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Stern Will Jump To Sirius In 2006

UnanimousCoward writes "Howard Stern announced it on his current radio show, and several feeds including this CNET article are reporting that Stern has signed a multi-million dollar multi-year contract with Sirius Satellite Radio starting in January, 2006. As I've watched technology grow from the time I was listening to Stern in the eighties, I can't wait to hook into a shockjock-timeshifted-podcast..."

38 of 511 comments (clear)

  1. YRO? by thewldisntenuff · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And this involves our rights online how? Even with the censorship of Clear Channel and the FCC.....

    We need a simple "Rights" section, although I don't know if this even qualifies for rights period....

    Just news...

    -thewldisntenuff

    1. Re:YRO? by malchus842 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The "Online" might be wrong, but"rights" are surely involved.

      The fact that Stern's show is a major problem for the current nannies in Washington, getting a show on a medium that is subscription only is a big deal. Does it affect my rights? Sure does. My right to listen to what I want to listen to, without government censorship. I don't like Howard Stern, but I like the idea of the government controlling what he can and can't say on the radio a lot less.

      The current rush by the government to "protect us" is just another link in the chain of despotism.

    2. Re:YRO? by mikio71 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Not sure if you have been tuning into the Howard Stern broadcasts since he got taken off Clear Channel, but he has been venting frustration over the fact that he can't do the show that he wants to do without being bleeped off the air. In any case, I'm sure that the money was of interest to him, but from his point of view, he's also taking a huge leap of faith in his listeners that they will all follow him to Sirius Satellite Radio and actually pay his salary too... From my point of view, if you look at people who have made enough money that they can retire very comfortably, as I believe Howard Stern has, you will notice that their ambitions in life is no longer about making millions and millions of dollars... On the radio show this morning, Howard was mentioning about how he had an epiphany at 5 years old where he just wanted to do radio, and when he was first starting out, he was dreaming of getting paid $250/week to do what he loves... I'm sure there's a degree of BS to this, but I also believe that he really does enjoy what he does, and now that he has proven to the world that he's the King of All Media, it's no longer about proving himself and making the money to show for it, as it is for him to just do what he likes. I really wasn't a big fan of his show until the controversy started with Clear Channel and started listening to him to understand more about the crazy people out there that just want to bring him down, yet ignore all other people doing the same thing as him or worse... Anyway... just my 2 cents...

  2. YRO? by unlinear · · Score: 3, Insightful

    and this is YRO... how?

    I can see the FCC connection, but I doubt that was his main motivation when the words "multi-million dollar" are used.

  3. Already predicted in this Wired Mag article: by wdavies · · Score: 4, Interesting

    On XM Radio and its founder. Very interesting discussion of how they are gonna kill the Clear Channel republican monopoly. I for one am almost about ready to go out and buy one even though I cant stand Stern...

    1. Re:Already predicted in this Wired Mag article: by Ryan+Stortz · · Score: 5, Informative

      From XM's corperate page: XM Does for Radio what Cable and Satellite Did for TV:

      Beyond AM. Beyond FM. It's XM - Radio to the Power of X: Radio has just taken a quantum leap into the future. With over 120 channels in 2004 of music, news, sports, comedy and talk, nationwide coverage and digital-quality sound, XM Satellite Radio -- the #1 digital satellite radio service in the U.S. -- is unleashing a radio revolution in cars and homes across the country. Part rocket science, part rock n' roll, it will change forever the way you hear radio. XM's support runs wide and deep, with strategic investors including America's leading car, radio and satellite TV companies -- General Motors, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Clear Channel Communications, and DIRECTV.


      XM is as big a part of the monopoly as any other radio station.

      --
      Bugs are just features that have been fixed.
    2. Re:Already predicted in this Wired Mag article: by avalys · · Score: 4, Informative

      Sirius and XM Radio are not the same company. They're competitors.

      Sirius is the one that Stern will be on, which I presume is quite a victory for them.

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  4. Yeah, but is he worth a billion bucks? by Jaywalk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This may be a good thing for Sirius, but it seems to have made the stock market go stupid. The price of Sirius stock -- already overpriced IMHO -- jumped a billion dollars on the news. Later it dropped to half a billion. but that's still nuts. The Motley Fool did an article on it. I don't care for Howard Stern, but even if you think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, what could he possibly say on the radio that would increase the value of the company by that much?

