Howard: SiriusXm has 20-22 million listeners and 60% of them listen to these channels

[tv910]

60% of the SiriusXM subscribers don't even have access to H100.

Exactly, at least half have the "XM Only" plan so their selection of channels doesn't include H100 or 101. This is just another one of the blatant lies Howard repeats on a regular basis, along with King of All Media, America's Judge, and The Revolution. Sorry Wiggy, saying it over and over doesn't make it true.

[David999]

Why does Stern have to lie like this? He very well knows he is lucky if that many people are listening combined for a whole year. I wish the true numbers would be published so that this perpetual lie of his stops. I can honestly say I do not know one friend, business associate, etc that subscribes and listens to Stern. I guess the bigger the lie, the more chance people will believe it.

[tv910]

I can honestly say I do not know one friend, business associate, etc that subscribes and listens to Stern.

On the Intern Show, one of the guys said he was sent out on the streets around the Sirius building to poll people about the "Q" ratings for various Stern Show staffers. In three and a half hours he could only find about 20 people who were listeners of the show.

[Gregsbouch]

Exactly, at least half have the "XM Only" plan so their selection of channels doesn't include H100 or 101. This is just another one of the blatant lies Howard repeats on a regular basis, along with King of All Media, America's Judge, and The Revolution. Sorry Wiggy, saying it over and over doesn't make it true.

Dude it's way less than half. This article isn't that old and it said of the 11 million XM subs only 1 million got best of Sirius. Then it goes on to say they could have also bought that to hear NFL and Nascar. I think at the most 100,000 XM subs listen to Stern.

As part of its synergies of the merger, Sirius XM was excited to announce a Best of Package. XM subscribers could now access the Best of Sirius programming as could Sirius subscribers now access the Best of XM. For $4 more a month, an XM customer could keep his XM platform, but still grab Howard and other exclusive channels on Sirius. How many people have signed up for this service in now over 1.5 year of offering it? Less than one million subscribers of the 10 million XM has. So around 1 in 11 people have chosen to add this package. We cannot however attribute all these subscribers to the Best of Sirius package on to Howard Stern alone. It appears less than 500,000 people would qualify here. I’m giving approximately 500,000 to other reasons for adding the package. I mean let’s look at what you get for $4 besides Stern. You get every NFL game, NASCAR, Playboy Channel, Martha Stewart, and College Sports. That’s a lot. Not a stretch to assume then that every person who signed up for Best of Sirius wasn’t just doing it for Howard Stern.

[ShutupMoron]

Exactly, at least half have the "XM Only" plan so their selection of channels doesn't include H100 or 101. This is just another one of the blatant lies Howard repeats on a regular basis, along with King of All Media, America's Judge, and The Revolution. Sorry Wiggy, saying it over and over doesn't make it true.

Many subscribers also have multiple subs so you also can't assume the number of subs equals number of listeners. Wiggy can get away with saying anything he wants to because SiriusXM is never going to release an estimate of his actual number of listeners.

[Douchebag 007]

[Scarfo]

The most recent Arbitron rating for Howard (done in 2007) showed that the show could have as few as 150,000 listeners per morning.

[Herc]

The most recent Arbitron rating for Howard (done in 2007) showed that the show could have as few as 150,000 listeners per morning.

[dalecooper]

I have a theory that Sirius's decision to re-sign Howard was fear based. Sirius knew that the subscription numbers attributable to Howard were low, but they were afraid he'd go elsewhere to some effect. And then they'd be the stupid assholes who let him go.

That is exactly what happened. Howard could have zero listeners and Sirius would still have an incentive to re-sign him.

They are justifiably afraid of new wireless technologies making their entire business model obsolete, so the last thing they need is a tireless self-promoter doing to them what he did to CBS when he went to Sirius.

Although Artie's departure has revealed Howard to be the talentless vomit that we see today, there is no doubt about his ability to promote on Letterman etc. in pursuit of more marbles.

Sirius knows this, Don Buckwald knows this, and Howard "Sim Card" Stern certainly knows this.

[tv910]

That is exactly what happened. Howard could have zero listeners and Sirius would still have an incentive to re-sign him.

They are justifiably afraid of new wireless technologies making their entire business model obsolete, so the last thing they need is a tireless self-promoter doing to them what he did to CBS when he went to Sirius.

Although Artie's departure has revealed Howard to be the talentless vomit that we see today, there is no doubt about his ability to promote on Letterman etc. in pursuit of more marbles.

Sirius knows this, Don Buckwald knows this, and Howard "Sim Card" Stern certainly knows this.

Agreed that was all true before AGT but now that everyone knows Howard has lost his fanbase and doesn't draw big ratings any more the incentive to sign him is gone.

[tv910]

That is exactly what happened. Howard could have zero listeners and Sirius would still have an incentive to re-sign him.

They are justifiably afraid of new wireless technologies making their entire business model obsolete, so the last thing they need is a tireless self-promoter doing to them what he did to CBS when he went to Sirius.

