Howard Stern's 8AM announcement

[BwanaBob]

I'm stuck at work (away from a radio), so could someone please post Howard's
announcement when he makes it.

My guess is that it's something to do with satellite radio.

Many thanks.

[BwanaBob]

Cheap bump

[singular1]

When his contract is up in 15 months, he's going to Sirius satelite radio. Which sucks for those of us that simply aren't a good match with satelite radio. I can only listen at work, and no way can I get Sirius in here.
By the way, he's going to develop 5 shows, non-premium.
sigh.....

[Walkabout]

Yeah, actually you can get Sirius at work, as long as you have a sound card in your computer. If you are a subscriber you can get the transmissions through their web site. Unfortunately, you can only get the music channels.

[fc1114]

He'll be at Sirius in 2006. Their stock will be :eek:

[singular1]

Yeah, actually you can get Sirius at work, as long as you have a sound card in your computer. If you are a subscriber you can get the transmissions through their web site. Unfortunately, you can only get the music channels.

That's the problem - I work on a Unix workstation, no sound card, no flash player, no 'net extras. I use CATIA, so I don't get a PC. I guess they figured that if you're getting a $14,000 work station, maybe you shouldn't expect too many toys on it.

But I still want me some toys.....

(and I was wrong, it was 3 shows, not 5)

[Loach]

What a coincidence that he annouced that this week :rolleyes:

[Trunk]

What a coincidence that he annouced that this week :rolleyes:
Why do you say that? What's this week?

I for one, am pretty psyched about it. I have XM, like satellite radio, and view this as a goof step forward for the industry.

It's probably the future of radio and it will be good to hear the show the way he wants it.

I only wonder if it will have the same feel. There was something "outlaw" about his show, just broadcasting that stuff, always butting heads with censors. When there are no censors, is it then just a bunch of guys being dirty.

I think he's smart enough and entertaining enough to keep it fresh.

[BwanaBob]

What a coincidence that he annouced that this week :rolleyes:

What am I missing here? Why the rolleyes?

[Loach]

Take a look and see who started on XM this week. Just a coincidence I'm sure.

[Lord Ashtar]

Take a look and see who started on XM this week. Just a coincidence I'm sure.
Okay, I give up. Who just started on XM this week? Greaseman? Imus?

[E-Sabbath]

Apparently, Sirus transmits the music channels on DISH Network. Hm. This could be good.

[Trunk]

Bob Edwards?

Opie and Anthony?

Stern's been talking about going to satellite radio for like a year now. I doubt that Bob Edwards going to XM caused him to finally sign on the dotted sign.

[Loach]

Who is Bob Edwards? Never heard of him. Opie and Anthony started on XM this Monday.

[Ike Witt]

Who is Bob Edwards? Never heard of him.

He hosted Morning Edition on NPR for 24 years and 6 months.

[Caricci]

I guess this means I'll be getting satellite radio in 15 months. I've listened to Howard since NBC; I can't give him up now. I am sure that this will be a much more common medium for people to have now that Howard will be on it. And I seriously doubt that the NPR guy had anything to do with it. I've never heard him mention him.

[Loach]

He hosted Morning Edition on NPR for 24 years and 6 months.

Does he have naked lesbians?

[MannyL]

I guess this means I'll be getting satellite radio in 15 months. I've listened to Howard since NBC; I can't give him up now. I am sure that this will be a much more common medium for people to have now that Howard will be on it. And I seriously doubt that the NPR guy had anything to do with it. I've never heard him mention him.

Howard is going to Sirus because Opie & Anthony are now on XM. (Chanel 202 1.99 extra a month) There seems to be bad blood between Howie and O & A based on what I heard on their first show now that they can talk about anyone. With O & A having a 15 month head start on Howie this should get intresting. I doubt you will get Howie's shows on the Sirus website because it's too easy to capture the stream and broadast it to non subscribers.

Long Live O & A

Spread the virus!

[«Ðëëp¤F®ïêd»™]

Who the hell are Opie and Anderson?

[Trunk]

Howard is going to Sirus because Opie & Anthony are now on XM.

I'd say the primary reason for Howard going to Sirius is that he's sick of the FCC breathing down his neck, and sick of not being able to do the show he wants to do.

