88.3 FM: The Howard Stern Pirate Radio Station
While on my way home from work last night, I made an interesting discovery. Fumbling with my radio dial in search of National Public Radio, I came across the static-laden voice of Howard Stern at 88.3 FM. It was about 6:15 p.m., and I had just gotten off the 101 Freeway, with plans to head home over Coldwater Canyon. At first I thought it was some NPR affiliate’s broadcast of an interview with the King of All Media, but within 30 seconds of tuning in, I heard Howard use the words “shit” and “cunty.” Surely, language like this would make that short-haired minx Terry Gross 
blush, so I knew this was no NPR broadcast. No, I had stumbled across a pirate radio broadcast of Stern’s new Sirius Satellite Radio show. Last week the LA Times reported that Stern is miffed that people are putting his subscription-only show on the Internet for free consumption.
According to the Time story, some pirate radio stations in NY and Jersey have broadcasted Stern’s show on unused radio frequencies, and it appears this is what I was listening to in LA today. As I began making the drive up the canyon, the radio signal got much stronger. Though fuzzy, I could hear Howard mock Oprah Winfrey for her decision to sign on with XM Satellite Radio and provide that station with content. I haven’t listened to Stern in years, and I enjoyed his narcissistic rant as I made my way through the canyon. As I drove into the flats of Beverly Hills, the signal faded and I couldn’t hear anything but static.
Has anyone else heard Stern’s show in LA via some pirate radio broadcast? I imagine some secretive pirate radio broadcaster beaming us the Stern signal from a secret compound in the hills. So furtive, so filthy. I wonder whether this pirate will still be broadcasting come Monday…
We got an e-mail about it from a reader on February 2. Glad to hear they’re still broadcasting.
87.9 FM is also reportedly a frequency being used out here:
http://www.nbc11.com/news/6916001/detail.html
The signal comes and goes, usually in the 88 F.M. range. And, sadly, serious efforts are being made to curtail it.
They must be broadcasting from a mobile post. If they were at a static location, they could nail them instantly. It’s much easier to DL the shows via torrent and throw them on the ol’ ipod anyhow.
i heard stern today and it was 88.3; on the fm dial. i live near lancaster pa so it seems odd that a pirate signal goes so far across the USA.
funny, last week i was driving somewhere in massachusetts and heard a few minutes of stern and thought it was weird too. It was not a clear signal and it only lasted a few minutes. I have no idea what frequency.
I heard Stern on 88.3 in Orange County New York this morning. Did a search and found this article – Pirates Rule!!!
btw, I heard a bunch of commercials on the Stern show – what’s that about? I thought that the reason people were paying was so that they would not hear commercials anymore! Can you say “Rip off”? Keep broadcasting Pirates – you are my heroes…
Peace,
KINGFREAK
http://www.kingfreak.com
Howard has mentioned that there have been reports that Sirius broadcasts “leak” from subscribers’ radios — that if your radio is tuned to a particular frequency & you’re close to a subscriber, the show will bleed over.
As far as commercials, there’s maybe 2 minutes an hour (people need time to use the bathroom, etc), and maybe 5 or so minutes at the end of the broadcast.
I occasionally pick up the smutmeister when I’m listening to 88.1 fm (one of the few jazz stations left on the airwaves). It’s good to hear to him again and I guess in a way, I do miss the show when it was on 97.1fm here in LA. The show sounds the same with the usual suspects. The only real difference is that it now has cussing.
I live in central Pa. and I just heard Stern on 87.9
I heard it this morning in Southie MA. No idea what channel it was on for I was listening to a low budget shower radio with no channel information. I dang near sheat my britches when I head the F bombs and foul language. Listened to it for 30 minutes and it came in clear.
Weymouth, MA: This is incredibly clear – as if you were listening on actual Sirius. The station is 87.9, clear as a whistle through Weymouth, then died out totally right over the Braintree line. Incredible
The person in the car next to you probably has their radio hooked up to an FM transmitter (which usually transmit to the 88.9-ish frequency. If you’re driving next to this car, it is very likely you could pick up their signal on your radio.
I was in Bethlehem PA 10am today and heard Stern clear as a bell, F-bombs and all on 88.5. I’m guessing Justin (comment #13)may have it right. I lost it at the next light.
Im listening to the show “The Bizz” 88,3,
Its really good but theres loud classical music playing over the talking! Is that a mistake??
I heard Howard on 88.5 FM in Sacramento this morning. I couldn’t believe it. I too was wondering if I was driving near an XM subscriber or if he’s being rebroadcast. Thanks for the post, I’ll be trying the station again tomorrow morning!