Wired is reporting that audio from today's Opie and Anthony show may put the Sirius/XM merger in jeopardy.
The snippet of audio was taken from this morning's yesterday's O&A show on XM, and was posted on Breitbart.tv and subsequently hyped up by the Drudge Report. It features an in-studio guest "Homeless Charlie" talking about forced sex with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, as well as with George Bush's wife. You can listen to it below (warning: NOT work safe, so wear headphones):
While there apparently isn't any public "outrage" over this - Wired still took Drudge's bait - and claims that this could make the Imus controversy "look like a small blip." They even go as far as to hint that this could jeopardize the Sirius/XM merger.
The fact is, satellite radio is a subscription service (i.e., not the "public" airwaves), and XM labels the channel as containing explicit language. Channel blocking is completely available (tell them about the discount Harry).
So offended or not, there is no way that the line was crossed here (except for the redistribution of a paid subscription content on Google Video).
UPDATE: Opie and Anthony have issued the following statement in regards to this:
"We apologize to the public officials for comments that were made on our XM show on May 9th. We take very seriously the responsibility that comes with our creative freedom and regret any offense that this segment has caused."
If a hack gets thrown off the air doing ZERO POINT ZERO does anybody care?
There goes the First Amendment. The fact that XM has channel blocking doesn't matter anymore. The fact that XM is a pay service doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't matter that the First Amendment protects dark humor and political satire. As long as companies keep bowing to special interests groups who threaten the boycott of sponsors and the media keeps eating up controversy, the right to free speech (which is meant to protect unpopular speech like this, since popular speech doesn't need protection) no longer matters.
And before the Howard Stern fans start crowing, this opens the door for ALL satellite radio to be censored. If O&A get pulled off XM, you know Howard is next.
ZERO... POINT.... ZERO.
:wackbag:
When CBS folded to special interest over Imus we had to all see this comming.
So the Boys may be suspended on CBS for something that was said by a homeless guy on XM?!? So under these norms, is programming on HBO going to be hurt?
And before the Stern Fans start ragging on O&A and start cheering, think for a minute... If O&A can be attacked on SatRad, your hero can too. This is the time to put aside the radio battles and stand up for PAID programming.
Are we going to let people who DO NOT PAY for SatRad tell YOU what you can and can't listen to?!?!? On a service(s) that offer channel blocking?!?!?
This is getting out of hand.
could be good press for xm though as any mention is a free ad
You got to be kidding. Has it been that slow of a news day that we have to quote something going on the o&a show? Hell, this shit happens every day on Howard and o&A. If they "did" get pulled off, which I doubt, Howard will be the next one to get bumped off. So, I guess Howie and O&A Fans need to unite on this front. We have a bigger enemy in common, whether we like to or not.
Since this the merger is largely being portrayed as a takeover of XM by Sirius and since they can't blame Sirius for XM's content, I don't think it will be an issue. Same with the problems that XM has with "out of spec" repeaters.
Furthermore, I am sure one of the conditions of the merger will probably be a family friendly tier. No merger, no family tier.
there is nothing there.
the only way i could see them let go is if
the merger gets cock blocked by this then they would be fired. they have been the ones not to support the merger although it could bring them more listners.
anyway this isn't a first amement issue. theres nothing there.
Slight correction, this clip was not from today's show, but yesterday's show. This was not a preplanned bit, it was an interview with a deranged homeless man.
Thanks
Just the fact that this is even a story shows how much things have changed since the Imus incident. This is getting ridiculous.
"Didn't" "this" "happen" "yesterday""?" "Looks" "like" "everyone's" "a" "day" "behind".
This "news" was just a cheap ploy for wired to get some hits. The "article" they wrote is only 1o lines, with a snazzy headline. The fact that this is being reported on orbitcast is a bit pathetic.
to quote you "Wired is reporting that audio from today's Opie and Anthony show may put the Sirius/XM merger in jeopardy." that's streaching it a bit. you can leave this news on Wired... Orbitcast, do you really need hits so bad to stoop this low. You know this is pure hype junk news.
Note: Don't censor this like my other posts.
It's Condi. Sharpton won't care.
