Both satcasters have been siriusly lobbying the Government since their merger was first proposed.  According to the Washington Post Sirius has spent $230,000 with three New York lobbying firms alone.  The combined bill for XM and Sirius is estimated to be $810,000.   more>> (31 August 2007)

Sirius football fans should get ready for some action as the satcaster kicks off its NFL season on 6 September.  For the fourth straight year Sirius will space every game of the season starting with the Super Bowl champion Colts hosting the New Orleans Saints.  Says Steve Cohen, Sirius President of Sports Programming, "NFL fans can hear all the games on Sirius, listen to in-depth interviews with their favorite players and coaches and then talk about it with our experts on Sirius NFL Radio."  The Sirius NFL team includes John Madden , Tiki and Ronde Barber and Shannon Sharpe.  Coverage of the Colts-Saints matchup begins at 8:30 PM(ET) on channels 123, 124 and 126.   more>> (31 August 2007)

Sirius' Hard Attack (Channel 27) is presenting the premiere of Today Is The Day 's "Broken Promises and Dead Dreams" on Wednesday, 5 September at 8 PM(ET).  The track is from group's eighth studio recording, Axis Of Eden.  It is the first new song from them to be broadcast in over 3 years.   more>> (31 August 2007)

College Football gets Sirius today when the satcaster kicks off its NCAA gridiron season.  Sirius coverage begins with games between Louisville and Murray State and between Kent State and Iowa State (see RUsirius.com story dated 18 August).  The Sirius College Football Coaches Show is also returning for another season hosted by Jack Arute and former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden.   more>> (30 August 2007)

There's the Big Sleep, the Big Easy, the Big Apple and the Big Dig.  Now, thanks to XM and the National Endowment for the Arts, there's the Big Read.  The program premieres on Sonic Theater (channel 163) on 10 September and features audio recordings of classic novels in 30-minute installments.  In addition, there are NEA-produced programs about each book with interviews, commentary and readings by famous actors, authors and other celebrities.   more>> (30 August 2007)

Following in the footsteps of satellite radio, iBiquity is getting ready to introduce RadioGuard.  The system is a conditional access technique used to block channels not requested by the user.  When implemented, it will permit terrestrial radio stations broadcasting in HD to provide programming for pay, similar to what satcasters and cable and satellite television providers do.  The plan is for all HD Radio chips eventually to contain RadioGuard encryption circuits....and we all thought that HD Radio would always be free.   more>> (30 August 2007)

Think you can pick the winners in college football?  XM is challenging you to try.  In the " XM Select & Connect College Football Challenge " participants are invited to select the winners of the major college football games spaced by the satcaster each week.  Weekly winners are awarded points.  Those who collect the most points each week win prizes like satrads, wireless phones and roundtrip airfare.  The winner at the end of the season wins the "Ultimate College Road Trip" for six to attend any college football game in 2008.   more>> (30 August 2007)

Feeling optimistic about the Sirius/XM merger?  Apparently Jeffrey Zients is.  He's the XM director who has just made the largest insider purchase ever at the satcaster.  Zeints' purchase, said to be caused by optimism about the merger, was for more than $3 million of XM shares.   more>> (29 August 2007)

Sirius Deadheads rejoice!  The satcaster has announced the Grateful Dead Channel featuring rare and unreleased performances together with original shows hosted by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann.  "Since we announced the launch of the Grateful Dead Channel, it has become one of the most anticipated music channel launches in our history, said Sirius President, Entertainment and Sports Scott Greenstein.  The channel debuts on 7 September at 12 PM(ET) on channel 32 with a rare concert broadcast of the Dead's 1974 performance at the Hollywood Bowl.   more>> (29 August 2007)

In a push to expand its presence in the Music City XM is moving its studios from the Country Music Hall of Fame to Nashville's Sommet Center.  The satcaster has said its new facilities will include broadcast and production facilities, a dedicated performance space and office space.  Said XM executive veep for programming Eric Logan, "The Country Music Hall of Fame has been a wonderful home to XM's Nashville studios for the past six years and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them in the future."   more>> (29 August 2007)

Hockey Night in Canada is apparently getting Sirius.  The organization is said to be planning a talk show with the satcaster in time for the start of the NHL season this fall.  CBC sports head Scott Moore has refused comment but has said, "We're always looking for ways to leverage the top sports brand on Canadian television.  We think it's been underutilized."   more>> (29 August 2007)

The proposed merger between Sirius and XM is now entering the home stretch.  Approvals from the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice are said to be in their final phase.  The process, however, may still take several additional months.  Comparisons are being drawn to the recent approval of the merger between Whole Foods and Wild Oats, thereby consolidating a market.  In the case of Sirius and XM this means that the merged companies would be presenting the public with a unified product, something that is said to be preferred by retailers.   more>> (28 August 2007)

