Sirius XM Preps Bankruptcy

[nightflier]

Not to deviate off the Pix-bashing track or anything, but is there any news on the re-org for XM Sirius? What's the prognosis for the future of the programming? Is, ahem... Howard Stern going to get the boot?

[Duds]

Why in hell would Stern get the boot? you think people subscribe to sirius for the oprah channel?

Not to deviate off the Pix-bashing track or anything, but is there any news on the re-org for XM Sirius? What's the prognosis for the future of the programming? Is, ahem... Howard Stern going to get the boot?

[Woochifer]

Not to deviate off the Pix-bashing track or anything, but is there any news on the re-org for XM Sirius? What's the prognosis for the future of the programming? Is, ahem... Howard Stern going to get the boot?

Read my post. Liberty Media (parent company of Directv) bought a 40% stake in Sirius XM last week. Unfortunately, it looks like Mel Karmazin will continue to run the show. So, Sirius XM's blanding down of the music lineup and reliance on celebrity DJs/vanity channels will probably continue.

Directv and John Malone's team won't take over Sirius XM's operations, but it looks like they will do a lot of promotion and cobranding (since Liberty Media also dominates the market for satellite broadband). Not altogether sure what Liberty Media has in store for Sirius XM, other than a desire to keep Sirius XM out of Echostar's hands.

Rumor is that Howard Stern wants to return to terrestrial radio. He's getting very well compensated. But, even with the large numbers of listeners he brought over to Sirius, his audience right now is less than 1/5 of what it was when he was on terrestrial radio. He might enjoy the creative freedom of satellite radio, but he no longer commands the high profile that he did before. It's a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. And I doubt that a serial self-promoter like Stern will want to be remain relegated to the sidelines.

[Duds]

Why in the hell would Stern want to return to terrestial radio?

Read my post. Liberty Media (parent company of Directv) bought a 40% stake in Sirius XM last week. Unfortunately, it looks like Mel Karmazin will continue to run the show. So, Sirius XM's blanding down of the music lineup and reliance on celebrity DJs/vanity channels will probably continue.

Directv and John Malone's team won't take over Sirius XM's operations, but it looks like they will do a lot of promotion and cobranding (since Liberty Media also dominates the market for satellite broadband). Not altogether sure what Liberty Media has in store for Sirius XM, other than a desire to keep Sirius XM out of Echostar's hands.

Rumor is that Howard Stern wants to return to terrestrial radio. He's getting very well compensated. But, even with the large numbers of listeners he brought over to Sirius, his audience right now is less than 1/5 of what it was when he was on terrestrial radio. He might enjoy the creative freedom of satellite radio, but he no longer commands the high profile that he did before. It's a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. And I doubt that a serial self-promoter like Stern will want to be remain relegated to the sidelines.

[Woochifer]

Why in the hell would Stern want to return to terrestial radio?

As I mentioned in my post, his audience right now is tiny compared to his radio heyday, and you don't hear much about him anymore because of that. Stern's paycheck is bigger than ever, and he no longer has to worry about the FCC clamping down on his affiliates. But, Stern has always been about self-promotion, and getting attention through controversy. And it's hard to get attention since the change over to satellite radio eliminates any controversy over his material.

The uncensored platform he craved when the FCC was fining his affiliates is one of those unintended consequences. He was controversial when saying stuff that wasn't allowed over the airwaves, but now that he's allowed to say whatever he wants, it's no longer controversial. Lack of controversy means that no one other than his subscriber audience is paying attention.

[Duds]

How can they pay attention when they aren't a subscriber?

I'm not buying it. He was going nuts during his last years on terrestial radio. I just do not see it happening.

If he does indeed go back, i'll label him a sell out.

As I mentioned in my post, his audience right now is tiny compared to his radio heyday, and you don't hear much about him anymore because of that. Stern's paycheck is bigger than ever, and he no longer has to worry about the FCC clamping down on his affiliates. But, Stern has always been about self-promotion, and getting attention through controversy. And it's hard to get attention since the change over to satellite radio eliminates any controversy over his material.

The uncensored platform he craved when the FCC was fining his affiliates is one of those unintended consequences. He was controversial when saying stuff that wasn't allowed over the airwaves, but now that he's allowed to say whatever he wants, it's no longer controversial. Lack of controversy means that no one other than his subscriber audience is paying attention.

[nightflier]

If he does indeed go back, i'll label him a sell out.

Ironic, since he won't be getting that big fat paycheck, then....

Stern did complain a lot, and now not so much. Maybe we have a fetish about hearing people complain about things?

[Duds]

No, i'd probably still listen, but his shows on terrestial radio weren't nearly as good as what they are on satellite radio.

Doesnt mean I cant call him a sell out though

Ironic, since he won't be getting that big fat paycheck, then....

Stern did complain a lot, and now not so much. Maybe we have a fetish about hearing people complain about things?

[Woochifer]

How can they pay attention when they aren't a subscriber?

That's exactly the point. Stern's a media whore, and if he's not pissing off the FCC or easily offended listeners, the rest of the media isn't showering attention to the self-proclaimed king of all media. Subscribers are not going to be offended by Stern, because they are paying to listen to his program. Therefore, subscribers are not going to raise a media outcry over something controversial.

I'm not buying it. He was going nuts during his last years on terrestial radio. I just do not see it happening.

He was going nuts, and he was getting written up all over the media. Controversy sells newspapers, and gets ratings for tabloid/entertainment programs. When Stern was battling the FCC and his affiliates, he created a cottage industry around the controversy that he created. People get offended when Stern's rantings go over the public airwaves. It got him attention, and that's exactly what he wanted.

With satellite radio, his audience is self-selected and they won't get offended because it's a subscriber service. He can be even more outrageous, and it won't get him much notice at all because of that.

If he does indeed go back, i'll label him a sell out.

It's all contingent on if he cares more about the publicity or the money. His jump to Sirius was a money grab. If he wants publicity, terrestrial radio gives him the biggest exposure.