The ratings continue their downward trend for WPBZ since losing Howard...
May 31, 2006
Fall 2005: 3.1
Winter 2006: 1.3
from the Boca Raton News
July 19, 2004
Welcome back Howard.
Howard Stern's audience has been described as loyal among other things. Now, those who have missed him during his brief absence from the airwaves will again get a chance to hear the early-morning pranks of Robin, Fred, Artie, Gary (Baba Booey) and Benjy. Starting Monday, the rambunctious morning talk show host will return to Florida's coastal airwaves broadcasting on WPBZ The Buzz, 103.1 and listeners are abuzz with excitement.
"The return of Howard Stern show has created a tremendous response from the listeners. There are so many people that are calling us, e-mailing us, thanking us confirming the dial position of the station. I'm getting calls from Miami asking, `can we hear you,' and Vero Beach asking the same," he said. The response is positive for Howard," WPBZ station manager, Lee Strasser said.
The station's signal broadcasts from Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach and the show will air from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., he said.
Because of public decency complaints, the Federal Communications Commission imposed heavy fines against Clear Channel Communications in February and Stern was removed from the air in several markets. "...it is pretty shocking that governmental interference into our rights and free speech takes place in the U.S. It's hard to reconcile this with the `land of the free' and the `home of the brave.' I'm sure what's next is the removal of `dirty pictures' like the 20th century German exhibit in a New York City Museum and the erotic literature in our libraries; they too will fall into their category of `evil' as well," Stern said in April, responding to the FCC's actions.
Pat Crydele, a 74-year-old Boca Raton resident said he's worried about the children who are unsupervised and may watch Stern's television show on cable. He said the radio show was okay because, "you can't see anything."
"I love Howard Stern and I think he's hilarious. The reason I think they took him off the air is because of the older people and there are a lot of younger children who listen to radio nowadays but other than that I think he's great for the kind of audience that should be listening to him," 18-year-old Cara Walker said.
She said even her father, who is 63, listened to Howard Stern when the show was last on the air. Boca Resident Carla Darious, 39, said she is aware of Howard Stern's show because her ex-husband listened to it all of the time.
"I don't really listen to him. He can be funny when you watch him on television. My ex-husband listens to him all of the time. He thinks that he's hilarious and that it's all comedy and that it's not real and that it's just to make money, but I think that there is a little bit of reality there. He likes to make the women take their tops off," said Darius, a native New Yorker.
Many observers say that Howard not only commands loyalty from his legion of fans but he wields a certain amount of political power as well. Voice-over artist and writer Corey Deitz wrote this month in an About.com article on the Howard Stern Web site that Stern has blamed the Bush administration for his latest problems with the Federal Communications Commission. Now, according to Deitz, there has been a lot of talk about how Howard Stern might wield his political clout to influence the upcoming election.
During the past few weeks, the radio site at About.com has been conducting an informal poll of site visitors. The question asks if Howard Stern asked you to vote for John Kerry, would you? Of 771 votes 391 or 54 percent said yes and 246 pollsters or 34 percent voted no.
Three percent said maybe and seven percent said they don't listen to the show.
But not everyone is aboard the Howard love train.
"I don't like him. I think he's crude," 20-year-old Jupiter resident Brooke Mason said.
from the Sun-Sentinel.com
July 1, 2004
by Tom Jicha
The risqué morning-drive radio host announced Wednesday on his program that Infinity Broadcasting, which syndicates him, has placed the show on nine new stations, including WPBZ (FM 103.1) in Palm Beach.
Stern has been off the air in South Florida since early February, right after Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction. Radio conglomerate Clear Channel, fearful of heavy fines and, in worst-case scenarios, losses of license, banished Stern from stations in six markets in which it aired him, including WBGG (FM 105.9) in Miami-Fort Lauderdale. Subsequently, Clear Channel, the nation's largest broadcasting group, reached agreement in June with the Federal Communications Commission to pay $1.75 million in fines to clear up all outstanding complaints for indecency on Stern's broadcasts.
Four of the new stations are in markets Clear Channel shut out -- Orlando, San Diego, Pittsburgh and Rochester, N.Y. WPBZ, which is licensed to the Palm Beach market, only partially restores Stern to South Florida.