In what appears to be a last ditch effort the National Association of Broadcasters has filed additional comments against the Sirius/XM merger with the Federal Communications Commission.  "The overwhelming majority of the comments demonstrate that the satellite DARS merger prohibition is a binding rule that should not be waived, modified, or repealed," says the NAB.  A rule requiring that there be two or more independent satellite broadcasters has been in effect since the original proposals for satellite radio were filed during the last decade.   more>> (28 August 2007)

Chris Bridges (a.k.a. Ludacris) is kicking off a new season on XM.  His show "Disturbing Tha Peace Presents: Ludacris' Open Mic" continues to feature hand-selected music, special guests and interviews.  "My show on XM is the most entertaining hour of radio, period!  And it only gets better with time."  The season premiere of "Open Mic" is Saturday, 8 September at 6 PM(ET).   more>> (28 August 2007)

Broadcast Electronics has ended a summer of HD Radio seminars by announcing the names of two fortunate broadcast engineers who won Sangean HD Radio tuners.  Enrique Lopez of Clear Channel in El Paso and David Liu of Univision in San Francisco were the lucky winners.  Their names were drawn from a pool of several hundred broadcasters who entered during one of six sessions of BE's HD Radio Summer School 2007.  The units retail for around $200 each.   more>> (28 August 2007)

Leading HD Radio receiver manufacturer Radiosophy has made a management change.  Its board of directors has appointed William Graber to serve as the company's president and chief executive officer.  Chief financial officer and acting president Mark Ferdig said of the choice, "The Radiosophy board unanimously selected Bill Graber based on his previous track record with several larger corporations that include Gateway and Corporate Express."   more>> (27 August 2007)

Collectors of NASCAR souvenirs and memorabilia can finally start getting Sirius.   Motorsports Authentics is getting together with the satcaster to space NASCAR Collector, a oue-hour weekly series.  Hosts Tim Packman, Buzz McKim and Tim Trout provide racing expertise, collectable information and value insight.  Listeners are encouraged to call in and talk about their collections and favorites.  Says Motorsports Authentics president Mark Dyer, "We are very excited to team with Sirius to bring this new and exciting show to NASCAR die-cast and memorabilia collectors all across the country."  The  show can be hears Saturdays at 8:00 AM(ET).   more>> (26 August 2007)

  Michelle Singeltary is now XM-rated.  The Washington Post personal finance columnist is now hosting a call-in show for the satcaster on Sunday evenings.  She has been the writer of a column syndicated by the Washington Post since 1999.   more>> (25 August 2007) 

Raytheon may soon be teaming with XM to deliver satellite-based navigation for aircraft.  The Boston Globe reports "With ground-based radars turning once every 4.7 seconds in many cases, their signals degrade over distances.  Satellite signals, by contrast, are updated every second.  They are beamed directly to planes and transmitted via ground antennas to control towers."  The technology can potentially reduced delays by allowing more planes to fit in to the same airspace.   more>> (24 August 2007)

The northeastern region of the United States is leading the nation in the rollout of HD Radio.  According to the BIA Financial Network 13.8% of stations in that region are broadcasting in the new format.  The laggards are the south-central states where only 7.8% of the stations currently transmit an HD signal.   more>> (24 August 2007)

WorldSpace is getting sirius about India and MSN.  The international satcaster is launching five more Internet-accessible channels via MSN for the subcontinent, providing 24-hour access for $9.99 a month.  The channels are Farishta (Hindi film classics), Sparsha (Kannada), Spandana (Telugu), Gandharv (Hindustani classical) and Shruti (Carnatic music).  Says Velu Shankar, Senior Advisor, Content & Programming for WorldSpace India, "We are delighted with our strategic partnership with MSN India.  We believe that with this initiative we will help bridge the needs of Indians across the globe to be closely connected with their roots and Indian culture, and provide a platform to savour songs online even when they do not have access to WorldSpace Satellite Radio."   more>> (24 August 2007)

In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Entravision is opposing the proposed Sirius/XM merger.  The Spanish-language broadcaster says, however, that should the merger be approved the FCC should permit terrestrial broadcasters to compete with the satcasters as a consortium.  "Entravision submits that the Commission should adopt a plan for the resumption of competition at the earliest possible time," says the company, which is "prepared to lead a consortium of as many terrestrial licenses as wish to join in providing such a competitor."   more>> (23 August 2007)

