I'm sure there are other people like me, sitting in the Venn-diagram intersection of NPR adherents and Howard Stern listeners. But I'm not a bona fide Stern fan. When he ascended from terrestrial radio to Sirius Satellite in 2006, I wasn't willing to pay $13 a month to follow him. I missed the show, but I got over it. Or so I thought, until last night.
I assumed that the satellite packages in some of our long-term test cars excluded premium channels, such as the Howard Stern Show. But there he was, at Channel 100, on our 2009 Ford Flex Limited.
I listened to the show's rebroadcast on my way home and found that 45 minutes just wasn't enough. In an unvarnished effort to get more listening time, I drove around with a list of made-up errands for another half hour. I'm now fully informed on the latest David Arquette-Courteney Cox separation news. And I also know way too much about some other very sordid, unimportant topics.
It was a good experiment for me, though. I've realized that although I like the show and its blend of pop culture, politics and unadulterated trash, I wouldn't spend my own money to get it -- or to get satellite radio in general. I can find lots of other things to do with $156 a year.
Carroll Lachnit, Features Editor @71,138 miles
formerhpb says:
02:12 PM, 11/ 3/10
The key is waiting for the deals on satellite radio. I really enjoy the XM in my G8. 80's on 8, hair nation, first wave, Lithium, and now the new Pearl Jam station are very good. But paying full price is insane. I let the free trial expire when I got my car. Then a few months later I got a mailing with a deal for 5 months for $20. Jumped all over that and then called to cancel and got another deal. Not quite as good as $4 per month, but still much better than full retail.
brn says:
04:29 PM, 11/ 3/10
I thought only teenage boys listened to Howard.
lostboyz says:
04:51 PM, 11/ 3/10
Stern Rules! Ba Ba Booey
Sirius is screwed when he leaves pretty soon
heidis says:
05:01 PM, 11/ 3/10
Not a Stern fan at all, but I am a huge satellite radio fan. I bought the lifetime Sirius sub a few years back ($300 at the time) as I plan on keeping the car with it for a while. It's a 2005 so the sub's already been worth it. Plus the Jeep came with the first year's service included. Deals are always to be found on that. We do a lot of road trips up and down California, plus broadcast radio up here in Northern California's pretty anemic, save for KFOG so it gets constant usage. All of our new cars from here on will definitely get the service.
zcalvert says:
05:20 PM, 11/ 3/10
love sirius for long trips
raw dog stand up comedy is especially great for passing the time
kingsters says:
06:44 PM, 11/ 3/10
Carroll - You're in good company in that sliver of Venn - Terry Gross and Ira Glass often speak of their love of the Stern show. As for me, 43 cents a day is well worth it to make my commute a joy - in L.A. traffic...
blueguydotcom says:
08:00 PM, 11/ 3/10
You can get sirius for FAR less than $150 a year. More like $50-70 a year.
venturer1200 says:
02:00 AM, 06/20/11
blueguydotcom: Help me out please! Where can I find Sirius for the price you have listed?