Air America says: Show Me the Money!

[quaoar]

They're gone. Off the air.

At least for those of us who subscribe to Sirius.

Turned on the radio in my truck today and there was Talk Left on Channel 144 where Air America used to be. I'm not about to switch to XM so I guess I'll have to get by with Talk Left.

And yes, Stephanie Miller was blasting Air America today on Talk Left, saying they abandoned their Sirius viewers because they wanted more money from Sirius.

Oh well.

[ET Awful]

1. Hint to Stephanie Miller -

AAR is NOT a non-profit corporation. They have investors that require a return on their investment. They are a business, not a charity.

[dhinojosa]

5. Even more reason why this move is dumb.....

Financial inflow in the beginning from XM but advertisers will move on to greener pastures where the people are in the long run.

[ET Awful]

12. Ummm, XM has several times the number of subscribers, that IS

where the listeners are for the most part. Sirius has a very small market share of satellite radio.

[dhinojosa]

25. also Left Wing radio has a very small market share....

those non-political advertisers will go elsewhere.

[Born Free]

154. get tired of that old spin

You guys really buy into that spin from Air America, don't you, bet you believe all the rosy talk from the white House about Iraq as well. Sirius dropped Air America, they didn't want to pay for the services . Sirius is betting the spineless Air America listeners will not care enough to cancel their subscriptions, and all you people that keep regurgitating the "spin" do nothing to help Air America.

Do you really believe that Air America is going to admit that Sirius refuses to pay for their services? Do you really believe XM that never even bothered to air all of Air America suddenly decided they had to have exclusive rights? Do you really believe all is well in Iraq? yep....must be...

I am angry at Air America as well, but I know they are in this situation because they did not prepare and that is because they lack the experience to be prepared to deal with the tough radio industry. Air America listeners that wish to support air America MUST cancel their subscriptions to show the people at Sirius they were wrong about Air America listeners. Yes, it hurts, we had 3 subscriptions and the better part of 1000 invested in 3 radio/tuners-however, I know that if the (former) Air America listeners on Sirius don't stand up for Air America they just reinforce the myth that Air America listeners are nothing but spineless democrats willing to adapt and move on rather than standing up for what they believe in, even if it looks like a lost cause. That my friends is what separates the right wing from the left, the right will stand up for lost causes - and that is why the American people trust the right wing with national security , the American people know the right wing will fight to the end, whereas the left will learn to live with foreign occupiers. So take your spin and hide behind it if you like, but if you want to show anyone you are not just another spineless liberal than stand up for Air America! You can bitch about their stupidity, just as you would complain about a son or daughter that does something stupid but if you love them you still stand up for them. What's it going to be, are you going to continue to hide behind "spin" or are you going to stand up and tell them you are not going to roll over any more?

[XOKCowboy]

15. XM has almost 3 times the subscribers as Sirius.

Need I say more?

[still_one]

22. first of all xm was the first

second there are only two providers in satellite radio, and it will be that way for some time

the best thing to a monopoly is a duopoly

XM has something to offer and so does Sirius

When Sirius gets NFL, Stern, and hopefully two progressive liberal talk channels they will hold their own

Frankly, the more liberal radio the better it is for our cause

This was purely a business decision for all parties concerned

[liberalmike27]

157. Amazing

How much a couple of bucks a month means.

[ikojo]

2. Download iTunes and subscribe to the

podcast of Air America shows.

[Beer Snob-50]

94. what does something like that cost?

and how does it work?

[dhinojosa]

3. Yep, they fucked up......AAR will look back

and.... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[ET Awful]

I doubt that seriously. n/t

[still_one]

7. The one saving grace for AAR is that the are broadcasting OTA

the more cities they cover the better it is

[ET Awful]

19. And XM has 3 times as many subscribers as Sirius and growing

Sorry, but that's not the "one" saving grace. Actually, it's more like Sirius's one saving grace was AAR, and they decided to spend the money on Martha Stewart and Howard Stern instead.

[still_one]

26. Frankly,your bias is obvious

Stern has about 13 million loyal listeners. If you don't think that will mean money for Sirius then you are naive

They have NASCAR, NFL, and other things

XM and Sirius will both surive, they are the only game in town

Honestly, I have stock in both companies, and I am making money in both of them. When * won in 2000 I shifted into in oil and energy stocks, along with pharma and bonds. I am mostly out of tech

I have no doubt that in 7 to 10 years the seeds planted today will screw our country big time.

I only hope in 7 to 10 years when people realize they can't retire, afford healthcare, or send their kids to college they remember who they voted for in 2000 and 2004

[ET Awful]

31. Actually, I've been a subscriber to Sirius since the inception of AAR

I subscribed to it only for AAR, where AAR goes I go.

You're the one showing bias (against XM).

I have no use for Stern.

Of course Stern will mean money for Sirius, but he will also cost them HUGE amounts. They can have Stern or they can have AAR, they chose Stern. It was their choise, the made their bed and now they must lie in it.

[still_one]

37. Hey I have no bias against XM

I have interest in both XM and Sirius

As far as I am concerned the more progressive content the better it is for all of us

Different strokes for different folks

[ET Awful]

42. Then how exactly can you say "your bias is obvious" to me?

I have no bias other than the success of AAR. They made a wise business decision that insures that their investors will be happy. So long as their investors are happy, their continued existence is assured.

Works for me.

[still_one]

48. we are not in disagreement, even though my choice of words

probably was not appropriate

[ET Awful]

52. I can accept that

:)

[Rosco T.]

39. Between Howard, Martha, NBA/NHL/NASCAR & NFL, SIrius spent $500 million...

[ET Awful]

43. Just think, if they'd ignored NASCAR, they could have had AAR

but evidently they'd rather have NASCAR.

[Rosco T.]

55. More than that, they bid NASCAR three times what XM had bid for ....

... last 2 years XM had it, and are trying to BUY OUT XM'S CONTRACT for the 2006 season.

Sirius has it's Priorities..

Howard
Martha
NASCAR
NFL
NBA
NHL

obviously AAR was bottom of the stack. For all we know the only reason AAR is on the air is XM stepped up to the plate with a worthwhile offer... (well, the XM offer was very sweet, both money and other bennies... but no never mind).

[The Great Escape]

82. I Wish I Could Ignore NASCAR... But I Can't Living Where I Live....

I in no follow NASCAR at all. Don't watch the races, don't listen to them, don't follow online, newspapers, anything. Still, I usually know where the race is that weekend, who won and who the top two or three points leaders are. This is totally based on normal interaction with co-workers and acquaintances.

[quaoar]

85. So, what do you think

about Junior finally winning a race this year?

[RummyTheDummy]

27. And the NFL

And regardless of whether you like the NFL, thnk it's evil, or whatever, that's a huge coup for Sirius. End of story.

[dhinojosa]

28. Right on.....NBA too.

I love the NFL on Sirius.

[The Great Escape]

32. And Maybe The NHL Again!

[4metta]

88. Yes! There will be another NHL season soon!!!!

WOOHOOOOOO!!! I'm SO amped!!!

GO PANTHERS!!!!!

[TrueAmerican]

36. However, MLB works best on the radio

The NBA and the NFL are tv sports. MLB is on every night of the week. NFL is on once a week, and almost all the games are over in a 7 hour period.

Sorry, but MLB works best on radio and you can't dipute that.

Plus Opie and Anthony are a good bonus.

[ET Awful]

46. I haven't listened to O&A yet on XM (just got it set up on Thur. or Fri.)

How is their XM show?

[Rosco T.]

