Howard Stern's Radio Ratings Up Amid FCC Flap

[CShine]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Federal regulators may have painted a big bull's eye on Howard Stern's back, but the recent government crackdown on indecency over the airwaves has proven a boon to the shock jock's ratings. The ribald radio host scored major gains in listenership during the winter quarter ended March 31 in the three biggest U.S. markets -- New York, Los Angeles and Chicago -- according to figures made public on Monday by the Arbitron radio ratings service.

In Stern's home market of New York, where his show is broadcast on WXRK-FM, he topped all morning drive-time competition with a 7.2 share in total audience, up 22 percent from the fall quarter and 18 percent from last winter, Arbitron said.

Stern also returned to No. 1 during the first quarter among New York listeners aged 18 to 34 and 25 to 54. Overall, it was his best showing in the nation's top market since the fall of 2000, according to Viacom Inc.-owned Infinity Broadcasting, which syndicates Stern.

In Los Angeles, where he is carried on KLSX-FM, Stern climbed back to No. 1 in the key demographic of listeners aged 25 to 54 for the first time since the summer of 1995. He also rose from sixth place to fourth place in total drive-time audience with a 4.2 share. And in Chicago (WCKG-FM), Stern posted a 23 percent gain in morning drive time, jumping from 15th place to No. 9.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=638&ncid=762&e=1&u=/nm/20040426/en_nm/leisure_stern_dc

[Cush]

1. take that FCC!

Can't say I'm surprised, all they did was give him free publicity.

[liberalhistorian]

2. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Take that, you freeps, wingnut creeps, and other assorted repuke right-wing trash heaps!!!!

[dusty64]

9. Hilarious!

This sure has backfired on the rethugs, I know several (former) chimp supporters who are outraged over this and do NOT intend to be fooled by the American Taliban again.

[Mari333]

3. CNN and MSGOP should take notice n/t

[unblock]

4. i for one have been tuning in lately

after avoiding him for about 10 years. his show hasn't changed a bit. it gets old after a while.

except that he's now bushbashing, which makes it worth tuning in for!

[KAZ]

10. Tuned in for the first time this a.m....

...since AAR is only playing music. He really ripped * several new ones, and kept saying "Kerry is such a hero to me". Made for a very pleasant trip to work, even though the traffic sucked.

[SoCalDem]

14. I NEVER listened to him before, but now I do tune in

I tune back out when he gets off the * topics, but there are probably a lot like me :)

[mhr]

5. Stern Could Single Handedly Turn This Election

That would mean that Colin Powell's son Michael could become Bush's Judas since he has enabled Stern with the threat of FCC fines.

Oh, sweet deliverance!

[RamboLiberal]

6. Sweet Deliverance indeed! That would be so Funny!

:evilgrin:

[treepig]

11. but is he on in any swing state markets?

running up the votes in nyc, chicago, and la - while nice - is hardly helpful considering that these states are already strongly democratic.

unfortunately, the clear channel stations which were shut down were the ones that actually could have made a difference (weren't they in pittsburgh and columbus?)

[mhr]

12. By Communicating Directly With The 18 -30 Year Old Demographic

Howard probably influences by word of mouth alone.

No data for this speculation, just thinking out loud.

[Mixxster]

16. but is he on in any swing state markets?

Stern is available in PA, at least in my neck of the woods.

[fearnobush]

7. SEE!!!! Bush Truth Telling Does Pay!!!!!

When Howard speaks the truth on Bush... The People Flock.

[rumguy]

8. attacking shrub = higher ratings

[Beetwasher]

13. You Should Have Heard Him This Morning About the Medal Flap

All I can say is, I'm damn glad he's in our corner.

[bspence]

15. yay howard!

And yay DU! I haven't been able to log in for MONTHS! The techies at work must have forgot to block DU again when they did their security mumbo jumbo thing again. Good for me.

[AndyTiedye]

17. If They Try to Block DU

Make a small donation to the FSF.
They will give you an account on anonymizer.com.
Aside from allowing you to surf anonymously,
it also gets you around any destination-based blocking
because your company firewall doesn't see DU,
they see the anonymizer instead.

[Misunderestimator]

18. OOh, thanks, I'll check that out

They haven't blocked it yet where I am, but given the fact that any web address with the word "gay" in it is blocked, I'm sure it's coming. I'll check anonymizer.com out. Thanks.

[rinsd]

19. Par for the course for Howard....

His ratings are always best when he has a well defined target. The FCC and his bosses make for better fodder than Kathy Lee.

[happynewyear]

20. wow I wish I could get Howard Stern

Not on the air around here. He needs to get on streaming as soon as he can at a time when everyone around the U.S. is awake to catch him.

More power to you Howard Stern. You've got a strong following and it is now getting bigger! Great news for you Howard!

[NashVegas]

21. Bite Me, Clear Channel

In San Diego, one of the markets where his show was removed by Clear Channel, radio station KIOZ-FM's drive-time ratings dropped from an 8.9 share in February to 0.7 in March, the first month without Stern. Stern's show remains syndicated on a total of 36 stations nationwide.

[Barkley]

22. Did the Dixie Chicks get a bounce after Clear Channel dumped them?

I hope so!