certainlycertainly Wrote:While I did also enjoy the local pieces at the beginning of each break, I guess I can live without those minutes of the show. But that 16th segment is going to hurt. Problem is, at this point it's tough for podcasters not to look like complainers anytime we comment. But there was great stuff on that local break. There were some great interviews with people and always some extra jokes thrown in. The podcast is an item people pay for. I'm not sure I follow why syndication has anything to do with it, most of the stuff the guys talk about doesn't take place in everyone's home town, why does it matter if it's only in GR? If it was a lot of extra work to add it in I could see, but its one segment out of 16, I can't imagine that much of the day is lost trying to add it in.

Ashleyme Wrote:What Steve said in the E-mail is that before he was there, the stuff WASN'T edited out because it took too much time. But Savior Steve is here now and can edit that stuff out for us, and that's supposed to make things better. B.S. I loved the local feel of it even though it was a place I had never been to. It made it seem more real. Maybe we'll forget where they are from too and can fantasize that they live in our town! Anyway, I'll have much more to say tonight. Meanwhile, can everyone start making a list of cool stuff that happens in that break? For example, the making fun of J.T., Steve being afraid of Lake Michigan, Zane's job as Griffins announcer, things like that. Stuff we will never hear again.

certainlycertainly Wrote:at this point it's tough for podcasters not to look like complainers anytime we comment.

Philly Mike Wrote:I don't know if there is too much of a need to start bitching out of control. But I do feel that we should be given a say in the matter especially considering we are paying for the podcast. I don't want to sound bitchy or anything I just always enjoyed those locals. Yeah the news ones didnt have as many moments but they had some, however I am catching up and just heard the line of doom with the wheel of hickey. omfg that is an instant classic of a segment. I have heard previous line of dooms that were great too, like the smashing your own car to get a car starter, or the tramp stamp the show logo. Also there are other fun ones like the bowling bowl drop from about 2 years ago, not to mention the whole bootlyn thing that bled into the in between local segments and the 16th, and then there was zanes hockey crush. There is also the JT bashing, beginning with him being ugly, then going on to be the ultra pervo man, and now he is the ratings loss for the station. there are many other examples that show it doesn't really matter where you are from, they are just plain funny. I don't think we need to go over anyones head, but maybe just try to talk it out with steev to see what can be done about it seeing as there is a lot of support for this. There is no reason to cause any trouble and just seeming like we must be entitled to all of this just because. Granted we do pay for this, but nonetheless it is their show, but that doesn't mean we can't at least try to reason with them before emailing anyone other than any show members or just trying to talk to steev through here. Past shows they do listen and I don't see how this should be treated any different.

Quote:Peter,

I am writing to you concerning my disappointment with Free Beer and Hot Wings decision to eliminate what they call the local breaks from their podcasts. I along with many others feel that this is something we paid for when we bought the podcast and many of us podcasters now feel like we are being disrespected by the show. Long ago Eric Zane asked us if we would want to hear the local stuff in the podcasts and the overwhelming majority of the podcasters said they wanted to hear it, which is the reason that it was included in the first place.

If you look on the forums at freebeerandhotwings.com there is currently no one that wants these taken out, and it is the hottest topic on their forums as well, with over 32 replies in favor of keeping the local segments. Actually most of us are fine with or without the local stuff at the beginning of the segments, but we all want the 16th segment back. With all that has been cut from the podcast we have lost at least 10% of the content that we feel we have paid for, and when the new website came live we were told the VIP memberships would allow us access to MORE content, so far this is proving to be false as only 4-5 short segments have been added for VIP's only and 20-30 minuets a day have been taken off the podcast.

As of now I do not feel like I am getting what I paid for and do not plan to renew my podcast when the time comes. It seems like the sentiment is the same from the rest of us that actually PAY real money to listen to what is a free morning show. Being a paying customer this is terrible customer service from the show and the members as usual just decide to ignore the situation thus making the paying listeners even more upset because our concerns are not being addressed. I would like to thank you for your time and hopefully this situation can be resolved and us podcasters will get the full podcast once again.

thunderchild Wrote:I sent an email to free beer after getting no response from eric, he responded by saying that there was a lot of feedback we don't know about in favour of the change and, though they understand people are upset they are convinced this is the right course of action. Here's the back & forth-for what it's worth:


To: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><!-- e -->
Sent: Friday, August 7, 2009 10:27:49 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Member - Podcasts

Although I doubt this will even be read, let alone responded to- I wanted to ask you to at least read the feedback you're getting on the 'podcast announcement' thread of your forum section. Your response that taking away a large chunk of the show's content is an 'upgrade' is complete bullshit. You guys have made a market by giving the impression that you relate to people on their level, however in this instance you're coming off like a bunch of arrogant pricks. How would you feel if your cable or satellite company contacted you and said they were cancelling a bunch of your favorite sports channels because 'some people might not like them', and expressed their confidence that people would enjoy the upgrade. If you'll take the time to look, you'll see that not one person has posted in favor of removing the local breaks out of the podcasts-if that means anything to you then for fuck's sake put the podcasts back the way they were-or at least include the local breaks in the single large file. I personally downloaded audio editing software and sat every night removing the gaps, just so I could hear the local content in the podcasts-and I know that several other people did the same. We are willing to work through the changes with you, but are not keen on taking it up the ass, and then being told it's an 'upgrade'.
Alternatively, ignore this email and all the other feedback people are giving you on this-and confirm everyone's suspicions that shit has changed beyond recognition with regard to how you guys treat your most loyal fanbase. I sincerely hope this isn't the case.

Free Beer responds:


While your email gets mighty personal in its attacks and starts off with a shitty attitude, I still read it and I am replying.


I'm not going to try and convince you that you are wrong, nor do I agree with your point. Based on the feedback we get, which goes far beyond the message (but does not exclude it) tells us this is the right thing to do. I'm sorry that you don't like it. (genuinely)

My response:

O.K, well thanks for replying at least. Shitty attitude notwithstanding, if I and others didn't enjoy the show we wouldn't give a crap about what was included, would we?
It just makes no sense, and is symptomatic of a general 'big league' attitude that you guys seem to have in this regard. This whole situation has colored the show in a completely different light for me, and I'm saddened to lose what has been a source of great enjoyment over the last couple of years. To react to situations where paying customers are upset with what you are doing with the product they've already paid for with attitude and insults rather than re-thinking your course of action is strange to me. It doesn't seem too much of a hardship to at least give people a choice to have the content they paid for-however your thin-skinned response has convinced me that you are assured of your own moral high ground on this issue and, as a result we are at an impasse.
Present issues aside, I have enjoyed your show and wish you continued success in your endeavours. I am not, as others have, going to threaten to boycott the show-however from a practical standpoint I will probably be cancelling my VIP membership and will just tune in occasionally on the radio.
Thanks for the time-sincerely.

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As far as I can see, they're digging their heels in and it's only going to be people cancelling their subscriptions that is going to send a stronger message to them. As for me, this isn't worth my blood pressure, so I'm going to give it a month from the sidelines and see what happens.

zdunklee Wrote:Just got word that Segment 16 will be back on Monday :clap: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

zdunklee Wrote:Just got word that Segment 16 will be back on Monday :clap: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: