What we know about the XM/AAR deal...

[Cooley Hurd]

This is what I've been able to glean from all the info and disinfo out there about the AAR/XM deal:

1) Sirius says no changes planned. I've received an email from them this morning that said:
Dear XXX,

Thank you for contacting SIRIUS regarding Air America // 144. At this time, we have not been informed of any pending cancellation of Air America // 144. Any changes to our channel lineup will be made available on our website. You can find out more about Air America // 144, including the programs and hosts that you will hear by checking us out online at:

www.sirius.com/whatsonsirius

2) AAR officially has been silent, except for a single call screener from Majority Report, that told a DUer last night that AAR will be on Sirius for 90 more days. Needless to say, a call screener is hardly one to issue OFFICIAL statements on behalf of AAR.

3) The ONLY source that says XM and AAR have inked an exclusivity deal is a mediaweek article. That's it - every other article I've read says nothing about "exclusivity."

4) Even XM hasn't issued a statement saying that they're going to be the "exclusive" satellite radio service for AAR, only that they're going to call themselves the "official" sat radio service. That's different from "exclusive." I would think that if XM is going to have AAR exclusively, they would be braying loudly about it.

5) Would AAR be stupid enough to lose 1.3 million listeners by pulling its programming off of Sirius? Right now, AAR is heard on BOTH sat radio services, and to cut Sirius out of the loop would mean losing those listeners.

In short, I think the AAR/XM deal is a marketing thing, not an exclusivity deal.

Don't cancel Sirius until we hear from AAR...:thumbsup:

[shoelace414]

1. that would suck

I'd have to dump my Sirius radio.

[Dorian Gray]

2. That's good to know.

I actually don't have Sirius service, but my husband was just given a Sirius radio as a gift. Since we live in NYC, we have AAR on our local stations, so I haven't had to listen to satellite yet for coverage. But, I would be angry if we set it up for that station alone only to be informed that they were going with XM, instead.

[YankeyMCC]

3. That bites!

I don't want to have to make a choice between Howard Stern (sirius) and AAR (XM).

[FighttheFuture]

27. I totally agreee. It really sucks. We can only hopw now for ...

the usual path of media and business consolidation to merge then into one entitiy! OF course, then Clear Channel just keeps on winning.

[Patiod]

4. I just wish Sirius could pick up MLB

for some reason, even though we get awesome reception of all the broadcast TV networks without cable, we get awful reception of AM radio that broadcasts the Phillies.

We've been talking about satellite radio since it came out, but want both Phillies and AAR. And we both hate Clear Channel.

Well, it looks like we'll get 2 out of 3 (we'll just have to hold our nose when writing those checks).

[flyarm]

22. won't happen xm has exclusive rights to mlbaseball for

11 years!!!!!!!! it was a huge contract...

fly

[demnan]

5. I don't see why both services can't offer it

right now XM only has partial coverage for AAR, so this is a change for them.

[minerva50]

6. Thank you

I chose Sirius because it has much better coverage of AAR than XM, as well as another "Talk Left" channel. I don't want to change. Its management is also more "blue" than XM.

[ET Awful]

7. Which is exactly what I figured when all the ranting began.

Just because XM is the "official" satellite radio carrier doesn't mean that other carriers can't carry the signal too.

[tx_dem41]

8. According to a Sirius fansite forum...XM Reps are emailing...

replies to inquiries that state it is an exclusive agreement, and, thus AAR will be leaving Sirius in May.

Caveat...reps are known to shoot from the hip at times.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. But, wouldn't AAR be more forthcoming about it...

...if this were a done deal?:shrug: I certainly can see why XM would want to create the impression that AAR won't be on Sirius anymore (to curb Sirius sales for the short-term).

I honestly don't know - I wish AAR would issue an official statement about it.:(

[tsuki]

13. When I bought Sirius at Christmas, the dealer tried to talk me into XM.

He had a shelf full. I said no I want Sirius (they're blue, although I did not say that to him.) I got the display model and two people walked in after me for Sirius. And left again.

I am Sirius for life. I like AAR, but I love the music also. We are radio listeners, not TeeVee watchers. Here all we have is Clear Channel tapes, and when I hear "What's Love Got to Do With It," I know it is two in the afternoon.

