This is strictly confidential, but all the paperwork is signed and ready to go, and XM has fully acquired Sirius Radio. Come May, there will be a substantial price increase for XM Radio, as it will, in June or so, host all the Sirius channels. It would be best to simply extend your XM plan as we will honor your current contract price per month before we begin hosting the Sirius stations.

No merger until Amos and Andy Opie and Anthony are back on the air! Oh, they already are? Since June 15th? Ok, cool. Merge away. Competition is such a hassle. You can file comments online or by snail mail.

FCC [via Cnet] (Thanks to Tino!)

That lawyer probably cost more than 87 cents. — BEN POPKEN

Robert R Taylor and David W Lawrence, on Behalf of Himself and other Similarly Situated Individuals v. XM Satellite Radio, Inc. (PDF)

For the typical subscription costing about $13 a month, that would come to about 87 cents.

To quote Ricky Roma, "Oh, what a big man you are! "Hey, let me buy you a pack of gum. I'll show you how to chew it." — BEN POPKEN

Glitch leads to customer credit [Detroit Free Press] (Thanks to Warwick!)

They forgot to include this one where some guys drive an 18 wheeler truck cab over an XM radio. Then they light another on fire and drive over it, just like they would do at a monster truck rally. The video's makers were also remiss to not do some kind of Max Headroom effect with this CNN clip.

The question is, will a visually entertaining consumer backlash translate into XM not canceling Opie and Anthony? Or from curtailing free speech to curry political favor?

For the time being, according to PeopleAgainstCensorship.com, several advertisers have pulled their ads from XM Radio in protest: Adamandeve, Nashville Coffee, Mafialife.com, Support.com, icu2.com, and Myradiostore.com, which sells XM and Sirius satellite radios. — BEN POPKEN

PREVIOUSLY: State Of The Backlash thread

CUSTOMER: They begin with different letters, they sound completely different.
XM: I am now changing the words that I use.

Part of the problem seems to be the rep's command of English. He says grammatically correct sentences, but they have no logical flow. This was the subscriber's fourth call, and while it looks like another strikeout, an update he posted to his YouTube description indicates that the next morning his account was finally canceled. Unleash the streamers. — BEN POPKEN

PREVIOUSLY: State Of The Backlash thread

And here's a bunch of email addresses for opinion-voicing-good-times-rolling!

Hugh Panero, Chief Executive Officer - hugh.panero@xmradio.com
Nate Davis, President and Chief Operating Officer - nate.davis@xmradio.com
Gary Parsons, Chairman of the Board - gary.parson@xmradio.com
Dara F. Altman, Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs - dara.altman@xmradio.com
Steve Cook, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing - steve.cook@xmradio.com
Joseph J. Euteneuer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - joseph.euteneuer@xmradio.com
Vernon Irvin, Chief Marketing Officer - vernon.irvin@xmradio.com
Eric Logan, Executive Vice President, Programming - eric.logan@xmradio.com
Dan Murphy, Executive Vice President of Retail Aftermarket Distribution - dan.murphy@xmradio.com
Stell Patsiokas, Executive Vice President, Technology and Engineering - stell.patsiokas@xmradio.com
Joseph Titlebaum, General Counsel and Secretary - joseph.titlebaum@xmradio.com

Not a good idea to build a whole brand around unfettered, commercial-free, free-speech, and then censor your talent just to make nice in Washington so you can push through your controversial merger. — BEN POPKEN

[via UPOP]
PREVIOUSLY: State Of The Backlash thread

On May 1st, Zipcar a car sharing/rental service that provides over 2,500 cars to 90,000 members, sent out an email to those members informing them that ZipCar was parting ways with XM radio. The email begins:

Sometimes if you love something, you just have to set it free. So, even though we know that so many of you love XM's tuneage and ad-free format, we've made the difficult decision to break ties with XM while things get sorted out in the satellite radio industry (there's serious talk of XM and Sirius merging). But rest assured, we're checking out new ways to make your Ziptrips just as rockin' (or jazzin', or, well, you get the picture) as always.

It's not fun to be XM radio these days, between the loss of a high profile 2,500 subscription account, and all this excellent publicity, the stockholder's meeting should be fun. Read Zipcar's XM radio breakup email inside.

Zipcar writes:

Sometimes if you love something, you just have to set it free. So, even though we know that so many of you love XM's tuneage and ad-free format, we've made the difficult decision to break ties with XM while things get sorted out in the satellite radio industry (there's serious talk of XM and Sirius merging). But rest assured, we're checking out new ways to make your Ziptrips just as rockin' (or jazzin', or, well, you get the picture) as always.

