Email Reply from Nate Davis COO XM Radio (Comfirming their return)

[Valk]

Just got this:

Hi, Rick.

Thank you for your well thought out and respectfully honest note. Your
opinion does matter to me and we
do factor in the customer opinion when we make any decisions about the
business. Customers are why we are
here. I know the O&A show is one that you and many thousands of others
enjoy and we fully intend for them to be
on the air on June 15.

I hope you don't decide to cancel your service. As a customer with
multiple subscriptions, you are as valuable
as any customer. However, our on air personalities understand that
along with the artistic freedom they
enjoy comes a responsibility. A statement by homeless Charlie does not
reach the level of "over the line"
but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging
violent acts on women are clearly
over the line and we take it seriously. We expected our personalities
to take it seriously and
in this case, they didn't. We need to self police some
level of responsible behavior that is reflective of the XM name and the
actions after the incident clearly
sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly.

I'm truly sorry this negatively affected customers like yourself, but as
with any rules or laws, we have
to hold to our standards or they are meaningless.

Again, I hope you do not cancel. I understand your well articulated
point of view. But, we have to
stay the course with any action or the action really won't mean anything
in the future.

This is not a form letter. This is the President of XM telling you that
on June 15, O&A will return, but
they will serve the full suspension and understand that our internal
policy about responsible behavior is real
and will be enforced.

I hope on June 15 you enjoy O&A being back on the air with the same
funny and outrageous entertainment.
Thanks for being a customer, Rick (AKA Valk).


Nate Davis
President and COO
XM Satellite Radio, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rich (Valk) [mailto:aircrafttechnician.rich@verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 11:01 AM
To: Davis, Nate
Subject: About my 5 subscriptions to your service

Hello my name is Richard Wilkinson. I have 4 radios on one account
and one on another, as well as 2 more for gifts to family members that
have not yet been activated. I have canceled my 5 current
subscriptions. I bought these only to listen to O and A. My family and
I are huge fans. You sold these radios and my subscriptions to me under
the premise that this channel (202) would be "uncensored", "raunchy",
"explicit", etc.. For the time they were on, it was the greatest show I
have ever experienced. I would gladly have paid much more money just
for this one channel. It was the only thing that made my 2 hour commute
to work bearable. It may sound silly but this "suspension" has had a
huge impact on my life. I used to look forward to the ride. Now, it is

the worst part of my day. I feel as if I have been taken advantage of
and lied to. This suspension is hurting your customers far more than
your talent. In the words of a certain pointy eared Vulcan "The needs
of the many far outway the needs of the few". Yeah I'm a dork. But I'm
a dork who works incredibly hard for his money. When I heard a rumor
that XM had refused to meet with that self serving, self proclaimed
"spokesman for all African Americans" Rev. Sharpton, I was ready to buy
5 more radios and subscription just to support your company for being
the first to stand up to him. I think I speak for many when I say, I
would have the utmost respect for you if you were to cut O and A's
suspension short. The amount of subscriptions renewed would be
unprecedented. Were are fans. We are Pests. We are many. We are
forgiving. We are faithful. And we are relentless. Obviously, our
subs will never be reactivated if O and A are fired. That will only be
the start. We will do everything in our power to have our voiced heard
in reference to upcoming merger possibility. To which most of us are
already against, but willing to keep our mouths shut if it would help
your company. Please don't take this as a threat. It is only my
foresight of the future. I'm sure it wasn't your personal decision that
caused this, so I have no reason to be nasty to you. I am just
incredibly disappointed and angry right now. You were once our heroes
for bringing O and A back. You are one announcement from being that
once again. We all make mistakes and bad moves in life, but also have
the chance to make them right before it is too late. I ask you. No I
beg you. Consider cutting the suspension short. The fans (your
customers) are suffering needlessly. We want what we paid for. And are

more than willing to let bygones be bygones to get it back. I'm sure O

and A got your message loud and clear. You must understand by now that
they joke about everything, including their bosses, friends, and even
themselves. But it is a show. It is for our entertainment.
I apologize if this is one of the many emails sent to the wrong
person and ask that you would forward it to someone who's job it is to
take complaints. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I look
forward to doing business with your company again soon.

Richard Wilkinson

[abudabit]

Cool of him to do a full letter, even if he is the enemy.

[styckx]

condoning and encouraging
violent acts??????????????? WTF

[SaltyDelights]

If XM keeps them off the entire 30 days, I AM NEVER RENEWING WITH XM.

[Opies_Big_Head]

I don't believe any of them. What are they possibly going to say? Yes you guys are right we actually fired them but we don't want to say anything until after our shareholders meeting?

He urged you not to cancel, when you cleary stated you already had. He didn't even read the whole thing, it probably was a form letter.

[domelogic]

But, we have to
stay the course with any action or the action really won't mean anything
in the future.


this is the line that bugs me. is he butt buddies with prez bush

[abudabit]

One thing I noticed, the big 3 (Nate, Hugh, Gary) seem to honestly believe they are making the right decision. Still, they are very wrong and I will never be a customer again.

[LastDeadMouse]

This is not a form letter. This is the President of XM telling you that
on June 15, O&A will return, but
they will serve the full suspension and understand that our internal
policy about responsible behavior is real
and will be enforced.

This makes me feel a little better. There's no double talk there, just a straight answer. That's a good sign.

[Valk]

It kinda keeps my hopes up abit. Very cool of him type something out especially on a Sunday.

[Stormrider666]

Considering I just got my radio hooked up again, I'm going to hold off on cancelling my subscription. I will in the mean time join the PAC. However if does turn out that they are fired, because I do realize how these things work in radio, I will then cancel my subscripition and proudly smash my radio with one of my leg braces.

[EvilHomerJ666]

Doesn't keep my hopes up, just like a previous poster I will not go back if they are suspened for 30 days.

[Ben's Bulge]

If XM keeps them off the entire 30 days, I AM NEVER RENEWING WITH XM.

Same here. If they do this then that means O&A are no less censored on XM than they are on CBS so it makes no difference.

[RobeSoup&Tears]

condoning and encouraging
violent acts??????????????? WTF
QFT...

Completely inapplicable…the context of the act was not to condone but to express the obtuseness of the idea.

[vcdburn]

You all are missing the point.

Why is he answering e-mails on Sunday? Very nice!

If O&A return I will be shocked, but it would be welcome.

Think If they fired O&A. We got word and caused the problems we are, then XM had to go crawling back asking O&A to come back. That would be sweet!

[FoxtrotYankee]

Translation:

"We didn't think about how this was going to hurt the customers more than the people we were actually trying to punish. However, we'll lose face if we admit we screwed up, try to recognize the goodwill we had from the O&A fans before we did this and put them back on the air now. So...fuck the customers...it's more important that we stand by a bad call and be tough guys then reverse course when we realize we did something boneheaded."

Fuck you Nate. I hope you get eyeball cancer.

[vcdburn]

This makes me feel a little better. There's no double talk there, just a straight answer. That's a good sign.


They lied before, why not again?

[Philly loser]

A statement by homeless Charlie does not reach the level of "over the line" but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging violent acts on women are clearly over the line and we take it seriously. We expected our personalities to take it seriously and in this case, they didn't.

What the fuck am I missing? Condoning and encouraging violent acts on women?!? Yeah, this fuckhead really gets the show, doesn't he? I remember listening to the show when they ENCOURAGED violent acts... wait, no I don't. I do remember listening to an outrageous, uncensored COMEDY show.

I'm glad it made you feel a little better. It did the opposite to me. It pissed me off more than ever and completely confirmed that the motherfuckers in DC just don't fucking get it.

Thanks for inspiring me to make more phone calls and send more e-mails.

[DoucheSatchel]

However, our on air personalities understand that
along with the artistic freedom they
enjoy comes a responsibility. A statement by homeless Charlie does not
reach the level of "over the line"
but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging
violent acts on women are clearly
over the line and we take it seriously. We expected our personalities
to take it seriously and
in this case, they didn't. We need to self police some
level of responsible behavior that is reflective of the XM name and the
actions after the incident clearly
sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly.


Well, that resolves any questions about 202 being an "uncensored" channel.
202 will never be the same, I am done with XM regardless of whether or not they bring O&A back.

[Lunchbox420]

Is nate the black guy? I wonder how he liked the slave girl bit?

[mikepop]

Condoning and encouraging violent acts on women
So pushing Lady Di in front of a train is out?
What a load of bullshit.
Support O and A Cancel now.

[Sct Ptersns Twn]

What is a nate anyway.....

gimmie those ribs.............

[Whisky River]

you know your all getting played......o&a were going on a 2 week vacation for the 1st 2 weeks of june anyway. so they got a xtra 2 weeks off so what?
remember the studio getting redone?
is this a big deal? yes,but come on......

