News Articles From Days Gone ByHonda announced that it would be making XM radios available as dealer-installed options in their 2003 Accord, Pilot, and Acura MDX models.
(27 August 2002)
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Delphi announced that it has won contracts from General Motors to provide satellite radios for 2003 Chevrolet's.
(27 August 2002)
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Sirius bid farewell to Maria Carchidi and Tom Versen.
(26 August 2002)
They had been vice president of music and director of production and creative services respectively. They are both being replaced by senior vice president of content Joe Capobianco, who'll serve as a consultant.
The financially strapped Sirius may have only ten months of life left.
(25 August 2002)
That's the opinion of many Wall Street analysts who don't see Sirius being able to generate the additional $600 million necessary for it to turn a profit. Last week, Merril Lynch's Marc Nabi commented "Get out while you can." Former Global Crossing executive and current Sirius CEO Joe Clayton commented "I remain extremely confident that we will secure additional financing shortly."
Previous comments and actions against XM culminated in a "Wake-Up" call at the home of XM CEO Hugh Panero on Wednesday, August 21.
(25 August 2002)
Police cars blocked two busloads of participants in Chevy Chase, Maryland as up to seventy-five peaceful demonstrators marched in a 40-minute silent protest. Concerned about XM's programming, the Reverend Horace Sheffield III said "We have prayed and sang for the soul of Hugh Panero. Some of Hugh's neighbors even joined us in song and prayer. We are a peaceful group that will not back down when the police confrongt us nor will we be wait-listed by a satellite broadcast entity that feeds on genocidal forces of violence, drugs and the denigration of our women. Panero chose Playboy over The Word. There was room for The Word on XM but XM is hungry for cash from anywhere." The Reverend Sheffield is president of the Michigan chapter of the National Action Network (NAN).
Playboy Entertainment announced that it would expand its broadcasting services into satellite radio with the debut of Playboy Radio on XM.
(21 August 2002)
"Our contemporary, adult programming fits well with XM's many leading-edge and varied program offerings" said Jim English, President, Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc. The service will commence on 3 September with "Night Calls," hosted by Juli Ashton and Tiffany Granath.
"Our contemporary, adult programming fits well with XM's many leading-edge and varied program offerings" said Jim English, President, Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc.
(21 August 2002)
The service will commence on 3 September with "Night Calls," hosted by Juli Ashton and Tiffany Granath. Sirius joined with a group of 33 companies and trade groups in warning FCC Chairman Powell of an "imperative need" for the commission to move ahead on ultra-wideband (UWB) testing in "an open and transparent manner." The group is concerned about interference from a technology that has been moving forward with the permission of the FCC since earlier this year. In a letter signed by the Air Transport Association of America, Lockheed Martin, Nokia, Sprint, Sirius, and others the FCC was urged to pursue a "well-designed" test program that could provide data on which the FCC could "validly determine" what if any modifications should be made to the UWB order.
Baron Services, a leading provider of analytical weather services, has announced an agreement to join XM in developing near real-time graphical weather reports for mobile markets.
(19 August 2002)
Bob Baron, founder and president of Baron Services said "Baron Services' advanced meterological analysis, as currently relied on by the emergency management community, will provide highly accurate severe weather detection, storm tracking capability and radar information previously unavailable to mobile users. "
After failing to attain the kind of publicity needed to achieve its subscription goals, Sirius is in the market for a new advertising agency.
(18 August 2002)
They are currently negotiating with several undisclosed organizations in an attempt to pump new life into their promotional campaign. Their current ad agency is McCann-Erickson Worldwide.
Mark Parenteau, director of comedy programming for XM, has been accused of engaging in sex acts with a 14-year old boy.
(18 August 2002)
He has been ordered to surrender his passport and take up residence in a halfway house while awaiting trial.
Steve Stiles, the smooth jazz program director for XM has departed to accept the equivalent position at Chicago's WUNA.
(17 August 2002)
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A recent article published by Reuters claims that Sirius could be forced to seek bankruptcy protection if it cannot raise new funds by the second quarter of next year.