56. O&A are pretty good, they are back live tomorrow I belive.. and..

.. the 'mill' says they will be adding another show with Ron & Fez to channel 202.

[ET Awful]

60. I mean, when they were on in NY before the big fiasco, they were

freakin' hilarious :).

Do they still get Steven Lynch in the studio occasionally? It'd be great to hear him with no need to bleep out his funnier stuff :)

[Rosco T.]

71. Well, you can bet your tookas there's no bleeping...

and it's totally off the hook. No holds barred.

[TrueAmerican]

61. Pretty good

I have never listen to their show before XM, and I don't know how it compared to before. I have listen to Stern occassionally, but his act is stale. Opie and Anthony seems like a fresher show to me.

[ET Awful]

66. I think it was more that O & A were just humor I could relate to more

still really obnoxious, but in a different way. Stern always just pissed me off (although I liked him more when he started going after Bush).

The first time I heard their old show was actually on 9/11 believe it or not. I was just changing channels looking for news on my way home from work, and they had stopped their normal routine and were just taking calls from New Yorkers about what was going on.

They were amazingly even-handed and did a great job of just listening to people that day, they really impressed the hell out of me. At the time I hadn't ever heard their show before.

Yeah they did some shit that was pretty obnoxious (their "shave your bush for Bush" contest for example), but they were always funny as hell.

[GeekMonkey]

156. Thats because baseball is too boring to watch

[ET Awful]

34. Yet another place that Sirius spent money that they could have used

towards keeping AAR. So now we have NFL, Stern, Steward and NBA, all financial outlays for Sirius that prevented them from investing money in keeping AAR.

[CTD]

101. The lines have been drawn, IMO

XM has AAR, Bob Edwards and Major League Baseball

Sirius has Howard Stern, NASCAR, and the NFL.

Seems like the lines have been drawn, blue and red.

[cascadiance]

148. Umm... you're "conveniently" ignoring a few things...

1) Who has NPR talk huh?
2) Who has Radio OutQ huh?
3) Who HAD TWO progressive talk channels vs. the other one having only one until it got yanked from them, huh?
4) Who started the no-advertising subscription for music channels model, huh?

We have yet to see who will populate the another left wing channel. Both have rumors of them doing so. It's a bit premature to attach labels sir. You're just trolling here, to get reactions from us who got f'd!

[dhinojosa]

18. Assuming....

Advertisers will pull or renegotiate agreements based on loss of listeners by doing this agreement. AM/XM radio is there only hope for listenership and to refill those numbers.

[ET Awful]

21. Sorry, I don't see that happening. You can badmouth a legitimate

business decision all you like, but I think that AAR made the best business decision they could.

[dhinojosa]

23. I am not saying it was illegitimate, I am saying it's dumb

While right wing radio expands markets, there is no time for the left to retract those markets and lose possible advertising revenue.

Oh well, I hope I am wrong.....We'll see what is in store.

[ET Awful]

33. Blame Sirius, not AAR. Has Sirius offered more money, they

would have AAR. They could not or would not match XM's offer, that's Sirius's problem.

[4metta]

89. I like your pussies.

Very cute. :)

[Rosco T.]

59. Well, since advertisers are seperate contracts for each service...

.. then AAR going to XM excluively will RAISE the value of AAR to the advertisers for XM.

[still_one]

4. actually the deal is a little more complicated

I am a Sirius sub, and hope that they put liberal content on 144, or they will make a lot of people unhappy

The problem was that XM offerred AAR money to broadcast them exclusively, and Sirius did not want to pay AAR so they left

It was strickly a business decision with all parties concerned

As far as I am concered the more liberal content we have where ever it is the better for our cause

[ET Awful]

8. The switch happened to coincide almost exactly with my Sirius billing date

The Roady2 receiver is now only $49, so I made the switch. My Sirius receiver still works should I ever decide to reactivate it.

My main two requirements are Morning Sedition and Randi during my drive home at 5:00, so XM fits my needs fine.

It was indeed strictly a business decision, and XM is not a non-profit company, they need to show a return for their investors or their investors will start getting pissed.

[still_one]

17. XM better not delay broadcast some of AAR programming

or it will be a terrible decision for them to go with AAR:

Weekday Schedule:
5AM-6AM ET Rachel Maddow Dr. Rachel Maddow
6AM-9AM ET Morning Sedition Marc Maron, Mark Riley, Wayne Gilman
9AM-Noon ET The Jerry Springer Show Jerry Springer
Noon - 3PM ET The Al Franken Show Al Franken, Katherine Lanpher
3PM-5PM ET The Ed Schultz Show Ed Schultz
5PM-7PM ET The Randi Rhodes Show Randi Rhodes
7PM-10PM ET The Majority Report Janeane Garofalo, Sam Seder
10PM-1AM ET The Alan Colmes Show Alan Colmes
1AM-5AM ET Mike Malloy Mike Malloy


http://www.xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=167

Incidently, I don't care who gets progressive/liberal radio as long as it grows

I am currently a Sirius subscriber

[T Roosevelt]

9. Then XM better straighten out their AAR lineup

shorting Randi for Ed Schultz, delaying Malloy for Alan f&*^ing Colmes.

I have Sirius, and knew it was coming, but it's still a pain in the ass. If they would do all 3 hours of Thom Hartmann and Stephanie Miller...

[still_one]

20. That is why I am waiting to see what Sirius fills the 144 location with

I have to believe that they will give us more progressive radio since they have sirius right, sirius patriot, and their other talk is right except sirius left

[4metta]

138. Me too. If they don't keep AAR they better keep lib programming...

Or else I leave. I'm not blindly loyal to anybody.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Sirius has my money

and AAR would still have me as a listener if they hadn't abandoned us Sirius listeners.

[still_one]

10. I assume you cannot get AAR OTA?

Hopefully Sirius will fill up 144 with progressive talk, at least they better

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. What is OTA?

And yes, Sirius has put liberal talk on 144. I listened today and was quite impressed.

[still_one]

41. Over the Air radio. AAR has over 50 stations throughout the country

Sirius duplicated 143 on 144

What I was referring to was that I hope that Sirius get new progressive radio content on 144 to replace AAR

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. You mean On The Airwaves?

as in on a local radio station?

Excuse me while I die laughing. I live in talk right radio hell. No way would AAR ever get on the airwaves here. Hence, I chose to buy a Sirius satellite radio a year ago.

[still_one]

45. sorry about that

then the only options you have to listen to AAR are streaming or XM

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. Yes and my computer won't stream those stations anymore

So I am SOL. But I really liked what I heard on Sirius Left today.

[still_one]

70. Yeah, some of the personalities may not be everyones cup of tea

i.e. Alex Bennett and Lynn Sammuels

They are sometimes off the wall

[XOKCowboy]

11. A radio station that wants to be profitable.. Unbelievable!

I mean why don't those ungrateful Air America Radio hosts and employees just work for free? They don't need food, insurance and medical benefits. The ingrates.

Seriously, you should direct your ire toward Sirius. They abandoned AAR, not the other way around. They spent huge amounts of money to bring you Howard Stern and Martha Stewart and had a chance to bid on exclusive rights to Air America. They made their choice. XM made a choice to back Air America Radio with money and free studio space in Washington DC. You might be able to imagine how valuable that is to a political radio station.

We all have to make choices. I made the choice to get XM over a year ago and I'm glad I did. If Sirius had won the rights to AAR I'd be switching right now. AAR means that much to me.

[ET Awful]

14. BINGO! n/t

[LizW]

40. No problem

But they'll have to get their profits from someone else. I spent my money on Sirius.

