Is Howard Stern Planning a Sirius Departure?

The world famous shock jock has been dropping pretty hefty hints that he maybe leaving his $500m home at Sirius radio when his contract expires.  Stern, who joined the satellite network four years ago, is in the last year of his bumper contract.  Last November, he speculated live on air about leaving Sirius, saying; "I don't think I'm going to be re-signing, I know exactly what I want to do here,  and I don't know if it would interest them..."

Last week, Stern was interviewed by one of his fellow shock jocks, who has recently made the move back to traditional radio from Sirius.  Bubba the Love Sponge asked Stern about the subject, which Stern responded by saying he had been contacted by several tradition radio executives, although he hadn't received a 'bona fide' offer.

But more recently, Clear Channel have signalled an interest in potentially making Stern an offer, with the network's CEO John Hogan saying in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek; "We clearly have both the willingness and the financial wherewithal to consider high-profile talent.  We would be the most logical company for him to optimize his exposure and financial return."

Hogan did note however that Stern has already said on his show; "I can't ever imagine the day where I'd work for Clear Channel."

The Wall Street Journal has also been looking at the Howard Stern contract situation, and reports that he will most likely be looking at a lot less cash this time around, wherever he ends up;

Sirius's stock price, which was trading at $3.67 the day Mr. Stern signed, has fallen sharply since then, to around 60 cents. The decline means signing Mr. Stern at a similar rate of compensation would significantly dilute shareholders' stakes, cut into cash, or both. Without Mr. Stern, "you might lose subscribers, but would you lose profitability?" asked David Bank, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. "I think they would be willing to let him go."