Who listens to AAR on Sirius?

[kamqute]

I would like to set up a Sirius lobby, to try to bring more progressive programming onto AAR and also Sirius Left. This is for many reasons--first, to inform the general U.S. population. Second, my own personal media experience. Third, the fact that many AAR listeners are either irritatingly apathetic, lemminglike in their conformity, or 'centrist'--and progressive sound-byte programming (particularly in the mid-day timeslots) might help open some eyes. I have a blog prepared to establish discussion, but I hope it can be a pretty democratic process to establish what we want on AAR/Sirius Left(/OutQ?). I have my own grievances to start us off.

a. Commercials

Despite the fact that Sirius is technically commercial-free only on its music stations, it used to carry only PSAs on AAR, which is illustrative of the incontrovertible fact that commercials are not part of the Sirius business model.

b. Reruns and Best Of shows

I understand the dangerous precedent of superceding the AAR programming, but in the vast wastelands of late nights, saturday mornings, and sunday midmornings, it would sure as heck be nice if we could get some serious programming.

c. USA Today Headlines, Wall Street Journal Report, 'Mortgage Minute', Dow Jones Money Report, Jeff Levy, Bobby Likus, Dave Ramsey, David Horowitz, Jim Bragman, Wendy Friesen, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of annoying 'informational' spots.

I also think it would be super if we could get them to put on the following soundbyte programs (that's probably where we'd have to start--stuff like Mother Jones Minute, etc.)

The Green Scene (http://www.thegreenscene.com/)
Drug War News (http://www.cultural-baggage.com/)
Truthout Overview (http://www.truthout.org/overview.htm)
Earthwatch Radio (http://ewradio.org/)
Hightower Radio (http://www.jimhightower.com)


Please post if you support the idea! :) Let's standardise what a post of support is--umm--include a smily in your title!

[A HERETIC I AM]

1. Agreed. Sirius Left and AAR need work, but you must concede

it is still a YOUNG network. Your ideas are good but it is STILL a commercial venture. They arent NPR after all

[jdots]

2. AAR is supposed to sound cheesey

the A.M. frequency band,barrage of commercials and all the rest
are working.This station isn't really for us DUers but for that A.M. listener out there to find .N.P.R. has become corporate snooty boredum,Pacifica is trying to provide a service with Amy Goodman and all the great political programming but also has alot of things that only please a tiny audience.
A.A.R. is working and will grow when the country gets it's mind back.Till then I hear you,it's all a wasteland out there.
As for us who want the truth and don't want to listen to the crystal chanting folk dance hour or zither music from Zimdar it is a problem.Lets start a damned DU radio station....oy it would end up with the wacky in fighting of Pacifica but a fresh start and clean slate would be nice. Imagine having news from all over the country done by us non professionals,that would be so cool it might start a trend. Technology is an insulator in many ways that allows people to not communicate.Come on Duers we can figure this out .

[Paul Hood]

3. :) I absolutely support this idea.

They did have Jim Hightower on until a few months ago at the end of Unfiltered. When I wrote to them to ask why they took him off they said

"Thank you, for your email! At SIRIUS, we appreciate the time you have
taken to contact us regarding our programming.We at sirius do not have
control of Changes and additions to our channels.They are driven by our
customers and listeners rather than dictated by advertisers. We
apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.Sincerely,

Adam

SIRIUS Customer Care Agent"

I highly doubt there was a groundswell among AAR listeners to replace Jim Hightower with the Dow Jones report.

Then after hearing commercials for Mike Feder and Diego Sandrin three times an hour for months I wrote to them again and they said

"Thank you for contacting SIRIUS. We appreciate the time you have taken
to contact us with your inquiries regarding the comment both currently
and previously aired on Air America Radio //144. We assure you that we
at SIRIUS read each and every e-mail that is sent in to us, and always
desire to provide complete responses to every one -- you're the reason
we're here!

At SIRIUS, we do not censor or in any way control the programming
provided by our Talk & Entertainment content partners. Air America
decides what they do and do not air on their channel on SIRIUS (both
commercials as well as the shows), so any inquiries regarding changes
would be best suited for Air America. You can contact Air America
directly at their offices at [phone]. However, if you'd rather
not make the long-distance call, you may also send them feedback
directly by utilizing the form on their website at:

http://www.airamericaradio.com/contact.asp"

It seems doubtful that Air America would want to advertise a weekend talk show on a different channel three times an hour for months. But so far Air America has not responded to my e-mail asking whether they have control over all the content of their channel on Sirius.

[kamqute]

4. Thanks for your support+info

Those are really good points--I listen to the LIB online and I can assure you that they do not promote Sirius on that channel. There are several other spots I have heard on LIB that I don't think are on Sirius. You should send those two observations to Sirius if you have the time..or if you don't, I will if I get your permission. As for the characterization of AAR as more 'centrist', I think a lot of the shows (minus Randi Rhodes and Al Franken) cater to a very broad audience of people on the left, and besides, why not take the 'centrists' and pull them into the secret liberal conspiracy(haven't you seen it happening slowly but surely to Al)?

[Paul Hood]

6. Of course you can contact them if you want.

I would like to get a response from Air America as to the whether Sirius is being honest with me. I didn't say anything about it being centrist. I'm happy with the shows they have on. But I'd like Hightower back on and wish they would get rid of the Wall Street Journal reports. Good luck. :)

[Sorwen]

7. I don't think customer service knows what they're talking about

The ads for other Sirius shows are obviously provided by Sirius, not Air America. I would assume that other spots like the Wall Street Journal news and the Dow Jones Report are also provided by Sirius, not Air America, but I'm not sure about that. I know I've heard the Mother Jones Minute when listening to AAR on the internet, but I'm not sure if I've heard it on Sirius.

