According to this super-long article in New York magazine (and I do mean that - it's a long one) Hugh Panero admitted that XM Satellite Radio was willing to pay $30 Million a year for Howard Stern's contract. Infinity even was willing to pay out $35 Million a year but Howard never gave them the chance (oh darn).
At the time of the signing of the deal, Howard was pulling in a "meager" $13 Million.
Have time to burn? Go read this thing here:
[New York Magazine]
"The Radio Chick" Leslie Gold has dumped Sirius Satellite Radio and is joining Infinity's WXRK (92.3 "Free FM") in New York. She'll be the new afternoon drive host there, commercials and all, starting January 3rd. Her four-hour program will also be streamed online (Oooo.. techy!).
Congratulations on making the wrong decision.
Thanks lil' conner!
UPDATE: Get Sirius Info has more info on this and the reasoning behind why The Radio Chick decided to leave.
I completely agree with this Audio Graphics article - Infinity needs to cut their losses and take Howard off the air if they hope to not make a media frenzy out of this. He's totally gaming them like he did the FCC, and suspending him for a day will only make the matter worse. Doesn't their PR dept know this? Infinity, no matter what, is going to be losing out in this deal - it's now just a matter of managing that loss.
