Howard Stern's Return

[ericdxx]

Lets say CBS is courting him. Where would you put him? Something tells me that FM Sports/Talk may just be Howards new home. CBS is flipping them all over the place, and he pretty much fits the demographic... Add the fact that CBS now also do streamimg, and streamimg regularly figures in book results, albeit small sample... If you got word around that Howard was broadcasting in New York and streaming to the world. There is easily an instant revenue source. Where there is no avalability in some markets, He could be moved to HD2. HD radio is a smaller cost in the long run when compared to satelitte...

As Allan Sniffen always says, CBS would be crazy to mess with the golden cow that WFAN is. AM is working great for the sports format, Carton&Boomer are #1 in their demo, Francesa hasn't lost any listeners. You don't touch that formula until it starts to decline.

But you post got my fantasy going. ESPN is a company with the money to spend, the ambitions to move their AM stations to FM, they could put him on the air nationally. Howard Stern would be a perfect draw. He could be on in the early PM drive. The big problem is that you can't have a show that is non-sports on a sports network. Right?

 

[TheBigA]

The big problem is that you can't have a show that is non-sports on a sports network. Right?

The bigger problem is ESPN is owned by Disney, and I doubt they'd want someone with Howard's reputation in their family-oriented company.

 

[musicfan101]

Lets say CBS is courting him. Where would you put him? Something tells me that FM Sports/Talk may just be Howards new home. CBS is flipping them all over the place, and he pretty much fits the demographic... Add the fact that CBS now also do streamimg, and streamimg regularly figures in book results, albeit small sample... If you got word around that Howard was broadcasting in New York and streaming to the world. There is easily an instant revenue source. Where there is no avalability in some markets, He could be moved to HD2. HD radio is a smaller cost in the long run when compared to satelitte...

I don't think CBS would have a problem with re-launching a couple of FM Talk stations again, in maybe NYC, LA, or a couple more major markets. Let's remember, Free FM lost a lot of listeners WITHOUT Howard. Now that you have him in the mornings, that would give listeners something to tune into other than David Lee Roth, or Rover. But, for the record, I live in L.A., so Carolla and the FM Talk format did work here. So there could be some issues out here...

 

[jerry367]

I don't think CBS would have a problem with re-launching a couple of FM Talk stations again, in maybe NYC, LA, or a couple more major markets. Let's remember, Free FM lost a lot of listeners WITHOUT Howard. Now that you have him in the mornings, that would give listeners something to tune into other than David Lee Roth, or Rover. But, for the record, I live in L.A., so Carolla and the FM Talk format did work here. So there could be some issues out here...

Do you mean to tell me that you think CBS should lauch a bunch of FM Talk stations WITH Howard in morning drive?

Why, that's brilliant!

Wait a minute, didn't CBS already DO that? Oh wait, what CBS did was the reverse: They waited until their long-running morning talk-star Howard Stern LEFT THE MEDIUM, and THEN decided to launch a series of FM talk stations. The "FREE" in "FREE-FM" apparently meant "Free of a star morning talker who would be the ideal anhcor for the rest of the day".

 

[TheBigA]

They waited until their long-running morning talk-star Howard Stern LEFT THE MEDIUM,

That was Howard's demand. He WANTED the stations he was on to play rock during the rest of their day.

 

[jerry367]

They waited until their long-running morning talk-star Howard Stern LEFT THE MEDIUM,

That was Howard's demand. He WANTED the stations he was on to play rock during the rest of their day.

That is irrelevant. Howard was not paid to prgoram the company's FM's.

 

[TheBigA]

That is irrelevant. Howard was not paid to prgoram the company's FM's.

The people who programmed the company's FMs had no power over Howard. He didn't work for them. And he made that very clear on the air. What Howard wanted was usually written in his contract, which was negotiated way way above the people who were paid to program radio stations. If they wanted to keep their jobs, they needed to keep him happy, and stay out of his way.

 

[pjc1961]

Mentioned in Tom Taylor's Mon. 1/25/10 "TRI Newsletter" - link to Business Week article where John Hogan of Clear Channel makes an overture to Howard:

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2010/tc20100122_601882.htm

 

[leethalweapon]

What has changed at Clear Channel? If I remember correctly, they dumped him from their stations because he was becoming too hot to handle, in their view. Is it that he is a potential gold mine for them in these difficult conditions?

 

[ericdxx]

They waited until their long-running morning talk-star Howard Stern LEFT THE MEDIUM,

That was Howard's demand. He WANTED the stations he was on to play rock during the rest of their day.

That's probably true but there was another reason. There was a strategy within Infinity Broadcasting to have an offensive show in morning drive and non-offensive programming in the afternoon on the stations. The reason was that some companies would not advertise during Sterns hours so the Infinity wanted to be able to sell afternoon ad-time to these companies.

 

[TheBigA]

What has changed at Clear Channel?

Not much. If you read the John Hogan quote, he says Howard could come to CC if he cleaned up his act. Howard won't be toild what to do, and still has a strong aversion to CC.

 

[Element9]

Stern. Once again the master promoter. I'd like to meet his tailor.

 

[Skynet74]

Stern. Once again the master promoter. I'd like to meet his tailor.

His name is Don. Don Buchwald