But I don't really have a problem with any of this. I would expect Sirius to advertise its shows on other stations. Your suggestion for Jim Hightower and some of the other suggestions are good, but I like the Wall Street Journal news and some of the other spots that they currently have. (I should add that I listen more to Sirius Left than to Air America.)

[Paul Hood]

8. I don't think what they said is true either.

I have heard the Mother Jones minute on Sirius AAR. I don't have a problem with Sirius advertising their shows on other channels (except for Sean Hannity which they used to plug on Sirius AAR). The ads I complained about (Mike Feder and Diego Sandrin) have been played at least three times an hour for a couple of months.
I hope if you think getting Hightower back on is a good idea you'll let Sirius know.
As far as the Wall Street Journal news they do repeat that quite often through the day, I'd at least like to hear more from the Workers Independent News or some of the people in the original post. It's really easy to hear what corporations think is news. It'd be nice to hear from the other side on AAR.

[kamqute]

9. Absolutely--so do you two support the lobby? :)

[Paul Hood]

11. Already did but :) :) :) n/t

[coffeenap]

5. :)

[SnowBack]

10. I think if I hear that Diego Sandrin spot one more time...

... I'll drive my car into a wall!

Yes, we KNOW about your songs being dreams... We hear about it 5 times an hour, 7 days a week!

:freak:

[Paul Hood]

12. Please write to Sirius and tell them to take it off.

And if you would ask for them to put Jim Hightower back on.

[nashville_brook]

17. you must not be Gellin'

:)

i totally agree -- i might have to cancel satellite b/c i can't take these farking house ads.

here in nashville people lead a rebellion against those horrible pepsi ads with the little girl and the saloon. we won. now we have The Twenty.

[bookman]

13. I'm a Sirius Listener

First, I like having some repeats on at late night. Sometimes it is the only way I would hear those shows.

Second, Sirius pretty much puts on what AAR puts on. I've listened to XM and Sirius does AAR much better.

Sirius left has improved. For some time they had Battle Line (or something like that on) which was almost a conservative show. I think Thom Hartmann deserves to be on. I've enjoyed the Young Turks. Ed Schultz is just ok (XM puts him on instead of Rhandi).

I've enjoyed Stephanie Miller.

The information spots get annoying about the 15th time I hear them.
And if I hear "Mr. Boner's 3rd Grade Quiz" one more time I'll scream.

[kamqute]

14. Re: 'Information Spots'

They are target numero uno--you are right that Sirius puts on basically what AAR puts on, but commercials are routinely pre-empted and that makes plenty of sense--however, those commercial slots are gold mines for more programming. Also, how do you feel about weekend reruns?

Please don't be afraid of this effort because I want to go after the late-nite reruns. I am only going to be one among many people trying to lobby Sirius, and the idea of doing that is something that it is neither a priority or something feasible to hope for--start propagandizing against the late-nite reruns now if you want ;). But please support the lobby!

Edit: For Laura Flanders fans;

http://www.yourcallradio.org/

[bookman]

15. No problem..

..I was just trying to point out my feelings.

On the weekends:
Marty Kaplan's show is much better once a week vs. every weekday

Laura Flanders is great.

The Robert Kennedy show is ok.

...and I wouldn't mind listening to Jim Hightower anytime.

The NY AAR affiliate doesn't even carry reruns after midnight.

[kamqute]

16. I am not suggesting we get rid of any programming--please no.

'The Robert Kennedy Show' is my favorite! :)

[nashville_brook]

18. :) i totally support your ideas!

dave ramsey is a christian whacko. i can't stand the dow jones report. all this shit is ridiculous.

but the absolute WORST is all the DRUG WAR propaganda. i hear that stuff and i am transported to when i was teenager and i nearly have a panic attack. i don't want to hear that crap. i don't tune in to ANYTHING to hear a teenager being given the 3rd degree by a parent. that's why i don't have kids. grrrrrr.

more Thom Harmann!

less house ads. or at least do enough house ads so that you don't hear the same annoying spot 10 times an hour.

i will never EVER buy anything diego sangrin sells. i don't care if i'm dying and he has the cure -- i will not give him one cent of my money. i hate hate hate him.

they are STUPID programmers.

jeez -- i've had too much coffee. i'm usually not this pissy, but i'm very serious about my radio listening.

[kamqute]

19. Thank you--I'd give a smily but that would be a false alarm

I don't want to sound autocratic, but I'm not suggesting particular ideas--only the concept of a framework for lobbying. That's just my set of ideas and perhaps a 'starter kit' for others. So while I'm absolutely elated (and my ego a little bolstered lol) that you like my ideas, I hope you don't think that's what we're talking about.

Thanks for the support! :)

[nashville_brook]

20. actually, your posts are pretty vague

"the concept of a framework for lobbying"

i was just giving you the thumbs up and adding my beef.

aar could use some input froom listeners, but i probably wouldn't "join" a lobby. i'll do my own letter-writing, etc.

glad you are on this, though. maybe check out what thom hartmann has on his website in terms of lobbying radio stations.

good luck! :)

[kamqute]

21. Oh--thanks

It's not an organization, it's a forum, because the fact is that nothing will change if it's just one person emailing them. We always complain about the media, and yet there's precious little we can do about it, and when there are such problems in our own progressive backyard, and the challenge doesn't seem that insurmountable, I think we should come together. I hope you'll post copies of your letters on the blog, if it gets of the ground. And thanks for the Hartmann info. By the way, if any incentive is needed to get rid of David Horowitz, try this:

http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/

[kamqute]

22. So is this project officially dead?