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    ===== Murphy's Law is recursive. =====
    1. Re:Yeah, but is he worth a billion bucks? by fire-eyes · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I for one can tell you why. I've been considering satellite radio for a while, though I'd only played with XM. I am not a huge fan of stern, but I do consider his show a core part of my day.

      Stern going Sirius alone, is enough to make me go out and buy a Sirius unit. I am willing to pay.

      I just hope I can get a unit similar to what I can in XM: A unit that transmits to my current head unit, I don't feel like replacing it as I just spent 1300 dollars on a system.

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      -- Note: If you don't agree with me, don't bother replying. I won't read it.
    2. Re:Yeah, but is he worth a billion bucks? by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Stern going Sirius alone, is enough to make me go out and buy a Sirius unit. I am willing to pay.

      That is the technical definition of a "killer app". One specific application of a system that is so valuable it justifies the purchase of an entire multi-function system.

      That's why this is big news. Stern has a lot of fans who don't want to lose access to him on a daily basis. Sirius sales will surge during holiday season 2005.

    3. Re:Yeah, but is he worth a billion bucks? by clf8 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What could he say? The same things he's always said. What he can bring, however, is dare I say millions of new subscribers. Stern fans tend to be pretty fervent (as do Stern haters). If 1/10 subscribes to Sirius' service, and 1/100 subscribes to his pay channel (he'll be given 3 channels to program), that will be a great boost. Greater subscriber base gives you greater market clout, more tuner's sold (thus better economies of scale), and to many a key differentiator between Sirius and XM. No one, except maybe Stern himself, can claim this could be a move that makes Sirius THE satellite radio provider, but in the long run, sure, it could be worth a billion.

      "The average morning radio show listener tunes in for 30 minutes. The average Howard Stern fan tunes in for 90 minutes!" "90 minutes?! Why?" "Most common answer, 'I want to hear what he'll say next.'" "But what about the people who hate Stern?" "The average Howard Stern hater listens for TWO HOURS!" "I can't believ this! Why?" Most common answer, 'I want to hear what he'll say next.'"

  5. in other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...earlier today the FCC put in an order to Raytheon for 100 ASAT suitable missiles.

  6. no censorship by pchan- · · Score: 4, Funny

    does this mean that now he can say SHIT, and FUCK, and other such offensive words that us americans are too sensitive to hear? i hope he starts off his new show at sirius with the dirtiest joke ever told on any broadcast medium.

  7. Free Now. Pay Later by troutster · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Swansong for Stern. I doubt as many of Stern listeners as predicted will plunk down their hard earned cash to listen to him. He is definetly #1 now, but that is sure to disappear once you have to pay to listen.

  8. Re:Why Not XM by ZenPirate · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm going to assume that it's because ClearChannel has stake in XM

  9. But will Stern fans follow him to satellite? by MtViewGuy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There are a couple of issues that have to be considered now that Howard Stern will become a Sirius satellite-only show:

    1. Will fans pony up the big bucks for a Sirius satellite radio receiver and pay the monthly fee just to hear Stern? Remember, unlike XM satellite radio, Sirius is still quite rare as pre-installed on new cars.

    2. Will Stern be unfettered by censorship and take the show to extremely raunchy levels of sexual descriptions and use of raunchy language?

    Despite Sirius getting NFL broadcasts, they're still way behind XM in terms of public recognition.

    1. Re:But will Stern fans follow him to satellite? by Misch · · Score: 4, Informative

      1. The number of auto manufacturers that have Sirius as factory installed is increasing.

      SIRIUS' exclusive automotive partners DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW represent over 40% of new cars and light trucks sold annually in the United States. Automotive brands currently offering SIRIUS radios in select new car models include BMW, MINI, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeepâ, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Audi, Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Automotive brands that have announced plans to offer SIRIUS radios in select models include Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and Aston Martin. In 2004, SIRIUS radios are expected to be available in nearly 80 different car models, with over 50 of them factory programs. Also Hertz currently offers SIRIUS in 29 vehicle models at 53 major locations around the country. In addition, Penske Companies - Penske Auto Group, United Auto Group and Penske Trucking - are offering SIRIUS radios as a factory installed option, where available, in their cars and trucks through their dealerships.

