Sirius Satellite Radio sends almost 60% of it's donations to republicans

[LaPera]

I bought Sirius equipment to get and listen to Air America Radio (AAR)

Now that Sirius will not be carrying AAR after July 11th, I don't feel quite so bad having to change to XM, knowing the above.

Not that XM is any better, still I guess I will have to buy XM equipment to be able to get AAR whenever I'm driving or at home.

http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php#s

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Is that a definite date?

First I heard May 1, then June 15, now July 11. What gives?

Yes, I am pissed that I have Sirius and will soon be losing AAR. I'm not sure I can handle a day without Randi Rhodes on my drive home.

[LaPera]

2. Well, XM becomes the "exclusive" satellite carrier of AAR on July 11th

www.airamericaradio.com

But I'm not exactly sure of the date when it will actually occur and Sirius stops broadcasting AAR.

[Dee625]

3. $@*^ We just got Sirius and AAR was one of the reasons.

It's not on local radio and my husband is really enjoying listening to AAR on his 45 minute commute each way to work.

Now I'm pissed. I need to find our account number and send feedback.
Not that companies listen to the consumer.

[LaPera]

5. I know what your feeling, I've been feeling the same way for month's now,

once I heard about it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. It's not Sirius's fault

AAR negotiated a contract with XM. Sirius wants AAR, at least that's what they told me when I called to complain. They said they were blindsided by this deal.

[xultar]

20. True. So, I'm sticking with Sirius. AAR left me.

[Zinfandel]

31. I have to agree, however, I too want to be able to travel with AAR...

[XOKCowboy]

44. I've traveled with my XM Roadie all over the country..

in the last 2 years in rental cars, company vehicles and my personal vehicle. I don't see what the problem is. I've never regretted buying my XM and I've listened to AAR since their first day on it.

Sorry that Sirius let you guys down. They thought Martha Stewart and Howard Stern were more important. Bad corporate decision on their part if you ask me.

[Rosco T.]

47. Heads Up Reminder for those wanting to get XM and need more...

.. than one receiver.

Buy ANY XM Receiver between now and July 2, 2005 and GET A FREE XM ROADY..

http://www.xmradio.com/doubleplay/index.jsp

Buy One - Get One FREE.

[pstokely]

64. I'm not getting XM until they carry full AAR Lineup

[MissWaverly]

4. I still like Sirius Left, don't want those folks unemployed

[LaPera]

8. I enjoy some of Sirius Left, except for Ed Schultz, Alan Colmes...

Alex Bennett and The Wall Street Report. I don't care for any of them. Way too moderate for my taste.

Except for the excellent Thom Hartmann and Lynn Samuels and The Young Turks...Sirius Left is NOT very liberal...I guess that explains why they send most of their donations to republicans.

So I won't have a problem changing over to XM.

[Gabi Hayes]

12. you forgot the worst of all, Doug Stepan, who admits to being a

conSERVative!

not to mention ignoramous

and WTF is that Wall Street show doing on Talk Left?

[LaPera]

14. Great call Gabi Hayes, "Doug Stephan". So how in the hell can they call

themselves, Sirius Left? With Doug Stephan, Wall Street Journal This Morning, Ed Shultz, Alex Bennett & Alan Colmes...

Sirius Moderate...At Best!!!

[tsuki]

29. I thought Alan Colmes was displacing some of Randi's show on

XM. Is he staying with left?

[Zinfandel]

32. This, if true, would be a devastating drag! I hope it's not.

[Rosco T.]

41. The PRESENT XM Schedule for Air America 167

Mon-Fri

5AM-6AM ET Rachel Maddow
6AM-9AM ET Morning Sedition
9AM-Noon ET The Jerry Springer Show
Noon - 3PM ET The Al Franken Show
3PM-5PM ET The Ed Schultz Show
5PM-7PM ET The Randi Rhodes Show
7PM-10PM ET The Majority Report
10PM-1AM ET The Alan Colmes Show
1AM-5AM ET Mike Malloy

AT THE PRESENT TIME, they carry the last 2 hours of Randi live and have Mike Malloy on a three hour tape delay. They have the 1st 2 hours of Schultz with NO SCHULTZ replays over the w/e (AFAICR).