The Washington National Opera is being featured in a new performance series starting on 28 August.  Vincenzo Bellini's Norma opens the series with Hasmik Papian in the title role along with Irina Mishura and Richard Margison.  The work is about a Druid high priestess betrayed by her lover during the era of Roman occupation.  It spaces on VOX (XM channel 112) at noon (ET).   more>> (23 August 2007)

As part of an exhibit at this year's National Association of Broadcasters Radio Show , Broadcast Electronics is planning to report on new trends in HD Radio based on its sales and marketing statistics.  The manufacturer of digital studio integration systems is reporting significant activity in smaller and niche markets.  "We're seeing a high level of interest from the smaller market segment especially and we're making an effort at this year's NAB Radio Show to address the individualized needs of these broadcasters."   more>> (23 August 2007)

The proposed satellite radio merger is getting more support, this time from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund.  The organization has issued a statement saying "Rural communities are consistently undeserved by the lack of diversity in programming that local terrestrial radio broadcasters provide."  Federation executive Ralph Paige goes on to say, "A merger of Sirius and XM will bring lower prices and increased programming choices to the over 20,000 rural member families of the Federation/LAF in twelve southern states."   more>> (22 August 2007)

The environmental movement in action sports is getting Sirius.  iPATH, a brand at the forefront has announced that apparels director Paul Wood is appearing on "The Lazy Environmentalist" tomorrow (23 August) on Lime (Sirius channel 114) at 11 AM(ET).  The program is expected to focus on iPATH's leadership in the green space, future developments and Wood's personal thoughts on recent trends.   more>> (22 August 2007)

College football is kicking off on XM starting 30 August.  The satcaster is featuring games in the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC.  Says XM's executive veep of programming Eric Logan, "XM is your college sports connection, wherever you are.  If you're a Texas fan, you can tune into have your favorite team on XM whether you're in Austin or you're two thousand miles away in Seattle.  You can be a Wisconsin fan vacationing in Florida, a Virginia Tech alum who lives in Phoenix, or a Cal fan headed to New England, and you can hear your teams on XM."  A complete channel guide is available online.   more>> (22 August 2007)

Don't want to pay for satellite radio.  Try BrightSpot .  The company is in the process of signing up XM in a deal that would allow consumers to sign up for a subscription for free, in exchange for watching online video advertisements.  The same offer is available with BrightSpot's existing partners, including GameFly, Napster and the NBA.   (20 August 2007)

K-State is getting Sirius.  Kansas State University has announced that the satcaster is going to be the official satcaster of Wildcat athletics.  Starting this fall all of KSU's football and men's basketball games will space nationwide on Sirius featuring the voice of Wildcats' play-by-play announcer Wyatt Thompson.  The first game's vs. Auburn on 1 September on Sirius channel 122.   more>> (18 August 2007)

The sixteenth ranked team in college football is determined to become XM-rated.  Five Rutgers football games are being spaced live on XM this season, including the season-opener vs. Buffalo on 30 August.  All of the games feature Rutgers play-by-play announcer Chris Carlin and color analyst Tim Pernetti.   more>> (18 August 2007)

Sirius has joined with Sonos to permit listeners to enjoy satellite radio at home without having to worry about where how they position the antenna.  Current subscribers can now connect the wireless Sonos system to beam music and other programming anywhere they wish.  The price of Sonos equipment starts at $349 for the Zoneplayer 80 and $399 for the Controller 100.   more>> (17 August 2007)

HD Radio is finding its way to Germany.   Media & Broadcast plans to begin HD field testing, including two multicast channels, at the end of the month.  Supporting the tests are iBiquity, audio expert Georg Neumann, Orban/CRL Systems, Broadcast Electronics and Ruoss AG.  Test results are expected to be revealed in Stuttgart on 27 September.   more>> (17 August 2007)

  Once again Sirius' Hard Attack is celebrating March of Dimeday (see RUsirius.com news archive story dated 15 August 2006).  On 20 August the music of the late guitar legend Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott is featured together with clips from interviews and things Dime himself would want to hear.  Featured material includes recordings by  Pantera , Damageplan and Rebel Meets Rebel together with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Kiss, Van Halen, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax.   (16 August 2007)

There are apparently fewer HD Radioheads than had been expected.  According to the latest estimate from Bridge Ratings the new format is expected to attract fewer than 1 million listeners by the start of 2009, a reduction of the previous estimate of 1.07 million.  Growth in traditional terrestrial radio has also been revised downward but all is not lost.  According to Bridge prez Dave Van Dyke, "Among 12- to 24-year-olds, we're finding that the usage paths of traditional radio and MP3 players become parallel and not divergent over time.  'iPod fatigue' does exist and most users have a point in time when they become bored with either the downloading and transfer process or the content discovery process.  When that happens, they tend to go to radio to help with the decision stress and let radio filter much of the content for them."   more>> (16 August 2007)

