The Next Huge Mistake Looming For Sirius XM?
Like him or not, Bubba has the kind of show that puts subscriptions on the books and is personally the kind of guy who gets his team together to tour around the country grassroot promoting Sirius XM radio. With subscribers already screaming out in anger over the latest channel stir up, Sirius XM is on the verge of making a huge mistake if they choose to let Bubba go.
It seems clear that the decision makers at Sirius XM have no idea they kind of talent they have with Bubba. All anyone has to do is take a look at the number of websites that cover news about him, the number of users on the countless messages boards devoted to him, and then check out how he can move the numbers at Google like only a very few like Howard Stern can do. What more do they need?
It’s time for Sirius XM to step up to the plate or get ready for a backlash like nothing they have seen to date.
hopefully the consolidating on some of the music channels was in part to put the cash towards Bubba. I agree totally with you Charles. I like listening to him and he captures a nice size audience.
We have to also keep in mind that we really don’t know what kind of money Bubba is asking for. He is on the brink of bringing more stations onboard for his daily morning show. Were I in his shoes I’d ask for a pretty high pay raise and if I did not get it I would happily enjoy more time with my family.
It is pretty amazing to me that Bubba manages to do to shows a day and yet has maintained his high energy broadcast format.
At this point, if I were Bubba, I would not even entertain an offer from Sirius. It’s not even about the money anymore, its about the headache.
This is so true. Love, hate, or indifferent to him at last count he had the 2nd highest rated (# of listeners) talk-radio show on Satellite radio.
Bubba & Scott Ferrall nicely round out Howard’s channels.
I just hope that Sirius’ “New York” way of thinking doesn’t interfere. They seem to direct their money towards attracting New York listeners more than anyplace else. Granted that is a very large population, but there is the rest of the U.S. and Canada to consider.
If they don’t re-sign him, I will just listen to his morning show. I can stream it via my phone through my car radio. If the now tamer Howard Stern can’t keep my interest, I may let my final Sirius account go. I have about a year’s worth of audio books to catch up on.
Mooooo
Sirius has all the data on the amount of listners he has, and how many subscriptions were a direct result of him. It’s pretty much cut and dry. If Bubba is a viable entity that has returned profit on their investment, they keep him, if he has not, they let him go.
Are you suggesting that they would merely let him go for no good reason? I think you need to think this one through a little more.
I started listening to Sirius when my friend gave me his old receiver after upgrading and I ended up becoming a subscriber with 2 radios after listening to Bubba for a week.
Bubba’s, hands down, the best talent on Sirius. Second to his show is the Jay Thomas show Friday mornings on 101.
He’s got one of the most original groups and shows out there and is really a shining jewel in Sirius’s crown. It would be a real shame to see him go!
I’m really not happy with Sirius after the line-up change and the lose of Boombox. If Bubba goes to the wayside I believe my subscription will too. I primarily listen to Fox Talk during the day before Bubba comes on but I’m pretty sure I can pick that up on AM stations!
Sirius XM is making it really hard to be supportive of their services this holiday season. I just might have to park myself in front of a display at Best Buy or something and persuade people to go the iPod route instead.
Charles,
Doesn’t Bubba still have that terrestrial radio agreement with Sirius that Mel though ran against his need for programming to be unique? How do you think that issue should be addressed. Is the only advantage now to being paid listener that his programming is censored on terrestrial and open on Sirius? How much is that worth in your opinion?
Bubba? The second highest rated show on Sirius? FYI .. They don’t rate shows on Sirius XM. That’s just Bubba lying again to try to make himself look bigger. Has anybody ever seen these numbers? Exactly. Here’s the FACT people. They don’t want him. Howard doesn’t want him. With Sirius XM needing $ so badly, don’t you think they would sign him if he made them any money at all? I’ve always been amazed on how many people have bought into his BS PR spin. He has the most retarded fans in radio history. If Howard wanted him around, he would make it happen. It’s HIS channel remember? With XM in the fold we’ll now have the cream of the crop. Howard! O and A! Lex and Terry!
Here’s another fact people … he’s begging Sirius to hire him on the air and on his website. He’ll never keep is other radio job. He’s too stupid.
Steve….
1. Satellite radio does get recorded in ratings books.
2. The company, as well as talent knows how welll the show is doing.
3. Howard 101 was indeed the second highest rated channel.
4. Howard has a say with Bubba, and what goes on the channels, but make no mistake, it is not solely his, nor is the decision regarding Bubba. The $500,000,000 deal included a “budget” for filling out the channels. Those funds are paid by Sirius, not Howard. Bubba is an employee of Sirius, not Howard
@cos1000
I am not sure I fully understand your comment. What I can say is that the two shows are not the same. He does two unique shows everyday.
Arbitron ratings:
And I stand corrected. As Tyler pointed out, it is Howard 101 which has the 2nd highest talk show rating. This includes Howard’s west coast feed, Scott Ferrall, and BTLS as well as a few others.
I just believe, like him or not, that BTLS is a show I enjoy and makes it a reason for me to enjoy Sirius. As a listener of the show, not a “mark”, I hear calls from all over the U.S. and Canada. I just fear that the company heads, such as Scott Greenstein and others may not understand how people can like the show, thus not worry about keeping it. I hope this is not the case.
It is obvious that Steve is one of those people who has his favorites and that is all he cares about. But successful radio is about variety.
BTLS is the one show that consistently airs while I’m at work (mid-8am). Thus it is the one I’m most exposed to. So, I’ve learned to enjoy it and hope to keep it. If not, I will scan SiriusXM for something else consistent during that time. If I find nothing, why keep paying for it.
Sirius XM does subscribe to Arbitron’s rating service. So, the Arbitron numbers cited in the comments have little merit. One of the biggest problems with Arbitron is that they do not survey satellite listeners directly. People who are sent diaries for terrestrial radio have the option to write in a satellite radio channel. The Arbitron methodology is very flawed and that’s why Sirius XM uses services like OTX to directly target satellite listeners.
No matter what, SIRI is doomed. I don’t want to see it go down, but the technology is so 10 years ago.
wow steve is dumb. Not one fact he stated was right.
Bubba gone….possible return to radio of Kidd Chris????? I hope so….and I will be buying a subscription
Bubba is full of crap! Screw him and his whining. No employee should EVER talk of his employers they way he did last night which resulted his being booted off the air.
Brent is a clueless, psychotic, conspriacy loon.
SiriusXM will not lose a million or even in the hundreds of thousands of subscribers if the company does not resign him.
So what, his markets are expanding in Florida? Big deal! He will never be avaiable outside of Florida. He will fall into obscurity and if everybody knows you can not make any money in the podcast arena.
I think he is getting what he deserves and I hope Mark Lunsford kicks his fat butt!
JACK in AR… Bubba’s show can not touch Howard’s show in any way shape or form…not even close!
Scottie brings more listeners than Bubba. Do the math, if he having trouble selling out 2K seat venues, then how can his influence be that great?
And actually the last time, his show was third on satelitte radio behind Howard and Sirius Hits 1.
I STRONGLY agree with Charles…well it looks like the day of reckoning has come and we will see what the cosequnses are.