Opie & Anthony Fans, Jason Ellis, How it Impacts Sam & Daves Special Delivery
It seems that there is a bit of drama unfolding at Sirius XM these days. Shock Jock Howard Stern gets two channels to himself while working just three days per week and everyone else seems to be fighting for airtime and contracts. Jason Ellis has a popular following, as do Opie & Anthony. In fact, it could be argued that Opie & Anthony have “developed” more compelling shows than Stern, and looking at the overall content available on Stern’s two channels vs. Opie & Anthony’s Virus, one could argue that the Virus, and not Howard, should have two channels.
The latest drama to unfold centers on Jason Ellis replays bumping popular Virus staple Special Delivery from 3 hours to 2 on Saturday nights. Long time participants on O&A and Ron & Fez, Sam and Dave had started their own 3 hour show, Special Delivery, that quickly amassed a following, and has now established itself as an integral part of the weekend experience on The Virus channel. Fans of the show seem outraged that Special Delivery is being preempted by Ellis. The issue has actually spilled over onto Twitter.
Part of the issue here is that Jason Ellis got his start on Sirius’ Faction channel, but over time has gained popularity and is now more of a talk show than a music show. As his following increased, it appeared that perhaps Jason Ellis may have outgrown Faction and that his show may be better placed somewhere else on the Sirius XM dial. Sirius XM has featured him on Sirius XM Stars, the Howard Stern Show, as well as the Opie & Anthony Show.
Where exactly does Jason Ellis fit? The answer is that he could likely be a welcomed addition to any of these channels, but the semantics of these channels may mean that Ellis will continue in no-man’s land. A natural solution would be to give Ellis an afternoon drive slot on Howard 100/101 or the Virus, but for whatever reason this does not seem to fit into the plans. In the interim we have a popular Ellis show seemingly “invading” other popular existing shows.
Position – Long Sirius XM Radio
I like Ellis on Faction. If he goes to Howard’s channels then the XM subscribers will get screwed since they have to pay extra to get the “Best Of Sirius.” If he goes on The Virus the Sirius subscribers will get screwed since they have to pay extra to get the “Best of XM.” Leave him on Faction it’s not worth the extra $5 a month for any of the best of packages.
That is exactly the reason I think Ellis is kind of “homeless” now. The show has gotten bigger than Faction, but there does not seem to be a place to put it
this TOOL spelled addition “edition”. tss he should wear a napoleon hat if hes invading tss
Good one Chip. Or sumpfin.
ts tss yeahhh orr the MOOOON tss ts
simple solution, get rid of Ellis. He’s garbage. Give his money to people on the virus who actually deserve it
truer words have never been spoken…or typed
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but, he is pulling ratings. You might not like him but, he is pulling big numbers. I would be happy if everyone on Sirius XM got paid according to their ratings.
How does one come by these ratings you are mentioning? What are big numbers and where can I get a look at them?
Queme ratings.
I am guessing that is the phonetic spelling for Cume ratings, thanks but still not seeing any ratings available.
big numbers? Show us proof! Ellis in annoying. Sure some people like him, but there is no way he has “big numbers.”
Ya unfortunately it’s true Ellis holds the record for most phone calls in a hour (75,000+) on Satellite Radio. Once he beat Howard Sterns previous record (25,000+) in a hour the Suits started to take a liking to him this the reason he’s on Stars2 Opie&Anthony Channel & Faction. Honestly I think East Side Dave is a dope for leaving the way he did & his sports show is entertaining but lacks something.. Sam Roberst show (on Sunday’s 4 o’clock in tx) just started out & I like it a lot but Sam needs some lunny guy to add to the show otherwise it’s just going to stay “ok”, like a slightly better version of the Jay Thomas Show. (Sam & Ellis would be hilarious but I’m sure they wouldn’t last a week) east side Dave hopefully didn’t miss his chance at success, SAMs going to be ok. Ellis’ show is ok but gets less mature every day.
