SiriusXM host Howard Stern made big news late last year when his latest contract renewal with the satellite radio firm included plans for a video app to launch in 2016.
But creative talks with the famed shock jock over what his video programming will look like has delayed the rollout of the video streaming service, SiriusXM senior executive vp and CFO David Frear told investors on Thursday.
“We continue to work through with Howard about what product will appear on the screen. It’s got to start there, with the creative element and exactly what he will present,” Frear told the FBR’s Investor Conference during a session that was streamed online.
He added that the launch of the video streaming service will “probably be in the next year,” after initial plans pointed to a 2016 debut. Video from The Howard Stern Show, which is heard on SiriusXM live three days a week, is expected to dominate the satellite radio firm’s first venture into video programming, in addition to special programming and content from Stern’s video library.
Branching out into video comes with Stern remaining SiriusXM’s highest profile talent, even as Frear reminded investors that most of his company’s 32 million subscribers in North America listen to music in their cars. “When the [Howard Stern] show’s over, and it’s only on in the mornings [live] three days a week, they listen to something else,” Frear said.
