Sirius May Censor Howard Stern - United Bimmer Community

**komodo** · 01-23-2006, 03:19 PM

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/en..._2124169.shtml

Quote:

Sirius May Censor Howard Stern
by Jack Ryan
Jan 23, 2006

Don Kaplan of the New York Post writes that "Howard Stern may be coming down with a Sirius case of the bleeps ... High-level executives of the satellite broadcaster are developing an internal standards-and-practices document that will set boundaries for Stern and other shock jocks."

Now how funny is that? It's not the FCC, but Sirius itself, that may be silencing the ferocity of vulgarity eminating from Stern's mouth.

"It's something that's being taken very seriously," a Sirius source said, according to the Post.

Stern's new program is now reportedly being broadcast on a time-delay, which affords the opportunity to censor the program -- which has already happened.

Stern moved to Sirius largely in part because satellite radio offerings, such as Sirius and XM, unlike free radio, are not policed by the FCC.

The FCC spent years waging an indecency war against Stern and he has hailed his move to Sirius as a way for him to finally be free.

The Post points out that "Sirius' move toward self-censorship comes as mounting pressure continues in Congress to regulate programming of cable and satellite radio and TV."

For many years, cable executives have ignored government threats of regulation, claiming that self-policing has been more than adequate.

Satellite radio seems to be getting ready to emulate that move.

It's not clear at this time whether or not Stern knew he'd be subject to any limitations when he signed on with Sirius, which is paying him a reported $100 million a year.

However, rumors abound that Stern might not have been aware and could be planning to bail on the sattelite provider.

That's hilarious. Howard Stern went around saying how great Sirius was, and got all these customers to sign up for Sirius JUST to listen to him uncensored, and now they're talking about this. That's crazy... there's going to be a lot of upset people....

**EnvyM3** · 01-23-2006, 03:26 PM

If Sirius does in fact go through with it and censor him, Howard would leave and it would lead to the demise of Sirius. They need to get their heads out of there asses and face the reality of the consequences of such a decision.

**komodo** · 01-23-2006, 03:40 PM

^^ If he leaves, he's lose $400 million, plus whatever the crazy high fee would be to break his 5 year contract.

**Hoppy** · 01-23-2006, 05:05 PM

under no circumstances think that howard stern holds any great economic weapon capable of bringing sirius down.

witeshark · 01-23-2006, 05:22 PM

Amazing!

**01Mike330i** · 01-24-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvyM3

If Sirius does in fact go through with it and censor him, Howard would leave and it would lead to the demise of Sirius. They need to get their heads out of there asses and face the reality of the consequences of such a decision.

I couldn't agree more.

Anyone think this might also be a publicity stunt?

witeshark · 01-24-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99mike323i

I couldn't agree more.

Anyone think this might also be a publicity stunt?

That's what I think

**komodo** · 01-24-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99mike323i

I couldn't agree more.

Anyone think this might also be a publicity stunt?

Very possibly.

Wow, if so, that's a pretty low way of doing it...

**01Mike330i** · 01-25-2006, 08:50 AM

I mean honestly...did they not think Stern was going to come on the air and drop F-Bombs all over the place? It'd be ridiculous to think that they're censoring him for any reason other than publicity.

He leaves Sirius is sunk...

**projal147** · 01-25-2006, 10:10 AM

I'm listening to stern right now and have been a fan for over 5yrs and stern addressed this issue on monday's show. There is ABLSOLUTLY NO CREDIBILTY to the article in the post. It is a "non-story" as stern termed it. Sirius has a meeting every so often to review the standards and practices of the company, but in NO WAY has Sirius ever told stern to cut back on obsenity or what not. Basically the article is based on false facts and fishing for a problem, where there is none. It is a political stunt since this is an election year for certain senators to win re-election, by showing that they are trying to crack down on indecency.

For the government to regulate satellite it would take a change of the constitution since Sirius is a pay service, just like cable. Hell in this area, Time Warner has hard core porn that you can pay for.

I'll provide updates on what stern is saying. But there is no truth to the article.

**projal147** · 01-25-2006, 10:22 AM

also the FCC/Government has NO LEGAL basis for censorship of Sirius since 1. the service is a pay service. 2. satellite is a private entitiy and doesnt need a license to broscast (unlike in old fashioned/boring/terrestrial(sp) radio)

so there is no way Stern will be censored. Stern is the greatest thing for Sirius since sliced bread. if stern had signed on with XM, Sirius would have been dead by now, but stern is making Sirius into a major contender. Sirius wasnt expecting the large demand and there is now a shortage of radios and accessories.

**94bmw325i** · 01-25-2006, 07:38 PM

I think a few of my friends have Sirius, i'll have to listen to howard stern, im sure its great. It seems like a publicity stunt because if not Sirius would lose a lot of customers.

**projal147** · 01-30-2006, 02:58 PM

its not a publicity stunt. its just a reporter who has bad information/facts. that reporter must have gone to the same school as dan rather.

anyways.. stern is great i recommend it to everyone. if not for stern.. there are over a 100 OTHER channels of programming/music that is great too. everything you can think of. every genre of music has at least 1 station if not multiple stations... ALL commercial free....

**projal147** · 01-30-2006, 03:00 PM

oh and for our canadian people... stern is not available on the canadian sirius units, but go buy one from the U.S and ur set... its being dubbed the "grey market"