XM facing subscriber, sponsor backlash over Opie & Anthony suspension

It looks like XM's suspension of Opie & Anthony earlier this week is causing a few more headaches than the company may have anticipated, with customers apparently canceling their subscriptions in droves and a number of sponsors now reportedly pulling their advertising. While it's not clear exactly how many customers have jumped ship, anecdotal evidence suggests that hundreds if not thousands of subscriptions have already been canceled. Orbitcast is also reporting that those trying to cancel their service are facing up to a 1.5 hour wait while they're on hold (a few have also taken the extra step of actually smashing their XM radios). The sponsors pulling out seem to be equally displeased with the move, with one of them, The Nashville Coffee Company, saying that XM "is beholden to crybaby special interest groups who cannot separate humor from reality." Of course, all of this is also happening in the midst of a little merger, although it's not clear what impact, if any, it may have on that.

[Photo courtesy of AP/KTVU, thanks Chris]

Read - Orbitcast, "XM subscribers backlash over O&A suspension"
Read - Orbitcast, "Sponsors pull advertising over O&A suspension"

[MondayNgt @ May 17th 2007 5:33PM]

> Guess if you are dumb enough to pay money to listen to radio

I know, that'd be just as dumb as people paying to watch cable or satellite....err, wait a moment....

[Chicksta @ May 18th 2007 11:10AM]

Prove my point much? You don't know me, yet you feel entitled to insult me, because you don't have to do it to my face. I'm not fat, I'm not a ho - did you think that based on the fact that I am a woman? Your issues with women stem from yourself, don't take them out on me. I am also not a feminist, not a liberal, and I would defend against 'any little criticism' of men, women, children, or other lump-sum group being harassed or abused. So I don't think it's a one-way street, nor do I find it acceptable in any form. Yet you think you can judge me and accuse me of things because of your personal bias and attitude. And saying that it's okay that misogyny exists - justifying it - by placing blame on extreme women/feminist groups - yeah, I don't like them either, but I don't hold them accountable for anything but their own actions. Blaming other people for how you act = passive-aggressive. So I hold the misogynists accountable for themselves, period.

[Chicksta @ May 18th 2007 11:20AM]

Prove my point much? You don't know me, yet you feel entitled to insult me, because you don't have to do it to my face. I'm not fat, I'm not a ho - did you think that based on the fact that I am a woman? Your issues with women stem from yourself, don't take them out on me. I am also not a feminist, not a liberal, and I would defend against 'any little criticism' of men, women, children, or other lump-sum group being harassed or abused. So I don't think it's a one-way street, nor do I find it acceptable in any form. Yet you think you can judge me and accuse me of things because of your personal bias and attitude. And saying that it's okay that misogyny exists - justifying it - by placing blame on extreme women/feminist groups - yeah, I don't like them either, but I don't hold them accountable for anything but their own actions. Blaming other people for how you act = passive-aggressive. So I hold the misogynists accountable for themselves, period.

[Chicksta @ May 18th 2007 11:26AM]

Prove my point much? You don't know me, yet you feel entitled to insult me, because you don't have to do it to my face. I'm not fat, I'm not a ho - did you think that based on the fact that I am a woman? Your issues with women stem from yourself, don't take them out on me. I am also not a feminist, not a liberal, and I would defend against 'any little criticism' of men, women, children, or other lump-sum group being harassed or abused. So I don't think it's a one-way street, nor do I find it acceptable in any form. Yet you think you can judge me and accuse me of things because of your personal bias and attitude. And saying that it's okay that misogyny exists - justifying it - by placing blame on extreme women/feminist groups - yeah, I don't like them either, but I don't hold them accountable for anything but their own actions. Blaming other people for how you act = passive-aggressive. So I hold the misogynists accountable for themselves, period.

[Pete @ May 18th 2007 12:48PM]

So I hold the misogynists accountable for themselves, period.

Jeez, let off the Submit button, will ya? I'm saying you're a fat ho because chances are that you are. You're over-sensitive to any criticism about women so you're a feminist (woman-firster).

The fact is that any man would start to hate feminists and feminism after seeing what they have done to fathers, families and children. And anyone would start to hate women after seeing how willingly they've gone along with the "all the privileges, none of the responsibilities" line of feminism.