[Ben's Bulge]

I like the fact that all of XM's attempts at patronizing us isn't doing anything but pissing us off more. I am honestly surprised more people haven't been duped by XM during all of this.

[Philly loser]

you know your all getting played......o&a were going on a 2 week vacation for the 1st 2 weeks of june anyway. so they got a xtra 2 weeks off so what?
remember the studio getting redone?
is this a big deal? yes,but come on......

Thanks for clearing this up.

Everyone who was upset, it's time to move on. Don't worry about corporate censorship. Don't worry about false advertising. Don't worry about special interests. As Whiskey River said, come on...

[Lunchbox420]

Fatty Pig Fatty was ok, it only humilated fat women, WOW it only encourages the expoitation of women, christ on a pony, on june 16th they will do a bit about jimmy banging a tranny and that will be advocating tranny abuse...CANCEL XM NOW

[Mother Shucker]

What is a nate anyway.....

gimmie those ribs.............
Thank God someone gets the point.

[LastDeadMouse]

They lied before, why not again?

True, but this isn't saying they'll come back "if all things remain the same" or "pending any new developments" or anything along those lines. This is just a straight answer. If it's a lie, I won't be surprised. I just said it makes me feel a little better. I still have no idea what to expect.

[Lunchbox420]

you know your all getting played......o&a were going on a 2 week vacation for the 1st 2 weeks of june anyway. so they got a xtra 2 weeks off so what?
remember the studio getting redone?
is this a big deal? yes,but come on......

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Finally a voice of reason, this guy has it all figured out.:arrrh: Asshat

[Brokeback Jimmy]

I know some of you guys are saying you will never go back to XM, even if O&A come back, but that's where I break ranks.

I cancelled both my units, and I won't re up until O&A are back on the air (if they come back), but returning to XM when O&A come back is an important way to support the show.

It appears to me that they were suspended or making light of the apology, and thumbing their nose at the suits at XM, and not for the comments. I also think all this shit is merger related.

202 won't be the same right out of the box, of that I'm sure. But, I think if and when O&A return to XM, they'll be prodding to do some outrageous shit to prove to the fans that they're back all the way.

I, for one would LOVE to see the return of the 55 Gallon Drum Challenge. They could put Pal Talk cameras in the drums, so you could watch the chicks go nuts.

I do think that if the b bbbb Boys return to XM, some sort of outrageous stunt is in order to "clean the palate" so to speak.....

[vaglvr]

Did you have to quote spock?

[Lunchbox420]

Jimmy blows a tranny on paltalk..O and A live on June 15th..

[badmotherfarker]

A statement by homeless Charlie does not reach the level of "over the line" but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging violent acts on women are clearly over the line and we take it seriously. We expected our personalities to take it seriously and in this case, they didn't.

What the fuck am I missing? Condoning and encouraging violent acts on women?!? Yeah, this fuckhead really gets the show, doesn't he? I remember listening to the show when they ENCOURAGED violent acts... wait, no I don't. I do remember listening to an outrageous, uncensored COMEDY show.

I'm glad it made you feel a little better. It did the opposite to me. It pissed me off more than ever and completely confirmed that the motherfuckers in DC just don't fucking get it.

Thanks for inspiring me to make more phone calls and send more e-mails.




This is EXACTLY what I've been saying!! It's not about "what was said", it's about the "apology". They made it clear in their "apology" that they weren't serious and they pissed XM off.

[Holeshot]

I'm truly sorry this negatively affected customers like yourself, but as
with any rules or laws, we have
to hold to our standards or they are meaningless.




Avery insightful take on XM

"Listen, XM. Your merger is not going to go through, it's quite clear, for reasons that have nothing to do with your content. Stop pretending you have standards all of a sudden. That's why people buy your service. You have no standards. And people will pay money for the adult and perfectly acceptable pastime of finding their own standards without the aid and guidance of governmental taste ministers. Don't go throwing innocent employees under the subway train because you think you can fool everybody with your newfound standards to appease the government into the merger that's never coming. Knock it off. You are embarrassing yourselves."

[elitemrp]

Wow that response makes me even more mad.. it went from suspending because of what homeless charlie said (ok maybe they never said that, just what everyone assumed at first) to being suspended for not taking the issue seriously, to now encouraging violence against women?

What are they going to say next week? "We suspended them because they ***** condi rice"

Fuck XM

[Valk]

Did you have to quote spock?

Thanks, I needed a good laugh :haha7:

[badmotherfarker]

Wow that response makes me even more mad.. it went from suspending because of what homeless charlie said (ok maybe they never said that, just what everyone assumed at first) to being suspended for not taking the issue seriously, to now encouraging violence against women?

What are they going to say next week? "We suspended them because they ***** condi rice"

Fuck XM

That's the point and what I've been saying- they didn't get suspended for what Charlie said, they got suspended because XM told them to apologize and they mocked XM in the process. That's why this all went down. XM is making a point- it might be a fucking lame ass point, but make no mistake- O&A were suspended for the apology, not what Charlie said.

[Ben's Bulge]

I know some of you guys are saying you will never go back to XM, even if O&A come back, but that's where I break ranks.

I cancelled both my units, and I won't re up until O&A are back on the air (if they come back), but returning to XM when O&A come back is an important way to support the show.

It appears to me that they were suspended or making light of the apology, and thumbing their nose at the suits at XM, and not for the comments. I also think all this shit is merger related.

202 won't be the same right out of the box, of that I'm sure. But, I think if and when O&A return to XM, they'll be prodding to do some outrageous shit to prove to the fans that they're back all the way.

I, for one would LOVE to see the return of the 55 Gallon Drum Challenge. They could put Pal Talk cameras in the drums, so you could watch the chicks go nuts.

I do think that if the b bbbb Boys return to XM, some sort of outrageous stunt is in order to "clean the palate" so to speak.....

Oh don't get me wrong. I'll be listening. I just won't be paying XM a dime to do it.

[IWanGoHome]

Is it a straight answer? Didn't their original notice say they were not suspended for the comments, but for comments made on the 14th, that implied they did not take the apology seriously?

In other words, nonsense. They looked for a reason until they found one, and they will "find" a "reason" to terminate them, like they won't be able to say the word "the" or something. I don't believe him, not for a second.

OpiesBigHead - You're right , it looks like a form letter - he just altered the first and last paragraph. "I hope you don't cancel" to someone who has told you they already canceled is insulting.

VCDBurn - Good point, what is he doing there on a Sunday, answering O&A fan email, at this time?

[elitemrp]

That's the point and what I've been saying- they didn't get suspended for what Charlie said, they got suspended because XM told them to apologize and they mocked XM in the process. That's why this all went down. XM is making a point- it might be a fucking lame ass point, but make no mistake- O&A were suspended for the apology, not what Charlie said.

They said that from the start when they released a statement about the suspension... I still have a problem with that. The fact is they never should have apologized in the first place because they did nothing wrong.

No apology means not getting suspending for not taking the apology seriously.

So whatever the reason for the suspension it all stemps from the homeless charlie bit which should have never been an issue.

Fuck XM.

[habeasrob]

One thing I noticed, the big 3 (Nate, Hugh, Gary) seem to honestly believe they are making the right decision. Still, they are very wrong and I will never be a customer again.


I wholeheartedly agree. I want uncensored talk radio. I had sirius installed in all three of my cars this weekend. Howie isn't great and Bubba sucks ass. but i can believe it may still be uncensored

[superaids]

A statement by homeless Charlie does not reach the level of "over the line" but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging violent acts on women are clearly over the line and we take it seriously. We expected our personalities to take it seriously and in this case, they didn't. We need to self police some level of responsible behavior that is reflective of the XM name and theactions after the incident clearly sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly.


This statement right here is what I have a problem with. Like Patrice said on FOX, "people who are not funny, should not be judging content." Plus O&A were not condoning anything... O&A were just trying to elicit more out of Charlie. They gotta bring 25 hours of content per week.

Plus O&A have never taken bosses seriously. Suits do not know radio. O&A would have no career had they listened to bosses. Hell... slave girl was far more "offensive" and funnier than Charlie. Nothing happened to O&A after that bit. It is very hypocritical. Where's the line? Seems like it depends on XM's mood that day or what merger issues are on the table.

Uncensored means uncensored. Not uncensored with conditions. Making fun of the rules is part of the gig, and if the suits don't get that then they don't get the show.

I can accept bits that can't be done due to liability issues, but I cannot accept and will not pay for a show where O&A cannot say what they want. Charlie was theater of the absurb., ie anyone with a brain knows that Charlie was ranting about a class of women that he can't get. That was why it was funny.

I don't like the PC version of XM. And I won't pay for it.

[Holeshot]

That's the point and what I've been saying- they didn't get suspended for what Charlie said, they got suspended because XM told them to apologize and they mocked XM in the process. That's why this all went down. XM is making a point- it might be a fucking lame ass point, but make no mistake- O&A were suspended for the apology, not what Charlie said.