He's been talking about that since 1988.

FWIW, I don't even know who Opie & Anthony are. XM announced they were coming to XM and I said, "Who?"

[Jonathan Chance]

Does he have naked lesbians?

No, thank God.

[Loach]

FWIW, I don't even know who Opie & Anthony are. XM announced they were coming to XM and I said, "Who?"

If you listen to Stern you have heard of them. He used to complain and belittle them all the time. If you listen to Stern you also heard their material.

[«Ðëëp¤F®ïêd»™]

I listen to Stern and I don't remember them...are they syndicated? What material do you claim is stolen?

[Lord Ashtar]

Who the hell are Opie and Anderson?
Opie & Anthony got infamous a few years ago when they had a contest to find the couple who would have sex in the most unusual place. One couple decided to have sex in a church, causing a big uproar and getting them fired.

[«Ðëëp¤F®ïêd»™]

Opie & Anthony got infamous a few years ago when they had a contest to find the couple who would have sex in the most unusual place. One couple decided to have sex in a church, causing a big uproar and getting them fired.

Thanks Lord Ashtar. That sounds vaguely familiar. I honestly haven't heard of them. Maybe they are not syndicated in the bay area.

[Loach]

Actually they didn't get fired. The show was cancelled. They had an iron-clad multi-million dollar contract. Infinity had to pay them the entire time they were on their extended vacation. Thats why they haven't been on the air until now. Even if Stern has been talking about this for a while, it is very suspicious that he would announce this now.

[Loach]

If they were in the Bay area it was just for a short time. Their sindication deal happened not too long before the incident that took them off the air. They were in something like 25 markets and expanding when CBS shot themselves in the foot and took them off the air.

[Who_me?]

Actually they didn't get fired. The show was cancelled. They had an iron-clad multi-million dollar contract. Infinity had to pay them the entire time they were on their extended vacation. Thats why they haven't been on the air until now. Even if Stern has been talking about this for a while, it is very suspicious that he would announce this now.


Opie and Anthony were awful and I started listening to all news radio because I couldn't stand them.

[E-Sabbath]

They were pretty funny, but rauncher than Stern. And a bit more low-brow, and a bit younger. Stern gets real celebrities, and talks about real issues, with empathy. Yes, I know, it's Howard, but like the Daily Show, it's always been more than a comedy show.

O&A did talk about video games more, and... well. One contest was the 'wiffle bat test'. A woman would come over and insert said bat, and they'd see how far it went.
Or they'd do an old magic trick and tell a woman's age by having one of them look at... well. Another contest was 'Whip 'em out Wednesday". They even had WOW bumper stickers.

Funny, yes. More low-brow? A bit. Good radio... yeah. Competition for Howard? No. Similar, yes, but without the feeling of empathy that makes Howard shine.

[Debaser]

Opie and Anthony had a regular radio show here in the Boston market a few years back. They were without a doubt the best radio I've ever heard. They played songs, and just talked a bit like any other DJ. They had some real funny stuff. WOW (Wippem Out Wednesday) was a classic. They refused to play the playlists the station gave them and didn't hesitate to say when a song sucked and would not play it.

They did a joke where they claimed the the Mayor of Boston was dead in a plane crash. Lots of people fell for it. Flowers were sent, news channels picked up on it. As a result of this fiasco, they were banned from the air in Boston.

Flash forward two or three years. The ban expires and they come back on in the Boston market. They are now based in NY and have a syndicated show nationwide. They don't play music anymore, and only do talking. There's also lots of people in the room and on the air, similar to Howard. They are much less funny, IMO.

They do a stunt where contestants get points for having sex in certain places. A couple has sex in a church in NYC and as a result they get booted off the air again.

[Cluricaun]

Well at least Mancow is still free for the time being.....

[krisolov]

y'know I really tried to like Opie and Anthony. I gave'em a listen a number of times when they were on in Baltimore/Washington DC. There were occasional instances of stuff I found funny, but generally... bleah. They tried too hard to be shocking and it just didn't work. It just came off as really mean spirited. And they usually had way too many people in studio, so it became almost impossible to follow who was saying what.
Give me Howard or Don and Mike any day.