Shut up your Andrea Dworkins and your Catherine MacKinnons, burn up your NOW membership card and the SCUM manifesto and we'll call a truce.

But as long as you support a politician just because of her sex (Hillary Clinton) I'll know that at heart you all are just sexist, misandrist feminists.

[ByteMe @ May 21st 2007 1:48AM]

Kinda like paying for 'net access when you could get that free too right? And as MN points out, we all pay when that's the only way to get what the FCC, ie the 'thought police', won't allow broadcast openly.

[Slops @ May 17th 2007 3:44PM]

I cancelled my subscription. Xm is supposed to be uncensored. I have no interest in paying $13.00 a month if they're not going to abide by that. XM could go screw.

[Suck City @ May 17th 2007 3:45PM]

Hopefully O&A get thrown off permanently. Why anyone would listen to those two idiots is beyond me.

I like their defense, as well as every idiot DJ who gets thrown off the air - "but Howard Stern does it!"

Howard Stern doesnt make jokes about members of the Bush Administration being beaten and raped.

LONG LIVE DIANE REHMS

[MrBlueyz @ May 17th 2007 4:11PM]

O&A didn't make jokes about someone from the Bush Administration being raped, nor did they get suspended for doing so. They were suspended for not feeling bad about allowing a homeless guy to express his desire to have sex with three different (high profile) women.

[Dave @ May 17th 2007 10:49PM]

Guess What?! There are going to be jokes you hate and find offensive but *WE* don't need *YOU* to tell us what those are. If someone is holding a gun to your head and making you listen to XM or anything else, then they should just go ahead and pull the trigger. BYE!

[Chicksta @ May 17th 2007 4:25PM]

Well, maybe you should. I find it interesting that people were complaining about the middle east's tactics to use cartoon characters to instill hatred towards the U.S. - i.e., using 'entertainment' to instill values - some of those people then turn around and say it's okay if it's instead 'just' misogyny and passive-aggressive attitudes towards women. I don't think anyone should be allowed to harass, demean, insult, hurt, abuse, or otherwise harm someone else, then pass it off as 'free speech'. I have the right to not be abused, to not be insulted, so then it becomes a matter of 'who's more important'? F-that. But for extremists, is it really okay for anyone to do whatever they want, no matter the consequences or who it affects and hurts, or is it just okay when you can hide behind a computer handle or a microphone and don't have to own your actions? Maybe we should start teaching young girls to grow up and kill men then, by that logic.

[plainsane @ May 17th 2007 5:17PM]

suck city, why are you going to impose your moral values on me?
just because you dont like them, you feel they should pull them off the air?

i have a feeling that you are a Christian (or catholic) as most religious ppl feel they need to live my life for me. stay off of the channel.

i hope they ban your religion from this country, then, maybe you will understand how the rest of us that counter your opinion feel.

[plainsane @ May 17th 2007 5:26PM]

hey Chicksta, i find it very pathetic that you try to draw a parallel to a cartoon that tells children to pick up a rifle and shoot americans dead, to a statement made by a homeless person who is hamming it up on the radio.

the difference is that a 5 year old will grow up to believe this if heard many times over, i on the other hand i can draw a distinction between behavior that mentally/physically effects a person against their own will/choice.

please grow up and learn to make a distinction between "inciting violence" and making an awfully distasteful comment that was meant to make someone laugh, regardless if you thought it was funny or not.

[alex @ May 20th 2007 7:59PM]

O&A did not make jokes like that either. But you are a completely uniformed tool of the meida.

[Richard Garrity @ May 20th 2007 10:13PM]

The word raped never entered into the conversation. Guys brains work differently then womens, weather a to executive of a company or a homeless man, are brains are simple. We dont think outloud how we would love to hold hand with a women and be friends, When guys talk to other guys we keep it simple and talk about women much like this man did. Rape was never mentioned.

Rich

[PostieB @ May 21st 2007 4:45PM]

The people that are lashing out against O&A are not of my Concern. They never Listened to them, they are not the audience and they don't pay for the service. I hate to break it to the people that never listened. But this comment is so tame compared to some of the things they say... why this. Monty Python had been doing gags about shagging the queen since the 70's. Get a sense of humour. The comments that get posted on the news for all the recent firings/suspensions are not taken in context. And in this case O&A didn't make the comment, a guest did. Does that mean that if someone on Larry King blurted the same thing out he should be fired? Either way I pay for a service which was obviously misrepresented to me, and now even if they return the tone will not be the same. Shame on XM. I too am cancelling and getting Sirius.

