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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

A Stern Decision

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It's official.At least as official as anything Stern says on his morning radio show (on 97.1 FM in Los Angeles). But today Stern confirmed on-air that in 15 months, when his contract with Infinity Broadcasting ends, he will be leaving the company to start a new radio show to be broadcast solely on Sirius Broadcasting's satellite radio.

For Stern, this means a future of radio broadcasting where the FCC cannot penalize Stern for what they perceive to be indecent, vulgar content. And since satellite radio is a subscriber-only service (much like how HBO and Showtime work), Stern will have free reign to deliver "the best radio they [listeners] will ever hear."

Sirius, competitor to XM Satellite radio, reaches more than 10 million DISH Network satellite TV and Sirius Satellite Radio subscribers nationwide — and will most likely give the big 'ol slam-down to XM when Stern steps atop his new throne at the end of next year.

LAist, a long-time fan of the shock-jock, has found ourselves less entertained over the last year as Stern's radio show has become obsessed with FCC issues, the problems and the drama associated with the politics surrounding Clear Channel, and good 'ol Dubya. It's nice to know that in, just over a year, Stern will be back to his old antics and craziness on the "digital" airwaves.

The only drawback? It's not gonna be free.

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Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

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