XM Expands to more then 170 Channels!

[Scott Greczkowski]

XM Satellite Radio Expands Channel Lineup to Include More than 170 Channels, Offering the Most Choice and the Most Channels In Satellite Radio

XM Adds 10 New Commercial-Free Music Channels and Seven Regional News and Talk Channels

Oprah & Friends channel debuts on XM in September;
Bob Dylan's Exclusive XM Show Launches in May

WASHINGTON, March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite Radio
(Nasdaq: XMSR), the nation's leading satellite radio company with more than 6 million subscribers, today unveiled its new channel lineup that will expand the total number of XM channels to more than 170 with the addition of 10 new commercial-free music channels and seven regional news and talk channels coming this spring and summer.

"Our programming lineup demonstrates the depth and breadth of XM's industry-leading content portfolio," said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming for XM Satellite Radio. "We continue to expand programming with our first-ever regional news and talk channels, innovative music formats, plus 10 new music channels that demonstrate XM's firm commitment to providing the most choice and most channels in satellite radio."

XM HAS THE MOST COMMERCIAL-FREE MUSIC CHANNELS

Overall, XM's new channel line-up has 69 commercial-free music channels, the most commercial-free music channels in satellite radio. XM added two new commercial-free music channels on March 1: Big Tracks (XM Channel 49), focusing on classic rock from the late 70's onward, and XM Chill (XM Channel 84), devoted to Chill music. During April and May, XM will bring the total number of new commercial-free music channels to 10. These new channels include the return of the heavy metal channel XM Liquid Metal by popular demand. The new commercial-free music channels on XM are:

-- Big Tracks (XM Channel 49): Classic Rock from the late 70's onward

-- XM Chill (XM Channel 84): Chill Music

-- U.S. Country (XM Channel 17): Country Superstars of the 80s & 90s

-- Flight 26 (XM Channel 26): Modern Hits of the 90's & Now

-- XM Hitlist (XM Channel 30): Today's Hit Music

-- enLighten (XM Channel 34): Southern Gospel

-- XM Liquid Metal (XM Channel 42): Heavy Metal

-- The Heat (XM Channel 68): Rhythmic Top 40

-- Escape (XM Channel 78): Easy Listening

-- Viva (XM Channel 91): Latin Pop Hits

NEW REGIONAL NEWS, TALK AND MUSIC CHANNEL CATEGORY

XM will introduce six new regional news and talk channels that will, for the first time, bring XM subscribers regional news coverage for every area of the continental U.S. These channels will be added to the line-up during the late spring/early summer period. Details about the new channels will be announced prior to launch. They will complement the recent addition of Cincinnati's tri-state news radio station WLW (XM Channel 160).

All seven regional news and talk channels provided by Clear Channel Communications will comprise a new category on the channel guide called "Regional News, Talk & Music Channels."

This new category will also include Clear Channel-programmed music channels KISS, MIX, Nashville, and Sunny, plus the launch of WSIX, with acclaimed country personality Gerry House live from Nashville. As previously announced, Clear Channel will start carrying commercials on these music channels in May, so they are grouped separately from XM's lineup of 69 commercial-free music channels on the new channel guide.

"OPRAH & FRIENDS" ON XM STARTING IN SEPTEMBER ON CHANNEL 156

The recently-announced Oprah & Friends channel will debut on XM channel 156, beginning in September 2006. The channel will feature a weekly reality radio show with Oprah Winfrey and the editor-at-large of O, The Oprah Magazine, Gayle King, as well as programs hosted by Oprah's friends, all experts who appear regularly on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," including exercise physiologist Bob Greene, author Marianne Williamson, psychologist Dr. Robin Smith, heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, and interior design expert Nate Berkus.

BOB DYLAN'S XM SHOW DEBUTS IN MAY ON "DEEP TRACKS"

Bob Dylan will host a weekly, hour-long music show exclusively on XM beginning in May on XM's deep album rock channel Deep Tracks (XM Channel 40). The program marks the first time the music legend has ever hosted a radio show. The show features an eclectic mix of music hand-selected by Dylan. He will offer regular commentary on music and other topics, and interview special guests, including fellow musicians.

MORE SPORTS ON XM

Major League Baseball is back in full swing on XM, the official satellite radio network of MLB. Baseball fans can hear games for every team, all season long on XM, from Opening Day on April 2 to the World Series this fall on XM channels 176 - 189. XM is also home to MLB Home Plate (XM Channel 175), the only national, 24-hour talk radio channel devoted to baseball.

XM's sports lineup also includes a newly launched channel dedicated to FIFA World Cup Soccer (XM Channel 148) featuring play-by-play coverage and original specials in English. Spanish-language coverage of FIFA World Cup Soccer will be available on XM Deportivo (XM Channel 147).

XM recently premiered a sports talk show co-hosted by political guru James Carville and Luke Russert, son of newsman Tim Russert. The hour-long Carville/Russert sports show "60/20" airs weekly on XM Live (XM Channel 200), Fridays at 8:00 am ET with encores at 9:00 am and 10:00 am and Saturdays at 9:00 am, 10:00 am and 11:00 am (all times ET).