PostieB

[Slops @ May 17th 2007 3:47PM]

Howard Stern is an old has been. O & A are a million times funnier. Without O & A, XM is garbage.

[Big @ May 17th 2007 3:49PM]

I am an American and I believe in free speech.

I don't believe Imus should have been fired for making his STUPID, RACIST remark - in addition to his homophobic/antisemtic remarks in the past.

What I do believe is that if the company's which pay Imus felt he was too much of a liability to keep, they do have the right to fire him.

Now once again, with the opie&anthony situation, free speech is being threatened.

While I believe making remarks about rape (to be comedical) is tasteless, I do believe it should be allowed, so long as it fits the guidlines of the station/network.


If they don't want racist, derogatory or prejudiced remarks to be on the air, then they should make a constitution that tells everyone that. Otherwise a shock jock will be getting hung every other week.

[LC @ May 17th 2007 4:26PM]

Big-

This is not a constitutional issue. It would be if it were the U.S. government censoring O&A, but it isn't. It's a private company doing so. They did have their freedom of speech and were not arrested for doing so. Having the right to free speech does not mean you have the right to keep your job. If you walk up and call your boss an asshole, he is not violating your free speech firing you.

Everything I have read on this matter states that they were suspended, not for the content that day, but because of the way they mocked XM management after their apology. Basically they pissed their bosses off and got suspended for it. Right or wrong in this penalty is irrelevant as their free speech was not infringed.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ May 17th 2007 4:39PM]

@Big: I agree with your basic gist, but there is an argument counter to yours that I have to side with: XM is a business and employs O&A, which would trump their rights to say anything and everything on their employers' dime. If they (XM) believed that suspending O&A made the best business sense, then they are with their rights to suspend them - the first amendment does not apply in this sort of case because we aren't talking about Constitutionally-protected speech.

That being said: It's clear that suspending O&A was NOT good business sense. It's also clear that we are dealing with a joke that, yes, was taken too far and did need to be apologized for... but O&A's audience appreciates and expects humor in that vein.

Also, don't assume that "uncensored" means that anything could be said. If Opie suddenly became a neo-Nazi and began to read excerpts from "Mein Kampf" on the show I have a hard time believing that XM would keep him around.

"Uncensored" does not mean anything can be said, especially when dealing with a corporation that is responsible for making money - not keeping in-line with subscribers' views of Constitutional rights.

And, for the record: I think the apology was enough and XM went too far in the suspension... but I do believe XM was within their rights, as O&A's employer, to suspend them. I just think that it was a stupid move.

[mentalsticks @ May 17th 2007 9:07PM]

I am not an American. Who cares?
Why do you guys keep claiming free speech, democracy, etc.?
The US is just one out of ~180 countries in the world.

[Jack @ May 20th 2007 7:19PM]

No one. NOT ONE PERSON said "But Howard Stern did it"

Seriously - you have your head so far up his ass you've lost your touch with reality.

Not ONE person sad that.

NOT ONE.

[Woody @ May 17th 2007 3:58PM]

I was going to cancel my membership just because I haven't been listing to XM for a while now. Now I have to suffer the wait because of this. Why can't they just add an online cancel option. I hate places that don't and that makes me want to cancel. *Cough* Gametap *cough*

[Mark @ May 17th 2007 6:03PM]

To be fair, I recently cancelled my Sirius subscription, and they're just as bad - can't cancel online, have to overcome their rep begging you to stay and offering x-months of free service when all you really want to do is cancel.

[Eric @ May 17th 2007 4:04PM]

This is friggin' awesome. I don't listen to O&A, or have XM anymore. But I would cancel in a heartbeat if I did. Why is this so awesome? Free freakin' speech and free market economics at work!

Regardless of what you say, you have a right to say it. I am so sick of every time somebody says something that is literally or can be construed as offense, the media cries foul. Or Rev. Al, Jesse J, etc scream and bemoan until its a 3 month drag out of something stupid.

I don't like what a lot of radio hosts have to say, so you know what I do? I don't listen. It is really that simple. If enough people don't like something, it won't stay on the air.