The WPBZ signal can be heard on car radios, which have superior range to home and portable receivers, throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties, according to station manager Lee Stratford. However, he acknowledged there could be problems receiving the station inside certain buildings, most notably those with a lot of steel. There also could be reception difficulties in the southern half of Broward, according to listeners who tried to pick up WPBZ. Moreover, there is virtually no reception of the station in the Miami-Dade portion of the market.
The other markets in which Stern's program will be heard starting July 19 include Tampa, Houston, Austin, Texas, and Fresno, Calif., all on stations owned by Infinity. Stern airs from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays, sometimes going over the allotted time.
The additions bring the number of stations carrying Stern to 45 -- 27 owned by Infinity, whose president, Joel Hollander, noted, "Howard has dominated the radio landscape for more than 20 years." In almost all of the markets where Stern airs, he is No. 1, or close to it, in the Arbitron ratings, especially among his target audience of young males. After WBGG dropped Stern, its ratings plunged by about 75 percent in the target demographic.
Stern's increased national clearance is bad news for the Bush administration, especially since three of the stations are in Florida, considered a crucial swing state in the November presidential election. Stern has been waging an aggressive anti-Bush campaign because of the FCC crackdown. In his announcement Wednesday, Stern reiterated that he is dedicated to helping John Kerry unseat Bush, even though Kerry was among 99 senators who voted recently to greatly increase the potential fines for broadcast indecency. Stern's influence on his audience is such that he has been given credit for helping George Pataki and Christine Todd Whitman -- both Republicans --win gubernatorial elections in New York and New Jersey, respectively.
A jubilant and unchastened Stern told his listeners, "I can't wait to get back into the markets where we were taken off. I've missed my fans and judging from the countless e-mails and calls I've received, they've missed the show. Now we have the opportunity to be together again. It will be great."
Information from Sun-Sentinel wire services was used to supplement this report.
from the Palm Beach Post
Howard Stern, the radio shock jock whose removal in February from six Clear Channel Communications Inc. stations marked another battle in the cultural war over indecency, will return to nine cities nationwide, including WPBZ-FM 103.1, "The Buzz," in West Palm Beach, starting July 19.
"I can't wait to get back into the markets where we were taken off," Stern said in a statement Wednesday. "I've missed my fans, and judging from the countless e-mails and calls I've received, they've missed the show."
New York-based Infinity Broadcasting Corp., which syndicates Stern's show in 35 cities, also is adding his 6-10 a.m. weekday show in Tampa and Orlando. The controversial but popular Stern is well known for his foul language and sexually explicit comedy.
But Stern's incipient re-arrival in the market brought an end to the Morning Buzz, a popular show in which hosts Mark Summers, Genny and Dahmer ranted and goofed off. Fans praised them Wednesday for their civic efforts, which include sending cards to troops in Iraq and holding an Easter egg hunt for adults.
"What does Stern have to do with us?" said Sandy Smith, 35, a Lake Worth resident who praised the Buzz trio for parking a school bus by a department store each year and using it to collect school supplies for children. "Is he going to park himself in front of a school bus?"
Summers, Genny and Dahmer posted two letters on the Morning Buzz's Web site on Wednesday in lieu of an on-air farewell.
"It takes great pain for me to write this as I am borderline in tears that my almost 10 years of radio in this great town has come to an abrupt end," wrote Summers, whose girlfriend is expected to give birth to a son later this week.
Infinity is "making every effort" to place the three somewhere within the company, said Lee Strasser, Infinity's general manager for the West Palm Beach market.
"As a business, whenever you have the opportunity to add a legendary figure such as Howard Stern, of which there is only one, you have to jump at the chance," Strasser said. "Stern is clearly the best-known, most recognizable radio personality in the country, and our company decided that to add him to our lineup is just too compelling."
Besides WPBZ, Infinity locally owns WMBX-FM 102.3, WEAT-FM 104.3, WJBW-FM 106.3, and WIRK-FM 107.9. In the May ratings from Arbitron Inc., WPBZ came in second in the 18-to-34-year-old demographic, with a 6.5 rating, falling from 8.8 a year ago.
