Opie & Anthony Get All Seven Roth Markets

Paul Heine and Mike Boyle, Billboard Radio Monitor

APRIL 20, 2006 -

In one of the first satellite-to-terrestrial radio syndication deals, XM Satellite Radio has an agreement in place to license its Opie & Anthony Show to CBS Radio in seven markets.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the duo, whose terrestrial radio career went up in flames in 2002, will bring David Lee Roth’s short-lived CBS morning show stint to a screeching halt within a few weeks.

Opie and Anthony will air on all seven stations where Roth replaced Howard Stern in January: WFNY New York, WYSP Philadelphia, WBCN Boston, KLLI Dallas, WNCX Cleveland, WRKZ Pittsburgh and WPBZ West Palm Beach.

Coming days before Winter 2006 Arbitron results will document Roth’s morning ratings disaster, the agreement allows CBS to air a three-hour version of the O&A show that will originate from its WFNY studios. CBS will have control over this portion of the program, which will simulcast uncensored on XM.

After they wrap their CBS show, plans call for the pair to travel the block or so to XM’s midtown Manhattan studio and put in another two-hours that will air exclusively on XM.

Since CBS is beholden to FCC indecency regulations, the first three hours of the morning show will be cleaner than the anything-goes environment the pair enjoy at XM.

Signatures are still being applied to the multi-year agreement, which gives CBS a morning lifesaver that previously paid ratings dividends for the company in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. It gives XM the right to have its star hosts plug the uncensored version of their show on CBS airwaves and further validates satellite radio as a content provider.

The hosts of one of XM’s 10 most-listened-to shows, Greg “Opie” Hughes and Anthony Cumia previously did afternoons for CBS predecessor Infinity Broadcasting at WNEW-FM New York and were simulcast on WYSP and WBCN. Fired after their infamous “Sex For Sam” broadcast, where a couple allegedly had sex in St. Patrick’s Cathedral at their urging, the pair sat on the beach for two years before XM hired them in August 2004.

Roth replaced Stern in seven markets in January, when Stern began a new 5-year deal at Sirius Satellite Radio.

CBS Radio and XM officials declined comment.

In addition to inciting anti-indecency crusaders, the deal will generate more fodder for Stern and his legal team. One issue at the center of CBS Radio’s lawsuit against Stern was how he gained financially from plugging Sirius on CBS’ airwaves for more than a year.

I saw this story this morning. As one of the markets who has to suffer through Roth, I would welcome hearing O&A again. I can't even describe how awful DLR is as a replacement to Howard Stern. I wanted Adam Corolla b/c he replaced Stern in some markets, but I read that Corolla isn't fairing much better than Roth. Adam is certainly funnier.

I never thought O&A were the best thing out there, but they were funny most of the time. My favorite from their cast is Jim Norton. That guy is a trip.

My buddy told me about this last night -- best news ever!

F Stern! :p

I love DLR... as a singer. But after hearing his first radio show, I threw up in my mouth.

I have tix to see Norton w/ Dave Attell at the Borgata next month.

P.S. I'm also seeing Ant's brother's U2 tribute band tonight

It's a great day to be a PEST.

Diamond Dave needs to break his mirror and stop his love affair with himself. I lost what respect I had left for him back when he snubbed Sammy Hagar on their dual tour.

The audio of Howard Stern played on O&A this morning is priceless. First Robin denied hearing the news. Then Howard tried to spin it as O&A somehow failing on XM, so CBS decided to syndicate the show. Finally Gary started getting all pissed off and bad mouthing them.

Fun night, but... well, I think "Bono's" voice was shot... cuz he wasn't all that good. Not terrible, but, not good either. Ant's bro ("The Edge") was good on guitar, and seemed to be directing the band half the time. Rythym section was mediocre at best.

...but maybe it's cuz the sound guy SUCKED ASS. I cannot believe 2U doesn't have their own sound guy. And if that was him, they need a new one -- now!

But... $1 drinks made it an enjoyable night nonetheless.

O+A Party Rock -

glad to see they are back !!

love the XM show

I was just thinking - if they are going to beam O&A from satellite onto free radio, I'm guessing there will be a lot of censoring occurring. Then again, I'd rather hear that "beep" sound when someone curses 20 times per minute than another second of Roth.

Seems that Frank Vincent will be on O&A tomorrow (Tuesday)