BREAKING MOVIE/TV NEWS

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Stern Gets Sirius In Canada ...


Sirius Canada has announced that US celebrity 'shock jock' Howard Stern, the toilet-humoured, self-described 'king of all media' will be added to their Canadian radio lineup.

Starting February 6, the date Conservative leader Stephen Harper is sworn in as Canada's next prime minister, subscribers to the Sirius Canada satellite radio service will have access to Stern on his 'Howard 100' channel.

Stern debuted on Sirius in the United States Jan. 9.Sirius Canada is owned by Sirius Satellite Radio (US) and Canadian partners CBC and Standard Radio.

The 52 year old Stern had previously run 'afoul' of the US Federal Communications Commission, fining him and commercial radio stations carrying his syndicated interview show for indecency/obscenity violations.

The New York-based talk host was previously available in Toronto and Montreal beginning in 1997, but after a flood of complaints to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the CRTC, regarding Stern's attitude towards French Canadians, the show was dropped in Montreal. In 2001, following 9/11 and Stern's comments about Canadians in general, his show was dropped from Toronto rock station Q-107.

Subscriber-based satellite radio, along with cable television, is so far, not subject to federal indecency regulations.

In January, debt-ridden Sirius rewarded Stern with 34 million shares of its stock, currently valued at $220 million US, for helping it to reach subscriber targets.