      2. The safe answer is "yes" because of Sirius' advertising slogan: "Censorship_OFF"

      XM beat Sirius to the starting gate, but Sirius is gaining ground quickly. According to their CEO, Sirius is slated to hit 1 million subscribers before years' end. This announcement was made well before Howard Stern was signed.

      Sirius is the better value, IMHO (Note: Biased, I'm a subscriber)

      Sirius: $12.95/Month
      Includes:
      65+ Commercial Free music channels.
      Sports, Talk, Weather
      Free on-line music streaming
      All NFL games
      NBA (up to 40 games/week)
      NHL (up to 40 games/week, if they get off their asses.)
      Some college sports
      Starting Jan 2, 2006, Howard Stern

      XM: Base $9.95/month
      Includes:
      68 Music Channels (up to 2 minutes commercials/hour)
      Sports/Talk/Weather
      NASCAR

      Extras:
      Opie & Anthony (additional $1.99/month)
      Playboy Radio (Additional $1.99/month)
      On-Line streaming music (Additional $3.99/month)

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      --You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
  10. So what does XM have to offer now. by Bruha · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With the recent announcements of big name talk show hosts including stern going to sirius I'm becoming a little irritated with XM's love fest with the automobile industry. I cant get a Sirius module for my stereo so it's all intergrated and would be forced to buy a stand alone unit to plug into the aux jack..

    However this is good news for sirius.

  11. How I See It by MBCook · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Let me start off by saying I don't support shock jocks and I've never listened to Stern.

    OK, that out of the way, here is how I see it. First of all, it's a very novel solution to this whole "FCC is censoring people" stuff (which I don't believe, but that's a matter of opinon). I never would have thought of that. I wonder if any other shock jocks follow suit. Makes sense though. XM has a Playboy channel (I have no idea what's on it), so obviously they aren't subject to those kinds of fines. I wonder how substantially his program will change now that he's free to say and do whatever he wants. And I wonder if Sirrius will have any kind of limits or leash on what he can do.

    As for moving to Sirrus, they've got to love that. As the article says, their stock jumped 15%. While I've never listened to Stern, the fact that I know who he is without having to read an article or something like that says he's popular (or contravertial, but in this case both). I bet this will do some great things for Sirrus's membership (although it might drive a few away on idological grounds, but I doubt more than a handfull). I have to wonder if there was any kind of bidding war between Sirrus and XM (which my family has a subscription to). I would think having a radio celeb go sat-radio only would be something XM would have liked to be a part of. This should also lend an air of credibility to the idea of sat-radio, if a big star did this.

    On a side note, YRO never seems to have anything to do with Online any more. Why not just rename it "Your Rights"? Just a thought. Don't bother commenting on this part.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    1. Re:How I See It by ejaw5 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      (although it might drive a few away on idological grounds, but I doubt more than a handfull).

      That's the problem with people around here. What's so hard about "Don't like it, change the bloody channel". And for all the won't-someone-please-think-of-the-children folks, enlighten your kids why you're changing the bloddy channel.

      --

      $cat /dev/random > Sig
  12. Sirius? by ornil · · Score: 4, Funny

    Stern Will Jump To Sirius In 2006

    You know, even if he jumps to Alpha Centauri, not many of us would miss him.

  13. Re:Regulations? by pauls2272 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Currently they cannot regulate Sirius (or cable). This is actually due to a court decision (Playboy vs US Government).

    However, republicans in congress have been saying that profanity/indecency should not be allowed just because it occurs on cable and that the FCC should have the power to regulate cable (this would also apply to satelite radio).

    Since the republicans control congress, expect to see "child protection" legislation in the next year or so to give the FCC the power to regulate cable.

  14. Jumping to Sirius!!! by waynegoode · · Score: 4, Funny
    Howard Stern is jumping to Sirius? Alright!

    No, hold on... You mean the satellite service.

    Never mind...

