Bubba article in the Times

[radioguy555]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/11/Artsandentertainment/Bubba__relaunched.shtml

I guess the big question is do you think Bubba will make it in satellite radio? Personally, I've got to agree with the naysayers on this one. Satellite radio might be the thing of the future, but I don't see the average listener shelling out $13 a month just so they can get more radio channels. I think one of the main issues here is how often people actually listen to the radio. If it's only during their drives to work and then back home, or occasionally when driving around town, there is no reason to have to pay for radio.

And one other thing...is Bubba kissing his son on the lips in that picture?

 

[TerryKay]

It will be interesting to see where not only Clem -- but also Stern -- stand in, say 1-1/2 years after the January-06 launch. And whether the two manage to not have any personality clashes that get in the way of the biz of making Sirius some cash. That said, I wish all the best.

Question for those sharper than I: how do XM and Sirius measure their listeners, justify programs, channels, etc?

Myself, an XM or Sirius portable receiver is often tempting (they are certainly cheap enough) but the idea of paying (despite the low cost, monthly) is still a little alien for someone Old School, like me. I suppose we can all look back to the early days of cable TV as a parallel. For certain, it's a medium that will only grow, at least as a niche if not greater.

Happy Holidays (Christmas, or whatever) to all!



>
>
> I guess the big question is do you think Bubba will make it
> in satellite radio? Personally, I've got to agree with the
> naysayers on this one. Satellite radio might be the thing of
> the future, but I don't see the average listener shelling
> out $13 a month just so they can get more radio channels. I
> think one of the main issues here is how often people
> actually listen to the radio. If it's only during their
> drives to work and then back home, or occasionally when
> driving around town, there is no reason to have to pay for
> radio.
>
> And one other thing...is Bubba kissing his son on the lips
> in that picture?
>

 

[Cowhead]

Your not really trying to dog the guy for kissing his son are you?
-Cow
>
> And one other thing...is Bubba kissing his son on the lips
> in that picture?
>

 

[asrai]

I've had Sirius for over a year now and the only the only time I turn on 'old fashioned' radio is to listen to Stern. I live right next to an airport, so actually picking up stations is a pain, unless you want to hear static or bleed-over from from other stations. A couple years ago I balked at paying for it, but now I can't imagine being without it. I usually have it on all day.

 

[zoneguy]

> Question for those sharper than I: how do XM and Sirius
> measure their listeners, justify programs, channels, etc?
>
> Myself, an XM or Sirius portable receiver is often tempting
> (they are certainly cheap enough) but the idea of paying
> (despite the low cost, monthly) is still a little alien for
> someone Old School, like me. I suppose we can all look back
> to the early days of cable TV as a parallel. For certain,
> it's a medium that will only grow, at least as a niche if
> not greater.
>
> Happy Holidays (Christmas, or whatever) to all!
>
>

I just wonder when these companies will actually ever show a profit. Sirius does not yet have three million subscribers. So, let's say at any given time about 10% of the subscription base is tuned in. (That's probably a very high figure, we know the percentage for terrestial radio is less). That's maybe 300,000 people. That not even a top 50 arbitron market. Sure, the morning drive numbers may push higher than that, maybe significantly so, but can that float the whole enterprise? Plus you are producing 120 channels of programming, much of it in house. That ain't cheap. Not to mention paying for Stern, the NFL rights etc.. Lots of big cash going out. I just don't see when they come out ahead .

 

[radioguy555]

> Your not really trying to dog the guy for kissing his son
> are you?

No, but to me it looks a little out of place (especially in the newspaper) to see two males with lips-to-lips contact, even if it is a father and his son. Couldn't the paper have chosen a picture that's a little more appealing to the eyes?

 

[Wazzie]

"to see two males with lips-to-lips contact, even if it is a father and his son".

OH BROTHER!

Concerning Sat Radio, good luck even breaking even. They are spending BIG bucks with no guarentee of return. With HD Radio on the horizon, I think Sat Radio will be a tougher sell. If I was on the road all the time, Sat radio makes sense.<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>

 

[radiofan13]

> Concerning Sat Radio, good luck even breaking even. They
> are spending BIG bucks with no guarentee of return. With HD
> Radio on the horizon, I think Sat Radio will be a tougher
> sell. If I was on the road all the time, Sat radio makes
> sense.

HD radio is a joke and the big companies are hoping that it's their savior. And even if HD radio does become mainstream, I'm sure the big terrestrial companies with either program it like they do the regular AM//FMs now and or find a way to alinate listeners. It's taken a good 4 years now for the average American to somehwhat understand what XM and Sirius are. 4 years! HD radio can expect the same kind reaction due to the fact that "HD" is now usually connected with TV and the fact that the receiving equipment is not yet mainstream. Due to the fact that almost every new car comes with an option for either Sirius or XM and that the price for their equipment is now much lower and available in more places, I'd expect the two sat companies to maybe see that corner they've been looking to turn. In the end, for me it comes down to commericals. MJ says his shows are as good as anything that's available on sat... however, what he fails to point out is music programming on satellite is commerical free. And their are channels on the systems that offer music/formats you just don't hear on AM/FM. Will Bubba make it... hard to say. I've never thought his show would appeal to an audience outside the Bay area. However, unlike the Monsters, Jim Phillips, and the whole simulcasting attempt of WTKS-Orlando to multiple markets, Bubba must start right from the beginning and act "national". Even though the studios are in Tampa, don't make the show about it. If he can pull good guests and make the show topical and fresh every day, he might pull it off on a national basis. However, Tampa is no New York and Bubba is no Stern.

