Opie & Anthony "Suspension" A Hoax? Part 4.

One day before the suspension is lifted (6-14-07), they were talking about Vince McMahon of the WWE's fake death. They said something that caught my ear:

Click Here To Listen To It

Some food for thought....more to come!

Opie & Anthony ‘Suspension” a Hoax? Part 3.

Some more thoughts came to mind from the responses to the previous articles.

First, one reader wrote this:

I just read your theory and I wanted to say I agree. I started thinking something like this might be happening around Wed. afternoon. Everything you said is quite possible. If they are just messing with us, I'll be even madder than I am now. I hate to be cheated (by XM) but I hate to be duped (by O&A) even worse. I will surely cancel my XM subs of I find out for sure this was a planned stunt.

And another reader wrote:

Even though you article had some good points in it. I would have to disagree with two of them. The studio is still being used by Ron and Fez. So suspending them for that purpose doesn't make sense because it is still being used. I personally think they were suspended to try and get the merger approved. They wanted to show the government that they will try and control what is said over their service. I don't agree with it, and thought the suspension is stupid. I haven't cancelled my XM yet, I'm waiting to see if they do come back and broadcast on XM. If they don't I will cancel it, sign up with the doggie company, and send e-mail to who ever voicing my opposition to the merger. If they are allowed back on, I don't care about the merger.

I was thinking that another scenario could be that Opie and Anthony had nothing to do with it, that they are just unwilling pawns in the radio chess game. Or have a minor role. Or maybe just Opie and E-Lo are involved and Anthony, Jimmy and the rest are in the dark. XM could have suspended them just to help the merger along, all the while never intending to fire them. Why would they fire their #1 show? That would be just plain stupid. Opie and Anthony may have been told, ‘If you keep quiet on CBS about it, we’ll have you back on in two weeks. Just enough time to let it blow over and bring you back on early due to overwhelming response against the suspension” I’m sure the suspension won’t last a month, nor will they get fired.

Something else came to mind, Opie said that it would be great if people would openly laugh at the reason they get eventually get fired for. Isn’t that what kind of happened? Didn’t XM suspend an uncensored show for content? How crazy is that? Didn’t it make you laugh in disgust? Also, on Friday’s show, Opie did the ‘thank you thank you thank you….etc’ thing a couple of times. That makes me think that they may be coming back sooner than 30 days. XM can’t take the hit for a full 30 days. But they will need time to get all of the subscribers back on board. A week is more than enough time. And I’m sure there will be an announcement of a special deal for returning to XM (free month and free reactivation is my bet).

If any of this is true, I’m sure you’ll be pissed off, but you’ll be back. Don’t you want to see what they’ll do next? Isn’t that why you listen to them in the first place? They do outrageous stuff. It’s what keeps you coming back for more. It’s Radio Crack. If it is a big stunt, I’d be pissed, but I’d also laugh uncontrollably.

Or everything could be as it seems: The boys made a boo-boo and are paying for it. If that’s the case, then free speech really is dead.

Is the Opie & Anthony Suspenion a Hoax? Here’s more evidence.

I’ve been getting feedback on the last article, and I’d like to respond, here’s a letter (name withheld):

I Read your theory about a fake suspension,
and I think it is a pile bunk (pardon my language).

My notes:

"*First, CBS benefits by having Opie & Anthony exclusive for a month"
*What makes this different from any other month. CBS listeners only listen to the CBS version of the show. And, if you ever listen to the show, Opie and Anthony often bring successful bits from the XM side of the show back to Free FM (be it cleaned up) for the CBS only listeners to enjoy. Plus, the boys no longer promote XM only the CBS show like they usually would (XM loses out / No real gain for CBS)

*"Second, XM benefits by figuring out how popular the show really is, it would strengthen Opie & Anthony’s position with the company when the merger with Sirius happens."

*XM has a very accurate system of measuring the popularity of each channel in its line up. It has been discussed many times on the show, and XM knows how popular the show really is. Those are hard numbers XM can use to show the strength of the Opie and Anthony show, and XM202 in general. (Xm loses out)

*"Third, Opie & Anthony benefit by getting their names in the papers and news websites across the world, cause confusion, and feed their media whore appetites. "

*Sure, they get there name in the papers, but at what cost. XM listens mass cancel subscriptions, say at you rate of 40,000 over the week. At an average cost per month of around 11.33, XM lost $453,200 for the 30-day period of suspension. That number is probably in reality much higher. That is hardly "free publicity". Wouldn't it make more sense for XM to utilize that money for advertising or customer promotions to bolster its subscriber base, rather that alienate it?

*"Fourth, XM is building them a new studio, which will take them about a month to finish."

*O&A and Ron & Fez utilize that studio. Preparation for a 2 week vacation to start the work on the studio, putting it into a state thatwould allow broadcast at the end of the 2 week period was already in the works. Wouldn't they have to give Ron & Fez a month "suspension" too? I didn't see any real preparation to start fixing the studio when I was in there a few days ago, but what do I know. Also, Ron and Fez are still broadcasting from there.

