XM Satellite Radio Backlash

mrchubbs writes "Sponsors and subscribers to XM Radio are protesting the decision by XM management to suspend the Opie and Anthony show for comments made on an uncensored channel. Subscribers are canceling subscriptions — some estimate that between 20,000 and 40,000 have cancelled. Some are even smashing their radios in protest. Sponsors are pulling ads. Also, there is some evidence of XM not honoring cancellation requests, forcing multiple calls to finally get accounts canceled." Of course this dispute isn't a free-speech issue. "Free speech" refers to a prohibition on censorship by the government; XM is free to do as it wishes with the content it broadcasts, within the law.

Comments

Re:Speech, Schmeech... It's a Business

[LWATCDR]

Funny but I was on the other side. I went with XM because they didn't have Howard Stern. I don't like "shock" jocks I don't think they are funny. I wrote into XM saying simply that I didn't want to have anything as like that again. No request that they fire or cancel the show just enforce some standards. Honestly you might be supprised how many subscribers did complain about the show. This isn't a freedom of speech issue it is consumer choice. If more people want that than don't then I guess we will see more of that kind show if not then we will see less.