It is especially stupid of XM to try and curtail to the FCC because they are a closed broadcast company. O&A is an XL channel. You expect to hear something foul come from their mouths, otherwise it wouldn't be XL. If you can't stomach O&A, don't tune in. You pay for XM, it's not broadcasted for free, and don't have to listen to it. Moreover, there are parental controls built into it so that you can control your content.

The society that challenges outlandish comments like those of O&A, or Don Imus, or any other person that says something stupid, is inept, and weak minded. the simplest solution is to not subscribe to XM, and/or not listen to O&A. Continuing to censor public and private speech in this manner is tantamount to everything this country was founded on.

Speak your mind, censor nobody, no words or subject matter. If you find something distasteful, by all means, say something, or choose not to listen. But firing or trying to fire those is irrational and will lead to something nobody wants.

This is absolutely a great thing that is happening. The consumer, not the ad executives telling XM to shove it. They pay for O&A, not the ads. The ads can just as easily be sold to any other station. If a company is trying to target the O&A demographic, then why would they want to change O&A's demographic by censoring them.

Free Speech for All, not for a few, or for those who are deemed worthy.

[Suck City @ May 17th 2007 4:11PM]

That brought a tear to my eye.

[csnoke @ May 17th 2007 4:04PM]

100% Commercial Free, Uncensored Radio.

If they're going to market it to subscribers they better hold up their end of the deal.

[PatBattle @ May 17th 2007 6:50PM]

Commercial Free??

"Tell them about the discount, Harry..."

Ya right. XM better make good on this situation. I'll be calling tonight (again) to make sure my account is canceled. Called twice and my radio is still activated!!! FRAUD.

XM you have really hurt your company with this stupid, STUPID move.

Pests - always - win.

[intheknow @ May 17th 2007 4:09PM]

Just sent Nashville Coffee an email expressing support for XM's decision and that I would be urging other consumers to not purchase Nashville's product.
There is nothing funny about rape. Ever.

[BrandonL @ May 17th 2007 5:35PM]

Well, then I'll buy some of their coffee to make up for your words.

I don't find rape amusing at all and I don't listen to the show, but I abhor censorship in any form.

[freality @ May 17th 2007 8:37PM]

"There is nothing funny about rape. Ever."

Yeah...well...that's, like, your opinion, man.

[ronh @ May 17th 2007 9:21PM]

tonight.... you.

[Rishard @ May 17th 2007 11:40PM]

First off yes Rape jokes can be funny. Secondly the idea of them taking them off an uncensored channel because of something said is ridiculous. They have said far worse for the years they have been on including rape jokes. XM is just bowing down to the current stuff going around.

[knubb @ May 17th 2007 4:13PM]

know what youre talking about before you comment. it was a homeless man on the radio commenting, not the program. and it was on an uncensored paid content channel with the ability to be blocked.

[Toby @ May 17th 2007 4:14PM]

Anyone who thinks rape isn't funny, isn't a George Carlin fan.


"Just picture Porky Pig raping Elmer Fudd"

[Cupajo @ May 17th 2007 4:18PM]

Opie and Anthony should have ben fired years ago for not being funny. Same for Stern. Crude does not equal funny. That doesn't mean someone can't be crude and funny, but the former does not necessarily lead to the latter.

[Shannon @ May 17th 2007 4:25PM]

>Crude does not equal funny.

That's not up for you to decide (for others, anyway). If someone is laughing, then it's funny in some way, even if it's not to you.

[Jack @ Apr 15th 2008 1:10AM]

It'd be one thing if they were cancelled because they're not funny.

This is not the case. They were suspended for their casual attitude about a forced apology they made. They (rightfully) resented having to apologise for content that aired on a pay service on a channel with an extreme language warning, and the ability to be blocked.

This is absurd.

[Chris @ May 17th 2007 4:21PM]

Cancel your subscriptions. I have already cancelled my 2 accounts. This has nothing to do with Howard Stern or O&A or your opinions of either. We need to stand up for free speech especially in arenas that are supposed to be "uncensored". If this merger is approved the FCC regulations that will come along with it will make the price for satellite radio hardly worth it - you will basically be paying for what you will be able to get for free on the radio - censored drek. Cancel XM, tell the FCC not to approve the merger, and plug in your Ipod.

