In the news: Can millions of listeners just disappear?

[ThatManDan]

(From the L.A. Times Apr 11 2006)

Can millions of listeners just disappear?

That's a question plaguing Howard Stern and one with vital implications for radio itself in the wake of the shock jock's heralded and hyped switch from free to satellite broadcasting.

(Read this article at (Free registration may be required.)

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...r11,1,7251780.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews

 

[SirRoxalot]

Where Have You Gone, Joe Dimaggio?

From what I've seen so far, I don't think the listeners "disappeared". They just got spread out over a number of existing morning shows that used to compete with or share some audience with Stern.

Of course, there are always those who will protest the loss of Howard on their favorite terrestrial radio station by writing in their diary that they're not listening to morning radio anymore. In fact, they may be listening to radio that they consider to be "uncool". That's where the PPM would detect real listening as opposed to reported listening.

All in all, I doubt that Sirius is really getting its money's worth. As far as ratings are concerned, new habits will be formed and the numbers will even out.

 

[SaltyDog]

Another dumb reporter comment

I'm glad you posted that article; it saves me the trouble.

So the story is about how relatively few in Stern's audience followed him to satellite, and no one knows where they went. So the reporter comes up with this brilliant analysis:

"The timing could scarcely be worse for terrestrial radio, which needs an oversized, rudderless audience now like it needs another intriguing and easy-to-use competitor — say, an iPod, podcasts, personalized CDs or, Stern notwithstanding, the siren songs of satellite."

Oh, yeah. That's terrible. We don't need no stinkin' "oversized, rudderless audience" drifting around out there. What we really need is for Stern to pull all 20 million listeners to satellite. Friggin' brilliant.


> (From the L.A. Times Apr 11 2006)
>
> Can millions of listeners just disappear?
>
> That's a question plaguing Howard Stern and one with vital
> implications for radio itself in the wake of the shock
> jock's heralded and hyped switch from free to satellite
> broadcasting.
>
> (Read this article at (Free registration may be required.)
>
>
>
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/> la-et-stern11apr11,1,7251780.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews
> <P ID="signature">______________
SD</P>

 

[OldiesCat]

Gone

Totally agree. Same thing happens when any heritage or specialized radio show goes off-the-air, they scatter all about.

> From what I've seen so far, I don't think the listeners
> "disappeared". They just got spread out over a number of
> existing morning shows that used to compete with or share
> some audience with Stern.
>
> Of course, there are always those who will protest the loss
> of Howard on their favorite terrestrial radio station by
> writing in their diary that they're not listening to morning
> radio anymore. In fact, they may be listening to radio that
> they consider to be "uncool". That's where the PPM would
> detect real listening as opposed to reported listening.
>
> All in all, I doubt that Sirius is really getting its
> money's worth. As far as ratings are concerned, new habits
> will be formed and the numbers will even out.
>