*"Has anyone else noticed that they seem to be unusually happy on their CBS show, very tight-lipped about the whole situation?"

*They are obligated by XM to keep there mouths shut on the situation. Its what got them suspended in the first place. Opie and Anthony are professional broadcasters, and have a job to do. MOST of the CBS audience are not XM subscribers, and have no real interest in problems related to that side of the show. There job with CBS is to provide an entertaining show to millions of listeners, and given the current situation, they better damn well do so to strengthen there position at CBS in case the jobs at XM cease to exist.

Here is the simple truth:

Opie and Anthony said something that caught the ears of some political figures.
XM is involved with political figures in an attempt at a merger.
Opie and Anthony comment on XM management when they were told by the company not to.
XM needed to make a statement to political figures to make merger go through.
Opie and Anthony get suspended.

Now for my response:

1. CBS is currently going through the 'spring book'. In fact, it's smack dab in the middle of it. CBS is now getting hit with more listeners because of all the free press and lack of a show on XM. Think about this....where are YOU listening to them on now? CBS or XM? I expect O&A to be #1 in all their markets when the spring book comes out. XM profits out of this in the long run because they get money from broadcasting XM content on CBS. They probably get a higher percentage if the ratings go up. And, they don't have to mention XM on their show, because it's on all the TV news channels and newspapers across the country. People aren't going to confuse them with being on Sirius anymore.

2. The suspension ends right about the time the first Traveling Virus tour show starts...about a week before the first one. The spring book for Arbitron ends about the same time.

3. You say XM lost 500k in sub revenue, but how much would it cost for advertising in every one of those papers and websites? How much would it cost for a front page ad? How much for a 5-10 minute television ad (like the 5 minute stories all the news channels are doing)? A helluva lot more. Millions and millions of dollars.

4. Opie is a huge fan of Andy Kaufman. Someone who is known for pulling the wool over the public eye. If this was a hoax, it'd be the biggest one in the history of radio. Probably the biggest 'Assault On the Media' ever. It would give them a name in the history books and feed their egos.

5. There's a second smaller studio in the XM building that R&F have broadcast from before. O&A can't/won't use that studio because their show has more to it, i.e. guests, interns, and general shit going on. Plus, there's three main people doing the show as opposed to two people on R&F (Earl's in another room..Dave's not there all the time). Also, Opie said that it would take 'about 30 days or more' for the studio to be finished. The way he said it sounded fishy too.

6. XM's 'hard numbers' are great, but they don't make as much of an impact in the public eye as mass cancellations. XM also doesn't release those numbers to the public. Nobody know what the actual numbers are. XM knows that most will come back within a week or two if they like the other programming, and the hardcores will come back when O&A do. Plus all of the regular people who don't know or care who O&A are. Plus the O&A haters who see this as 'cleaning up XM'. Plus all the new cars sold with XM already installed and activated. They probably already have a plan in effect to give out free months and activation for returning subs. As for the people who smashed their radios, I guess they're SOL. Maybe Brother Elmo shouldn't have encouraged the fans to smash 'em. It could lead to legal problems.

7. Yes, they're obligated to keep their mouths shut. But they're TOO shut. Think back to the 'Sex For Sam 3' incident. Remember the 'Peanut Butter and Jelly' incident? Remember the sound clips they played? Remember the tension and stress? Where is it now? The past 3 shows had nothing of the 'usual' signals they drop. It's like they're doing a worst of live, and overly happy and nice, no stress in the voice whatsoever.

8. They also know there is no bad publicity. If for some strange reason they get fired, then they can sue. Which would get their names in the papers again. Then the TV deals will start coming in. Which means more money and more exposure.

And yes, I do listen to the show. 5+ hours a day, every day. In fact, haven't missed a minute of it since I subscribed with XM over 2 years ago. I signed up for O&A. Plus I've downloaded full shows from the WNEW days. I'm pretty well versed in O&A-isms. Plus I have a long history in radio. I actually know about ratings and how to read them. I've studied Arbitron books until my eyes were bloodshot. I've studied the history of radio too. It's not too far fetched for management and radio hosts to conspire to get more ratings. If this theory were any way true, they'd deny it completely. The mystery will continue for ever and everyone benefits in the long run. The only people who don't benefit are the dummies who smashed their radios. Tools.

If you’d like to debunk or add to my theory, drop me a line at radionewshound@gmail.com, I’d love to hear intelligent responses to my theory and I’ll try to answer them here.

Could the Opie & Anthony 'Suspension' be an Elaborate Hoax?

After a few days of blood-boiling stress and despair over the Opie & Anthony ‘suspension’ from XM, my nerves settled down. My XM is canceled, and I’m forced to watch cable. Yuck.