Details about the new Sirius Stiletto (see RUsirius.com story dated 2 August 2007) are finally becoming available.  The Stiletto 2 is capable of receiving live Sirius satcasts, receiving WiFi Internet radio and storing up to 100 hours of programming.  Says Sirius boss Mellow Mel Karmazin, "With Stiletto 2 Sirius is making the personal music player better for listeners, raising the bar in the field of audio entertainment."  The latest Sirius product offering weighs 4.3 oz. and should retail for $349.99 starting this fall.   more>> (15 August 2007)

Don Imus has finally reached a settlement with CBS said to be worth $20 million.  Although the terms of the settlement were not disclosed the agreement leaves the door open for the I-man to return to his former position on WFAN, New York.  The controversial broadcaster is now shopping himself around to the highest bidders, which may include Sirius (see RUsirius.com story below) or New York's WABC.  Still to be settled is a lawsuit alleging slander and defamation of character filed by "nappy-headed ho" Kia Vaughn of the Rutgers women's basketball team.   more>> (15 August 2007)

NASCAR dads who saw the confrontation between Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Harvick last weekend will be happy to know that the two drivers are Sirius.  Both have taken their dispute to the spacewaves, specifically on Sirius' "Juan Pablo Montoya Report" and "Tony Stewart Live."  Said Montoya, "You know, I was pissed off at the time.  I actually got out of the car and said, 'Dude, it wasn't even my fault.  I got hit from behind.  What do you want me to say?'  And, I don't know, he started screaming and saying things."  Harvick saw the incident differently.  "I just told him, I said, 'You know, if you don't want to race like we race here then maybe you should go back and race Formula One cars.'  And I'm sure he didn't appreciate that but that's just kind of how I felt about the whole thing."  Attention Mr. McMahon , there's an opportunity here somewhere.   more>> (15 August 2007)

HD Radio may soon be coming to the Caribbean.  The Digital Radio Forum in the Dominican Republic featured a presentation by Harris of its offerings in the new technology.  Said Harris' Hal Kneller, "This was an excellent event to generate Caribbean interest in digital radio through a series of educational exhibits.  Station owners attended the show in record numbers and expressed interest in moving forward with digital radio.  The event was hosted by Indotel, the half-island nation's counterpart to the Federal Communications Commission.   more>> (15 August 2007)

XM is promoting a new and advanced way of listening to satellite radio.  The satcaster is launching the XpressRC, a satrad featuring a customizable color display showing channel, artist and song title.  The display is split so that listeners can view current channel information while browsing what is playing on up to three different channels.  It also features a buffer that saves the last 60 minutes of programming just in case listeners want to replay anything.  It can be easily moved around among various vehicles and stationary locations and sells for around $170.  It's manufactured by Delphi.   more>> (14 August 2007)

Hellyeah is making an appearance on Sirius' Hard Attack.  The band is featured on the "Hard Files" program with host Jose Mangin discussing, among other things, "Alcohaulin' Ass," the second single from the group's eponymous debut album.  The program can be heard Fridays at noon (ET) and Saturdays at 3:00 PM(ET).   more>> (14 August 2007)

Having already filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission to deny the proposed Sirius/XM merger (see RUsirius.com story dated 14 July 2007), the National Association of Broadcasters has now filed comments calling the case "unusual."  In the filing, the NAB is asking the FCC "not to abandon relevant legal standards, rules and important public policies merely to allow this one merger to proceed."  The NAB claims that the satcasters are asking the commission to ignore precedent and to disregard policies against spectrum monopolies.   more>> (14 August 2007)

The Cambridge Soundworks HD Radio receiver (see RUsirius.com story dated 9 April 2007) is apparently living up to its expectations.  The 820HD has impressive sound quality and features a 3-inch display containing HD-specific track, status and artist information.  It retails for around $300.   more>> (13 August 2007)

Don Imus may be getting Sirius after all (see RUsirius.com story dated 23 July 2007).  Sirius boss Mellow Mel Karmazin has said, "The fact that he had been fired wouldn't stop me from having Don work for me again.  He makes you a lot of money."  Said close friend Kinky Friedman, "He's told me that he's definitely coming back.  He's very much like Jesus.  He's coming back and boy is he PO'd."  Imus' attorney has confirmed that God's Other Son is being courted by major media outlets including former employer CBS.   more>> (13 August 2007)

