WESTCOTT vs. STERN

Oh! Canada!

The following letter is a response from one Canadian broadcaster of The Howard Stern Show
to a letter sent by Joe DuPont.

Note that this broadcaster simply 'writes off' 7% (77,000 ) of Stern's listeners
who are under the age of 17.

February 20, 1998

Dear Mr. DuPont:

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) forwarded to us a copy of your letter of November 3, 1997 regarding The Howard Stern Show, which is broadcast by CHOM-FM.

CHOM-FM is a member in good standing of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and has undertaken to adhere to several voluntary broadcasting codes and standards developed by the CAB, which are administered by the CBSC. In this regard, CHOM-FM accepts responsibility for all programming it broadcasts.

We note your strong objection to The Howard Stern Show is based primarily on the fact that it contains language and statements that you and others find offensive.

We appreciate that The Howard Stern Show sometimes elicits a strong emotional response from both its supporters and opponents. While we have received a number of letters from Canadians who are concerned about the content of the show, it is important to point out that an extremely large number of radio listeners in Montreal embrace Howard Stern's particular brand of comedy. Their support for The Howard Stern Show was reflected in the most recent Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) Radio Ratings for the fall of 1997. That BBM report rated The Howard Stern Show on CHOM-FM as the No. 1 English-language morning show in Montreal. More than 1,100,000 listeners in Montreal and Toronto choose Howard Stern each week as their preferred program despite a multitude of alternatives.

When CHOM-FM decided to include the syndicated Howard Stern Show in our schedule, we realized that it would contain material of a controversial nature. Moreover we were aware that some aspects of the show would contain language and themes not suited for all audiences. For that reason, CHOM-FM has regularly aired listener advisories informing its audience that some listeners may find certain material in this program offensive, and that they may, therefore, wish to tune to another station. We would also point out that the BBM ratings indicate that only 7% of the audience for the Howard Stern Show is under 17 years of age and that 93% of the Stern audience is over 18 years old.

In addition to broadcasting regular listener advisories, in December 1997 CHOM-FM announced it would closely monitor The Howard Stern Show, and would edit portions of that program, where necessary, to ensure that it is in compliance with Canadian broadcasting standards. CHOM-FM is pleased that the Montreal broadcast of The Howard Stern Show now meets Canadian broadcasting standards. We have also purchased new state-of-the-art digital editing equipment, which will further facilitate seamless editing of The Howard Stern Show.

CHOM-FM's decision to broadcast The Howard Stern Show was made in the context of the existing Montreal radio environment, which, as you may know, currently supports several outspoken and controversial radio hosts. As noted, audience surveys confirm that many Montreal radio listeners find Howard Stern's unique approach to humour amusing and acceptable to their tastes. These surveys reflect his position as an established North American entertainment star.

We trust that this letter is responsive to the concerns that you have expressed.

Yours truly,

E. Lee Hambleton
Vice-President & General Manager
CKGM/CHOM-FM
(CHUM Quebec)