Howard Stern and Satellite Radio

[KEJ]

I actually bought Sirius stock a couple of years ago as a result of reading some posts on Discoweb about it. I'd heard of the company before that, but those posts were the impetus I needed to look into a buy. In April I doubled the number of shares I own, gambling that the underdog would sign Stern. They did, and I'm thrilled. I absolutely think he has a loyal enough fan base to have 1-in-10 of his regular listeners sign up for Sirius when he makes the move. That would be the one million subscribers they'd need to break even on his contract. 15 months of hype and "fear" of losing their man, and they will sign up in droves. He's going to have three channels to program, so it's really a partnership with Sirius. He'll be signing new talent, unfettered by the FCC.

The pall that has been cast over broadcasting in recent months is enormous. Fear of fines rules the airwaves now, and for many much more mild-mannered shows than Stern's. This is as revolutionary a step as HBO was back in the day. This needed to happen, IMO, and I'm very glad it has, for a lot of reasons.

KJ

 

[chrisvonc]

I used to be a huge Stern fan until he ran out of material about 5 years ago and I havent really missed listening to him since. I do check in once in a while but if I am luck enough to actually catch him not in his ungodly long commercial breaks, its just painfully boring anymore.

O & A just started their show on XM this week. runs 24/7 for people who cant catch the first morning broadcast, uncensored, no commercials and you dont have to wait 15 months for Howard to finally catch the bus.

 

[Robb]

I will be buying Sirius for Howard Stern and for NFL. As it is right now I download the Stern show on a newsgroup since I live in Atlanta where Stern is not aired. The posting I download is commercial free (no annoying long commercial breaks). I also have been delaying my purchase of satellite radio waiting for Howard Stern to announce who he would sign with.

I think his show will improve once on satellite radio. The show is nowhere near where it was in the mid-90s when Billy West was on the show. I hope the show will return to that when he switches to satellite. I cannot stand his political talk over the last 8 months. Censorship is ruining his show though.

I too bought stock in Sirius in July gambling that Stern would sign with Sirius. I think the fact that NFL signed with Sirius gave Sirius a big name and probably gave some customers or potential customer security that Sirius will be around.

Supposedly he has 14-20 million listeners. I think at a minimum 3 million will subscribe to Sirius due to Stern. I am sure some will say that is far-fetched but he also has fans who live in cities that do not air Stern.

The day he announced his switch to Sirius I received 3-4 emails from friends in New Orleans who said that they cannot wait for it and will be purchasing Sirius.

Bababooey to all of you!