Is Stern Returning To San Diego? (June 15, 2004)

Will The Howard Stern Show soon be up and running in some of the six markets where it was yanked by Clear Channel earlier this year? Inside Radio reports that ad buyers are being told by stations in several of those markets that Stern will be back -- sooner, rather than later.

Leading the rumor mill in San Diego is Infinity Classic Hits KPLN. What's described as "casual conversations" have taken place at "The Planet," FMQB has learned, but an inside source for FMQB says adding Stern is not imminent.

In addition to legal wrangling with Clear Channel and displacing existing morning shows, there could be other complicating issues for Infinity in some of the six markets.

As for Viacom's stance on their embattled jock, new Viacom Co-President Les Moonves recently reaffirmed his support for Stern.

Moonves told USA Today he doesn't think Stern does anything indecent and declared, "I'm going to back him." Acknowledging the "important bond" between Stern and Karmazin, Moonves said: "Howard is very important to Viacom, and I genuinely hope that when his contract is up [in 18 months], he will stay with us for a very, very long time. We'll see what the future brings."

As for Karmazin, he told USA Today Stern should honor his Infinity contract and "continue to do the great kind of radio he's been doing. When his contract is up, he should stay with Viacom - and be paid a lot more money." But he also noted that Stern might be "forced to find a different platform" if FCC pressure becomes too much to bare. "It would be a shame if he was not on free over-the-air radio," Karmazin said. "Why deprive these people of their entertainment as they drive to work each day?"

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Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting is home to Howard Stern. The shock jock's show was among those cited in the FCC's complaint against Clear Channel, which aired Stern on a handful of stations before dropping him in February. I don't think he does anything indecent, and I'm going to back him," Les Moonves, new co-president of Viacom, said shortly before the settlement. Moonves and Tom Freston took over after the surprise resignation this month of Mel Karmazin, Stern's longtime friend and supporter. Since the resignation, Stern has been telling his listeners that his "days are numbered" with Infinity. It was Karmazin who "rescued" him, he says, after he was booted by NBC in the '80s. Karmazin still backs Stern. "I think Howard should honor his contract and continue to do the great kind of radio he's been doing. When his contract is up, he should stay with Viacom - and be paid a lot more money." But Stern might be "forced to find a different platform," Karmazin says, if the heat from the FCC becomes too much. "It would be a shame if he was not on free over-the-air radio. Why deprive these people of their entertainment as they drive to work each day?" (read Peter Johnson - USA Today) read it here!

Digital radio broadcasts that bring CD-quality sound to the airwaves could lead to unfettered song copying if protections are not put in place, a recording-industry trade group warned on Friday. Without copy protections, music fans could cherry-pick songs off the air and redistribute them over the Internet, further deepening the copyright woes of record labels, the Recording Industry Association of America said. U.S. regulators at the Federal Communications Commission should ensure that the broadcast format limits such copying so radio stations don't turn the airwaves into a giant file-sharing network, RIAA officials said. "A little bit of prudence right now goes a long way," RIAA CEO Mitch Bainwol said in a conference call. Digital radio promises to bring CD-quality sound to FM stations and FM-quality sound to the AM band, along with "metadata" like artist and song information. Broadcasters also can use the standard to broadcast several signals at once (read Wired) read it here

Commentary: Is Stern Returning To San Diego? (June 15, 2004)

Whatever the opinion, some factors are weighing in on whether KPLN 103.7 The Planet, plagued for years with low overall ratings, should take the easy way up with Stern and risk possible half-a-million dollar fines for what is effectively undefined verbal blurts of indecency. Which is worse, a program director fired for low ratings, or his employer being saddled with millions of dollars in FCC fines and possible revokation of the broadcasting license for the station he works for, (as well as losing the job for the station that has no license), but gets high ratings? In a market the size of San Diego, will the advertising dollars Howard Stern's radio show commands for KPLN outweigh the FCC fines that Viacom, the company's parent, might accrue if the station picks up the Stern show?

Sure, Stern's show is aimed for adults, and children find his show boring because of the mature subjects he talks about; when was the last time Stern talked about Spongebob Squarepants without talking about it from a sexual point of view?

Howard Stern has the ability to lift up the rest of the radio stations's schedule, as the late Ronald Reagan once said, a rising tide lifts all boats. Think of how much more The Planet could do once Stern ends, such as seriously modernizing their playlist to include today's rock and roll favorites heard on Deep Tracks XM 40, kozt.com from Ft. Bragg, KPRI 102.1 in Encinitas, perhaps several rock favorites from 91X and 94.9 that appeal to listeners over 35 as well as younger listeners, play the all-request classic rock hits of the 60s and 70s from NOON-1pm and 5-6pm.

Evenings could air the best of the Bob and Tom radio show featuring comedy bits, the best of the All Comedy Radio Network, classic albums all night, as well as featuring "buy" buttons on the home page for albums featured on the station. There's a lot of boomer fans who like to listen to radio music at night but aren't much of TV fans anymore.

Saturday and Sunday mornings are filled with deep tracks of classic rock from the glory days of FM rock radio by request. Saturday nights are classic live concert recordings. Sunday nights are specials featuring The Vinyl Resting Place, Dr. Demento, and Rockline.

I belive it's time The Planet get going and shake up their station to get some listeners. What do you think?