[kaylasdad99]

Who the hell are Opie and Anderson?Well the OP is BwanaBob (just scroll to the top of the page for that).

Can't help you about Anderson.

[Loach]

Funny, yes. More low-brow? A bit. Good radio... yeah. Competition for Howard? No. Similar, yes, but without the feeling of empathy that makes Howard shine.

Empathy? Never heard that in connection with Stern.

I have listened to Howard for years. Something like 20 years :eek: . I would not miss a show on WNNNNNBC. I cringed when I heard him doing the song "Making Money For Douchebags at NBC" (to the tune of Money for Nothing), because I knew he would be fired soon. I own a copy of Crucified by the FCC. I jumped for joy when he was hired by Krock. When ever I can I still listen. I'm not in the country right now so its been a few months.
When Opie and Anthony first came on I basically thought who the hell are these guys and turned it off. They started when they came to New York at WNEW while it was still a music station. They were talking between records. Pretty soon they had a full talk show and no music. I gave them a try and I was blown away. At this time Howard had been in decline for a while. O&A were soooo much better. Then I started hearing things on Howard that O&A did a few days or a week before. I know jocks steal things all the time but Howard was always whining about this. I don't know if O&A stole things from other jocks but I know Howard stole from them because I heard it. At the time he started whining about them and actively began to fuck with them with their parent company, Infinity. O&A was banned from mentioning his name after making comments about his divorce (very funny comments too). So what Howard does to everyone else in the world he can't take when its pointed at him :wally .

Sure they had some juvinile stunts. Some of them were pretty funny. The big test for me was what they could do with nothing. They were their best when talking about the news or something on TV or anything. You never knew what would become a half hour bit.

Anyway after listening to both I will go with O&A anytime. My wife is getting me XM for Christmas

[Loach]

Give me Howard or Don and Mike any day.

Don and Mike? Don't get me started, this isn't the Pit. I really tried to like them. I guess I don't like having to be told over and over whose voice is supposed to be being impersonated just so I could tell who it was. On the other hand I recently happened to be driving through MD VA and I had the pleasure to catch Ron and Fez on the radio. Damn I miss those guys.

[danceswithcats]

I was hoping to read that Howard was retiring from the air. He's tasteless, hateful, and boring, IMHO.

Stern's conduct regarding John DeBella's separation from his wife further underscores my point.

There's a line that you don't cross, to which Howard is obtuse.

[BwanaBob]

If you listen to Stern you have heard of them. He used to complain and belittle them all the time. If you listen to Stern you also heard their material.


You are grossly misinformed.
O&A were non-existant when Howard started his stuff back in the mid 80's. Oh boy, they got someone to have sex in St. Patricks. Wow :rolleyes:

They took Stern's act, added crassness, and voila.

Expect to see mass migration to Sirius between now and Howard's start (which I believe will be sooner than promised, since Stern said he would stop the second
Bush signs the bill that personally fines FCC-violators).

[MannyL]

You are grossly misinformed.
O&A were non-existant when Howard started his stuff back in the mid 80's. Oh boy, they got someone to have sex in St. Patricks. Wow :rolleyes:

They took Stern's act, added crassness, and voila.

Expect to see mass migration to Sirius between now and Howard's start (which I believe will be sooner than promised, since Stern said he would stop the second
Bush signs the bill that personally fines FCC-violators).

O&A Had and still have Jim Norton, Howie had Jackie, notice the word HAD. Norton today is better that Jackie was in the end. Howard can't just quit FM and leave if Bush signs the bill because of his contract. What other Radio Personalities do you know that the company they are working for is so afraid of them competing that they they gag the radio hosts and pay them until the end of the contract?

Spread the virus!

[Marley23]

Spread the virus!
That's the best description of Opie and Anthony I've heard so far.... I'm not into this kind of humor, but at least Stern was doing it first. By 15 years or so.

[MovieMogul]

He'll be at Sirius in 2006. Their stock will be :eek:
According to this (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041006/ap_on_en_ot/howard_stern_10):Shares of Sirius rose 60 cents to $3.95 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Viacom shares fell 49 cents to $34.96 on the New York Stock Exchange

[pyrrthon1]

I don't really want to get Sirius radio because there is scarcely anything else they broadcast that I will listen to. The only thing I've seen that I like is the BBC.

