Opie and Anthony in the doghouse for "Raped Condoleeza Rice" Skit.

[SirFozzie]

http://blog.wired.com/business/2007/05/shock_jocks_put.html

Yeah. Great job you idiots. congratulations for probably losing another job.

[Logan]

Sincerely doubt that.

edit: And keep reading. It wasn't a "skit"...it was a homeless guy rambling about Rice.

[sabotai]

I love the Rocky 3 reference.

[SirFozzie]

May 11, 2007, 10:03AM
XM shock jocks apologize for sex comment

WASHINGTON — XM Satellite Radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony apologized Friday for airing a homeless man's crude comments that he'd like to have sex with Condoleezza Rice, Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth.

The remarks were made on their show Wednesday by a guest the duo call Homeless Charlie. As the name of each woman came up, the guest said he would like to have sex with her — using language not fit for print.

Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" and what it would be like to hold her down and punch her in the face.

Washington-based XM condemned the remarks.

"We deplore the comments made on Wednesday's 'Opie & Anthony Show,'" XM spokesman Nathaniel Brown told The Associated Press on Friday. He would not say whether XM planned to take disciplinary action.

Opie and Anthony, whose full names are Anthony Cumia and Greg "Opie" Hughes, apologized to listeners on Friday's show.

"We apologize to the public officials for comments that we made on our XM show on May 9th. We take very seriously the responsibility that comes with our creative freedom and regret any offense that this segment has caused," they said.

Because the show airs on satellite radio, there are no federal restrictions on its content. According to XM's Web site, the radio service has parental controls that allow users to block access to channels that frequently contain explicit language. Those channels are designated with an "XL" notation.

The same radio duo was dumped by CBS Radio in August 2002 for running a contest in which they said two listeners had sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral. They were hired by XM in 2004.

The remarks could become an issue as XM seeks approval from the Federal Communications Commission to merge with New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade magazine Inside Radio.

"XM and Sirius don't want any regulation," he said in Friday's New York Daily News. "But it's come up in four congressional hearings — and at this point, the merger is such a close call, any issue could become important."

[rkmsuf]

Not a big fan of O&A but people need to just shut the fuck up already. It's a pay service. Big deal they said some stuff. Or the homeless guy said some stuff. :rolleyes:

[gottimd]

Not a big fan of O&A but people need to just shut the fuck up already. It's a pay service. Big deal they said some stuff. Or the homeless guy said some stuff. :rolleyes:

Agreed 107.8%. The people who are complaining probably molest collies. They might also tend to believe Werewolves don't drive, communists!

[RendeR]

THe FCC needs to be removed from controlling anything beyond registration and licensing. Censorship of content is unconstitutional and they should have no say in what legally licensed companies wish to broadcast.


DAMN THE MAN, SAVE THE EMPIRE!

[rkmsuf]

RAPE THE HORSES AND RIDE OFF ON THE WOMEN!

[cthomer5000]

This happened on a pay satellite service... why are we wasting a second on this? Lets get outraged about everything that's in a movie now.

[Logan]

This happened on a pay satellite service... why are we wasting a second on this? Lets get outraged about everything that's in a movie now.

A pay satellite service, and on a channel that is labeled as having extremely vulgar language and content. And on a channel that is easily blockable.

[jeff061]

A pay satellite service, and on a channel that is labeled as having extremely vulgar language and content. And on a channel that is easily blockable.

Doesn't matter, the people that complain don't even know how, when or where to listen to them. Doesn't keep them from getting the ears of advertisers and threatening their show. FCC or no FCC.

I hate people.

[TroyF]

They have the right to say what they want. And people have the right to take offense to that. I love raunchy humor, but I fail to see the humor in Conde being punched in the face while she's raped by a homeless man.

I'm not one to write a lot of letters or protest. I'd just make sure I never listened to the show again. I don't have a problem with the people who did write. I think the FCC should stay the hell out. The public will regulate them just fine.

[Dr. Sak]

If you don't like what they are saying CHANGE THE CHANNEL. If that isn't good enough cancel your subscription.

[TroyF]

If you don't like what they are saying CHANGE THE CHANNEL. If that isn't good enough cancel your subscription.

Those are two of your options.

You also have a right to write the company, complain to the media, hold a rally, put pressure on sponsors, etc.

People have EVERY RIGHT to do ANY of those things. That's free speech in a nutshell. I don't just have to change the channel if I'm offended. Free speech doesn't mean you can say what you want, when you want and that nobody has the right to challenge you. It means you can say what you want and I can express myself as well.

Other than the regulation part of this by the morons at the FCC, I don't see whre the problem is here. The people protesting and complaining about that skit have every right to do it. Without the FCC getting involved, the public will decide if they stay on the air or not. Enough ratings, they stay. Enough people think they are pathetic, they go. Free market at work.

[MylesKnight]

The FCC and the rest of the Feds, the Media, and all other folks involved in this crap can go ahead and put some of these in their holier than thou mouths...

http://www.matrixmania.com/photopost/data/517/10765deeznuts.jpg

[Dr. Sak]

Those are two of your options.

You also have a right to write the company, complain to the media, hold a rally, put pressure on sponsors, etc.

People have EVERY RIGHT to do ANY of those things. That's free speech in a nutshell. I don't just have to change the channel if I'm offended. Free speech doesn't mean you can say what you want, when you want and that nobody has the right to challenge you. It means you can say what you want and I can express myself as well.

Other than the regulation part of this by the morons at the FCC, I don't see whre the problem is here. The people protesting and complaining about that skit have every right to do it. Without the FCC getting involved, the public will decide if they stay on the air or not. Enough ratings, they stay. Enough people think they are pathetic, they go. Free market at work.

Your statement sums up what I was getting at in a better tone. By changing the channel or canceling your subscription you are protesting your displeasure in them. If enough people do it their employer will have to cut them due to lack of support.

For me it is more of an annoyance thing. There are idiots and morons throughout the world that will do anything to get their name in lights. By publicizing this idiotic stunt they are accomplishing what they set out to do. They want to piss people off; they want to get hate mail. Because that means people are listening to them and will continue to listen to them because they want to find out what wacky and crazy thing they will say next.

So I might be in the minority here, but instead of getting all worked up I just change the channel if they are on, never to tune in again.

[Logan]

Doesn't matter, the people that complain don't even know how, when or where to listen to them. Doesn't keep them from getting the ears of advertisers and threatening their show. FCC or no FCC.

I hate people.

Well, what I've said only applies to the XM show. Once the Imus thing happened, they knew that eventually they would get kicked off FM again...it was only a matter of time. But do you think the fine consumers of BodogFight.com (mixed martial arts) or their sister site Bodog.com (online gambling) are going to be the ones complaining about this? How about adam and eve dot com (spaced it out just in case since it's an adult site)? It's not exactly Johnson & Johnson that is buying up ad space on their program.

My point is...if XM comes out and fires O&A, they've gone against their main hook...providing uncensored content. They better go out and change their ad campaigns, cause they'll just be hypocrites. I only got into O&A because I got an XM unit and subscription as a gift...there's no way in fucking hell I'll re-up if they try pulling this shit. Even if the merger happens, good luck eliminating your billions of dollars of debt once you eliminate the only reason for having a subscription.

[Logan]

They have the right to say what they want. And people have the right to take offense to that. I love raunchy humor, but I fail to see the humor in Conde being punched in the face while she's raped by a homeless man.

I'm not one to write a lot of letters or protest. I'd just make sure I never listened to the show again. I don't have a problem with the people who did write. I think the FCC should stay the hell out. The public will regulate them just fine.

I have no problem with any of this, and I wish others felt exactly like you do.

[Rizon]

Agreed 107.8%. The people who are complaining probably molest collies. They might also tend to believe Werewolves don't drive, communists!

Collies are cute though.

[KWhit]

This happened on a pay satellite service... why are we wasting a second on this? Lets get outraged about everything that's in a movie now.

Aren't they on FreeFM too?

(Or did they not play that segment on that station?)

[Schmidty]

Not a big fan of O&A but people need to just shut the fuck up already. It's a pay service. Big deal they said some stuff. Or the homeless guy said some stuff. :rolleyes:

Did you just copy and paste every single fucking post in the comment thread from that link??? Good lord.

[Schmidty]

Did you just copy and paste every single fucking post in the comment thread from that link??? Good lord.

Dude. If he had copy and pasted every single post from the comment section of that thread, his own post would have been like 10 pages long.

Think.

[Toddzilla]

Aren't they on FreeFM too?

(Or did they not play that segment on that station?)They are on FreeFM from 6AM-9AM, which is simulcast uncensored on XM at the same time, then they're on XM exclusively from 9AM-11AM. They brought the homeless guy up with them for the XM portion of the show, so this was not on FM radio.

[KWhit]

Gotcha.

[JonInMiddleGA]

In what could turn out to be a related story

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070512/D8P31G880.html
May 12, 3:39 PM (ET)
NEW YORK (AP) - One month after CBS Radio fired radio host Don Imus, it has permanently pulled the plug on a pair of suspended New York shock jocks for a prank phone call rife with offensive Asian stereotypes.

"The Dog House with JV and Elvis," hosted by Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay, "will no longer be broadcast," CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo said Saturday.

The cancellation of the show on WFNY-FM, nearly three weeks after the hosts were suspended, was another indication of the increased scrutiny on radio hosts and the heightened management sensitivity to complaints in the wake of the Imus firing.

CBS Radio dismissed Imus in April for his racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

Vandergrift and Lay broadcast a call to a Chinese restaurant in which the caller, in an exaggerated accent, placed an order for "shrimp flied lice," claimed he was a student of kung fu, and compared menu items to employees' body parts.

The initial airing of the call went unnoticed, but a rebroadcast after Imus's firing prompted an outcry from Asian-American groups. Vandergrift and Lay were initially suspended without pay, but Asian-Americans quickly demanded the same penalty applied to the much higher-profile Imus.

"This is a victory not only for the Asian-American community, but for all communities who find themselves constant targets of racist and sexist programming," said Jeanette Wang, an executive with the Organization of Chinese Americans. Mateo would not comment on the status of the DJs' contracts or whether they were still on the CBS payroll.

I'll leave ya'll to argue about it, I just figured I would add this latest bit of news.

[wade moore]

blah.

[Cringer]

Opie and Anthony still have a show? Last I heard they were getting pulled from stations around the country for crap ratings. A 0.0 in Las Vegas or something like that.....

Anyways, the fact they get crap for something on satellite radio is not a good thing IMO.

[Logan]

In what could turn out to be a related story

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070512/D8P31G880.html
May 12, 3:39 PM (ET)
NEW YORK (AP) - One month after CBS Radio fired radio host Don Imus, it has permanently pulled the plug on a pair of suspended New York shock jocks for a prank phone call rife with offensive Asian stereotypes.

"The Dog House with JV and Elvis," hosted by Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay, "will no longer be broadcast," CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo said Saturday.

The cancellation of the show on WFNY-FM, nearly three weeks after the hosts were suspended, was another indication of the increased scrutiny on radio hosts and the heightened management sensitivity to complaints in the wake of the Imus firing.

CBS Radio dismissed Imus in April for his racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

Vandergrift and Lay broadcast a call to a Chinese restaurant in which the caller, in an exaggerated accent, placed an order for "shrimp flied lice," claimed he was a student of kung fu, and compared menu items to employees' body parts.

