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Satellite Radio News Articles

T

tjchr

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Post Sirius and XM related articles here.

Please keep this to article posting only, NO Chit-Chat. Thank you.
(sperry)
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By: tjchr

Nascar to Sirius

Now im pissed, the one reason i got XM in the first place...

Sirius Satellite Radio takes over NASCAR Broadcasts in 2007: Sirius Satellite Radio on Tuesday announced a five-year agreement to give Sirius North American satellite radio rights to broadcast NASCAR racing and events that will bring unprecedented programming and marketing opportunities to NASCAR fans. Beginning in 2007, Sirius will broadcast all Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series races live on a specially created, 24/7 NASCAR channel, and Sirius will be the only place on satellite radio to listen to NASCAR. As part of the agreement, Sirius will become the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR, with exclusive trademark and marketing rights, and the right to sell all advertising time on its NASCAR channel and during the race broadcasts. Sirius will pay NASCAR rights fees totaling $107.5 million over the term of the agreement, with the highest payments in the final years of the term. Sirius and NASCAR will work together to develop an extensive consumer marketing and outreach campaign for NASCAR fans. This effort could include advertising, cross-channel promotion throughout Sirius programming, officially licensed products, extensive at-track activation and ways for current NASCAR fans to switch to Sirius.(NASCAR PR), would assume XM Satellite Radio is out after the 2006 season as NASCAR Radio.

From jayski.com
 
From SkyReport.com;

Sirius to Get NASCAR Coverage in 2007

Sirius said Tuesday it won the satellite radio rights to broadcast NASCAR racing and events beginning in 2007 through a five-year deal that will cost the company $107.5 million.

Sirius said it will broadcast all NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races live on a specially created NASCAR channel. The deal also takes away XM's present coverage of NASCAR in two years.

As part of the agreement, Sirius will become the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR, with exclusive trademark and marketing rights. And the company said it will have the right to sell all advertising time on its NASCAR channel and during race broadcasts.

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Personally, I'm not into NASCAR much at all, however I know how you feel... But all isn't fair for subscribers when it comes to big $ contracts.
 
From SkyReport.com 2-18-05

DISH Ready with Sirius Promotion, 942 Out in March

EchoStar has a Sirius Satellite Radio retail promotion in which DISH Network customers can get a $30 mail-in rebate if they buy a DISH/Sirius plug-and-play receiver.

The satellite TV company revealed the Sirius promotion during a "Charlie Chat" with DISH Network retailers Thursday. In addition to the promotion, the company said it will have a new Sirius receiver - dubbed the SR250 - with a car and home kit. The offering will be available only after the SR200 sells out, EchoStar said.

Also, EchoStar confirmed that it's on track to release in March its DISH Player-DVR 942, the highly-touted dual tuner digital recorder with high def capabilities. The DVR has a 250 GB hard drive with a recording capacity of up to 25 hours of high-def and up to 180 hours of standard-definition content.

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Adverse Sea Conditions Impact XM Launch

From SkyReport.com 2-17-05

  Adverse sea conditions led Boeing-backed Sea Launch to indefinitely postpone the lift off of XM-3, a satellite that will support XM Satellite Radio, said the launch services company as of press time late Thursday night.

  Sea Launch didn't offer a new date for the flight, which saw its first postponement Wednesday and a second delay Thursday. The company said the satellite and launch vehicle, which are aboard Sea Launch's vessel in the Pacific Ocean, are healthy and ready for launch.

  Boeing Satellite Systems built the satellite, and the 702-model spacecraft will augment the existing XM satellite system. Sea Launch successfully lifted to orbit the XM-1 and XM-2 satellites in 2001.
 
Well since I am a Sirius user I am very happy with the news. I like the music format on Sirius better. They have a better music library and setup. I have had both to compare. I rented a car in Wisconsin for 21/2 weeks with XM. Then i rentend a car in Montana for 1 week with sirius. I preferred the Sirius. I know most GM products come with the XM as an option. Mine did but I chose to get Siruis. I paid $120.00 for 15 months. I think is is great. i drive to cali a lot and not having to try and find music channelson 80 is worth every penny.
 
