Howard Stern didn't just make me laugh this week. He may have saved my job by keeping me awake at my desk.
In case you missed it, Sirius Satellite Radio offered a two-day long free Internet preview of its programming earlier this week. Millions of potential new listeners tuned in to what is being hailed by some as a revolutionary new vista of broadcasting, unrestricted by commercial formats — but more importantly, unrestricted by an ever-vigilant FCC. The drawing card for most was the first chance to hear Howard Stern since he left the commercial airwaves for this brave new world well over a year ago. If you believed the hype put forth by Stern during the two day free promotion, as many as 47 million people tuned in via the Internet.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Daethian
Fantastic article! I own THREE Sirius receivers and if I weren't currently unemployed I would be purchasing a Stiletto. We also get Howard TV with is amazing.
Those of you who say you 'MISS' Howard... I don't get you people. If you miss him why don't you just subscribe??? You don't even have to buy a receiver now, you can just listen online. You act like he died.
27 - James Buzby
Great story, with everybody that has a brain in agreement I just don't get the indecency hearings, you would think that the outcry from everybody liking stern would get them to think it over about clamping down so hard after all we're all supposed to be reasonable rational people and with everything going crazy one thing we can't have is egos and money running amok, I know this is a naive view of things but I don't really know how business works and I'm trying my best to understand.
28 - NYCriminal
got sirius just for howard and with the replays i have not missed a minute of the show since 1-9-06
i also listen a half hour behind the live show so i can just fast forward thru the 6 minutes of commercials an hour
29 - Joe P.
The deal with the duplicate posts is an old tactic "bashers" use on financial message boards, to "bury" informative posts or those that goes against their best interests. A lot of people will simply get frustrated with all the garbage (duplicate posts) and move on to something else. Maybe the're invested in Clear Channel or something like that and DON'T WANT people to read of positive comment in regard to Sirius. They will lose money.
30 - Changa78
I am stunned that people who claim to be long time fans of the Stern show still haven't jumped aboard the Sirius train. I cannot start my day without it. The show is not only funny but Howard is one of the best interviewers out there. Everyone else in the media is afraid of asking the good questions. He can make just about anyone interesting. Get off your asses and embrace a world where the s-word isn't the end of the world.
31 - Glen Boyd
Interesting theory Joe. Except the posts themselves seem to be from Stern fans. They've also driven this article to the top spot in both Blogcritics "Most Popular" and "Hot Topic" boxes.
We are also #1 on Google blog searches for "Howard Stern" at this very moment.
It is an interesting theory though. Thanks for the comment Joe.
-Glen
32 - Glen Boyd
I just got word that this article has been linked at Howard Stern's website.
Not only that, it's at the very top with a pretty big, bold headline.
That oughtta get us some hits over here. Still, number one at Google too.
How cool is that?
-Glen
33 - Larry T
I've had Sirius for over a year. I bought it for Stern, and have have found that, for about 40 cents a day, I can't voluntarily listen to regular terrestrial radio anymore. It's just plain - awful!
If, and when, Stern leaves Sirius, I'll still keep it. Oh yeah... F the FCC!
34 - Knightbird
I had XM for a year and found O&A not funny at all. I gave them a real chance and found them making fun of stern almost every week. They are jealous of Stern. I did away with XM and came over to Sirius and found what I have been missing for a year. I am a cop and listen for 8 or so hours and Howard makes me laugh to where I can deal with idiots of our world.
THANKS HOWARD!!!
35 - Glen Boyd
And here come the dupes again. Maybe Joe was right.
-Glen
36 - Bill
With all the talk about the costs, think of it this way - since I've gotten Sirius, I'm amazed at how often I'd rather just turn it on than the television. I'm seriously considering scrapping cable altogether until Sopranos starts back up. So Sirius will actually be saving me oh, 80 bucks a month.
That, plus the fact that if you're ANY kind of music fan at all, you need to get Sirius. Maybe it was my laziness in not searching the net for new bands to listen to, but they've woken me up to a lot of music I never would have heard before. Once you listen, regular radio literally sounds like a string of commercials with an occasional song you've heard 5,000 times mixed in.
37 - Seattle714
Hey Now! Here are a few things I've observed my friends spending money on, while at the same time telling me excuses of why they would NEVER pay $12.95 for satellite radio. These are things that are more of a daily expense within a months time -vs- the monthly cost of a daily show.
