What if it was all a hoax?

[AKA]

This guy thinks so (http://radionewshound.blogspot.com/2007/05/could-opie-anthony-suspension-be.html)

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.

Same dude...different outlet:

Opie & Anthony Suspension From XM A Pre-meditated Publicity Stunt? (http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_21281471.shtml)

why would XM suspend Opie & Anthony if the circumstances allowed them to make whatever jokes they want, and why would they get suspended over these jokes? They've made so many vulgar comments and jokes that could've risked their jobs, and yet they were never suspended, nor fired.

***************

All of that said, I don't buy it...I'm sure there are other,more worthy, conspiracy theories out there....but why am I to quibble when I have a bright new balloon?

http://www.myersphoto.com/people/Balloon-Boy.jpg

[riverofpiss]

I was thinking the same as this guy that wrote the article. The possibility that the suspension is a hoax could be real.

[TooLowBrow]

i think they wouldve gone out with a bigger bang

[Farfromit11]

I think Ron got suspended and its Anthony doing his voice...

[Dudeman]

i posted this the other day- i'll repost it here:

i wonder if the suspension is partly a publicity scam.
-they suspend OnA, not fire them.
-OnA are still on freeFM.
-no groups were really outraged by this.
-ona are getting a lot of publicity out of it, that they dont get based on their own stuff.
-it makes xm look good, to some people.
-it makes ona fans more loyal in the long run.

considering the amount of $ and exposure ona get by being on national fm radio and xm, they didnt seem to be making a big showing nationally- this is the most they get talked about.

[ScottFromGA]

i posted this the other day- i'll repost it here:

i wonder if the suspension is partly a publicity scam.
-they suspend OnA, not fire them.
-OnA are still on freeFM.
-no groups were really outraged by this.
-ona are getting a lot of publicity out of it, that they dont get based on their own stuff.
-it makes xm look good, to some people.
-it makes ona fans more loyal in the long run.

considering the amount of $ and exposure ona get by being on national fm radio and xm, they didnt seem to be making a big showing nationally- this is the most they get talked about.

i've said this as well....XM is going to let them back, no doubt. The biggest money draw to a red company and fire them? I think not, sorry...dont care what Elmo posted on Wackbag.com. WHEN O&A come back, itll bring all of those subs back that cancelled. People say they wont, but they will. XM can then show the media and everyone dealing with the merger, "Look, we got in XXXXXX number of subs in a months time!!!"

itll make them look good....good press....and the merger will go through. The Pest may actually be helping them (XM) more than hurting them. The only kicker is if they do not sign back up....then YES, XM is hurting more..........

[drjoek]

The original disclaimers were very nonspecific. Now they say they will return June 15th and you hear O and A doing voice over commercials so Maybe a hoax more likely a suspension for 30 days nothing more, NOT some brewing controversy ALA Imus

[sailor]

this is already in this thread (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=59940&page=29). merge.....

[K.C.]

I'd have a hard time believing that conspiracy theory.

Whenever anyone in entertainment pulls a hoax/practical joke/whatever at the EXPENSE of their fans, which is what this would be, you always run the risk of them turning on you for being used that way.

If it was found out, or they played it off like a bit, you'd wonder if the PAC people who have been working really hard to get them back, would turn on them for feeling used as pawns in this whole thing.

The better conspiracy theory is that it involves currying favor for the merger.


But I don't buy any of them. I think what we've heard is fairly close to the truth. XM wanted to show them who daddy was, but at the same time had no intention of making the 'big' statement and firing them.

[AKA]

this is already in this thread (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=59940&page=29). merge.....

It is (and I didn't notice it until a few minutes ago) - but it's also not like there aren't other sub-related topics to be spun into their own threads over this.

[pennington]

If this is a hoax, I think it will piss off a lot of sincere people. There'll be a backlash.

[K.C.]

On second thought, I reverse my opinion

It's totally a hoax...and this is the mastermind behind it all:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/b/ba/Al_dukes_wiki.JPG

[AKA]

A couple of reasons why I don't think it's a hoax...


It really doesn't seem that XM was prepared for the backlash, of any sort; how long before they scrambled for the disclaimer, only to redo it? Complete ham and egger production with that...

The "building the new studio" doesn't float considering that R&F will be broadcasting from there for the next month as well...


Now, like i said, it is not beyond my grasp of being dubed to think that there is some manipulation a-foot, but i don't think this is the culprit.

[prothunderball]

the only thing I think is a hoax is the whole, "They're definitely going to be fired," angle that got put out there on the first day. Honestly I think this was people from the show saying that simply to get the Pests more riled up and get even more people to cancel their subscriptions and prove the point to XM.

[cupcakelove]

Very possible, but I think its more likely what everyone is saying is true, that they're trying to play nice for the federal regulators.

[Dan 'Hampton]

possible not probable. The fact the XM fans are left out of this completely makes me pretty sure its not hoax.

[BoondockSaint]

So was the csino where they were going to have the poker tournament in on it as well?

[lleeder]

So was the csino where they were going to have the poker tournament in on it as well?

Short answer: YES

[Jeff Bridges]

The original disclaimers were very nonspecific. Now they say they will return June 15th and you hear O and A doing voice over commercials so Maybe a hoax more likely a suspension for 30 days nothing more, NOT some brewing controversy ALA Imus

WOW
my theory is that this is all about the merger
the doggy company probably freaked out that O & A taking on the media and defending Imus will bring attention to content and the goverment will try to put content restrictions on the merger

if this is a stunt then it would give O & A a huge payday by our show of support and for continued silence on this "event"
plus what if cbs found out this is a publisity stunt? they are against the merger and would use this info to show that controls need to be put on the satalight companys

I am not jeff bridges

Stephen

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I hope its all a Hoax, so we can go back to Satus Quo

:king:

[PapaBear]

What if it was all a hoax?

Some people would have to decide if they want to replace their smashed radios.:wallbash:

[Bay Ridge Tim]

I doubt it's a hoax, BUT...

XM should use this to their advantage. They should advertise O&A as the bad-boys of radio, too hot for XM. XM should play the bad guy role and let O&A act like mavericks.

[sailor]

It is (and I didn't notice it until a few minutes ago) - but it's also not like there aren't other sub-related topics to be spun into their own threads over this.

eh, i don't care either way. the only reason i mentioned it is that it's the same link, that's all.

[Aqualad]

I hope it's a hoax, but the new Big-Ass 202 format would suggest that it isn't. Why punish the fans by not even giving them Best Ofs?

Unless this is all a ruse to give Ron and Fez a big push, in which case I'm all for it.

[sailor]

I hope it's a hoax, but the new Big-Ass 202 format would suggest that it isn't. Why punish th fans by not even giving them Best Ofs?

Unless this is all a ruse to give Ron and Fez a big push, in which case I'm all for it.

and where are ron/fez broadcasting from during the "renovation"?