The fallout over the suspension of Satellite radio XM hosts Opie and Anthony has sparked outrage by loyal listeners.
01/25/2007 - Howard Stern is Sirius' #1 star- New York, NY © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi
There are many who are just canceling their service.
Isn't pay per listen Satellite in a separate category than the FCC regulated airwaves of terrestrial radio?
It was supposed to be completely uncensored beyond the ken of federal regulators where Howard Stern can actually say what he wants instead of alluding, and jocks like Opie and Anthony can perform their sophomoric skits without fear of losing their jobs.
Even people horrified by what Opie and Anthony entertained with a homeless man's rank comments about Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush are fuming over a chill in the airwaves, one that should not be there on pay to listen radio.
The devout XM listeners were outraged at XM's executives reaction to the jocks, reports the Los Angeles Times.
"I signed up for XM because it's uncensored. I like these guys because they are so unfiltered," said Placentia resident Paul Hebert, who canceled his $12.95 monthly XM subscription Tuesday in protest, to the Times.
Mass protests and other personalities on the air have been commenting on the attack on free speech in the United States of America.
Observers cite that satellite radio is the last bastion of unregulated content.
But the Los Angeles Times speculates that the suspension was perhaps purely business related, as "XM might have been more worried about offending federal regulators, who can block the company's proposed merger with its only rival, Sirius Satellite Radio."
The Don Imus "Nappygate" event has not helped matters either.
XM spokesman Nathaniel Brown would not comment to the Los Angeles Times on whether the pending merger was a factor in the suspension and would not say how many people had canceled their subscriptions.
XM issued a statement condemning the shock jock's comments, and Opie and Anthony (real names are Cumia and Hughes) apologized to listeners on the air last Friday.
Christopher Lewis of Glenmoore, Penn., quickly registered http://www.cancelxm.com
Howard Stern, who left traditional radio in 2004 also commented on his show on Sirius.
"If you want free speech," he told his listeners Wednesday, "walk in a closet and talk to yourself."
"The suspension would be as surprising as HBO pulling "The Sopranos" for offensive content and will reverberate through the industry," said Tom Taylor, a former program director who edits the trade journal Inside Radio to the Los Angeles Times.
The safety net of free speech is eroding in the satellite world.
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