They carry the FULL weekend schedule (includng best of's, Ring of Fire, Laura FLanders, EcoTalk, Bring the Noize, Politically Direct, etc...)

THE BUZZ inside the business is that sometime around July 11th, they will open a SECOND 'Left' Channel (or perhaps mixed Left/Right/Centrist) on 168, move Colmes and Schultz over there (and there is also talk that Schultz will go to FOUR hours near the 1st of July).

This is not CONFIRMED, but is what's being heard (I also remember someone posted here that they spoke with an AAR Honcho at a rally and he said basically the same thing...)

I Predict: Changes around July 4th.

[LaPera]

53. Pushing Mike Malloy three hours forward doesn't please me or anyone...

And Randi to just two hours? Man, I'm not sure...

But it's better than NO AAR.

[Rosco T.]

54. Note the operative words..... AT PRESENT....

things will change.

Patience Grasshopper.

[MissWaverly]

62. I love the Young Turks

and I think we should support a station that was formed for our market,
if commercial radio doesn't feel liberal have deep pockets, there will remain the 1000% commitment to rw broadcasting since their income windfall is guaranteed.

[bbgrunt]

6. I bought sirius for AAR too, and am royally pissed

especially since one cannot find out what their plans are for the station that is now AAR in spite of writing e-mails to them earlier.

If they do not carry AAR anymore, it's bye bye subscription from me

[Joj Bush]

9. They don't seem that bad

If you look at the individual donation on buyblue, one guy donated only to Democrats and the other guy donated to some Democrats and some Repubs, but for Pres he donated only to Kerry. If it is true that Air America chose to switch from Sirius to XM, that's a stupid move considering Sirius is more popular. I just heard it for the first time in a Hertz rental car, they all have it. I'd complain to Air America about dropping Sirius rather than complain to Sirius, as it was apparently Air America's decision.

Edit: Never mind, XM is more popular. I don't see them on buyblue though, anyone have info on their leanings?

Furthermore, I looked up Mel Karmazin, the Sirius owner and CEO whose donations are not given on buyblue for some reason, and he's very Democratic, apparently contrary to what the poster below is saying. Buy Blue should find this info a bit more quickly, it's not that hard to find.

[Rosco T.]

38. Sirius 1.4 millions subs, XM 4.3 million... Sirius is More Popular??? n/m

[Joj Bush]

59. What tha deal

I already edited my post to say XM is more popular hours before your reply

[XOKCowboy]

61. Part of the deal that XM struck with AAR..

was giving AAR time and space in their Washington DC studios which is very important when you're a political network. Plus the fact that XM has a 2-3X larger listening audience.

I don't agree with you that I'd complain to AAR if I was a Sirius subscriber. AAR is a very young network and needs the money, the facilities and airtime. XM provides that. If I was a Sirius subcriber who wants AAR I'd be complaining to Sirius and trying to convince them to put up the money to carry AAR. Radio is a very competitive business that's motivated by listeners and revenue.

[MarkTwain]

10. It's a fairly established fact that the primary owner and founder....

... of Sirius is a major Republican and a devoted and confirmed conservative.

This has been mentioned many times over the years by the programming director of Out-Q, the gay station on Sirius and a man who also has his own show on that station as well.

It's felt that the Republican's ownership and management of Sirius is one of the motivations, for a period of time, that they named their right wing station "The Patriot Channel" which upset the Progressive and Gay station hosts - implying that only conservatives could be patriots.

Hah. Anyone see a connection between that kind of meme and the current KKKarl Rove attacks?

Right-wing wackos... all for one and one for all.

