Stern Taken Off Air After Promoting Move to Satellite

NEW YORK – Howard Stern got a one-day suspension Monday after heavily promoting his move to satellite radio.

"We expect him back on Wednesday," said Karen Mateo, a spokeswoman for Infinity Broadcasting, which carries Stern's syndicated show in more than 20 markets.

She wouldn't call Stern's absence a suspension and declined to comment further. Listeners will hear a compilation of Stern's best shows on Tuesday, she said.

But Stern's spokesman Matt Traub called it was a paid suspension.

"This is an act of desperation by men who are losing their once-in-a-lifetime franchise," Traub said Monday.

It was first reported on the Howard 100 channel carried by Sirius Satellite Radio, where the shock jock is moving his show next year. It said that Stern was suspended for talking too much about his impending move to satellite.

Stern announced his departure last year to Sirius, where he received a $500 million contract to begin in January 2006. Stern boasts an audience of about 12 million and revenues of about $100 million from his morning radio show. His last live radio show for Infinity is scheduled for Dec. 16.

Sirius spokesman Patrick Reilly declined to comment Monday.