When it comes to men in that age group, Stern's show is tops in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas, said Jim Goss, an analyst with Chicago-based Barrington Research.
"To bring a talk show into a music station, there definitely has to be consistency so you don't throw off the balance and the expectation," Goss said.
The debate over what should be allowed over the public airwaves heated up Feb. 1, when singer Janet Jackson's right breast became exposed during the halftime show at the Super Bowl.
"All of that tide hits elected officials," said Tom Taylor, editor of Littleton, N.H.-based Inside Radio. "And it's very hard for them to stand up in an election year and say, 'You know, these things happen.' And Howard Stern is bearing the brunt of that."
Stern, who has likened the actions taken against his show to a "McCarthy-type witch hunt" by the Bush administration, has suggested he will move to now-unregulated satellite radio when his contract runs out in the next 18 months.
Reed Bunzel, editor-in-chief of the West Palm Beach-based Radio Ink magazine, said because of that, Wednesday's announcement by Infinity Chief Executive Joe Hollander is a statement that the company supports Stern.
Also Wednesday, Infinity filed suit in federal court in New York against Clear Channel, asking for $10 million in damages for the February cancellations of Stern's show.
But Clear Channel may be gaining some former Morning Buzz listeners. Ashley Sheffield, 23, of Loxahatchee said she would no longer listen to Infinity stations.
"We're all very disappointed," she said.
from the PalmBeachPost
June 30, 2004
Howard Stern Howard Stern's popular morning program will launch in nine Infinity Broadcasting markets across the country, including West Palm Beach on 103.1 The Buzz, beginning Monday, July 19. Stern will replace the longtime "Morning Buzz" show featuring Mark Summers, Genny and Dahmer.
Summers posted an announcement on MorningBuzz.net saying it was "very sad day" and that he was "borderline in tears" that his show come to an abrupt end. "This is no joke! The Morning Buzz has been taken off the air for good," he wrote. "I will always hold West Palm Beach dear to my heart."
Infinity President/CEO Joel Hollander announced today that Stern will return to stations in West Palm Beach (WPBZ-FM), Houston (KIKK-AM), San Diego (KPLN-FM), Tampa (WQYK-AM), Pittsburgh (WBZZ-FM), Orlando (WOCL-FM), Austin (KQBT-FM), Rochester (WZNE-FM) and Fresno (KRNC-FM). Stern has been off the air in those markets since Feb. 26.
In April, the Federal Communications Commission said it would hit six Clear Channel radio stations with steep fines for airing indecent comments made on Stern's show. Clear Channel suspended the radio program from the stations, including Miami's WBGG-FM (Big 105.9), after Stern allowed discussions that included explicit sex talk and a racist remark.
John Hogan, Clear Channel's president and chief executive officer, issued a statement saying Stern would be banned permanently. "Mr. Stern's show has created a great liability for us and other broadcasters who air it," Hogan said. "The Congress and the FCC are even beginning to look at revoking station licenses. That's a risk we're just not willing to take."
Apparently Infinity is willing to take the risk considering the competitive radio market and its rivalry with Clear Channel.
The nine additional stations bring the total carrying Stern's show to 45, including 27 owned and operated by Infinity. Stern's show is syndicated by Infinity, a unit of Viacom Inc.
"Howard has dominated the radio landscape for more than 20 years," said Infinity's Hollander. "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 said: "I can't wait to get back into the markets where we were taken off. 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."
Stern has used his show to rail against both the FCC and the Bush administration, which he says is trying to drive him off the air for political reasons. When the fines were announced, Stern posted a statement on his Web site blaming a "McCarthy type witch hunt" by the Bush administration.
The FCC said all five commissioners concluded that the Stern show aired in April 2003 "included repeated, graphic and explicit sexual descriptions that were pandering, titillating or used to shock the audience."
from RadioandRecords.com
June 30, 2004
from All Access.com
March 26, 2002
Following days of airing the sound of water and waves, and after playing a bit of Blue Grass/Country, INFINITY Hot AC WJBW (MIX 106.3)/W. PALM BEACH has spun the format wheel, and is now Urban AC "B106.3 South Florida's Old School R&B," as of 5p (ET), kicking off with MARVIN GAYE's "What's Goin' On." The station is playing 10,000 songs in a row. And, every 1000 songs B106.3 is giving away $1000.
