ROFL! Howard Stern & Infinity radio stations: "No more obscenity!"
 

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/18294.htm

INFINITY ORDERS CLEANUP

By JOHN MAINELLI
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February 19, 2004 -- BESIEGED Viacom president Mel Karmazin read the riot act to execs of all 180 Infinity radio stations yesterday - including Howard Stern's in New York - telling them they'll be fired if they violate the company's new "zero tolerance" policy on obscenity.
"Don't screw up," Karmazin was quoted as saying by one of three Post sources who took part in a company-wide conference call convened by the top brass of Viacom's radio division.

"If you don't comply, you'll be fired for cause," Karmazin reportedly said. "This company won't be a poster child for indecency."

Karmazin also oversees CBS and was hauled before Congress last week to testify about the Super Bowl incident. Several lawmakers accused him of chasing profits and ratings with no regard for common decency.

Infinity is home to Stern and several other controversial radio shows that have been canceled, fined or suspended for sexual hijinks - including Opie & Anthony after the infamous sex-in-St. Pat's contest.

Last evening after the conference call, Infinity execs issued a blunt memo to all personnel.

"Any station airing programming that has any sexual or excretory content needs to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that the programming is not even arguably indecent," the memo said.



"When in doubt, leave it out," said the memo, which also ordered all stations to install programming-delay units for on-the-fly censoring "immediately."

Stations were told to seek "advance consultation with counsel" if they have questions about anything "graphic or explicit."

This strict, new policy would appear to put the kibosh on several regular features of Howard Stern's show - who wasn't mentioned yesterday and who is on vacation this week - including "small penis" contests and bits wherein items are placed in, or expelled from, the most intimate of bodily areas.

Karmazin warned 180 Infinity program directors - including those at New York's K-Rock, Mix 102.7, WFAN, WCBS/AM-FM and WINS - that the FCC is looking to make examples of wrong-doers.

"It's exactly what you'd expect a CEO under fire to say," said a conference call participant.

Can't wait to hear what Howard and the gang have to say about this on Monday.

Well NO SHIT Eh ??:winkwink:

Been years since I read it...Weren't there word police in Orwell's novel?...

Probably be a whole show about how he wants out of his contract and him chewing Tom a new one :1orglaugh

NICE,...This is all due to Janet Jackson showing her ugly fucking nipple!!
Mel had to deal with all the backlash from that stupit Superbowl bullshit.
Howard is not going to change a fucking thing. He and Mel are best of firends. The show is on vacation. I can't wait till Monday's show to hear his reaction
Can anyone say "1984"

All he has to do is go back to the way they were 10 or so years ago when the show was good. He'll be off the air in no time.

I did not read your reply....funny..1984, good job, I can't go into my tittie bar and enjoy a good cigar, and I MUST wear a seatbelt.

Fuck those censoring ass wipes. I'll stream Howard's show online if they fucking fire him.

:thumbsup

Mel Karmazin and Stern are trying to milk this for all the ratings they can, that is all it is.

Stern hates the radio biz so bad he just keeps on signing the contract everytime it comes up for renewal.

Just more hype and bullshit, thats all.

:1orglaugh

There's more to this than just obscenity and Orwell's "1984" it's about responsibility on all sides of the broadcasting arena.

Last year LA's KFI am 640 spearheaded getting rid of Gov. Davis. The John & Ken Show in particular. That sent shockwaves throughout the world because as stupidly as John and Ken did it, they did it. They listened to the complaints of the people and without cussing, ripped Davis a new one.

They can't get shut down cause they're not breaking the law or being obscene but it shows the power of communication and how it can backfire on the powers that be.

TV is not going to turn into the internet. Yet more people are going to turn to the web for their news and entertainment.

One man's fun is another's obscenity. It's such a nebulous area there's no telling what'll come of this nonsense.

The most obscene thing on the air ain't the cussin', it's the out and out lying and character assassination being done by so-called hosts. Limbaugh #1.

It's only bad if right wingers don't like it. :1orglaugh

What's always gotten me is how tv networks will air movies with blatant grotesque violence. Where thousands, millions die like Star Wars, Ten Commandments, Spartacus etc. yet if you show ONE tit all heck breaks loose.

Americans are insane about sex and nudity. That's why we have so many divorces and sex crimes. We're nuts and it's way past the time to straighten this insanity out.

mondays show will be interesting, i hope i remember to listen :thumbsup

holy shit - with Stuttering John quitting and this from Mel - should be one of the most interesting Stern shows in history.

I think they're going to fire Howard. Make an example of him. He only has two years left and at 20 mil a year along with declining ratings Mel might make a sacrificial lamb out of Howard for the FCC.

No way will Howard take this - i have every faith he will go down with his mouth blazing.

Mel and Howard aren't that close anymore. It wouldn't shock me to see Mel fire him.

Howard to a big degree made Mel Karmazin, he would have been a big success but without Howard he's never have become one of the most powerful and richest men in media.

When he hired Howard after Howard got fired from WNBC Infinity was a tiny company. The money made from the Stern show was enormous and it allowed Mel to start buying station after station.

If I were Howard...I would go off on them and really push the limits. It's not like he would have any trouble getting picked up by another company.

Stern may be the only thing that can stop this nonsense. He doesn't need that network. He's strong enough on his own.

If he went full time web and broadcasted from his crib he'd be even more popular.

That way he could say what he wanted when he wanted.

The advertisers and radio stations that are making a mint on ads during his show will panic. Without Stern they'ld go down in flames.

That's probably bullshit! :D

First Stuttering John leaves, and now this. I can't wait to hear his show on Monday! :1orglaugh

More people may turn to the internet for their news, but the internet is next on their control list.

Actually it was the thought police ;)



-Loki-

ahaha, look who's talking. Comedy gold.