:shrug:

[ET Awful]

50. Did you prepay a subscription? Was it preinstalled in your car?

If not, what really prevents you from switching? It took me all of $50 and 15 minutes to change over.

I can understand not wanting to spend the $50, but for me it was worth it to keep my commute shows in place :).

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. So you don't have to pay a monthly subscriber's fee?

I see where I can get a radio for $50 but I would still have to pay a montly access fee, as I already do for Sirius.

[ET Awful]

67. Yes you do, but the fee is the same as for Sirius is what I was saying

so for me, I had to spend the money for the receiver and a $9.99 activation fee, but since it coincided with my billing period on Sirius, it just cost me the $60 for equipment and activation and I cancelled my Sirius at the same time the XM started, to the fees just continued the same if that makes sense.

[proud2BlibKansan]

74. Okay I get it

I am going to wait it out. I really did like what I heard today on Sirius left.

Besides, wouldn't I have to pay to have my XM unit installed?

[ET Awful]

79. You wouldn't have to pay for an install really

I have a portable receiver that just transmits on an unused FM frequency so you don't have to install anything really other than the antenna which is really easy to do.

[LizW]

92. Yep, prepaid for a year. n/t

[cascadiance]

83. I'm tired of this ranting towards Sirius!

Are you telling me that Sirius *consciously* said that they don't care about Air America and knew they would lose them when they bid on Howard Stern? Are you saying that if they didn't know abou Air America potentially going "exclusive" with XM, that they should have still backed away from Howard Stern? That's plain STUPID sir! Especially when they knew that Howard would be more inclined to sign up with them than XM anyway due to Clear Channel's PAST partnership with XM, who had a big black mark in Howard Stern's book for not supporting him with his FCC mess.

I would have said that Sirius would have been stupid NOT to go after Howard Stern, with all of the potential listeners he could bring, and the strategic position they were in to bid for his services. And I'm not a Howard Stern listener myself! Just because they spend money on these other deals doesn't mean they were wanting to push Air America out.

I blame Air America for not listening to the concerns over the kind of product their listeners want from them and violating them with this very important business deal. Though it's hard to attach a cost to that, in my mind that was a poor business move. They should have welcomed offers (and the highest bid from either Sirius or XM), but not agreed to an exclusive arrangement with either one of them.

I blame both Sirius and XM for not following what the satellite radio licenses had asked them to do in encouraging manufacturers of their hardware to build compatibility in their units so that a customer could subscribe to either channel. Even though I have proprietary receivers when I switched from DirectTV to Dish Network, I still was able to use my old DirectTV dish on my Dish Network system as a second dish.

XM, offer me something like Alpine hardware where I can switch between Sirius or XM if I want instead of continuing to try and lock me into your service. If you want someone else to be a common carrier and you to offer more distinctive programming than your competitors, then make the receiver pieces a "standard" that either service could use, and win me over on your quality of service.

Quality of service. You're priorty was first "taking over" Air America, before you solved the Alan Colmes/Ed Schultz thing. Nice priorities for someone that's trying to force me into their service! Sorry, but NO THANKS!

[ET Awful]

91. Actually, Sirius had control of the deal, if they'd made an acceptable

offer, they'd have AAR. They put their money in Stern, Steward, NASCAR, NFL, etc. instead.

XM made a better offer for an exclusive contract and AAR made the best business decision for their investors.

Had Sirius foregone stuff such as NASCAR, perhaps they could have kept AAR, but it's obvious that they prefer the NASCAR audience to the AAR audience.

[cascadiance]

96. I think you're blaming the wrong party. Sirius didn't CONTROL the deal!

Did they now! A few questions for you:

1) Do you KNOW that Air America demanded that Sirius change their deal to give them money BEFORE they did these deals? If not, then those deals have no relevance. I would not want to have a business ignore other potential deals that help improve their service because Air America MIGHT want to ask them for money in the future (or for that matter any of the other channels that Air America works on). If you don't know that this deal was done before Howard Stern, then that is not a fair statement!
2) Do you know that XM would have offered Air America any money WITHOUT an exclusive contract? If not, then all this was about would have been a deal of "exclusive" contracts! Would that be good for either XM or Sirius listeners (depending on who got turned off)?
3) Making the "best" decision for AAR's investors. Why would that be. A cash infusion? Yes, and that would be the most *obvious* reason. Loss of their most loyal customers now and perhaps further into the future (along with those customers' friends) NO! That is BAD for their customers. Problem is that most deals like this is for the short term and basically a "drug trip" to make them feel like they're doing better, when the true costs of getting cash will be felt later.
4) I KNOW that NFL was negotiated well over a year ago and probably before Air America even existed. If the deal had been reversed, then someone would be bitching that it was XM's fault for doing deals with Major League Baseball and that sort of thing.
5) Do you KNOW that Sirius was given an *honest* opportunity to respond to XM's exclusive offer to counter it with something better or was the deal already done at that point? And even if they were given the opportunity to respond, maybe, from a business standpoint, XM offered them too much money, for what they were going to get back from the deal. What was the motivation with doing that if it be true? Goodwill towards Air America listeners? I doubt it! Trying to destroy Sirius? Maybe. Trying to destroy Air America? Maybe too (depending on who XM works with behind the scenes)

The bottom line is that Air America was ultimately the only one that had *CONTROL* over the deal. They were the ones that were going to pick whether they either went with Sirius or XM, or both and the terms of those deals. They were the ones that signed the contracts. It is THEY who have to decide whether more money now to fatten the wallets of the likes of Danny Goldberg, etc. is more important or growing a sizable and sustainable customer base instead of selling out to shrink it.

And if it were such a great deal, why is it that Air America's own on-air hosts (Janeane Garafalo, Randi Rhodes, etc.) have been the one bad-mouthing it? Have you seen anyone on Sirius's side complaining that they made bad decisions in "losing" Air America? NO!

You're blaming the wrong people. If Sirius hadn't gotten those other deals done and in the process stayed too small to cross over the hump to profitability because they didn't, and then either went out of business or sold out to XM (only to have XM be bought out by Clear Channel later), then you'd be the ones bitching that Sirius should have ran their businesses better and tried to cut the better deals to get them a decent user base, and that the idustry and its customers paid for it because they didn't.

I already know enough to fault Air America for making a bad deal. What I don't know yet is how well Sirius values us as customers. They've not put forth their replacement for Air America yet. They are indicating in emails that they are in the process of doing this. You can't build a network that easily within just a few months time. I want them to be as quick as they can, but I also want them to do it right. I will judge them once they offer the new channel. I will switch to monthly from yearly plan to indicate my concern as a customer that they value my business in how they put together this channel. I'm sure they are keeping track of the number of "downgrades" and those calling in complaining about being billed automatically as a measurement as to how important this is to their customers. And I'm guessing that it is pretty high.

Air America responded pretty well when Air America first went on line in one-upping XM then when they subsequently put up a 24x7 separate Air America channel on their service. That was because they listened to their customers like me who indicated that was needed then. I expect that they will do the same this time around, as much as in their power.

I recall also a year ago in looking at Air America's staff in trying to figure out why XM was brought on initially and not Sirius then. I noted that at least one of Air America's staff that was involved in negotiating such deals had previous XM ties. I don't know if that indicated favoritism then, or if that same person might be there now and also continuing a pattern of favoritism now too, but that could also be a factor as well.

[supernova]

13. I get them just fine

over the web and on my AM station here.

I'm happy just being able to afford sat TV.