[Loach]

I'm not into this kind of humor, but at least Stern was doing it first. By 15 years or so.

Thats like saying don't listen to Pryor because Alan King was doing it first. Props to Stern for starting a genre (or at least molding it) but he's been coasting for years. He got a little better after he jettisoned Jackies dead weight but that is more because of Artie than anything. Besides, don't listen to Stern because Imus was doing it first.


BTW to recap my meanderings, I have been a Stern fan since the first day he came on the air in New York, after many years of listening to both I find O&A much funnier, and it is no coincidence that Stern's big announcement was made in the same week that O&A went on XM. His contract isn't up for close to 2 years and he just happens to pick this week to say he is going to Sirius? Bullshit.

Stern's conduct regarding John DeBella's separation from his wife further underscores my point.

Well when O&A did a bit with Elvis Costello's Allison and a crying Anthony as Stern, Howard went ballistic and whined to Infinity. The bosses put a gag order on O&A and would stop the show if they mentioned his name. (different radio stations, same parent company) What a hypocrite.

[Marley23]

Thats like saying don't listen to Pryor because Alan King was doing it first.
I'd say they're both originals and very good at what they did, even if one was influenced by the other. I can't say that for O&A. What did they do that Stern wasn't doing? They were slightly more crass? Big improvement there.

[Loach]

What did they do that Stern wasn't doing? They were slightly more crass?

They just followed Homer's advice : "Be more funny".

Of course just a matter of personal preference. They asked new listeners to give them a week and then decide. If you only listened for a few minutes then you didn't give it a chance. I didn't like them the first time I listened.

[Miller]

Actually they didn't get fired. The show was cancelled. They had an iron-clad multi-million dollar contract. Infinity had to pay them the entire time they were on their extended vacation. Thats why they haven't been on the air until now. Even if Stern has been talking about this for a while, it is very suspicious that he would announce this now.

What's suspicious about it?

[Who_me?]

What's suspicious about it?


I guess it's suspicious because... Hmmmm... I don't know why it's suspicious. Howard went to satellite radio because he wanted to and Opie and whathisname went because no broadcast radio would hire them...

[Tangent]

They took Stern's act, added crassness, and voila.

Isn't that like pouring salt in the ocean?

[Pashnish Ewing]

Well when O&A did a bit with Elvis Costello's Allison and a crying Anthony as Stern, Howard went ballistic and whined to Infinity. The bosses put a gag order on O&A and would stop the show if they mentioned his name. (different radio stations, same parent company) What a hypocrite.Uhh, I know this ain't GD, but . . . cite?

Pash

[Guinastasia]

I was hoping to read that Howard was retiring from the air. He's tasteless, hateful, and boring, IMHO.

Stern's conduct regarding John DeBella's separation from his wife further underscores my point.



What did he do?

I hate Stern, if only because I find him boring. The whole, "Ooooh, I said penis on the radio!"

But then, I was never a fan of talk radio anyways.

[Ellis Dee]

I hate Stern, if only because I find him boring. The whole, "Ooooh, I said penis on the radio!"I hate the SDMB, if only because I find it boring. The whole, "Ooooh, I discussed comic books on the internet!"

To reduce Howard's show to nothing but penis jokes is akin to reducing the SDMB to nothing but comic book discussions. Yes, they both are a part of it, but to miss everything else is just, well, sad.

The only bit I was ever curious about on O&A was the musical chairs with dildos strapped to the chairs. A buddy of mine is a big O&A fan, and when he described this bit to me, my reaction was disbelief.

[MannyL]

I guess it's suspicious because... Hmmmm... I don't know why it's suspicious. Howard went to satellite radio because he wanted to and Opie and whathisname went because no broadcast radio would hire them...

Opie & Anthony could have stayed on broadcast radio but they knew they would be so closely watched that they didn't want that. I heard them talk about it but they did not say what radio network wanted them. I for one am glad they are on XM because I gave up on broadcast radio.

spread the virus!

[MannyL]

Uhh, I know this ain't GD, but . . . cite?

Pash


No Cite because this wasn't in writing, but on their first show Monday they were talking about how Howard went to Mel over everything O & A did that was related to Howie.

