ABSTRACT
Commercial broadcasters are in the business to make money. Advertising is sold by delivering audiences/consumers to advertisers through the use of highly rated broadcast programs. Performers such as Howard Stern are able to show they have audiences/consumers listening through the evidence of station ratings. In the case of radio, declining profit margins in the past two decades may be helping fuel the drive to attract audiences through shock radio. For several years local television stations have struggled with the issue of the broadcast of graphic antiabortion advertising. Broadcasters face a problem when a candidate seeks to use the medium for political speech that may be deemed “offensive.” Advertisers clearly have some rights to use the public airwaves, and they should have the expectation of being treated fairly by the broadcaster.