I agree that was the reason XM said they were being suspended but i truely believe it was a direct response to the homeless charlie incident. May be a smart move on XM's part because O&A are suspended and in there eyes that will give everything a chance to cool down ... Do you see anyone still demanding they be fired? As far as the media is concerned this story is getting cold ...

[GoneInSixMonths]

That's the point and what I've been saying- they didn't get suspended for what Charlie said, they got suspended because XM told them to apologize and they mocked XM in the process. That's why this all went down. XM is making a point- it might be a fucking lame ass point, but make no mistake- O&A were suspended for the apology, not what Charlie said.

I am glad some people here do get the other side of things. It seems like it was also similar to the HooHoo gag order at 102.7, they were also asked not to bring it up or mock it right? if they did, they get a 30 day "vacation". lets hope that it is not an Imus vacation. I cancelled my account but if XM does have them back on, then I am there to listen. I won't be supporting XM I will be supporting O and A, plus my days are a lot less fun not having them on XM since I usually rely on the replay to get my chance to listen.

[styckx]

Oh don't get me wrong. I'll be listening. I just won't be paying XM a dime to do it.


In the same boat as you

I wouldn't have destroyed a inno and a myfi if I planned to give XM a dime again

GMAIL + invites to yourself = Forever XM

[Brokeback Jimmy]

Oh don't get me wrong. I'll be listening. I just won't be paying XM a dime to do it.

Unfortunately, the only way I can listen to O&A live is via XM. Half the time I have no access to a computer at work. My job puts me out on the street for extended periods of time, and all the streams are blocked in the office.

Most of the time, I can't get a Free FM station at work to listen, so XM is the only answer for me...

My take on the whole thing is, if we all say "fuck XM forever, even if they bring O&A back", then why should they bring them back at all?

Hey I was willing to "man up" and cancel my XM and I did, but I certainly want O&A back on XM, so I can hear them live...

Guess that's my self serving douche side showing. Oh well.......

[Maddog62]

Sorry for the repost.....

[dpropel]

It sounds good to me that everybody isn't set to resubscribe in a hurry. Leave in droves when they start screwing with you, trickle back when they fix the problem, and maybe in the future they'll think of their customers before yanking their favorite programming from the air over a spat.

The special interest groups make a lot of noise but they've never paid for 202 and they're never gonna pay for it even if they manage to "fix" the show. If they're really not fired XM might as well put O&A back on now and start the damage control because they're going to have to sooner or later. Pride isn't worth the box it comes in, especially in radio.

[Maddog62]

My response....


Thank you for your well thought out and respectfully honest note. Your
opinion does matter to me and we
do factor in the customer opinion when we make any decisions about the
business. Customers are why we are
here. I know the O&A show is one that you and many thousands of others
enjoy and we fully intend for them to be
on the air on June 15.They should be now.

I hope you don't decide to cancel your service. As a customer with
multiple subscriptions, you are as valuable
as any customer.Unless we choose to cancel then you can play games with the customers who choose to rebel. However, our on air personalities understand that
along with the artistic freedom they
enjoy comes a responsibility. Responsibility to provide edgy, provocative, hardcore, explicit comedy.A statement by homeless Charlie does not
reach the level of "over the line" This is the worst part of the whole thing.
but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging
violent acts on women are clearly
over the line and we take it seriously. I absolutely don't believe that either Greg Hughs or Anthony Cumia condone or encourage violent acts on anybody based on the audio of the 2 shows in question.We expected our personalities
to take it seriously and
in this case, they didn't. They shouldn't have had to, they do a comedy show not a political talk show.We need to self police some
level of responsible behavior that is reflective of the XM name and the
actions after the incident clearly
sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly. You then need to fire half of your customer service people who either chose or were order to suspend subs instead of cancel, or not do anything at all. This is a serious crime that the U.S. government needs to investigate.

I'm truly sorry this negatively affected customers like yourself, but as
with any rules or laws, we have
to hold to our standards or they are meaningless. how about providing the quality and nature of programming that your company promises and advertises

Again, I hope you do not cancel.Already done. I understand your well articulated
point of view. But, You don't carewe have to
stay the course with any action because you are merging with Sirius and Howard Stern said so.or the action really won't mean anything
in the future.

This is not a form letter. This is the FormerPresident of XM telling you that
on June 15, O&A will return,Not good enough. but
they will serve the full suspension and understand that our internal
policy about responsible behavior is real
and will be enforced.Because a man in your position can't afford to look ridiculous.

I hope on June 15 you enjoy O&A being back on the air with the same
funny and outrageous entertainment. I will but there is no guarantee i will pay for it.
Thanks for being a customer, Rick (AKA Valk).


Nate Davis
President and COO
XM Satellite Radio, Inc.

[The Phoenix]

It looks sincere until you realize he says Hi Rick when your name seems to be Rich. He didn't even get your name right!

[SuperShawn]

Hi, Rick.

Thank you for your well thought out and respectfully honest note. Although Your opinion doesn't mean poop to me and we obviously don't factor in the customer opinion when we make any decisions about the
business. In fact, I made my last few decisions by counting the number of toilet sheets I needed after eating at the XM cafeteria. "Yes" for an odd number, "No" if it was even. That sure explains my shitty decisions, doesn't it?

I know the O&A show is one that you and many thousands of others
enjoy and we fully intend for sheep like you to believe they will be back
on the air on June 15.

I hope you don't decide to cancel your service. As a customer with
multiple subscriptions, you are as valuable as any customer (wow, I don;t even have to change that one- it's pointless and yet funny as it is!). However, when it comes to special interest groups and the possibility they may boycott sponsors we don't really need on unregulated, uncensored pay radio, we bend over and take it up the ass. We need to make ourselves look good for these small, powerless special interest groups, even if for no real reason at all.

I'm truly sorry this negatively affected customers like yourself, but as
with any rules or laws, we have to hold to our meaningless standards.

Again, I hope you do not cancel until at least after the ratings come out in a few weeks. I understand your well articulated point of view. But, we have to stay the course with any action because we simply can't fit our feet any further in our mouth.

This is not a form letter, [insert customers name here]. This is the President of XM telling you that on June 15, O&A most likely probably might kinda sorta return, but they will be required to be watered down to the point that they make Billy Graham look like a rebel. Kinda like that Manqueer guy we love to watch on Fox News- he's great!

I hope on June 15 we actually bring O&A back on the air so that people don't find out what back-stabbing, double talking, douche bags we at management really are.

Anyhoo, thanks for being gullible, Rick (AKA Valk). These extra 30 days of your subscriptions will help ensure another year of private school for my kids.


Nate Davis
President and COO
XM Satellite Radio, Inc.

P.s. I love Al Sharpton even though he is hung like a horse. My arse hurts!



Fixed

[badmotherfarker]

I really just wish you all would keep in mind that FreeFM is about dead and XM is going to be it unless you want podcast. Right now, XM is as good as it's going to get.

[KockstarInc]

yeah...it is also on their site now...i posted this in another thread but it seems more relevant here

http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=202#update

"As you know, XM suspended Opie & Anthony and ceased all broadcast of The Opie & Anthony Show on The Virus - XM 202 for 30 days, effective May 15, 2007.

The O&A Show will return at its regularly scheduled time on June 15th, 2007.

In the meantime, Ron & Fez will continue to air in place of The O&A Show on XM 202.

If you have comments or questions, please email us at thevirus@xmradio.com"

[abudabit]

I make that mistake all the time via email.

[The Phoenix]

"...the actions after the incident clearly sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly."

The statement that Opie made about the company's rules being "silly" was directed at CBS for the JV and Elvis firing. The President of XM still doesn't understand this? It sure seems like he doesn't if he's writing it in response emails to O&A fans.

Corporate B.S.

[progambler]

Oh yes, XM is the bastion of integrity.

I wonder who told the service staff to just suspend accounts instead of cancelling them.

Thats a cheap, sleazy and fraudulent move.

By those actions they are chosing to defraud the customers and to defraud the shareholders.

They may claim its all a "misunderstanding" and we need to have "better training".
Its all corporate bullshit.

We must push hard before the shareholders meeting.

We must get bodies on the neeting to try awkward questions if possible.

Contact major shareholders and explain what XM has done to defraud the stockholders.
Thats the only thing these fucks listen too. Stock price.

[Jims Rottweiler]

Is nate the black guy? I wonder how he liked the slave girl bit?
No, Irvin is the token black. Everyone else on the list is white.

[badmotherfarker]

"...the actions after the incident clearly sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly."

The statement that Opie made about the company's rules being "silly" was directed at CBS for the JV and Elvis firing. The President of XM still doesn't understand this? It sure seems like he doesn't if he's writing it in response emails to O&A fans.