  15. Re:I don't get it... by slavetrade55 · · Score: 3, Informative

    You should rent the movie Private Parts. It tells the story of Howard Stern's early career and how he came to be the oft-hated guy he is today. He wasn't always a shock-jock. And if you think the movie is nothing but swearing and boobs, you'd be completely wrong. It's an actual, according-to-Hoyle, legitimate movie, and it gives you an insight into HS that you will not get just by listening to his show. You still probably won't like his show, but at least you'll know why he does what he does.

    Check it out:

    http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:1 54 686

  16. Re:I don't get it... by HexRei · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What the fuck does this have to do with the parent comment? Whether or not you enjoy listening to Howard Stern should have no impact on whether his show should be censored or not.
    We're talking about freedom of speech, not the freedom to prevent others from enjoying something that you happen to dislike.

    Of course, if by "over there", you mean australia, china, or europe, then you all have your own little gov't censorship issues to deal with, don't you?

  17. SOL by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Stern is jumping to satellite because the FCC and its christian corporate masters hounded him off FM. So much for free speech - satellite is pay-only. And if you think pay-as-in-beer guarantees free speech, ask the cable channels the FCC is now illegally enforcing into their jurisdictional scope.

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    make install -not war

  18. Re:I don't get it... by tommertron · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I've seen it, and I liked the movie. I liked the spirit of the movie, which in large part is about pushing the boundaries of free speech in a lot of ways. I still don't find his show funny, though.

    I just find him too mean to be honest. It seems a lot of his humour comes from bullying people, like the mentally challenged, who can't really defend themselves. That's just my impression anyway. (Not that that means I think we should censor him or anything.)

    --
    Random rants about technology: http://technorants.blogspot.com
  19. Re:Mmmhmmm by Brandybuck · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You know, it's idiotic shit like this that makes me nuts about America.

    Why don't you go back and read his post? He isn't saying anything about banning Stern, outlawing Stern, or sending the 82nd Airborne down on Stern's ass. All he is saying is that he doesn't want to listen to Stern.

    What's idiotic is people like you ranting and raving about our diminishing freedom of choice every time someone makes a choice different from yours. You can be for the decriminalization of marijuana without being a pothead. Really!

    --
    Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
  20. Re:I don't get it... by stecoop · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hold on a second.

    I don't know if you mean US thing - are you Brit with the toilet humor; Russian with the outlawed gay humor; Australia with thumb up the crock's butt humor, and yes I am generalizing as the as you did because I don't really know each culture's humor - Howard has just a different humor. Like it or not it's the way it is.

    However, you're missing a more important decision. Howard has been severally fined from the FCC and decided to leave over the air broadcast - it huge, go look at Siruis stock - it went up 18% today. He is leaving what he thinks to be censorship from OTA broadcast in favor of freedom to do as he wishes on the show. We'll see how it pans out in 2005.

  21. Re:Regulations? by The_K4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since the republicans control congress, expect to see "child protection" legislation in the next year or so to give the FCC the power to regulate cable.

    Remember that in November you have a chance to try and change that.

  22. The King is Dead by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Long live the King. Ever since I first started listening to Stern on AM NYC radio in the 1980s, his arrival has been followed quickly by the demise of the medium, usually drowned in a sea of rightwing mediocrity. AM, FM drivetime, cable talkshow simulcasts, even the movies have seemed to go even further downhill since _Private Parts_, and the book's publication was part of paper publishing's deathrattle. I like Stern, and though many people think he's the Death of All Media (tastewise), I think he exploits each medium he conquers in new, unforseen ways (except the book, which was just funny). But apparently his (mostly rightwing) opponents seem to think "if that fool can do it bad, I can do it good", and then overrun his new territory. So does this latest announcement certify satellite radio's 2007-8 expiration date?

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    make install -not war

  23. Re:I don't get it... by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe it's a USian thing, but over here most guys grow out of this sort of humour round about the time their balls drop, and most girls don't like it at all.

    Benny Hill ??

  24. He's an ass. by el-spectre · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've heard him. In my opinion, he's purile, insulting, egotistical and in general, an ass.

    Turns out, being an ass is legal. I don't like his show, I won't listen to him, but he ABSOLUTELY has the right to do what he does.

