Sure - bought by the production company, even:
Posted on 12/16/2005 4:19:04 AM PST by Momaw Nadon
NEW YORK - The free ride for Howard Stern fans ends Friday. Stern, a New York radio fixture for 20 years and host of a syndicated show for 12 million daily listeners, bids farewell to his fans with a final show on terrestrial radio. On Jan. 9, Stern makes his move to satellite radio — where his once-free speech will cost listeners $12.95 a month.
Stern, no surprise, will not leave quietly. He's scheduled a two-hour party in midtown Manhattan to say goodbye to his loyal listeners. And he plans to deliver an address to fans on his final show, finishing up a quarter-century on terrestrial radio as arguably its most influential figure.
Stern leaves behind a plethora of imitators spawned in the wake of his success, when his show enjoyed an unprecedented ratings run to hit No. 1 in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Los Angeles.
His move to Sirius Satellite Radio, while somewhat risky, comes with a huge financial reward: Stern signed a five-year, $500 million contract to create two new channels for Sirius. The salaries, overhead and other programming costs come out of his windfall.
During his career, Stern evolved into the center of attention in First Amendment issues and censorship. Infinity Broadcasting paid $1.7 million in 1995 to settle complaints by the Federal Communications Commission against Stern. In April 2004, Clear Channel dumped Stern from six stations because of his show's content.
Sirius is depending on Stern to reverse its money-losing ways. Since the 51-year-old shock jock announced his move last year, the number of Sirius subscribers jumped from 600,000 to more than 2.2 million. That figure is expected to hit 3 million by the end of the year.
> Have you ever even heard the show?
Yes. We've had electricity and wireless here for a while now.
Gee, I guess I was thinking that I don't care what you think. Just as I don't expect you to give a damn about what I think.
But thank you for wanting to save me from myself.
He's syndicated in New Zealand? The daily radio program?
It may be politically incorrect and my perspectives disagree ... but, I find a lot of humor in Stern's program.
btw ~ out of the $500 million he gets ... His move to Sirius Satellite Radio, while somewhat risky, comes with a huge financial reward: Stern signed a five-year, $500 million contract to create two new channels for Sirius. The salaries, overhead and other programming costs come out of his windfall.
I'm trying to recall a time when I ever laughed at anything Stern said. He's so NOT funny it's pathetic. I was in a carpool where one of the guys insisted on listening to this clown. He'd sit in the back seat giggling at the overgreen teenager's rants, while we'd shake our heads. We finally commandeered the radio, and the backseat Stern fan began driving to work.
Sure - bought by the production company, even:
I don't listen to that one either. A bunch of guys laughing at their own bad/inside jokes. Never understood how that was entertaining or funny.
Can you explain what it is that attracted him to you?
I was stating my opinion, much as you stated yours.
I came close when I woke up on a drive back from Spring Break - my timing might have been 30 mins off. ;)
Of course by 7 am I felt like sh!t. It was ugly.
He's just a fast talking scumbag.
And, Sirius will drop Fox News and Tony Snow to make room for Stern.
Sort of cuts the collective IQ of Sirius offerings by 30 or 40 points.
He's crude and vulgar at times. He's also annoying and whiny at times. But I like him and I won't call people names because they don't like him.
Apparently some folks that hate Howard (whether they have actually listened to him or not) are happy to label others.
It's just me, but I try not to be a sanctimonious jerk.
Never underestimate the public that votes for Stern, Kennedy, Clintons and others
I love him, and am listening to the show right now.
That's not true. I'm sure you can find enough to criticize about Howard Stern without lying.
He's funny.
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