[rox63]

16. AAR needs to make money to survive

And if that's what they have to do, then fine, I'm glad they're doing it. I listen over-the-air anyway, so it makes no difference to me.

[Todd B]

24. Why does everyone assume AAR just decided to make the switch on their own?

Why does everyone assume that AAR just decided one day to get up and say "f all the listeners on Sirius, we're switching to XM.. hahahaha"?

Could it be that XM offered AAR a sweetened deal that included lots of extra, added benefits besides a station in the lineup that AAR couldn't pass up?

I hope that XM will expand on their line up as well by creating a second station with Colmes, Shultz, and others - but I'm just happy with having SOME sort of liberal voice on the airwaves.

[still_one]

29. More liberal stations the better for our cause

I am a Sirius subscriber, but do not object to a business decision

by the way what happened was XM offerred them a good deal be exclusive, and Sirius did not want to match it

It was a business decision for all parties concerned

They will all survive

[mopinko]

44. studios

iirc, they got use of clear channel studios, including the ones in d.c.

[still_one]

47. frankly no business is clean

[Rosco T.]

75. NOT CLEAR CHANNEL DAMMIT!!! The got the use of the new..

XM studio complex in DC. I think that will come in REAL HANDY during the run-up to '06 and '08 don't you think? Almost any guest you want a Taxi ride away??

(I also have high hopes for live broadcasts from DC during the impeachment hearings... think positively).

[mopinko]

84. i think this is what sealed the deal.

it did for me.

[tocqueville]

30. Janeane apologized personally when starting Majority Report

listening on the Net... lucky me

[dhinojosa]

86. haha. I guess it is ironic...

to apologize to people that were dumped who were unable to hear.

[The Great Escape]

49. It's The "Tough Shit" Mentality Of Fellow Progressives...

that I have difficulty understanding. If the situation were reversed, I would not be gloating towards the XM subs. I would understand their frustration and let them vent.

[ET Awful]

51. So would I, but I would also point out the good deals on receivers

and the simplicity of changing over (as I'm doing now). I was a Sirius subscriber, bought my stuff when AAR started and spent $200 to do so.

But, as I said before, my entire reason for having satellite radio is AAR. I'll go where they go. Prices have come down enough that it's not a huge deal to switch anymore, and monthly rates are the same approximately.

[still_one]

54. Frankly, the only way I will sub to XM is if they broadcast AAR

in full with no interruption. Hopefully that will happen shortly, or I think it won't be positive for Randi Rhodes, The majority report, and Mike Malloy

[ET Awful]

58. Well, I think if you give it a little while, Randi has enough pull

to get something done. It really depends more on what XM's contract is with Ed Schultz and Alan Colmes.

Their contracts existed before the exclusive with AAR, so most likely, getting the entire AAR lineup will revolve around when their contracts expire or can be modified.

[still_one]

68. all the rumors indicated that it will occur

I agree with you that Randi should have enough pull

[ET Awful]

81. Like I say, I think it's the Schultz and Colmes contracts that are

holding it up.

[Rosco T.]

77. Schultz/Colmes contracts.. bingo...

First off, Schultz wants to expand his show to FOUR HOURS.

From what I hear, XM is putting together another 'left' channel (to bring back the "America Left" name). Expect to see Schultz and Colmes moved to 168.

They will have to get more talent to fill another channel.. Stephanie Miller (she's Jones Radio also) is likely, as it Thom Hartmann (I hope for Lionel also). I takes time to get a channel put together from 'pieces' (vs AAR which was a full schedule from the get go)

And I wouldn't count out The Young Turks either... if you check their site you'll see that they are NOT 'exclusive' to Sirius, they are on a coupl of OTA stations and other streaming on the net.

I almost have a feeling that the 'fill-in' they did this weekend on Laura Flanders may have been a 'tryout' to see what kind of OTA reaction they get (64 stations strong) and we WITH A LITTLE LUCK will see them get an AAR Weekend slot.

[Rosco T.]

69. Could we clear up the XM schedule once and for all...

Mon - Fri

Rachel - live
Morning Sedition - live
Springer - live
Franken - live
***Schultz - 1st 2 hours only, live
Randi - last 2 hours, live
***Colmes (yuk) - live
Malloy - take delay FULL SHOW

Weekends

Eco-Talk - live
Ring of Fire - live
Laura Flanders - live
Kyle Jason - live
Chuck D - live
Politically Direct - live
Steve Earl - live

OK, the total deviation from the AAR schedule is 2 hours of Randi and Mike on a delay.

Contracts were in place for Schulz and Colmes before Air America even came on the air. Schultz/Colmes were on the old "ASK" channel before AAR came on the air. They moved them over when "America Left" was started.

Contracts have to be honored (unless you're a neo-con and want to toss it to the wind, like Airline pensions).

THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHANGES SINCE THIS DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED.

Before the deal, Malloy was not even on the channel. They added him back in April right after this deal came out.

There was a SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ON THE AIR TODAY if you were paying attention..

UNTIL TODAY, when Schultz came on the top of the hour news was the reich-wing News service you hear on most of reich-wing shows (USA Network News??? I can't remember)..

TODAY, they KILLED SCHULTZ'S NEWS and fed back in AIR AMERICA news.

And, if you look back at what a DU'er said a while back (where's that link.. ah.. here it is..)

"Just talked in person to the COO of AAR about XM. (at Malloy Event)

This was at the Atlanta Democratic Meetup with Mike Malloy broadcasting the local event. He said that as of July 17th, XM would switch to Full AAR programming. No Colmes or Schultz to interrupt Randi, The Majority Report, or Malloy."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1741150

[pstokely]

76. someone on Randi's MB said XM has no plans to change the lineup

but that was probably an XM drone he was talking to

[indigo]

73. How will the interruption happen

for the RR show? Will they cut in during the last two hours of the show, or play the first two hours pre-recorded, or ...???

[Rosco T.]

78. The play the last 2 hours live, starting with the newsbreak.... n/m

[The Great Escape]

57. I Understand What You Are Saying...

but I have other interests on Sirius. I will maybe have both soon. But I feel a large degree of loyalty to Sirius. I have found their customer service friendly and helpful. There is programming on XM that interests me as well. Right now I can't afford both. In the interim, I just feel the need to piss and moan about my bad luck:cry:

[ET Awful]

63. The only other thing I really liked on Sirius was their

Jam Band Central, but after a while I didn't care for it as much, it was too much obscure stuff and not enough of the bands I really dig :).

Another thing I've discovered is that the FM tranceiver in my XM receiver works a LOT better than my Sirius one, I get no static now like I did with the Sirius (using the same station on the tuner in the car).

Trust me, I sympathize with your position, and if the prices on the tuners hadn't dropped so much, I would have still be with Sirius until I could afford a receiver :)

[Rosco T.]

62. Careful.. I point out the good deals (like the $20 Roady2 over the w/e) ..

.. and I got reamed, accused of beina a salesman for XM or having some other financial interest.

No good deed goes unpunished I guess.

[ET Awful]

64. $20? Damn, I spent $50

I bought it a day or two before you posted the deal though. Oh well :)

[Rosco T.]

72. Well, the place still has them...

but for $35 now... free shipping (need another?) :D

[ET Awful]

80. Hehehe, nah, I'm all set now. If I bought now, I'd have to pay an

activation fee again and mess with taking mine back :).

