My take on the XM AAR Sellout deal...Don't Dump Sirius...

[xultar]

I too went Sirius because they carried all of AAR.

AAR SOLD OUT so eff them.

Keep Sirius and listen to Randi on the net from the AAR site only.

Build Sirius' Lefty talk. Siruis will put together a great LEFTY team.

YOU WATCH AND LISTEN. SIRIUS will end up on top.

[Deep13]

1. Are you saying ...

... that AAR is going to XM and will no longer be on Sirius?

[xultar]

2. That is what it looks like right now. On SiriusBackstage Message Board

That is the talk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. that is what I am getting

I was going to go sirius... but now will get XM for that reason

Of course by the time I buy my satellite radio one of them will be left and the other may be gone

That is the rumor I got from one dealer, that XM wanted to buy out all of Sirius

[onehandle]

4. Yes...

"When the deal begins in May, Air America Radio will no longer air on Sirius Satellite Radio, which has 1.2 million subscribers to XM's nearly 3.8 million."

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000875402

[DemoTex]

6. AAR just told me that the switcheroo to X-M happens in 90 days.

That would put it near the second week in July.


Moral bankruptcy Bill

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Ok from the looks of it this was a bidness decision

and you know what, the company is entitled to that

[Ninga]

9. Whose bidness decision? AAR or Sirius?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Air America

The management at Air America

Of course there may have been soemthing in the background that they are not telling us, non disclosure agreements and all that, but this was AAR decision

Also Clear Channel is broadcasting AAR on multiple cities, such as the one I live at. So CCC knows they have a winner. That deal must have been sweet, quite frankly

[flyarm]

40. a strong and healthy air america benefits all of us

if it was a business decision..and it keeps air america healthy i have to respect that..if it pays the wages nessesary to keep the good people of air america , i have to respect that ..if it keeps the longevity of air america secure , i have to respect that ..for the long picture..

look major league baseball just signed an 11 year deal with xm..its how its done folks..does it suck..yep..but this is what we are stuck with with the monopolies of the media and networks..

work on changing the system and we wont have this crap anymore..but thats easier said than done!

fly

[tridim]

5. But AAR's talent didn't sell out

Yet you're applying guilt to AAR as a whole. I don't think that's fair at all. I've tried listening to Lynn Samuels and others on Sirius Left. It's very painful. Lynn Samuels is just annoying and awful.

Sirius is going to succeed regardless because of Howard Stern, unfortunately I think this "deal" is related to Howard's salary.

[BlueEyedSon]

8. Thom Hartmann is good though.

[rawtribe]

20. I hope

we get Thom's show live now. I also like Michelangelo Signorile on 149.

[xultar]

14. Well unfortunaltely AAR and their TALENT are one in the same except

for Jerry. Jerry is purchased.

[benburch]

10. And no Mike Malloy on XM.

Not good.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Read the news release

AIR AMERICA all AIR AMERICA content, last time I checked Mike Malloy IS on Air Amerioca

[xultar]

16. Unless Malloy is PURCHASED. Then it is different. n/t

[DancingBear]

18. Ben, is this official?

I've been reading so much speculation about what the line-up on XM will be. Has Mike (or anyone) made mention of what the OFFICIAL AAR line-up will be? Like most of us here, I have no use whatsoever for Colmes, and if it is true that Colmes will take Malloy's live M-F time slot then XM can go piss up a rope.

[benburch]

21. Well, here is what I can find...

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000875402

<SNIP>

"As part of the agreement, XM's America Left channel will be renamed Air America Radio and include the expanded lineup of AAR programming -including Jerry Springer, Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, Rachel Maddow and Janeane Garofalo. The channel will also include other programming not associated with AAR that currently airs on America Left, such as The Ed Schultz Show, syndicated by Democracy Radio and Jones Radio Networks, and The Alan Colmes Show, syndicated by Fox News Radio. "

<SNIP>

Well, if you are putting Colmes and Schultz on, something else needs to go to make room... And this news story does not mention Mike.

I hope I'm wrong about this.

[DancingBear]

30. That's all I've been able to find as well

I read it to mean they are going to keep Schultz and Colmes live, which would be the death knell for Mike.

Franken would have to be kept as well, so I am surmising (as you are, perhaps) that Randi and Mike get short-ended.

