Replacing Howard Stern gets ugly

In a dumb move, that will drive sales of Sirius Radio, Howard Stern's bosses (Infinity) bought all the print ad space in the new issue of Adage bashing Stern.

One of the ads suggests they are "cleaning up the air waves" (with a picture of an air freshener) when replacements David Lee Roth, Adam Corolla and Penn Jillette hit the air.

The question is whether anyone will want to listen to David Lee Roth or Adam Corolla. Many stations are now changing to all-talk formats called "Free FM"- a jab at Stern's new pay-service Sirius. But radio experts wonder with the "FCC bearing down on broadcasters in the post-Janet Jackson nipplage era, just how 'free' can this new format be?"

If I were Infinity I might want to thank Stern for 20 plus years at the company, not throwing him under the bus. No such luck, they just want him to shut up already. Stern revealed this morning that Infinity has sent him "threatening legal letters about recent broadcasts."

At heart of the legal threats is a "cease and desist that Stern stop making fun of radio head-honcho Joel Hollander and discontinue discussions of his impending move to Sirius satellite radio."

MEANWHILE, Sirius announced it now expects to add 800,000 subscribers in the fall quarter. Which means the expected subscribers will exceed three million by the end of the year, more than its earlier projection of just hitting three million.

"We are very enthusiastic about our prospects for the important holiday season. We also believe our momentum will continue into 2006," Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin told analysts during a conference call yesterday.
Hey Infinity, saying goodbye doesn't have to be so nasty.

By Henry Cruz (henrycruz) . - I own Sirius Stock