Sirius Censoring Their Shock Jocks
Recently I have become concerned that the very reason I originally signed up for Sirius has already begun to slip away. The beauty of Sirius Satellite Radio was that paying subscribers were finally able to get truly uncensored talk radio, a product that until recently was not available anywhere else. Just like XM, it now seems that Sirius is changing their stance on what they tout as “uncensored radio.”
While listening to the Bubba The Love Sponge Show this week I began to notice there were long breaks, extra commercials, and tons of old bits being played. It was clear that something was going on, but what could it be? After returning from some of these extended breaks the hosts of the show made some comments that were pretty clear. Not only were they running bits by the guys at corporate for permission, the over thinkers were actually preventing them from running their bits. They weren’t bleeping them or hitting the dump button, it was even worse, they were killing their bits before they even hit the air.
Bubba was on fire right out of the box today making sure that everyone knew that he finally got a good night sleep because “Sirius corporate has me back on the rattler.” For those of you who don’t know, the rattler is Bubba’s cornucopia of pills which he uses for stress relief, being able to sleep, and a little pick me up every now and then. Continuing on he made sure to let the fans know that they should “bookmark the website because you never know when we might get fired” saying that as long as the fans can keep in contact via the web they can follow him wherever he might end up like “102.5 the bone in Tampa.”
I am sure a lot of this is Bubba posturing and trying to get some leverage when it comes time to negotiate his new contract the end of this year but I also think that, what some might call his creative license, is being revoked. I have no problem with some corporate entity laying down rules and regulations but when those rules prohibit the very thing that they say sets them apart from regular radio they are going to far. Go ahead and lay down a nice big set of rules for your “shock jocks” but don’t call yourself “uncensored” and don’t be surprised when subscribers stop renewing their subscription.
The powers that be over at Sirius need to wake up and realize that uncensored talk radio is what sets them apart from all the other competitive ear candy. Don’t get me wrong, Sirius has some exceptional music programming but uncensored music is something all of us can get by firing up a CD, Computer, or iPod. If they forget that they are going to wind up like every other failing radio station across the nation.
If there is any truth to this…If Sirius goes in this direction..I will cancel that shit so fast! Then take my receivers outside & run them over with my car!!! This is EXACTLY what would make me dump Sirius & forget it ever existed.
This better be “Bubba posturing”!
I couldn’t agree more with this article. There are frighteningly few remaining bastions of free speech, and we have to pay to get those, including Sirius. Unless it’s outright illegal, Sirius needs to keep their hands out of the creative process.
Ned’s ‘The N-Word Eulogy’ being prohibited from play on H101 on Sirius is a perfect example. For those with BubbaRaw (his pay website for adult content), you can hear this bit, which does not contain anything illegal. The decision to not air this bit was made by lawyers and Sirius management because of the biting racist content potentially giving the anti-merger people something to latch on to. It was an EDITORIAL decision that should not have been made for us.
Unless stopped right now, this could be the beginning of the end for Sirius, XM or whatever they become if they merge. High-quality uncensored content is important to adults, and is one of the main reasons many of us subscribe in the first place (what was Sirius before Howard came over?).
If you agree, I highly recommend you write a composed, non-emotional email to Sirius and let them know how you feel. Don’t let the lawyers and management turn Sirius into Jack-FM…
I have news for everyone, any program that is funded by commercials has censorship. After seeing what happened to O&A with their uncensored remarks (advertisers ran away) it proves that it’s good business sense to show some self restraint in how far you are willing to go. Every9one self censors their own comments in public all the time because there are social norms that we don’t want to cross. A good radio jock knows how far to take things without crossing the line. I don’t think there is much risk of turning these “uncensored” shows into family programming.
XM has never, ever censored anything on 202.
O&A have clearly stated this, and management’s removing them for a month obviously had nothing to do with censorship. On the day of their return they made it very clear that it was not a censorship issue.
If Sirius is censoring its shock channels, that is an absolutely unacceptable action.
Anonymous
You dont think O&A having to apologize was a form of censorship? Do you think that XM would allow them to run that bit or a similar bit in the future? You are kidding yourself if you do not think O&A are not censored in some way.
Again…I have no problem with that at all. My issue is with both providers advertising their programming as “uncensored.”
It is not my understanding that O&A were “required” to apologize. I can only go by what O&A have said, which is that they were told immediately before returning to the air there were “no limits” on the content.
As their employer, I believe XM was within its rights to do what they felt was necessary to get O&A’s attention and to be certain that O&A fully comprehend who the boss is. There is no documented evidence anywhere that O&A’s suspension constitutes an attempt to dictate what is or is not said on the show.
You and the writer of the original article are failing to distinguish between “censorship” and the legitimate fiscal prerogatives of an employer.
One thing you all have to remember: SIRI and XM are going through a merger process right now with the FCC, the people that are in charge of censorship. One rumor is that the FCC may step in and say you can merge if we get censorship powers over your company.
I PERSONALLY feel that XM and SIRI are doing their own “posturing” of censorship to show the FCC that their assistance is not needed.
For Jack: It is MY understanding that the sponsors did NOT run away for the O&A comments, they withdrew their ads because of the SUSPENSION of O&A.
I agree. There should not be any censorship. But they have to play the FCC game until they get this merger passed. I think you will see a lot less of these acts once the company is either merger or the merger is killed. I feel it is the same reason that Imus is still out of work. As soon as there is a yes/no on the merger, Imus is going to be working for one of the two sat cos.
Anonymous
I do not think I am failing to distinguish anything. If any talk personality is forced into some kind of dictated format it is my belief that they are being censored. The reason is irrelevant.
XM would not have to show O&A “who is boss” if they were truly uncensored.
Uncensored: Not examined, expurgated, or given a rating for inclusion of improper or inappropriate material.
