Comments on: Stern blames 'rights' for iPhone app no-show

Howard Stern discussed why his show isn't available on the Sirius XM iPhone app. It seems that his $100 million-per-year salary isn't enough for inclusion in an iPhone app.

[shycelticwitch]

Howard Stern isn't even human so why is he news?

[PuddleBoston]

I must confess, I originally purchased a Sirius radio back when he was making the change to satellite. I listened for a while, but it became really boring. He is just riding out his contract right now, he has no passion for his job anymore. I now listen exclusively to Opie and Anthony on The Virus, much younger take on everything, and a much more interactive show. Howard better watch out from his ivory tower as O&A chop all of his fans out from under him. Then again, he won't care, he has his contract...

[Simon_Hova]

Stern's production company is paid $100 million each year by Sirius XM. I guess that fee just isn't enough to include his channels in its iPhone app.

Luckily, ********* comments are still free.

Actually, if you would have done a little Googling, you would have been able to pick up on a far more interesting story. A better report was filed by another site, orbitcast.com, pointing out that in an investor's preview an official photo of the iPhone app was distributed tuned to the Howard 100 channel. (http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/screenshot-of-sirius-xm-iphone-app-revealed.html) That's a much more interesting story, rather than providing a dull transcript pulled from YouTube.

[rvassar]

Good riddance. Stern is a has been (if he was ever there to begin with). The world is a better place without his idiocracy.

[slaphappy44]

If CNET actually did their jobs other than be paid hacks who loves to slander anything that involves Sirius, they would have notice that not only Howard Stern is not on the new apple application but MLB games, Nascar races and the NFL are not there as well. Its about rights, not loyalty and Stern has every right to be paid for his services.

And to the Opie and Anthony retards, get a clue, they are over. They don't even have a faction of the ratings Stern pulls in, so give it up. They are irrelevant.

[Dr_Zinj]

Amazing how people can shout, "GREEDY BASTARD" when someone else is applying pure capitalist principles in selling a product (himself) for as much as the market will bear when the market will tolerate prices of hundreds of millions of dollars for that person. Event hough I can't stand him, I can still say, "Go Howard Go!"

Me, I'm getting paid 60K a year to manage a database application, do occasional training classes, and frequent statistical reports in southern new hampshire. Of course if someone wants to hire me away for more than 20% more than that ...

[rdupuy11]

newsflash, this is Howard Stern.

Only $100 million? he's practically working for free now.
Of course they need to come up with another $100 million, minimum.

Look I'm trying to give Sirius the benefit of the doubt, maybe they don't have another $100 million, but have they thought about applying for a government loan?

If they've exhaused all other possibilities, then I'm sure, Howard, being a reasonable man, could possibly cut a deal to do it for $50 million per year, with the understanding they will pay the difference at some future point in time.

Frankly I'm not sure why Howard isn't already making north of 1 billion per year, but I guess its the economy.

[rhard1954]

Howard used to be fluid in everything he did, but now he's uptight. I like to refer to it as the "****** bag" effect. "I'd rather have character than be one." The world will suffer no great loss if Howard Stern isn't heard from again.

[rhard1954]

"D O U C H E BAG"

[uhura65]

I'm a big fan of the Stern show and have been for a few decades. I'm really disappointed that the show won't be available, and may just cancel (if I can).
By the way if you don't like the show fine, but why must you insult those of us who do? How does our listening and appreciating the show effect you?

[uhura65]

I'm a big fan of the Stern show and have been for a few decades. I'm really disappointed that the show won't be available, and may just cancel (if I can).
By the way if you don't like the show fine, but why must you insult those of us who do? How does our listening and appreciating the show effect you?

[kalvinkline]

The ONLY reason that satellite radio has survived this long is Howard Stern and his loyal fans. The Stern channels are the way that radio should be. If you missed his interview with Francis Ford Coppola, you missed one of the best. While Howard's compensation should not be an issue in this conversation, the fact is that a great deal of it was stock options that haven't done well given the poor handling of the merger by the Bush administration's FCC. One day, Howard will get the respect he deserves. In the mean time, the Iphone app. is a bargaining chip when his contact ends December '10. If he leaves, the future belongs to Bubba The Love Sponge and Jason Ellis. Babba Booey to you all.

[Spimby]

You people are funny. Everyone's quoting how much money Stern has and suggests he is just greedy and that he should have forgone the money for his fans.

Well, what about Apple? Shouldn't they have forgone the money for their Customers? I mean, Steve Jobs is worth about $5.4 BILLION. Apple has a market capitalization of $121.52 BILLION with $25 BILLION in freaking CASH on hand.

Yet, it was 'ok for Apple to nickel and dime but not for Stern??? LOL....

[sysin]

"It's a contractual rights thing"? C'mon Howard, thank your subscribers by loosening up on that clause. We are already legally streaming you over the web on our computers. A laptop computer is a mobile device, and surprise, an iPhone is a computer.

This is bogus, and you've obviously acquiesced to Sirius's plan to eventually milk us for another monthly nut. I can see it now. Upgrade now to the "Sirius Mobile Premium Package" for an additional $6.95 per month.

I'm already paying for this content, why can't I stream it in the way most convenient to me?

[Smartestguyintheroom]

because certain devices allow for copying the content and redistribution. I.e., why do DVD's have anti-copy software code built in to their digital code base......your concept is sound, but the device endpoints are not all secure .....

understand too, that Apple and the telco carrier all collect a fee for paid apps on their device / network.....and you pay for some of that too, so if Sirius collects a fee for the app, they must spilt it with Apple / ATT at some level so there is cost incurred.....if Howards contract with Sirius didnt cover this possibility, blame the Sirius lawyers, not Howard...Sirius has nothing to gain by violating thier own contract with Stern....recall now too that Stern did not raise any fuss with being added to XM before or after the merger ......... looks like the Lawyers anticpated that, but not the Iphone........

[jeriatrixs]

go back to wherever. if you dont like it dont listen

Sirius needs Howard to be a full monthly subscription draw for them. Why would they allow you to hear him without a $12-15 full subscription charge. He is getting paid 100Million a year, and his contract is up in 2011. They need the money if they are ever going to extend his contract.

They are scumbags to not allow full subscription holders to hear him on the iphone app.

Artie is just a brainless sycophant.

[Smartestguyintheroom]

Per usual, most people commenting on this or any other post are woefully short on facts or understanding.

Sterns contract can and will likely be ammended, but as any artist knows today, control of your content is everything....and if it isnt then you just get ripped off endlessly......this is not a Stern issue, this is acontent and copyright issue and one persons contract that controls his content output.....