Howie had a big press confrence when O & A were back in NY after the Boston thing and very few people knew who they were. They went to his confrence since they worked for the same company and though no problem. A Security guard had to ask them if they were planning any trouble and they said no, we just want to eat and listen to what Howard has to say. A little while later sevurity made them leave. Once they left Howard came in and did the press confrence. This was the same day that Howard complianed earlier that it was I believe Billy Crystal's press confrence that Stuttering John or was it Baah Bahh Booie (sp) was either denied enterance to or kicked out of.

At one point O & A started refering to Howard as simply "Radio Edit" Howard was still irate because he said people still knew it was a refrence to him and again he went to Mel to have them stop it. O & A were told they could not talk about Howard by name or anything that can refer to him.

[Jonathan Chance]

spread the virus!

Indeed.

I listened to Stern before most folks knew him. He was on DC101 in the early 80s before being let go (so the rumor went) for being too 'out there'. He was replaced by The Greaseman (who was my formative DJ).

Nyeh. I find Stern and O&A and suchlike juvenile. And, like bad wine, life's too short to listen to juvenile radio.

I'll stick with XM and wish O&A and HS all the best. No one's forcing me to listen to them.

But damn, CNN is reporting that Stern is getting $100,000,000 per year for five years from Sirius radio. I'd have jumped, too. I don't know HOW Sirius makes up that sort of expense.

[Loach]

Uhh, I know this ain't GD, but . . . cite?

Sorry believe it or not, you can't find everything on the internet. Sometimes you can use personal accounts as sites. I was relating something I heard on the radio personally. I heard the Allison bit. I heard the Debella bit (which was dispicable). I heard O&A edit themselves from talking about Stern. I heard Stern making fun of Anothy's divorce (again hypocrite). I heard the radio station go to delay whenever Stern's name was said by a listener calling up. After they got a new contract which rivaled Stern's I heard O&A come back and explain how they were gagged. After the contract they had some of the restrictions lifted. I have not heard any of the XM broadcasts from this week because I don't have XM yet. I'm sure portions of the broadcasts are posted at the fan sites such as foundrymusic.com if you are interested in hearing from the horses mouth. If you don't believe my accounts of what I heard then oh well. This is not GD, we are only talking about a radio show and I won't be losing any sleep over it.

[Loach]

sorry cite not site :smack:

[Mr2001]

But damn, CNN is reporting that Stern is getting $100,000,000 per year for five years from Sirius radio. I'd have jumped, too. I don't know HOW Sirius makes up that sort of expense.
Very little advertising, for one thing. XM advertises on TV all the time; Sirius uses their money to attract the NFL, Eminem/Shady Records, Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, and now apparently Howard Stern.

[Loach]

Do Tony and Bam skate on the radio? Are they on the same show or do they have their own? Seems like a weird choice for radio but I won't judge until I hear it.

[Balduran]

That's the problem - I work on a Unix workstation, no sound card, no flash player, no 'net extras. I use CATIA, so I don't get a PC. I guess they figured that if you're getting a $14,000 work station, maybe you shouldn't expect too many toys on it.

But I still want me some toys.....

(and I was wrong, it was 3 shows, not 5)

Well, you got 15 months to work on your bosses :)

[Mr2001]

Do Tony and Bam skate on the radio? Are they on the same show or do they have their own? Seems like a weird choice for radio but I won't judge until I hear it.
They're separate shows, but they're on the same stream: more info here (http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=ChannelAsset&cid=1073484737049). I guess Bam's show hasn't started yet.

[Jonathan Chance]

Still, they'd better be hoping for a SERIOUS pop in subscribers from Stern. It's what, $10 a month for Sirius? I betcha at least half of that is eaten up by overhead. So $5 per month profit. Well and good.

Stern = $100,000,000
# of subscribers to offset (per year) = 1,666,667

So Stern alone needs to result in 1.6 million plus new subscribers just to break even. That doesn't count everyone else new they're signing.

Last I heard XM was just above 2 million and Sirius at 600K subscribers (MSNBC a few days ago). That means Stern alone needs to bring in 2.5 times more subscribers than Sirius currently has! Agh!