Barry Switzer is coming to XM.  The former Oklahoma and Cowboys coach is expected to provide expert analysis and commentary for Sports Nation (XM Channel 144).  A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Switzer starts his new job on 20 August on "XM Sports Nation This Morning" with host T.J. Rives every Monday and Friday at 6:30 AM(ET).  "I"m really looking forward to being on XM," says Switzer.  "It's amazing to me how you can tune into college football games from all over the country and people can call into XM to put in their two cents wherever they live. It's a great thing for diehard fans like me, and I think we're going to have a lot of fun."   more>> (13 August 2007)

Despite its problems elsewhere (see below) WorldSpace is continuing to launch new services in India.  The international satcaster and MSN India have announced the launch of five WorldSpace stations on MSN India.  The move gives listeners a chance to hear their favorites online for $9.9 a month.  "WorldSpace has been instrumental in popularizing satellite based digital radio in India," said Jaspreet Bindra, India Country Manager, Online Service Group, MIcrosoft.  "This association is part of our commitment to our users in bring the best of entertainment online."   more>> (11 August 2007)

HD Radio continues to spread in Hawaii, thanks to a little help from the sky.   KDNN (98.5 FM) in Honolulu installed its new HD transmitter through a small access in the roof of the Century Plaza.  The transmitter is made by Broadcast Electronics and represents the fourth such installation in Honolulu.   more>> (11 August 2007)

On what may not be a particularly good day for announcing financial results, WorldSpace has reported its numbers for the quarter ending in June.  The satcaster ended the period with 190,333 subscribers worldwide.  The number represents a loss of 1,313 subscribers from the previous quarter is is said to reflect low additions in India and net losses elsewhere.  Altogether WorldSpace has lost 4,574 subscribers in Europe and South Africa but has announced its first European aftermarket distribution agreement through Fiat.  The company has stopped selling subscriptions in Europe in preparation for the testing and subsequent launch of its service in Italy, the country of origin of the word "fiasco."   more>> (10 August 2007)

J.D. Powers and Associates is indicating that consumers are getting more sirius about satellite radio.  The company says that nearly 40 percent of consumers report having satrad capability in their new vehicles, up from 26 percent the previous year and 94 percent indicate that this capability is factory or dealer installed, a six percent increase.  "Buyers want the latest technologies included in their new vehicle's audio system, and he increase in market penetration is a reflection of auto manufacturers' response to consumer demand," said Allison LaDuc, senior research manager of automotive product quality at J.D. Power.   more>> (10 August 2007)

Everyone's getting Sirius about Elvis Week.  From 11 August through 17 August the satcaster is celebrating the occasion with special live programming, including back-stage coverage, of the 30th Anniversary Concert and the 3rd Annual Sirius Satellite Radio Candlelight Vigil show hosted by long time Elvis friend George Klein.  Elvis Week takes place at Graceland in Memphis and attracts fans from around the globe.  The event is spaced on Elvis Radio (Sirius channel 13).   more>> (10 August 2007)

A high school teacher in Monessen, PA isn't so Sirius any more.  Jaison Biagini won a trip last month from the satcaster's Bubba the Love Sponge to St. Petersburg, where he was apparently ridiculed for his disability.  Biagini, who uses a weelchair, was interviewed on the radio upon returning home from what was supposed to be a date with porn star Akira.  Saying he just wanted to visit the Salvador Dali museum he called the date "all fake and staged."  He subsequently resigned from his teaching position.   more>> (10 August 2007)

Direced Electronics' earlier prediction of a decline in its satellite radio sales (see RUsirius.com story dated 12 July 2007) has apparently come true.  The company reported a second quarter gross loss in the medium of 31 percent.  Gross sales of satellite radio products declined to $28.3 million in the second quarter compared with $14.3 million in the second quarter of 2006.   more>> (10 August 2007)

Despite its recent legal problems (see RUsirius.com story dated 17 July 2007) Internet radio is expected to outstrip HD Radio.  The medium is expected to generate ad revenue of $19.7 billion in 2020, equal to that of terrestrial radio in 2006 according to Bridge Ratings.  Said analyst Ben Macklin of eMarketer , "It is worth noting what Bridge Ratings includes in its estimates of Internet radio ad revenue.  The total includes both in-stream audio ads as well as online ads, banners and buttons on Radio Web sites and media players."   more>> (10 August 2007)

  Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is sirius.  She doesn't like the proposed merger between Sirius and XM and has stated so in a letter written to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Barnett.  In the letter, McCaskill states that she does "not believe the merger is in the best interest of consumers."  She noted that satellite radio is subscription based and therefore does not face any real competition from terrestrial broadcasting.  She also notes that both XM and Sirius have benefit from mutual competition.  "A market, absent of this condition, would not protect consumers," she says.   more>> (9 August 2007)

