News Articles From Days Gone By

Sirius shareholders: "We like Mel!"
(28 May 2009)
SiriusXM shareholders have given CEO Mel "Mellow Mel" Karmazin everything he wanted. This includes the approval of a one billion share increase in the company's authorized shares to nine billion followed by a reverse split ranging from one share for 10 to one share for 50. In addition, the misguided suckers also approved a stock incentive plan, elected all the recommended members of the board of directors and voted down a proposal to give shareholders an advisory vote on executive pay.     more>>


iPhones...Siriusly
(28 May 2009)
It's all but official. SiriusXM is coming to an iPhone near you (see RUsirius.com story dated 28 April). Screenshots of the new iPhone application were revealed on a slide presented at the SiriusXM shareholder meeting. The title of the slide, "Launching Apple iPhone/iPod Touch and SmartPhone Applications," clearly indicates that multiple platforms are likely to be involved. The application is called uSirius StarPlayr and streams will be available via Wi-Fi, 3G or EDGE. The app will be free but, of course, only available to SiriusXM subscribers for an additional $3 a month.    more>>

Radio Orenovscotia wants lower royalties.
(27 May 2009)
Internet broadcaster Radio Orenovscotia is petitioning Congressman John Conyers of the Judiciary Committee to amend the Performance Rights Act to allow Internet radio to pay the same royalties as satellite radio. The pending legislation, if enacted, would require terrestral broadcasters to pay royalties. Royalties are currently paid by Internet stations and satellite radio to SoundExchange in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Satellite radio pays lower royalties than webcasters, something Radio Orenovscotia would like to change with the new legislation.    more>>

Getting Sirius with Dave Matthews
(27 May 2009)
Just in time for their new album, the Dave Matthews Band is getting a dedicated channel on SiriusXM. "Dave Matthews Band Radio" premieres 1 June at 12:00 PM(ET) to celebrate the coming of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, their latest offering. "Dave Matthews Band has both a fervent fanbase and one of the most original sounds in rock music," said SiriusXM Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein. "We are thrilled to dedicate a week of JamOn's programming to this extraordinary band." The special event runs through Monday, 8 June at 3:00 AM(ET) on JamOn (Sirius 17, XM 56).    more>>

Zune, Zune, Zune
(27 May 2009)
It's out of control and it's coming your way. It's Microsoft's new Zune HD, expected to have HD Radio and an OLED touchscreen with 480 by 272 pixel resolution. The unit is also said to be capable of playing videos on a TV, supporting up to 720-line resolution. It will down-convert them for playback on its display but play them at full resolution when connected to a monitor. Zune HD should be available this Fall.    more>>

Getting Sirius in Canada
(26 May 2009)
Sirius Canada has been announced as the presenting sponsor for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. Said Steve Jordan, Polaris Music Prize Executive Director, "With their unwavering support for Canadian talent in general and specifically the Polaris Music Prize, we feel having Sirius as our number one sponsor is not only a natural progression but a perfect fit. We are excited to be working together to bring the music of our nominees and winner to an even wider audience."     more>>

Siriusly Summer
(22 May 2009)
If you're thinking about getting Sirius, now would be a good time to do it. SiriusXM has a great lineup of special programming coming up for the Memorial Day weekend. Featured are non-stop Jimmy Buffet concerts on Radio Margaritaville (Sirius 31, XM 55), a beer in Mexico with Kenny Chesney on The Highway (Sirius 60, XM 16) and the best songs for surfin' and skatin' on Faction (Sirius 28, XM 52). Enjoy!    more>>

Medical Marijuana gets Sirius.
(22 May 2009)
Medical Marijuana CEO Bruce Perlowin is being interviewed by Nicole Sandler on Air America today. Founded in March of this year to provide advanced business solutions to the Medical Marijuana industry, Medical Marijuana provides tax oversight and collection solutions to local, state and federal governments. It also provides business management solutions to the industry. The interview spaces at 6:15 PM(ET) on Sirius channel 146 and XM channel 167.    more>>

Could TNA's Borash be getting Sirius?
(22 May 2009)
According to some sources, TNA Wrestling's Jeremy Borash could be making a deal to launch a wrestling show on SiriusXM. "The deal in place would likely make this the biggest media outlet to ever feature a wrestling radio program," said Borash via Twitter. No specifics were provided but Borash tweeted that more details could be coming soon.    more>>