Subscribers can block any channel by calling XM Listener Care at 1-800-XM-RADIO. Channels that may include frequent explicit language are indicated with an XL on the channel lineup. Complete information about XM's new programming lineup, including channel guides, is available online at http://www.xmradio.com/newlineup.


About XM Satellite Radio

XM (Nasdaq: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music, premier sports, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Suzuki, Subaru, and Volkswagen/Audi, is available in more than 130 different vehicle models for 2006. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-3-06. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.



SOURCE XM Satellite Radio, Inc.

 

[fayrich]

Very happy to see that the new channel list includes a commercial free "easy listening" channel. Hope it will be as good as "Sunny" has been. Thanks XM.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

More details...

http://www.xmradio.com/lineup/

 

[fayrich]

Looks good to me. One happy camper here.

 

[Juan]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no special x

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

yeah I know, it pisses me off to see XM Hits taking Special X's Channel old Channel which was channel 30.

 

[H2OSkier]

So how much quality are these new channels going to cost us ?

Ken

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

They are included with your XM subscription.

 

[Bluebull32]

So how much quality are these new channels going to cost us ?

Ken

That's a good question. Is XM going to increase bandwidth to accomodate the new channels? Or are they just going to use less bandwidth per channel (less quality). Either way im stoked about the new content, as I probably would never notice any quality change. E-Lo is da man!

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

As far as I know they have already made the bandwidth and codec changes needed for the new channels.

 

[mecro]

good move XM

I applaud XM Radio in its choice to create a new "Top Hits" channel to supplement the the commmercialized Kiss XM 21, and the new "Flight 26" to supplement the commercialized Mix XM 22. They can't get rid of Clear Channel, but they can sure make their best efforts to. They will now promote their top hits network and their 90's and now network. They've also decided to list Clear Channel's networks under a completely different heading, not advertising them as part of their regular lineup now.

After the annoucement that XM Radio had no control over the commercials on its Clear Channel fed networks, it eliminated XM Radio as a choice for satellite radio programming for me. However, with these recent changes for the better, they regain their excellence in the market. Way to go XM!

Regarding the quality concerns...I think they ought to snub the Clear Channel stations by restricting their bandwidth down to quality so low nobody will listen to it. Fixes that problem.

 

[Juan]

Im not sure its such a good move. Do we really need 4 "clone" channels of existing channels?

 

[minorthr]

As far as I know they have already made the bandwidth and codec changes needed for the new channels.

Scott's got it right the bandwidth has already been cleared with new codecs so it will sound like it does now. I like how the moved the commercial music channels to there own place in the category guide. The should have changed the channel numbers as well to separate them further.

 

[mikew]

I like the regionalized talk station idea. I listen to KGO San Francisco, KFI Los Angeles and KSTE Sacramento for the best of talk shows. All of them are Clear Channel stations that broadcast on the web.

In the morning, it's Armstrong and Getty from Sacramento
Afternoons is John and Ken from Los Angeles
Evenings are Bernie Ward and Ray Taliafuro from San Francsico

The syndicated hosts don't hold a candle to any of these guys and, locally, there is absolutely nothing. I'd love to hear these stations on XM...time will tell.

 

[animalhouse]

WOW!!! Sure am glad that I have XM in my car.

 

[mwgiii]

List of channels being removed from the Satellite but available online.

31 - The Torch
51 - Music Lab
61 - The Flow
95 - Luna

 

[Bluebull32]

Im not sure its such a good move. Do we really need 4 "clone" channels of existing channels?

Yes! Only now can nobody complain about the commericals on the cc stations, because there are nearly identical stations without commercials. Nobody will listen to the CC stations anymore, and therefore, they wont be able to sell airtime to anyone. How are the same people complaining about commercials on XM the same people complaining that we get the stations w/o commercials?

 

[BobMurdoch]

They basically complied with the court mandate while simultaneously marginalizing them by offering similar commercial free channels.

They take away Sirius's ability to capitalize on the change, while laying the blame at Clear Channel's feet if there is any negative blowback. Pretty shrewd moves actually.

I use the add/skip channels menu option on my SkyFi2 to ignore channels of no interest to me and use the up/down button (the buttons that control the volume on the boom box when it is housed there), to scroll the channels one at a time in my car, while skipping channels of no interest. More channels just increases the chances of me finding a song I like when i am surfing through...

 

[mattb]

I am sad to see "The Torch" Christian Rock, go away to being only online.

Seems like XM has limited bandwidth and ditches one thing to put something else there. Does satellite radio really need all those channels of clear channel talk? same stuff you already get on AM/FM? I thought Satellite Radio was to be different, I dont think its worth paying to get what you already can on a majority of AM and FM radio stations. At least that's my two cents.

 

[Chris Freeland]

I am so happy XM is bringing the Southern Gospel channel to their satellite service, I am surprised they are making the Christian Rock channel Internet only, but I never liked Christian Rock anyway and love Southern Gospel, so for me this was a good trade. I also like the idea of regional talk channels.