The only reason this tool gets any numbers is because people like me keep there radios tuned to O&A all the time, Sometimes when I turn on my radio, he is the only thing to listen to. kind of the best choice of bad choices….
Ellis is ok. The sam and Dave show by far better an also it is new instead of replays
Ellis sucks. Love O&A but change the station for a lil while when they have him on. He is a overcocky douche. Oh and who is Sam?
His name is Sam Gabay.RDS
Ellis is awful. He does the same show week after week.
Cutting Special Delivery down to 2 hours is even worse when you consider they added time for Rogan’s podcast which anyone can download for free days earlier. It’s not going to bring new subscribers or listeners to the channel. If you like Rogan, you already heard the podcast.
You have UNIQUE, FIRST-RUN, EXCLUSIVE programming with Special Delivery and you cut a third of that for more repeated best-of material?
I wish I could say I’m shocked, but given Sirius’ moves since the merger, it is to be expected. They let talent like Dave walk away but have $ to throw at podcasts and celebrities that provide maybe an hour or two of new programming each week.
I doubt they are throwing money at Podcasts. If I had to guess, I bet Joe Rogan is getting nothing — except for the ability to promote his own show to a national audience. If anything, this is some kind of free try out.
Your point is well taken. They don’t spend money on good talent.
My 3 XM radios are all tuned to channel 202 (now 105).
The only time one of them is NOT on 202 (now 105), is on Saturday nights at 6pm.
That’s when I change the channel. I can’t stand Jason Ellis, nor do I like the manner in which his show has been forced on O&A and their listeners.
Perhaps not being a 13 year-old skateboarder might have something to do with it. From the limited time I heard the show, that seems to be the demographic the show is geared toward.
I turn the channel back to The Virus at 9pm for the Sam and Dave Show.
O&A are great, as are Ron and Fez. Even Dr. Steve’s show seems to be an extension of the AFRO ‘network’, and it’s also a great listen.
The Ellis show just doesn’t belong. I’m sure he’s got quite the following of adolescent MMA/X Game fans, but I don’t think there many of those that are regular listeners to The Virus.
First they did away with older shows on the replays, playing the same show 8 times on the weekends, now they get rid of an hour of original programming to keep a repeat of the Thrasher show to accommodate Rogan. Bad move. I like the additional of Rogan, but they should get rid of Ellis.
Any LESS of East Side Dave is a shame! Sirius doesn’t grasp his brilliance. If anything, give ESD his own channel, and let him program it! That would be radio worth listening to!
I think it’s way overdue that the management of this company QUIT treating the talent on the virus like 2nd class citizens! I’ve tried to be open minded and have listened to ellis and strern’s shows. Both shows are not even close to the level of programming on the virus. In my opinion when you have talent like OandA, Ron and Fez, and special delivery you should promote that talent instead of hindering it. Wierd medicine should also be live. OandA also have a bunch of other very talented comedians that would make great programs.leave ellis on faction and give the virus 2channels! Let them give me my moneys worth and stop with the crap!
Howard has 2 channels cause people actually listen to him unlike the guys who got fired when they tried to replace him at k rock
It’s not about O&A getting two channels. It’s about one channel reaching a critical mass and how to handle that problem.
You will still get to love your hero three days a week even if another channel gets more content…simmer down, sweetie.
Good one John gillbunnie. Howard sucks. Have fun over there and keep kissing your heros ass.
heres what siriusxm should do get rid of ron and fez (its the same thing fez crying or not talking and ron just babbling about nothing. if i wanted to hear boring talk and the same bits every day i would listen to regular radio) and replace it with ellis or sam and dave. and let whoever didnt get the slot after O&A give them the the weekend time. problem over.
I think Jason should go somewhere Ellis tss tss chchch
Oh chip! You’re too much
JFC the virus has as many listeners as Howard’s channels.
Stop being stupid. Just give them another channel.
If any of the talent on 105 leave, many will follow.
I like that they have a replay. But they should still be 3 hours.