XM and Sirius can dictate any rules/regs they like, they just need to stop advertising the fact that they are “uncensored” as it is blatant false advertising.
This is just awesome! Here, I went ahead about 2 years ago and got their Lifetime Subscription because I thought it was a pretty damn good deal. Still did, up until the point where they start censoring their jocks. I was listening to Hard Attack and Jose was saying how he was told by bosses he couldn’t swear, but the guest on at the time could. How fu@%#$ up is that? I knew they were starting to censor their dj’s.
If this merger goes through, Sirius just lost a customer. They can keep my money, It’s been 2 years, as long as my receiver lasts another year and they don’t merge that soon I’ll be fine.
I was actually thinking about buying a new receiver, guess I won’t be now. Think I’m going to start shopping for an MP3 player.
Your own definition of “uncensored” tells the story. In no way were O&A “examined, expurgated, or given a rating for inclusion of improper or inappropriate material”. Not one credible allegation has been levied suggesting “inappropriate material” had anything to do with why O&A were suspended.
They were suspended for insubordination – not doing what their employer told them to do (and that had nothing, whatsoever, to do the content issue). XM has said it, O&A have said it, and I know of no person who would be in a better position explain precisely what happened.
An excerpt from the news release:
“XM Radio deplored the comments aired on “The Opie & Anthony Show” last week. At the time, the company strongly expressed its views to Opie and Anthony, and they issued an immediate apology.
Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday’s broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter. The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them.”
It was never the comments about Condoleeza that caused the suspension; it was the commentary when the apology was made that made it seem less than genuine. Management had said (FOR EXCELLENT BUSINESS REASONS) — DO NOT DWELL ON THIS ISSUE. And O&A chose to dwell on it.
XM was not attempting to censor O&A; they were attempting to protect their business interests. The “appropriateness” of the content was never at issue; but the potential for damage to XM’s business interests represent a legitimate reason for XM to step in.
There is a huge difference. All parties have clearly stated there are no limits on the content and their shows since they returned would certainly suggest this is true.
Slayerboy: If you are threatening to cancel after the merger, why not just do it now? They dont need your subscription.
But if you are going to wait until the merger, why not give it a chance and see what it is like? See if anything changes. I personally think that it will.
I subscribe to XM just because that is what came in my truck when I bought it. The DJs there are not censored. The comedy channel that I list to (XM 150) the DJs swear regularly, and none of the comedy clips are ever beeped or blurted out, and they talk about some pretty raunchy stuff sometimes, even during personal interviews and not just recorded sound clips.
I will repeat my comments because I think they are correct. XM and SIRI are just trying to fly under the radar of the FCC as far as censorship and content go while they are going through the merger process. They dont need any bad press right now. Once the merger is done one way or the other, I really think you will start to see a lot more freedom from the DJs/talk jocks.
Some form of censorship will always be in place weather you like it or not. I really dont think as a business man you want to run a 30 second commercial spot for a product only to have Howard or Opie come on and say “I dont know why we run that stupid commercial. The product sucks! I tried that food and it tasted like shit!” It is just not good business sence.
Wait until the merger is through and see if there is a difference. If you dont like how it is now, try some of the comedy channels or stop listening.
Anonymous
You are playing semantics. I never said they were suspended for any reason whatsoever. You are the one that keeps bringing up their suspension.
Like everyone, I totally understand that a spin was put on what happened and everyone (including O&A in a beaten fashion) said that it was due to “insubordination.”
My question to you is…if they are uncensored…why did they have to apologize for the words that were broadcasted over XM? Uncensored would lead people to believe (by definition) that there is no limit to what they can say. You can not argue that, unless you have some other definition for the word uncensored.
Brain
“Some form of censorship will always be in place weather you like it or not.”
I totally agree and understand but its time to stop throwing around that the channels are uncensored in advertisements. I want my radio totally uncensored and if that means charging me a few extra bucks a month so that Sirius doesn’t have to worry about ad revenues for those channels then so be it.
They “had” to apologize because their program is uncensored which allowed the broadcast of anything, without restriction. Apparently, they felt they crossed some kind of line and chose to apologize.
XM apparently felt that the apology was done in a manner that wasn’t genuine and therefore posed a business risk; they felt the suspension would cause O&A to be more serious about such things.
It is not censorship, and in fact, I believe that O&A would back up the notion that not one time in the history of their program have they been censored in any way, shape, or form.
Anonymous
Do you really believe what you are saying? They “chose” to apologize because they didn’t want to lose their jobs and because they are puppets. If it were up to them what they said would have gone off without a hitch.
“I believe that O&A would back up the notion that not one time in the history of their program have they been censored in any way, shape, or form.”
I think you insult peoples intelligence when you talk like this. Just like Howard, O&A, didn’t say half of what they felt when they were stifled on terrestrial radio until they came to satellite because they know enough not to bite the hand that feeds. We will have to wait and see what they say about satellite or XM if and when they finally do leave.
Listen to you… Are you all really incapable of expressing yourself w/o using vulgarity. Although I believe in the freedom of speech and the ability of every man and woman to say what they feel, anything can be said without profanity. Sirius and XM are in business to make money and if they pay Bubba, O&A and Howard enough $$ they will stay censored or not censored they actually don’t care. Do you think Bubba would work for free if able to work uncensored?
i cant believe you guys fell for bubbas schtick. he goes through this about once a month or so(least we forget the bubbagon?….hell…i remember the “gas chamber”) i guess it makes him feel edgy for going against managment. its all a bit…my only concern is that hes slipping…it actually took him over a month to try and get his name associated withwhat happened to o&a. as a fellow radio guy its gotta be just killing him the amount of press that o&a got out of their suspension…so calm down folks…this is just bubba being bubba….sit back and enjoy the show:)