The initial airing of the call went unnoticed, but a rebroadcast after Imus's firing prompted an outcry from Asian-American groups. Vandergrift and Lay were initially suspended without pay, but Asian-Americans quickly demanded the same penalty applied to the much higher-profile Imus.

"This is a victory not only for the Asian-American community, but for all communities who find themselves constant targets of racist and sexist programming," said Jeanette Wang, an executive with the Organization of Chinese Americans. Mateo would not comment on the status of the DJs' contracts or whether they were still on the CBS payroll.

I'll leave ya'll to argue about it, I just figured I would add this latest bit of news.

I happened to catch some of the O&A "Worst Of..." replay this morning, where they talked about this on Monday. Went on about how everyone really needs to start banding together to fight against this bullshit. They "fought" with this show regularly, but realized that it's time to draw the line.

By the way, what's the difference between what these guys did and what Rosie O'Donnell said on national TV?

[saldana]

i agree that there are plenty of ways to control what one is listening to and watching, and people should get over themselves about the content, but that doesnt really alleviate the fact that these two hosts are a couple of idiots...they apparently didnt learn anything from their last firing...just because they have the right to say something stupid doesnt mean they have to.

[saldana]

By the way, what's the difference between what these guys did and what Rosie O'Donnell said on national TV?

not being argumentative, i honestly don't know....what did Rosie O'Donnell say?

[MJ4H]

not being argumentative, i honestly don't know....what did Rosie O'Donnell say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0HtTReGt08

[saldana]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0HtTReGt08


thanks.

imo, nothing different...i hate rosie anyway, so i would love to see her in deep shit over that.

[Logan]

i agree that there are plenty of ways to control what one is listening to and watching, and people should get over themselves about the content, but that doesnt really alleviate the fact that these two hosts are a couple of idiots...they apparently didnt learn anything from their last firing...just because they have the right to say something stupid doesnt mean they have to.

THEY didn't say anything.

[saldana]

THEY didn't say anything.

THEY are responsible for anything said on THEIR show.

a morning show host in the town i grew up in that had been on the air for 18 years got fired the week after Don Imus for having a call in contest for the Phrase of the Day...you won the contest if you guessed the phrase...he was dumb enough to have the phrase of the day be "Nappy headed hos"...he is currently unemployed, despite never having said anything himself.

[Cringer]

THEY are responsible for anything said on THEIR show.

a morning show host in the town i grew up in that had been on the air for 18 years got fired the week after Don Imus for having a call in contest for the Phrase of the Day...you won the contest if you guessed the phrase...he was dumb enough to have the phrase of the day be "Nappy headed hos"...he is currently unemployed, despite never having said anything himself.

Actually the phrase of the day was for people to call in and say "I'm a nappy headed ho."

I think it was pretty funny. It's BS that guy got fired.

[saldana]

Actually the phrase of the day was for people to call in and say "I'm a nappy headed ho."

I think it was pretty funny. It's BS that guy got fired.

how can it be BS to get fired for holding a contest encouraging people to be racists?

[Cringer]

how can it be BS to get fired for holding a contest encouraging people to be racists?

Nappy now means black people only after the Don Imus thing? Nappy is now a word that is off limits to everyone? I can't look at my dog's hair and say it's nappy or I will be racist? I can't look at my own hair and say it's nappy without being a racist? Lighten up a little.....

[saldana]

Nappy now means black people only after the Don Imus thing? Nappy is now a word that is off limits to everyone? I can't look at my dog's hair and say it's nappy or I will be racist? I can't look at my own hair and say it's nappy without being a racist? Lighten up a little.....

you cant really think your example and what Gary Smith did are the same thing....it isnt the word, its the context the words were put in, and you know it.

[Cringer]

In other satellite radio news, looks like people may try to give Bubba the Love Sponge some crap now, too.

hxxp://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=405769

This is the second thing I have seen mentioning this bit. It was a pretty funny bit, mocking Rage Against the Machine from a week or two ago when they were on stage. Although I admit when it was going on I thought it was potenial trouble for them.

At the same time, I don't see a continued attack on Rush for his Obama the Magic Negro song. If these guys are going to get crap then that should too atleast.

[Cringer]

you cant really think your example and what Gary Smith did are the same thing....it isnt the word, its the context the words were put in, and you know it.

The context to me was clearly a joke, so I see no problem with it. I heard the guy interviewed after he was fired and definetly take his side on the whole thing. Did he use the best judgement in making that the Phrase that Pays? Probably not, since he should have known he would have had someone complain.

[Toddzilla]

The context to me was clearly a joke...If we've learned anything from the last month, it is that *on the radio* context doesn't matter one iota. Imus, O&A, Bubba, JV & Elvis, all of 'em were doing jokes. That's what radio personalities do. Heck, even Rush's song is a joke, but that's irrelevant in the hyper-sensitive PC-gone-amok world of radio.

IMO, if Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle had been on any of these radio shows and said what Imus said, or the homeless guy on O&A said, there wouldn't be an issue because comedians - especially black comedians - get a free pass w.r.t. racial humor.

[jeff061]

i agree that there are plenty of ways to control what one is listening to and watching, and people should get over themselves about the content, but that doesnt really alleviate the fact that these two hosts are a couple of idiots...they apparently didnt learn anything from their last firing...just because they have the right to say something stupid doesnt mean they have to.

They didn't really get fired last time, they had the remaining years of their contract bought out. So they still got their money while sitting at home. Then they got the noteriety, which got them money, a gig on XM and eventually back on terrestrial radio.

I'd say their last firing was the catalyst that sprung them past Stern. What were they supposed to learn again?

[jeff061]

THEY didn't say anythign.


I heard a clip of it, could have sworn one of them piped in with some less than savory supporting comments.

