Art Bell Quits Dark Matter

[Lt.Uhura]

It's unfair to lump all of Sirius/XM under the Howard Stern umbrella - different shows for different audiences. It's a pity that Art chose to play hardball rather than keep to his contract and bring us the thought-provoking radio that we've enjoyed over the years because he was given that opportunity on satellite. He had total creative freedom over the content of Dark Matter without any input from management (a dream gig for most talkers) and only had to build an audience with time, one that appreciated intelligent discourse. Although it was a smart decision to rule out an AM/FM radio return now that satellite is off the table, I fear that internet streaming will bring on a slew of unexpected problems for Art. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.   

"Different shows for different audiences" is fine, but inherently Sirius XM is an exclusive service for those within a limited geographical location who can afford the subscription.  And despite the number of channels I was disappointed by the *lack* of variety on their music channels.  I heard no evidence of the deep-digging obscurities easily found on many FM college stations.  It makes me wonder about the "creative freedom" offered to their hosts, Art Bell included.

The golden age of free terrestrial radio may be over, but philosophically I'm still opposed to paying for radio. Ideally, a network of independent non-commercial stations who connect globally by sharing content over the Internet may be the best way to reach the most people with the widest variety of content.

[jazmunda]

ooooh, come on... they did a great job. 

If I didn't have green Vulcan blood coursing through my veins I might have been insultated.

[MV/Liberace!]

"Different shows for different audiences" is fine, but inherently Sirius XM is an exclusive service for those within a limited geographical location who can afford the subscription.  And despite the number of channels I was disappointed by the *lack* of variety on their music channels.  I heard no evidence of the deep-digging obscurities easily found on many FM college stations.  It makes me wonder about the "creative freedom" offered to their hosts, Art Bell included.

The golden age of free terrestrial radio may be over, but philosophically I'm still opposed to paying for radio. Ideally, a network of independent non-commercial stations who connect globally by sharing content over the Internet may be the best way to reach the most people with the widest variety of content.

beyond the unimpressive spread of content on their music channels, the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired.  and yes, philosophically, i agree totally on the idea of paying  for radio.

[DanTSX]

beyond the unimpressive spread of content on their music channels, the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired.  and yes, philosophically, i agree totally on the idea of paying  for radio.

Perfect for truckers

[MV/Liberace!]

Perfect for truckers

i drove a truck for several years, and yes, it WAS perfect, heh heh.  however, as a civilian, i can't really see having the service around.

[bateman]

beyond the unimpressive spread of content on their music channels, the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired.  and yes, philosophically, i agree totally on the idea of paying  for radio.

Apparently the standard bitrate for the talk channels is like 16.. Music is 32. Blecchh.

EDIT:

The average music channel averages 30-50 Kbps, some as high as 60 Kbps. The allowed averages per channel vary, and are assigned by Sirius's NOC personnel under the guidance of the program directors and types of genres. For instance, Classical music genre's get higher priority over 40's on 4. Talk averages around 25 Kbps, and traffic channels average around 12 Kbps.

[jazmunda]

You audiophiles are so perverted.

[WhiteCrow]

ooooh, come on... they did a great job. 

Yep.... While listening to last weeks GabCast 2.0, my minds eye had a scene from a Three Stooges episode of them trying to sort out a rats nest of wires to hook up the phone lines.
"Yuk yuk Caller can you hear me, yuk yuk"

[onan]

Yep.... While listening to last weeks GabCast 2.0, my minds eye had a scene from a Three Stoogies episode of them trying to sort out a rats nest of wires to hook up the phone lines.
"Yuk yuk Caller can you hear me, yuk yuk"

the good thing is no one has to listen.

[MV/Liberace!]

Yep.... While listening to last weeks GabCast 2.0, my minds eye had a scene from a Three Stoogies episode of them trying to sort out a rats nest of wires to hook up the phone lines.
"Yuk yuk Caller can you hear me, yuk yuk"

heh heh

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

Three Stooges as lineman

[WhiteCrow]

the good thing is no one has to listen.

... Yep but for some strange reason 'I' want to listen! Have some fun tonight!!!

[aldousburbank]

They already have Moe, Larry and Shemp,  they need Falke as Curly!

I wanna be Curly!

[onan]

... Yep but for some strange reason 'I' want to listen! Have some fun tonight!!!

call in... that can be fun too.

[WhiteCrow]

heh heh

They already have Moe, Larry and Shemp,  they need Falkie to call in as Curly!

[ThruTarmac]

heya

I want to listen tonight. i'm on ufoship.com now

i guess i have to wait a half hour for something to happen?

also, i'd like to call in. are there any questions or comments you'd like me to ask or say?

thanks,

tom

[WhiteCrow]

Three Stooges as lineman

Wow! I never saw that one. Wonder if it was not allowed on TV because of the violence???

[jazmunda]

We're LIVE in 5!

ufoship.com to chat

Call us on (602) 399 7131

[Lt.Uhura]

You audiophiles are so perverted.

Which is more perverse?