[4metta]

87. business over ethics=how republican

Yeah, I subscribed to Sirius cause they were the only ones who didn't butcher AAR AND they had better programming for libs like their own leftwing channel. They even have a gay/lesbian channel whereas XM has none. Goldberg wouldn't know how many Air America fans around since the beginning went and got XM after hearing all the hosts like Randi, Sam and Janeane tell us to get Sirius. Then again, Goldberg wasn't around since the beginning. What does he care about the AAR fans? Now they expect us to drop all the money in gear and subscriptions we put into Sirius and follow them to XM? For just Air America? What if they switch again next year. No thanks. I'll just listen to Sirius Left and podcast the AAR shows I want to hear.

[ET Awful]

90. It isn't an "ethics" issue.

What a load of horsecrap.

[drbtg1]

93. Ms. Rhodes, an AAR representative, told people...

... to get Sirius instead of XM, on AAR programming. This was during a time when AAR was actively seeking to expand its audience range, not contract it, while a certain other entity, namely Fox News Channel, is not in an exclusive satellite radio distribution deal.

It sure as hell isn't horsecrap.

[ET Awful]

95. Really? First I've ever heard of it. Have any proof?

I listen to Randi daily, never heard her endorse Sirius once. Yeah, she apologized that they were leaving, but that's not quite the same.

Also, she's an employee, and a personality, not a representative or decision maker.

Fox News Channel is a larger and wealthier corporation, they can afford to do any type of contract they like. AAR is not yet a truly profitable investment and they need to be one or their investors will demand answers.

Sorry, but not everything is an "ethics" issue and not catering to your desire doesn't make something "unethical".

[cascadiance]

97. A lot of other of Randi's listeners would beg to differ with you...

Many bought in to Sirius because of Randi's endorsement...

If you go over to her message board, many will say how Sirius listeners were a bigger portion of her audience. There may be more overall XM listeners, but more Air America listeners went to Sirius when signing up for Satellite services. And if you look at what was offered earlier, the SMART decision for a customer who wanted MORE offerings for progressive talk radio was to get Sirius. Getting XM was for listeners that didn't prioritize progressive talk in much of their buying decision, or they probably would have went with Sirius instead. They might like to listen to Air America occasionally, but my guess is that they didn't measure the two services when buying into XM for the purpose of getting Air America.

About the only listeners that might have bought into XM where Air America was important was those who also ranked Major League Baseball higher on their priorities, and perhaps their college team was carried by XM rather than Sirius (which I have to admit might have swayed me onto XM if I hadn't already subscribed to Sirius earlier, but then again I might have stuck to just getting those broadcasts on TV anyway where I'm more apt to tune into them).

[ET Awful]

98. Actually, the only time Randi ever mentioned Sirius was in a generic

manner much as anyone else might say "get me a coke".

She never said anything like "Sirius is better than XM" "Choose Sirius" etc.


In any event, take your pick, either you support AAR, or you support Sirius. Sirius could have kept AAR, but they chose to spend the money on NASCAR, NFL, Stern, etc. instead. They made their choice and I made mine that they were no longer deserving of my money.

[Garbo 2004]

99. Was at the Dem convention she was sitting next to the Sirius folks

and went on about how great Sirius was and how well they treated AAR? I remember that. And in the past she has recommended Sirius on several occasions that I recall because they carried the entire AAR line up, and of course ran her show uncut. I also recall there was some consternation over at the RRMB because some time after the XM deal was announced she still recommended getting Sirius. (I believe that was to a caller who had no local station and could only stream AAR.)

No, she wasn't speaking for AAR mgt but she has indeed recommended Sirius in the past on several if not indeed many occasions. I don't recall her ever doing the same for XM. Her preference was clearly Sirius.

[4metta]

135. Randi didn't recommend Sirius? She sure did!

...I remember her saying that several times. Not just that one time. Also Sam & Janeane did all the time. I remember Sam was boasting about how he just bought some Sirius stock one night.


All three hosts that were affected by XM's butchered Air America feed were vocal about getting Sirius instead. Makes sense really.

[drbtg1]

100. You listen to all twenty hours a week, every week?

You make it sound like that is the case and that we should accept your expert testimony without question.

I'm sure you can find it in the archives at Air America Place if you need proof. I don't have a specific date, but I'm sure it can be narrowed down to somewhere between when Sirius started broadcasting AAR and when the AAR-XM deal was announced. Listen for the segment with a caller talking about satellite radio and mentions XM, and Ms. Rhodes interupts with, "Don't get XM, get Sirius."

As a business owner, I realized a long time ago that EVERY employee is a representative, with the potential to positively or negatively impact consumers. EVERY employee can cause a certain degree of liability for the business as well. The degree of this, well, I'm pretty sure we'll never agree upon. I don't know if you're a business owner also, but this is something I have to be cognitive of. AAR should have been cognitive of this as well.

As for AAR becoming a "truly profitable investment", I doubt very much that hinged on the AAR-XM deal. The name of the game is still advertising. AAR can't follow the Howard Stern OTA advertising model, they have to use the more traditional method. And shutting out listeners of their ads isn't too swift. Not the time to go exclusive.

But AAR looks at the higher number of subscribers that XM has (that is, at least for now) and figures we got to go there. They got to get those folks to listen to their ads (Assuming Arbitron has started counting satellite radio listeners, otherwise, advertisers won't bother counting them in their ad budgets). But will that work out in the long run? I would contend not likely. AAR has been on satellite for around a year. The core audience that would purchase satellite radio because of AAR has had the opportunity to do so for this time. Looking at DU, it appears the overwhelming majority of this demographic picked Sirius, not XM. (Yes, I know a couple of folks like you and Rosco T are here, but I don't see many "Yeah, XM won!" postings here.) And so AAR goes ahead and pisses them off. Someone failed Business 101 there.

Yes, I'm aware of the nice carrot that was dangled in the form of use of the DC studios. It might be nice, but it's radio! It can be broadcast from anywhere. They can get guests from anywhere. Being in Florida didn't hurt OxyRush, after all.

Of course, that's short term. Maybe things will improve over the long term. Again, doubt it. This assumes AAR will be a draw to satellite radio for the general public and it isn't. We may enjoy Ms. Rhodes and Mr. Malloy yelling at us, but most people would like to spend money to be entertained, not educated.

To be honest, whatever XM paid for exclusivity with AAR, I think they overpaid. As much as many folks here like AAR, it simply isn't a significant draw for the general population at this time. The NFL and Howard Stern are draws. Martha Stewart and Jimmy Buffett could prove to be draws. Even Elvis can be a draw for Sirius. Sirius even looked at the liitle items that can mean a lot like getting Cousin Brucie for the oldies and Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter for the 80's channel.

But XM now has AAR. What else do they have? Well, primarily, they have baseball. It might help a few fans on the road a lot who want to follow a particular team, but its not the same as the NFL. If you like sports, ask yourself this: Outside of big events (i.e. World Series), how many times have you watched/listened to a baseball game that is not featuring your favorite team? Okay, same question but change it to football game. By and large, football wins, thus, bigger draw.

Okay, what else does XM have. Well, they have two guys that very few people outside of the tri-state area have heard of. But if you have heard of them, you probably know them for having two listeners screw in a church. Yeah, that's comic gold, big draw, what else? Well, the XM website page that compares them to Sirius says they have NASCAR, but they're going to move to Sirius. They have MTV, but that's viewed as videos. They have Snoop Dogg, but Sirius has Eminem, so that might be a wash. On that list featured right above Opie & Anthony (guess we know what their priorities are) it says XM has an exclusive for MSNBC!!!!........moving right along, above MSNBC (which again is above O&A), XM features their exclusive of Hear Music. That's right. "The Voice of Music at Starbucks" is an XM exclusive.