As we say goodbye to our partner, we'll be removing the XM radios from all our Zipcars. This process will take a couple of months, and XM will continue to work in our cars in the meantime. If your car has it... turn it on and enjoy. To see if your Zipcar still has XM, check the vehicle details on our website when you make a reservation.

We don't want to leave you hanging without the music that you've come to know and love. You can still groove and sing out loud after the XM radios are gone from our Zipcars. Need it? Must have it? Love it too much? XM is giving Zipsters access to some solid deals through a unique set of friends and family discounts. If interested, find the deal that works for you and follow the simple instructions. Just go to http://partners.xmradio.com and enter access code XMZIPXM05 to check 'em out.

PS. The XM radios that come out of our Zipcars can't be reused but will be recycled in an earth friendly manner.

Thanks for your understanding... happy Zipping.

Peter Demers Director, Member Services

Zipcar will drop XM radio from its autos [Boston Herald]
XM Inks Deal with Zipcar [Jalopnik]
(Photo: miss_rogue)

Some XM Radio subscribers protesting the Opie and Anthony suspension hang up the phone thinking they've canceled, but after calling back to verify, it turns out they've only been given a 1-6 month credit, writes reader Justin:

On Wednesday I called and canceled my XM subscription after finding out Opie and Anthony were suspended. This afternoon (Thursday) I read on a message board that subscribers who also called to cancel were finding out their accounts were not canceled. Instead some were given the 1-6 month credit they turned down and others found out their accounts were not flagged for cancellation until May 26 (XM's shareholder meeting is May 25th, coincidence?).

Sure enough, when I called XM customer support to verify my cancellation I was told my account was granted a 3 month credit on Wednesday instead of the cancellation I demanded. After being transferred to the cancellation department I was hung up while on hold waiting for them to pick up. It took one more call to find out my account had been canceled around the time I was on hold (hung up on) waiting for the cancellation department.

So if any readers canceled their XM service they need to call XM again and verify. Otherwise they may be in for a surprise in a few months when XM monthly charges start back up.

Others writing on an Opie & Anthony fan forum, Wackbag, say the same happened to them.

It's almost as if XM hired AOL's old retention specialists. — BEN POPKEN

MORE: State Of The XM Radio Backlash thread
PREVIOUSLY:
XM Subscribers Destroy Radios To Protest Opie And Anthony Suspension
XM Radio Subscribers Are Pretty Darn Ticked Off

By blowtorch:

By saw:

By shovel:

By hand:

By vise:

By small fire in the desert:

A few more videos in this Opie and Anthony forum thread

"Cousin Joe" makes an interesting point, that there's never been a radio host suspension that didn't result in a firing. Is this true?

It makes for compelling footage, but if these guys really want to make a dent, they should be canceling their service. On that note, two readers wrote in to say that when they tried to cancel, XM hung up on them. Several times in a row. Brilliant retention strategy. — BEN POPKEN.

NEXT: XM Pretends To Let Customers Cancel
PREVIOUSLY: XM Radio Subscribers Are Pretty Darn Ticked Off

As you probably know, XM has touted their service as uncensored radio with the ability by the user to block specific channels. A method of self censorship that they constantly promote in their advertisements. These channels are tagged with the "XL" moniker showing the subscriber that they can put parental controls.

Recently XM has censored "The Opie and Anthony Show" for some comments that a guest made towards two governmental officials. XM made the hosts apologize and subsequently suspended them for 30 days because they (XM) did not believe they were sincere in their apology. Many believe that XM took these steps in order to look good in front of the congressional committees that are reviewing the unwanted merger between Sirius and themselves.

This has angered many XM subscribers and loyal fans of the Opie and Anthony Show and has caused them and I to cancel our subscriptions to make them understand that we will not stand for censorship and the degradation of Free Speech on a PAID service that markets itself as uncensored. This action has and will cause a hurt in XM's bottom line and will force shareholders to take notice that XM answers to their paid and future subscribers, not advertisers or organizations with an agenda.

I would like (hope) that you post this on your site and show everyone that the consumer is the one whose voice needs to be heard!

Thank you,
Al

XM Radio Suspends Opie & Anthony [XM]
***NEW***List of things YOU can do to help O&A [People Against Censorship]
XM subscribers backlash over O&A suspension [Digg]

(Illustration: Encyclopedia Britannica)

We'll be chatting about The Consumerist and some of our hot stories. It looks like we're going to be joined by the kid behind 8 Confessions Of A Former Verizon Sales Rep.

We've never been on a satellite before so it should be an interesting experience. — BEN POPKEN

(Photo: Joe Hastings)