Corporate B.S.
This merger is big fucking money- more than howard and more than O&A- these companies are going to do what is in their interest. XM told O&A to chill and just apologize and they pretty much told XM to fuck themselves. Although I can respect that, you can't be surprised that this was the result. This is about both XM and Sirius keeping things in line. If this merger fails, these companies are in bad shape. You saw the post that had the Howard clip in it, right? He made it pretty clear that he knew what was up. Sirius and XM do not want ANY heat until the merger is either approved or not.

[SuperShawn]

Right now, XM is as good as it's going to get.


So, you are saying you really like hearing the same Ron and Fez show over and over? :icon_eek:

[Ben's Bulge]

I really just wish you all would keep in mind that FreeFM is about dead and XM is going to be it unless you want podcast. Right now, XM is as good as it's going to get.

Free FM is not almost about dead. Free FM sucks I agree, but it isn't close to death at all. XM is closer to death than Free FM. Wy do you think this merger is trying to be done?

[badmotherfarker]

So, you are saying you really like hearing the same Ron and Fez show over and over? :icon_eek:

No... I'm saying that O&A PLUS Ron and Fez make 202 a better channel. I hate that I really think that O&A did the right thing in telling XM to fuck themselves in their apology, but I can see where XM is coming from. The entire company could be on the line if this merger doesn't go through and they're not going to let ANYONE fuck that up.

[styckx]

This merger is big fucking money- more than howard and more than O&A- these companies are going to do what is in their interest. XM told O&A to chill and just apologize and they pretty much told XM to fuck themselves. Although I can respect that, you can't be surprised that this was the result. This is about both XM and Sirius keeping things in line. If this merger fails, these companies are in bad shape. You saw the post that had the Howard clip in it, right? He made it pretty clear that he knew what was up. Sirius and XM do not want ANY heat until the merger is either approved or not.

Going to be in bad shape?

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006 was ($256.7) million, which included the following non-cash items totaling ($79.0) million of the net loss: a charge of $(57.6) million to reflect an impairment in our 23% ownership in Canadian Satellite Radio and charges of ($21.4) million from our balance sheet restructuring. XM's net loss for the fourth quarter of 2005 was ($268.3) million which included charges of ($25.3) million from our balance sheet restructuring.

Full year net loss was ($718.9) million, which included the following non- cash items totaling ($198.8) million of the net loss: impairment charges of ($76.6) million in our investments in WorldSpace and Canadian Satellite Radio and charges of ($122.2) million from our balance sheet restructuring. XM's net loss for the full year 2005 was ($666.7) million which included charges of ($27.6) million from our balance sheet restructuring.

[The Phoenix]

This merger is big fucking money- more than howard and more than O&A- these companies are going to do what is in their interest. XM told O&A to chill and just apologize and they pretty much told XM to fuck themselves. Although I can respect that, you can't be surprised that this was the result. This is about both XM and Sirius keeping things in line. If this merger fails, these companies are in bad shape.

Commenting on JV and Elvis and the state of radio in 2007 is telling XM to go fuck themselves? Interesting. I listened to that show and they never mentioned anything about the situation they were in.
I agree with you that it is all because of the merger but they trumped up a minor conversation about radio into, like you said, O&A told us to go fuck ourselves.

[badmotherfarker]

Free FM is not almost about dead. Free FM sucks I agree, but it isn't close to death at all. XM is closer to death than Free FM. Wy do you think this merger is trying to be done?

Terrestrial is going nowhere, but go read the insider blogs- CBS is about to go to music so that they can increase profits. SF and Dallas have already switched, the rest are coming.

[badmotherfarker]

Going to be in bad shape?

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006 was ($256.7) million, which included the following non-cash items totaling ($79.0) million of the net loss: a charge of $(57.6) million to reflect an impairment in our 23% ownership in Canadian Satellite Radio and charges of ($21.4) million from our balance sheet restructuring. XM's net loss for the fourth quarter of 2005 was ($268.3) million which included charges of ($25.3) million from our balance sheet restructuring.

Full year net loss was ($718.9) million, which included the following non- cash items totaling ($198.8) million of the net loss: impairment charges of ($76.6) million in our investments in WorldSpace and Canadian Satellite Radio and charges of ($122.2) million from our balance sheet restructuring. XM's net loss for the full year 2005 was ($666.7) million which included charges of ($27.6) million from our balance sheet restructuring.


Exactly what I'm saying. Sirius and XM, as companies, NEED this merger or one of the two is gone.

[The Phoenix]

Terrestrial is going nowhere, but go read the insider blogs- CBS is about to go to music so that they can increase profits. SF and Dallas have already switched, the rest are coming.

I've also read the blogs and some of them say O&A are going to anchor the mornings at the music stations.

[SuperShawn]

Free FM is not almost about dead. Free FM sucks I agree, but it isn't close to death at all. XM is closer to death than Free FM. Wy do you think this merger is trying to be done?

Exhibit 1:

"The first Arbitron ratings returns indicated that Opie and Anthony had begun to slightly turn around the ratings drop brought on by the departure of Stern and the hiring of Roth, leading CBS to syndicate the show to over 20 markets by August 2006. The overall station ratings only went down 2.0 from Winter 2005 to Winter 2006, to a 1.1. This leaves Free FM ranked #23 in the NY market, and is currently the lowest rated FM Station in the NYC Market."

Exhibit 2:

"With the lack of success the Free FM brand is producing, CBS appears to be slowly phasing out the homogenized Free FM brand. No new Free FM branded stations have been launched since the network was created, and new hot talk stations are branded in other ways now (for instance, WTZN in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was launched as a hot talk station in April 2007 as "The Zone" instead of Free FM). At least one Free FM station has de-emphasized its Free FM branding, WHFS in Baltimore, Maryland. Originally known as "105.7 Free FM" like the other stations, it is now simply Baltimore's FM Talk with the subtag "A Free FM Station." WYSP in Philadelphia could be considered another example. The station went from being referred to by hosts and promos as "Free FM, 94-1 WYSP" to "94-1 WYSP, Talk That Rocks" (the talk that rocks tagline is also being used on New York's WFNY). As with WHFS, the "Free FM" name is still used, though on a much smaller scale. WCKG resumed using the slogan "Chicago's FM Talk Station."

The first station to drop the Free FM format altogether was KIFR in San Francisco, which is now classic hits KFRC. A similar format will be launched on AM 1550 KYCY in the coming days."

They might not be dead, but I think I hear an obese woman warming up for an impromptu concert....

[SuperShawn]

No... I'm saying that O&A PLUS Ron and Fez make 202 a better channel. I hate that I really think that O&A did the right thing in telling XM to fuck themselves in their apology, but I can see where XM is coming from. The entire company could be on the line if this merger doesn't go through and they're not going to let ANYONE fuck that up.


I was only joking.

[UCFGavin]

some of you better get your heads out of your asses. if they wait out the full thirty days and bring them back, whats to stop XM from suspending them next time they think O&A step out of line?

[badmotherfarker]

I've also read the blogs and some of them say O&A are going to anchor the mornings at the music stations.


Yup, saw those too! (glad to see someone else is reading). Answer this though- you've seen the bullshit going on around radio these days... how long do you really think that's gonna last? O&A were better as XM only and now they have a bullseye on their backs. If they become terrestrial only, they're going to be targeted by every piece-of-shit Sharpton wannabe in the country.

[abudabit]

some of you better get your heads out of your asses. if they wait out the full thirty days and bring them back, whats to stop XM from suspending them next time they think O&A step out of line?

Absolutely nothing, and you know that Al Sharpton, conservative loudmouths, and the feminazi's are paying close attention to O&A for anything the least bit controversial.

[TallBaby]

Email full of cock picks being sent to Nate Davis in 3....2....1....

[The Phoenix]

Yup, saw those too! (glad to see someone else is reading). Answer this though- you've seen the bullshit going on around radio these days... how long do you really think that's gonna last? O&A were better as XM only and now they have a bullseye on their backs. If they become terrestrial only, they're going to be targeted by every piece-of-shit Sharpton wannabe in the country.

I've really enjoyed the regular radio show they did last week.
It seems there is more of a threat to them if they go back to XM than if they are just on broadcast radio.

[Ben's Bulge]

Exhibit 1:

"The first Arbitron ratings returns indicated that Opie and Anthony had begun to slightly turn around the ratings drop brought on by the departure of Stern and the hiring of Roth, leading CBS to syndicate the show to over 20 markets by August 2006. The overall station ratings only went down 2.0 from Winter 2005 to Winter 2006, to a 1.1. This leaves Free FM ranked #23 in the NY market, and is currently the lowest rated FM Station in the NYC Market."