[Cringer]

If we've learned anything from the last month, it is that *on the radio* context doesn't matter one iota. Imus, O&A, Bubba, JV & Elvis, all of 'em were doing jokes. That's what radio personalities do. Heck, even Rush's song is a joke, but that's irrelevant in the hyper-sensitive PC-gone-amok world of radio.

IMO, if Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle had been on any of these radio shows and said what Imus said, or the homeless guy on O&A said, there wouldn't be an issue because comedians - especially black comedians - get a free pass w.r.t. racial humor.


Agreed. I know we are on opposite sides probably when it comes to the O&A/Stern or XM/Sirius, but this is something where both sides should agree. If O&A get taken out because of this, then my days of driving being ruined are not far behind because Stern, Bubba, and Ferrall will be next on the list.

[Karlifornia]

If we've learned anything from the last month, it is that *on the radio* context doesn't matter one iota. Imus, O&A, Bubba, JV & Elvis, all of 'em were doing jokes. That's what radio personalities do. Heck, even Rush's song is a joke, but that's irrelevant in the hyper-sensitive PC-gone-amok world of radio.

IMO, if Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle had been on any of these radio shows and said what Imus said, or the homeless guy on O&A said, there wouldn't be an issue because comedians - especially black comedians - get a free pass w.r.t. racial humor.

That's what happens when you're a member of the majority race. It may not seem fair, but that's just a fact of life at this point in time. Maybe one day, long after we're all dead, everything will be equal for everybody, and the jokes will be able to flow freely from anyone, no matter their race. This is not that day. I don't find these jokes offensive, but then again, when customers asked how my mother's day was going, I responded with, "My mother died 12 years ago. She was eaten by Hippos" And I think that's funny. But, the majority of the uptight population doesn't. You have the freedom to say controversial things, but people also have the freedom to react to it how they like, much as TroyF said already.

And the whole "White people are the victims of a racial double-standard" bit is so prevalent on these boards. I get it. Everyone gets it. It doesn't need to be mentioned in every thread dealing with race, but I'm sure it will be until this board is gone.

[Crapshoot]

People actually listen to this crap? I come down on the free speech side, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the appeal.

[TroyF]

THEY didn't say anything.


I didn't hear it, but from the article posted above, they probably said some of the worst things. The homeless guy was just being an idiot and instead of either cutting him off or at least saying something along of the lines of "rape isn't really a funny thing," they responded with "Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" and what it would be like to hold her down and punch her in the face."

Rather than difuse the situation the homeless guy create, they played off it and turned it into something even sicker. I'm happy for the media story on this one. I love raunchy "one the edge comedy," but when it turns into joking about women getting punched in the face while being raped? Not so much. I will make sure I never listen to their radio show or support them in any way.

[TroyF]

If we've learned anything from the last month, it is that *on the radio* context doesn't matter one iota. Imus, O&A, Bubba, JV & Elvis, all of 'em were doing jokes. That's what radio personalities do. Heck, even Rush's song is a joke, but that's irrelevant in the hyper-sensitive PC-gone-amok world of radio.

IMO, if Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle had been on any of these radio shows and said what Imus said, or the homeless guy on O&A said, there wouldn't be an issue because comedians - especially black comedians - get a free pass w.r.t. racial humor.

In the case of Imus and O&A, I don't think the racial angle really came into play as much as people make it out to be. If you replace Conie Rice with Paris Hilton, I still think O&A are in some hot water. It's not about PC, it's about being smart. Joking about holding a women down and punching her in the face while she's raped isn't only un-PC, it's idiotic and it's asking for trouble.

Ditto for Imus. Slamming a women's college basketball team was going to get him in hot water no matter what. Would he have been fired? I dunno. Maybe, maybe not. But he would have taken a lot of heat for calling any group of 18-22 year old women ho's.

Rock and Chappelle would get hammered for those two comments. I honestly don't think either of them would get away with them.

The Asian skit? Asinine. Truly asinine. But the timing of the skit was moronic. People are at a heightened sense of awareness now, I'd make sure I removed any ethnic humor from my content no. Five months from now that skit would be a blip on the radar. Now it's going to get you in trouble. I don't have a lot of sympathy for anyone so stupid they can't figure that out. (not talking to you, talking to the radio hosts)

[KWhit]

In the case of Imus and O&A, I don't think the racial angle really came into play as much as people make it out to be. If you replace Conie Rice with Paris Hilton, I still think O&A are in some hot water. It's not about PC, it's about being smart. Joking about holding a women down and punching her in the face while she's raped isn't only un-PC, it's idiotic and it's asking for trouble.

Ditto for Imus. Slamming a women's college basketball team was going to get him in hot water no matter what. Would he have been fired? I dunno. Maybe, maybe not. But he would have taken a lot of heat for calling any group of 18-22 year old women ho's.


I agree with the first point, but not the second. No way Imus gets fired if he was praising the black team and calling the white team ho's. I also think it was more about the 'nappy headed' phrase anyway. He was calling them out in a way that was demeaning and very specific racially. It had everything to do with race.

[rkmsuf]

Dude. If he had copy and pasted every single post from the comment section of that thread, his own post would have been like 10 pages long.

Think.

surely you jest. I only read 1/4 of the entire article let alone root around for some of the comments jerkoffs posted over there.

think man.

[CU Tiger]

1) I do not think O&A are funny, I think Howard Stern is tired, Never lasted more than 3 minutes on Imus, and have never heard Bubba the spongebob.

But I do think it is ridiculous and a bad precedent for all the current say anything offensive and get fired BS.

2) Having said all that, it has NOTHING to do with Free Speech. The Bill of Rights protects your rights from the GOVERNMENT. You can not be imprisoned for saying whatever you feel. (Apart from fire in a crowded theater) However it DOES NOT protect you from the deserved or not repercussions of that action.

I have the right to tell our biggest customer that my company is incompetent and full of idiots, but my company has the right to fire me if I do.