 

[corners]

> I guess the big question is do you think Bubba will make it
> in satellite radio? Personally, I've got to agree with the
> naysayers on this one. Satellite radio might be the thing of
> the future, but I don't see the average listener shelling
> out $13 a month just so they can get more radio channels.

You can get things on satellite that you can't on regular radio. Maybe it's not worth it to you, but between the uncensored talk (FCC content crackdown anyone?), diverse commercial-free music choices, etc., it's well worth the money, in my estimation.

I think Bubba will do fine, particularly with the crossover promotion with Howard Stern.

 

[Cowhead]

Lip to Lip contact? Are you serious. He is kissing his 5 year old son, not frenching a dalmation. I think it showed that a guy wo is crazy on the radio, is a good father in his private life.

What picture would be more appealing for you?? Maybe him staring at you with a sexy eyes glamour shot thumbs on the lapel picture?. You dummy !

> > Your not really trying to dog the guy for kissing his son
> > are you?
>
> No, but to me it looks a little out of place (especially in
> the newspaper) to see two males with lips-to-lips contact,
> even if it is a father and his son. Couldn't the paper have
> chosen a picture that's a little more appealing to the eyes?
>

 

[radioguy555]

> Lip to Lip contact? Are you serious. He is kissing his 5
> year old son, not frenching a dalmation. I think it showed
> that a guy wo is crazy on the radio, is a good father in his
> private life.
>
> What picture would be more appealing for you?? Maybe him
> staring at you with a sexy eyes glamour shot thumbs on the
> lapel picture?. You dummy !

I didn't mean to make a big deal out of this. Neither did my mom nor dad ever kiss me on the lips when I was younger (maybe a peck on the cheek), so I guess that's why it looks a little awkward to me. But I am glad to see that he is a caring kind of guy. I think a more appropriate picture would show Bubba in his new studio or something actually related to the article. That's all.

 

[Frank_Ferreri]

http://www.sptimes> .com/2005/12/11/Artsandentertainment/Bubba__relaunched.shtml
>
>
> I guess the big question is do you think Bubba will make it
> in satellite radio? Personally, I've got to agree with the
> naysayers on this one. Satellite radio might be the thing of
> the future, but I don't see the average listener shelling
> out $13 a month just so they can get more radio channels. I
> think one of the main issues here is how often people
> actually listen to the radio. If it's only during their
> drives to work and then back home, or occasionally when
> driving around town, there is no reason to have to pay for
> radio.
>
> And one other thing...is Bubba kissing his son on the lips
> in that picture?
>
Must have been a very slow news day. Sure, it may be of interest to the handful who still remember Clem, however, good grief front page! With all due respect, does anyone really care? Seriously, his act played for time in Tampa Bay. Just don't feel that there are legions of followers who have been counting the days until he returns.
Just don't see folks in Des Moines Iowa lining up to buy satellite radio to listen to Bubba Who? because he does mindless bits and says nasty words...heck, can go to the local bar for that and enjoy a few Buds at the same time.

 

[jefflaurence]

All good points..but how is "Morning Radio" going to translate into National time slots? When I did mornings for Sirius Classic Country (back in the really early days) I had to do an 6 hour shift that started at 6am in NYC...By 9am Eastern I was getting spent, and that was only 6am Pacific..so another 3 hours got me to 9am Pacific, but well into Middays in New York and that was voice tracked...Will live show content every day cover all time periods? And is Howard and Bubba going to do 6 hours a day? I'll bet the novelty of that will wear off quick, and we'll be hearing repeated hours before long. Just a question.

Sirius and XM both have some different programming, and that's what we're paying for..more channels that we "might" listen to.

And the post earlier is right. But 10% of 3 million is 300 thousand listening to SIRIUS or XM..not ALL of them are listening to Howard. I know it's hard to believe, but there might be listeners tuning in to (gulp) some of the other channels!! YES something ELSE! That really whittles down the real numbers of Howard or Bubba listeners to a point that cost effectiveness goes out the door with a coat on.

 

[LouPickney]

> I guess the big question is do you think Bubba will make it
> in satellite radio? Personally, I've got to agree with the
> naysayers on this one. Satellite radio might be the thing of
> the future, but I don't see the average listener shelling
> out $13 a month just so they can get more radio channels.

The average listener will pay for content, just like they do with many other forms of entertainment. Sirius has content that old-fashioned radio, with its tight government restrictions and reliance on advertising, is unable to provide. Content is key, and Sirius has the goods, between Stern, Bubba, the NFL, etc., not to mention all of the commercial-free music channels.

But considering that you list the MJ Fan Page as your website in your profile, the fact that you'd write Bubba off before he's even started on Sirius isn't terribly surprising.

> And one other thing...is Bubba kissing his son on the lips in that picture?

For you, or anyone, to knock or question Bubba for showing affection toward his son is astonishing to me. Bubba loves his son and is a good father. Is that really so surprising to you?

 

[Gruber]

>I've never thought his show would appeal to an audience outside the Bay
> area. However, unlike the Monsters, Jim Phillips, and the
> whole simulcasting attempt of WTKS-Orlando to multiple
> markets, Bubba must start right from the beginning and act
> "national". Even though the studios are in Tampa, don't
> make the show about it. If he can pull good guests and make
> the show topical and fresh every day.
>

Exactly, people in Tampa could care less about his red neck sprint car buddies – no one in the north wants to hear that moron Lassiter. And if you are over 13, no one cares about his wrestling cronies that live in the area. And as good looking Brooke Hogan is, that won’t help him in radio.

Bubba’s act is tired and the fact he has been off the air for 2 years doesn’t help. He was pimping himself on Bay News Nine the other night and was about as sincere as a Pet Rock.

Good Luck Todd, you’ll need it.