Exhibit 2:

"With the lack of success the Free FM brand is producing, CBS appears to be slowly phasing out the homogenized Free FM brand. No new Free FM branded stations have been launched since the network was created, and new hot talk stations are branded in other ways now (for instance, WTZN in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was launched as a hot talk station in April 2007 as "The Zone" instead of Free FM). At least one Free FM station has de-emphasized its Free FM branding, WHFS in Baltimore, Maryland. Originally known as "105.7 Free FM" like the other stations, it is now simply Baltimore's FM Talk with the subtag "A Free FM Station." WYSP in Philadelphia could be considered another example. The station went from being referred to by hosts and promos as "Free FM, 94-1 WYSP" to "94-1 WYSP, Talk That Rocks" (the talk that rocks tagline is also being used on New York's WFNY). As with WHFS, the "Free FM" name is still used, though on a much smaller scale. WCKG resumed using the slogan "Chicago's FM Talk Station."

The first station to drop the Free FM format altogether was KIFR in San Francisco, which is now classic hits KFRC. A similar format will be launched on AM 1550 KYCY in the coming days."

They might not be dead, but I think I hear an obese woman warming up for an impromptu concert....

Okay then, they are totally fucked since XM can't sustain itself for much longer and the merger will not go through.

[Hog's Big Ben]

I know the O&A show is one that you and many thousands of others enjoy

Millions, motherfucker!

statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging violent acts on women are clearly over the line and we take it seriously.

Nate, have you heard the show? Does Doc Martin at the top of the stairs ring a bell? And why are violent acts against women verboten? Does that mean it's still OK to wish someone dies in a drunk driving accident on the way to their daughter's wedding?

we have to hold to our standards or they are meaningless

Exactly. I had planned on resubbing when O&A came back, but I have to hold to my standards. Expect a box of broken radios in the mail, fucko. :mad4:

[badmotherfarker]

I've really enjoyed the regular radio show they did last week.
It seems there is more of a threat to them if they go back to XM than if they are just on broadcast radio.

I don't think so. Again, this isn't about free speech or anything like that- this about them telling XM to shove their apology (or at least implying it during the reading) and XM saying, "nobody is going to fuck with this merger."

[Owneds]

Just got this:
but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging
violent acts on women are clearly
over the line and we take it seriously.


so this means lil jimmy is just suppose to sit there and be the "hole?"

fuck that! Suck a fat one XM!!! you're a bunch of primordial cluster fuck hypocritical shitdick cuntbags!

[The Phoenix]

I don't think so. Again, this isn't about free speech or anything like that- this about them telling XM to shove their apology (or at least implying it during the reading) and XM saying, "nobody is going to fuck with this merger."


I mean more of a threat of O&A getting in trouble from an outside source on XM than on regular radio. They have to stick to rules on regular radio. XM didn't seem to have rules until they broke them. How can you know if you're breaking a rule if no one tells you before you do it.

If they do bring O&A back they will need to spell things out or this will happen again. Sooner rather than later.

[SuperShawn]

Absolutely nothing, and you know that Al Sharpton, conservative loudmouths, and the feminazi's are paying close attention to O&A for anything the least bit controversial.


What!!!??? They haven't canceled their XM yet either? What's with some of these people!!!????


oh, wait....

[Deathshead]

Nate Davis=shitdick..

You should have asked him why his phone number goes to a gay porn line.

[Owneds]

Exactly what I'm saying. Sirius and XM, as companies, NEED this merger or one of the two is gone.

one of the two is gone if they merge as well.

[SuperShawn]

so this means lil jimmy is just suppose to sit there and be the "hole?"


For some reason, I don't think he would mind that....he might actually pay a few hundred for the favor...

[TommyNY]

My problem with his response is that Nate is basically claiming they are the "P.C. Police", deciding what exactly is over-the-line. Somehow, everything else O&A do is okay, except in this one instance.

We all can come up with our own answers to why - "Politics", "XM/Sirius Merger", etc.

The reality is, it's not "uncensored" as we've now found out. There is a some invisible line that the show can cross, except I don't believe even they know what or where it is. It's a shame that it's come down to this.

[CTOAFan]

The more time passes, the more I think the boys will be back on the air June 15. Not because they were never going to be fired, but I think the loss of subscribers that XM didn't anticipate is starting to have the desired effect.

[Cunt Smasher]

Millions, motherfucker!



Nate, have you heard the show? Does Doc Martin at the top of the stairs ring a bell? And why are violent acts against women verboten? Does that mean it's still OK to wish someone dies in a drunk driving accident on the way to their daughter's wedding?



Exactly. I had planned on resubbing when O&A came back, but I have to hold to my standards. Expect a box of broken radios in the mail, fucko. :mad4:
QFT.
Wonder what they told the advertisers? Who are they advertising to for the month? The demo they paid for?

[cozzie]

Ok time to beat me up and time to play the Devils advocate. I believe that the boys are fired , but what Mr Suit is implying is that Either OP or Ant, should have told homless Charlie to shut the fuck up, " You don't talk about prominent women that way" Our boys being the way they are , just jumped on the pile and made more remarks. ( this is why we love them) The brass has a legitament point , and so do O&A. Right now this whole thing is a point of whose dick is bigger, and we need to make sure that OPIE& ANTHONY have the biggest dicks ever.

now I' ll wait to get beat up

[Valk]

we need to make sure that OPIE& ANTHONY have the biggest dicks ever.

now I' ll wait to get beat up

I just can't even... too easy... must fight the urge to... Congratulations. For the first time in my life I am speechless.

[ZeoVGM]

The boys aren't fired.

[abudabit]

I just can't even... too easy... must fight the urge to... Congratulations. For the first time in my life I am speechless.

I'll do it. 2 viagra's a nice hand job should do the trick.

[cozzie]

I just can't even... too easy... must fight the urge to... Congratulations. For the first time in my life I am speechless.




ty

[prozac]

Ther pretty much lets us know that IF it return, the XM show won't be the same.

[Sct Ptersns Twn]

The boys aren't fired.



Thanks for clearing that up. :icon_roll

[richwithhatred]

I've been reading, like everyone else, everything that has been posted since the suspension went down. This one from Nate Davis is the most securing that I've read in defense that they really are not fired. Mr. Davis, being a very, very higher up in the company, basically just put his neck out on the line to a customer to assure that customer that O&A WILL be back on June 15th. If you think that the merger was in trouble before, what do you think would happen with DOJ, FCC, etc. had written proof of one of the top 3 suits in the entire company lying to a customer? I'd say game over.

An interesting thought though...maybe this is part of a much bigger work to get out of the merger negotiations? Remember the last, extremely positive quarter XM had? The one that had this board and XM411 questioning just why they were trying to merge? Certainly, a thousand complaints to the SEC right as the merger is heating up, plus a lot of unnecessary press would kill it.

All this being said, I still cancelled. I'm just looking at the situation and thinking that if someone that high at XM is going to put his nuts out there to be hit with a hammer, I'm inclined to believe him. Maybe some of the talk about a 2 week suspension combined with the studio build out are true...maybe not. Maybe it really is what it is - XM not liking the boys telling them to go fuck themselves and their rules, and XM reminding them who pays their check.

I'm very interested to see what Zag has to say now.

The boys aren't fired.

[richwithhatred]

Come on, man! Maybe I'm completely crazy here, but comments that potentially could lead to the secret service coming to their door probably don't need to be spelled out in a contract as "over the line". And the boys were NOT suspended/fired for that...they were suspended for acknowledging that their apology was bullshit and forced by the company.

I love the boys, and I know fully that the homeless charlie bit was EXACTLY why we all listen. I also love the way they constantly and consistently have their middle finger aimed right at anyone of authority. All that being said, this situation was over and Opie brought it back. Somehow I'll bet they wish they could have that 30 seconds of commentary back.

My problem with his response is that Nate is basically claiming they are the "P.C. Police", deciding what exactly is over-the-line. Somehow, everything else O&A do is okay, except in this one instance.

We all can come up with our own answers to why - "Politics", "XM/Sirius Merger", etc.

The reality is, it's not "uncensored" as we've now found out. There is a some invisible line that the show can cross, except I don't believe even they know what or where it is. It's a shame that it's come down to this.

[cozzie]

Maybe it really is what it is - XM not liking the boys telling them to go fuck themselves and their rules, and XM reminding them who pays their check.



if that is the truth a bunch of us will look like asses
while having Lil Jimmy eating them

[richwithhatred]

I don't think any of us look like asses. If we didn't attack full bore as we have, it would basically show that the show isn't very important on the XM platform. XM made their decision, and XM knows fully how loyal O&A's fans are. At some point they decided to bite the bullet for whatever they believed was right. They are getting fucked over by their decision, but they are standing by their decision.

The real problem is that O&A are done at 9 every day, and without Ron and Fez there's really nothing to listen to at my office all day. I'm sure not going back to faggot cleveland talk radio!