I know its a minor point but I am tired of hearing how Imus' Constitutional Rights were violated. They were not.

Now the whole true minority argument, well I wont go there.

[sabotai]

2) Having said all that, it has NOTHING to do with Free Speech.

The point about Free Speech goes towards the threat of FCC censorship, not someone getting fired from their job.

[Toddzilla]

That's what happens when you're a member of the majority race.Yep, completey agreem and as a white anglo-saxon male, I shouldn't really complain about it. I mean, the society in which I live is thoroughly dominated by white males and as such white males are more inclined towards positions of power.

But, the double-standard still chaps my hide. I mean, Imus, O&A, Howard, etc, aren't preventing others from making a living, or earning money, or reaping the benefits of a free society. So let them be.

[Toddzilla]

and now XM has suspended Opie and Anthony for an entire month... (http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1452)

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Radio announced today that the company has suspended Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia, hosts of "The Opie & Anthony Show" and ceased broadcast of the show for 30 days, effective immediately.

XM Radio deplored the comments aired on "The Opie & Anthony Show" last week. At the time, the company strongly expressed its views to Opie and Anthony, and they issued an immediate apology.

Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday's broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter. The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them.

As a company, XM provides customers with tools to control what they listen to on XM. "The Opie & Anthony Show" appears on one of XM's explicit language channels (XL). Whenever a radio is tuned to an explicit language channel, the letters "XL" continuously appear on the screen. XM frequently mentions on its explicit language channels that the content may be inappropriate for certain listeners and tells how to "block" channels that feature this type of content. Channel blocking is available through xmradio.com or by calling 1-800-XMRADIO.

[Logan]

My subscription will not be renewed. If I can get my girlfriend a refund on the unused portion of what she bought me, I'll get that too.

[TroyF]

I think all things being equal, they got off lightly. Were there no suspension, I'd never have considered XM. I doubt I'll ever get em now, but I'd consider it.

[Logan]

Sorry, but in my mind...uncensored radio, as they bill it, means just that. They have now censored their talent, and it will extend to the rest of their programs. Do they stop putting programming on their xL comedy channel that has racial humor?

I'm afraid that this is the beginning of the end for EVERYTHING.

[st.cronin]

Do they stop putting programming on their xL comedy channel that has racial humor?

The world would be a better place.

[Toddzilla]

Why is pay-radio held to a different standard than pay-tv?

[cthomer5000]

<object height="350" width="425">

Segment from yesterday's Glenn Beck show:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SuzdaFajByg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>

[jeff061]

I think all things being equal, they got off lightly. Were there no suspension, I'd never have considered XM. I doubt I'll ever get em now, but I'd consider it.

I'm the opposite. I've never had it but have been on the brink for years. Not anymore. I'm not into paying more for a channel that has the same fatal flaw as free service. I'm planted firmly in the "let the ratings dictate the show" camp, not people who read about a bit on the internet and complained to the advertisers.

And I can't think this will help XM/Sirius when they draw more talent. Hosts have to watch themselves just like they did on terrestrial, have a much smaller listener base, but they can say "fuck" now. Nice?

[Schmidty]

<object height="350" width="425">

Segment from yesterday's Glenn Beck show:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SuzdaFajByg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>

Damn, I don't know who that guy is, but my first reaction is "Right on!!".

[JonInMiddleGA]

Here, for the curious, is a link to the comments yesterday morning that appear to have led to their suspension. Sounds to me like they actually got zapped for saying the company who pays them has dumb rules.
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/audio-opie-anthony-comments-that-caused-xm-suspension.html

[cthomer5000]

My gut feeling is the suspension is more about wanting to be 100% certain the FCC is not on their backs while trying to make the merger happen.

[Logan]

Here, for the curious, is a link to the comments yesterday morning that appear to have led to their suspension. Sounds to me like they actually got zapped for saying the company who pays them has dumb rules.
http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/audio-opie-anthony-comments-that-caused-xm-suspension.html

Thanks for the link Jon. I took a sick day yesterday and missed the show.

I think they did this to get around the issue of whether they are censoring their shows. Since it isn't the comments that they were suspended over, they think we can't say that. Violating company rules (assuming there is a rule that says you can't bash us) is something that could be suspendable.

Actually listening to the audio, they say that they want themselves, their friends, and their enemies to band together. Honestly, is that so bad?

[Butter]

I'm afraid that this is the beginning of the end for EVERYTHING.

Way to not overreact.

[miami_fan]

<object height="350" width="425">

Segment from yesterday's Glenn Beck show:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SuzdaFajByg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>

I am now worried that Glenn Beck and I agree that people need to learn how to use the On/Off button.

[Butter]

I am now worried that people actually watch the Glenn Beck show.

[Logan]

Way to not overreact.

I feel sorry for you that you don't see the writing on the wall.

Argue the morality of it all you want, I pay for the privilege of listening to those two speak. Just like I pay to watch Tony Soprano kill people, and I pay for 50 Cent's CD, and some people (seriously, not me) pay for pornography. Keep the Sopranos (unedited) off broadcast television, keep offensive lyrics off terrestrial radio, and keep nudity off network TV. All. You. Fucking. Want. As long as laws aren't being broken (not making death threats against the President on XM, and yes, I think that's different than a "skit" involving a fantasy of sexually abusing three powerful women), don't tell me what the fuck I can spend my money on.

[TroyF]

I feel sorry for you that you don't see the writing on the wall.

Argue the morality of it all you want, I pay for the privilege of listening to those two speak. Just like I pay to watch Tony Soprano kill people, and I pay for 50 Cent's CD, and some people (seriously, not me) pay for pornography. Keep the Sopranos (unedited) off broadcast television, keep offensive lyrics off terrestrial radio, and keep nudity off network TV. All. You. Fucking. Want. As long as laws aren't being broken (not making death threats against the President on XM, and yes, I think that's different than a "skit" involving a fantasy of sexually abusing three powerful women), don't tell me what the fuck I can spend my money on.