[tx_dem41]

17. I agree that I wouldn't believe an XM Rep right now....

they obviously are selling their product. I think AAR is going to have to respond very soon (read "today") to what I hope is a flood of emails and calls from Sirius subscribers. Unless they got a ridiculous amount of money (which isn't possible I believe) they have really f'ed this thing up.

[mcscajun]

10. Some other info from a trade website:

Found on Friday Morning Quarterback:

"XM satellite radio has announced a long term deal with Air America Radio in which XM will become the official satellite radio network for Air America. Under the agreement, XM's liberal talk channel, America Left, will be renamed Air America Radio in May. Air America can currently be heard on both satcasters, XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, but that arrangement will end when the new XM-Air America pact kicks in."

http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=77810

Admittedly not a primary source. But something to cover when and if you contact one.

I have 'no skin in the game' here, not being a satellite subscriber, but I agree the possibility of AAR being on only one system over another totally sucks.

[jerryman814]

11. It is an exclusivity deal...

Air America Radio will not be on Sirius Satellite starting sometime in May.

[Cooley Hurd]

12. Source?

Link? :shrug:

[jerryman814]

19. My source is my office lol

[frictionlessO]

31. Oh please, do tell!

or at least PM me... with a username like that coupled with your comment on this thread... well it leads one to guess at complexities that may not exist.

help a dem out would ya?

[drbtg1]

14. Thanks AAR for screwing me.

I just got a equipment-lifetime subscription to Sirius since the terrestrial radio signals in the Hartford area are nonexistant and Sirius did a much better job of giving the entire AAR lineup than the butchering that XM did. Even Randi Rhodes on her radio show a few months back pushed Sirius since they didn't cut up her show. And this is how AAR pays back Sirius and the Sirius listeners who picked Sirius to listen to AAR "Unfiltered".

I hope this isn't true, but I'm already pissed.

[minerva50]

15. My reply from Sirius this morning

Thanks, we got your email! At SIRIUS, we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us regarding Air America. We regret to inform you that XM will begin broadcasting Air America in May of this year. At the current time it is unaware if we will continue broadcasting Air America as well or not. We can assure you that we will be doing everything in our power to retain Air America for as long as possible. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or frustration that may be caused to you due to this.

[minerva50]

16. Sorry, double post

[drbtg1]

18. "Follow the money"

Anybody know what the current financial makeup of XM is now? I know ClearChannel was involved, but I don't know if they still are. If they are, could this be a case of ClearChannel strong arming AAR into going exclusive with XM in order to get access to terrestrial radio stations, of which ClearChannel has more than a few. Yet another argument against media consolidation.

Also, for the conspiracy theorists out there, this makes a great case for separating the option of listening to AAR from the inevitable flock of Howard Stern listeners that WILL be going to Sirius (and who are already on Sirius for the NFL). This concept would not escape Rovian political thought, as outlined in tonight's Frontline on PBS. Hell, if they're analyzing the magazines and beer people buy.....

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/298854p-255873c.html

This may be just short-sighted business at work here, not realizing the consequences of their actions. I guess I shouldn't have expected AAR to have been any different than any other right-wing business.

[geomon666]

23. All I know is...

Gary Parsons, the Chairman of the Board for XM gave money to both parties in 2004 in equal amounts and so did the XM Political Action Committee. Take it for what it's worth.

[natrat]

20. FUCK YOU XM

[natrat]

21. and if it turns out like it looks same to you aar

just more greedy sleazey scummy bastard sellouts

[flyarm]

24. i know it's frustrating..i have sirus as well but

if you look at the big picture ..xm gets to 2 million more people than sirrus..and that means more americans will be getting the truth.

please see beyond your own radio..thats how i have to look at it..

it means more informed americans..and xm is targeting getting double is subscribers in the next 3 yrs!

and they have huge broadcast building in washington with many broadcast studios, it will make ARR more professional sounding with better accsess to dem policy makers!

right now its maddening in many ways..but i choose to see the big picture...how do we get our message to more people??

xm immediately gets to 2 million more people!
i will get the newer model of xm that my husband has that is much more portable than sirus..think of it..now i can take it to the beach..wereas i would not carry the big boombox of sirus to the beach..

fly

[geomon666]

25. They already reach those XM listeners.

So you're really just cutting out the 1 million+ Sirius listeners. And they already have access to policy makers.

