they are on a bus with older students, they may be exposed to it.

[slateman]

I don't like Howard Stern. I've never found him that funny. It seems like I hear the same show every time I turn on the radio. And hot girls doesn't translate very well on the radio (must be that whole seeing them thing)

That being said, I think the FCC is goin a little crazy here.

If you don't want your kids to listen to it...turn the station. If you're a good parent, you should know what station it is on and just not flip to it. If your kid asks you about something you deem inappropriate the must tell them that its inappropriate to talk about right know and you'll explain it when they are older.

[theraidenproject]

Did you read my example? If they are on a bus with older students, they may be exposed to it.

How is this any different than those students playing a CD with explicit lyrics? In fact it's probably better than that, cuz the radio is bleeped out.

[behemoth]

If they are on a bus with older students, they may be exposed to it.

I dont know how your bussing goes, but here, its K-4 on one bus (i dont think they are listening to offensive rap cd's or howard stern)

the other bus is 5-8 (8th graders might, but then again, kids are exposed to our world, they cant be sheltered forever, if its brought into the house, then the parent can stop it)

And then 9-12 (those kids can handle those themes, and prolly know more about those terms than howard himself)

Those of us that find howards topics amusing listen to them. Those that find them offensive dont.

If you deem it indecent, turn it off... There are some that WANT to listen to it, and THAT is why howard is making his money

AND YES

Ryan seacrest isnt black, but HE DOES HAVE A LIVE SHOW and obscene words have been used on it. where as, howard bleeps his callers, and his staff. if they talk about adult themes, so be it

If you want to go watch porn, you do.

If you want to go listen to Howard Stern, you do.

If you find those things offensive, you simply stay away.

Swearing should be bleeped, and fined if not, but most of the scenarios discussed on Howard Stern show are WAY over kid's heads

Its this simple... The govt shouldnt try and eliminate our entertainment.

If you dont like it, turn it off. If it strikes your fancy, then leave it on

AND PARENTS -- Monitor what your kids are listening to, you cant be that stupid that you dont know what your kids are doing.

I know my mom checks on me every once in a while, and she trusts me. I find the howard stearn show amusing and therefore i listen. BUT i dont bring up the topics around my 10yr old Brother or my 6yr old sister

Its just a matter of whos listening, and WE should determine what we listen to. NOT THE FCC

(and if you think the radio is that bad, they can get pictures on the internet, your AOL parental settings can be bypassed)

[FactsOfLife]

Howard Stern is an imbecile.

[Brak]

Howard Stern is an imbecile.

i hate him with a passion, but just because some people in high places disagree with what he does, doesnt mean that he shouldnt be heard by the people (morons) who like him.

where are opie and anthony now?