The five year deal is set to expire at the end of this year and the question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Stern will sign a new deal. A lot has transpired since the original deal. The economy is not in good shape, Sirius and XM have merged, and the competitive landscape looks much more different now than it did years ago. With all of that being said, I think Stern will sign again with satellite radio. Now the question is what that will mean.

Sterns second coming will deliver stability to Sirius XM, and has a real potential to once again deliver subscriber numbers that will boost the company to levels that should pass 20 million with ease and by a healthy margin. By signing with satellite again, Stern will be giving his confirmation that the medium is here to stay, and all seeds of doubt about the viability of satellite radio. It is one thing for an upstart company to sign a talent like Stern once, it is a more significant event to sign him to a second deal. When that happens it will tell all of the detractors left that satellite radio is not only here to stay, but can keep and even bring in the type of content that differentiates satellite from any other media company.

Over the past week Mel Karmazin has been meeting with Sterns agent Don Buchwald. Buchwald is the cream of the crop when it comes to the world of media. He does not waste time with face to face meetings unless negotiations have progressed to a point that merit going over the final details. Combine this with the fact that Stern is on vacation this week, and it seems like a good bet that Sirius XM and Stern could be putting the final touches on a new deal. Some speculate that a deal is already done, but if that were the case, an 8K would have been filed announcing the news. The likely situation is that Stern, Buchwald and Karmazin are hammering out details now, and that we could see an announcement earlier than most anticipate. Karmazin stated at the Q2 conference call that the company hoped to have news on the deal prior to the Q3 conference call (early November).

Stern signing is validation, and could be the impetus for not only a second wave of subscribers, but also an event that will let the street know that the stability of this company is rock solid. With Sirius XM revisiting the sub $1.00 range, news of the second coming of Stern may be just the event needed to boost the stock. Yet another reason an announcement may come sooner rather than later is that retailers are preparing their orders right now for the holiday season. Most retailers main question in figuring out how many satellite radios they want is whether or not Stern will stay with the company. That question is coming up more and more often. By getting Stern signed now, and announcing it, a good fall selling season can be assured.

Will Stern sign again? My belief is that he will, and the deal will allow for availability of Stern on mobile devices. That will drive Sirius XM Internet Radio into a new realm that will boost revenue. The Sirius XM Internet Radio option costs $2.99 per month. many Stern fans that have held back from grabbing the Sirius XM Internet Radio option could well come on board now, meaning better ARPU.

The second coming of Stern means more to Sirius XM than most people realize. Love him or hate him, he has cache, and keeping him on satellite would be a coupe. Watch for news soon.

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio

Takei, perhaps most famous for his role on Star Trek, takes on a personality that only Howard could bring out each time he comes onto the show. George is outspoken on gay rights issues, and while people who do not typically listen to Stern may think the match of Takei and Stern is odd, it is always great radio that fans often look forward to.

Tune in to Howard 100 all week to catch some great shows.

Position – Long Sirius XM

Introducing Wasted Week. A week-long toast to some of the most wasted moments in Stern Show history. Featuring Sam Kinison, Jeff The Drunk, Henry Hill, Hank The Angry Drunken Dwarf and the “Drunk Show” from the MTV Video Music Awards, and much much more. All of the action kicks off Monday with the following historic moments on the docket:
Day 1 – Monday- 5/31/10

- Block 1 8-22-96 Henry Hill drunk call
- 1-19-94 Gary’s date blows chunks

Block 2
- 2-7-00 Hank plays a drunken game
- 11-2-04 Ronnie’s staff party
- 2-24-04 Howard’s drunken karaoke
- 6-24-96 Jackie’s wasted sex romp
- 2-15-94 Grillo blacks out

Block 3
- 10-12-00 John drinks way too much
- 8-4-04 A party in Pam’s room

Block 4
- Cold gold makes you old
- 5-12-88 Howard Cosell was a drunk
- 5-13-98 Sex with a vacuum
- 3-29-94 Mickey Mantle visits rehab
- 10-25-95 Fly the smelly skies
- 10-18-94 Jackie puppet loves weed
- 2-18-85 Imus pees in a phone booth
- 1-19-95 Planet vomit-wood
- 5-11-99 Stupid drunk tricks
- 11-7-94 Really drunk driving
- 12-6-94 Wasted Santa

Block 5
- 1-15-97 Ian the Drunk
- 8-3-06 Cuba Gooding Jr

Stern expressed his opinion on the matter on his May 26th radio show.Stern essentially said that the fact that he is not already in the Hall of Fame is a clear demonstration that there is something severely wrong with the organization. He is 100% correct. He should have been included years ago. Over the years Stern has had impressive numbers in every category. He brought an edge to radio and pushed limits many of his peers were afraid to do. Stern created a fun show that people could relate to, and has demonstrated a consistency that bears credit. Keep tabs on this issue here on SiriusBuzz.com.

