No More 'Trash Talk' Radio? Clear Channel Lays Down New Standards.
 

Clear Channel Imposes Strict New Standards for Broadcast Decency; Company Announces `Responsible Broadcasting Initiative'

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2004--Clear Channel (NYSE:CCU) today announced a strong new "Responsible Broadcasting Initiative" to make sure the material aired by its radio stations conforms to the standards and sensibilities of the local communities they serve.


"Clear Channel is serious about helping address the rising tide of indecency on the airwaves," said Mark Mays, president and COO of Clear Channel Communications. "As broadcast licensees, we are fully responsible for what our stations air, and we intend to make sure all our DJs and programmers understand what is and what is not appropriate on Clear Channel radio shows."

Mays said the company will institute a zero tolerance policy for indecent content which will include company-wide training and automatic suspensions for anyone that the FCC alleges has violated indecency rules on the air.

"If the FCC accuses us of wrongdoing by issuing a proposed fine, we will take immediate action," Mays said. "We will suspend the DJ in question, and perform a swift investigation. If we or the government ultimately determine the offending broadcast is indecent, the DJ will be terminated without delay," Mays said.

John Hogan, chief executive officer of Clear Channel Radio, added, "If a DJ is found to be in violation of FCC rules, there will be no appeals and no intermediate steps. If they break the law by broadcasting indecent material, they will not work for Clear Channel."

In addition, the company announced that all of its contracts with on-air performers are being modified to ensure that DJs share financial responsibility if they utter indecent material on the air.

"From now on, every contract that Clear Channel enters into with on-air talent will include this provision," said Hogan. "While that won't relieve Clear Channel from our responsibility as a broadcast licensee, we believe it will have a significant deterrent effect on indecent content."

Reiterating its call for a "Decency Task Force," Clear Channel also has volunteered to fully participate with other representatives of the broadcast, cable and satellite industries to develop an industry-wide response to indecency and violence in the media.

"In our view, industry-developed guidelines should be as effective as government-imposed regulations without running afoul of the First Amendment protections that we all respect," said Hogan.

Clear Channel Communications Inc. (NYSE:CCU), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a global leader in the media and entertainment industry with radio and television stations, outdoor advertising displays and live entertainment venues in 65 countries around the world.

See us on the Web at www.clearchannel.com.

Contacts


Clear Channel Communications Inc., San Antonio
Corporate Communications:
Lisa Dollinger, 210-822-2828
[email protected]
or
Law and Government Affairs:
Andrew Levin, 202-289-3230
[email protected]

This totally, totally bites wang.

There was a GREAT weekly segment on the morning show ("Kevin and Bean") on the Clear Channel-owned alternative station here in Los Angeles (KROQ-FM) -- called "Ralph's Sex U". Basically, Ralph Garman (C-list celebrity and show regular) took a few segments each week to talk through, debunk, and de-stigmatize a different sex-based topic each week. Really constructive stuff - not sensationalistic at all. Topics have included everything from 'coping with the psychological impact of group sex' to 'sexual sensory impairment and autoerotic asphyxiation'.

Meaty stuff. Really more of a public service for the 16-20-something crowd. Very professional, very well-done.

Well, Clear Channel hacked the segment this week. The public outcry has been huge, but it's to no avail. I guess that's not too bad -- I mean, Clear Channel *clearly* knows what's decent for public airwaves and has the utmost respect for the First Amendment...

:boid :boid Clear Channel :boid :boid
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They fired a local guy here in tampa that was on like 6 markets after he got the largest FCC fine ever Bubba the love Sponge (he is kinda cocky) But nonthe less they cashed those large advertiser checks for years before letting his large ass go.

If you ask me just another goosestep closer to the police state our kids will live in!

sad news :(

Sure, Rush Limbaugh can lie all day long while he's high as a kite, but don't say the word boob or your fucking fired!

What sucks even worse is that in some markets Clear Channel has bought up all of the radio stations:(

How about someone doing some 'adult oriented' satelite radio broadcasts...

Fuck the... Well I won't say it 'cause they are probably listening, and I am on enough lists as it is....

pretty much all the markets I think, in the US anyway.

I knew you guys would know the real deal that's why I posted it.

Well said all!!!

Bubba The Love Sponge got fired. That was cruel. People loved that guy. He made their day. He was totally harmless and Clear Channel ruined his life.

Clear Channel owns every radio station putting up their own right-wing antagonistic nonsense and anybody that don't tow that line don't get a job.

Rush is a windbag bigot who's nothing more than a modern day Goebbels but he can do what he wants because he's got the ratings and legislative clout in Washington.

Then there's Phil Hendrie. He does pretend guests who insult callers etc. and he gets fouler than anybody I've ever heard on the air. Is Clear Channel gonna axe him too? KFI 640am in LA insults people and gets obnoxious all day long including Matt Drudge on Sundays. Is Clear Channel gonna axe them too?

You said it with Satellite. Clear Channel is gonna force DJs to use other means and we their fans are gonna follow.

Clear Channel can eat three-day-old dead Mississippi moose ass for all I care.

Dead on! And it just kills me when I hear one of the conservative talkshow hosts ranting about the "liberal media". They OWN the airwaves and they want the rest (non-broadcast) of it.