I am the biggest fan of O & A in existence, and not a Stern guy, but let’s not be delusional. Look at Twwitter numbers and online Shoutcast numbers, and Stern dwarfs O&A. I don’t think it’s just, but check the numbers. Howard put up a stupid vapid Twitter account a couple months ago, and after well over a year, Opie constantly mentioning Twitter, he has less than 100,000 and Stern has over 500,000 after a couple months. It bums me for are but come on.
Agreed. You cant deny that Howard is a well recognized name. Either way, his show still blows compared to O&A.
O&A rock,Ron&Fez Rock,Sam&Dave Rock, Ellis(I try but I don’t get it).Joe Roagan Rocks and deserves a chance on the Virus.I was hoping sirius would extend Sam&Dave to 4 hrs,with a replay on Sunday. I also enjoy Dr Steve alot,he deserves more airtime.
I subscribed to XM for O&A and the Hockey.I loved my XM but ever since sirius has taken over 202 has gone downhill,they should have kept Eastside Dave on fulltime and give O&A some freedom to run the channel the way it was meant to.
I do believe if Sirius doesn’t stop screwing around with 202 they are going to lose O&A,along with alot of subscribers
Oh, and I thought Ellis was funny as Hell. What do people have against him?
Wow, that Rogan thing is just a pocast?? What a joke. Get rid of the smodcast too.. if i wanna hear kevin smith jerk off series i bet they are online anyway.
Yeah opie aint renewing in 2012 either so it dont really Matter
There are other channels on Sirius besides 100 & 101? Who knew…..
Lazlow > Special Delivery, Ellis, Stern
I think we all can agree that Big Kevs Geek stuff should go before Special Delivery was cut.
I’ve been a huge fan of O&A for a long time. I used to hate Ron and Fez but there ok. I see Ronnie b is actually very intelligent but fez is just weird. He’s all a bit Ronnie has his voice recorded. Everything of his voice are just sound bits.
Opie and Anthony are getting screwed and will not re-up when their contract ends. It was a f’ing crime against humanity when East Side Dave was not offered more money and had to leave Ron and Fez. Jason Ellis is a jackass who I think is best tossed to podcast land. I don’t know? It seems like management is just not supporting The Virus.
Dear SiriusXM,
Give Opie & Anthony a better contract with more money and freedom to do the show they want. Failure to do so will result in three less radio subscriptions, one of which is a Sirius account that I pay extra on so I can get O&A. Sure, my few hundred $$$ a year ain’t much. But remember, we are many. I would happily spend $$$ to subscribe to a members only podcast if that’s what they decide to do.
Stern is a failure. $400,000,000 for three days a week?? Plus he’s suing you. Mel and Howard both need to be shown the exit.
Forget the haters…red dragons!
Jason Ellis is what Opie and Anthony try to be.
I subscribe only to listen to Ellis. Howard is a bonus as well. Nothing against the rest of the shows; I just don’t relate. Red Dragons!!
Just like the guy above me the only reason I have Sirius is because of Ellis and Tully they are amazing, funny, and actually respond to tweets and instagram messages…they ate big but not big headed….if you don’t like it don’t listen to it but for the rest of us the 4 hours they talk is the most funny radio ever…so let Red Dragons and wolf knives enjoy our little slice of awesomeness
Ellis sucks, the show has not improved since he started which is damn near TEN years ago at this point. Tully tries his ASS off to sound about 100X’s smarter than he actually is, and often goes off on these thinly veiled liberal rants, not shocking from a guy who peaked in high school. I don’t like it, and I don’t listen.
“the show has not improved since he started” … “I don’t listen.”
Hmmm.
Sorry for the necro, but if anyone should see this now…. how ironic that Opie is on the way out and Sam & Jim will roll up under Ellis on the new ‘Faction Talk’ channel. Shows how much you all knew…
Howard and Opie are spent… SiriusXM knows it and is now banking on the best talent they have. Ellis, Sam & Jim, and hopefully Jude. Opie is toast and deservingly so.