[SteveB @ May 17th 2007 4:22PM]

Well at least the consumer has some way to fight back on this one. Hopefully this will help to end the monopoly of a merger!

[Zak @ May 17th 2007 4:25PM]

FRRRRRUUUUNKKISSS

[Bill @ May 17th 2007 4:25PM]

I'm not weighing in as pro or against this Opie and Anthony thing, but I would like to point out two things:

1) Free speech isn't guaranteed on a private network. If you walk into my store and start foaming at the mouth with vulgarities/propaganda, etc., I can and will eject you from my store. If I don't like your opinion, I can ask you to leave. Just examples.
2) Free speech doesn't include "obscenity". The Supreme Court ruled many years ago that something that is considered "obscene" is not protected by the First Amendment. It also said, however, that what is considered obscene is not necessarily the same everywhere. It depends on the "community standard", term was easier to apply before the Internet and satellite radio.

However, as someone pointed out, the people don't seem pleased with this turn of events and are speaking out with their wallets. I'm sure that's getting some attention.

[Cupajo @ May 17th 2007 4:36PM]

Shannon: "That's not up for you to decide (for others, anyway). If someone is laughing, then it's funny in some way, even if it's not to you."

Slops: "Really?? Maybe Crude doesn't equal funny to YOU but it equals funny to ME. That's why I pay XM to be able to listen to crude humor and you don't. Don't tell me what equals funny."

Aww, shucks. I'm sorry, princess #1 and #2. I guess any time anyone expresses an opinion on the internet, they need to start their post with giant flashing multicolor letters that spell out the words "IN MY OPINION...".

Or, you two could just get the fuck over yourselves.

[MondayNgt @ May 17th 2007 5:30PM]

> Aww, shucks. I'm sorry, princess #1 and #2. I guess any time anyone
> expresses an opinion on the internet, they need to start their post with
> giant flashing multicolor letters that spell out the words "IN MY OPINION...".

Except what you originally said was a generalization, not opinion. Sure, no one should have to watch their words (which is kind of the point of this whole thing) so carefully, but try and speak for someone and you'll likely have someone who will disagree. As is case here.

> Or, you two could just get the fuck over yourselves.

Wonderful rebuttal, ever thought about the debate team? :)

[Shannon @ May 17th 2007 4:25PM]

Except they never mentioned "rape" in the segment, something that agenda-individuals and anti-O&A folks are conveniently overlooking. It's in the same context about saying that someone would like to have sex with (insert famous model here). Besides, the whole thing is such a completely absurd statement (come on, Condi Rice?!?) that it can't be taken too seriously. With Imus, O&A, or anything like the Janet Jackson superbowl incident, the question should be "Will I care about this five years from now?" No? If special interests didn't bring this up, the comments simply would have slid by and no one would be talking about this.

[Slops @ May 17th 2007 4:26PM]

"Crude does not equal funny. "

Really?? Maybe Crude doesn't equal funny to YOU but it equals funny to ME. That's why I pay XM to be able to listen to crude humor and you don't. Don't tell me what equals funny.

[Rodney @ May 17th 2007 4:31PM]

I've been with XM since 2002 and two nights ago I spent an hour on the phone canceling my account. This is a pay service and is supposed to be uncensored, why would XM suspend a show for the comments of a homeless bum when there wasn't even any outrage? Because of the merger is why. Because of that I've also canceled Sirius account (which I have for the NFL coverage - not Howard). If XM doesn't have O&A back on the air by Monday you can add me to the list of people that have destroyed their XM units.

[Cupajo @ May 17th 2007 4:40PM]

"If XM doesn't have O&A back on the air by Monday you can add me to the list of people that have destroyed their XM units."

Oh, Jesus. Over-react much? Why not sit out in front of the XM corporate office and set yourself on fire.

[Zak @ May 17th 2007 4:50PM]

i prefer when they read rent boys.

[netposer @ May 17th 2007 4:51PM]

Canceled all 3 of mine yesterday only to find out today they did not cancel. Instead they were going to cancel after the next billing cycle which, in my case, is quarterly. I specifically told the CSR that I wanted to cancel immediately and not at the end of my billing cycle which was 3 months from now. WTF? Today I asked for a reference number and they could not give me one but said there are notes on my account from yesterday.