However, since Schultz is syndicated by Jones Radio Network, and this is "supposed" to be Air America Radio, I'm confused. Plus, Randi just signed a new AAR deal - don't know what Mike's situation is.

Guess I'll just have to wait for all the facts to come in.

What fun is that?? :)

[onehandle]

22. No lineup has been published anywhere.

I emailed them and asked for the AAR schedule to be "live" from start to finish (after Malloy)....then put Shultz and Colmes on.

But as of now, none of us know for sure. Malloy's name is on the XM web site in the press release.

[flyarm]

41. mike malloy issss mentioned in the xm release!!

this i got from rosco t thanks buddy..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3464683&mesg_id=3464998

http://xmradio.com/newsroom/screen/pr_2005_04_11_a.html



XM's Washington, D.C. headquarters will offer dedicated studio space for special live broadcasts throughout the year for Air America Radio programs featuring 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.

and


Beginning in May, XM's liberal talk channel, America Left (XM Channel 167) will be renamed Air America Radio. The channel will include an expanded line-up of Air America Radio programming, including the recently debuted "Springer on the Radio" hosted by Jerry Springer and upcoming "Rachel Maddow Show," among others.


They mention Malloy! They do at least know about him... now LET'EM KNOW WE KNOW ABOUT HIM!


fly

[kwassa]

13. Heh heh heh .....

so much trash talk about XM around here.

This is both ironic and very, very funny!

[Cooley Hurd]

19. I see no humor in this...

If AAR is only going to be "exclusively" on XM, then they'll lose the million+ listeners that they get from Sirius. They're already on XM, so there'll be a net-loss in listeners.

Pretty fucking stupid on AAR's part...

Not to mention XM's deal with AOL/Time Warner - do you think THAT'S not going to influence the programming on AAR?

Fuck XM and fuck AAR...:mad:

[kwassa]

33. XM Rules!!!!!!!

"Not to mention XM's deal with AOL/Time Warner - do you think THAT'S not going to influence the programming on AAR?"

Yeah, I think it is not going to influence the programming on AAR.

Both Sirius and XM have right-wing channels, too!!!

[Cooley Hurd]

36. _|_

:eyes:

[tsuki]

48. Not if they signed a sweetheart deal. I understand you are angry,

but I'm staying with Sirius.

[in_cog_ni_to]

46. It's not funny when supporters of AAR spent hundreds of $$$$$$

for the SOLE PURPOSE OF HEARING AAR and they sell out to XM. There's nothing funny about it. :grr:

[kwassa]

47. It is only funny after the anti-XM prejudice among many DU'ers

is reversed. I've had to listen to the unfounded criticism of XM for quite awhile.

I agree, it is not funny if you invested your money in Sirius.

[geomon666]

15. My take on this is...

if you're on Sirius, stay there. XM already does and will continue to mutilate the AAR line up so don't bother switching cause you're not going to get what you want. You're better off just streaming. Nobody is attacking the AAR talent, only the management. I'll wait for all the details to present themselves to make judgement but already this is looking like a stupid move.

[xultar]

17. Yes, STREAM your favorites but don't switch. Simple as that. n/t

[Ninga]

23. I can't stream in my car......Oh well this is just another "too bad

for the stuipd consumer trick."

Look I bought the Sirius because of a feature and that feature was AAR.

Now after having invested in a home docking station, and a second Sirius for my husbands car, it's "too bad for you" time?????

If any one of those fat white men who head up AAR thought for one sick minute that they would lose a "feature" on a product they paid hard earned money for, they would be the first to start crying.

Does anyone have an inside phone number for AAR?

[benburch]

24. Actually...

With some cellphones you might just be able to stream in your car. And have the audio on your cars speakers, too.

[rawtribe]

25. AAR phone number

1-646-274-4900

http://www.airamericaradio.com/contact.asp

[minerva50]

28. Don't harass the poor girl on the phone

Write Danny Goldberg a letter. It carries a lot more impact.

Danny Goldberg, CEO
Air America Radio
3 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016

[Ninga]

32. Thank you. I will be respectful.

[Scout1071]

37. I totally agree. I feel like I just invested in Sirius 2 mos ago

and now I'm getting screwed. I bought satellite for one reason and one reason only....AAR. A business connection with Sirius allowed me to get a decent deal on the hardware so I went with them over XM. Especially because Sirius had just announced that Stern, NCAA, etc. would be on next year and they hired Mel Karziman (sp?) from Viacom. Seemed to me like there was only one direction for Sirius to go and that was up.

