Howard Stern On Sirius = Rate Increases?

[mytesirius]

I read rumors a while back that Sirius monthly subscription rate will rise once HS is onboard.

Has anyone heard this one?

Will his channels be premium like some of the channels on XM?

[ldivinag]

he has said before, it will be part of the package you are paying now...

the other 2 channels, that he is planning is PPV... or pay extra...

[WolfViper]

One channel will be his and I think one channel will probably be a pay channel. The other might be "Best Of" or Wackpack people?

[cartman2]

What A pay channel on sirius? No way that would like totally suck ass if that were to happen. I hope that isn't true at all.

[SISO]

Yes, one will be included and the other 2 you will pay extra.

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.

[mytesirius]

he has said before, it will be part of the package you are paying now...

the other 2 channels, that he is planning is PPV... or pay extra...

I understand that his show will be part of the package we pay. I was specifically referring to rate increase in general.

Thanks for the info. about the pay channels for Sirius. :)

[mytesirius]

Yes, one will be included and the other 2 you will pay extra.

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.

Oops, I didn't see your response before posting...sorry! :)

[jimboxlax]

Didnt Sirius make a big deal about two years ago that there would never be premium channels?

I believe it was in response to the O&A premium channel when it was first announced...

[merovingian]

Didnt Sirius make a big deal about two years ago that there would never be premium channels?

I believe it was in response to the O&A premium channel when it was first announced...

I hope not. It would be really nice if they keep to not emulating XM in this regard!

[Renaissance Man]

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.

All the more reason for people to take advantage of the 499.99 lifetime subscription offer, before it expires.

[Renaissance Man]

I have no problem with pay channels.

They will keep the basic service subscription prices down, and make price hikes less frequent.

[Miller]

Yes, one will be included and the other 2 you will pay extra.

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.

Howard hasn’t really talked about this since the day he first announced his move to Sirius. He said he would be in charge of 3 channels and 1 would be a Premium channel and he would explain why later. He hasn't really talked about this since.

[gilpdawg]

It may never happen that way. Howard has a tendency to say things that never wind up coming true. I hope there's nothing premium.

[TX WJ]

I think XM and Sirius are idiots if they increase rates until they each past 10 million subscribers.

[Miller]

I agree it may never happen but I tend to think this is in Howard’s contract so it’s probable.

XM increased their rates just a couple of months ago. Both will do this over time but I suspect they will try to keep rates inline with each other.

[wingfan]

It may never happen that way. Howard has a tendency to say things that never wind up coming true. I hope there's nothing premium.

name an example of this

[AnfKid]

Stern will be live mon-thursday and on friday he's gonna give all the wack packers like jeff and double A a show.

[AnfKid]

Yes, one will be included and the other 2 you will pay extra.

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.


I don't agree. Look at internet phone services such as Vonage. When I first got it the price was $39.95. Three seperate times Vonage has lowered their prices due to it's wide spread popularity. I now pay 24 bucks.

I don't think Sirius will lower prices but at the same time I don't think they will increase either for a good while at least. I think I paid the same price for cable TV for 10 years until they came out with digital cable. Now I'm payin $83 a month.

[ZoSo925]

There is definatly going to be a premium pay channel for Stern.

Stern was talking about having several different channels and 1 of them will be a pay service.

[AnfKid]

dude they are NOT charging extra for stern on sirius. they will charge you to watch his new radio show on IN-DEMAND it will be 10 bucks a month or so to watch years and years of E shows and new shows etc..but to listen.....no extra charges comes with yer sirius membership

[siriusgirl2005]

One of their selling points (and it is still on their website) is no paying for premium packaging. They are advertising on their website right now "One low price, no add-on costs for so-called premium programming" http://sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1065475754125

It woul be a huge mistake to change that after it has been one of their major selling points.

[AnfKid]

stern himself said months ago when someone called in there wont be any additional costs to listen to him on the radio. just a membership to sirius. there is no way that would happen. that would outrage everyone with a membership. even people who dont listen to stern.

[AnfKid]

over time a monthly membership might increase but like with everything, there is inflation.