We can all spend our money anyway we choose to. If listening to skits about women being punched in the face while they are raped is "funny" to you, I'm sure there are places you can go to find it.

I like uncensored humor, but I'm happy as hell that XM stepped in and said that there is a price to be paid for crossing the line. Good for them. Good for the people who sent in mail and who asked for it.

And good for them that they didn't fire them. They will go back on the air and the public can determine what they want. Had XM did nothing or fired them, I'd never consider them. They clearly wouldn't be listening to their customers (a lot of O&A "fans" filed complaints over the skit) or they'd be caving into public pressure to simply fire them and be done with it.

They struck a balance. I'll never listen to an O&A show. Doesn't mean I'm morally superior to anyone, but I do draw the line at laughing about women being punched in the mouth while raped. Same reason I don't listen to Howard Stern. (a lot of people don't remember his comments after Columbine, they were some of the most disgusting things I've ever heard and I'll let others reward him for saying crap like that)

[Antmeister]

I feel sorry for you that you don't see the writing on the wall.

Argue the morality of it all you want, I pay for the privilege of listening to those two speak. Just like I pay to watch Tony Soprano kill people, and I pay for 50 Cent's CD, and some people (seriously, not me) pay for pornography. Keep the Sopranos (unedited) off broadcast television, keep offensive lyrics off terrestrial radio, and keep nudity off network TV. All. You. Fucking. Want. As long as laws aren't being broken (not making death threats against the President on XM, and yes, I think that's different than a "skit" involving a fantasy of sexually abusing three powerful women), don't tell me what the fuck I can spend my money on.


I wouldn't worry about it at all. I went through this before. It was called the '80s. But the pendulum will swing back the other way. You probably just have to wait a few years when the industry starts losing money from poor rating and underground forms of entertainment go on the rise.

[Butter]

I feel sorry for you that you don't see the writing on the wall.


The writing's been there for quite a while, I feel sorry for you (and many others) that you're just now becoming aware of it.

[Logan]

We can all spend our money anyway we choose to. If listening to skits about women being punched in the face while they are raped is "funny" to you, I'm sure there are places you can go to find it.

I like uncensored humor, but I'm happy as hell that XM stepped in and said that there is a price to be paid for crossing the line. Good for them. Good for the people who sent in mail and who asked for it.

And good for them that they didn't fire them. They will go back on the air and the public can determine what they want. Had XM did nothing or fired them, I'd never consider them. They clearly wouldn't be listening to their customers (a lot of O&A "fans" filed complaints over the skit) or they'd be caving into public pressure to simply fire them and be done with it.

They struck a balance. I'll never listen to an O&A show. Doesn't mean I'm morally superior to anyone, but I do draw the line at laughing about women being punched in the mouth while raped. Same reason I don't listen to Howard Stern. (a lot of people don't remember his comments after Columbine, they were some of the most disgusting things I've ever heard and I'll let others reward him for saying crap like that)

For one, I don't think it's funny at all that they had the skit on there. If I had been listening to it, I would've changed the station just like I do whenever they have something on there that I don't think is funny or interesting. I'm not a huge O&A fan...as I said somewhere in this thread, I never listened to them when they were on regular radio in NY, and only have XM because my girlfriend bought it for me (I was completely impartial to one service over the other - Stern is past his peak in my mind). I think a lot of times they suffer when they carry out even their funny bits for too long...I swear to god, I never want to hear Boardroom Jimmy for more than 30 seconds.

All that being said, there's plenty I do like, and that's why I was planning on keeping the service after my gift sub expired. Now, I won't...it's censorship on a supposed uncensored service. That's enough for me.

Also, I'd like to see a reference to the O&A fans complaining about the skit...and I note your use of quotes on fans, so I'm even more interested. But knowing what's happening on their "unofficial" message board, I'm going to guess that a lot of subs will be canceled soon.

[Logan]

The writing's been there for quite a while, I feel sorry for you (and many others) that you're just now becoming aware of it.

Maybe "writing on the wall" was a bad choice of phrases, since this was an action and not something that could eventually lead to something. So taking that into consideration, I'll ask you to name what similar action came before this that described an uncensored piece of material being censored.

[st.cronin]

I'm actually pretty amused that people think this is a big deal.

[Schmidty]

I'm actually pretty amused that people think this is a big deal.

You are like this huge guy in a pinstripe suit sitting on a cloud looking down at all of us mere mortals. I bask in your radiant mirth.

I exalt your wisdom and mystery.

I love you.

[st.cronin]

You are like this huge guy in a pinstripe suit sitting on a cloud looking down at all of us mere mortals. I bask in your radiant mirth.

I exalt your wisdom and mystery.

I love you.

I am huge. No mistake about that.

[Logan]

I am huge. No mistake about that.

And pinstripes are slimming.

Fatty.

[st.cronin]

And pinstripes are slimming.

Fatty.

I don't wear pinstripes. I do wear funny hats, though.

[Toddzilla]

<object height="350" width="425">

Segment from yesterday's Glenn Beck show:Holy shit! It's HappyTypingGirl! WOOT!

[Toddzilla]

Dola - Opie and Anthony have in fact been fired from XM. Very reliable sources (zagman - owner of Wackbag, No Filter Paul, and Dugout Doug) have all confirmed that indeed O&A are gone from XM permanently.

www.peopleagainstcensorship.com

[Logan]

Dola - Opie and Anthony have in fact been fired from XM. Very reliable sources (zagman - owner of Wackbag, No Filter Paul, and Dugout Doug) have all confirmed that indeed O&A are gone from XM permanently.

www.peopleagainstcensorship.com

Yeah, saw the headline earlier but without being able to log on to wackbag due to the traffic, didn't want to potentially jump the gun on here.

