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  Stern Off His Leash With the launch of Howard Stern's show two weeks ago on satellite radio, New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio is already performing new tricks.

The six-year-old company has bankrolled the single most expensive contract in radio history. Stern's show (and his half-billion-dollar price tag) is getting a lot of attention because he now has the freedom to say whatever he wants without fear of hefty radio fines.

Some say this is a revolution in radio or in the media. For now, satellite radio is free from the censorship of terrestrial radio because it is a paid service and is not free for public consumption. The FCC cannot censor the medium ... at this point.

With Stern's sidekick Robin Quivers, sound effects man and impressionist Fred Norris and Gary Dell'Abate (referred to as "Baba Booey" by Stern regulars), the show has been a runaway success, garnering much media attention, praise, and heat among fans and critics. One bonus kept secret until the show's premiere: actor George Takei from the original Star Trek television series has become Howard Stern's official announcer.

According to analysts, over 180,000 subscribers joined on the day of his radio debut. Some experts also believe the company will pay off its Stern debt in less than two years and Sirius will finally pull ahead of market leader XM Satellite Radio, which has almost twice as many subscribers.

Yes, this is podcast related...

The Podshow gang (adam curry, dawn and drew et all) are also signed with Sirius...

That is all :)

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