Satellite Radio

Howard Stern, the self-described "king of all media," will continue his reign with Sirius XM Radio Inc. Ending speculation that he would take his show to the next frontier ? whatever that might be ? the radio personality said on his morning show Thursday that he had signed a new deal that would keep him with satellite radio broadcaster Sirius XM for five more years. Stern, who turns 57 next month, did not reveal details of the pact, but word that he was staying put was enough for investors to drive up Sirius XM stock about 20% in early-morning trading.

Editors' note: With this report, Sunday Calendar launches a new, weekly feature, "Cultural Exchange. " In it, Times foreign correspondents will explore cultural and entertainment trends, developments, personalities and debates around the world. The phone can ring all it wants when Meg Donovan is listening to the radio. If she's tuned in to a play or to the nightly installment of "The Archers," a soap opera that's been on the air in Britain for nearly 60 years, her callers can wait.

Although I'm rooting for the Dodgers all the way, I feel bad for Matt Holliday. Hopefully, his Game 1 error won't ruin his career. We all know what happened to Bill Buckner and Donnie Moore. We all know that it's "only a game," but even games can have tragic consequences. As for Matt Holliday, at 29 years of age, he'll have plenty of chances to redeem himself. As long as he does it against another team besides the Dodgers, I'll be very happy for him. Charles Reilly Manhattan Beach :: I read in The Times it would be St. Louis in three.

Hubie Brown used knives, forks and tape recorders to stand in for Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard as he and Dr. Jack Ramsay conducted a makeshift chalk talk explaining why Orlando Magic center Howard struggled so much in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Ramsay also said that Bynum's footwork impressed him and that Howard must have been frustrated when he could make only one shot. And that Ramsay is here, 84 years old, sharp as ever, gently willing to teach players, reporters and fans happened only because Ramsay was talked into being in the crowded three-man ESPN radio booth.

For those of us who like to listen to people rant, whine and talk about their gastrointestinal problems on the radio, the last week has been a sad one in Southern California. KLSX, which had been the region's only all-talk FM station since 1995, abruptly changed its format to Top 40 music on Feb. 20. The switch, according to executives at its parent company, CBS Radio, was an effort to attract younger listeners. Now known as 97.

The nation's only -- and ailing -- satellite radio company is drawing interest from two moguls of space-based entertainment. Sirius XM Radio Inc. said Friday that it might be forced to file for bankruptcy as early as Tuesday if it fails to restructure its debt. As the deadline nears, speculation is growing of a possible bidding war over the company, which was formed last summer by the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio.

DirecTV Group Inc., the largest U.S. satellite-television provider, is in talks with Sirius XM Radio Inc. about a possible deal, according to people close to the situation. An accord may help prevent Sirius XM from seeking bankruptcy protection or agreeing to a deal with satellite company EchoStar Corp. less than a year after Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin completed the merger of the only two U.S. pay-radio providers. Sirius XM has $3.25 billion in total debt and has until Tuesday to repay $175 million in bonds held by EchoStar.

Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed King of All Media, has lost his crown. The shock jock's syndicated morning radio show once drew a national audience of 12 million, but since jumping to satellite radio three years ago, his listeners have dwindled to a fraction of that.