[Logan]

The Virus Admin on xmfan.com claims that they haven't been fired, but the channel will only be available on an opt-in basis.

edit: And supposedly they will still be on FreeFM tomorrow morning.

[cthomer5000]

The Virus Admin on xmfan.com claims that they haven't been fired, but the channel will only be available on an opt-in basis.

edit: And supposedly they will still be on FreeFM tomorrow morning.

the schedule at XM looks pretty damning, Ron & Fez 24/7:
http://www.xmradio.com/pdf/the_virus_grid.pdf

[JonInMiddleGA]

Especially for the conspiracy theorists out there, a thought or two.

-- it has been pointed out that the next scheduled public appearance on O&A's calendar was about 35 days from the suspension
-- overall the show has not been generating the interest, for XM nor CBS, that was hoped for
-- there's been consistent speculation that the terrestrial "Free FM" format that O&A had been plugged into would be terminated sooner rather than later

Could it be, just maybe, that this whole thing is nothing more than a desperate last ditch effort to either save the show or, if that fails, to provide the opportunity to sink it entirely?

I'm not personally convinced that's what's going on mind you, I'm just throwing out some speculation that's making the rounds.

[Logan]

Especially for the conspiracy theorists out there, a thought or two.

-- it has been pointed out that the next scheduled public appearance on O&A's calendar was about 35 days from the suspension
-- overall the show has not been generating the interest, for XM nor CBS, that was hoped for
-- there's been consistent speculation that the terrestrial "Free FM" format that O&A had been plugged into would be terminated sooner rather than later

Could it be, just maybe, that this whole thing is nothing more than a desperate last ditch effort to either save the show or, if that fails, to provide the opportunity to sink it entirely?

I'm not personally convinced that's what's going on mind you, I'm just throwing out some speculation that's making the rounds.

Jon, you know much more about this than me so I welcome your opinion...about the show not generating the expected interest, is it not true that while XM hasn't hit the numbers they've hoped for (and I believe Sirius is in a similar, if not slightly better, situation), that O&A are overwhelmingly their biggest draw? If they lost them, how do they recover? Are people going to gobble up subscriptions for Ron and Fez? Is Oprah's channel having any success with her 5 minutes of content per week? I have a hard time believing that XM will be able to bring in any new top talent (if it's even out there) with what has just gone down.

Also, I've read on the fan boards that O&A's contract calls for them to be paid by XM through 2010. Any industry info on whether they would be able to keep collecting their paychecks, or is there some kind of clause in there that will get XM off the hook?

[Logan]

Err...is the format of this thread fucked up for anyone else (after post #80)?

Can't say I've seen this before.

[jeff061]

Could it be, just maybe, that this whole thing is nothing more than a desperate last ditch effort to either save the show or, if that fails, to provide the opportunity to sink it entirely? I had thought of this, since they had already been walking on eggshells and the Rice bit was just way over the top. But I rarely listen to them and haven't the faintest idea whether or when they struggle.

[KWhit]

Err...is the format of this thread fucked up for anyone else (after post #80)?

Can't say I've seen this before.


Yes. It's very strange.

[Toddzilla]

Especially for the conspiracy theorists out there, a thought or two.

-- it has been pointed out that the next scheduled public appearance on O&A's calendar was about 35 days from the suspension
-- overall the show has not been generating the interest, for XM nor CBS, that was hoped for
-- there's been consistent speculation that the terrestrial "Free FM" format that O&A had been plugged into would be terminated sooner rather than later

Could it be, just maybe, that this whole thing is nothing more than a desperate last ditch effort to either save the show or, if that fails, to provide the opportunity to sink it entirely?

I'm not personally convinced that's what's going on mind you, I'm just throwing out some speculation that's making the rounds.Jon, I can't tell you how much I hope that it is all a conspiracy - one thing you forgot to add is that XM is in the process of completely re-designing their NY studio - a complete demolition and rebuild which would necessitate some down time.

However, given the current backlash, it doesn't make sense for XM to shoot itself in the foot like this. At the very least XM comes off looking idiotic:
- They are going to lose tens of thousands of subscriptions at the very least. That's millions of dollars a month in lost revenue.
- They lose the ability to say they are "uncensored". This is censorship plain and simple.
- According to Eric Logan, and XM VP and big supporter of O&A, XM 202 is "by-far" the most-listened to channel on XM (in the "millions of listeners a day") and the most-listened to channel in terms of XM's target dempgraphic, males 17-49. This only serves to alienate that demo.

On the surface, it looks like a classic "radio suspension to build interest" desperation move, but the ramifications of what has happened don't support that theory.

[Logan]

Agree with everything you said Todd. Too much to lose for this to be a clever play.

[Toddzilla]

Anthony and his girlfriend have cancelled the 5 personal subscriptions they were paying for. Also, the O&A poker tournament in Atlantic City was cancelled this morning. I think O&A are, indeed, gone from XM.

[Telle]

All that being said, there's plenty I do like, and that's why I was planning on keeping the service after my gift sub expired. Now, I won't...it's censorship on a supposed uncensored service. That's enough for me.

Oh good grief. There's no such thing as an "uncensored service" and there never was. All "uncensored" means for XM is that the FCC doesn't censor them, and their people can say whatever they want on the air so long as it doesn't lead to them losing money. And if you really ever believed that it meant anything other than that, then you're seriously naive.

[JonInMiddleGA]

- According to Eric Logan, and XM VP and big supporter of O&A, XM 202 is "by-far" the most-listened to channel on XM (in the "millions of listeners a day") and the most-listened to channel in terms of XM's target dempgraphic, males 17-49. This only serves to alienate that demo.