[Lord Ashtar]

Actually they didn't get fired. The show was cancelled. They had an iron-clad multi-million dollar contract. Infinity had to pay them the entire time they were on their extended vacation. Thats why they haven't been on the air until now. Even if Stern has been talking about this for a while, it is very suspicious that he would announce this now.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10953-2004Oct6.html

XM has also hired Opie & Anthony, who were fired by Infinity in 2002 for an on-air stunt involving a couple having sex in a church.

I saw this article this morning and was reminded of this thread. I was pretty sure I had remembered hearing that they were fired.

[Trunk]

WHOA, folks.

Where's it say Stern is getting 100,000,000 per year?

I heard the deal was for $100M. That could mean for the whole show, all the personalities, the studio, the production costs for 5 years. I didn't hear that Stern was getting $100M per year for 5 years. Oprah doesn't make that much. Leno and Letterman together don't make that much.

I did hear that thought that Stern would have to bring in 1M extra subscirbers to offset his costs, though.

[Meatros]

I did hear that thought that Stern would have to bring in 1M extra subscirbers to offset his costs, though.


This reminds me, does anyone know how popular XM is?

How many people have it?

[Loach]

I saw this article this morning and was reminded of this thread. I was pretty sure I had remembered hearing that they were fired.

I know its just semantics. I said that they were cancelled not fired. I think that being fired means that your boss stops paying you. The show was taken off the air in 2002 but they were still getting paid their full salaries until a couple of months ago. When the contract was up(I think in June) they were then allowed to start negotiating with other companies which led to the XM deal. Infinity didn't want the possible competition so they didn't try to break the contract.

So in my mind fired=you don't work here anymore and we are not paying you, cancelled = you don't work here anymore and here is your 15 million for not working. BTW cancelled is how Infinity put it at the time.

[Loach]

This reminds me, does anyone know how popular XM is?

How many people have it?


If you look above Jonathan Chance said 2million. Don't know if its true.

[Pashnish Ewing]

If you don't believe my accounts of what I heard then oh well. This is not GD, we are only talking about a radio show and I won't be losing any sleep over it.It's not that I don't believe your (and MannyL's) personal accounts, but I don't believe that "Howard went ballistic and whined to Infinity". It sounds like you're taking O&A's word for something they would have no personal knowledge of. How do you know it wasn't Infinity's brass who laid the smackdown, without any input from Howard. After all, they had to know who was buttering their bread, and it sure as hell wasn't O&A.

I also think it's funny that you think Howard masterminded the timing of this press release. Isn't it more likely a case of Sirus wanting to upstage XM (it's main rival), rather than Howard wanting to upstage O&A (one out of hundreds of Howard's rivals)? It's a pretty familiar pattern. Other hosts like to think of themselves on the same level as Howard, and they like to pretend to their audience that there is this big rivalry, but Howard, with everything he has going on, probably couldn’t care less.

Pash

[Loach]

but Howard, with everything he has going on, probably couldn’t care less.

He spent an awful lot of time talking about people he couldn't care less about. There were very specific things pointing to Howard being directly responsible but my memory is clouded a bit by time. There were third party accounts of it but since I don't recall it exactly I won't go into details. Since Howard is petty and vindictive it would surprise me in the slightest. Debella wasn't a serious rival but Howard did his best to ruin his personal and professional life. Then he made him grovel to get his job back.

[Loach]

Sorry I keep posting and thinking of something else.

It sounds like you're taking O&A's word for something they would have no personal knowledge of.

They each worked at New York radio stations which were owned by the same company. You don't think there is a possibility that they received inside information from friends at the radio station? I bet both sides were getting phone calls within minutes about what each was doing. Howard did and does consider them his biggest competion.

After all, they had to know who was buttering their bread, and it sure as hell wasn't O&A.

They gave O&A a 15 million dollar contract so their bread was being buttered by O&A pretty good. They only reason why Infinity got rid of them is because of orders from CBS who could afford to lose millions from one side of the business because they were afraid of bad PR.

[My Darn Snake Legs]

I used to listen to O&A when I was a kid visiting my dad in Boston. I used to think they were pretty funny, but WAAF was just a great station. I listened to that station all the time.

I listened to Howard when I was still in Dallas just because I had one of those clock radios with the rotary dial and no digital tuning. He is ok, but I don't get him here near Toledo. :rolleyes: Oh well.