Maybe it really is what it is - XM not liking the boys telling them to go fuck themselves and their rules, and XM reminding them who pays their check.



if that is the truth a bunch of us will look like asses
while having Lil Jimmy eating them

[O&A_Fan]

Translation:



Fuck you Nate. I hope you get eyeball cancer.

Why don't we just leave the EYE off. I hope he gets BALL cancer.....:icon_bigg

[big doodies jim]

One thing I noticed, the big 3 (Nate, Hugh, Gary) seem to honestly believe they are making the right decision. Still, they are very wrong and I will never be a customer again.


How are they very wrong?? Its called XM Satellite Radio, not abudabits satellite radio. When you are the President/COO you can make the rules, until then HE CAN CALL THE SHOTS!!! They will either be back or they will be fired, its not like we havent been through this before. If they are fired, they will show up somewhere else and we will all shell out a shitload of money for that service too. Im so tired of all the whining of grown men and women. GROW UP, ITS JUST A RADIO SHOW!!!!!

[O&A_Fan]

I agree that was the reason XM said they were being suspended but i truely believe it was a direct response to the homeless charlie incident. May be a smart move on XM's part because O&A are suspended and in there eyes that will give everything a chance to cool down ... Do you see anyone still demanding they be fired? As far as the media is concerned this story is getting cold ...

I agree with this, that by the time they DO go back on the air, everything will have cooled down some and not much interest in it, but there WILL be people like Sharpton out there still watching and waiting like vultures for them to screw up....

[MyMomsBox]

Props for your letter, Valk.

[O&A_Fan]

I don't think any of us look like asses. If we didn't attack full bore as we have, it would basically show that the show isn't very important on the XM platform. XM made their decision, and XM knows fully how loyal O&A's fans are. At some point they decided to bite the bullet for whatever they believed was right. They are getting fucked over by their decision, but they are standing by their decision.

The real problem is that O&A are done at 9 every day, and without Ron and Fez there's really nothing to listen to at my office all day. I'm sure not going back to faggot cleveland talk radio!

I know one thing, I think they will think twice about suspending them again when they do come back. They may very well stick to this suspension just to save face and to show O&A that they make the rules at XM and they have to be followed, but giving what all they have lost with subs, advertisers, etc, I can't see them going down that road again and suspending them for a month.

[DoughBoy]

How are they very wrong?? Its called XM Satellite Radio, not abudabits satellite radio. When you are the President/COO you can make the rules, until then HE CAN CALL THE SHOTS!!! They will either be back or they will be fired, its not like we havent been through this before. If they are fired, they will show up somewhere else and we will all shell out a shitload of money for that service too. Im so tired of all the whining of grown men and women. GROW UP, ITS JUST A RADIO SHOW!!!!!

Another guy that doesn't get it. We are the people that put the money in the coffers that pay his salary. We subscribed to uncensored content. They did not provide what they claimed. We are voicing our disgust for the current situation and pulling our subs.

This has nothing to do with 'growing up'. It has to do with being a smart consumer and someone interested in getting what he/she paid for.

[Mindslayer]

No way the boys dont serve the entire suspension. If theyre paroled early then XM loses face, both with O&A, the media and the public at large. At this point, though, XM have no choice but to bring the boys back on June 15th. They've released too many communiques confirming that they will be back and they know that subscriber outcry will be even worse than it has been this past week or so if they are indeed fired sometime over the next three weeks. They've truly fucked themselves, and all of the personally typed e-mails from the top suits dont mean dick when they've already irreparably destroyed the trust and goodwill that they've built with the subscribers over the years.

[abudabit]

Big Doodies Jim - we were customers. I'm not some random person taking offense at XM, I'm a now former customer. I'm not going to be customer again. I never said they had to do things my way, they can do things how ever they want. They just won't have me as a customer again.

And by the way, XM isn't Nate's company and he doesn't call the shots either. President / COO is the second most important executive position, not the first, and the executives don't own the company. They are hired by the board who are hired by the investors. Wonder how long Nate will continue as president for...

[niklbag]

we have a first amendment right to free speech. if an activist group gets someone fired it circumvents the amendment and your rights being put into play therefore bypassing a law. in reality it is not a first amendment issue, because the 1st amendment was never put into play. The larger issue is that the 1st amendment is now useless concidering the fact that a small group can get someone silenced. xm may not have suspended them for what they said, but the root cause is something they said. XM should have said "it is what it is".

[ShavedLebaneseBear]

Somehow I'll bet they wish they could have that 30 seconds of commentary back.

Not a fucking chance. Do you even listen to the show??!

[loki2486]

It's nice that XM management is sinceely responding to some of our complaints. However, they know full well this is not a condoning a "violence against women" issue... this is about the merger issue.

Has Jay Leno or David Letterman ever crack an off-handed joke about Roman Catholic Priest? Are they condoning child molestation?

The public knows better and XM knows better. Cancel until the boys return...

[Jim T.]

Just got this:

[COLOR="Cyan"]However, our on air personalities understand that along with the artistic freedom they
enjoy comes a responsibility.

As Lil' Jimmy would say: PTUI!

[DoucheSatchel]

And by the way, XM isn't Nate's company and he doesn't call the shots either. President / COO is the second most important executive position, not the first, and the executives don't own the company. They are hired by the board who are hired by the investors. Wonder how long Nate will continue as president for...


Which is exactly why I started this thread:

http://www.wackbag.com/showthread.php?t=68204

Feel free to throw in any ideas you may have

[shwoogie]

Maybe it really is what it is - XM not liking the boys telling them to go fuck themselves and their rules, and XM reminding them who pays their check.


I agree. Not everything is some crazy conspiracy.

The problem I have is, will this gag order that XM has on them continue when/if they come back? Will they never be allowed to talk about this if they continue to be employed by XM? Will they come back on the air in June all happy and jolly and pretend the suspension never happened, like they did last week on FM?

[Syntax]

you should have replied back:

I agree that you have the right to suspend them. But why completely black list them from the programming?

Would you WANT to give your customers some outlet to listen to o&a? After all, WE are very important (like you previously mentioned).

[Sprite]

GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[patbattlefield]

garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i agree. lying sacks of shit. we foiled their plans to fire them and now they are trying to backtrack.

[Fat Boy]

This is NOT to dog R&F but when they came to XM one of Ronnie's first bits was to discuss, with Master Po, using martial arts to assure a successful r@pe. How is that better than Homeless Charlie expressing his wishes to fuck Laura and Condi? Fucking bullshit, I am canceling my XM Monday morning. I'm sorry I didn't do it earlier but I'm and over the road truck driver, I know this because I don't drive through lawns and pools (thanks L'il Jimmy), and finally got internet access, and time, today to read this stuff. Without O&A, I just don't enjoy radio anymore. Thank goodness for mp3s!

I sent the following worthless letter to XM tonight, which I KNOW will accomplish nothing:

Opie and Anthony deserve better treatment than you want to give them. I deserve better treatment than you want to give me.
Ron Bennington, of the Ron and Fez show, on XM 202, in case you aren't familiar with your lineup, used to joke with Master Po about wanting to use martial arts to assure a successful ****. I thought it was in bad taste but I'm a grownup and figured if I didn't want to hear that I could turn the station. The O&A suspension has nothing to do with the segment content in my opinion, as the content has been successfully used on R&F so blow smoke up somebody else's ass. Count me in the number of cancellations because of your piss poor business decisions. You don't need me, I don't need you. I have Sirius in my new Ford Expedition Limited and I promise you I will shut it off the second XM and Sirius merge. I tried to cancel my XM today in support of O&A but you were closed. I drive trucks in all 48 states and will miss the service I had. But I consider your act of betrayal to be far more important than my discomfort. You have my radio ID below, I obviously have my account information, I want my XM service TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY! As I'm sure you won't do this on your own, expect a call in the morning to take care of this.
Sincerely,
Kerry *. ****

[Fat Boy]

Why does the word r a p e come up like ****?

[shwoogie]

Why does the word r a p e come up like ****?


Because, apparently, so when you type in r@pe in Google it won't bring you to Wackbag.

[patbattlefield]

Because, apparently, so when you type in r@pe in Google it won't bring you to Wackbag.

knowing our membership it would come up #1

[Fat Boy]

There, I fixed it. I thought for a minute maybe XM actually owned Wackbag, but that would be preposterous! Fucking XM...

[patbattlefield]

you can always use :rap:

[Hobo_Cum]

knowing our membership it would come up #1

right above steve's OTHER website, foundrymusicrapetacular.com

[FredThe4thMic]

He made a spider-man reference.
Nice.

[cokelogic]

Don't be fooled by the company line. If they are so understanding, they would lift the suspension tomorrow; they have the power to. We don't know if O&A are coming back uncensored or with a crippled show. Or are coming back at all. Fuck this letter and cancel your subscription!

