On 27 Feb 2004 17:21:32 GMT, "Steven J. Sobol"
wrote:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4375426/

cites Howard Stern as being fired by Clear Channel.

WXRK/92.3, his flagship station, is owned by Infinitiy.

I believe the other two original affiliates, WYSP in Philadelphia and WJFK
in DC, are also owned by Infinity. The Cleveland station where I used to
listen to him is also owned by Infinity...

And the show is owned by Infinity.

How does Clear Channel figure in? Distribution, perhaps?

It figures, in that the media covering this story screwed up.

Clear Channel suspended Howard's show on the 6 stations in their chain
that carried him. That includes: Miami, San Diego, Orlando,
Pittsburgh, Rochester NY and Louisville KY. The CC stations in those
markets were just affiliates in the syndication deal. Some of the
print/wire stories the night it happened gave the wrong impression
that "Clear Channel was firing Howard", when, as you correctly note,
his home base and syndication deal are under Infinity. (He owns his
show, but the show's deal is with Infinity/WW1.)

The Stern show continues on his other affiliates, including all the
aforementioned Infinity-owned stations and other big market Infinity
O&O's like KLSX/Los Angeles. I read an article in the Washington Post
which would indicate that Infinity - at least for now - has no plans
to dump Howard either locally in NYC or otherwise.

I also haven't heard of any other non-Infinity-owned Howard affiliates
who are planning on dropping him (a handful of other affiliates are
owned by companies like Beasley, etc.).

Mike