XM Satellite Radio Censoring Talent

News Release Issued: May 15, 2007 2:39 PM EDT

XM Radio Suspends Opie & Anthony

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Radio announced today that the company has suspended Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia, hosts of "The Opie & Anthony Show" and ceased broadcast of the show for 30 days, effective immediately.

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.

As a company, XM provides customers with tools to control what they listen to on XM. "The Opie & Anthony Show" appears on one of XM's explicit language channels (XL). Whenever a radio is tuned to an explicit language channel, the letters "XL" continuously appear on the screen. XM frequently mentions on its explicit language channels that the content may be inappropriate for certain listeners and tells how to "block" channels that feature this type of content. Channel blocking is available through xmradio.com or by calling 1-800-XMRADIO.
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I don't listen to them, but this really bothers me that a pay service is censoring its own employees.
The issue started last week when they had a homeless man as a guest in studio. He described how he would like to have sex with Condoleeza Rice, Laura Bush and the Queen of England. (explicit audio heard here)
Yesterday, Opie and Anthony joked about that appearance on air and today they were suspended for their comments.

It's a shame that in this post-Imus world, talk show hosts have to be careful, even on an unregulated platform like satellite radio.

Join the People Against Censorship today!

To voice your displeasure with XM:


XM Radio
Call XMDirectly at: 1-800-XM-RADIO (1-800-967-2346) Or 202-380-4000

Eric Logan
Executive Vice President Programming
202-380-4365

Jon Zellner Senior Vice President/Music Programming
(202) 380-4040 (office)

eric.logan@xmradio.com, jon.zellner@xmradio.com, lee.abrams@xmradio.com, dion.summers@xmradio.com, gary.parsons@xmradio.com, steve.cook@xmradio.com, joseph.euteneuer@xmradio.com, stell.patsiokas@xmradio.com, joseph.titlebaum@xmradio.com, chance.patterson@xmradio.com, carolyn.turner@xmradio.com, dan.turner@xmradio.com, jon.zellner@xmradio.com, kevin.straley@xmradio.com, tony.masiello@xmradio.com, marie.farrar@xmradio.com, david.butler@xmradio.com

[ufojoe]

I am mixed on this. Just because it's a pay outlet, doesn't mean they can put anything
they want on the air. Can HBO show hardcore porn? Can they? I am not sure about that
one. Somebody answer it for us.

Why would O & A put something so controversial on their show? He's talking about
sexually assaulting the Secy of State. I'd punch her? Hey, if XM feels the need to
censor, that's their right. It's their company. I don't know why people even
listen to that crap. But, lots of people like it.

And let's remember again that this is not the government telling them they can't
say this.

[JC510]

I'm not defending what was said, but if you don't like it then don't put it on. On DirecTV the channel is rated TV-MA. If you don't like it, don't put it on, it's that simple.

And if there's outrage by psychopaths like Bill O'Reilly over this, where was his outrage over the rape scene in the Sopranos and the rap scene in The Hills Have Eyes (2006 version). Complete double standard.

Again, I'm not defending what was said, but I am a fan of their show and I have XM. Sometimes they say things that I don't like and I turn it off. Thats all you have to do, turn it off or don't listen in the first place.

[ufojoe]

I don't listen. So I don't care what they say for the most part. I thought this went a
little too far. But since I don't listen, I could care less. usually.

But like I said, it's their own company suspending them. If you have an issue with it,
call XM. Or cancel your subscription. XM can do whatever they want with their
company.

[JC510]

I am mixed on this. Just because it's a pay outlet, doesn't mean they can put anything
they want on the air. Can HBO show hardcore porn? Can they? I am not sure about that
one. Somebody answer it for us.

Yes they can. And like I said, they've aired rape scenes from The Sopranos and The Hills Have Eyes.

[ufojoe]

And like I said, it's XM censoring themselves and some FCC-like body.

[ufojoe]

By the way, I DID see some hardcore on Playboy after midnight. Unfortunately, I don't
subscribe to Playboy. Probably better than way. I waste enough time as it is!

JC, I agree with you on the violence thing. Especially on regular tv. Violence is OK
but a Janet Jackson's nipple? Oh my God!

Can HBO show hardcore porn? Can they? I am not sure about that
one. Somebody answer it for us.

Yes, if HBO desired, they could air hardcore porn. They choose not to though because they know they would lose a lot of subscribers.

[ufojoe]

Maybe XM felt the same way? I doubt it. I think they are just afraid in this current climate
of PC. You pissed at them for being weak?

Maybe XM felt the same way? I doubt it. I think they are just afraid in this current climate
of PC. You pissed at them for being weak?

Yes, I am. It bothers me anytime a talk show host is suspended or fired. These are just sensitive times right now.

[JC510]

JC, I agree with you on the violence thing. Especially on regular tv. Violence is OK
but a Janet Jackson's nipple? Oh my God!

It's not even about violence. It's about the double standard that exists in terms of what is acceptable in entertainment.

The Sopranos shows a rape scene and the show still wins awards.
Opie and Anthony air this (I don't think the rape word was even used) and people demand for them to be fired.

[ufojoe]

Yeah, pretty bad double standard.

[dalbuc]

A. Opie & Anthony sucks but it is good they exist because when anyone starts a conversation with, "Anyways, i was listening to Opie and Anthony..." I can just tune them out. Like having an 8 in the rear window of your truck.

B. XM hired these clowns so they could be offensive. It is why they are not on the regular airwaves.

C. They found someone that wants to have sex with Rice, Lady Bush and the Queen? Is that a bad thing? I mean clearly the guy should be institutionalized but aren't there worse things to want to do to someone? How is that offensive?

B. XM hired these clowns so they could be offensive. It is why they are not on the regular airwaves.

Actually they are on "regular airwaves" or terrestrial radio as it is officially called. They do a morning show from 6-9 which is broadcast on XM and on FM stations throughout the country. Then from 9-11 they do an exclusive XM show.

[ufojoe]

C. They found someone that wants to have sex with Rice, Lady Bush and the Queen? Is that a bad thing? I mean clearly the guy should be institutionalized but aren't there worse things to want to do to someone? How is that offensive?

Well, until he said he would punch Rice while "doing" her, it was "innocent."