Sister Top 40/Rhythmic WMBX PD MARK MCCRAY will also program B106.3. The hot rumor was that it was going to be FM Talk, but that was all smoke n' mirrors.
from All Access.com
March 22, 2002
As first hinted on ALL ACCESS, INFINITY Hot AC WJBW (MIX 106.3)/W. PALM BEACH is spinning the format wheel. At 6:32p (ET) MIX 106.3 ceased to exist. It was replaced by the sound of water and waves, and every 15 seconds or so, sister WMBX PD MARK MCCRAY is voicing a promo: "We have made the switch to a brand new station. Wait, and you will hear it on TUESDAY (3/26) morning."
Word is the entire airstaff is out. Where will the format wheel land? The hot rumor is on FM Talk, which is fed by another liner that from MCCRAY that reads: "Stay tuned to the new station that will be the talk of the town.
from All Access.com
NET NEWS as of TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2001
Updated at 8:18p (PT)
INFINITY Hot AC WMBX (MIX 102.3)/WEST PALM BEACH moves the format to the 106.3 frequency formerly occupied (for a brief time) by sister Adult Standards WJBX (JUKEBOX 106.3). It's now using the moniker MIX106.3, but has new calls, WJBW.
Back at 102.3, the calls WMBX remain in place, but instead of going Talk, as everyone was lead to believe, it's now Top 40/Rhythmic THE NEW X102-3 under the supervision of INFINITY VP/Programming and WPGC/WASHINGTON PD JAY STEVENS.
THE NEW X102-3 is jockless and slammin' 10,000 commercial-free jams in a row. A PD and jock staff are being assembled. T&Rs, no calls, to JAY STEVENS, WPGC, 4200 Parliament Place, Suite #300, LANHAM, MD 20706.
So WZZR (REAL RADIO 92.7) remains the market's sole FM talker for now, and HOWARD STERN remains without a local affiliate (he's heard in the southern part of the market on WBGG/MIAMI).
October 23,2001
Infinity has moved MIX 102.3 to 106.3, replacing the adult standards format there.
Promo's are running, FM TALK as "The talk of South Florida" hits the air at 5pm today on 102.3.
Lineup:
STERN
Don and Mike
Opie and anthony
Tom Leykis or Ron and Fez
from the palmbeachpost.com
October 23, 2001
--snips--
The Mix at Jukebox's old spot
If you're a fan of Jukebox, most recently at 106.3 FM, sorry. It's gone, even though it was No. 2 in the market and favored by older listeners for its '40s-'80s oldies format. Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting paid Mitch Rubenstein and Laurie Silvers $20 million. They doubled their money, and maybe they'll come up with a jukebox on their WPBI-AM 1420 or WDBF-AM 1000.
Jukebox shut down at 106.3 Sunday at 2:18 p.m. At midnight, Infinity began simulcasting The Mix-FM 102.3. At 5 p.m. today, The Mix will move to 106.3 and "The talk of South Florida," as the station's ads are crowing, will take over 102.3.
Does that mean FM talk is coming to the Palm Beaches? "I don't want to talk about the new station until it's on," said Infinity's local boss, Lee Strasser. "But I can tell you that everybody is gonna be talking about it."
Strasser said Jukebox "was a very good station, had a lot of listeners, was well programmed, but we just think it's a better business decision for us to go in another direction."
"As for now, the Jukebox format is history. But I don't expect that audience will be non-served for very long," he added.
from All Access Net Talk area
Infiniti West Palm Beach
Infiniti will flop the Jukebox format to talk and add Stern. Then they can split the 1.5 rating with Clear Channel WZZR.
tunchman, 08/09/2001 4:46:53 PM
Message#64560
"I saw in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinal that in the last quarter rating for '96, Howard ripped West Palm Beach a new one in the ratings. He TRIPLED their (95.5 WCLB's) morning ratings to something like a 7 SHARE. That's damn good!!!!! Especial considering he started on Sept. 29th!!!!!!! Goddamn, he must have like 40 share by now!!!!!!!"
Thanks to KarmanM for sending me these.
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