Satellite Radio Playground

By Demian Russian

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI ) has made the launch of the first phase of Satellite Radio 2.0 official and announced today an expanded channel lineup of new and exclusive commercial-free music, sports, news and comedy. The new channel expansion includes the debut of a suite of new Latin channels, referred to as “SiriusXM Latino”, which the company says features “a deep variety of commercial-free music, plus programming from leading providers of Spanish-language sports, news, talk and entertainment.”

SiriusXM 2.0 is an exciting new chapter for our company and subscribers, and today is the first important upgrade: going live with new programming that reinforces our commitment to offer the best in audio entertainment,. “The new suite of channels, including the most comprehensive Latin programming lineup available in radio today, makes our combined offering of English and Spanish audio entertainment second to none. We eventually expect the exciting new features and capabilities being added to our service to offer the opportunity for lower subscriber churn and higher sales of internet radio packages. We also look forward to extending 2.0 content and features soon to our OEM car partners, bringing them and their customers the next generation of satellite radio technology.

– Mel Karmazin, Chief Executive Officer of SiriusXM

Sirius XM’s new “Xtra Channels“ are available now to Sirius XM subscribers via SiriusXM’s Internet Radio platform and through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for mobile devices, such as the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPLE) iPhone, Blackberry, and Android smartphones. The new Satellite Radio 2.0 Xtra Channels are also available via Sirius XM’s Satellite Radio platform on the first of Sirius XM’s Satellite Radio 2.0 hardware products, the SiriusXM Edge, which is the first, and as of now only, Satellite Radio capable of receiving the new “Xtra Channels”. The Edge is available for sale now at www.shop.siriusxm.com at a price point of $139.99 and Sirius XM says that the radio will subsequently be available at 2,500 retail locations nationwide in time for the holiday shopping season. Sirius XM said today that “additional programming and expanded listener capabilities will be announced in the coming months as SiriusXM builds on the promise of its new 2.0 technology.”

The launch of new programming is the first phase of SiriusXM 2.0, a major upgrade and evolution of SiriusXM’s satellite and Internet delivered service that will ultimately span hardware, software, audio, and data services. By employing highly efficient modulation and compression techniques introduced as part of 2.0 technology that effectively delivers 25% more bandwidth capacity, SiriusXM will expand its audio and data services without affecting the broadcast quality of existing channels.

– Sirius XM Radio

SiriusXM also announced  a new “All Access Annual” subscription plan, which offers all of Sirius XM’s Satellite Radio programming offerings, including premium channels, access to all online channels, and the ability to listen to all programming available through smartphones and mobile devices, for $199 a year.

The expansion of our commercial-free music offerings, the launch of SiriusXM Latino, the  near-doubling of our comedy channels, and additions to our live sports talk, deepens the channel offerings available to SiriusXM subscribers and adds to our unparalleled audio entertainment lineup.

– Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM

The new Sirius XM Satellite Radio 2.0 Xtra Channel lineup now includes:

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Radio, channel 310: SiriusXM and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will commemorate the artists who’ve been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum . The channel will feature highlights from Induction Ceremonies from the past, the Rock Hall’s famous 25th anniversary celebration from Madison Square Garden , and stories from the Museum. The channel will also contain music and stories from Rock Hall inductees The Beatles, Buddy Holly , The Temptations, The Doors, Pink Floyd, U2, Tom Petty , and more.

• SiriusXM Comes Alive!, channel 316: Hear the ultimate library of live classic rock recordings seamlessly hand crafted, song by song. Even if you weren’t there, you can experience these magical moments 24/7 on one channel. Get your lighters out and get ready to rock as SiriusXM Comes Alive!

• RockBar, channel 313: Step into your favorite rocking bar for non-stop sing-a-long anthems from artists like AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Halen, Nickelback, The Ramones, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, and more.

• Classic College Radio, channel 319: The roots of Indie Rock started on college campuses across North America . SiriusXM brings the spirit and the passion of those early days of indie rock to this channel with the music of Sonic Youth, The Replacements, The Pixies, R.E.M., Bjork, Guided by Voices, among others.

• Red White & Booze, channel 350: The music of Country-themed bars and honky tonks across America, featuring a mix of country and rock songs from artists like Toby Keith , Kenny Chesney , Zac Brown Band , Jason Aldean , Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and more.

• Party Mega Mix , channel 300: The party never ends with SiriusXM’s Party Mega Mix. An upbeat party soundtrack from artists like The Black Eyed Peas, B-52′s, Katy Perry , Run DMC, Usher, and more.

• Krishna Das Yoga Radio, channel 360: Coming soon. Created in partnership with yoga musician Krishna Das , who the New York Times called the “Chant Master of American Yoga,” the channel features music from Krishna Das and many different artists from the world of yoga and meditation. Listeners will be transported to a deeper place where they can quiet the mind and open the heart.

• Carlin’s Corner, channel 400: Produced with George Carlin ’s daughter, Kelly Carlin , and his best friend and business partner, Jerry Hamza , SiriusXM honors the man who made the “seven deadly words” famous with his own channel, featuring the albums, concerts and private archives of the one and only George Carlin .

• UCB Radio, channel 406:  Produced with the irreverent and already legendary Upright Citizens Brigade , SiriusXM gives a voice to the underground sketch, improv and stand-up comedy that is breaking new styles of comedy and launching new star comedians.

• Dirty Dog, channel 403:  Pushing the boundaries of rude and raucous comedy farther than ever before, including favorite comics at their edgiest, such as Sam Kinison , Jim Norton , Doug Stanhope , Artie Lange , Lisa Lampanelli, Sarah Silverman and more.

• ESPN SportsCenter, channel 370: The only radio channel offering 24-hour access to the best in sports news and highlights shows, including SportsCenter, ESPNews and more.

• Caliente, channel 150: A red-hot mix of the biggest hits of tropical, salsa, merengue and Reggaeton, playing, among others, Marc Anthony , Juanes, Juan Luis Guerra , Aventura, Shakira, Gilberto Santa Rosa , Daddy Yankee, Paulina Rubio , Victor Manuelle , and Luis Miguel.

• Viva, channel 500: The brightest Latin stars in contemporary pop, alternative and ballads, playing Enrique Iglesias , Shakira, Mana, Camila, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Julieta Venegas , Belanova, La Quinta Estacion and more.

• La Mezcla, channel 503: Top hits in Spanish and English, playing Lady Gaga, Paulina Rubio , Ke$ha, Shakira, Britney Spears , Pitbull, Katy Perry ,Enrique Iglesias , Ricky Martin , and more.

• Flow Nacion, channel 506: The hottest sounds in Latin hip-hop and Reggaeton, featuring Pitbull, Wisin & Yandel, Lil Rob , Daddy Yankee, Baby Bash , Nina Sky , Don Omar , and Kat Deluna.

• Aguila, channel 510: The sound of Norteno bands, Ranchera, Duranguense and the sounds of traditional Mexican music, including among othersLarry Hernandez , Ana Gabriel , Los Tigres Del Norte, La Adictiva Banda San Jose, El Trono de Mexico , Banda Machos, Vicente Fernandez , and Jenni Rivera.

• Latidos, channel 520: Romantic Latin love songs from the ’90s to today, with such artists as Alejandro Sanz , Chayanne, Camila, Gloria Estefan ,Cristan Castro , Luis Miguel, