After two years of being off the air, radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony will be going back on the air. The two were fired in August 2002 after they encouraged a couple to have sex in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The two dj's, Greg “Opie” Hughes and Anthony Cumia have stated that they are very happy to be back on the air and on XM satellite radio.

Satellite radio is a relative new phenomenon which provides commercial free radio. Subscribers pay for the service and need special antennas and receivers to capture the signal. XM radio currently has approximately 2.1 million subscribers.

XM seems to be aggressively trying to capture the largest audience possible. They recently signed NPR icon Bob Edwards to a new channel that will feature public radio. They have also partnered with Starbucks to feature a Starbucks music channel. Even Howard Stern threatened to take his act to satellite radio after his most recent battles with Clear Channel and the FCC. He eventually decided to play out his contract but he has continued to insist that satellite radio may be an option for him in the future. Opie and Anthony, who are part of the next generation of Stern-styled shock radio will be a test of how viable satellite radio will be. Will people be willing to pay for better programming much as they pay for premium channels on cable TV? Only time will tell but if XM and other competitors are able to lure popular radio personalities off the airwaves and onto satellite, they will definitely have a fighting chance.