XM Signs the NHL

[Scott Greczkowski]

XM Satellite Radio and National Hockey League
Announce Long-Term Agreement

XM to Begin Broadcasting NHL Games in October 2005

NHL Chooses XM as Its Exclusive Satellite Radio Network Starting in 2007

NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite
Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR), the nation's leading satellite radio service with more
than 4.4 million subscribers, and the National Hockey League (NHL) today
announced a 10-year, $100-million agreement that makes XM the exclusive
satellite radio network of the NHL beginning with the 2007-2008 season.


XM will begin broadcasting NHL games with the launch of the new 2005-2006
season and will become the League's exclusive satellite radio broadcast
partner in 2007.

In addition to providing live play-by-play coverage of more than 1,000
games per season, XM will create a dedicated NHL radio channel featuring
original programming that will focus on all aspects of the sport. NHL games
and the NHL channel will be available in Canada through XM's partner, Canadian
Satellite Radio (CSR), which is funding a portion of the agreement. CSR has
been awarded a license to distribute satellite radio in Canada, as recently
approved by the Federal Cabinet.

"We are thrilled about the National Hockey League's decision to partner
with XM Satellite Radio," said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite
Radio. "The clear winners of this partnership are the millions of hockey fans
here in the U.S. and in Canada who are incredibly passionate about their
favorite NHL team, and will now be able to follow them regardless of where
they call home."

"We're delighted to have XM as our newest satellite radio partner," said
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "At this exciting time in the League's
history, a new partnership with XM allows us to offer hockey fans
unprecedented NHL coverage on the nation's largest satellite radio service."

XM's comprehensive coverage of the NHL will include games from every team,
as well as the NHL All-Star Game, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Stanley Cup
Final. XM will start its NHL schedule with sweeping coverage of Opening Night
on October 5, 2005.

Panero continued, "XM and its Canadian partner CSR are excited to
participate in the resurgence of this great sport."

About XM Satellite Radio:
XM is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 4.4
million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC,
New York City and Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame, XM's 2005
lineup includes more than 150 digital channels of choice from coast to coast:
the most commercial-free music channels, plus premier sports, talk, comedy,
children's and entertainment programming; and 21 channels of the most advanced
traffic and weather information. XM was named Best Radio Service at the 2004
Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for
the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota,
Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen/Audi, is available in more than 120 different
vehicle models for 2005. 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 .

About the NHL:
The National Hockey League, founded November 22, 1917, is the second
oldest of the four major team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL
consists of 30 Member Clubs based in the United States and Canada,
entertaining more than 100 million fans each season through attendance and
broadcasting, including a Sirius satellite radio broadcast partnership that
runs through the 2006-07 season. Research indicates that NHL fans are some of
the most tech savvy, educated and affluent in professional sports. The NHL
has one of the most diverse player demographics with more than 33 percent of
NHL players hailing from outside North America from 22 different countries.
Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money
and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer, Hockey's All-Star Kids and NHL
Diversity, and supports the charitable efforts of all NHL players. NHL and
Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. For more
information on the NHL, fans may log on to NHL.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 8-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on 8-5-05. Copies of the filing are
available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.

SOURCE XM Satellite Radio; National Hockey League
-0- 09/12/2005
/CONTACT: Nathaniel Brown, +1-917-913-4394, or Chance Patterson,
+1-202-380-4318, both of XM Satellite Radio; Susan Arons, +1-212-843-8033, or
Amy Glickman, +1-212-843-8063, both of Rubenstein Communications, for XM
Satellite Radio; or Jamey Horan of the NHL, +1-212-789-2785/
/First Call Analyst: /
/FCMN Contact: david.butler@xmradio.com /
/Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000724/XMSATLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com/
/Web site: http://www.xmradio.com
http://www.nhl.com /
(XMSR)

 

[Juan]

I guess they really really want to get into canada

 

[minorthr]

$10 million a year isn't that bad, not really a big hockey fan so it doesn't thrill me but I guess they got it fairly cheap.

 

[Mr Tony]

I guess they really really want to get into canada

With CSR (XM Canada) approved, they already are

 

[Diamond Jim]

This SUCKS, one of the reasons I got Sirius was because they had the NHL games, geeeeeeeez!!!

 

[Sirius_Rich]

If I didn't know better, I would say Mel and Hugh are gambling over a golf game. Hugh lost NASCAR and Mel lost the NHL. I hope they stop playing golf.

Maybe in two years we will have a decent interoperable radio to sub to both services and get EVERYTHING.

 

[Juan]

With CSR (XM Canada) approved, they already are

noooo if you read some of the XM sites..that approval will probably be overturned

 

[*mad_professor*]

Looks like Sat Radio in Canada is a done deal.


Canada gives green light to satellite radio

September 09, 2005 18:10:46 (ET)




VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Canadian cabinet has upheld a decision by the federal broadcast regulator to grant two licenses for the launch of satellite radio services in Canada, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission had approved applications on June 16 from Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio. The two groups have partnered with the two biggest U.S. satellite-radio companies to launch subscription-based digital radio services in Canada.

But while waiting for the cabinet to make a decision, a fierce debate erupted among musicians and in the media about how much Canadian content the services should carry.

An appeal spearheaded by broadcasters CHUM Ltd. ((CHM.TO)) ((CHMnvb.TO)) and Astral Media Inc. ((ACMnva.TO)) ((ACMsvb.TO)) was made to cabinet to turn down the regulator's decision.

However, cabinet upheld the CRTC's ruling, the source and the two broadcast groups said on Friday.

The regulator will now hold hearings to get public input on the new licenses.

The CRTC has said at least 10 percent of the channels offered must be produced in Canada. At least 85 percent of the music and programming on those channels must be Canadian and at least 25 percent of the Canadian channels must be French-language.

"Having listened and responded to the concerns expressed over the recent weeks, we are confident that we will be bringing a stronger product to market, a product that meets the unique needs of Canadian listeners, and artists," Kevin Shea, president and chief executive of Sirius Canada said on Friday.

New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI,Trade), the No. 2 U.S. player, has teamed up with closely held Standard Broadcasting Inc. and the publicly owned Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to launch Sirius Canada.

The other licensee, Canadian Satellite Radio, is owned by John Bitove, former co-owner of the Toronto Raptors basketball team. CSR has partnered with Washington-based XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR,Trade), the No. 1 U.S. subscription-based satellite radio. [font=ARIAL,HELVETICA]© Copyright 2001 - 2005 Reuters. Click Here for Limitations and Restrictions on Use. [/font]

 

[Digital Dude]

This SUCKS, one of the reasons I got Sirius was because they had the NHL games, geeeeeeeez!!!

My sentiments exactly.

 

[bigpro]

This SUCKS, one of the reasons I got Sirius was because they had the NHL games, geeeeeeeez!!!

But when you read it, XM exclusivity doesn't start until 2007. Does that mean BOTH XM and Sirius will be carrying NHL for 05 and 06?

 

[Juan]

HMMMM who's got the CFL deal?

 

[minorthr]

But when you read it, XM exclusivity doesn't start until 2007. Does that mean BOTH XM and Sirius will be carrying NHL for 05 and 06?

Yup.

 

[Irish_Flyers]

I heard that Mark Messier's name has been tossed around to be one of the hosts on the NHL Radio channel. Would be nice to have him on there like with DIbble & Kennedy on The Show on the MLB channel.

How long does NFL have a contract with Sirius.?.? Sirius took Nascar, XM takes NHL.....Could NFL be next.?.?.

 

[Purogamer]

NFL goes where the money is, period...So if XM wants it, they can throw the money at it and get it i'm sure...

Nascar fans do like it on the radio, which I don't get. I've never even heard a hockey game on radio, is it worth it? What's hockey if you're not watching the physicality?

Baseball is still the top draw on XM.

 

[Irish_Flyers]

NFL goes where the money is, period...So if XM wants it, they can throw the money at it and get it i'm sure...

Nascar fans do like it on the radio, which I don't get. I've never even heard a hockey game on radio, is it worth it? What's hockey if you're not watching the physicality?

Baseball is still the top draw on XM.

I agree most sports don't translate too well over the radio. But baseball for some reason is the exception.

As far as NHL goes, I would only have an interest in listening to the Flyers on the radio (If I wasn't wasn't watching them, and had to be driving around). But I can already get them on an AM channel so that's not a huge draw for me. What I DO like is the NHL channel (like NFL Radio) that they'll have. that has me excited.

At first when NFL signed with Sirius I was bummed, but much like I said with NHL, who wants to listen to football, right.?. We're all at home watching it. Which is why I think it was a little silly for Sirius to throw a ton of money at the NFL. Most people sit at home & watch NFL games, right.?. The dynamic of the sport where all games are played on the same day of the week, and the fact that it's a weekend, and fall/winter time, you have a HUGE viewing audience. Many people have NFL Ticket too. So what's the market for those who listen to the games.?.? Outside of the truckers, I'm not sure how big the demand is for the ability to listen to all NFL games.
But baseball, for some reason, just sells well to the diehard fans. They seem to like to listen to any game. Plus I think the game translates better on the radio than any of the other sports. And the fact that games are pn pretty much everyday, all different times of day, is what sells that on the radio.

So I agree with you, I think signing of MLB was a much bigger coup than any of the other sports (possibly even bigger than all of them combined).

 

[Purogamer]

MLB has good radio announcers in almost every city. The old codgers wouldn't stand for bad ones on their radio...

I watch NFL but it's muted while the radio broadcast is on. It's leaps and bounds better than TV guys who do a different team every week. But that's here in cleveland, we've got a good team in the booth. When you watch "Inside the NFL" or any NFL Films based show, you hear how god-awful some of the radio broadcast teams are around the league and I can understand why people don't listen. But go to a browns game and you'll see lots of people with headphones on. NFL and MLB on radio are great.