= 2 1/2 packs of cigarettes; but alot of smokers smoke more than that per/month
= 3-4 Starbucks coffees; this is usually fulfilled withing 3-4 days
= 2-3 very simple fast-food combo meals
= 1 good steak
= a used DVD
= 13 downloaded songs from itunes, or a new CD if it's on sale
= 4-5 gallons of gas
= a 12 pack of beer, or a cheap bottle of liquor
...
So, if you can relate yourself to any of the few things I've mentioned. You probably can be honest with yourself and admit that you may actually spend alot more on that particular item. My friends smoke about a pack a day @ $5.00 a pack... everyday! The beer is bought every weekend... Starbucks is bought on a daily basis. Some friends say they can't start their day without a Starbucks... and that's exactly how I feel about The Howard Stern Show. For me, coffee wakes me up, and Stern gets me going.
My last thing for those without Sirius to ponder...#1) Why do you have cable TV in your home? #2) Would you ever go back to standard programming using a rabbit-ear antennea?
... me neither!
38 - Phillip Winn
Seattle714 -- I don't have cable tv. Or satellite tv. I don't smoke, and I don't drink coffee. I drink tea -- I'm drinking some right now -- but I brew it myself and it's cheap.
That said, Sirius for $12.95 is a good deal. I honestly didn't know it was so cheap. :-)
39 - Ann
I got my Sirius a couple of months ago. Just for Howard. It's awesome, I love it. I laugh all the way to work. I love how I can catch the parts I missed later in the day or even in the middle of the night. Howard has a gift. He can make you laugh and forget about things that may be bothering you. Thanks Howard! Bless you.
40 - Craig
love my Sirius. True I'ma huge Howard fan, but I also love the music stations. The Who channel; Phish concert every night on jam; two NPR stations; and the list goes on. I don't have cable tv and my wife and I sit at home at night and instead of watching bad television we sit and listen to Howard. Have not listened to terrestrial radio since, actually I was in a car one day that had boring old fashioned radio and I wanted to slit my wrist. Oh and right now listening to the NFL on my Sirius.
41 - willi
I've had Sirius over 3 years now and it was the best entertainment purchase I ever made. The cost is so minimal, even a homeless person could afford it. It's the best statement for free speech since the internet.
42 - Vichus Smith
I would love to hear some praise for Howard Stern without comparing him to anyone or having the need to put down any other show. This isn't politics. You don't have to mudsling. Howard's brand of comedy stands on its own.
43 - Twan
Great article, and quite accurate. Thanx for posting your eloquent opinion.
Last December (2005) in anticipation of Howard's departure from terrestrial radio, not only did I buy a Sirius Satellite radio and subscription, but I bought stock in the company, as well. And on both counts, I'm quite happy.
Howard's show on uncensored Sirius satellite radio (stock ticker: SIRI) is unbelievably hilarious. I think it's some of the best entertainment I have ever heard (and I have been working in the entertainment industry for 21+ years, so I have seen some things). If you haven't listened in on Howard's new show, you just might want to consider doing so. I mean, I knew it would be good when he moved from FM to the satellite, but, my God!! This is almost TOO good! There have been a few occasions, while driving in my car on the crazy, busy L.A. freeways, that I was laughing so hard, I was forced into pulling over to the side of the road, lest I kill someone and/or myself. Gut-laughing with tears streaming down my face. People looking at me as they drove by must have thought I had lost my mind. Which I suppose I had, if just for that moment... Even people who didn't particularly like Howard back in the FM days are loving him now. The transformation is complete!
Howard Stern.... better than ever. I you value great entertainment, give it a try!
Twan
44 - Glen Boyd
Umm, excuse me Mr. Vicius but did you actually read my article? I did nothing but praise Stern. The man himself apparently liked it so much it's linked at his website right now. I did not once put him or any other show down. I did not "mudsling" as you suggest. Maybe you should go back and re-read it. And this time, put your glasses on okay pal?
-Glen
45 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Twan. Actually when I used to drive to and from work I never had to pull over. But howard did take my mind off being stuck in gridlock by mmaking me laugh my ass off. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be looking into Sirius once my finances get a bit better. It is some amazing stuff to be sure.