Right now I'm just pissed about it. I'm going to have to mull it over. I may discontinue service for a while all together.

[drbtg1]

26. XM's press release uses the word "official", not "exclusive"

Consequently, I'd like some sort of confirmation that this is more than just an advertising arrangement.

http://www.xmradio.com/newsroom/screen/pr_2005_04_11_a.html

[Deep13]

31. Both XM and Sirius websites...

... continue to advertise Air America and AAR's website has both services listed. None say that Sirius will be dropping AAR. I appreciate everyone's input, but so far I haven't seen anything authoritative.

[onehandle]

34. It says so here and many have called AAR for confirmation.

AAR is over on Sirius.

"When the deal begins in May, Air America Radio will no longer air on Sirius Satellite Radio, which has 1.2 million subscribers to XM's nearly 3.8 million."

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000875402

[drbtg1]

38. Thanks for the media week link

Unfortunately, the media week article seems to quote the XM press release (a la Jeff Gannon) and brief material that isn't in the XM release nor is it referenced.

Sorry, but I'd like something stronger than the phone call with the secretary. If true, AAR should have owned up to it by now.

[Deep13]

27. Bottom line?

I'm no technophile and I don't know what streaming is. I haven't got a cell phone or a sound card in my computer. Will I still be able to hear AAR on the expensive Sirius radio I bought?

[geomon666]

29. Nope, but you probably won't be hearing it on XM either.

At least not the real version of it.

[Maat]

35. I'm right there with you, Xultar (let's stick with Sirius).

I'm been thinking the same thing since this broke out.

I will not be pushed into getting XM. This smells.

Sirius has provided me with excellent programming for 1-1/2 years, and their CEO donated quite a bit to Democrats last election; Howard Stern fights for free speech.

I'm looking forward to their public response.

By the way, I sent them a supportive e-mail, and they indicated that they are committed to building such a team. So, fear not.

On edit:
I hope this is not some kind of a kooky plot to encourage Sirius stockholders to permit XM to acquire them. Trust me, this would not be in our best interests; I just have a very bad feeling about this. I'm sticking with Sirius.

[Suziq]

39. For My 400th Post . . .

I totally agree. Fuck Air America! :grr:

[Cooley Hurd]

42. Congratulations and FAAR!

(fuck air america radio)...

:hi:

[Maat]

43. Amen.

n/t

[Deep13]

44. Sirius lied to us.

We bought their rather expensive radio, which unlike a regular AM/FM model can only be used for Sirius and a subscription based on the representation that we could use it for Air America. We don't have a local station and my office computer does not have a sound card. Now we are stuck with the expense without the purpose of it. It is like we bought a car only to discover there is no more gasoline. I don't give a shit about their other programming and Stern can go fuck himself. I am certainly not going to repeat the error with XM.

Naturally we will try to get a refund for the now worthless receiver and will cancel our subsription. Fuck Sirius and fuck AAR. That means you Franken, it's your baby. I wonder if there is a class action here.

[gizmonic]

45. I've listened to Sirius Left...

and except for The Young Turks, the rest of the day's lineup is not impressive.

I'm not going to keep something (Sirius) that sucks. We bought Sirius for one reason only -- AAR.

And I'm sure as hell not going to buy XM either. How do I know that XM won't become obsolete either? Gee, they may change their mind and drop AAR if it's not good for business. :sarcasm:

Fuck 'em all. :mad:

This is what I wrote to AAR:

Dear Sir or Madam:

I hope the recent news about AAR moving to XM Satellite Radio is not true. If it is, then you have lost two dedicated listeners.

My husband and I were thrilled about the idea of a progressive radio station and subsequently bought an annual subscription (and equipment) to Sirius Radio for the sole purpose of listening to AAR. Now AAR is off Sirius in 90 days?!? Thanks.

Now we are stuck with an obsolete subscription and a useless satellite radio.

We refuse to purchase more equipment and subscriptions just to listen to AAR. And neither of us have the equipment to listen online.

We wish you the best of luck and hope that AAR is successful in its mission -- Christ knows we need AAR! -- but you can do it without us.

Sincerely,
gizmonic & deep13
Brunswick, Ohio

[Deep13]

49. Once again, we chose Beta.