Radio show canned after sex stunt

File photo of Greg "Opie" Hughes, left, and Anthony Cumia, former co-hosts of WNEW-FM's "Opie and Anthony Show."

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Facing a public outcry and an FCC investigation, New York radio station WNEW-FM canceled a controversial afternoon radio show whose hosts urged listeners to have sex in public places as part of a contest.

Last week, a man and woman, encouraged by the "shock jocks" on the "Opie and Anthony" show, were arrested while allegedly having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. A station employee who was broadcasting an account of the incident was also arrested.

WNEW-FM issued a statement Thursday, announcing that the show, which had been pulled off the air in the wake of the arrests, has been canceled "and will be replaced by other programming, beginning tomorrow." The station's general manger and program director were also suspended, the station said.

The station is owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a Viacom subsidiary which owns 180 radio stations in 22 states.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell Thursday ordered an investigation into the incident Thursday. Another FCC commissioner, Michael Copps, suggested that the FCC consider revoking the station's license.

Brian Florence, left, and Loretta Lynn Harper are charged with public lewdness for allegedly having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

But William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said that because the station has canceled the show, his group would no longer press for an FCC investigation or revocation of WNEW-FM's license.

"This is a refreshing example of corporate responsibility," he said in a statement.

The station was already in trouble with the FCC for alleged indecency on the "Opie and Anthony" program. The FCC in June moved to fine the station $21,000 for three broadcasts the commission found to be "patently offensive," including one audio mix that "inescapably refers to oral sex between a daughter and her father."

The show has featured a number of offbeat promotions with sexual overtones, including the Naughtiest Nightie Contest, the Boob-O-Lantern Contest and the Whipped Cream Bikini Contest.

-- CNN Correspondent Peter Viles contributed to this report.