The best radio I have ever heard is the Russ Martin Show. He doesn't want to be syndicated, but they have spread his show from Dallas to Austin on the condition that he doesn't have to mention Austin or change the show at all. That is some great great radio! If you are in Dallas or Austin, listen to him! I'll give you the stations if you email me.

-Mike

[Pashnish Ewing]

He spent an awful lot of time talking about people he couldn't care less about.Well, that's his job, isn't it? Five hours a day is a lot of time to fill.
Since Howard is petty and vindictive it would surprise me in the slightest..No argument here about petty and vindictive (I'm sure he would admit to this as well), but I still think it's a leap to assert that he went wining to someone else to fight his battles for him. Not really his style.
Debella wasn't a serious rival but Howard did his best to ruin his personal and professional life. Then he made him grovel to get his job back.But Deballa WAS a major rival. (disclaimer: I started listening when Howard first came to Dallas in 1996, so I'm basing this on what I've read about the situation). Howard's first syndicated market was Philadelphia, and Debella was the number one DJ with a typical "Morning Zoo" type morning show. Howard focused on him like a laser to prove that his show could suceed outside of NYC, and that he could take over as number one in other markets (not just Philly). Admittedly, by the time Howard had Debella's ex-wife on the show to play dial-a-date (and to trash Debella), the rivalry had cooled down. But at one time Debella wasn't just a rival, he was THE rival.

Pash

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Oh, and about Sirius vs. XM --> Clear Channel Communications owns a good bit of XM, and that's my guess as to why Howard isn't going there.

[Pashnish Ewing]

They gave O&A a 15 million dollar contract so their bread was being buttered by O&A pretty good.So, if Howard supossedly went whining to them, why didn't they tell Howard to shut up and take it like a man?They only reason why Infinity got rid of them is because of orders from CBS who could afford to lose millions from one side of the business because they were afraid of bad PR.And yet, they didn't have the same concerns about Stern?



Oh, and about Sirius vs. XM --> Clear Channel Communications owns a good bit of XM, and that's my guess as to why Howard isn't going there.Good point. So maybe Howard did have some incentive to take the wind out of XM's sails.

Pash

[Loach]

So, if Howard supossedly went whining to them, why didn't they tell Howard to shut up and take it like a man?

Even though O&A was spreading making more money for the company with each market they entered, Howard was still much bigger and had more influence. Besides Howard had Mel's ear.

And yet, they didn't have the same concerns about Stern?

Big concerns. But he is more firmly entrenched in their radio shows across the country. They had a lot more to lose. I have not been in a position to listen much since the Super Bowl but it does seem like the station has tried to squeeze him even more than in the past to conform. There concerns about Howard ultimately drove him away. CBS cancelled O&A in a knee-jerk reaction to complaints from the Catholic league, which ammounted to basically one guy being interviewed by anyone with a camera. The Catholic Church had no comment and Infinity is fighting the FCC fines.

Well, that's his job, isn't it? Five hours a day is a lot of time to fill.

True enough.

You have a point about Debella however I meant that he wasn't a serious rival since he was basically a disc jockey playing music and not a comic or talk show host. I grant you that at the time Stern had something to prove about being able to play outside of New York.

Admittedly, by the time Howard had Debella's ex-wife on the show to play dial-a-date (and to trash Debella), the rivalry had cooled down.

For those playing along at home, this was Debella mentally unstable wife who later committed suicide. IIRC Howard had some pretty nasty comments after she died.

[Pashnish Ewing]

Loach, that's a good point about Howard's relationship with Mel Karmizan. That could have been enough alone for the brass to come down on Howard's side (whether Howard complained to them or not). I'll concede that it's possible that Howard complained, but I still don't think it should be stated as fact (what can I say, I'm a GDer at heart :) ).

Pash

[Lord Ashtar]

I did hear that thought that Stern would have to bring in 1M extra subscirbers to offset his costs, though.
He's got 10 million listeners. I think it's pretty likely that at least 10% will consider getting a subscription to Sirius so they can listen to Howard uncensored.

I know I probably will, especially considering their sports lineup (of which I was not previously aware).