"Tell 'em about the discount Harry!" HaHa, that's terrific, just terrific.
Having heard the broadcast when it happened yesterday, I honestly didn't give it a second thought until I saw the post here. This should have no impact on the merger, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone brings it up and Mel has to promise to fire the guys or something if the merger is approved. At the same time, they do give disclaimers and tell you how to block content if you want to, and it's not like O&A or Jim Norton actually made the statement...Had that been the case, I think there'd be a more legitimate case to be made, but since it was just some homeless guest, I don't think anyone besides Drudge is going to care in another week or so.
i am offended and outraged
The audio is from yesterday - not today.
I wonder if this article was planted by the NAB to make a case, given the IMUS situation, for blocking the merger and deflecting some bad press over to sattelite.
If this would have been on regualr radio...maybe they would be in trouble, given that JV and Elvis were suspended for "FLIED LICE". But is pay radio...Its a lame argument.
It's Opie & Anthony, no one will care.
Other than not being funny, I don't understand the controversy. Who cares? I've heard worse during a Chris Rock concert on HBO.
They should be fired for severe lack of funny.
This is nonsense. Matt Drudge is a douchebag. Wired should be ashamed that they've been baited into taking up this story. Plus the clip is nothing near as bad as things I've heard from O&A, Howard, or Bubba in the past.
Signed Non-crowing Howard Stern Fan.
Looks like Wired has stopped allowing comments on their story. Boy, they sure don't think much about freedom of speech over there at all.
If a tree falls in a forest with no one to hear it, then does it make a sound?
~0.0
crazy homeless man...as for the continued stupid 0.0 just ask howie as well since he has 0.0 no longer being on FM anymore.
crazy homeless man...as for the continued stupid 0.0 just ask howie as well since he has 0.0 no longer being on FM anymore.
I've never heard these guys until that clip. This is 100% stupid, I hope this doesn't become an issue.
Glenn: Free speech applies to government prosecution, not to economic repercussions or other actions by individuals, which is THEIR free speech.
this is to much. our free speech is in jeoparty now.
o&a said nothing, a guest did. if they are droped, say good bye to your rights.
we need to get together and take a stand.
go to happy typing girls site-the pac site-people against censorship.
please don't give up your rights!
Joey Boy
We get it Rich, nobody listens to O&A.
I'm a Stern fan and this is BULLSHIT! Free speech is dying here.
Down goes O&Gay. Howard and Mr. Karmazin have been looking for a way to can these guys, and now they can do it. Howard always wins in the end!!
"since he has 0.0 no longer being on FM anymore"
umm yea that works....
I have to support the boys here sat radio needs to stand up and not do anything otherwise as soon as these free speech haters get into sat radio they will never get out
The "UPDATE" you added is silly-- it's clear they were mocking with that since it's word for word the XM Spokesperson statement.
That's because it's the official statement on the subject.
Someone said it before...its not about free speech its about sponsors and other pressures taking o and a off teh air. I know mel would never do this to Howard so I dont think theres anything really to worry about.
If anything SAT RAD will become a safe haven for free speech.
I havent listened to the replay of todays show yet, but if they made that statement in a sincere fashion, i am done listening to them, especially with they way they have been on a rip with the whole free speech issue, and how nobody should have to apologize for saying things that offend.
They NEVER had a 0.0 . Because Stern said it (rather, Tim Sabian on Stern's show) does not make it true.
As for this? Kick them off CBS, PLEASE. I really miss the XM-only era. The WNEW show was good too, but radio was very different at that time.
>> If anything SAT RAD will become a safe haven for free speech. >>
Oh you think so? Then why is this even a news story..?
I heard the apology on XM, it wasn't genuine, it was very mockinly a repeat of the XM version. We'll see though...
"Oh you think so? Then why is this even a news story..?"
Because its business as usual for the people against the merger and for the news who like to stir up controversy and use it as a story.
This is perfect for the NAB and the FCC, because its bad press for sat radio and shock jocks with too much freedom (basically what we are paying for). If the merger were to go through there would be more of this "outrage" and "offensive behavior" Only difference is they dont have to listen to sponsors or anyone else with the leverage of taking shows off the air.