(16 August 2002)
The story assumes that troubling new information has been disclosed in the most recent Sirius SEC filing, a condition denied by Sirius. Refuting the allegation, Sirius CEO Joe Clayton commented "We have a tremendous amount of momentum in the marketplace. All of our radio, retailer and automobile manufacturing partners are very excited about our product and the wonderful acceptance it has received by consumers." The former Global Crossing executive went on to say "We are making significant progress in solidifying our balance sheet, and I remain extremely confident that we will secure additional financing shortly."
Despite its current financial dificulties, Sirius has announced that BMW plans to offer their satellite broadcasting service in its new MINI as well as the BMW 3, 5, and X5 series.
(15 August 2002)
"We are thrilled to have BMW and MINI join us in offering Sirius to its car customers in the U.S.," said Sirius CEO Joe Clayton.
According to the Los Angeles Times , Sirius' viability is in question.
(14 August 2002)
According to the Times article, Sirius has only 6,510 subscribers and only enough cash to get it through the second quarter of next year. They then need to raise an additional $300 million to make it through 2003. John Stone, analyst with investment bank Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., noted "This is not a great time to raise money." The investment bank had predicted 91,000 Sirius subscribers by the end of this year. Sirius now projects 75,000.
Sirius is diversifying!
(13 August 2002)
By the first half of 2003, Sirius will cooperate with manufacturers marketing standalone satellite radio decks and systems targeted to the home market as well as automobiles. They are even considering marketing products under their own brand. Sirius CEO Joe Clayton announced the new venture at last week's Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association show in Las Vegas. Said Clayton "I want to see how the total landscape of the brands lays out and then if I feel there is a hole in the distribution perhaps I would use the Sirius brand to fill it." The Sirius product expansion dovetails the strategy of IC supplier Agere, which is expected to have production samples of the second generation chipset available by the fourth quarter.
XM CEO Hugh Panero was greeted by a chorus of gospel songs sung by a one hundred member choir during a candle-light vigil outside his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
(9 August 2002)
The vigil was conducted by Reverend Horace Sheffield III, CEO of the National Association of Black Organizations (NABO) and president of he Michigan chapter of the National Action Network (NAN). Held in conjunction with an earlier "Tune out XM" demonstration the action calls into question XM's programming decisions. Said Reverend Sheffield "We are a peaceful group that will not back down nor will we be wait-listed by a satellite broadcast entity that feeds on genocidal forces of violence, drugs and the denigration of our women."
XMhas rebuffed some of the nation's largest African American chuches, says Bishop Charles Ellis of Detroit.
(8 August 2002)
Ellis attempted to meet with with XM CEO Hugh Panero to discuss issues related to XM's programming (see story dated 1 August 2002) but was unable to do so. "We traveled to Washington to challenge the ugliness of satellite radio business as usual. A dozen D.C. police carrs greeted us as we arrived at XM headquarters. We did not turn around nor will we be placed on the back burner of a broadcast plantation that trots out African American apologists to delay our quest for value positive broadcast excellence." said Ellis. A coalition of ministers, representatives of the National Association of Black Organizations (NABO), and the National Action Network (NAN) conducts a "Tune out XM" demonstration today.
Having been plagued by alleged chipset problems in the past, Sirius prepares to roll out a new generation of chipsets during the fourth quarter of this year.
(8 August 2002)
Sirius CEO Joe Clayton says "This new chipset will accelerate our plans to introduce second generation Sirius radios into the marketplace." Innovations include a reduction in size, a 50 percent reduction in required power, and better thermal management.
MediaBay recently announced an agreement to broadcast its programming on XM.
(8 August 2002)
Programs include classic radio offerings like "Dragnet," "The Lone Ranger," and "The Jack Benny Program."
African American church ministers and representatives of the National Association of Black Organizations (NABO) and the National Action Network (NAN) meet with XM at their Washington D.
(1 August 2002)
C.headquarters to discuss the status of XM programming alleged to glorify cultures of violence, drugs, and female debasement. Encouraging XM to ensure that their programming reflects the full breadth of the American Experience, NABO/NAN crisis management consultant Sam Riddle noted that "We are on the verge of smashing the rediculous notion that an individual or broadcast entity is endowed to be the broadcast gatekeeper for the African American community."