CruiseCast finally gets sirius!
(22 May 2009)
The long-awaited CruiseCast from AT&T (see RUsirius.com story dated 9 January 2009) is finally here. The company is apparently working with "small groups" of specialists and distributors to get the service out to a "few dozen customers" by early June. The mobile satellite television system is expected to cost $1299 up front and $28 a month thereafter.    more>>

Sayno HD Radio is approved!
(22 May 2009)
HD Radio purveyor iBiquity has announced the approval of Sanyo's SDRS-400 and its LC75040 tuner. Both are designed primarily for automotive applications. "We are excited to play an integral role in the growth of the HD Radio system," said a Sanyo executive. "We bring excellent experience to the development of high-quality, integrated audio solutions."    more>>

A Sirius Failure
(21 May 2009)
SiriusXM has made it to number six on 24/7 Wall Street's list of the "Ten Biggest Tech Failures of the Last Decade." The problem is, of course, that due to competition from iPods, MP3 players and HD Radio, the satcaster hasn't made any money. The number of subscribers, once predicted to be between 20 and 25 million by now, has reached only 18.6 million as of this week. It's been a tough few years but try listening to Howard Stern on Internet radio in your car.    more>>

NetMix & Colocube...What a partnership!
(21 May 2009)
Internet broadcaster NetMix has entered into a partnership with IP services specialist Colocube for their core infrastructure hosting. The deal could prove to be significant for Flycast (see RUsirius.com story dated 12 January 2009) listeners who access Internet radio using a BlackBerry or iPhone. Says NetMix Broadcasting Network prez Sparrow Marcioni, "We are pleased to form a partnership with Colocube as they bring a wealth of expertise in the managed hosting and IP services space with an excellent track record of scaling quickly to meet their clients' needs." That's hot!    more>>

HD Radio is Panama's selection.
(20 May 2009)
The Republic of Panama has announced the selection of HD Radio as its official digital radio standard. Said iBiquity boss Bob Struble, "Panama's announcement is the most recent milestone in HD Radio technology becoming a standard around the world. We applaud the Panamanian government for selecting HD Radio technology and giving its broadcasters an easy-to-implement system."    more>>

The AHL gets Sirius.
(20 May 2009)
The American Hockey League has announced that the 2009 Calder Cup Playoff conference finals will be carried by SiriusXM on the Home Ice Channel (Sirius 208, XM 204). The Eastern Conference Finals feature the Hershey Bears and the Providence Brunins. In the Western Conference it's the Manitoba Moose taking on the Houston Aeros. The action starts tonight in Houston at 8:00 PM(ET).    more>>

Duff McKagan's Loaded on Sirius.
(20 May 2009)
In case you metalheads missed it, Duff McKagan's Loaded performed "Wasted Heart" this morning on Opie & Anthony (Sirius 197, XM 202). Didn't catch it? No problem. The whole thing's online, or you can pick up their latest album, "Sick," released on 7 April by Century Media Records.     more>>

Play ball!
(19 May 2009)
Big East baseball fans will be pleased to know that every game of this year's championship will be carried by SiriusXM. The big event starts at 1:00 PM(ET) today as the top seeded Louisville Cardinals take on the bottom seeded Cincinanati Bearcats at Bright House Field in Clearwater FL. All the games are on XM channel 203 and Sirius channel 217.    more>>

Mormon Radio is here!
(19 May 2009)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has introduced its new 24/7 radio service. The network consists of eight HD Radio stations in Salt Lake City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati and Washington D.C. Said Elder John B. Dickson of the church's Quorums of the Seventy and executive director of its audiovisual department, "This is an opportunity for the church to put out positive, compelling content."    more>>

STMicroelectronics defies the odds.
(18 May 2009)
STMicroelectronics, a leading supplier of semiconductor components for satellite radio is defying the weak economy by posting double-digit revenue growth in 2008. The growth was due, in part, to the success of its Cartesio product, a combined media processor and GPS chip. Says market analyst Richard Robinson of iSuppli, "STMicroelectronics benefited from the strong market acceptance of the Cartesio with the company notching up several key design wins."    more>>

ReachMD finds new talent.
(18 May 2009)
ReachMD is now featuring "NeuroFrontiers," a new show with Dr. Anthony Alessi. A prominent neurologist from the William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT, Alessi currently hosts a local weekly radio show and is the author of "Healthy Sports: A Doctor's Lessons for a Winning Lifestyle." Says Alessi, "As a physician, we're always communicating with patients. But typically you have an audience of one or two people in the exam room - the patient and the family. But what you find is that the same information you share with your patients is relevant to so many people." "NeuroFrontiers" can be heard twice daily on ReachMD (XM 160).    more>>

Audiovox gets Sirius.
(15 May 2009)
Audiovox, a primary manufacturer of satellite radio receivers, has reported its financial results for the 2009 fiscal year ended 28 February. In what may be a positive indication for the business, Audiovox net sales are $603.1 million, an increase of approximately $11.7 million over the previous fiscal year. Says Audiovox prez Pat Lavelle, "Throughout the year, we took steps to combat the ever shifting economic situation; knowing that those adjustments to our business model would not only help us weather the storm but also, help us emerge stronger and better positioned to take advantage of the market as it recovers."    more>>

Sirius gets the Indianapolis 500
(15 May 2009)
Thanks to the merger, this year's Indianapolis 500 is being spaced live to subscribers of both XM and Sirius. Catch Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Buddy Lazier, Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and all the others as Danica Patrick competes to become "The Grteatest Spectacle in Racing." The action starts on 24 May at 1:00 PM(ET) on XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. In addition, the satcaster is covering the Firestone Freedom 100 race on Friday, 22 May at 12:15 PM(ET). To make this year's event special, Mad Dog Radio (Sirius 123, XM 144) is featuring a special Indy 500 preview live at 10:00 AM(ET) on 20 May, Community Day. So start your engines, check your pits and start racing. You may even see Jim Nabors.     more>>

Get everything with Denon.
(15 May 2009)
Can't decide if you want satellite or HD Radio? Why not get both. The new series of receivers from Denon features one with a built-in HD Radio and a port for a SiriusXM satrad. Says Denon Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Joe Stinziano, "Today's home entertainment universe offers people more exciting choices than ever before, from the ultra-sophisticated whole-home networked systems to basic living-room home theater and everything in between. In whatever choice a consumer makes, the audio/video receiver is an indispensable system component."    more>>

Finally...A Small, Inexpensive HD Radio
(14 May 2009)
Within the next few months a new HD Radio receiver is due to appear at retail outlets. It has a full color display and a standard 3.5mm headphone socket. More importantly, it's expected to cost only $50. Look out for it at places like Best Buy some time this summer.    more>>

Get Genesis on iPhone!
(14 May 2009)
Genesis has announced an agreement with Radiolicious to stream its radio stations to the iPhone and iTouch. Says Genesis prez Bruce Maduri, "The iPhone technology is the right digital platform for our radio stations. Unlike HD Radio, the iPhone delivers digital transmission, free of interference, that consumers want and hunger for."    more>>

Mellow Mel forfeits options.
(14 May 2009)
SiriusXM boss Mel Karmazin has voluntarily forfeited 30 million stock options valued at $4.72 a share to allow the company to use the shares more "efficiently." The satcaster has said that the shares underlying the award have become available for grants under the 2003 long-term incentive plan and that Karmazin has received no consideration in exchange for the forfeiture.     more>>

Sean Avery gets Sirius.
(14 May 2009)
New York Rangers tough guy Sean Avery makes an appearance tonight at the NHL Powered By Reebok Store in New York with former Devils defenseman Ken Danyeko and ex-Rangers forward Ron Duguay. The show is being carried live on Sirius channel 122 and XM channel 143 at 7:00 PM(ET) and will feature live questions from fans in attendance at the store in midtown Manhattan.    more>>

Does Internet Radio have a deal?
(13 May 2009)
Webcasters may finally have a solution to their difficulties with the Copyright Royalty Board (see RUsirius.com story dated 1 October 2008). Lawmakers have finally introduced the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009, legislation that provides financial relief to Internet broadcasters in the way of royalty rates similar to those of cable and satellite radio. The bill was introduced by John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "We are hopeful that the House Judiciary Committee will address this important radio parity issue when it considers the Performanc Rights Act this week, and that a revised standard will in the future be the basis of more reasonable CRB royaly decisions," said Jonathan Potter, executive director of the Digital Media Association.    more>>

IIIrd Tyme Out gets Sirius
(13 May 2009)
Bluegrass group Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out premieres its latest album today on SiriusXM. The release is begin featured on "Track by Track" at 11:00 AM(ET) on Bluegrass Junction (Sirius 65, XM 14). The show, hosted by Kyle Cantrell, is being rebroadcast on Thursday, 14 May at 9:00 PM(ET) and on Sunday, 17 May at 11:00 AM(ET).    more>>

It's Pens Radio!
(12 May 2009)
Forget last night's playoff loss at home. The Pittsburgh Penguins are launching their own HD Radio channel. Operating in conjunction with WXDX (105.9 FM in Pittsburgh), the HD subchannel will also begin webcasting when the team heads to training camp in September. Says Pengunis veep for corporate sales Dave Soltesz, "The Penguins always are looking for new ways to deliver unique content to the greatest fans in hockey, and we're excited now to be the first team to venture into the world of 24/7 HD Radio."    more>>

The Biggest Loser?
(12 May 2009)
The biggest loser in the Chrysler bankruptcy could very well be SiriusXM. The satcaster had been planning on an additional one million installations in new Chrysler vehicles this year. The bankruptcy hearing, an anticipated drop in Chrysler sales and the merger with Fiat, however, could mean the end for a company already overcommitted to big salaries and broadcast agreements.    more>>

Call them Sirius Europe.
(12 May 2009)
Ondas has just completed a satellite radio agreement with Renault. The European satcaster is planning to provide multi-lingual radio, music, video and data services to receivers in vehicles and homes. Says Madrid-based Ondas CEO Dave Krueger, "Satellite Radio has been hugely successful and this is yet another milestone in our progress towards launching pan-European subscription-based services in 2011. Our detailed market research confirmed that Satellite Radio has a strong appeal for all Europeans."     more>>

Get Sirius at the Kerrville Folk Festival!
(11 May 2009)
The Kerrville Folk Festival opens 21 May and features 18 days of live music. Can't make it? Don't worry. It's all on Sirius with a lineup that includes Tish Hinojosa, Ruthie Foster, The Limeliters, Trout Fishing in America, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Peter Yarrow. The big event is coming to SiriusXM's The Village, available on Sirius Internet Radio and XM channel 15.    more>>

WorldSpace launches car radio service in India
(11 May 2009)
International satcaster WorldSpace is planning to launch a car radio service in India by mid-2010. Says WorldSpace's Mathewkutty Sebastian, "Non-availability of terrestrially augmented satellite radio services in India that ensure satellite radio service in automobiles is purely due to regulatory hurdles. If that is cleared, by the finalisation of the new Satellite Radio Policy by the Government, we can roll-out the same for the Indian consumers in the next eight to ten months." Despite its bankruptcy, WorldSpace has been continuing to develop markets in Europe and the Middle East.    more>>

Coming soon to Australia...DAB+
(11 May 2009)
Unlike the United States, where HD Radio has been adopted as the standard for digital radio, Australia is following Europe and implementing the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)+ system. The rollout of digital radio in the land down under is happening this month. Says Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner, "Car manufacturers in Australia and overseas are aware that Australia's digital radio standard is DAB+ and we are switching on in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisband, Adelaide and Perth this month."    more>>

Let the testing begin!
(8 May 2009)
In the continuing quest to raise the power level of HD Radio (see RUsirius.com story dated 3 April 2009), NPR Labs has begun lab tests in preparation for possible field testing later this month. At issue is whether or not raising the allowed power of the HD subcarrier from 1 percent to 10 percent of the analog signal will interfere with conventional FM radio reception. Previous testing by both commercial broadcasters and NPR producted conflicting results. This time, both commercial broadcasters and HD Radio purveyor iBiquity are involved with the NPR test program. If the results are satisfactory, the findings will be submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in the expectation of the approval of higher HD Radio power levels.     more>>

Subscribers down, but loss narrows.
(7 May 2009)
The number of subscribers was down but at least SiriusXM's loss for the quarter narrowed. The satcaster has reported a loss of $50.4 million, or $.07 a share, compared with a loss of $104.1 million a year ago. Revenue more than doubled, however, to $587 million. On the downside, SiriusXM ended the period with 18.6 million subscribers but lost 404,000 due to subscriber turnover or churn, which edged up to 2.2%. Said Sirius boss "Mellow Mel" Karmazin, "Satellite radio is now a cash flow growth story." He went on to say that "these results demonstrate our focus on improving profitability despite slower automobile sales and a 2% sequential decline in satellite radio subscribers."    more>>

Rehr out at NAB.
(7 May 2009)
David Rehr has resigned as head of the National Association of Broadcasters. Rehr had been known as a thorn in the side of Sirius and XM during the time that his organization fought vigorously against their merger. He has most recently been at the forefront of the battle against the Performance Rights Act (see RUsirius.com story dated 1 May). Rehr had been quoted as having said he would rather slit his own throat than negotiate with the recording industry over the issue. Said one industry pundit after Rehr's resignation, "It's clear at this point that David's absolutist approach against negotiaing with the recording industry had the effect of slitting his own throat." He is not likely to be missed.    more>>