From: SkyReport.com 2-25-05

NEWS BRIEFS:

  Sirius Names Ad Execs

  Sirius hired two advertising executives, Sam Benrubi and Stephen Smith, to help build advertising revenue on its non-music channels. Sam Benrubi, a senior nationwide advertising executive who has led network and local sales teams at Westwood One and Infinity Broadcasting, was named senior vice president, advertising sales. Smith was named vice president, advertising sales.

  XM Gets Kornheiser -

  XM Satellite Radio said it will be the new satellite radio home to Washington Post columnist and co-host of the highly rated ESPN program Pardon the Interruption Tony Kornheiser. He debuts Monday when XM launches "The Tony Kornheiser Show" as part of XM's new talk programming line-up.
 
XM Launch Set for Tonight

SkyReport.com 2-28-05

Boeing-backed Sea Launch said it will attempt to launch the XM-3 spacecraft for the satellite radio service tonight at 7:51 Pacific.

The launch services provider, which is launching the bird from its sea-based platform in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, was preparing for the flight all weekend. As of press time all systems were go for the XM satellite launch.

Boeing Satellite Systems built the satellite, and the 702-model spacecraft will augment the existing XM satellite system. Sea Launch successfully lifted into orbit the XM-1 and XM-2 satellites in 2001.
 
enkeiavalanche said:
I just heard that XM is raising there monthly rates... :E:
Click to expand...

XM Expands Basic Service and Introduces New Pricing Effective April 2.



Since the launch of XM ? and particularly during 2004 and 2005 ? XM has made dramatic improvements to its channel lineup. To provide you with the best listening experience, XM converted all music channels to 100% commercial-free while adding 50 new channels.

XM recently announced an agreement with Major League Baseball to provide play-by-play coverage for every team, all season long, beginning this spring. In addition, we've added nine sports channels dedicated to ACC, PAC-10, and Big Ten college football and basketball, traffic and weather channels covering the top 21 markets, XM Public Radio featuring legendary journalist Bob Edwards and all-new music channels including Starbuck's Hear Music channel. We've also created exclusive music series like Artist Confidential and Then...Again...Live.

Beginning April 2, 2005, we will expand the basic service package to include two premium services at no additional charge ? the High Voltage channel (previously $1.99/month) and XM Radio Online (previously $3.99/month). The monthly subscription price for our new expanded basic service will increase to $12.95 beginning April 2, 2005. The price change will not affect XM's Family Plan, which allows you to add up to four additional subscriptions for $6.99/month per radio.

Until April 2, 2005, we are offering our existing subscribers an opportunity to lock in today's lower monthly rate by selecting a one-year or multi-year pre-paid subscription plan, which provides significant long-term savings.

 
XM-3 Rockets into Space

From: SkyReport.com 3-1-05
Monday night, Sea Launch completed its mission that put the XM-3 spacecraft into orbit for the satellite radio company.

A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off from the Odyssey Launch Platform at 7: 51 p.m. Pacific Time Monday. As of press time, Sea Launch said all systems were operating nominally aboard the satellite.

Boeing Satellite Systems built the satellite, and the 702-model spacecraft will augment the existing XM satellite system. Sea Launch successfully lifted into orbit the XM-1 and XM-2 satellites in 2001.
 
This was in talks for a while...

Street OK with XM Price Hike

From: SkyReport.com 3-1-05
XM Satellite Radio announced the inevitable Monday, a price increase for its service.

The company said the monthly subscription price for basic service will increase to $12.95 beginning April 2. To help alleviate some of the $3 a month pain, XM said it will offer existing customers a chance to lock in the current $9.99 monthly rate with a one-year pre-paid plan and deeper discounts with a two, three, four, or five-year pre-paid plan until April 2.

The price change will not affect XM's Family Plan, which allows XM subscribers to add up to four additional subscriptions for $6.99 a month for each radio. Also, beginning April 2, XM's expanded basic service will include Internet service XM Radio Online, which offers more than 70 channels of music and talk programming, previously $3.99 a month, and the High Voltage channel, featuring the talk radio duo Opie and Anthony, previously $1.99 a month.

Wall Street approved of the price hike, sending the XM stock up nearly 15 percent to $32.96. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey upgraded XM from "neutral" to "buy" after the company announced the price hike news.
 