Then I started to think about the whole situation. Something just wasn’t right in the universe. Why would XM, a pay-service that promises ‘uncut and uncensored’ content, with channel blocking, suspend their top-rated talk show hosts for something a homeless man said? Especially when it’s nothing compared to what Opie & Anthony have said on XM in the past. Either spouting spiteful comments about management, or on whatever subject they desired, be it rape, incest, torture, violence, hookers, transsexuals, boogers on couches, kicking dogs in the liver, stepping on a homeless man’s cake (a funny bit too, don’t worry, that homeless man made out like a bandit. He had enough money to buy 10 cakes after that walkover incident) etc. etc.

Why did this one comment get them suspension when we all know much worse has happened on-air before this incident? Think about some of the comments Opie, Anthony, and especially Jim Norton have made off-the-cuff, and received no repercussions. Or what about the three times they almost did get fired, weren’t they worse?

An old saying popped into my mind, “There Is No Bad Publicity”.

Think about how much XM, Opie & Anthony, CBS Radio, Free FM, Ron & Fez, and other terms have been coming up in the news lately. A lot. Isn’t that what Opie & Anthony were trying to achieve with their “Assault On The Media”? Keep this in mind. Other than being brilliant talk show hosts, their also pretty crafty. They love to mess with the press, and the listeners.

A lot of scenarios have been floating around my tired brain and this is what I think is probably happening…maybe I’m crazy, maybe it might be something to consider:

After Homeless Charley’s Pryor-like comments, and Opie & Anthony having an honest laugh about it live on the air, a watchdog group heard it, and submitted it to all the proper channels. It got minor press and a minor shrug of the shoulders from the concerned parties, Condellezza Rice, Laura Bush, and Queen Elizabeth, obviously big Opie & Anthony fans and no doubt subscribers to XM (that is called a joke…bad as it may be, it’s a joke). Opie & Anthony being the media manipulators that they are, got together with XM management and CBS management, and devised a plan. A way to get any slack off their back, to really test the loyalty of the Opie & Anthony listeners, to help get the Sirius merger through, and to get more press for all concerned. A FAKE SUSPENSION!

Opie & Anthony have talked about radio DJ’s pulling the ‘fake suspension’, or a two-week vacation, a few times. It’s usually with pay, but it’s also a way to get the presses rolling about the show, and to get fans to rally around the show. It’s also a way to test out how popular a show is. It’s also a way to get a lot of free press. Milk the current publicty over Don Imus and JV and Elvis. Did I mention it’s a way to get A LOT OF FREE PUBLICITY! Look at their own history. They’ve done it before and they’ve admitted it.

Now you’re probably asking yourself, "How would this benefit the companies they work for?" I’ll say it again….A LOT OF FREE PUBLICITY!

First, CBS benefits by having Opie & Anthony exclusive for a month, and the boys get to do a 3 hour show a day….with pay. They are pretty lazy by nature and would jump at the chance for a short work day.

Second, XM benefits by figuring out how popular the show really is, it would strengthen Opie & Anthony’s position with the company when the merger with Sirius happens. Mel Karmazin would be crazy to fire them for a stupid reason (like “Howard told me too”) after what happened after their ‘suspension’ this week. He would look at them with dollar signs in his eyes instead of the usual disgust. According from reports, there are probably over 40,000 cancellations over this, maybe more. This is out of over 7 million subscribers. You do the math. Now think of all the people who hate Opie & Anthony, people who were actually offended by the comments of a deranged homeless drunk. They see the ‘suspension’ as a victory for their special interest cause. They sign up with the newer, cleaner XM. How many do you think signed up online for service after the ‘suspension’? How many ‘red states’ are there in America? How many ‘bible-thumping’ states are there? I’ll state it again. How many people hate Opie & Anthony. It’s probably more than the ones that love them. After a month of boring radio on CBS, the radar will be switched off, XM will let Opie & Anthony return, letting them go back to what they were doing before: funny and edgy radio, as free as it was before. The loyal listeners will return in droves, and XM gets more subscribers than ever.

Third, Opie & Anthony benefit by getting their names in the papers and news websites across the world, cause confusion, and feed their media whore appetites. It also gives their fans, a.k.a. “The Pests”, carnage for their blood-thirsty appetites. Something Curtis Silwa said on Hannity and Colmes a few nights ago stuck in my head….they were suspended with pay. Is that really a suspension, or a paid vacation? Has anyone else noticed that they seem to be unusually happy on their CBS show, very tight-lipped about the whole situation? Maybe they’re doing it intentionally. To keep the drama going.

Fourth, XM is building them a new studio, which will take them about a month to finish. Which would mean they would have to do their show from the CBS Studios. CBS has their own show broadcasting from that same studio, so there would be a lot of conflict.

I think the Opie & Anthony and XM listeners were all duped.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. It makes sense out of a situation that made no sense whatsoever.

If you think you may have some more to add to this theory, drop me a line at radionewshound@gmail.com, and I'll compile all the tips for a future article.