PADapult tweets!
(6 May 2009)
The new version of ENCO's PADapult, the multimedia interface for HD Radio and other applications, has added Twitter and FriendFeed compatibility. Says ENCO prez Eugene Novacek, "With the continued interest in social networking by radio broadcasers, the ability of natively supporting Twitter and FriendFeed in PADapult will give our radio clients another way to promote their stations and tighten the tie to listeners."     more>>

Sin on Playboy!
(6 May 2009)
Guitarist Sin Quirin of Ministry and The Revolting Cocks will be making an appearance this Friday on "Night Calls" at 8:00 PM(ET) on SiriusXM's Playboy Radio (Sirius 198, XM 99). He will be discussing RevCo's new release, "Sex-O Olympic-O," which has sold 800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Sin shares writing credits for the album, which is currently at No. 83 on the Top Ten New Artists chart.     more>>

Could satellite radio get a boost from a new amplifier?
(5 May 2009)
Skyworks Solutions has announced the availability of a new suite of low noise amplifiers (LNAs), devices that are widely used in applications such as satellite radio receivers. The first release of the Skyworks new product family is the SKY65050-372LF low noise transistor. "This is an exciting development for Skyworks, and opens up an entirely new product line and market," said Skyworks vice president of analog components David C. Stasey.    more>>

Is Sirius next?
(5 May 2009)
DirecTV is being fully merged with John Malone's Liberty Entertainment, a move that could portend a similar fate for SiriusXM. The tax-free deal makes it easier for DirecTV to pursue other options. "This gives us the flexibility to make oppportunistic decisions cleanly and clearly in a rapidly changing world," said DirecTV Chief Executive Officer Chase Carey. "For the first time, DirecTV will control its future without a controlling corporate parent." John Malone, whose voting share in DirecTV will fall to 24% from 33%, will no longer control the new entity. Liberty currently holds a 40% stake in SiriusXM, making a similar deal possible if not likely.    more>>

Indian professionals go HD.
(1 May 2009)
The Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) is ready to go digital with HumDesi. North America's premier non-profit networking organization for South Asians is partnering with North America's first Ethnic Digital Radio Network for "PrimeTime with NetIP." The show features business, arts and media professionals discussing issues such as the current financial crisis, the political voice of South Asians and North American immigration. "NetIP and HumDesi Radio are both premier North American organizations. For us at NetIP, the synergy was obvious," says Vice President of External Affairs at NetIP North America Sundip Arora. "We are embarking on increasing our national visibility and it was important for us to choose a partner that would help us realize our vision of making NetIP a household name in North America." The HumDesi Radio Network can be heard on HD Radio on 97.1 FM in New York, 105.9 FM in Los Angeles and 101.1 FM in Chicago. The first scheduled PrimeTime episode is set for this month.    more>>

Sirius Swine
(1 May 2009)
Worried about swine flu? Check out the regular updates that are currently being featured on Doctor Radio (Sirius 114, XM 119). The channel is now delivering the latest on the H1N1 flu in addition to medical news, information and advice. Because of the current health crisis, the satcaster is featuring news on preventative measures, how to identify symptoms, the latest statistics and information on new technology.     more>>

Weather XM Canada?
(1 May 2009)
XM Canada has announced the adoption of a new weather service. XM WX features instant updates geared for pilots, boaters and storm chasers respectively. "XM's new suite of weather services is not your typical prediction of sunny days and cloudy nights," says XM Canada Vice President of Marketing Janet Gillespie. "XM WX is an interactive weather data service that has the capability to deliver the most accurate and timely meterological and sea data available using the same reliable satellite technology that powers XM Radio." The service isn't free. Canadian XMers who want XM WX will have to pay a surcharge on their current subscription prices.    more>>

Tony stumps for performance rights.
(1 May 2009)
Legendary crooner Tony Bennett is lending his support to the Performance Rights Act (see RUsirius.com story dated 11 March) by singing at a private gathering of guests and lawmakers at a Capitol Visitor Center event sponsored by the musicFIRST coalition. To those present Bennett said "The radios don't want to give up one penny." Mentioning that he hopes Congress can pass the pending legislation aimed at helping performers who back him up, Bennett said, "There's an army, a huge army, of great artists that just get paid for the date." Artists currently get paid only for a recording date, not in the form of royalties whenever their music goes out over the airwaves. Since the smell of the crowd could not be estimated, it's not clear whether or not Senator Harry Reid attended.    more>>