[bafaa]

I've been a big fan of Howard ever since he was on WNBC and I started listening to O&A when they started on WNEW here in NY. I prefer O&A. I just want to be entertained and Howard hasn't done that for me in ages. It got a little better when Artie joined the show but overall I still find it boring. The past few years I would turn on Howard between commercials on other shows and only stayed tuned in when he did a non-porn celebrity interview. Those pornstar interviews are sooo damn boring!

Do Howard and O&A have a similar show? Yes but IMO O&A are much more entertaining. People say "but Howard did it first!" Should I care? Just because Howard started his show first no one else is allowed to go on the air and do a similar show? No one else can do interviews or just sit around talking about recent events, sex, movies, games, etc? How silly! By that argument Howard shouldn't be allowed to go on satellite radio because O&A did it first. I've been a fan of both shows and IMO Howard ripped them off by stealing actual material from their show. Ever hear him say "junk" and "ballonknot"? O&A said it first. As far as I can recall O&A can only be accused of ripping off the format.

The following is info I read on message boards and news articles and what I've heard from O&A on air and via their website. They could have gone to Q104.3, here in NY, back when they were first cancelled/fired but could not get out of their contract with Infinity. Q104.3 is a Clear Channel station and Infinity did not want them over there competing against Howard in the mornings. Once the contract ran out Citadel Broadcasting wanted to hire them but they do not have any stations in NYC so O&A didn't go with them and in general they didn't want to have to deal with the FCC again so instead went to satellite. XM and Sirius both wanted them but O&A decided that their best bet was XM. I don't know how true any of that is but it doesn't really matter to me. Like I said earlier, I just want to be entertained and O&A do a better job of it than Howard does. That's why I went out and bought an XM radio the day after I heard they were going to XM.

[Loach]

He's got 10 million listeners. I think it's pretty likely that at least 10% will consider getting a subscription to Sirius so they can listen to Howard uncensored.

I know I probably will, especially considering their sports lineup (of which I was not previously aware).

Just be aware that its like cable TV, you get the basic package and then have to pay for the extras. The NFL package on Sirius is extra. O&A is $1.99 a month more(I don't know if you get anything more than the one show for that). I'm sure Stern will be an extra charge too.

[Mr2001]

Just be aware that its like cable TV, you get the basic package and then have to pay for the extras. The NFL package on Sirius is extra. O&A is $1.99 a month more(I don't know if you get anything more than the one show for that). I'm sure Stern will be an extra charge too.
Not true! :eek:

There are no premium streams on Sirius. You pay $12.95 a month (or $10/month if you pay for a year in advance, or $499 for a lifetime sub) and you get everything: music, talk, news, traffic, weather, sports, and internet streaming (music only).

You're right that O&A cost extra, but they're on XM, not Sirius. XM also charges extra for Playboy Radio.

[Lord Ashtar]

XM also charges extra for Playboy Radio.
What good is it if you can't see it?

[Loach]

Sorry I misremembered what a friend told me. XM is 9.99 a month and O&A are an additional 1.99.

BTW:

He hosted Morning Edition on NPR for 24 years and 6 months.

From the XM site:

Bob Edwards debuts XM Public Radio's new, 1-hour morning interview program, The Bob Edwards Show.

[MannyL]

Oh, and about Sirius vs. XM --> Clear Channel Communications owns a good bit of XM, and that's my guess as to why Howard isn't going there.


So, if Howard supossedly went whining to them, why didn't they tell Howard to shut up and take it like a man?And yet, they didn't have the same concerns about Stern?



Good point. So maybe Howard did have some incentive to take the wind out of XM's sails.

Pash

Clear Channel sold it's holdings in XM a while ago.

[Mr2001]

Clear Channel sold it's holdings in XM a while ago.
Really? I've read that they still hold about 2%.

[Mr2001]

There are conflicting reports on the premium issue. Between this Motley Fool article (http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2004/mft04100703.htm), the press releases, and the SiriusBackstage.com forums, my conclusion is that Stern will be producing three streams (channels, not just shows), two of which will be premium. The regular Howard Stern show will be free for all subscribers.

Sirius currently doesn't have any premium streams; even the NFL package is available to everyone. They've marketed that as an advantage over XM, so if some of these new streams really are premium, that'll be a step back for their PR.