Sentient beings who enjoy the experience of carefully opening the folds of a vinyl record sleeve...the slight musky-sweet smell of the cardboard...the feeling of a rare limited press between your fingers as it's delicately placed onto the turntable's spindle...watching closely as the needle gently slips into the spinning groove...the soft warm crackling and surface noise of the analog recording...your anticipation, then participation in the sonic joy of hearing a precious artifact created by other sentient beings from another--perhaps distant, time and space on Earth.

Or-

A 30-60 Kbps digitally compressed and compromised replication of the same recording pinged off a satellite high above the earth, then back to your cheaply made digital device speakers.

[laserjock]

How long does this gabcast go on, until when is the show?

[Mind Flayer Monk]

How long does this gabcast go on, until when is the show?

one hour

[Coz]

I appear to be in a somewhat combative mood today, so I really have to ask this.  Do you honestly believe that anybody is ever going to read those pages again and read straight through to page 732?  Is there anybody out there who thinks that a decade out from now somebody is going to be glad if we cut this "document of our tragic loss" off at page 50... That historians will read what we felt to condense it into book form?  That it will serve as a guide to those experiencing loss in their own lives of how best to deal with it?

This tread is long dead... it now serves as a catch-all.  It really is not hurting anybody and it is not tainting a board (or a thread) that is otherwise pure and flawless.  What purpose would shutting this thread down serve?

Time for new tires.

[georgesucks]

Hello Art Bell, How are you today?? Hey Art Any updates??

[Agent : Orange]

Well I have to say since Halloween I've not listened to any old Coast shows or DM shows. I have felt nostalgic a few times but with no new shows on my hard drive I've not had the motivation to go out and download them either. Looking forward to the ultimate torrent that will be going up but I have not yet had the urge to go back and listen again. I listen to the DM network here and there, and Dark Weekend has been a blast.

I still really wish it didn't end the way it did. But I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes.

[bielek]

So if there is a Non-Compete Clause, I'm seeing references to 2 years, would it be considered competing if Art were to do a podcast?

Let's face it, radio is over. Satellite radio is is way too niche to survive. Podcasting is getting very large now. Podcasts are all I really listen to and I am not alone. Depending on the language in that NC, it might be possible for Art to start up a podcast that also live streams. I realize there would be issues around funding, but perhaps Art could run the Dark Matter network for profit and for the duration of the NC he could offer the podcast/streaming of his own content as almost a non-profit thing. Not asking Art to work for free here, I'm just wondering if there are any potential work arounds?

[jazmunda]

So if there is a Non-Compete Clause, I'm seeing references to 2 years, would it be considered competing if Art were to do a podcast?

Let's face it, radio is over. Satellite radio is is way too niche to survive. Podcasting is getting very large now. Podcasts are all I really listen to and I am not alone. Depending on the language in that NC, it might be possible for Art to start up a podcast that also live streams. I realize there would be issues around funding, but perhaps Art could run the Dark Matter network for profit and for the duration of the NC he could offer the podcast/streaming of his own content as almost a non-profit thing. Not asking Art to work for free here, I'm just wondering if there are any potential work arounds?

Art has publicly stated that he cannot broadcast in any medium including podcasts.

[onan]

For most people. accepting no is difficult. Art states he has a non compete clause. We don't know the specifics. One forum member may, if he is Art's legal adviser. But, Art has made it abundantly clear he is abiding by that non compete. Speculating about workarounds may be fun, at the end of the day, it is going to be 2 years, if not permanent.

I am pretty sure the legals at SiriusXM have a great deal of experience dealing with the "creative" types that think they have a back door escape plan.

[Camazotz Automat]

The way time is inexorably hauling ass, I can easily imagine this thread still going strong when the two year mark is reached, at which point, someone will inevitably say "SEE?! I TOLD YOU ART WOULD BE BACK, YOU FUCKING NON BELIEVERS."

Hell.  Two years is NOTHING, folks. NOTHING.

I wish it were. I wish I could FEEL two years.

But it's not.  And I cannot.†††

(††† This might be a side effect of reading Slaughterhouse Five ten too many times.)

www.calculatorcat.com/moon_phases/phasenow.php

[jazmunda]

The way time is inexorably hauling ass, I can easily imagine this thread still going strong when the two year mark is reached, at which point, someone will inevitably say "SEE?! I TOLD YOU ART WOULD BE BACK, YOU FUCKING NON BELIEVERS."

Conversely there will be those that inevitably say "SEE?! I TOLD YOU ART WOULDN'T BE BACK, YOU FUCKING DELUSIONAL FAN BOYS."

Just saying.

[FightTheFuture]

The way time is inexorably hauling ass, I can easily imagine this thread still going strong when the two year mark is reached, at which point, someone will inevitably say "SEE?! I TOLD YOU ART WOULD BE BACK, YOU FUCKING NON BELIEVERS."

Hell.  Two years is NOTHING, folks. NOTHING.

I wish it were. I wish I could FEEL two years.

But it's not.  And I cannot.†††



(††† This might be a side effect of reading Slaughterhouse Five ten too many times.)

www.calculatorcat.com/moon_phases/phasenow.php

When you're 70 years old.....you feel it. Trust me on that, my friend.