Thanx for the comment Twan.
-Glen
46 - rob t.
Great article. Great product. Great comments. No need for me to be verbose.
Sirius rocks, howard rules and well I can't beiliev it's only 13 bucks a month.
I have a new stilletto portable. Game over. This will revolutionize the industry.
thanks Howard and thanks Sirius. Thanks Glen for the article.
47 - Chris
Great article!
I've been a Stern fan since the early 90's, but I've never lived in a market that carried his show. Now, thanks to Sirius, I'm not only a Stern fan, but Stern listener!!!
Once more and more people get exposes to Sirius, they will realize just how horrible terrestrial radio is.
What a steal at $13 bucks a month!
48 - jeff
Great article Glen. I have both sirius and xm, sirius(owner12/04)for Stern and Bubba. Xm (owner 03/01) for baseball and music. As a fan of both sats. The music content is a little better on Xm. They seem to have a better playlist for my style of music (alternative and rock). I'm still going to keep my Xm. I threatend to close my account and they gave me the option to stay. I only had to pay four dollars a month for a three year contract and I have two years left. I just purchased the new Stiletto for Sirius, WOW. I have the Helix, but it just does not compare to the Stiletto. I could honestly say I have not listend to regular radio in months. I did try O&A in 05(when it became free on sat), but to me they sold out to regular radio this year. If they didn't bash Stern and didn't go back to regular radio, I would probably still listen. Now, since Bubba The Love Sponge has been spawned, he has helped me see the light. O&A are hacks and R&R are unlistenable. Long live Bubba
49 - Glen Boyd
Jeff,
I'd probably consider XM for Dylan's show -- though I've got a feeling the novelty there would wear off pretty quick. Dylan's a genius lyricist, but in interviews he's never struck me as a great conversationalist.
But in the little bit of music scanning I did during the preview this week--when I wasn't glued to Stern and Bubba anyway--things sounded pretty damn good on Sirius. I was already a fan of Little Steven's Underground Garage show (we get it on 107.7 The Mountain here in Seattle). But I also heard a lot of other new stuff that I've never heard before.
I'm not really a huge sports fan (I love my Seahawks though) so that wouldn't really be a draw for me.
So if I was gonna pick, I'd still go with Sirius. Again, Howard alone makes that one worth looking at, even though I'm flat-ass broke right now.
Thanx for the comment.
-Glen
50 - Steve
Hoo-hoo-hoo, I invented the bait and switch!
51 - Glen Boyd
Correction on that last comment:
Thats 103.7 The Mountain that carries Little Steven in Seattle. 107.7 is actually The End, our commercial alternative rock station.
-Glen
52 - Glen Boyd
Comment #53: Say what?
53 - jeff
#53 is just a pest with nothing good to say. That's another reason why I stopped listening to O&A. Hey, I have had sat radio long before Stern. In 05 I listend to O&A on replay and Jim Breuer on Raw dog( sirius ). Now in 06 with Stern and Bubba. My days are more enjoyable. I can't imagine a day with out these two, they are worth every penny spent.
luv you in non-faggat way!
54 - Van
One thing I've noticed about Howard on Sirius vs. terrestrial radio was very evident on Friday, when they ran an old show from Sept. 1994. With the massive amount of commercials we used to endure stripped-out, what was a 5 hour show at the time was more like 3 hours. Now, I've gotten accustomed to Howard's new one-break-per-hour, and I find my $.43/day more than pays for the time I wasted hearing those commercials.
The other great thing about that is, if the discussion is really lively (as when the Dixie Chicks were on, or when Jon Stewart & Roger Ebert were in the studio together), they're free to say Damn the commercials! and go for 1 & 1/2 hours straight.
And it's great not just to hear the unfettered language -- which gets tiresome sometimes-- but to hear the energy back on 100%.
55 - Glen Boyd
Comment #56:
Luv you too bro. Also in a brotherly, decidedly "non-faggat" way. Just so long as that aint just the beer talking anyway...
LOL
-Glen
56 - Joey
It literally costs .42 cents a day to have Sirius. Ity's actually a better deal than that if you pay for an entire year of service at once. You have so many great shows and music channels its really amazing. It really will make your drive in traffic a whole lot better. You get perfect reception even if you live in the mountains or anywhere there is no civilization. Its suxh an amazing product! Its a must have!