(yawn)

And this is what AAR wanted to be with.

The general public (not us) will look at the those packages and Sirius clearly comes out on top, better positioned for the future, better able to cater to the desires of the general public. The biggest problem is Sirius's debt. But with Mel Karmazin at the top...well, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Didn't say "everything" is an ethics issue. Sorry, but this is. And if you look around DU, as well as Ms. Rhodes's board, you'll find plenty of intelligent liberals who agree with me.

[ET Awful]

102. The general public will look at those packages and Sirius comes out on top

???? not likely.

XM has three times as many subscribers already, not many of whom will switch to Sirius.

Sirius made the choice, not AAR. Had Sirius spent less money on NFL, NASCAR, etc. and been more willing to spend money on AAR, they would still have AAR.

Actually, I was a long time listener to O & A and their antics are no worse than anything Stern has done.

All you're doing is showing your illogical bias and love for Sirius.

As I said above several times, make your choice, either you support AAR, or you support Sirius. I'll stick with AAR.

Oh, BTW, I never said I listen to all 20 hours a week (thanks for putting words in my mouth). I believe I said I listen to her daily and have never heard her endorse Sirius, yup, I do listen to her daily, and nope, I've never heard her endorse Sirius.

[drbtg1]

105. I write an intelligent reply and all you can write is "not likely"?

Weak. Very weak.

With regard to "all 20 hours a week", I didn't say you said it. It was a question to you followed by, "You make it sound like that is the case and that we should accept your expert testimony without question." Which is exactly what you did!

I don't recall Howard have two listeners do anything akin to literally f***ing in a church, but I guess you have your viewpoint, I have mine.

As for your line "either you support AAR, or you support Sirius",...well, I could tell you that the logic in that line reminds me of another infamous phrase, but ultimately I have to remember we're both on the same side.

Enjoy your XM radio. Maybe you can take a break during those Wendy Friesen ads to let us know how the Starbucks music is.

[ET Awful]

106. LOL . . . so now your only argument is against who AAR's advertisers are

Hint: Wendi's ads are AAR ads, not exclusive to XM, if you listen to AAR, you'r going to hear those ads.

I bought Sirius for AAR, I bought XM for the same reason. If I want music, I listen to CD's, always have.

What's weak is your overanalysis and contempt towards companies that make intelligent and legitimate business decisions.

I will enjoy my XM radio, I will also enjoy my continued listening to AAR which is my reason for having satellite radio in the first place.

I have no use for NASCAR, no use for Howard Stern (nor his prostitute guest stars and the like), I have no use for a Martha Stewart channel, no use for an NFL channel. I have a user for AAR, BBC and occasionally (on the rare occasion when I have no CD's with me) some music, all of my needs can be met by XM and, had Sirius been willing to pay mone for AAR instead of NASCAR, my needs could have been met by Sirius.

Sorry, but if Sirius is more willing to spend money on NASCAR than AAR, they don't deserve my business. Enjoy your redneck racing.

[drbtg1]

117. umm, the Starbucks music IS EXCLUSIVE TO XM

if you read the posts, you'd understand the point.

Funny, as I compare posts, I see my post (#100) make the case for the appeal for the general public, which is what AAR NEEDS, to select XM or Sirius in the future. In your post (#106), I see stuff like "I bought...","I bought...","I want...","I listen...","I will...","I have no use for...","I have no use for...","I have...","all of my needs...","my needs...","they don't deserve my business."

It seems my posts are concerned with the future of AAR while yours are concerned with...well, something else.

That says it all.

[ET Awful]

126. No, my concerns are with continued access to AAR, Sirius chose

to buy redneck NASCAR instead of AAR.

If you consider abandoning AAR in favor of NASCAR to be good for the future of AAR, then you have a truly skewed perception of reality.

BTW . . . "Starbucks" is sponsored by . . . (this will shock you) . . . Starbucks. They licensed their name to XM (yup, that's right, Starbucks is a business not a charity too).

Every post you make just shows that you resent businesses for being in business.

[drbtg1]

131. Post #117 still says it all

even if you can't see it.

Enjoy your XM.

[cascadiance]

107. If you looked at the packages for progressive listeners from Sirius

before this deal went down, it was a no-brainer that Sirius offered more to the progressive listener than XM did. No amount of your "cheerleading" can change that.

Instead of XM trying to compete legitimately and adding another liberal channel (which I would applaud and might attract me to them), they try (with AAR's stupid leadership's assistance) to force this content off of Sirius. That is what went down the other day. There was no "added" benefit for customers anyway with what went down on Monday. XM is still getting the same product they were before. AM stations are staying the same in their offerings to customers. Sirius listeners are now getting less. Who's winning with this deal. Not ANY customer from what I can see.

You're talking as if Sirius had the power to force Air America to continue their contract with them. The seller of a product is ultimately responsible of whether a sale takes place or not, not the buyer! AAR was the seller, Sirius was the potential buyer. Let's not distort things here!

I and many others would differ with your delusion that Randi never supported Sirius. Numbers talk. Without them on your side, your interpretation can walk... If you can find someone else saying that Randi never endorsed Sirius, please post it here. I've not seen that from anyone else.

I've just heard The replay of Majority Report now where Janeane not just once but on two different parts of their show, along with Sam Seder condemn this deal.

It's a different thing to support the "company" AAR vs. supporting those who work for it and produce the product. I support those producing the product on AAR, especially those like Randi Rhodes and Janeane Garafalo, but I have a big problem with those like Danny Goldberg who's in charge there. Just like a half hour ago hearing a very "red" conversation between a Starbucks employee and a couple of customers vs. the company itself being very blue. I think I'll start going to other Starbucks in my neighborhood after hearing the offensive Rethuglican conversation in front of me.

[ET Awful]

128. AAR has to please their investors.

If XM makes an offer which the investors are very interested in and Sirius cannot match or exceed the offer, the company makes a choice which will benefit their investors.

Actually, what I've said is I never heard Randi endorse Sirius, and I asked for PROOF that she had. None of you have provided any proof at all. You've simply said "well somebody else said she did," that's not proof.

[Garbo 2004]

133. "Proof" is in the archived shows and unless you are suggesting I'm not

being accurate or truthful, in my post. Not "well somebody else said she did" but what I heard on the air myself.

Please don't try to discredit people on this point or suggest that they are mistaken or worse (which is what it appears you are trying to do) simply because you say you "never" heard her specifically recommending Sirius to listeners. All your "proof" that she didn't prefer or recommend Sirius repeatedly rather than XM is based on your personal listening habits which apparently did not include the times she did. I know what I heard so I must have heard what you apparently missed. (And here's the thread at the RRMB I mentioned: http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/messageboards/index.php?showtopic=49052 )

As for the XM/Sirius issue, it was a business decision. AAR is not a charitable organization. They have investors and they want to see steps that will bring in more income now and the state of the art DC studio also is a considerable perk. Yes, it is about the money and given the shaky times AAR went through one should be able to understand, as a business enterprise, why they would take the XM deal. Some people are pissed about the deal, but that's the way it is.

I suspect that the deal for exclusivity includes eventual full coverage live of the AAR lineup once the Colmes/Schultz programs are accomodated or disposed of. And contracts are likely the issue there I would guess. That would only make sense if XM is the "official" AAR sat carrier. But that remains to be seen.

[4metta]

137. Remember when Janeane & Sam would say bye to XM listeners?

Every once in a while because XM would cut them off. It was quite amusing. It went something along the lines like " and NEXT hour we will have (insert awesome guest here) BUT those of you who have XM won't be able to hear it so bye bye!"