Although Artie's departure has revealed Howard to be the talentless vomit that we see today, there is no doubt about his ability to promote on Letterman etc. in pursuit of more marbles.

Sirius knows this, Don Buckwald knows this, and Howard "Sim Card" Stern certainly knows this.

Agreed that was all true before AGT but now that everyone knows Howard has lost his fanbase and doesn't draw big ratings any more the incentive to sign him is gone.

[The Booey]

http://seekingalpha.com/article/9988...tion-increases

Sirius XM Subscriber Dissatisfaction Increases

Summary


In fact, it is likely that far more than 2 million listeners made a decision not to pay in the third quarter.

Whether or not the reported number of Deactivated Subscribers exceeds 2 million in the fourth quarter, it seems likely that the reported figure will exceed 8 million in 2013.

Clearly, the overwhelming majority of those exposed to the service are unwilling to pay the full price.

[rilagent]

I have a theory that Sirius's decision to re-sign Howard was fear based. Sirius knew that the subscription numbers attributable to Howard were low, but they were afraid he'd go elsewhere to some effect. And then they'd be the stupid assholes who let him go.

You’re theory is as good as mine but for your theory to be correct Sirius had to believe Howard’s talk about SIM cards since he had no other offers. His only real believable threat to Sirius was retirement. Even we could see his SIM talk was preposterous.

My theory is that Howard took a huuuuuuuge paycut because he had no other offers and HE NEEDS the Sirius facilities to produce Howard TV and Sirius knew all this. I think Sirius is kind of OK with this 3 day a week stuff in the same way there were OK with the Oprah deal - they wanted his brand and that’s it.

[blottomsup]

You’re theory is as good as mine but for your theory to be correct Sirius had to believe Howard’s talk about SIM cards since he had no other offers. His only real believable threat to Sirius was retirement. Even we could see his SIM talk was preposterous.

My theory is that Howard took a huuuuuuuge paycut because he had no other offers and HE NEEDS the Sirius facilities to produce Howard TV and Sirius knew all this. I think Sirius is kind of OK with this 3 day a week stuff in the same way there were OK with the Oprah deal - they wanted his brand and that’s it.

Howard might have been able to go back to terrestrial radio. At the very least, Howard could have made a plausible case that he could go back to terrestrial radio. And that probably would have been enough to affect the negotiations.

But I agree with you that Sirius was ultimately interested in Howard's brand. Again, I think they feared Howard in some way throwing that brand around against Sirius if Sirius did not sign him.

[Murcielago]

Right Howard, and where exactly were those millions when the ratings for the shit talent show finale dropped from last year's 3.6 to this year's 2.4 share.

[Hamptons]

the funniest part is that in 2008 post merge all they talked about was the 21 million listeners they no have; now 5 years later still talking about the same 20-22 million listeners with zero new subscriptions ans the only way they come even close to maintaining that number is every car comes with a free 6 month sub

[Douchebag 007]

the funniest part is that in 2008 post merge all they talked about was the 21 million listeners they no have; now 5 years later still talking about the same 20-22 million listeners with zero new subscriptions ans the only way they come even close to maintaining that number is every car comes with a free 6 month sub

What do you slow build for a living?

[eliasbboy]

And pigs fly

[ZeroZed]

Does anyone know which car manufacturers have Sirius-only radio installed (not XM units)? I'm very curious--all of the rentals I've gotten in the past few years have XM. They're not even making new Sirius aftermarket radios now. If Sirius is no longer widely available as a stand-alone service, then Howard has little access to new subscribers unless they opt to purchase the "Best of Sirius" upgrade package.

I've said it before and I'll re-iterate it here. Anybody who loved the Stern Show from his terrestrial days either made the move to satellite in the 2005-2006 era or they moved on. Stern absolutely brought over a large group of new subscribers when he made the move, but after the first 10 months on Sirius, anybody who wanted Stern had already made the move to Sirius. 18 months after announcing his intention to move to Sirius, he had only minimal impact on bringing in new subscribers.

If you remember, during his first contract he often talked about "churn rate" which is the number of subscribers who join, then leave a pay service. Stern can make an argument that his presence during the first contract helped Sirius' churn rate since Stern fans probably did keep the service because he was on 4 days a week; after Artie was fired, and the show rolled back to a minimal, unpredictable schedule, that ceased to be an issue.

I believe Stern's 2nd contract involved a massive pay-cut (despite his claims to the contrary) and that Sirius paid for the Stern "brand" more than the show itself. Sirius agreed to allow him to barely broadcast under the new contract--and they certainly knew what kind of shitty product he had been putting out--so their eyes were wide open as it pertains to the "quality" they could expect from him during a 2nd contract. Still, his name & likeness carry some cache in the industry and when potential subscribers consider the value of the service...things like pro-sports, and big-names help them justify the cost. Plus, Stern goes out of his way to get his name in the press (whether it's Page 6 or AGT); Sirius normally gets a degree of free advertising from his antics and exposure...again, a "win" for them that has nothing to do with the quality of the show he produces.

[howardstork789]