You might want to apply a few grains of salt to that claim however, one reason for which you cited already ("big supporter of").

A recent study (http://www.jacobsmedia.com/tech3_satellite.htm) cited O&A as a "main reason for subscribing" for less than 1 in 10 (9%) current XM customers. To put that in perspective, that's fewer people than cited "audio from TV/cable channels" as a main reason & compares poorly to the 33% figure cited for Stern on Sirius.

Working from a base figure of 8 million subscribers, that's 800,000 that had strong O&A interest to begin with. If all of those listened every day & they had somehow doubled their audience from the rest, there's still less than 2 million that are likely to listen on a given day. And based upon recent Arbitron estimates that put the highest mark reached by any single satellite channel at a 0.2% share of total radio listening, I would speculate that the actual average number of listeners at a given moment for O&A is more along the line of 350,000 (figuring that Stern is the peak & that his AQH audience is likely around 700k).

In other words, there's a very good chance that Logan was blowing a large amount of smoke up various asses with his claim, and probably should have said millions per week.

[Logan]

Oh good grief. There's no such thing as an "uncensored service" and there never was. All "uncensored" means for XM is that the FCC doesn't censor them, and their people can say whatever they want on the air so long as it doesn't lead to them losing money. And if you really ever believed that it meant anything other than that, then you're seriously naive.

Bullshit. This incident made XM lose one major sponsor (Trojan, whose morality only comes into play after they advertise how you could have promiscuous sex, but please, only with their condoms), while many others have stood up to support O&A. That advertising revenue is a drop in the bucket compared to what they will lose over booting the show. XM caved to minor pressure, plain and simple.

edit: Oh yeah, I'm seriously naive. But since my naiveness resulted in me receiving a service that did not meet my expectations, I will exercise my intelligent right to cancel the service. It would be great if the world could just function like this.

[Toddzilla]

You might want to apply a few grains of salt to that claim however, one reason for which you cited already ("big supporter of").

A recent study (http://www.jacobsmedia.com/tech3_satellite.htm) cited O&A as a "main reason for subscribing" for less than 1 in 10 (9%) current XM customers. To put that in perspective, that's fewer people than cited "audio from TV/cable channels" as a main reason & compares poorly to the 33% figure cited for Stern on Sirius.

Working from a base figure of 8 million subscribers, that's 800,000 that had strong O&A interest to begin with. If all of those listened every day & they had somehow doubled their audience from the rest, there's still less than 2 million that are likely to listen on a given day. And based upon recent Arbitron estimates that put the highest mark reached by any single satellite channel at a 0.2% share of total radio listening, I would speculate that the actual average number of listeners at a given moment for O&A is more along the line of 350,000 (figuring that Stern is the peak & that his AQH audience is likely around 700k).

In other words, there's a very good chance that Logan was blowing a large amount of smoke up various asses with his claim, and probably should have said millions per week.To be fair, I wasn't trying to claim that at any one moment there were millions of listeners, however it is entirely plausible (nee, probable) that over the course of the day, given the show lasts 6 hours and is repeated twice, that well over a million listeners tune in to hear O&A. I also think Logan takes into account that every subscription is listened to an average of 2.5 people (and I could be way off on that number, but I'm pretty sure it was over 2).

(in a barely related note, XM was also touting that the "Top 20 on 20" channel is the largest top 40 station in the US given the estimated numbers of listeners throughout the day. How many listeners would that mean?)

As for "main reason for subscribing"? That's a very dubious way to measure potential listeners, as 99% of the content I listen to on XM I've discovered since I subscribed (which includes XM Kids, MLB, O&A, Ron and Fez, and about 20 different music channels). O&A can still be a reason for subscribing, but not the main reason....

[JonInMiddleGA]

... given the show lasts 6 hours and is repeated twice, that well over a million listeners tune in to hear O&A.

I'll concede that I did not take the replays into account, and that would indeed adjust the number upward. How much? Who the hell knows, damned sure not me. (As you can probably tell, it's next to impossible to do anything other than broad guesses based on the information that actually available to anyone outside the satellite company HQ's).

(in a barely related note, XM was also touting that the "Top 20 on 20" channel is the largest top 40 station in the US given the estimated numbers of listeners throughout the day. How many listeners would that mean?)

Hmm. Off the top of my head, I would think the most listened to Top 40 station in the US would probably be WHTZ-FM in New York. The 12+ pop count in the NYC metro is about 15 million, so let's just guesstimate (since I don't have current detailed numbers from NY) that the cume somewhere around 1/10th & 1/5th of the market - i.e. that listen to them for at least 5 minutes some point during the a given day. That would put them somewhere in the range of 1.5 million & 3 million unique listeners a day. If that's reasonably accurate, for XM to top that figure in [u]unduplicated[/i] cume, it would mean that roughly half their subscribers were listening to that channel at some point in the day. Only a handful of people probably know the actual number but logically that just seems like a real stretch (percentage wise) to me.

[Toddzilla]

Various sources are reporting that between 15,000 and 35,000 subscriptions have been canceled as a result of the O&A suspension. XM has also lost 2 advertisers over this incident.

[Logan]

I can't wait to get my Nashville Coffee.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Various sources are reporting that between 15,000 and 35,000 subscriptions have been canceled as a result of the O&A suspension. XM has also lost 2 advertisers over this incident.

Reports vary from around that 30,000 peak to "hundreds" as reported by the LA Times earlier today.

Now let's see here. XM now has about 8 million subscribers.
Their churn rate is running consistently at 1.8% for the past three quarters.
Let's see, 1.8% of 8 million, that's 144,000 cancellations in a normal quarter.
That's an average of about 1600 cancellations per day, or about 6400 that would normally be expected since Monday.

Just something to think about. Truth is, nobody will know what the real numbers were until the next quarterly report is released in a few months.