Sirius XM: 90% Stock Decline? Here's a Raise!

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 11:49 AM, riversand4 wrote:

  First he brought the company through a tough and expensive merger saving it from BK ,which the lengthy process no fault of his own eg. free radio lobbying , political year garbage. Ah and wall street lets talk about the consistent bashing by wall street catering to the shorts so all their cronies can rape the real investors blind. Its looking like profitability is in reach so why give him a raise . you tell me.

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 12:02 PM, ByrneShill wrote:

  Maybe karmazin was the only guy capable of running SIRI (I much highly doubt it, but let's suppose), that still is a lot of money. If the stock goes up 10¢ over the next year, a real possibility, today's buyer will make roughly 23%, which is great, but Mel will make 12 milion, which is much much more than most. And the long term shareholder will merely get back a drop in the bucket.

  And again, the shareholder is being diluted, as if it was a normal thing. It's not. And for the record, I'm not sure Mel would have runned away if the compensation comitee had allowed "only" 60 milion options. That deal is a lot of money coming out of the shareholder's pockets.

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 12:03 PM, BullishBroker74 wrote:

  Ummmmmm???? 80% OF ALL STOCKS ARE DOWN BETTER THAN 60%!!!! And it dosen't help to have such harsh critics as you guys from the motley are. Makes me wonder could you have done as good as a job as Mel if you were in his seat? dought it!

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 12:06 PM, BullishBroker74 wrote:

  As far as his options go they will not mature until $4.25 a share so hell never see that anytime in the near term.

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 1:24 PM, ThongLover wrote:

  MOTLEY FOOL SUCKS! First, you badger your clients with more email for add-ons than my local lawn service provider. You send me easily 10 emails a week...pathethic i would say...

  But even worse, you title this PRO-MEL/Sirius article with a negative title...obviously alterior motives there...i was ready to bash you because i thought you were preparing to bash Sirius and Mel...so why misrepresent your article with a 180 degree different headline...well, cause that's what you moron stock manipulaters do....

  Here are some options for titles that should have been used instead...

  Karmazin Rewarded For Getting Sirius Through The Storm

  Mel's Pay Boosted As Sirius Nears Smooth Waters

  SatRad CEO Gets Sirius Pay Increase For Saving Their Sinking Ship

  Sirius CEO Karmazin Pushes Towards Bright Future With Sirius Pay Bump

  Okay....i could go on...and for you haters that will through back your negative headlines about stockprice, etc., just understand the companies would be bankrupt now without a solid leader that could navigate mergers, buyouts, etc.

  Cheers Mel...now go make us some F*&#*#G Money!!

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 1:46 PM, DiscoFinance wrote:

  Stock Shock is a new movie that tells this whole story...the merger, Mel Karmazin, market manipulation, all the big "M"'s! Amazon has it.

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 1:46 PM, kamuirei wrote:

  The Motely Fool has become nothing but a bunch of cheerleaders touting their favorite stocks....

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 2:01 PM, DiscoFinance wrote:

  What has happened since STOCK SHOCK was released?

  Stock price rises, bashers begin to back off, media has started to mention SIRI in a positive way, SEC requests a copy and has been talking with movie team, Mel K. back for good.

  The good news has not ended. Watch for the next phase and make sure you watch Stock Shock so you know why this is working out well for the SH.

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 3:33 PM, Zippy6 wrote:

  Just the fact that Karmazin is smoozing with the likes of Viacommy and See BS gives me great hope for SIRI. Nothing helps a red-headed stock better than a consortium of liars and thieves who can force makeshift political winds onto the video-opiated masses. Just in case, I'm gonna wear my $1 per share shades!

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 6:11 PM, EdMcswindle wrote:

  Hey Rick,

  As a holder I appreciate your dilligent coverage of this stock concern. Keep it up! I'm pretty sure nobody is promised anything from the market, no matter how much they might hope otherwise. Bearer of market news, my thanks. Please continue.

• Report this Comment On July 02, 2009, at 6:17 PM, dstnewman wrote:

  Another way to look at this is that Mel was awarded options with a value of $51 million.