Indicating what is possible with HD Radio, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have officially announced that all 144 games of their inaugural 200 season are being carried on WZZO's HD-2.  The minor league baseball team has dubbed the station (95.1 FM) the "Digital Home of the IronPigs."  IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes says that "our agreement with WZZO offers us a chance to stay on the cutting edge of technology with a HD broadcast that blankets the region."   more>> (9 August 2007)

The proposed merger between XM and Sirius continues forward, this time with a little help from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin.  Martin said he was pleased with the satcasters' proposal for a la carte programming choices (see RUsirius.com story dated 23 July 2007).  Speaking with reporters after the FCC"s monthly public meeting at its Washington headquarters Martin said he was "pleased any time companies come forward with proposals that would give consumers more control over what they pay for."   more>> (8 August 2007)

Ferrari pilots sitting in traffic on the Harbor Freeway will now have something to show for their $250,000.  XM has announced the first Ferrari 612 Scaglietti as the first to come with factory-installed XM and XM NavTraffic as standard features.  Said Steve Cook, executive vice president, Automotive for XM, "Now Ferrari drivers can enhance their driving experience by discovering music and listening to sports, talk and news on the more than 170 channels of XM Radio.  XM NavTraffic also enables Ferrari drivers to route around a jam so they can continue to enjoy the road."   more>> (8 August 2007)

The National Association of Broadcasters are referring to the Sirius/XM proposal for "a la carte" programming choices as "a la sham."  Comparing the satcasters with historical monopolies like Standard Oil and "Ma Bell," the NAB says that XM and Sirius will have a "monopoly" on transmitting content to subscribers' receivers.  Offering to permit customers to select the content they want is therefore just a disguise for a system in which there is no real competition.   more>>  (8 August 2007)

Next month's National Association of Broadcasters show in Charlotte is expected to feature numerous technical presentations designed to facilitate the implementation of HD Radio.  The Society of Broadcast Engineers are presenting sessions examining HD technology and safety as well as HD installation tips.  The meeting takes place on 28 September at the Charlotte Convention Center .   more>> (8 August 2007)

Metal rock band Testament is getting Sirius.  Members Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, Eric Peterson and Greg Christian are the guests on "Hard "Files" this Thursday, 9 August at 7:00 PM(ET).  The show features discussions of the group's current tastes, fashion, and their forthcoming new album.   more>> (7 August 2007)

Sirius boss Mellow Mel Karmazin is at it again.  This time he's making a pitch in the Washington Times to anyone who will listen that the merger between Sirius and XM should be permitted by the Federal Communications Commission.  He's fervently making the case for the combined satcasters' "a la carte" programming (see RUsirius.com story dated 23 July 2007) saying the option "will not only offer more choice but will make choice cheaper."  Mel goes on to attack terrestrial broadcasters, adding, "Have you ever heard of a product or service that hurt competition by lowering prices and increasing choice?  I don't think so.  In fact, it seems to me the N.A.B. isn't afraid the merger will foster too little competition.  It's afraid it will foster too much."   more>> (7 August 2007)

The Women's Radio Network is about to get Sirius (or at least XM).  After two years the network is being discontinued by Greenstone Media as its former director of programming Corny Koehl leaves to join Oprah's Harpo Productions, which produces Oprah Radio for XM.  "This is a longer and more expensive process than an independent programming company can shoulder in today's turbulent marketplace," said Greenstone Media CEO Susan Ness. more>> (7 August 2007)

Radio One, provider of progressive programming for XM (see RUsirius.com story dated 28 July 2007), may be changing its tune in an attempt to raise funding from the Republican National Committee.  A meeting supposedly took place just prior to the cutting of black activists Mark Thompson and Ambrose Lane from the schedule.  That such a meeting occurred is denied by the RNC's Shannon Reeves who commented "It can not happen without me knowing about it, because that's my job."  Radio One has apparently been experiencing financial difficulty.   more>> (6 August 2007)

Who has the coolest car?  That's what XM and Primedia would like to find out.  In the " Coolest Car Challenge " the satcaster and the editors of Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine are selecting the winner from a set of 64 XM-equipped vehicles.  The participants are matched in a single elimination tournament similar to ESPN's " ."  The vehicles are then selected on a one-on-one basis by the magazine editors.  Said Motor Trend editor at large Arthur St. Antoine, "Obviously, 'cool' is a subjective measure, but it is something we all recognize when we see it."  Participants who match the editors pick for pick are entered into a drawing and a chance to win $10,000 toward the purchase of the XM Coolest Car.   more>> (5 August 2007)

