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(7/1/04 1:27 pm)
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Howard Stern Back on His Throne
Wed Jun 30, 3:00 PM ET
By Sarah Hall
The self-proclaimed King of All Media has regained control of his domain.
In a press conference Wednesday, Howard Stern gleefully announced the launch of his radio show on nine new Infinity Broadcasting stations across the U.S.--marking his return to five of the six markets where he has been off the air since February, and the addition of four new markets to his empire.
Clear Channel officially gave Stern the boot in April, proclaiming his show a "liability" that the company didn't want to deal with, particularly in the hysterical climate following Janet Jackson (news)'s infamous Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction.
Earlier this month, Clear Channel agreed to pay the FCC (news - web sites) a record $1.75 million in fines for various indecencies committed by Stern and other radio personalities.
All nine stations picking up Stern's show are owned by Infinity, which now owns 27 of the 45 stations that broadcast The Howard Stern Show. The show will return to the airwaves July 19 in San Diego, Pittsburgh, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Rochester, New York, and will debut in Tampa, Austin, Houston and Fresno, California.
"I can't wait to get back into the markets where we were taken off," Stern said. "I've missed my fans, and judging from the countless emails and calls I've received, they've missed the show. Now we have the opportunity to be together again. It will be great."
Upon hearing the news, overjoyed fans flooded the show with calls, congratulating Stern on the victory in his crusade for free speech.
Stern has 18 months left on his contract, at which point he may either leave the airwaves or branch out into satellite radio, where he'd be allowed to, um, express himself more freely without the FCC breathing down his neck.
Joel Hollander, president and chief operating officer of Infinity, expressed his support for Stern.
"Howard has dominated the radio landscape for more than 20 years," Hollander said. "The millions of listeners who tune into The Howard Stern Show on a daily basis is unmatched in the industry. He delivers one of the most loyal audiences in radio who will no doubt embrace his return."
Stern's show is the top-rated radio program in several cities and the highest rated TV program on E! Entertainment Television.
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