Stern Says Absence From App is a ''Rights Thing''

RADIO ONLINE | , , | :am CT

In his first live show since Sirius XM launched an application through Apple's App Store, Howard Stern said his absence on the new service was a "contractual rights thing," and that it may, or may not, be worked out. According to the Motley Fool, his original contract doesn't cover premium mobile apps, and he either "wants more money" or is using his on-air comments as "a tool to negotiate a contract extension."

His five-year, $500 million deal is over at the end of 2010. If the roadblock is that iPhone streaming would conflict with his "on demand" television deal, Motley Fool says that can still be solved financially -- since Stern is calling it "contractual rights," he's probably talking about money.

"Sirius is great, even without us," Stern told his listeners. Retirement is certainly a possibility, as Stern is likely to have a big bankroll. But the Fool speculates that break out on his own with the success of Internet radio apps -- that will likely make satellite radio a thing of the past.