So Im sure they use this type of shit to cripple the growth of the new industry. Portraying how it is out of control and needs to be governed.
I liken free speech to the old libertarian notion that you are completely free to swing your fists wildly about in any direction up to the point where your fist hits my nose. The same goes for free speech. You are free to say what you want up to the point where is causes injury. The O & A program crossed this line in advocating violence against Condi Rice. It is one thing to be disgusting. It is all together something else to advocate violence.
In the name of free speech, we now have a segment of the population that feels it is okay to address and treat women like "bitches and ho's", and to kill a cop is okay. Just because it is advocated in a certain genre of music--if you can call it that-- doesn't make it okay. It is not free speech; it is over the line.
It seems that a large portion of the commenters here feel that any speech is okay, especially if it is a paid service. One way to test this theory is to take it to the extreme. Let's suppose there was a show advocating pedophilia. Is that okay? Many of you might say "yes" because you don't have to listen to it if you don't want to. Suppose this show advocated forcible sex against minors. Is that okay? I imagine a few are starting to say "no". How about if they do a show on a local elementary school where they talk about sex with students? Let's say it’s a school where your son or daughter or niece or nephew attends? What if it is someone you know and care about? I don't think that there are too many people left that will say that it is okay.
My point is that speech has limits. When it comes to the point where it advocates injury to an individual, a race, a sex, or group of people, it is wrong. And it is not free speech. I don’t care if you can turn it off or not.
There was once a dictator that advocated violence and the destruction of a race of people. He said it often enough until a large segment of the population came to believe it. Millions lost their lives because of it. Some might call this free speech. I don’t.
Are you Stern fans trying to make fun of O&A really that dumb? Do you not see how this affects Hoo Hoo Howie too? If satellite radio listeners don't stand together against the PC Police, we're all screwed...
I'm with you Tim. I'm a Stern fan and I'm supporting O&A on this one. Fuck this PC bullshit.
No one listens to these two retards anyhow. I say we should can them, but use the publicity first so that people know xm even still exists. I'm calling on the Rev Al to open a full investigation of this two talentless morons open and ass. Dropping these no-talent crackers will be a positive.
zero point zero!
If this shit keeps up, I cancelling my XM subscription. I pay good money to listen to UNCENSORED material. Next, they'll do this crap to HBO, Showtime, etc. and even movies we see in theaters. Where does it end?
It won't end. In fact for HBO, Showtime and movies, it has already begun. Just google for smoking in movies and you will see just what is going on.
Wrong - Free speech is not about when it causes injury. The same constitutional laws that protect the KKK and their hate speech are the same laws that protect every person (and comic - and dopey radio shock jock) to say WHATEVER they want WHENEVER they want.
You do NOT have a right not to be offended. You do NOT have a right to impose your weakness on the rest of society. And quite honestly, if you are offended by something you hear on the radio, you need to do some internal soul searching and find out why a bunch of strangers a few hundred miles away talking into a microphone caused such a detrimental effect on you.
How weak of a society have we become that we have completely allowed the special interest groups completely dictate what we can see, hear and experience? When did we stop telling these self obsessed fascists that 90% of the world doesn't give a good god damn what they think? Why is the vocal 10% constantly getting their way?
It is time to stand up to special interest groups and tell them that we are NOT going to be bullied by them and we are not going to let them dictate our lives. I completely understand why Rudy locked down city hall in NYC to all of these groups.
I am tired of having MY freedoms trampled on by other people who I didn't ask to speak for me, I dont want them speaking for me, I dont want them worrying about my children, I don't want them in my life and I don't want screwing up the little free-voiced entertainment we have left in this world.
screwed up comments and i personally think opie and anthony are morons.....well, wrong word, they are surprisingly knowledgeable on a lot of subjects, but they are....boneheads.....that will work. the bottom line is that i don't like them, so you know what i do??? I DON'T LISTEN AND I REMOVED THE CHANNEL!!! 1 - freedom of speech, 2 - personal responsibility. and actually, isn't someone fantasizing about someone a compliment, regardless of how crude the comment is??? this is more imus backlash, who i also personally did not like at all, but he shouldn't have been fired for his comments. he has said much worse things in the past. it's only because he referred to a inherited genetic trait of some black people. by the way, if a basketball player isn't "nappy", they are a bench warmer. after all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done with opie and anthony and don imus was a jerk, but he accomplished more much more good than evil. opie and anthony should be able to say what ever they want even if it is a several hour block of just straight curse words. good job to xm for trying to have a conscience, but i pay for may subscription to bypass the stupid decency laws and i would appreciate you letting me make my own decisions, dad.....
