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02-26-04, 11:34 AM
By JONATHAN D. SALANT
(AP) Radio personality Howard Stern awatch the New York Knicks play the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square...
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the nation's largest radio station chain apologized Thursday for a raunchy morning show that brought the largest indecency fine in history.
John Hogan, president of 1,200-station Clear Channel Radio, told members of the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee he was "ashamed" of the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show. The program, which aired on stations in Florida, recently brought a $755,000 proposed fine from the Federal Communications Commission for sexually explicit content and other alleged indecency violations.
"We were wrong to air that material," Hogan said. "I accept responsibility for our mistake and my company will live with the consequences of its actions."
Clear Channel fired the disc jockey Tuesday, then announced the next day it would suspend any personality accused of airing indecent programming and would ask its DJs to share in any financial penalties. Also Wednesday, it suspended broadcasts of the Howard Stern show on its six stations that carry it, citing sexually graphic content from Tuesday's broadcast.
(AP) Radio personality Howard Stern awatch the New York Knicks play the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square...
Full Image
WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the nation's largest radio station chain apologized Thursday for a raunchy morning show that brought the largest indecency fine in history.
John Hogan, president of 1,200-station Clear Channel Radio, told members of the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee he was "ashamed" of the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show. The program, which aired on stations in Florida, recently brought a $755,000 proposed fine from the Federal Communications Commission for sexually explicit content and other alleged indecency violations.
"We were wrong to air that material," Hogan said. "I accept responsibility for our mistake and my company will live with the consequences of its actions."
Clear Channel fired the disc jockey Tuesday, then announced the next day it would suspend any personality accused of airing indecent programming and would ask its DJs to share in any financial penalties. Also Wednesday, it suspended broadcasts of the Howard Stern show on its six stations that carry it, citing sexually graphic content from Tuesday's broadcast.