    Isn't it funny how many people (not the poster I'm responding to, tho) only want freedom of speech as long as they agree with it?

    --
    "Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel." - A.B.
  25. Re:I don't get it... by techsoldaten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Took an american studies class back in college, we did a critical comparison of 'Miss America' to 'The Great Gatsby'. While I agree with you Howard is capable of only one joke, I don't think you've found it yet.

    The whole reason for people's interest in Howard is that he is always something other than how he presents himself. He comes off as a juvenile, but he is also a shrewd businessman. He comes off as a pervert, but he was married and had a family for over 20 years. He loves the low-brow humor, but also engages in serious political commentary. He provokes the worst from people, but also manages to keep a strong core audience. It's impossible to have a well-defined concept of him without contradiction, which is at the root of people's fascination with him.

    People like to know who other people are, you like to be able to count on something from the people around you. Howard Stern's ability to change his persona is what makes him more than a crass boob joke, the joke is that he can be many different people and move so easily from one 'type' of person to the other.

    M

  26. Re:Here's what's protecting you by FredFnord · · Score: 3, Funny
    The porn industry is huge; it may dwarf Hollywood, in fact.
    Porn? Dwarf? There's a joke in there somewhere, but it's kind of sticky and gross and I don't want to touch it.

    -fred
    --
    Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
  27. Re:Oh Booo Hooo Hooo. by SmurfButcher+Bob · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, it's easier than that.

    See, we live in a country that's under the Rule of Law. Most of us know what this means; simply put, the rules are written down, in plain english that cannot be misinterpreted (yeah, it's a stretch... but you get my point.)

    Contrast that with a place under the Rule of Men. They can change what the law is, or what it means, at will.

    And that's the problem with the FCC. They claim they'll punish indecency. Fair enough. Just one problem... ... DEFINE IT.

    They haven't. And, they can't. Nowhere will you discover any legally binding document that clearly indicates what is and is not acceptable. And it glares in the face of "legitimate law" - it's illegal to murder someone, for example - no doubts as to what that means, right? Then, we'll also make it illegal to kill them with guns. In fact, we'll pass another law that makes it to kill them with guns, in a school. The merits of the examples notwithstanding, they illustrate that US Law is intended to be specific, using specific definitions. FCC "law" defining "indecent" is anything but that. In fact, it's nonexistent.

    Do a little research on FCC's concept of "indecent". You'll discover that it basically starts with Mob Rule (actually, "Single Loudmouth Rule"), and it's final interpretation is based on nothing more than the whim of the FCC executive.

    --

    help me i've cloned myself and can't remember which one I am

  28. Re:why i'll buy into Sirius. by gabe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When he's not doing that he'll play some idiotically simple game with homeless people or retards,

    Yeah, that stuff's wicked funny.

    then he flip-flopped and became a Bush hater for some reason

    Yeah, that whole Michael Powell turning the FCC into witch hunting club for daddy's friends bit had nothing to do with that.

    P.S. Two points for use of the most overused, and fucking tired, term of 2004.

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    Gabriel Ricard
  29. Re:I don't get it... by Pii · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The way I read your post, it sounded to me like you were agreeing with the original poster that he'd been fired, which is silly. (If that's not the case, my apologies... Lot of Stern bashing in this thread, and I thought you were piling on.)

    But here's the interesting thing... Now that he's announced that he won't be renewing, he'll essentially have the next 15 months to promote his Sirius gig, and encourage people to buy the hardware and subscriptions.

    CBS/Viacom, and terrestrial radio in general, can't afford to give their competitor that kind of free ride.

    Even though Stern has a contract, I don't think they'll keep him on the air. They'll have to pay him out (or he'll take them to court, and win, just like he's doing with Clear Channel over the 6 markets they kicked him out of), and they'll have to put a replacement show on, even though it'll hurt their ratings and advertising revenue.

    Stern will not be on regular Radio for the entire period between now and his Satellite debut. (He hasn't publically predicted this, but if you look at how he's finally gotten his website together this year (He had no website up until this year) I'm sure he knows this to be true.)

    --
    For those that would die defending it, Freedom
    has a sweet taste that the protected will never know.