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The buzz behind the satellite radio airwaves is that Sirius XM Radio (SIRI +1.6%) star...

  • Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 1:33 PM ET
    The buzz behind the satellite radio airwaves is that Sirius XM Radio (SIRI +1.6%) star personality Howard Stern could leave the company with longtime supporter Mel Karmazin easing out of the CEO's office. Will Pandora (P -5.5%) try to shake up its lineup by making a play for the "King of All Media?"
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This news story has 26 comments:

  •  
    Is Howard Stern that big a part of SIRI that he could impact the stock?
    24 Oct 2012, 01:39 PM Reply Like
  •  
    No. He was a big draw for a few early adopters of sat. radio but all the new subscriber ads over the past few years don't give a crap about Stern. His impact is overrated, and overblown.

    Regardless, it's not going to happen.
    24 Oct 2012, 09:07 PM Reply Like
  •  
    I came for Howard initially but I don't even listen to him anymore. Judging by my friends Howard is not a compelling enough reason to leave anymore.
    25 Oct 2012, 09:55 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Yes
    24 Oct 2012, 01:56 PM Reply Like
  •  
    wow. i love SIRI, but Stern, not so much.
    24 Oct 2012, 02:13 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Howard and Mel have been on the outs lately. Remember the lawsuit Howard has pending against Sirius? Plus Mel has not been kind to Howard over issues like studio repairs and equipment. I don't think the bromance is there anymore.
    24 Oct 2012, 02:14 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Without Howard, there would have been no Sirius to merge (takeover) XM
    24 Oct 2012, 02:24 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Did anyone actually bother to read the article? This is all pure speculation, and it's been on the blogs for months.

    Personally I think the assumption that Sirius needs Stern *at the present time* (versus in the past) is false. Sirius has a much higher install rate in cars now. Over the last four or so years, whenever I've talked to people who decided to subscribe to the Sirius radio installed in their car, I've made it a point to ask them why, and NOT ONE person has ever mentioned Howard Stern. It's usually the music, closely followed by sports.
    24 Oct 2012, 02:53 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Add another one to the list. Howard Stern was never even a remote consideration towards getting a subscription.
    24 Oct 2012, 05:25 PM Reply Like
  •  
    This is the correct answer; noone can deny his importance in the past; the entire premise is to get people in and hope they like the *other* offerings and it seems that people do.
    25 Oct 2012, 09:56 AM Reply Like
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    Howard isn't going anywhere... cmon now. For those of you who listen to him, how many times over the past decades has he played up minor grievances on the air? He can go on for hours and days about simple little things. It makes for good radio. Who CAN'T relate to a "guy who hates his boss"?
    24 Oct 2012, 02:54 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Agree when Stern leaves, A LOT of subscribers are going to leave. I will. There is just too many good internet radio to pay for Sirius radio
    24 Oct 2012, 03:31 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Yes yes and hell yes!! He is everything to the stock. Those who do not thinks so will lose a lot of money if he leaves and they don't sell
    24 Oct 2012, 03:34 PM Reply Like
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    Come on if anyone listens to Howard Stern they would know that his contract is not up fo 3 years still, it would cost him way too much in legal issues if he was to quit before his contract is up.
    24 Oct 2012, 03:46 PM Reply Like
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    come on. he is a small blip on the stock. theres more people that listen to the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and MSL than there are lisitening to Stern. he's a one day .05 drop. no more.
    24 Oct 2012, 03:59 PM Reply Like
  •  
    hahhaha, keep telling yourself that gharrod

    Like him or not, he is responsible for a TON of subscribers who only listen to him and a couple other stations that they could do without when he leaves in a couple years
    24 Oct 2012, 04:01 PM Reply Like
  •  
    He's absolutely the reason the company got off the ground. No question and if this were 2007, I'd agree with you. But in 2012, most of the people signing up for SIRI just don't care about Stern. I haven't heard a single person in the last 5 years cite him as a reason for getting a subscription.
    25 Oct 2012, 09:20 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Stern's contract has two years to go .
    If he brakes the contract the penalties are severe.
    Then again , Sirius today is well diversified entertainment platform
    therefore Stern may not be as relevant as he once was .It sounds as if the shorts are getting nervous .
    24 Oct 2012, 04:04 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Such a rumor is bull. Lawsuit or not, Howard contracted to stay with SIRI because (a) that's where the big money is for him and (b) he owns a ton of shares.

    Loyalty, shmoyalty! Mel did a great job, enriching himself mightily in the process, but anyone who thinks he is inexpendable lacks a fundamental misunderstanding of business, especially the media business.
    24 Oct 2012, 04:07 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Satellite radio is a lot bigger than any one person, seem like a lot of money to pay to gain a few minority listeners. Maby they could get Glen Beck!
    24 Oct 2012, 11:03 PM Reply Like
  •  
    Please let him GO !!!

    Stern costs the company what it costs to replace and put in orbit
    one satellite.
    25 Oct 2012, 02:47 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Stern is the reason Sirius was put on the map and the reason sirius bought XM. Either way the service is fantastic and they will do well, so will anyone who owns stock in it!
    25 Oct 2012, 09:16 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Pure speculation. A waste of our time.
    25 Oct 2012, 10:05 AM Reply Like
  •  
    I have to assume that the people who think Stern is irrelevant, don't own stock in Sirius. If you know anything about this company; where they were prior to Stern, you would know that XM was twice their size until Stern came, and "millions" of new subscribers showed up with him. If Stern leaves, "millions" will leave with him. I'm pretty sure numbers like that will, as they say, "move the needle"
    If you don't like Stern, that's OK. But at least be realistic about his importance to Sirius and the value of the company
    25 Oct 2012, 10:51 AM Reply Like
  •  
    Your still talking about "the past" ive been in SIRI since the 8 cent days. At this point in time Stern is not the driving factor of Sirius growth.

    Also lets not forget the other content; while I get that many people still subscribe for Howard they are outnumbered by the people subscribing for the NFL, Uncensored music, original content, on demand shows. As someone who has subscribed because of Howard, I can tell you the show is not half as good as the show from 2006 and would not be a reason for me to cancel my subs.

    Also just about all cars come with Sirius now; this was not the case in 2006/07. My grandmother has Sirius radio now that came in her new car which she has continued to renew.

    The point is Sirius in the near term will need a catalyst to get a subscriber in which was Howard in 2006, cars in 2010 and their online and on demand in 2012. The point is they will stay for the other content long after their original catalyst is gone.
    25 Oct 2012, 11:06 AM Reply Like
  •  
    here is the spin what if Mel teamed up with Apple or better yet what if Sirius teamed up with Apple then Pandora could have Mel.
    25 Oct 2012, 05:14 PM Reply Like
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