My saga with SIRIUS and Air America

[Pab Sungenis]

I wrote to complain to SIRIUS about their dropping Air America. Friends and former co-workers of mine in broadcasting were discussing this whole "exclusive" deal with XM and let me in on the inside scuttlebutt.

From what I've been told, Air America approached SIRIUS first, and the new heads of the service wouldn't even talk with them. It was only after their rejection by SIRIUS that they went to XM. (This was why they had to accept a deal that left Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes out in the cold.)

So, I finally wrote an E-Mail expressing my disapproval, and the reply came back:

Thanks, we got your email! We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us, and will gladly address your concerns regarding the programming on Air America // 144. While Air America Radio made the decision to leave SIRIUS, our commitment to great liberal talk programming continues. On SIRIUS Left // 143, we have an outstanding lineup of liberal talk including Ed Schultz; Alex Bennett; Lynn Samuels; Alan Colmes; Stephanie Miller; Thom Hartmann; The Young Turks, and more!

If that lineup made you retch as much as it did me, you'll appreciate my response:

Liberal? Ed Schultz is a Republican, Alan Colmes is only liberal when you stick him next to Sean Hannity, Alex Bennett puts me to sleep, and the Young Turks are annoying. Lynn is good, and Thom is OK, even if you only carry one hour of his show.

No, I'm sorry. You let the best station on your service go, and with it my loyalty to SIRIUS. It's been fun.

Their response?

Thanks, we got your email! At SIRIUS, we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us regarding Air America // Channel 144. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused by Air America's decision to leave SIRIUS. We continually rely on customer feedback and research to enhance your entertainment experience. From time to time, adjustments to the programming are made. Be assured that our primary purpose is always subscriber satisfaction. We are forwarding your comments to our programming team. We strive to meet the expectations of our listeners. We will take your suggestions into consideration, to ensure that you are satisfied with our service and your listening experience.

My next reply?

If you ever hope to keep me as a listener of any service you ever offer, you'll turn off these autoresponders and actually read the messages.

Anyone up for a rally outside SIRIUS' or XM's offices? I won't switch to XM because they won't carry the full lineup; that's why I stuck with SIRIUS.

[NYCGirl]

1. There was a post here recently (in GD, I think) stating that as of July,

XM will carry the full AAR lineup.

[ET Awful]

4. That's what the folks at AAR said when I called them.

XM will have the full line-up.

[Pab Sungenis]

12. Then they're misled.

According to Billboard:

Interestingly, in addition to the Air America programming lineup, the channel will also feature Democracy Radio’s "The Ed Schultz Show" and Fox News Radio’s "The Alan Colmes Show."

AAR programs all but four hours a day. Carrying those other two shows means something will be dropped, and word is it's Randi for Ed and Mike for Alan, so everything airs live.

[Reverend_Smitty]

5. Do you have a link to this thread?

I'd love to read it

[NYCGirl]

13. I didn't bookmark it, and just did a search, but there's TONS of threads

on the subject. So you might want to do a search — lots of info.

[4metta]

23. BULLDUNG

XM is still butchering Randi's show and playing Alan Colmes during Mike's live show. I'm so pissed off about this.


SCREW XM AND SCREW AIR AMERICA MANAGEMENT FOR SIGNING THIS BULLDUNG DEAL!!!:mad:

[dhinojosa]

2. The Young Turks kick ass!!!!

WTF?

[Maat]

17. I like the Young Turks too.

Jenk is an ex-prosecutor (has a law degree).

[dhinojosa]

20. Anywhere there is a Jew, Muslim, and ex-Christian (Jilly) in a show....

you know fun times are about to happen.

[Maat]

21. Yep.

I like the hosts on Air America, but am not dependent on them.

[Ninga]

3. At least you reveived a reply, even though it was an "auto" resonse.

I have written and called and have not received a response.

What email address did you contact Sirius at??

[Pab Sungenis]

10. Customer Care.

[e-mail]

[Ninga]

14. Thank you, I'm going to contact "customer care" right now!

[kimpossible]

6. I'm really pissed at Sirius and at the new AAR management

I got Sirius a few months ago specifically to listen to AAR. And I prepaid for a year. Without AAR, I have no interest in keeping the service.

