Stern Warning

After cutting ties with risqé radioman Howard Stern, Clear Channel stations appear to be learning that while tempting the FCC's wrath can be risky, denying the public their smut can be downright catastrophic. According to a Reuters story:

In San Diego, one of the markets where his show was removed by Clear Channel, radio station KIOZ-FM's drive-time ratings dropped from an 8.9 share in February to 0.7 in March, the first month without Stern. Stern's show remains syndicated on a total of 36 stations nationwide.

Stern's ratings, on the other hand, seem to have gotten a healthy boost from all the attention. In the words of the immortal Nelson Muntz: "Ha-Ha!"

Comments

[Dan]

Their share of the adult male demographic dropped even more catastrophically.

[Kevin Carson]

The comic strip Non Sequitur does a great job attacking “Clean Channel” radio.

[steve]

There is no such thing as “bad press” so long as they spell your name right.

[Ron Hardin]

It hasn’t improved Imus. No daring slams that might offend Andrea Mitchell, lest she refuse to call in any longer. Stern ought to get Andrea Mitchell to call.

[WLC]

So far, Bob and Tom have toned it down. They rip on the FCC, but haven’t done anything to tweak them.

[blunted]

Bravo! I’ve always said that if you don’t like something on the radio, you can change the channel… apparently, people are taking that advice when it comes to Clear Channel.

[Matthew]

It’s good to see them being punished economically by the free market for their lack of courage. If I had ever listened to part of the Clear Channel network, I’d stop.