Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

[Dondadda]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

I don't see why not... Although the 47k I'm sure pales in comparison to what they'll gain with Howard's audience and the NFL deal.

Howard and the NFL didn't realize much of a bump in Sirius subscriptions when both were initially announced, so why should it matter after the merger? If I recall, Sirius subscriptions spiked for only 6 weeks when Howard went on, and then it went back to normal.

Only the hardcores buy satellite radio for one show or one feature - the rest of us get it for the total package.

[Dondadda]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

That actually sucks for me. I bought stock in XM and Sirius when it was first offered. My house on the beach and boat to go fishing on in 30 years is depending on that stock, damnit!

Ouch. Neither company has ever been profitable, and now XM has likely already lost 50,000 subs in 2 days, with many more to come (especially if O&A are indeed fired).

A loss of 50,000 subs costs XM around $780,000 for the year. As XM tries to creep towards profitability, this is not an insignificant loss.

[Dondadda]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

OOPS, I forgot a zero.

Make that $7.8 Million Dollars, not including the stock inevitably plummeting.


WOW.

[nyisles16]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

funny thing.. Howard, in his comments on the situation, left open the possibility of having a "sitdown" with O & A and fight the censorship..

right now I am on the wait & see approach.. heck, some one I know was offered even more months than the 3 they gave out, but turned them down. XM is now desperate to keep their base..

I can see the reason if this was on regular radio if they were to be canned, which is ruled by the "FCC won't let me be" - however, paying a subscription to hear programming I want to hear should not be censored..


& in stock news, XM lost $.20 today...

[homer73]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

I'll be canceling my account tomorrow. Sorry Ron and Fezzie but until the bbboys are back, im out! Maybe i'll look into an ipod or steal my wife's.

[JRod]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

Ouch. Neither company has ever been profitable, and now XM has likely already lost 50,000 subs in 2 days, with many more to come (especially if O&A are indeed fired).

A loss of 50,000 subs costs XM around $780,000 for the year. As XM tries to creep towards profitability, this is not an insignificant loss.

What's ironic is the opposite of what happened to Imus is happening. XM and Sirius main selling point was "free" radio. Free from advertisers; free, unrestrainged playlists; and free, uncensored speech.

XM is attacking OA for doing what XM, and for that matter Sirius, has long been advertising. I wonder how much of this has to do with a knee jerk reaction to Imus and how much XM doens't understand it's own market.


I'm a Sirius suscriber because it offered me soccer at work, little did I know that the music has completely ruined me on advert-free radio. I think a lot feel the same way about OA. They are paying money, SO OA can say the things they couldn't say on terrestrial radio. Again, it just makes me think that XM doesn't understand it's own market and felt it must pull an Imus or lose money.

[homer73]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

What's ironic is the opposite of what happened to Imus is happening. XM and Sirius main selling point was "free" radio. Free from advertisers; free, unrestrainged playlists; and free, uncensored speech.

XM is attacking OA for doing what XM, and for that matter Sirius, has long been advertising. I wonder how much of this has to do with a knee jerk reaction to Imus and how much XM doens't understand it's own market.


I'm a Sirius suscriber because it offered me soccer at work, little did I know that the music has completely ruined me on advert-free radio. I think a lot feel the same way about OA. They are paying money, SO OA can say the things they couldn't say on terrestrial radio. Again, it just makes me think that XM doesn't understand it's own market and felt it must pull an Imus or lose money.

Nail meet head.

But also I think the merger is in trouble and this is an attempt to cow-tow to Congress/FCC. It can be the only reason... what advertisers are they suspending O&A for??? it's not like terrestrial.. the money is in the subs. I doubt very serious the porn commercials and such that they run infrequently are really paying the bills (and do you think those kind of advertisers are really worried about the show's content?)

[dave360]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

Im cancelling mine in support of O&A and in an indirect way, Howard. XM and Sirius shouldn't censor any content no matter how bad it is because we pay for it. I think this sets a bad precedent for paid content if it isn't free of censorship and the FCC'S iron fist. I don't want to make it sound like I agree with what was said on O&A because I thought it was vile and disgusting and if I wasn't paying for it, it would be different. I also want to make a point to TJ I still listen to local sports talk, just not the music stations and morning drive.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

Just called in again, threatened to cancel, got 6 months free...woo hoo!

[MassNole]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

Would it be wrong for me to milk the free XM cow despite the fact I've listened to a total of 10 minutes of O&A the past 2 years?

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

Would it be wrong for me to milk the free XM cow despite the fact I've listened to a total of 10 minutes of O&A the past 2 years?

I don't think so, not in the least

[Money99]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

I won't be canceling my subscription, as I like O&A, but not that much. I got XM for the music and sports, if they lose baseball, then bye bye, but until then, I will continue to love my XM.

Me too. I love XM Home Ice 204 and a slew of other channels. I've tuned into O&A on occassion and while I didn't mind their show, it's not a deal breaker for me if they're booted.

However, I do see some people's arguments regarding censorship on satellite radio. I thought that was the whole point. They are on there because they can say whatever they want. If people don't like it, then turn the station.

The FCC obviously has some powerful people in charge and very long arms. I wonder how Howard will react when he has to start towing the line again.

[MassNole]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

The FCC has nothing to do with this though, it was purely a business decision. We keep mentioning Howard Stern, I would bet he is somewhat involved but as part of the move to rid XM/Sirius of O&A.

[nyisles16]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

FCC would only be involved in the merger.. now it's being said that XM suspended them because they talked about censorship & such on their Monday show, when they claim they did not want them to do so...

Now the story has been picked up by several news outlets, & also there might be legal action taken against XM..

I don't think Stern was behind this (never know though)..I think it's purely a move by XM to "look better" for their proposed merger

[nyisles16]

Re: Opie and Anthony suspended from XM

I don't think so, not in the least

agreed - they are in such desperate straights right now to keep any subscriber - GO FOR IT, but be prepared to be put on hold for a while (though if you hit "activate new radio", or "new subscriber" option on the tele you have a better chance of getting through quicker)