The new AAR CEO has taken several actions that seem to be at odds with the spirit of AAR. In addition to dumping Sirius, there was the abrupt cancellation of Unfiltered, and the deal with Clear Channel to replace Morning Sedition with Jerry Springer on several stations.

I'm so disappointed. Is AAR now run by just another faceless corporation?

[Ninga]

7. Look no matter how you slice the deal.....loyal subscribers and loyal AAR

listeners were thrown in the scrap pile.

A Sirius Satallite Radio without Air America Radio is like cheeseburger without the cheese.........it ain't the same.

I bought and paid for a cheeseburger and got cheated.

[Imalittleteapot]

8. "...left Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes out in the cold."

I knew that Malloy wasn't part of the XM deal, but now you're saying that Randi isn't either? So what happens - do they stay in the same time slots on Sirius?

[Pab Sungenis]

9. Nope.

All AA programming disappears from SIRIUS in June. XM will be airing Ed Schultz instead of Randi and Alan Colmes instead of Mike.

[Imalittleteapot]

11. Then there is no need for me to switch from

Sirius to XM.

[McSpazitron]

15. Now, XM's America Left

has Ed Schultz on from 3:00 to 5:00 (EDT), then Randi Rhodes takes over.

I listen to America Left all day. It's one of the reasons I got satellite radio. But frankly, I'm not a fan of Randi Rhodes. Generally, I record the Al Franken Show on my MyFi (since I'm always away from my desk at work, I end up not hearing much of the show when it airs) and play it over my afternoon drive home when Randi is on.

[pstokely]

16. I think AAR will beon XM full time starting July 16

when it disapears from Sirius

[kimpossible]

18. Then it's good-bye Sirius for me

I'll have to go back to streaming when I can, and downloading the mp3s later when I can't. But minus a lot of money down the drain on Sirus equipment.

Sirius now has two channels of progressive talk - AAR and TalkLeft. Sounds like XM has no plans to expand to two, just squeeze some AAR into the one they have. Don't either of them see that there's enough demand out here to support at least two channels of sanity on the air?

[Ninga]

19. You may want to consider contacting Sirius, it can't hurt.

I emailed Sirius yesterday.

[e-mail]

[Pab Sungenis]

22. Well, here's another laugh and a half

My message text:

If you ever hope to keep me as a listener of any service you ever offer, you'll turn off these autoresponders and actually read the messages.

And their response:

Thanks for the feedback! At SIRIUS, our customers matter - that's why we love hearing from you. When one of our valued customers expresses an idea or opinion that would help allow us to better tailor our service to reflect your needs, we listen. Rest assured, we have made your concerns heard by our programmers, and they are further reviewing it. You may receive a subsequent response from them about your concerns.

We here at SIRIUS do sincerely appreciate your feedback about our channels and on-air personalities. We continually work to provide our listeners with a wide range of music in virtually every genre along with a variety of news, sports, talk, comedy, and family programs. Our channels are designed to please listeners of every listening preference.

Pab, if at any time you have any more questions or concerns, please
don't hesitate to contact our toll-free Customer Care line, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, at:

1-888-539-SIRIUS (7474)

Or, via e-mail, at:

[e-mail]

Your feedback regarding our programming is extremely important to us.
We are dedicated to providing the most variety and best listening
experience available anywhere.

Sincerely,

Sam
SIRIUS Customer Care Agent

Visit us on the web at www.sirius.com

Sigh. So much for SIRIUS.

[don954]

24. Ed Schultz is an ex republican

and is now a left of center dem. He supports Unions, thinks free-trade just gives away our jobs, supports woman’s right to choose, supports getting the @^% out of Iraq NOW (we came, we didn’t find WMDs, mission complete, get out!), and is left of center on most issues. I think you do him a big dis-service to call him a republican.

Now, the rest of the line up, bunch of friggin neocons there.. ;)

The AAR station down here airs the normal line-up but with Ed between 3-6 instead of the normal show, I have grown to like Ed, even with the sports talk that boars the hell out of me.

[Montauk6]

25. Really??? Fancy you say that!

I would argue that Colmes's liberalism comes out without Wolfboy looming about.

Thom Hartmann is ESSENTIAL, 'nuff said. He busts out the history, AND he knows how to make Randroids squirm.

Stephanie's cool.

I loved how the Turks pummelled that weasel DICK Morris.

Lynn is old school; I get freaked out by her support of Pat Buchanan and Drudge though.