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.
So long Howie...dont let the door hit you in the @ss on the way out.
Who gives a flip about that dirtball? Pas mois.
Just leave .......... you juvenile, self-absorbed, insecure perv.
Yeah, there's risk all right. But he's not taking it.
He's exactly </sarc> like sleazeball Jerry Springer, but uglier and with more hair.
an amazing contract ... does anyone know how much is guaranteed?
Stern reminds me of my grandfather with Tourettes
And a LOT richer.
He is not funny. He is a disgusting and vile person.
He makes his money as a walking, talking potty mouth.
No loss.
"Howie, don't let the door hit ya
Where the Good Lord split ya."
What a creep! Glad to have him off the free airwaves.
Thanks for telling me that. I've been laughing at him for the last 22 years and now I find out he's not funny. What was I thinking???
...which is even creepier. Easily one of the most hideous-looking old men I've ever seen.
Good riddance to a bag of trash.
Hideous, okay.
Old? 51 isn't that old (at least I don't feel old).
I said goodbye to him years ago.
Bye, Howard!
I haven't listened to him in ages, but I always thought he was funny, albeit crude. I forgive him for it and have always liked him anyway. :)
Except for this one
Exhibit A of Boomer unwillingness to grow up and be an adult. He has grandchildren, for pity's sake, and actually has fans who will pay to be entertained by his adolescent potty mouth. It's people such as Stern that provide fodder for the militant Muslims, who point to our culture as being degenerate and ripe for destruction.
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