Shock jock Stern's show dropped

Howard Stern is no stranger to controversy

American radio "shock jock" Howard Stern has been dropped by some US radio stations under a new "zero tolerance" policy toward indecency.

The Clear Channel company removed his controversial show from its six radio stations following a risque interview involving sexually explicit language.

Stern was interviewing Rick Salomon, who was filmed having sex with hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

Clear Channel president John Hogan said the show was "vulgar and insulting".

"Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content, and Howard Stern's show blew right through it," Mr Hogan added.

The Texas-based company is the largest US radio station operator with more than 1,200 outlets.

The company said it will amend contracts with all on-air presenters which will hold disc jockeys financially responsible for indecent comments made on-air.

Fired

Stern's New York-based show is also aired by Infinity Broadcasting which operates 185 radio stations across the US.

A spokesman for Infinity was not available for comment.

Gordon Hodge, a media analyst with merchant bank Thomas Weisel, said he doubted Infinity would take Stern off the air.

"He's obviously a very popular personality," he said.

The action against Stern came a day after Clear Channel sacked Florida radio host "Bubba the Love Sponge," after federal regulators accused him of airing sexually graphic material on Tampa's WXTB-FM and three other Florida stations.

Stern is best known in the UK for starring in the film Private Parts, about his own life.

Singer Courtney Love phoned Stern's show two weeks ago to explain why she failed to turn up to two court hearings earlier in the week.