[augiep38]

Sweet Jesus - it is difficult to read through this thread. I am amazed at how dumb some of the participants here are.

1) The people falling for ol' Nate's well thought out response. (I hope homeless Charlie forcibly skull fucks this guy to death)

2) The people buying the line about XM suspending O&A for not taking the apollogy sincere enough (why did they need to apologize to start with)

3) The people planning to return to XM if O&A do come back - the people who did not cancel their XM because they believe O&A will come back.

Do you people not have any principles or integrity? How can you do business with a company who advertises censor free radio and claims that there needs to be rules? Either it is a free for all or it is censored - it can not be both.

I never understood this weak minded shit of rolling over and taking it up the ass.

XM is dead to me. They showed what their intentions are and that they think that their subscribers are dumb enough to fall for it. I hope all of the execs at XM have retarded kids and get ass cancer from a homeless negro and die a horrible death. Once they are dead I hope the funeral director cuts their cocks off and shoves them in their mouth. FUCKEM :icon_evil

[buya97]

I guess making fun of a DEAD Lacey Peterson and how she died is OK...Look Mom these [Bucket of Seaweed] for You!

[user name]

I was paying attention until he wrote "we have to stay the course".

Sorry, but that just sounded too much like Bush and the war his family is getting rich off of.


Maaaaaannnnnn

[Akkim]

Wait.. the president of XM writes this in an Email while people in Customer Service and everywhere else are scrambling to tell us "You know they were not suspended because of what was said by Homeless Charlie and such, right?"

They can't even get their own bullshit straight?

Nice, thanks for the proof.
--Micah

[Dragonwaggon77]

This makes me feel a little better. There's no double talk there, just a straight answer. That's a good sign.


I agree, it was a straight answer and that is encouraging. But we should saty the course until they are back, let them see that these are the type of fans that o and a have. rabid and hard core.

FRRRRRRRRRRUNKIS

[krunk]

I'll believe they are back on June 15th when I hear Opie say @ 8:55am "If you aren't joing us on XM have a great weekend"......then and only then will I believe it and reactivate my cancelled radios.......

[Valk]

Didn't someone else get a similiar email to this one I recieved from the same dude? I looked but couldn't find it. Wanted to see if it was copy and pasted or not. Never trust a suite...

[Phil Packer]

Just got this:

Hi, Rick.

Thank you for your well thought out and respectfully honest note. Your
opinion does matter to me and we
do factor in the customer opinion when we make any decisions about the
business. Customers are why we are
here. I know the O&A show is one that you and many thousands of others
enjoy and we fully intend for them to be
on the air on June 15.

I hope you don't decide to cancel your service. As a customer with
multiple subscriptions, you are as valuable
as any customer. However, our on air personalities understand that
along with the artistic freedom they
enjoy comes a responsibility. A statement by homeless Charlie does not
reach the level of "over the line"
but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging
violent acts on women are clearly
over the line and we take it seriously. We expected our personalities
to take it seriously and
in this case, they didn't. We need to self police some
level of responsible behavior that is reflective of the XM name and the
actions after the incident clearly
sent a signal that our rules were to be ignored and were silly.

I'm truly sorry this negatively affected customers like yourself, but as
with any rules or laws, we have
to hold to our standards or they are meaningless.

Again, I hope you do not cancel. I understand your well articulated
point of view. But, we have to
stay the course with any action or the action really won't mean anything
in the future.

This is not a form letter. This is the President of XM telling you that
on June 15, O&A will return, but
they will serve the full suspension and understand that our internal
policy about responsible behavior is real
and will be enforced.

I hope on June 15 you enjoy O&A being back on the air with the same
funny and outrageous entertainment.
Thanks for being a customer, Rick (AKA Valk).


Nate Davis
President and COO
XM Satellite Radio, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rich (Valk) [mailto:aircrafttechnician.rich@verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 11:01 AM
To: Davis, Nate
Subject: About my 5 subscriptions to your service

Hello my name is Richard Wilkinson. I have 4 radios on one account
and one on another, as well as 2 more for gifts to family members that
have not yet been activated. I have canceled my 5 current
subscriptions. I bought these only to listen to O and A. My family and
I are huge fans. You sold these radios and my subscriptions to me under
the premise that this channel (202) would be "uncensored", "raunchy",
"explicit", etc.. For the time they were on, it was the greatest show I
have ever experienced. I would gladly have paid much more money just
for this one channel. It was the only thing that made my 2 hour commute
to work bearable. It may sound silly but this "suspension" has had a
huge impact on my life. I used to look forward to the ride. Now, it is

the worst part of my day. I feel as if I have been taken advantage of
and lied to. This suspension is hurting your customers far more than
your talent. In the words of a certain pointy eared Vulcan "The needs
of the many far outway the needs of the few". Yeah I'm a dork. But I'm
a dork who works incredibly hard for his money. When I heard a rumor
that XM had refused to meet with that self serving, self proclaimed
"spokesman for all African Americans" Rev. Sharpton, I was ready to buy
5 more radios and subscription just to support your company for being
the first to stand up to him. I think I speak for many when I say, I
would have the utmost respect for you if you were to cut O and A's
suspension short. The amount of subscriptions renewed would be
unprecedented. Were are fans. We are Pests. We are many. We are
forgiving. We are faithful. And we are relentless. Obviously, our
subs will never be reactivated if O and A are fired. That will only be
the start. We will do everything in our power to have our voiced heard
in reference to upcoming merger possibility. To which most of us are
already against, but willing to keep our mouths shut if it would help
your company. Please don't take this as a threat. It is only my
foresight of the future. I'm sure it wasn't your personal decision that
caused this, so I have no reason to be nasty to you. I am just
incredibly disappointed and angry right now. You were once our heroes
for bringing O and A back. You are one announcement from being that
once again. We all make mistakes and bad moves in life, but also have
the chance to make them right before it is too late. I ask you. No I
beg you. Consider cutting the suspension short. The fans (your
customers) are suffering needlessly. We want what we paid for. And are

more than willing to let bygones be bygones to get it back. I'm sure O

and A got your message loud and clear. You must understand by now that
they joke about everything, including their bosses, friends, and even
themselves. But it is a show. It is for our entertainment.
I apologize if this is one of the many emails sent to the wrong
person and ask that you would forward it to someone who's job it is to
take complaints. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I look
forward to doing business with your company again soon.

Richard Wilkinson



for the 8,000 time, they are not going to divuldge that information to some schlep who e-mails them. if they really were fired, why would they tell YOU!?

[Valk]

HEEEYYYY!!!! I'm no fuckin' schlep. And as much as this letter made me feel a little better, my 5 subs are still cancelled. I somehow doubt he would outright lie to a customer when he knows what we are capable of. I do however, think the boys will be walking on egg shells when they get back and show will never be the same. Kinda a catch 22 situation. You stay cancelled when they come back and the boys loose listeners. You resub and your showing XM its ok censor them. To tell you truth, the show is too big a part of my life not to listen.

[Phil Packer]

HEEEYYYY!!!! I'm no fuckin' schlep. And as much as this letter made me feel a little better, my 5 subs are still cancelled. I somehow doubt he would outright lie to a customer when he knows what we are capable of. I do however, think the boys will be walking on egg shells when they get back and show will never be the same. Kinda a catch 22 situation. You stay cancelled when they come back and the boys loose listeners. You resub and your showing XM its ok censor them. To tell you truth, the show is too big a part of my life not to listen.


ok maybe youre no schelp, but you are just an average customer, no matter how many subs you have. but seriously, if they are fired, why are they going to tell YOU out of all people? becasue youre trustworthy and wouldn't tell the media right away and completly fuck up any chance they have of saving themselves from this debacle.......

he probably is telling the truth tho, cuz high-level suits always tell the truth and never lie to make $$$ or keep their job

[Valk]

Hey man, I don't trust suites as much as the next guy. But honestly, if they didn't come back after the suspension, as someone else said, could you amagine the media getting ahold of this? Outright lying to a customer? The FCC would love that kinda shit as a strike against the merger, or takeover, or whatever the fuck their calling it today. It doesn't mean that they could use another excuse to can them tho.

What part of Jersey ya from? Dice is playing at some Italian eatery down here, was thinking of getting drunk and doin a little heckling.

[Phil Packer]

Hey man, I don't trust suites as much as the next guy. But honestly, if they didn't come back after the suspension, as someone else said, could you amagine the media getting ahold of this? Outright lying to a customer? The FCC would love that kinda shit as a strike against the merger, or takeover, or whatever the fuck their calling it today. It doesn't mean that they could use another excuse to can them tho.

What part of Jersey ya from? Dice is playing at some Italian eatery down here, was thinking of getting drunk and doin a little heckling.

Wow so Dice really is playing the Olive Garden?