[Mikey Palmice]

The day Howard announced the move to sirius, he did say three channels. The one with his show, and two others, one would be a premium, that is what he said on the show, but hasn't mentioned really anymore.

I don't think either of the companies will raise their rates untill cash flow break even happens. They are trying to prove to people that they should have sat radio, we aren't at the point where it is the must have for the majority of people. XM is a bit ahead, and they had the advantage of being able to raise their prices, without making it more expensive than sirius. allthough, I'm sure most people pay for the whole year in advance anyway, right?

[vegasben]

I listen everyday, Stern did say one channel would be premium. Sirius has to make up the 500 mil they threw at him. They're not getting the subs they thought they would after the Stern signing.

[Renaissance Man]

I listen everyday, Stern did say one channel would be premium. Sirius has to make up the 500 mil they threw at him. They're not getting the subs they thought they would after the Stern signing.

Wait until December and January. You'll see a flood of Stern fans flocking to Sirius.

[The Buccaneer]

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.

All the more reason for people to take advantage of the 499.99 lifetime subscription offer, before it expires.

Whose lifetime?

:seesaw:

The unit. Bad deal. If you need another unit, the lifetime subsription does not transfer.

Plus, what if Stern quits after a year?

[The Buccaneer]

I listen everyday, Stern did say one channel would be premium. Sirius has to make up the 500 mil they threw at him. They're not getting the subs they thought they would after the Stern signing.

I doubt they threw all that money at him in one chunk. I would guess there is a timed payout, stock options, and other "creative" financial details.

:hatsoff:

[compisgood]

I listen everyday, Stern did say one channel would be premium. Sirius has to make up the 500 mil they threw at him. They're not getting the subs they thought they would after the Stern signing.

I doubt they threw all that money at him in one chunk. I would guess there is a timed payout, stock options, and other "creative" financial details.

:hatsoff:

It is over the 5 years he is on air. And they are not paying the entire amount to just him, this is the money for everything Stern related.

And the subs will come, that is not going to be an issue. It has already started with last quarters sub growth and will do nothing but get better for the last quarter.

[j3ff]

Channel 100 will start at 6am est.

Channel 101 will start at 6am West Coast time.


No premium channels at least at the start.

[Renaissance Man]

It is over the 5 years he is on air. And they are not paying the entire amount to just him, this is the money for everything Stern related. And the subs will come, that is not going to be an issue. It has already started with last quarters sub growth and will do nothing but get better for the last quarter.

Yep.

The 500 mill is Stern's BUDGET. He'll have to pay his staff etc. with that money. Some people naively think that it's all going straight to his personal bank account.

Come December and January, we'll see a surge of new subscribers AND advertisers.

It has been predicted by neutral sources that at least 1.4 million new subscribers will come on board because of Stern, not to mention many new advertisers willing to pay big bucks for ad spots on his channels.

I believe that the Stern deal will turn out to be profitable for Sirius. An uncensored Stern will continue to bring in new customers and advertisers over the entire course of their five-year deal.

[prymel]

An uncensored Stern will continue to bring in new customers and advertisers over the entire course of their five-year deal.
I agree that Stern will be worth additional subs over the life of his deal. But if there isn't a substantial surge in the initial months, that's trouble.

[Renaissance Man]

I agree that Stern will be worth additional subs over the life of his deal. But if there isn't a substantial surge in the initial months, that's trouble.

Stern won't be on the air for about another three months. The vast majority of his hardcore fans won't make the jump until December or early January.

But once they do, hold onto your hat. Hurricane Howard is going to take SatRadio by storm.

XM better get somebody besides Dopie and Assthony, if they want to compete in the uncensored shock radio market with Sirius and Stern.

[prymel]

Exactly, if there is to be a rush of subscribers, it will be in the first six months or so of Stern's debut. If he hasn't made a significant splash by then, he never will. Personally, I think his impact will be somewhere in between massive and negligible. I can't see him being a huge disappointment given his fan base, but I also don't think he'll blow the doors off either. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

[finnrot]

As far as the lifetime subscriptions go, the rush go get in under the wire seems to be greatly exaggerated. Every time the deadline to subscribe runs out, they just increase it.