:D


I recall Randi saying hello to XM listeners cutting in late as well.


edit: I have keyboard dyslexia.

[Zinfandel]

104. Well you missed it didn't you?AAR doesn't even have the decency to address

how Sirius subscribers got fucked over...AAR won't return emails, letters nor phone calls, (I've tried all three in past few weeks.)

[ET Awful]

108. Why should they? If your cable company stops carrying Sundance

do you expect Sundance to call you up and apologize? Of course not.

It's ludicrous to expect them to.

[cascadiance]

109. Hey it was XM and AAR that signed the exclusive contract

NOT SIRIUS! Get that through your head! It was Air America an XM through their contract are controlling how AAR's product is disseminated, not Sirius! Sirius has to buy a lot of stuff. They also have a lot of customers too. You can't expect them to drop every other deal just to get Air America. That's not good business. From what I've seen with them giving a dedicated channel to Air America, they've done what they could to give their customers the best from Air America, which has gained Air America a lot of customers and advertising audience. They have nothing to be ashamed of!

Ask yourself if Sirius is responsible for why XM and AAR agreed to a non 24x7 lineup for Air America on XM vs. the 24x7 lineup that Sirius had before. That is something you CANNOT blame on Sirius! It was between XM and AAR to decide whether Ed Schultz or Alan Colmes is on the "official" AAR satellite channel or not. That is THEIR fault, NOT Sirius's!

And you're posing an analogy that doesn't and probably won't exist. I would guess that Robert Redford wouldn't be stupid to pull Sundance from Dish Network to go to an exclusive arrangement with Murdoch-owned DirectTV because he would realize he would be shooting his company in the foot in doing so. Sundance still needs more exposure before they can gain from doing something like that.

[ET Awful]

110. If Sirius had made an offer that beat XM's instead of investing

millions in Howard Stern, the deal with XM would not have happened. Sirius doesn't HAVE to buy Stern, they don't HAVE to buy NASCAR, they don't HAVE to buy Stewart. They made their choice of where they wanted to spend their money.

All you are doing is showing that you feel better whining about AAR not kissing your ass because you're a Sirius customer than you do accepting the fact that AAR made a business decision based on what all businesses make decisions based on, keeping their investors happy and making a profit. Sirius made a decision as well, they chose to invest in a half dozen expensive investments like Stern, NASCAR, etc. and by doing so cut their funding for AAR.

If Sirius had wanted AAR, they could have had AAR, they didn't, they wanted Stern and people driving cars around in circles.

[cascadiance]

134. So did Air America offer this exclusive deal to Sirius in October?

That is when the Howard Stern deal got signed. You don't know! I don't know! But the XM exclusive deal got signed months later than that. You cannot say that Sirius had a choice between having Air America and Howard Stern because YOU DON'T KNOW that Sirius was aware of an exclusive deal on the table from XM then! If you do, I'd like to hear details. So it WAS NOT about a choice that Sirius had between Howard Stern and Air America. Howard Stern was already in Sirius's lineup then. They'd already spent the money. Quit distorting the facts.

It is Air America that has control over who buys their product, not Sirius's. They chose to go with XM and all of the stipulations and stupid side effects (like Schultz and Colmes on their "official" channel, etc.). That was THEIR choice, not Sirius's.

[Name removed]

111. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NYCGirl]

112. Where do you draw the line between business sense and whoring?

Is it only when it affects you? How many of those people who invested time, money, etc. supporting AAR are already XM subscribers?

[ET Awful]

114. Thank you!

Personally, I think that the investors in AAR deserve to make a profit. Without them, there would be NO liberal voice on the air.

It's fucking ridiculous to resent AAR for operating a business like a business instead of a charity.

[ET Awful]

113. LOL . . . yeah, fuck those investors that invested in AAR to make

a profit. They don't deserve a return on their investment for making sure AAR actually exists. All those people that dumped millions into starting AAR should go fuck themselves, how dare they want to make money off their investment.

Sorry, but your self-pity doesn't interest me. Show me where AAR encouraged people to by Sirius. Please provide specifics. The closest they ever came was saying that Sirius carried AAR, which they did at the time.

I'm not making excuses for greed, I'm telling you how business works. Not every company is non-profit, and not all investors are willing to let a company lose money to keep you happy.

[Zinfandel]

115. AGAIN, Cut the kick-ass Randi Rhodes show in half

and move the only true hard core liberal, Mike Malloy, essentially off the air, (1 am to 4 am?).

FUCKING moderates don't give a shit, as you obvious are so well aware of.

[ET Awful]

119. Big deal!

If you paid attention, you'd know that most people "in the know" have said that Randi's full show will be carried in the near future, as will Malloy.

All you're doing is proving that YOU resent the ability of AAR's investors (you know, the people that make AAR possible in the first place) to see a return on their investment, and instead of complaining to Sirius who obviously values redneck NASCAR enthusiasts more than AAR listeners, you blame AAR.

All you're doing is whining because AAR didn't kiss your ass, but instead acted in the interest of their investors.

[Zinfandel]

121. And you believe any bullshit told to you...the proof is on XM right now.

[Name removed]

123. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[4metta]

140. actually...

The only person who claims to be "in the know" is and individual named Roscoe who has been plugging this deal with the voracity of a car salesman in various boards. Yet, he claims not to work for them. No offense to him, but that's the fact.


I'd rather see it actually happen first or see it up on XM's website that they will be doing a full feed before I believe a stranger on the net.

[Zinfandel]

118. LOL! You "telling" me how business works...Now I'm laughing out loud.

Whoring, is always easy to make excuses for...

[ET Awful]

120. You're the one saying that AAR acting in the interst of it's investors

is "whoring".

If acting in the interest of your investors is "whoring" then you better quit buying everything right now because ever fucking company on the planet is "whoring" by your definition.

You have yet to acknowledge that Sirius chose to spend money on bullshit like NASCAR instead of AAR. How much NASCAR do you watch or listen to daily?

[Zinfandel]

125. Yes, business means fuck everything but the bottom line, correct?

Fuck scruples, fuck loyalty, fuck what's right, fuck what's needed, fuck everything...but profit, your correct...

So please excuse those of that are pissed about it, will you?

[ET Awful]

127. LMAO . . . so once again, you reduce it to

They didn't kiss your ass, so they must be wrong.

[Zinfandel]

129. Again, it's business, yor correct, so anything as long as it makes money..

it's absolutely the right thing to do...I indeed understand your philosophy, yes, that's business...NOW

No one is asking AAR to "kiss their ass", your doing the job quite well for them!

Again...Please excuse us for simply being pissed about it???

And correctly calling a whore a whore.

Selling out your own line up for the bucks...If and when XM restores AAR line-up as Sirius had, then I'll still be pissed they are not on Sirius.

[XOKCowboy]

143. What you are saying...

describes EXACTLY what Sirius did to you.

Be pissed but not at XM or Air America. Be pissed that Sirius thought you didn't matter.

[4metta]

136. I disagree. It is n/t

[LaPera]

103. AAR is just hoping we forget how they fucked over Sirius subscribers....

We won't...greedy AAR assholes!!!

[ET Awful]

116. AAR didn't fuck you over, Sirius fucked you over.

So tell me, how much NASCAR and Martha Stewart are you going to listen to on Sirius now that they invested so much money in them?

If Sirius had been willing to eliminate shit like NASCAR, they might have been able to afford to keep AAR, they made their choice. Don't blame AAR because Sirius thought NASCAR was more important.