57 - Gary, SoCal
Yeah. Sirius, On-Demand, Sportster Replay with lifetime sub, Internet streaming of all Sirius programming, Stilleto on the way - ain't life great with Howard and the gang? Life's too short to be hung up by others' hang ups. Just try it for one month, you'll never look back!
58 - NYCriminal
stern talkin about this story right now
59 - Mark Saleski
hey, glen...howard just read your entire post over the air. very cool!!
60 - Al
Very nice article. Reading this along with Howard (he read this on Mondays show)
61 - Christopher Knell
This post is linked directly from the front page of Howard's Web Site.
62 - Phillip Winn
This is seriously tempting. Must...resist...
63 - Glen Boyd
I can't believe he actually read this over the air. Unbelievable. Thanx for all the comments all.
-Glen
64 - Glen Boyd
Howard News is interviewing me about the article in about 10 mins. I'll make sure they get the URL in there since Howard missed it this morning.
This is just amazing...I'm blown away by the attention this has gotten.
-Glen
65 - Mark Saleski
yea, i thought for a second this morning that bc was going to get a mention, because artie asked where the article came from....but howard just said "an internet publication"
66 - Glen Boyd
No worries Mark. I'll make sure BC gets its props.
-Glen
67 - Phillip Winn
Very nice, Glen. Congratulations. Long live Howard and long live BC Magazine and long live Glen Boyd. :-)
68 - Glen Boyd
The interview on Howard News should be on at 2 pm and 4 pm Pacific time. And I got BC mentioned very prominently---FYI....
-Glen
69 - Alice
Hey-now Glen,
Great article and glad that Howard saw it and gave you some attention.
I got Sirius about 6 months before Howard came on and even though I had no interest in the radio pre-Stern, I found that once I had it in my car, I was hooked. I loved the audio quality, the channels without the annoying string of endless commercials, and it was so easy to find great music and comedy and all sorts of stuff. I have not used my FM radio since (except to play my Sirius channels through my car speakers.)
Then Howard's show came along, and I don't listen to much else. The shows are better than ever, the creativity and the laughs are beyond what I imagined, and I have to say that nothing gets you through a rough day or struggle than laughing with Howard each morning.
I hope everyone who misses Howard, gets over the cost and comes on over. I have never seen someone work so hard and care for an audience like Howard and his team do. The show has gone past noon sometimes because they can't stop. Who does that these days? Open your wallets!
--Alice
70 - Mark Saleski
this article is also linked and discussed at marksfriggin.com, a howard stern fan site.
71 - Twan
In addition to my comment from yesterday, I had forgotten to mention how cool it is that you can listen to the Howard Stern show on the internet once you have a subscription. In fact, I'm listening in right now, as I type this message. It is simply the best entertainment around, using the most current and the best technology. Thank you Howard and Sirius!
Twan
72 - AJ
Wow! Glen, great work on getting mentioned by Howard. It's a testament to your great writing skills and accurate descriptions. I found your blog last night (I can't remember how I stumbled upon it), but I bookmarked it and will add it to my own blog.
Oh my... I can't believe it... I'm listening to Howard right now on the internet... and a favorite porn star of mine has just come into the studio...
Justine Joli...! while I'm looking at some pics of her... here!
Jeeez! What are the chances? Serendipity.
Thank you again, Glen, for the great article and major Congratulations on getting acknowledged by Howard!
73 - e
Nice article, but come on - you spelled both Artie and Gary's last names wrong.
74 - Bob Bowie
You MAY look into it. I find that antipathy towards paying for entertainment childish. Don't you find television a better place since cable TV came into vogue? Do you think "The Sopranos" or "South Park" could ever be done on network television.
It keeps me awake and makes my commute something I look forward to, both directions (because the hos runs not only mornings, but all day long). It's a bargain.
75 - Glen Boyd
Bob--
You have NO IDEA how tight money is for me right now Bob. I'm working a contract gig that pays a bit less than I'm used to and it could run out at any minute--with no other prospects out there at the moment.
But yeah, I'm gonna suck it up and get it okay? Also, sorry about the two mis-spellings. Maybe an editor here can correct those?
The correct spellings I believe are DellaBate and Lange.
Thanx all.
-Glen