According to CNN Money, Sirius CEO Jim Meyer told investors at a Deutsche Bank conference on Tuesday, "It's a dance we're in and we'll keep working at it."
Does Stern want to sign up for a second decade on satellite radio? Or will the famously controversial talk show host decide to do something else, somewhere else?
In a Bloomberg Businessweek profile published on Wednesday, Meyer said he is eager to renew Stern's contract, but acknowledges the unknowns.
"If you listen to [Stern's] show, he always talks about how happy he is," Meyer told reporter Felix Gillette. But "just like your 12-year-old, he's always happy until something else comes along."
The Internet gives Stern more options than ever. Then again, no outlet may pay as handsomely as Sirius, which lured Stern away from traditional radio and onto satellite radio back in 2006. It came at an extraordinary cost: about $100 million a year in cash and stock for Stern.
It was an extraordinary coup for Sirius at the time because Stern's fans flocked to satellite radio and helped popularize it as an alternative to AM/FM listening.
After five years and $500 million, Stern renewed his contract at the end of 2010. Neither side divulged the value of the new deal, but analysts estimated that Stern would make roughly $80 million a year.
Stern has a reputation for fighting publicly with Sirius and talking openly on the radio about his business dealings. Already this year, he has mused about leaving radio and retiring.
But that could be seen as predictable posturing ahead of official negotiations.
Read More Now
No comments:
Post a Comment