[Edgewater_Joe]

132. ATTENTION: NOBODY FUCKED ANYBODY

All that happened is that when the initial distribution contract ran out, XM ... get ready, people ... OFFERED A BETTER DEAL TO AAR THAN SIRIUS DID. XM was pissed that Sirius grabbed NASCAR and wanted a tit-for-tat counter, and so they went and grabbed AAR.

HORRORS!!!!!!!!

Frankly, for those of you concerned about liberal/progressive radio, while it's annoying as Hell to us Sirius subscribers, this deal shows that AAR is STRENGTHENING. Think about it: if XM thought AAR was valuable enough to push for an exclusive offer, they think pretty highly of it.

Plus, yes, AAR needs money so it can get more affiliates on terrestrial stations, which the XM money can help do, shockingly.

Now there are provisions on all sides that listeners to the various services need to push to make sure we the listeners get served. XM has promised they'd take Schultzzzzzz.... and Colmes off that stream and they need to be pushed. Sirius has promised to replace AAR with more lib/prog programming to maintain the balance it has in political talk, and they need to be pushed. And AAR, I understand, has promised Sirius listeners to make the transition, presumably with some discounted XM equipment, and they need to be pushed.

But for everyone else, enough bitching. Radio's a brutal buisness, as anybody who listened to oldies in NYC or Chicago and others can attest in recent weeks. Just because there's programming airing on our side now doesn't absolve the producers of the shows to not make money doing it. They aren't not-for-profits, and if they were they'd be public radio, which we've all complained about once or twice before.

AAR is a buisness. It did what it did, and that's how things are in the media world. Deal.

[XOKCowboy]

142. Bingo!

To fault AAR for taking the best deal offered is ludicrous. They went with the leader in the satellite radio business because XM believed that they had value and offered them money and studio space in Washington DC.

What pains me is reading all the ire directed towards Air America Radio. They started the progressive radio movement and it's something that the progressive/liberal movement sorely needs at this time. We need them to be successful and to prosper.

It's Sirius that abandoned us. You people should be PISSED at Sirius and bombarding them with letters, calls and emails telling them so.

[Edgewater_Joe]

155. I Don't Even Blame Sirius, To Be Honest

From everything I read, AAR got one offer from Sirius, then XM simply blew them out of the water with a deal that they snapped up. That's negotiations, and I have no problem with that.

Now, where I WILL have a problem with Sirius is if they don't fill that stream with other lib/prog programming, which is what they promised when the initial deal was announced. I've been impressed with them as a company so far (and I do own stock in it), so I'm giving them a little slack. But I did write them last week and they responded with two sets of boilerplate, so there's still attention to be paid.

[XOKCowboy]

144. AAR ddb;t Fuck Anybody - Sirius did!

Satellite time costs money. On Air Hosts are payed salaries. Technicians, producers, salespeople are working people like us. Do you work for a company or own a company that doesn't want to be profitable?

Direct your anger toward Sirius. They left you hanging. They had a chance to be the exclusive carrier of AAR. They opted not to.

Randi Rhodes said it today. THEY PASSED!

[Rosco T.]

122. FYI on the market view of Sirius...

http://billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000733560&WebLogicSession=QhhWfFLL97HZVuBzul4SZ2pthw7XjuPN26HU7K3B5ctEDVQ3q71t%7C5984280597093048331/181605428/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1

Wall Street Journal: Sirius Set Up For Fall
Dec. 08, 2004
By Bram Teitelman

An article in the December 8 Wall Street Journal suggests that Sirius' overspending on Howard Stern and the NFL might set them up for a "flameout." The article says that while the market value of Sirius stock assumes that the company will reach 45 million subscribers, the entire cable TV industry only has 67 million subscribers, while the satellite TV industry only has 24 million. It also asserts that overpaying for Stern and the NFL has set a "malign precedent," driving up prices for XM, as well as any distributor looking for content.

The article notes that Sirius stock has risen 340% since August to its current high of $9.01 per share, due largely to Stern's announcement he'd be arriving in 2006. However, the article states that it's "overly optimistic" that one million of Stern's 8.5 to 12 million fans will follow him to satellite radio, and questions whether or not Stern's appeal might dwindle if he didn't have the FCC as his whipping boy any longer. (Stern has said that working outside FCC content regulations will improve the quality of his show - "my show, my way," as he's put it.)

Also, the article looks at the churn rate, or rate at which Sirius subscribers drop the service. While the churn rate for the third quarter was 1.5% per month, analysts suggest it will settle to about 1.7% per month. The article assumes that if the rate is 2% per month, or 24% annually, that Sirius will churn through the equivalent of all its subscribers in about four years. Satellite TV currently has a 19% annual churn rate, while cable's annual churn rate is 30%.

[ET Awful]

124. But gee, that's impossible, Sirius is so good and AAR is so evil

for not staying with Sirius for free.

[Zinfandel]

130. Your right AAR is perfect, near godly, how stupid of us Sirius subscribers

to even question the facts.

AAR is just the best, most honest, mistake free company that's ever entered the business world.

SAY IT LOUD ET Awful!!!

[Tommymac]

139. Randy said today Sirius PASSED

on AAR. Two sides to every coin.

[XOKCowboy]

141. She sure did....

I think that all the ire directed at AAR should instead be directed at Sirius. They left all of you Sirius listeners in the dirt in favor of Howard, Martha, Nascar, etc.

Email Sirius and tell them how you feel.

[Rosco T.]

146. and there is no way to spin 'passed'....

Sirius had an oppertunity, the didn't take it.

Sirius walked away.

Q.E.D.

btw.. go over the www.buyblue.org and look up Sirius... be suprised.

[4metta]

149. I would like to see XM's BuyBlue rating as well...

but they aren't listed.

[Rosco T.]

150. GO here...

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/index.asp

XM's PAC is rated as 66% Democratic.

[4metta]

158. no....Sirius isn't on there either

I would like a site where they are both rated on the same stats.


Why isn't XM on Buy Blue?

[Rosco T.]

159. Good Question I don't have an answer to, ask BuyBlue.org to include them..

[TrueAmerican]

145. Sirius sold out to NASCAR, NFL, and Howard Stern

they didn't want to pony up for Air America so they aren't getting it anymore. You're beef should be with Sirius not caring about their listeners. Suggestion: Cancel Sirius and go with the SAT company that ponied up for it. Problem solved.

[Rosco T.]

147. Don't forget Martha Stewart and the NHL, NBA,,,,

all those 'visual' sports and subjects... so great for radio :P

[Bake]

151. I couldn't give a lesser shit about AAR, here's why I like Sirius

They have TWO excellent channels of bluegrass music. When I'm on a road trip, I'm either (a) with another lawyer, on the way to a hearing somewhere and NOT interested in talking politics, or (b) traveling to a gig with other musicians who would much prefer to listen to bluegrass.

But what do I know? I'm just a silly-ass consumer who chooses to spend his money for his own reasons.

Talk Radio sucks large, whatever the perspective. When I want news and discussion, I'll come to DU.

Bake

[Rosco T.]

152. When did Sirius grow a second Bluegrass channel???

I only see channel 37???

[lynch03]

153. SIRIUS BLOWS

I'm sorry but XM is much better, the sirius adapter is ridiculously bulky, and the XM programming as far as talk radio is much better. Sure XM butchered the AAR line up, but it's just better quality programming and equipment. Plus Opie and Anthony are comedy genuis's, Stern is just a washed up has been. What the hell does Siruis have now, freaking Martha Stewart, just the exciting sound of her voice is enough entertainment for me.. *ya right...*