XM VP Chance Patterson said the price change "has already been factored into" XM's subscriber projections of 5.5 million customers by the end of 2005 and 20 million by 2010. He said XM projects that it will reach break-even on cash flow by "mid-2006," which would stem years of heavy losses
 
A Price Increase for Sirius?

From: SkyReport.com 3-3-05
Given the recent news that XM Satellite Radio plans to raise its monthly rate for service from $9.99 to $12.95, could a price increase be in the future for Sirius?

Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin, speaking before the Bear Stearns Media Conference Wednesday, stressed that the company has not made a decision concerning a price hike. However, given the XM move, Karmazin said, "It opens up all kinds of options for us. One option is, "can we raise our prices?"

At the moment, Sirius charges $12.95 a month.

Karmazin said Sirius' content is "superior" to XM's offerings, and passing along a rate increase wouldn't appear to be much of an issue. But if the Sirius monthly price stays the same, the CEO said "that would be a huge advantage for us."

Karmazin said of the XM price hike, "I couldn't think of anything better for us than that occurring."
 
Stevens Pushes for Sat/Cable Indecency Rules

From: SkyReport.com 3-2-05
Ted Stevens, the Alaska Republican and chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, told a gathering with the National Association of Broadcasters Tuesday he would push for legislation that would apply broadcast decency standards for subscription services, a proposal that could impact cable, satellite TV and satellite radio.

"I think we have the same power to deal with cable as over-the-air" broadcasters, Stevens said before the NAB's State Leadership Conference. "There has to be some standard of decency."

Stevens said he disagreed with with the notion that Congress does not have the authority to impose decency limits on what is seen or heard via cable or satellite. "If that's the issue they want to take on, we'll take it on and let the Supreme Court decide," he said.

The proposal, if it gains any ground, could impact not only cable and DBS offerings but also satellite radio services.

Broadcasters have been pushing the Federal Communications Commission to apply the same decency standards they face on satellite radio, and effort that gained steam after Sirius reached an agreement with shock jock Howard Stern to join its service in 2006. The FCC's Media Bureau recently ruled that satellite radio providers are not required to abide by the same decency standards that are required of traditional radio broadcasters.
 
XM Inks Deal with Indy Racing League

From: SkyReport.com 3-4-05
  On Thursday, XM Satellite Radio and the Indy Racing League announced a multi-year agreement to broadcast the IndyCar Series races on the satellite radio service. The deal begins with the Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway this Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern. XM recently signed on as the title sponsor of the XM Satellite Radio Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, which will air nationwide on XM and ABC television on March 19.
 
XM PROGRAMMING:

From: SkyReport.com 3-4-05
Spring Training on Sat Radio - XM Satellite Radio this week launched live coverage of Major League Baseball spring training games. The company said dozens of Cactus League and Grapefruit League games will be part of the coverage.
 
More Vehicle Deals for Sirius

From: SkyReport.com 3-8-05
Sirius announced two key vehicle manufacturer deals Monday that will put its satellite radio service into more cars and trucks.

With the first, Sirius said Volkswagen will offer its service as a factory installed option on the new 2005 Volkswagen Jetta beginning this month. Sirius is available as a factory installed option on the 2005 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, and will also be available as a factory installed option on the new 2006 Passat later this year, the company said.

As for the second, Mitsubishi Motors North America said it has an agreement with Sirius to offer the satellite radio service as a factory-installed option in various Mitsubishi models. The first Sirius factory-installed option will appear in the 2006 Mitsubishi Raider. The midsize truck, will be available in dealer showrooms in the fall of 2005, the car company said.
 
XM: On Track for 5.5 Million at Year-End

From: SkyReport.com 4-28-05

Executives at XM Satellite Radio said the company is on track to meet its goal of 5.5 million customers at the end of the year.

That's the message they delivered during a conference call Wednesday highlighting results for the first quarter, in which the company took its subscriber count to 3.77 million. XM also reported a first quarter net loss of $119.9 million, which it narrowed from $170.1 million recorded during first quarter 2004.

During the call, XM President and CEO Hugh Panero said the company plans an aggressive marketing and promotion push during the coming months, taking advantage of a strong selling season tied around Father's Day and spring graduation. Panero also boasted about XM's relationships with vehicle manufacturers, including the company's deal with Hyundai in which the car maker will include XM service in all its models beginning in 2006.

