Infinity Broadcasting's preparations for the imminent departure of franchise morning host Howard Stern could leave rock music radio a collateral casualty. To soften the blow of Stern's December 16
exit from terrestrial radio, Infinity has changed the format of some of the 27 stations that carry him. Of the 12 rock stations that featured Stern in the morning, three are flipping to talk or the
Jack format, which uses no DJs and a random, classic-rock-oriented playlist. Such flips in Sacramento, Calif., and Philadelphia mean one less new-rock station. But in New York, come January 3,
Arbitron's top-rated market will not have a station playing current rock hits.
Read the whole story at Billboard via Reuters, October 31, 2005 »