Opie and Anthony to Replace David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth’s run as morning radio host is about done. Big surprise: It appears raunchy satellite radio stars Opie and Anthony will replace him on seven CBS Radio stations.
A deal was in the works to dump the ex-Van Halen singer’s ratings-deprived program with shock jocks Greg “Opie” Hughes and Anthony Cumia, according to two people with knowledge of the deal. They spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement of the agreement next week.
Opie and Anthony were banished from terrestrial radio in 2002 oddly enough by their new boss, CBS Radio after airing a live account of listeners having sex in New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. CBS Radio was then known as Infinity Broadcasting.
Opie and Anthony resurfaced on XM in October 2004. The satellite radio provider has more than 6.5 million subscribers, with the Opie and Anthony show one of the most popular programs on its 170 channels.
XM will now syndicate the program to the stations in New York and six other markets, with three hours of the program airing on the CBS Radio stations, the people familiar with the deal said. XM will simultaneously broadcast that portion of the show, along with another two hours of exclusive O&A, they said.
A spokeswoman at CBS Radio declined to comment on the report, as did a spokesman for XM.
Roth’s radio career began in January, when he replaced Howard Stern on the CBS stations. But reviews were poor and Roth fought with management over the show’s format, putting the show on the skids less than four months into its run.
Roth, during one angry on-air rant, predicted the show could be yanked before May.
The move marks a shift in the dynamic between terrestrial and satellite radio. In the past, satellite raided terrestrial radio for big-name hosts such as Opie and Anthony or Stern. Now, the seven FM stations will rely on a syndicated satellite program.
In addition to the Free-FM station in New York, Opie and Anthony will reportedly air on WBCN-FM in Boston, WYSP-FM in Philadelphia, WRKZ-FM in Pittsburgh, WNCX-FM in Cleveland, WPBZ-FM in West Palm Beach, Fla., and KLLI-FM in Dallas.
Stern, who engaged in a lengthy on-air feud with Opie and Anthony, is in his first year of broadcasting for Sirius Satellite Radio. O&A will now fill in his old time slot.
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'95 on Sun, 23rd Apr 2006 1:23 pm
I do not want Roth to leave. Took me a bit to get into the rythmn of the show, but would not want to lose it. It’s so great getting to listen to him and his topics every morning. I never liked Opie and Anthony see WBCN as losing a fan that was inching her way towards that station from its rival WAAF.
Ken Savage on Sun, 23rd Apr 2006 2:11 pm
I never listened much to David Lee Roth but Opie and Anthony are a riot if you like that sense of humor.
Can’t beat dick and fart jokes.
RK on Mon, 24th Apr 2006 12:45 am
O&A are very talented and should do well with this CBS - XM deal. They are creative, cutting edge, honest & hilarious. Critics fail to realize that they do a lot more than just the silly vulgar stuff.
These guys are great and are joined by Jim Norton and other comedians that add depth to the show.
Ken Savage on Mon, 24th Apr 2006 11:16 am
What else in particular besides adult humor?
That’s all I ever heard from them. I’m open to listen again.
RK on Tue, 25th Apr 2006 10:51 am
The Opie and Anthony will continue to have the adult content & outrageous bits that they are known for. However, the O&A show has evolved and changed for the better since their last job at WNEW in New York. The guests and discussions that come up can be unpredictable and diverse. Interviews with personalities from TV, Film, news, music,entertainment,sports & politics etc. are common. Previous guests you might not expect include Jimmy Johnson (Nascar), Sean Hannity, G.Gordon Liddy, Travis Tritt, Isaac Hayes, Dick Cavett, etc.; Its more than just porno stars, rock stars & their comedian friends that show up.
The show is worth checking out. It’ll be rough in the beginning as they try to get use to terrestrial radio & FCC rules again. It won’t be smooth for the first few weeks.
Ken Savage on Tue, 25th Apr 2006 3:05 pm
They start tomorrow morning in Boston on 104.1 WBCN
Marty on Sat, 3rd Jun 2006 7:08 pm
Opie and Anthony rock!!! And Jimmy Norton is riot! I first heard them on XM 202. I find it totally ironic that they now have Stern’s old spot. What a shmuck Stern is.
I drive semi truck and listen to replays of both broadcasts and the walk from cbs to xm. They keep me in stitches and I never get tired driving with them on the radio!
Ken Savage on Tue, 6th Jun 2006 5:03 am
Little Jimmy Norton!!! funny shit!!
XM and Sirius Merge on Mon, 19th Feb 2007 9:34 pm
[...] what Howard Stern of Opie and Anthony think about this merger and how the 2 radio shows will now be somewhat of business partners rather [...]
XM and Sirius Merge on Mon, 19th Feb 2007 9:34 pm
[...] what Howard Stern of Opie and Anthony think about this merger and how the 2 radio shows will now be somewhat of business partners rather [...]
XM and Sirius Merge on Mon, 19th Feb 2007 9:34 pm
[...] what Howard Stern of Opie and Anthony think about this merger and how the 2 radio shows will now be somewhat of business partners rather [...]
Patrick O'Harold on Tue, 27th Feb 2007 9:45 am
I’ve listened to both shows, and even though I began as a loyal Howard Sterns listener, I think Opie & Anthony has past Howard a while ago as the better format and hosts. I never thought I would say that but I think Howard is done as long as Opie & Anthony is on the air. Why Sirus pays Howard so much is beyond my comprehension. As long as I can tune into Opie & Anthony on my satellite or FM receiver I will not listen to Sterns. ….R.I.P. Howard.