I’ve never had anything against shock-jock Howard Stern. He’s witty and most of the stuff he does is just show.

But a couple of nights ago he was on Larry King suggesting that everyone should subscribe to satellite radio.

His proposal was that, for $12.95 a month, you could get all this wonderful content. And you’d spend way more than $12.95 just to go to the movies these days. And there’d be no commercials!

I shuddered.

That’s almost the exact same argument that the cable industry sold us to get us off broadcast television.

Then the SuperStations came along, and the cable companies didn’t block their local ads. So more cable channels started running ads.

Now we pay way more than the cost of a movie just to watch television– and there are more ads than there ever were on broadcast. And we are paying for the “privilege” of watching them.

So, Howard, how long before an advertising-driven channel creeps its way into the xmsphere? Something really valid like NFL or Major League Baseball, or just a really popular talk or music program?

How long after that before there are as many ads on satellite radio as there were on broadcast radio?

This isn’t just complaining about advertisments. It’s a possibility that should concern everyone, and here’s why.

If advertising dollars move to the xmsphere (and the cable example suggests that, eventually, they will) then those dollars will not be going to independent broadcast radio. And advertising is their major source of income. The few that survive will be forced to join a conglomerate just to stay afloat.

That means that there will no longer be a delivery method for open, unencumbered, independent speech. You want to listen to your music and talk shows, but you don’t have the cash? Sorry, you’re out of luck.

And while your local broadcast station will still be around, they’re going to say-and-play what the home office tells them to… including the information that influences how you decide to vote.

So $12.95 a month for the privilege of listening to the broadcast that I now get for free? That’s a compelling offer, Howard.

But I have a better one.

Unfortunately I’d need to be on satellite radio to tell you what it is.