[flyarm]

28. they don't have malloy and they shorten randi rhodes show..

and i think those two are the power hitters...for the progressives..

just my 2 cents...

fly

[geomon666]

29. What makes you think that's going to change?

They announced Alan Colmes being on. He already replaces Malloy at night on XM. And they already run Best of Malloy on the weekends so they can say "Yeah we got Malloy...on Saturdays." There's nothing there that leaves me to believe they're not going to screw around with the lineup. Not to mention now that the slime known as Alan Colmes can say he's on Air America Radio because that's the name of the channel he's on.

[Hugin]

26. I'm guessing Sirius will come up with their own...

Liberal channel. Which would open more opportunities
for liberal commentators.

From what I understand several of them are independent of
AAR.

Maybe Sirius would get it's own farm team together?

Might be an expansion of the whole.

Hope so.

[sbj405]

30. They already have Talk Left or whatever it's called. I need my Randi!

This sucks. Only reason I got Sirius was for AAR. :-(

[Hugin]

35. I hear ya sbj405...

I really enjoyed Marty Kaplan in the afternoons.

That didn't last very long.

Still, here's hoping this will lead to a
wider voice for the left.

;)

[xultar]

32. MORE NEWS - From Orbit cast : Satellite Radio Blog

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/2005/04/xm_air_america.html
XM / Air America sign long-term agreement

Air America now on XM Satellite RadioXM Satellite Radio has just signed a long-term agreement with Air America Radio, the lefty talk radio network. Starting in May, XM's liberal talk channel, America Left (XM Channel 167) will cease to exist, and will instead be aptly named Air America Radio.

As part of the long-term agreement, XM will be the only satellite radio provider to offer Air America content. (Yes, that means it's exclusive... sorry Sirius)

The channel will include an expanded line-up of Air America Radio programming, including the recently debuted "Springer on the Radio" hosted by none-other-than Jerry Springer himself (Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!). But America Left fans don't need to fear, XM's new Air America Radio channel still will feature shows currently carried on America Left, including "The Ed Shultz Show" and "The Alan Colmes Show."

XM's Washington, D.C. headquarters will offer dedicated studio space for special live broadcasts throughout the year for Air America Radio programs featuring (begin name-throwing) Rachel Maddow, Marc Marron, Mark Riley, Al Franken, Katherine Lanpher, Jerry Springer, Randi Rhodes, Sam Seder, Janeane Garofalo, Chuck D, Mike Malloy, Laura Flanders, Steve Earle, Robert Kennedy Jr., Mike Papantonio, Kyle Jason, Marty Kaplan, and Betsy Rosenberg.

As a result of this announcement, America Right is now really offended, has begun filibustering, and wants a deal of their own. (anyone want to make a bet for when Rush Limbaugh will announce his move to satellite?)

[geomon666]

33. See...

The channel will include an expanded line-up of Air America Radio programming, including the recently debuted "Springer on the Radio" hosted by none-other-than Jerry Springer himself (Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!). But America Left fans don't need to fear, XM's new Air America Radio channel still will feature shows currently carried on America Left, including "The Ed Shultz Show" and "The Alan Colmes Show."

There's no way you're gonna have all those shows on during the day and not screw with the current line up. sigh

[Rosco T.]

37. WOAH UP.... do you kow the current XM Schedule???

here's the current XM schedule for America Left..

http://www.xmradio.com/pdf/america_left_grid.pdf

the ONLY AAR programming they are not carrying right now is 2 hours of Randi and Malloy.

They already have Springer on.

The XM Press release says they will carry "an Expanded" Air America schedule, including Springer (already on) and the new Rachel Maddow show (which will knock out 1 hour of the Alan Colmes repeat at 5am-6am Mon-Fri) "AMONG OTHERS". It also mentiones Schultz and Colmes in the next sentence.

Now try to THINK A MINUTE PEOPLE -

EXPANDED LINE UP

Springer already there
Rachel's new show mentioned

AMONG OTHERS

what 'others' are there that could be EXPANDED.
The rest of Randi and Malloy that's what.

CONTRACTS MUST BE NEGOIATED.

I suspect that Colmes will go either to FOX NEWS (120) or a new FOX RADIO channel.

Schultz MAY got to another channel (152) or a whole new channel (168) with some folkes like Stephanie, Lionel and others...

BUT IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO GET DEALS CUT, AND YOU GOT TO CUT THEM ONE AT A TIME.

[DemoTex]

34. I called AAR this morning. The switch to X-M happens in 90 days.

Straight from the horses mouth.

[natrat]

36. does karl rove own the planet or what