Another big surprise for XM: The company reported that SAC (subscriber acquisition costs) fell to $52 for first quarter 2005, from $67 for the same period in 2004.
 
Where Does XM Get its Subscribers?

From: SkyReport.com 4-28-05

So, where did all those subscribers come from for XM Satellite Radio?

On April 1, XM reported that it added 541,140 customers during the first quarter, taking its subscriber count to 3.77 million. On Wednesday, the company revealed that its efforts on the sales floor still account for a majority of its customer activations.

Out of the 541,140 net customer additions for the three-month period ending March 31, XM said 319,414 came from retail, 211,590 were generated from OEM/vehicle manufacturers, and 10,136 from rental car net additions.
 
XM Ponders Move into Canada

From: SkyReport.com 5-9-05

XM Satellite Radio revealed that it's considering a move into Canada, following in the footsteps of Sirius and its plans to offer a product north of the border.

XM disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing released late last week that it's working to establish a joint venture entity that would be authorized to provide its offerings in Canada. The entity is in the process of seeking authority from the Canadian government to provide satellite radio service throughout the country, the company said.

Also, XM said it anticipates the joint venture, once established, would be independently financed.

Sirius has partnered with CBC/Radio-Canada to bring its product to Canada, and both are working at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for a license to deliver satellite radio service north of the border. CBC/Radio-Canada said it secured distribution of two of its main channels, Radio One and La Premiere Chaine, for the Sirius service.
 
A few months ago..

From: Gizmodo.com 4-26-05 February 9, 2005,

"No Sirius Satellite iPod

We now know where those Sirius satellite radio iPod rumors came from: Sirius themselves. Apparently Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin talked to Apple?s Steve Jobs about adding satellite service to the iPod, but Jobs turned them down. That?s sort of a bummer?after playing with the XM MyFi units for a while, I?m convinced portable, record-capable satellite radios have a big future."

More recent..

"Sirius + iPod = Best Thing Ever?

sirheartsapple.jpg

From: Gizmodo.com 4-26-05

CNN perks up for about five minutes today and realizes that satellite radios plus iPods are like chocolate and peanut butter. Sirius, which getting caned by XM, is pestering Steve Jobs to co-brand a satPod or whatever and apparently the analysts, who are one step ahead of CNN in all of this, are salivating at the prospect.

Again, as we saw with the iTunes phone?Apple has been surprisingly magnanimous of late, but that doesn?t mean they?ll play nice with every Joe who comes along with a content delivery method. A satellite iPod would cost much more than a standard iPod because Apple won?t like giving away music for ?free,? bypassing the Music Store through sweet satellite programming. I love satellite radio?haven?t listened to FM in a year now?but just let this one go, guys. Perfect and sell a portable sat/FM/MP3 player and leave it at that."

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More on CNN Money.. 4/25/05
 
XM Reaches 4 Million Mark

From: SkyReport.com 5-17-05
XM Satellite Radio said it crossed the four million subscriber mark last week. Said President and CEO Hugh Panero, "Our tremendous subscriber growth is a testament to XM's ever-increasing momentum and we look forward to hitting our target of 5.5 million subscribers by the year's end."
 
Sirius Close to Debuting Data Services

From: SkyReport.com 6-6-05

During a Wall Street conference Friday, Sirius Chairman Joe Clayton said his company is working on data services that will expand the options given to customers of the satellite radio service.

Clayton made his comments at Bernstein's "Strategic Decisions Conference." The Sirius chairman said the company will launch a "premium Sirius data service" later this year that will offer weather information to the marine market.

In addition, the company will soon offer a real-time traffic information service that will complement Sirius' existing traffic and weather services, Clayton said. Also, Sirius will debut video capabilities sometime next year.

Clayton used the conference to promote satellite radio. He said the addressable market for satellite radio is around 350 million subscriptions, which the exec said is "much larger than Wall Street expectations." That market includes automobiles, trucks, boats and homes.

Given that potential, "Wall Street hasn't seen this much upside in a subscription service business since cable came to your neighborhood," Clayton said.
 
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