Howard Stern was nominated this year for the National Active category. The criteria for this category is, “An active broadcaster who has made at least 10 years of significant contributions to the industry on a national level” Stern defines this category, and by definition should have received this honor over 10 years ago.

Voting the winner is in part done by fans. The NBHOF begins accepting votes from the general public on June 18th, and voting continues through August 1st. Stern could likely garner massive support from his fans, but he has never really been keen on lobbying for this honor on his show. In fact, Stern does just the opposite. He slams the NBHOF, and even goes so far as to say he would rather not be nominated. The fact that he is not already in the Hall of Fame shows how much of a joke the NBHOF is.

Stern’s competition is Bob Brinker, Carl Kasell, and Bob Kingsly. All of the nominees have talent, but none has carried the impact that Stern has delivered for decades. Stern should win this hands down, and if he really wanted it, he could promote it on his show to virtual guarantee a win. To his credit, Stern’s stance tells it like it is. His fans love him, but perhaps his animosity falls into the lack of respect for his peers.

If you are interested in voting for Stern, despite his very public denouement of the NBHOF, you can do so by visiting the NBHOF website.

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio

The interesting thing about Howard Stern is how dynamic he is. Yes, his antics are not the favorites of some, but his show is far more than just antics. The show is about every day life the way we all live it. If you have never heard Stern you are missing out on a brand of Howard that is better than ever. I would not go so far as to say that Stern mellowed with age. A more proper description would like fine scotch. Stern has “smoothed” with age. In fact, he is better now than he ever has been, and even he knows that, like scotch, the best is yet to come. If nothing else, Stern hates to disappoint. Stern is still edgy, but most of the edgier antics are now part of the staff. The best Stern content comes from his insight into people, what they want to know, and what type of entertainment is relevant for the moment. Some of the best interviews I have ever heard came from Stern. He is a master that is getting better with each interview.

Stern manages to speak with people on a level where they do not feel threatened. He resonates with not only his audience, but those that appear on his show. Stern provides the forum where a guest feels comfortable in letting loose a little bit. He is able to draw out things that no other interviewer can, and his audience gets the luxury of gaining insight that they never would have had otherwise. Sure, he talks about sex, but realistically speaking, it is a subject that everyone thinks about (some many times per day). Stern fans sit in the privacy of their cars and feel like they are being included in some secret that others are not privy to. It is a dynamic. It is a connection.

All of this being said, Stern is on the last months of his deal with Sirius XM. Some speculate retirement, but I think Stern has more to give, and at least at this point, is not ready to turn off the microphone. What is more likely is a schedule that is a bit more liberal, perhaps even going down to a three day per week schedule. People will still have Stern, and believe it or not, a three day schedule may lead to a show that is better still. Consider this. If Stern worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he would have a four day weekend. This gives Stern the time he wants to do the little things that we all love to do. The beauty is that the more Stern can live life, the more we, as listeners get to share in it. This past weekend Stern took a rare trip to California and today we were treated to a terrific interview with Ashton Kutcher. Stern living a “good life” translates into more that he can bring to radio.

Howard Stern is more relevant than ever. Sirius XM is more relevant than ever. Sirius XM gives Howard Stern the platform to do his show the way it was meant to be done. Watch for Stern to not only renew his deal, but to deliver the highest caliber radio of his career.

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio

It didn’t take long to start because tomorrow the Howard Stern Show will feature Ashton Kutcher. This is sure to be radio gold and well promoted because Kutcher is the ultimate champion of social media with nearly 5 million followers on Twitter. Hopefully those 5 million followers will get a Tweet mentioning Stern as well as Sirius XM.

Tune into Stern on Howard 101.

Position – Long Sirius XM

Beth’s book already has a huge number of reviews on Amazon. As one could predict, it is a virtual flame war, with many comments coming from people that have not even read the book yet. The comments are divided, and it seems more like a message board flame war than people actually discussing the merits of the book. All in all people seem obsessed with the allegation that Howard and Beth’s dog is walked by a professional walker, and seem dis-satisfied with the NSAL as a charity.

The book will sell well, and perhaps after the initial publicity, Howard Stern will even talk about it on the air. Certainly, the reviews on the book would make for an interesting show. I would anticipate that as the book gains exposure that the flame war in the review section of Amazon will be great reading for all of those that don’t have a dog but want some insight on those that have the unique obsession of posting their opinion on the internet and pretending that they are an expert in subject matter they likely know less about than they lead on. It seems the Internet is full of these “experts”.

The Good:

“The rewards of having a dog are well known- the health benefits, both mental and physical, have been well documented. But along with the great joy can come stress and anxiety. That’s where Oh My Dog comes in. The book should be seen as a handy reference guide. The author has interviewed numerous experts and has included their tips and advice. This book covers it all- from the time your four legged friend is a rambunctious pup to when they inevitably slow down and old age sets in. It makes dealing with those rough patches easier- and that’s a good thing. I wish I had a book like this when I got my first lab over ten years ago. But to be honest even a long time dog owner like myself will still find the book extremely useful. For example, I never thought to read the labels on pet foods before and even if I did I would not know what to look out for. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has a dog or is thinking of getting one. As an aside, Amazon really needs to start removing most of the reviews on this page. It’s obvious the people reviewing the book have not read it. I’m not sure what their agenda is but it is clear the author is not getting a fair shake.”