I just read on here that if your receiver breaks you are SOL. I called customer service, and they told me that I can transfer my lifetime subscription to three (3) different receivers over the course of the lifetime sub.

Anybody know the truth?

BTY- If Sirius starts to charge extra for 'premium' channels, I will be one pissed off customer. I came into this ONLY because of Howard Stern, but over the last few months I have come to love this service. I have two (2) lifetime subs, one built into my Mustang, and one for home. I listen to them all the time. I love Raw Dog, who knew there was so much great stand up comedy out there that we were deprived of because of content?
I know this might be like a lifetime gym membership and it could fold up in a couple of years, which I'm afraid they might do if they keep extending their damn deadline for lifetime subscriptions, but I figure if I get a few years more of listening to Howard, then it will be worth it.

-fin

[street454]

Sirius won't be charging extra, look where it says "One Low Price": http://www.sirius.com/wi/i/compareus3/features.jpg
Here's the link: http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1065475754125

[Renaissance Man]

As far as the lifetime subscriptions go, the rush go get in under the wire seems to be greatly exaggerated. Every time the deadline to subscribe runs out, they just increase it.

They may extend the lifetime subscription option, but they will probably increase the price, as they have done before.

Life subs originally started out at 399.99, then were later raised to the current 499.99.

With Howard coming on board, another price increase is very possible.

So if you want to be guaranteed the 499.99 price, you better subscribe before the end of January.

[Who-Me]

As far as the lifetime subscriptions go, the rush go get in under the wire seems to be greatly exaggerated. Every time the deadline to subscribe runs out, they just increase it.

I just read on here that if your receiver breaks you are SOL. I called customer service, and they told me that I can transfer my lifetime subscription to three (3) different receivers over the course of the lifetime sub.

Anybody know the truth?

BTY- If Sirius starts to charge extra for 'premium' channels, I will be one pissed off customer. I came into this ONLY because of Howard Stern, but over the last few months I have come to love this service. I have two (2) lifetime subs, one built into my Mustang, and one for home. I listen to them all the time. I love Raw Dog, who knew there was so much great stand up comedy out there that we were deprived of because of content?
I know this might be like a lifetime gym membership and it could fold up in a couple of years, which I'm afraid they might do if they keep extending their damn deadline for lifetime subscriptions, but I figure if I get a few years more of listening to Howard, then it will be worth it.

-fin

http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1019257316747

4. Transfer Fee: If you wish to transfer your Subscription to a different SIRIUS Receiver during the term of a prepaid subscription or committed subscription period, we may charge you a transfer fee of up to $75.00. You may only transfer a lifetime Subscription to a different SIRIUS Receiver a maximum of three times.

[The Buccaneer]

So if you want to be guaranteed the 499.99 price, you better subscribe before the end of January.

At roughly $13/month, that $499 price would be made up in just over 3 years of subscription, but I still think it is silly to give them that kind of money up front before even seeing what the end product will be. Based on what has been put forth on Channels 100 & 101, I am glad I have not yet forked over dime-one, and won't until I hear something more worthwhile.

AND, even if the membership can be switched to up to 3 units, it is still not a subscription for MY lifetime.

[finnrot]

So if you want to be guaranteed the 499.99 price, you better subscribe before the end of January.

At roughly $13/month, that $499 price would be made up in just over 3 years of subscription, but I still think it is silly to give them that kind of money up front before even seeing what the end product will be. Based on what has been put forth on Channels 100 & 101, I am glad I have not yet forked over dime-one, and won't until I hear something more worthwhile.

AND, even if the membership can be switched to up to 3 units, it is still not a subscription for MY lifetime.

Hey Buc....You planning to live to be 1,000 years old?

Thanks for the answer Who-Me. Just what I was looking for.

-fin

[The Buccaneer]

Hey Buc....You planning to live to be 1,000 years old?

-fin

:jump:

[Spinning Webs]

Will we see a rate increase? Possibly, but rate increases will probably start happening every year IMHO.

All the more reason for people to take advantage of the 499.99 lifetime subscription offer, before it expires.

Better hope your PNP never dies, as its lifetime of the reciever, not the subscriber.