  Compare that with the bonuses given to AIG execs, BofA execs, WaMu, WellsFargo, CITI execs... $51 million is not very high in comparison.

• Report this Comment On July 03, 2009, at 10:02 AM, cantbefoolish wrote:

  Karmazin had also bought millions of shares out of his own pocket, at much higher prices. How many CEOs do that? It showed me, early on that he wants the company to succeed. He just didn't average down as good as some of us. Now if he could just get Howard to buy some shares back.....

• Report this Comment On July 07, 2009, at 8:58 AM, BullishBroker74 wrote:

  By Brandon Matthews

  Traditional forms of media including television, radio and print are threatened by the success of Sirius XM Radio (SIRI). There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the organizations behind traditional forms of media have united on a single front to denigrate the Satellite Radio provider at any and all costs. I know this first hand as most of the negative comments left on Satwaves.com can be traced back to everything from terrestrial radio station operators to the National Association of Broadcasters. These traditional media conglomerates control everything most people see and hear. Consider if you will the number 1 hit by the Black Eyed Peas in which the words “Satellite Radio” have been bleeped out by terrestrial radio stations from coast to coast.

  In the years since Howard Stern first joined Sirius, traditional media has made a point of downplaying Howard Stern's relevance. Just last October, the Los Angeles Times published this article which made the claim that Howard Stern was no longer relevant, and that his listeners had dwindled to a fraction of the number that once tuned in. The Los Angeles Times happens to be owned by Tribune; “America’s largest employee-owned media company, operating businesses in publishing, interactive and broadcasting.” The same article was syndicated and republished on an almost daily basis for several weeks that followed, assuring that the story would be told in every major U.S. market and maintain a top ranked listing in google news search results.

  That is why I could not help but laugh hysterically at the newest media attempts to control the American public’s view of Sirius XM Radio through new articles that claim Howard Stern will leave Sirius XM nearly two years from now. These articles now make the claim that Howard Stern is so important and popular, that Sirius XM’s survival hinges on whether or not Howard decides to stay with Sirius XM when his contract comes up for renewal in 2011! Unfortunately, some people seem to be buying into this manipulation and fear-mongering. The reach of these media outlets is unlimited in scope.

  As an example, on the eve of Sirius XM’s announcement that its iPhone application had reached a million downloads, a story was written suggesting that Sirius XM stock would be a good short sale candidate by a known writer who has denigrated Sirius for years. I recall writing that it seemed like a signal was being sent on the Satwaves forums the moment I read it. As trading progressed the following day it looked as if Sirius XM stock would rise precipitously on the iPhone application news. CNBC even picked up the story, but if you follow Sirius XM you knew what was coming next.

  It was then reported that the app, despite having over a million downloads, had a low rating based on the absence of The Howard Stern Show. The very same show that the media has been proclaiming to be irrelevant. The stock ended the day's session flat as a result. Out of nearly 19 million subscribers and out of 1 million iPhone app downloads, the app was given a low rating by a mere 38,000 people. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that anyone can bash the application, whether or not they even own an Apple device. I rated the application 5 stars, and I have no iPod nor iPhone. I simply signed up using my AOL account. It can hardly be deemed a reliable source of consumer sentiment compared to the fact that it remains the number 1 downloaded music application.

  As for Howard Stern, terrestrial radio is already on life support. Clear Channel is knocking on bankruptcy’s door. When it comes to radio companies, there is only one that is growing. There is only one that can offer Howard the freedom to do his show and produce new shows without fear of retribution from the FCC. By the year 2011, it is probable that no radio company in existence would be able to afford Howard Stern while offering him a minuscule percentage of his current national audience. Only one radio company can offer The Howard Stern Show a potential global audience in the years to come. That radio company is Sirius XM Radio.

  As for the media manipulation: People should make a stand. If you’d like to be told what to read and hear only that which is selected for you, you might want to consider a move to North Korea. Turn off your am/fm radios. Pick up a Satellite Radio and subscription. Send a message to traditional media that they cannot control what you see and what you hear. I have and in this lies true freedom.

  Position: Long SIRI

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