ASN considers Howard Stern's new television talk show too hot to handle, at least for the debut.

The Halifax-based channel was to have aired the first Howard Stern Radio Show on Saturday at 12:06 a.m. but decided Thursday to pull the program for at least a week.

Jane Hefler, program co-ordinator at ATV/ASN, said they decided not to air the potentially controversial show until they've had a chance to screen it for objectionable content.

"Although we're excited about airing it, we're concerned as well," Hefler said Thursday. "We're especially uncomfortable about airing this first episode without having a good look at it.

"We just want to err on the side of caution," she said.

Hefler said they cannot get the feed for the new talk show, originating from CBS in the U.S., until shortly before airtime Saturday.

"We're going to take a look at the Saturday show on Monday just to see if there is a reason for concern," she said. "Hopefully we're just putting off (airing the show) by a week."

The decision to pull the Howard Stern Radio Show this weekend was made by Hefler and station manager Mike Elgie.

ASN's actions mirror that of Toronto station Citytv, which announced earlier this month it was holding back Stern's show for a couple of weeks in order to judge its contents.

Those who still want to see Stern's inaugural TV show can catch it Saturday on CBS at 12:35 a.m.

Not a lot is known about the format of the new show except it is expected to contain taped segments from Stern's weekday radio show.

CBS hopes Stern can go head-to-head with NBC stalwart Saturday Night Live.

Stern, the self-described King of All Media, is no stranger to controversy.

His syndicated radio show features lots of jokes about sex and bodily functions and Stern ruffled feathers in Canada when his show was picked up by a couple of radio stations in this country.

Under pressure from the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, the two Canadian radio stations that air his show, Q-107 in Toronto and CHOM in Montreal, now broadcast the show on a brief time delay to edit out the most offensive material.


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