I live in Bergen county but I'm in ussually in Gloucester county on the weekends

[Valk]

Wow so Dice really is playing the Olive Garden?

I live in Bergen county but I'm in ussually in Gloucester county on the weekends

Not even. This place is small as all hell. Just posted a thread about it: http://www.wackbag.com/showthread.php?t=68636

[Frogacuda]

A statement by homeless Charlie does not
reach the level of "over the line"
but statements by XM Paid personalities condoning and encouraging
violent acts on women are clearly
over the line and we take it seriously.

WHAT A FUCKHEAD!

[styckx]

Where is the audio of the "condoning and encouraging" part of this statement? I'd personally love to hear it myself, but I never will. CAUSE IT DOESN"T FUCKING EXIST

[Cup O Broth]

I agree, it was a straight answer and that is encouraging. But we should saty the course until they are back, let them see that these are the type of fans that o and a have. rabid and hard core.

FRRRRRRRRRRUNKIS


Are you out of your mind? It largely says "When they come back they will understand we will censor them whenever we feel like it, AFTER they do something." Wow. Thanks for what I paid for!!

Sure, sounds great to me. Are you DUMMIES just happy cuz someone important wrote back and said a bunch of BULLSHIT?!

I still say they are toast.

[Burger]

Sure, sounds great to me. Are you DUMMIES just happy cuz someone important wrote back and said a bunch of BULLSHIT?!

I still say they are toast.

I agree. XM is dead to me. The only possible way I might consider going back is if and when O&A have been on for awhile, say something really over-the-top, and are clearly backed by XM. I don't see that happening, so I don't see myself ever subscribing to XM again.

[LilConor]

Just got this:
and we fully intend for them to be on the air on June 15.


Not the word intend. He never said that they will be on for sure !!! This is the crop. world for you.

[vegasbob]

"It's not **** if she blinks twice." Lil Jimmy

[Frogacuda]

"I think **** is completely unacceptable unless there's a good reason. Like if you want to have sex with a woman and she won't let you. Then you have no choice." -Louis CK

[northeastdecals]

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m188/silentknight71/l_28941d982ebf05fb2c38d81d6de63726.jpg

Thank you for contacting XM Satellite Radio we dont give a fuck about you

We don't apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced regarding the 30 days suspension of the Opie and Anthony show. We also don't apologize for the delayed response to your email.

We appreciate your loyalty to Opie & Anthony, but we highly encourage you to remain an XM customer HELL NO. The broadcast of the O&A Show has been suspended for thirty days beginning May 15, 2007, and it will return at its regularly scheduled time on June 15, 2007.

In its place, Ron and Fez will air on Channel 202.

If you have comments or questions, please email us at thevirus@xmradio.com.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to send an additional email or you may contact a Listener Care Representative directly at 1-800-XM RADIO (800-967-2346).

As always, visit our website at www.xmradio.com for all the latest news on XM Satellite Radio.

Our Listener Care Centers hours of operation are as follows:

Monday-Saturday 6 AM - 2 AM ET
Sunday 8 AM - 8 PM ET

Thank you,
Robert
XM's Listener Care Representative
1-800-XM RADIO (800-967-2346)

[Cup O Broth]

I will CONSIDER paying for it again if I hear the following:

1. O&A explaining why there were suspended. What are the new rules, and naming names as to who they had meetings with and what they said.

2. Immediately following that, a new segment of "News from the street with Homeless Charlie".

3. Louis CK making r_pe jokes.

[burdman30ott6]

Personally, I believe they'll return to XM on the 15th strictly based on the fact that their suspension hasn't changed the outlook on the merger being approved. I believe this was a test by XM to see if their decision swayed the liklihood of the merger going through. If anything, the past couple of weeks have indicated that it would take a miracle for the government agencies to approve this deal. So, if Eric Logan hasn't been talking out of his ass and O&A are the top draw on XM, there's no way in hell XM is going to kill that cash cow. Whereas with the merger, the two companies probably figured that the casual O&A fans, the ones who aren't Pests and didn't cancel their subs over this, would simply turn over to Howard and the overall loss of subscribers wouldn't have much of a long term impact. Now that most signs point to the merger being dead, it wouldn't surprise me if O&A come back with a bang and are encouraged to be totally over the top, because XM knows it will take a move like that to get a lot of these canceled subs to come back.

[Hog's Big Ben]

Where is the audio of the "condoning and encouraging" part of this statement? I'd personally love to hear it myself, but I never will. CAUSE IT DOESN"T FUCKING EXIST


I guess since nobody came out and explicitly said "Now wait just a second, Charles - you can't talk about putting your soiled penis in a fancy Negro like Condoleezza Rice" then there must be some "condoning and encouraging" going on. :rolleyes:

[skione]

I don't think anyone knows for sure if the boyz are fired or not.

While there is credible evidence to suggest that we have "inside" information the boys are indeed fired and this is a ruse to stop subscribtion loss for the merger they are trying AWFULLY hard to convince us the boys will be back on XM June 15th.

This all stinks. Really it does. I think I hate being lied to the most about this whole thing. Cause that is the only certainty here.

[Shane1V]

condoning and encouraging
violent acts??????????????? WTF

So if they are ever sued/called out, they can say" look, we frown upon such horrid statements"

Fucking scumbags are just making ammo to backpeddle with if they need to.

[Frogacuda]

So if they are ever sued/called out, they can say" look, we frown upon such horrid statements"

Fucking scumbags are just making ammo to backpeddle with if they need to.
No they're just digging their grave and making the case seem stronger than they did allow something very wrong to happen. Like How Patrice said he didn't think Kramer was racist until he apologized.

[Valk]

I honestly believe Zag was right at the time. The boys were to be fired at the end of the suspension. I read that XM stated there were 10,00 subs reinstated when they announced that they would indeed be back. Now if 10k resubbed, there has to be 50 to 75k or more that cancelled and didn't reinstate. Do the math, thats a hard hit to a company already goin tits up. In my feeble little mind, we made a difference with our cancelled radios and mass emailing/phone calls:pc:

[bushleaguer]

I don't think anyone knows for sure if the boyz are fired or not.

While there is credible evidence to suggest that we have "inside" information the boys are indeed fired and this is a ruse to stop subscribtion loss for the merger they are trying AWFULLY hard to convince us the boys will be back on XM June 15th.

This all stinks. Really it does. I think I hate being lied to the most about this whole thing. Cause that is the only certainty here.

I don't know where the "credible evidence" came from, but I think it's obvious that the boys are planning on coming back to XM on the date that XM has given. The way I see it, if they knew for a fact that this suspension was only a ruse for a definite firing then they wouldn't be so tight-lipped about the whole thing on Free-FM/K-Rock the past two weeks. It's obvious that they were told not to discuss the matter by XM, and for better or worse (that's for them to decide) they have abided by it. If you heard the show this morning you'd know they are keeping quiet about it because Lars made a veiled reference to being instructed before he went on the air to not bring the whole thing up.
In my opinion, this whole apology - supension shit has been about the merger and XM's desire to show the FCC that XM can be "self-policing." They are putting what their customers were promised and expect aside for the "greater good" of the merger. Bottom line, however is this....the merger has no chance, so this was a bad move by Panero. If satellite radio is going to be able to remain compeditive then it has to hold onto the one thing it has that terrestrial doesn't....and that is uncensored radio and talk. The minute that they start to bow to special interest groups and censor their talent, they will be driving a stake into their own hearts and killing off the business because no one will pay for something they can get for free (censored, politically correct radio).
I fully expect the boys to make the walk on the 15th, but what I still question is whether XM is going to slap restrictions on their show. I guess that will be discerned over time and, if that's the case, I won't return to XM. If XM does the right thing and gives them the show that was promised, then I'll reactivate my XM subscription.

[GoodDaySir]

K-Rock would probably have them going till 10 or 11 if XM didn't intend to bring them back. They'll be back.

[Goblin]

I'll believe they are back on June 15th when I hear Opie say @ 8:55am "If you aren't joining us on XM have a great weekend"......then and only then will I believe it and reactivate my canceled radios.......


I just got my refund from XM. They had to send me over $300. on my 5 years sub. If I come back, it will be on a monthly basis. Since I get 202 on DirecTV, I might say fuck 'em.

[Valk]

I just got my refund from XM. They had to send me over $300. on my 5 years sub. If I come back, it will be on a monthly basis. Since I get 202 on DirecTV, I might say fuck 'em.

Wow, they must be taking a beating. If they admitted that 10,000 subs were reinstated after the most recent announcement, amagine how many weren't. Plus all this money they are sending back. Nice work man :clap:

[carcrash_69]

we have to
stay the course with any action or the action really won't mean anything
in the future. [COLOR="Red"]

As should all of us supporting the boys. Sounds like he just want's to stop the hemmoraging of subs. He also did not say they WILL be back, He said he intended they would be back. Big difference.