Some Folks Just Don't Want to Spend Money for Stern

Sirius Satellite Radio is shocked...shocked! that some creative folks have decided to skip their monthly fee and simply pirate Howard Stern's radio show to the masses (h/t Glenn):

Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., which liberated radio shock jock Howard Stern from the federal decency standards that he felt had shackled him, is finding that freedom's just another word for $500 million to lose.

Since Jan. 9, when Stern debuted on Sirius, pirated versions of the shows have been made available for free via several online file-sharing networks just hours after Stern signs off. The New York-based broadcaster signed Stern to a five-year, half-billion-dollar contract in 2004.

Now, Sirius is, in a word, furious. "We don't condone the stealing of Howard's show, or any of the content on our more than 125 channels," Sirius spokesman Patrick Reilly said. "We vigorously protect our intellectual property rights and we will actively prosecute those who attempt to steal it."

It is not known how many Stern fans are sidestepping Sirius' $12.95-a-month subscription fee by illegally downloading his show. Because most hard-core fans are used to listening to the show in their cars, presumably many of them would subscribe rather than wait until they're in front of a computer screen.

Given the nature of Stern's show, and his listeners, Sirius shouldn't have been surprised at this turn of events.