Like many I am outraged at the 30 day suspension. This is a paid service that tells you almost every hour that channel blocking is available. While I’d rather have the boys back there is something you can do. I called XM (very politely) and told them I want a 30 day credit to my account; and they did it.
You can do it too; but you can’t be a dick about it. Remember Habib in India did not suspend O&A. This is my recommendation. First get the name of the person at XM you are talking to. Then tell them politely that you have an issue that they may not be able to help you with without a supervisor. If you ask for one that is the only reason. It is not because you think they provided you with poor service. Specifically tell the support person you would let their supervisor know this. Then tell them that you demand a 30 day credit.
I told them that O&A were the only reason I subscribed. While they have other nice channels this is what I paid for. They are denying me that service. I explained that XM is like HBO and shows there do not get suspended for what happens on them. If it happened on free FM I would have no recourse since I do not pay for it.
The first time I called I was a little hot and the support person hung up. When I called back the second time the support person was able to give me the credit with a lot less effort. If they say they can’t do it tell them you know someone who already did it. You could threaten to cancel your subscription entirely. That should get you results.
This is one of the best ways to show your outrage and effect future decisions like this. If just 1 million of the O&A listeners did this it would cost XM over $12 million. Maybe then they will see who the “special” interest” really is.
I take back my earlier post on getting a credit from XM for 30 days. There is less incentive for them. I am on hold now waiting to cancel my subscription...20 minutes so far; must be the other O&A fans. Join peopleagainstcensorship.com. They also have a bunch of XM and CBS Exec E-mail addresses so you can send them e-mails. Even if you are a Howard fan you might want to consider sending some e-mails. Howard could easily be next...don't let your hatred of O&A blind you to what is happening.
Prerequisite for comedy......
Ya gotta be FUNNY
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And they love me in France too!
-----------------------------------------
However......
"The First Amendment" keeps the U.S. Government (Local, State and Federal) from censoring speech NOT privately owned concerns; i.e. XM Radio. For instance, XM Radio doesn't HAVE to give O&A a soap box to ply their brand of "entertainment?", it is NOT O&A's *Right* under the U.S. Constitution that XM Radio provide this. O&A are on XM through "private" contractual agreement between two (2) PRIVATE entities, XM Radio and O&A. So you may understand better....If you come to MY house (invited) and start spouting rhetoric I disagree with and I tell you to "get to steppin'" did I deny you your 1st Amendment Right? NO! I denied you the use of MY private soap box (house in this case) to say that with which I (a private citizen in MY private house) disagreed. :)
PhreakiPhred
The saddest point that has yet to be made is that most of the posts on this site neglect to deal with the fact that a nationally syndicated show, whether on a subscription site or with an otherwise limited audience, condoned and encouraged comments which were UNACCEPTABLE. I don't care if it was by a guest or by a random passerby. There was no regard for the concept of human decency. If you condone the comments and would say them yourself, then you are right to stand next to O & A. If you do not, please don't apologize and make excuses for disgusting comments. They should be dealt with, handled, or at least addressed in some manner. This free speech debate has gotten to the point of some people advocating insanity for the sake of the so-called "right of free speech." Where is our sense of shame...
I find it funny that people are canceling their radio in protest of O&A's suspension. Some people have more then one radio, and have vowed when the suspension is lifted they are going to re-subscribe. They are turning down a month free subscription (which is $12.95 for main radio and $6.99 for the family plan, however many they have). Just to turn around in less then a month reactivate paying not only the monthly cost but $14.99 extra per radio they put back on!
Essentially giving XM more money then taking the credit to begin with. Instead of taking the credit, which comes out of XM's pocket, they are putting more money into XM's pocket. To me, this is just to damn funny; the only statement being made is that they are going to pay more for their service.