The Bad:

“Despite writing this book, the author is NOT an authority on dog care – not by any stretch of the imagination. This book is simply a vanity project by a bored trophy wife of a millionaire. That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing if the author practices what she preaches. Unfortunately that is not the case here. The author preaches about adopting animals from a shelter but her dog (yes, the one on the book cover) was bred and trained by a professional breeder. She has no clue what it takes to train a dog. She speaks of nutrition but her dog is the fattest bulldog I have ever seen. Her husband even speaks about her feeding the dog table scraps which ANYBODY will tell you is a bad thing. You don’t even have to be a specialist to know that. On top of all that, she employs a professional dog walker to walk her dog….”

One can only imagine the drubbing Beth is taking on the SternFanNetwork, a Stern fan page with a segment of posters that seem to slam anyone and everyone, including Howard Stern! (Now I have gone and made myself a target).

Watch for Beth to make the rounds on television to promote her book. She appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman May 7th.

Buy Oh My Dog On Amazon

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio

Tune into CBS tonight to catch all of the action.

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio

The latest news is that Stern Show producer Gary Dell’Abate, also known as BaBa Booey, will be penning a book due out November 3rd of this year. The title… “They Call Me BaBa Booey”. The book is virtually certain to sell many copies. In the past other show participants, including Artie Lange have had great success selling their books.

Dell’Abate’s book is about everything from his relationship with his mother, to his now famous first pitch at a Met’s game. The pitch has gone down as one of the worst opening pitches in history, and fans certainly never let him forget it. The ball was even auctioned off, and the proud owner is TSS-Radio.

They Call Me BaBa Booey is already available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $16.50. If that is not tantalizing enough, there will be an audio book available as well, which is certain to wind up in many Stern Show bits, prank calls, and a general topic of discussion on the show.

Still want more? Imagine the appearances on talk show’s. Gary on Letterman, Regis and Kelly, or even with John Stewart. It will be priceless, and not only give the book exposure, but Sirius XM and the Stern Show as well.

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio

Satellite radio investors seem to like the idea of Stern becoming a judge on American Idol. His fans seem to like the idea as well. After all, this will bring more exposure to Stern, and by extension, to satellite radio. It would seem to make all of the sense in the world that this is potentially great news, right?

Well, the exposure would help satellite radio gain some “free” publicity, but in my mind this deal would have been better a year or two ago. As many already know, Howard is in the last year of his contract with Sirius XM. As any business man will tell you, you want to increase your market value as much as possible prior to negotiating a contract. Thus, the American Idol speculation brings added value to the Stern brand, as well as his negotiating power.

If Howard is a success on American Idol, it would be a gig that would pay him handsomely. Perhaps it would even pay him enough to make that his main form of employment. Being a judge on American Idol would increase the amount of leverage he has at the negotiating table with Sirius XM. Even the speculation serves that same purpose. Yes, it would bring exposure to Sirius XM. Perhaps the added exposure will even be enough to make it in Sirius XM’s best interest to try their hardest to keep The King of All Media on board. The risk however is all with Sirius XM. If Howard were to cut a deal with Idol, he is in the drivers seat when it comes to a potential contract with Sirius XM.

Stern is in a win/win situation:

1. If he wants to slow down, the Idol job will allow him to do just that while at the same time keeping his bank account healthy.

2. If he has no intention of signing with Idol, the mere speculation will increase his value at the table as he negotiates with Sirius XM.

3. If he really wants to cash in, he can do both Idol and Sirius XM.

Over the years, there have been many who question the relevance of Howard Stern. He has passionate fans, and people who passionately hate him. Those that say he is not relevant really need to wake up and look at what is happening. He is indeed relevant. He is relevant because his name gets attached to rumor after rumor. He is relevant because even those that hate him make him relevant by expressing their opinion about him.

Whether or not Howard Stern re-signs with Sirius XM will be some of the key speculation this year. Losing their flagship personality to Idol would not be the end of the world for Sirius XM. Losing hin to Idol and having him still conduct a radio show or podcast elsewhere could be bad news. Stern’s very relevance makes keeping him important. It is just a question of the cost to get the deal done, and the value Sirius XM can get out of the deal. Any other year than a contract year, this American Idol news would be a coup for satellite radio. This year, it is a mixed bag, and a wild card.

Renewing Howard’s contract has always been a priority for Sirius XM and he was always going to command top dollar. The idol news simply solidifies his position. I would watch for Howard to shoot for fewer radio broadcast days, and perhaps even work towards a three day show schedule with other Howard 100/101 programming and perhaps new morning shows filling in on the off days. As with anything that Howard Stern does…he is in the drivers seat.

Position: Long Sirius XM Radio