[LaPera]

11. WOW! I didn't know this...Do you know anything about the XM ownership?

[NYCGirl]

15. List of major XM shareholders is here:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=XMSR

Wellington Management Company, Llp
United States Trust Company of New York
Axa
Transamerica Investment Management
Legg Mason Inc.
Bear Stearns & Company
Calamos Advisors LLC
Barclays Bank
TCW Group, Inc. (The)
FMR Corporation (Fidelity Management & Research Corp)
Excelsior Funds Inc-Value & Restructuring
TCW Galileo Select Equities Fund
Fidelity Growth Company Fund
Fidelity Equity-Income II, Fund
Fidelity Magellan Fund Inc
Calamos Growth Fund
Fidelity Contrafund Inc
Legg Mason Opportunity Trust Fund
American Century Ultra
Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund
HUGHES ELECTRONICS CORP
HAYWOOD, GEORGE WEAVER
EUTENEUER, JOSEPH J.
PARSONS, GARY M.
ROBERTS, PIERCE J. JR.

[LaPera]

16. Man, not a pretty picture of any liberal companies or investors. Well what

can one do...

Though XM is going to carry AAR, I hope they don't mess with them.
If AAR continues to gain strength on the air waves, they won't be able to.

Support AAR! (And it's sponsors and buy AAR gear).

www.airamericaradio.com

[Joj Bush]

17. Actually if you look up the owners on newsmeat.com,

the main owners of XM donate mostly to democrats as well, as is the case for Sirius.

[xultar]

22. Tell the original poster that please!

[LaPera]

36. I've acknowledged it, (see below) However, it WON"T affect my change to XM

Because, I want and need AAR!

[Joj Bush]

13. Are you sure?

You might be referring to the previous owner, before the current one, Mel Karmazin, who donates almost exclusively to Dems?

[LaPera]

18. Perhaps you can find out more for the people who stay with Sirius. I'm...

leaving for XM!

I see by your above post you just did! :toast:

[xultar]

19. Well when it comes down to thugs and donations they are both the

same pig - with different dresses.

[LaPera]

21. I'm afraid your absolutely correct.

http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php#s

[Flammable Materials]

23. I bought my Sirius receiver at Goodwill.

I paid $15.

When I bought the docking unit for it, I found out that it never got the termination signal. The thing doesn't know it was supposed to have been deactivated.

Funny thing is, I found a receiver back in February at a different Goodwill store for $7. I gave it to my wife as a gift, figuring she'd have to pay the monthly fees. She bought the docking unit, that unit was never deactivated, and she's been enjoying it every day since.

:headbang:

[LaPera]

25. That looks like where I'll donate mine...

[Flammable Materials]

27. Tell you what ...

... send it to me, and I'll pay for the postage.

:)

[LaPera]

28. After Sirius removes AAR, your on. I have two of them and my twin eleven

year old daughters (who live with their mom) love it. I saw them last week-end and they had it figured out and programed their Brittany Spears, etc. in no time, (very sharp girls)...If fact today, I pushed the memo button thinking it was a song I had programed and it blew me away to be listening to this bubble-gum pop, that I know I never programed, it made me laugh...

[LaPera]

30. I live on the northern California coast-they in Chico four hours inland...

So one of the receivers (and boombox) will go to them...I'll buy the subscription for them.

Send me your address via message and I will be in touch.

[Rosco T.]

42. Sell it on eBay.. plenty of Stern-heads that will want it... n/m

[LaPera]

50. Your right, since Howard is canceled on "E" -- But, "Flammable Materials"

asked first.

In fact, ebay is where I bought a shitload of Sirius equipment...

It'll work out! It's only a few bucks and my daughters and "Flammable Materials" seem to want it.

[Flammable Materials]

24. Actually the ratio of right-wing to left wing talk on Sirius is 3:1 ...

... when you consider that they carry "ABC News & Talk" (Sean Hannity, Larry Elder), Sirius Patriot, and Sirius Right ... all one right after the other in the channel line up. If they don't replace AAR with another left-talk channel, well ...

