Howard Stern Satellite Experiment Failing
This is the clearest sign yet that Howard Stern's move to satellite radio has flopped.
I've never been a fan of Howard Stern. I find his bathroom humor juvenile. But there is no denying his success as a national radio powerhouse.Howard Stern says he's been offered a "major deal" to come back to regular radio via satellite radio - just like his longtime enemies Opie & Anthony.
"The joke could be on them if I get good and worked up [because] I got offered a major deal to go back to terrestrial and stay on satellite at the same time," Stern told his Sirius listeners in comments replayed and mocked yesterday by "O&A."
"Can you imagine if I go across town against them in all those markets and just kick some a-? That would really be cool," said Stern, who now broadcasts to about a tenth of his former audience.
He had a huge audience.
When listeners could tune in for free.
90 percent of his fan base has been unwilling to shell out the price of a case a beer a month to enjoy the wit and wisdom of the self-proclaimed "King of All Media."
I believe terrestrial, free radio still has a bright future. This includes locally-produced programs. I think people like the local personalities....the local news, weather, sports and traffic reports...and the hometown feel of their local station(s). Plus they like to participate in discussions on issues of local importance.
National programs like Stern, Limbaugh, etc are successful only when they are free. A small niche may pay for Sirius to hear Stern or sign up for Rush 24/7 to get more Limbaugh, but not in enough numbers to sustain them as national personalities.
I predict Stern will be heard via traditional radio again within a year.
But again, not by me.
1 Comments:
Generally I agree with you, but on this you are dead wrong. Stern left terrestrial radio to expand his "art" and not be handstrung by the FCC. The move would be by SIRIUS corporate for $$, and Stern had categorically stated that his desire is to stay on SIRIUS. Mel K may like the positive cash flow into SIRIUS, but fact is that they are crushing Wall Street predictions and their subscriber list is growing faster than many predicted. 25 years ago people said no one would pay for cable and HBO.
Post a Comment
<< Home