Get Sirius about beating the heat tonight with the satcaster's Fangoria Radio (see RUsirius.com news archive story dated 23 June 2006).  Dee Snider and Debbie Rochon are back in the studio with a show featuring horror stars Danny Trejo of Halloween fame, Rosario Dawson , director DJ Caruso and writer James Gunn.  The program spaces tonight at 10:00 PM(ET) on channel 102.   more>> (4 August 2007)

XM is doing its part to help select the next president.  The satcaster is carrying the next Democrat debate at Chicago's Soldier Field this Tuesday, 7 August.  The event at the 10-yard line is expected to be a struggle for the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, the sponsor.  The moderator is Keith Olbermann of MSNBC, which is also carrying the debate.   more>> (4 August 2007)

Loral is getting some Sirius business.  The satcaster has exercised an option under an existing purchasing agreement to acquire an additional satellite.  The construction of the new bird is expected to be completed in 2010 and launched into an inclined elliptical orbit (see How Satellite Radio Works ).  The aggregate cost is expected to be $169 million.   more>> (3 August 2007)

Bridge Ratings is saying that attrition or "churn" is increasing for both Sirius and XM.  Even though each satcaster evaluates churn differently "our interviews with current and former satellite radio subscribers coupled with gross and net subscriber figures reveal attrition is growing placing extreme pressure on new subscriber acquisition strategies for both companies," according to Bridge prez Dave Van Dyke.   more>> (3 August 2007)

Hairspray is getting Sirius.  Star Nikki Blonsky and composer Mark Shaiman are being featured in an in depth look at the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical today, 3 August at 7 PM(ET) on the satcaster's Broadway's Best (channel 77).  The spacecast repeats on 4 August at 3 PM(ET), 5 August at 12 PM(ET) and 8 August at 2 PM(ET).  It is also featured on OutQ on 5 August at 8 PM(ET).  The original Broadway play is an adaptation of the 1988 comedy by John Waters .  It's set in Waters' home city, Baltimore, in 1962 where a "pleasantly plump" Tracy Turnblad pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.  In addition to Blonsky, the latest film features John Travolta and Queen Latifah.   more>> (3 August 2007)

In addition to narrowing its quarterly net loss (see story below) Sirius has added 500,000 new subscribers.  The majority of the new subscribers are from the OEM sector with retail sales softer than anticipated.  There are now 7.1 million happy but Sirius people out there along with 8.25 million XMers.  To help boost its numbers even more, the satcaster has announced a new Stiletto and a new Sportster plug-and-play receiver.   more>> (2 August 2007)

HD Radio may get a boost from the recent acquisition by Citadel of 22 ABC Radio stations.  Eighteen of these are currently broadcasting in HD and another three are in the process of converting.  Citadel has 31 HD stations and another four under conversion.  Citadel Director of Engineering Martin Stabbert commented, "What they have for equipment appears to be working well for those stations.  As a general rule we do not like to walk in and make wholesale changes."  Citadel has made purchased more HD equipment from Harris than from any other manufacturer.   more>> (2 August 2007)

Canadians are apparently spending less time with television and radio and more time on the Internet.  "It's not as if TV is disappearing, i's just that the Internet is really consuming," noted McGill University's Adam Finkelstein.  The trend appears to apply more to terrestrial than to satellite radio.   more>> (1 August 2007)

Starbucks and the Dave Matthews Band are introducing yet another "Live Trax" feature for XM's "Starbucks XM Cafe" (XM channel 45).  The band's new "Live Trax" recording is also being made available exclusively at Starbucks' company-operated locations.   more>> (1 August 2007)

A House subcommittee has been hearing testimony from recording artists who want to be paid when their music is played on the radio.  Under the current law only songwriters and music publishers receive a royalty (see RUsirius.com story dated 6 July 2007), a policy distinctly different than that applied to the satcasters.  Sirius and XM are required to pay royalties both to songwriters and to performers.  Testimony has been provided from Judy Collins and Sam Moore on the behalf of the performers as well as from Marybeth Peters, U.S. Register of Copyrights with the U.S. Copyright office.   more>> (1 August 2007)

Sirius put up some serious numbers for the quarter.  The satcaster has announced that its quarterly net loss narrowed as the number of subscribers increased.  The net loss for the period comes in at $134.1 million compared with $237.8 million a year ago.   more>> (31 July 2007)

