Cox Radio CEO on Satellite Radio: "I just don't think it's a real business."

Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 9:59 AM
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Robert Neil - Cox RadioRobert Neil, Cox Radio's CEO had a bit of a holier-than-thou moment during yesterday's conference call with investors. When Mark Wienkes of Goldman Sachs posed the question about satellite radio's slowing momentum, Mr. Neil had some very bold things to say.

Things like, "I said those guys were going to get theirs in due course, and they have..." and "I don't think enough people are willing to pay for it, to make it a large generator of cash."

Keep gloating Robert, you won't be singing the same song in a few years.

Read the full transcript (via Seeking Alpha) after the jump...

 

Mark Wienkes, Goldman Sachs:

Good morning. The momentum across satellite radio is really seeming to fade lately, wondering what your current thoughts are on that business. Any comment on the Google/dMark deal announced this morning? Or have you guys had discussions, I'm sure with Google and is there any chance that you would contribute inventory to that system?

Robert Neil, Cox Radio CEO:


On satellite radio, I guess I would say it's about time. Over a year ago, I think I said those guys were going to get theirs in due course, and they have. Because there's some major problems with their business model, those major problems are starting to be exposed. I find it at least humorous that a year ago they were saying that they were going to be free cash flow positive in 2006, earlier this year they thought it might be 2007, and now as every quarter goes by they're losing $100 million or $150 million more than they were the previous year. And I didn't see any headlines in the trade press today about when we would expect Sirius to be free cash flow positive.

So, again, I think it's just overdue. If people really look at that business carefully, and look at the fundamentals of it, they're going to see it's a very difficult prospect at best. The prospects of those companies delivering any large amounts of cash any time soon, just aren't very good.

I still find it mind-boggling that they are allowed to count cars sitting in car lots unsold as subscribers. If I could count every radio on the shelf that is unsold as a listener, I could probably have a field day. So again, why Wall Street lets them get away with that, I really don't know. But that's someone else's business, not mine. Like I said, overdue I think.

Mark Wienkes, Goldman Sachs:

The fundamental problem you are saying with the business model, is it subscription pricing, or do you think it's just that model doesn't work, or you're saying that the churn will eventually catch up?

Robert Neil, Cox Radio CEO:

I just don't think it's a real business. I just don't think they offer something that people are willing to pay for. Sure, there will be some people that are willing to pay for it, but I don't think enough people are willing to pay for it, to make it a large generator of cash. When last I looked, when you strip everything off, that's what business is all about, generating more and more cash.

So, is there a need for their product? I really question whether or not there is. We do not plan to contribute any inventory to the dMark system. We believe that we're the better sellers of our inventory rather than someone else. With our lower commercial load, we don't tend to have a lot of excess inventory to spread out to someone else to sell anyhow.

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Comments

Looking at the photo, I wonder how often that tool got beat up in the schoolyard...

That's some tough talk from a guy with feathered hair.

What is cox radio? I never heard of it. I thought Cox was television/broadband/telephone.

Its been 5 years, he does have a point.

Hey...they guy has to justify his job, right? What the hell else is he going to say? If sat radio is not a big deal, as these terrestrial radio execs say, then why to they spend so much time saying it? I hope they are wearing long pants so we can't hear their shaky knees knocking together.

since when did east side dave become the CEO of cox radio?

goddamn that fucker has beady lil blue eyes.

I think this guy really loves his company. He certainly looks like he loves Cox.

-WF

I'm sorry, that haircut's terrible.

"Keep gloating Robert, you won't be singing the same song in a few years."

That is if either company is around in a few years.

He really looks like he should be sitting on someone's lap with a hand up his ass.

"So how do you like school, Robert?"

"Closed!"

delbert_grady....nice lol

I was reading what he said and I was consistantly looking at his picture and saying "what a douch".

Does this sound familiar to cable tv advocates in the 80's? Does all of the spending from these companies go to the up-keep of the technology or to pay radio hosts? And how many subs will it take to make a strong profit? This is why the stock sucks so bad, the investors think a profit will never come.

Here is some shit about cox radio: They have 79 stations and their big radio syndications are the Neal Boortz show and the Clark Howard show. WOW! In 2001 when sat radio has yet to be launched, their stock was hovering at $35 a share, five years later they sit at $15 a share. Who is running who's industry like shit? fucker

I agree with Joe Blow and iband.

He does have a point about SDARS cash burning, and what else is he supposed to say? He certainly can't praise SDARS if he works for competition.

Is that a picture of his High School graduation? That does look like a twice knit suit and that tie looks like it is from the '70's. Now, that hair......lol.

He's correct, XM was going to be CFBE at 4.5.

WTF Be honest .... call it dead without a merger.

I keep hearing Martina McBride's, "Do It Anyway". great song, but overplayed. Am not hearing an equally great song by Kelly Pickler. How about giving her some airplay?

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