Opie and Anthony suspended from XM!

[BW23]

These guys used to be on XM? Hmmm. Didn't know.

[lazypenguin]

Supposedly "sources" are saying they have been fired.

XM really screwed up on this one. They are going to lose a TON of subscribers. This is all over the front page of digg and most commenters are saying they have already cancelled.

From what I hear, they have said much, much worse on the show and XM is caving into censorship here. BS in my mind.

I listen to Sirius for Howard and Bubba the Love Sponge. I've listened to Opie and Anthony a few times, but not much. I hope Sirius picks them up if the firing is true.

LP

[docellis]

The pair's Homeless Charlie bit came at a particularly thorny time as XM is trying to get permission to merge with Sirius Satellite Radio.

I would like to find out if any real dent is put in their listener base.

This is off topic but this was shocking (link to where I saw the bit about SM and Sirius merging http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... a0132851d3 )

Limbaugh for his "Barack the Magic Negro" parody song sung to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon." The song quotes from a Los Angeles Times opinion piece that called Barack Obama a "magic negro" for his ability to attract voters of all races.

[lukethedrifter]

gee, that's hilarious

[Cronos]

XM is a business and they have a right to suspend their employees. This isn't a free speech issue.

Yep.

Fired, heck no. Suspended? Sure. Unless the rumors of them being fired are true, they'll be back eventually and will have gotten the message.

[maddash]

Supposedly "sources" are saying they have been fired.

XM really screwed up on this one. They are going to lose a TON of subscribers. This is all over the front page of digg and most commenters are saying they have already cancelled.

From what I hear, they have said much, much worse on the show and XM is caving into censorship here. BS in my mind.

I listen to Sirius for Howard and Bubba the Love Sponge. I've listened to Opie and Anthony a few times, but not much. I hope Sirius picks them up if the firing is true.

LP

XM really doesn't care about subscribers as much as they care about FCC approval for the merger of XM and Sirius. If controversy is going to get in the way of that merger, they're going to eliminate any source of controversy.

I don't think it's censorship in its true form. It doesn't appear that XM is morally opposed to their content (as you fans have pointed out, they've let worse things on the air). This is simply a shrewd business decision. You fans just aren't worth more than the value of the merger... or at least that's what appears to be going on here.

[jimedmondsfan]

See, the thing is, that it's XM radio where you can pretty much say what they want. One thing that I think needs to be brought up here is that its a comedy show purely for your entertainment. They really don't mean a majority of the things that they say. They are playing characters! This isn't normal radio, it's a paid subscription. I pay for the privilige to hear vulgarity.

Vulgarity is not the same as obscenity. Making jokes about people being raped is not funny and should not be allowed on the public airways (even if you pay for the privilege).

[cardinalkarp]

Supposedly "sources" are saying they have been fired.

XM really screwed up on this one. They are going to lose a TON of subscribers. This is all over the front page of digg and most commenters are saying they have already cancelled.

From what I hear, they have said much, much worse on the show and XM is caving into censorship here. BS in my mind.

I listen to Sirius for Howard and Bubba the Love Sponge. I've listened to Opie and Anthony a few times, but not much. I hope Sirius picks them up if the firing is true.

LP

XM really doesn't care about subscribers as much as they care about FCC approval for the merger of XM and Sirius. If controversy is going to get in the way of that merger, they're going to eliminate any source of controversy.

I don't think it's censorship in its true form. It doesn't appear that XM is morally opposed to their content (as you fans have pointed out, they've let worse things on the air). This is simply a shrewd business decision. You fans just aren't worth more than the value of the merger... or at least that's what appears to be going on here.

I think this is a good analysis.

[lazypenguin]

Either way, XM is losing a ton of money by doing this. Opie and Anthony is one of their biggest pulls. If the merger doesn't go through, they are going to be hurting bad.

[docellis]

Either way, XM is losing a ton of money by doing this. Opie and Anthony is one of their biggest pulls. If the merger doesn't go through, they are going to be hurting bad.

I am not saying this isn't true - but where are you finding these statistics (re: Opie and Anthony being their biggest revenue generators)?

Also, if they merge, wouldn't Stern be the biggest pull? (I assume so because he makes so much money)