... I'll be even happier that I get to use my radio without paying. :)

[LaPera]

26. Besides AAR--Does anyone know if XM carrys interesting Jazz, Blues, Rock..

Raw Comedy, etc., as well as Sirius does? Because Sirius programers are great.

Does your wife listen to AAR?

[Rosco T.]

37. You can sample all the XM Music channels FOR FREE....

a FREE Three-Day trial of all the Music Channels...

http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/index.jsp

Note: Online Streaming included with subscription.

[XOKCowboy]

40. Roscoe..

I was wondering when you'd see this thread! Give them hell and the facts bro!

[Rosco T.]

43. (chuckle)... I'll do my Joe Friday impersonation...

"Just the Facts"...

Sheesh, you try to have this discussion over on Randi's board and you get tarred, feathers and called every name in the book... by the MODERATORS....

[XOKCowboy]

48. At least no one is saying that XM is owned by Clear Channel..

LOL

[Rosco T.]

49. Oh, they still do, including one of the Moderators...

.. a typical case of 'my minds made up, don't tell me any facts'.

The last one was that "XM Shills most of Clear Channel's Talk Shows".. when I broke it down that it boiled down to 6 shows -

- two of them having 4 hours/week (2 hrs/each)

- two of the 'entertainment' type shows

- two Reich-Wing.

He took off on another tangent...

[LaPera]

51. Your investigation of XM Rosco T. is scarying the shit out of me...

[XOKCowboy]

52. Well with all the BS put out about XM...

somebody has to debunk it and Rosco did his homework. Heck the local AAR radio affiliate is a ClearChannel owned station but they carry AAR. They follow the money.

I really don't care about the politics of radio. I want my comedy, classic country music, blues, classic rock and roll and Air America. XM has that and I'm happy.

[LaPera]

55. Sirius has "Jam On" "Where we test positive all the time"...

:smoke: Long jams...I'm gone, to XM when Sirius leaves AAR behind!

[XOKCowboy]

56. That would be cool...

I don't want to knock Sirius. I went with XM before Sirius was even started. They do have some great channels.

For me AAR is the deciding factor. My job has me driving all over the country and I don't have that many CDs lol. If Sirius had given AAR the same deal as XM I'd be out shopping right now for a Sirius receiver.

Simple as that.

[LaPera]

58. Now, it becomes my "deciding factor" as well!

Thanks.

XM!

[LaPera]

45. Thank you, Rosco T. so much...I going to...Thanks again!!!

[LaPera]

57. I've been listening to XM (3 day ticket) I love what I'm hearing...

Coltrane! I've got the week-end, but I already know I'm going to subscribe...Too cool Rosco...Thanks dude!

Ticket to ride!
http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/index.jsp

[XOKCowboy]

39. I'm and XM subscriber and I love XM Comedy

Yes XM does carry uncut comedy and that's why I bought it in the first place. Then in March last year they started carrying AAR (albeit in a somewhat cutup fashion) and that's when I started becoming an AAR addict. I'm hopeful that June 11th they'll have a dedicated AAR channel and carry it live and uncut. We'll see.

As for music they carry all kinds of music without commercial interruption. I'm happy that I bought XM before Sirius came out and haven't regretted the decision. Sattelite radio rules and I'll never give it up.

[LaPera]

46. Another thanks, XOKCowboy! This helps my pain soooo much...

[tx_dem41]

33. A "black/white" world is sooo simple and pleasant, isn't it?

None of those annoying shades of grey to worry your beautiful mind about.

[Zinfandel]

34. Well, Neal Cassidy wouldn't be fretting!

[LaPera]

35. Indeed! LOL!

[LaPera]

60. Listening to XM! Nite! And thank you ALL!

[pstokely]

63. XM doesn't have the full AAR lineup

at least not yet