Howard Stern moving to Sirius ...

[WorknMan]

"King of All Media" Howard Stern and SIRIUS announced today an epic agreement whereby Stern will move to SIRIUS beginning January 1, 2006.

Click here (http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=FlexContent&cid=1096483196551) for more info.

Shane said in another thread:

The only thing that could make me consider satellite radio is a change in the payment model or if Howard Stern goes there - I might be willing to check it out.

So, what'll it be, Shane? You gonna sign up for satellite radio in 2006 ? :)

[Shane R. Monroe]

Well, let's hope by 2006 that the hardware is free. I don't think I'd double dip - not even for Stern. Unfortunately for Sirius, there is an AGGRESSIVE group of people that dump Stern's show to the Net daily and people looking at $50-300 up front and $10 a month are going to start looking at that option pretty hard.

We'll see - that's still a long way off.

[Darksol]

Actually I think this is pretty cool .

Finally Stern will be rid of the FCC censors.

Same thing for Anthony and Opie who are now going to be on XM.

Let the satellite radio wars begin!

[WorknMan]

Yeah, I think they'd be interesting to listen to uncensored ... for about 2 seconds. Lame 'shock jocks' :shock:

[Shane R. Monroe]

Uncensored rules ... But don't you people kid yourselves for a second. Should the current trend continue, XM and Sirus will end up under the FCC regulation, and its back to square one. Pay service or not, they can (and I believe WILL) end up getting regulated ...

[WorknMan]

Uncensored rules ... But don't you people kid yourselves for a second. Should the current trend continue, XM and Sirus will end up under the FCC regulation, and its back to square one. Pay service or not, they can (and I believe WILL) end up getting regulated ...

I don't know about Stern, but O&A have their own 'Premium' channel that you gotta pay extra for .. isn't this kinda like the audio version of HBO? I mean, if kids don't have direct access to it, what excuse will they have to censor it?

[Shane R. Monroe]

Simple ... Cars are SHIPPING with the product preinstalled. That means its something you no longer 'make an appointment' to have access to. That makes is JUST as 'easy access' to as public radio. With 'portable' XM players and 'boom boxes' you're now treading on the ability to 'offend' someone else, in public, sitting next to you on the bus, or in the next cube at work, etc.

THAT is going to be how the FCC censors are going to get satellite radio.

They are talking about moving censorship into pay cable channels too. Once HBO gets hit, there is nothing safe from the Bible-thumpers.

Country is becoming a goddamn daycare center. Pisses me off.

[WorknMan]

Simple ... Cars are SHIPPING with the product preinstalled. That means its something you no longer 'make an appointment' to have access to. That makes is JUST as 'easy access' to as public radio.

Not necessarily, considering you still have to pay for it, and there are parental controls so that you can block any channel you want, so it's not really any more 'accessible' than HBO in somebody's house.

With 'portable' XM players and 'boom boxes' you're now treading on the ability to 'offend' someone else, in public, sitting next to you on the bus, or in the next cube at work, etc.

I think this goes along the same lines of what we're seeing in cars now with DVD players .. people are watching porn in their cars and other drivers (including children) are getting a good look at it. In that case, what they do is say you can't watch porn in your car while driving. This is reasonable, IMHO ... cuz if there's someone driving along watching a Chasey Lane video, that is a horrible distraction for the other males on the road :)

They are talking about moving censorship into pay cable channels too. Once HBO gets hit, there is nothing safe from the Bible-thumpers.

I've not heard anything about this? Personally, I don't care what they do with cable, but if they go after XM, there'll be hell to pay :)

[Oedipus]

First time poster longtime listener.....

I think they will try to regulate cable/satellite and could succeed if people close their eyes and ears as they did with the passing of the "Patriot Act."

There are certain people in this country who will not be satisfied until the entire entertainment landscape is safe for children at all hours of the day. Parents nolonger parent, they want the TV to babysit and raise their kids. Then when little Johnny can't tell the difference between reality and Television and gets himself hurt they blame the symptom instead of the cause (the kids parents).


[/i]

[Shane R. Monroe]

Yeah, I'm a huge advocate for Active Parenting.

The people who want regulation are the people who don't want to parent. Plain and simple.

[WorknMan]

Here's some Q&A on Stern/Sirius:

http://www.siriusbackstage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14211

Also, there's a bunch of new receivers that just came on the market, and Sirius Direct has some sweet deals on the older ones:

https://home.sirius.com/webDUWI/HomePage.aspx

(Use promo code 456, referer id: siriusbackstage)

You can get the receiver plus a car or home kit for $50, and they got a couple of bundles too. Think I'm gonna get one for my car :)

[Nectar]

If they move censorship into pay channels, there won't be pay channels anymore. At least not as long as money is a deciding factor in these things.

[Shane R. Monroe]

Precisely my problem with ALL subscription based, hardware required systems.

Once you're in, they can change the rules, and your money continues to flow from your hand (either until you contract is up, or you pay a 'disconnect fee') and then you are left with paperweight hardware that can do NOTHING for you.

If satellite radio gets into the mainstream enough in methods that are non-elective (i.e. every new Ford vehicle has Sirius radio in it standard - and its coming) then the FCC et al are going to declare it unsafe for uncensored broadcast to "protect our children".

Bunch of horsesh*t .... but under our current administration, where Jesus is calling the shots, I TOTALLY see it happening.

[WorknMan]

Once you're in, they can change the rules, and your money continues to flow from your hand (either until you contract is up, or you pay a 'disconnect fee')

Ok, now you're spreading FUD, Shane :) You can pay monthly if you want - no contract or disconnect fee.


and then you are left with paperweight hardware that can do NOTHING for you.

Oh, come on .. you can get it now for the cost of one video game. It's not like you're breaking the bank. Besides, unless the service goes belly up (which is highly unlikely), you could probably pawn the equipment for $10-$20 on Ebay.


If satellite radio gets into the mainstream enough in methods that are non-elective (i.e. every new Ford vehicle has Sirius radio in it standard - and its coming) then the FCC et al are going to declare it unsafe for uncensored broadcast to "protect our children".

You might be right, but it would still be 10x better than FM even if it were censored :) Anyway, considering it is a subscription-based service and parents already have the ability to block any channel they want, I hope it won't come to that. If it does, I will become an activist :)


Bunch of horsesh*t .... but under our current administration, where Jesus is calling the shots, I TOTALLY see it happening.

Hopefully, there will be a regime change on Nov 2nd.