WorldSpace is planning again to cover the VIrgin Music Festival live from Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore on 4 and 5 August.  This year's event features the Police and the Smashing Pumpkins along with the Beastie Boys , Paolo Nutini , The Fratellis , Cheap Trick , Panic! at the Disco and Wu-Tang Clan .  "Recognized as one of the premiere events in the U.K. each year, Virgin Festival has taken off ere in The States," said Billy Sabatini, WorldSpace vice president for global programming.  "We are happy to once again provide our customers with exclusive backstage interviews and event coverage."   more>> (31 July 2007)

Happy commuters will be pleased to know that XM Real-Time NavTraffic is now available in 79 markets.  The satcaster has announced that 29 new markets would be added beginning today.  "Thousands of drivers have been relying on XM NavTraffic to route around traffic, reducing the time they spend behind the wheel.  We're pleased to expand this convenient service to an additional 29 new markets," said XM veep of Advanced Applications and Services Roderick MacKenzie. more>> (31 July 2007)

Further establishing its commitment to HD Radio, Sony (see RUsirius.com story dated 4 June 2007) is introducing the MEX-DV2000.  The multi-channel car stereo supports HD Radio as well as satellite radio and comes with a remote card.  It retails for about $280.   more>> (30 July 2007)

Arena Football fans rejoice!  Sirius is carrying six hours of live coverage from ArenaBowl XXI tomorrow from New Orleans.  The presentation includes two hours of pregame coverage in addition to the big game.  All the action starts at 12 PM(CT) on channel 123.   more>> (28 July 2007)

Al Sharpton is now XM-rated.  The Reverend Sharpton's show "Keeping it Real" is part of the Radio One package that the satcaster plans to space starting on Monday, 13 August.  Says Radio One Veep, Operations Zemira Jones of the deal, "The launch of our three Syndication One Shows on XM Channel 169 - The Power gives these programs the nationwide reach they truly deserve.  We are thrilled that we were able to partner with XM to extend these shows to new audiences all over the country.  The partnership between XM and Radio One also includes "The 2 Live Stews" and "The Warren Ballentine Show."   more>> (28 July 2007)

Although HD Radio is making a fast start in major markets the same cannot be said for the smaller ones.  The HD rollout is farthest along in the top 100 markets but sharply lower elsewhere.  A chart to be published by Radio World indicates that HD Radio is available in 36% of the top ten markets.  In markets of rank 150 or lower fewer than 4% currently offer the new format.   more>> (28 July 2007)

WorldSpace has announced that it is opening its books on Thursday, 9 August.  The international satcaster is planning to hold a conference call and webcast at 4:30 PM(ET) that day to announced its quarterly results and to discuss hose results with the public.  WorldSpace boss Noah Samara is hosting the conference call along with chief financial officer Sridhar Ganesan.  WorldSpace shareholders or those just looking for a cheap thrill can participate by calling 866-202-4683. International callers can access the conference call at 1-617-213-8846.  In either case the passcode is 32146497.   more>> (27 July 2007)

XM has put up some sirius numbers for the quarter.  During the three-month period ending 30 June the satcaster increased revenue 22 percent year over year to $277 million.  The quarter net loss narrowed to $176 million, a 23 percent improvement compared with the same period last year.  Said outgoing XM boss Hugh Panero, "During the second quarter, XM's revenue grew and losses narrowed.  XM added more automotive gross subscriber additions than during any quarter in the company's history."  In the quarter the satcaster reported gross subscriber additions of 942 thousand compared with 926 thousand a year ago.    more>> (26 July 2007)

Pana-Pacific is getting Sirius.  The North American supplier of audio and electronics equipment to the trucking industry is going to be distributing Sirius satellite radio products to truck dealerships and outlets in Canada.  Said Pana-Pacific prez John Trenberth, "With more then 90% market share to-date, Sirius has been the number one choice for satellite radio among truckers in Canada."   more>> (26 July 2007)

Chrysler is more Sirius than ever.  The automaker expects to install Sirius satrads in more than 70% of its vehicle production for 2008, an increase of 40% compared with the previous model year.  Chrysler installed Sirius in about 40 percent of its 2007 models.  In the 2008 model year Sirius satrads will be included as a standard feature on most Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models.  more>> (26 July 2007)

Aston Martin has announced that it is including Sirius satrads complete with a lifetime subscription as an option on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and DB9.  Said John Walton, Vice President & General Manager of Aston Martin North America, "A great sound system is a prerequisite in a luxury car, and over 130 channels of Sirius with a lifetime subscription round out this package.  Sirius' superior programming is sure to delight Aston Martin customers."  Both new models are available only in America.   more>> (26 July 2007)  

Looking for a parking space in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles?  Trying asking XM.  The satcaster is testing a new feature to load real-time parking data into navigation systems.  It's not quite as good as Internet-based systems like Bestparking or ParkingSearch because it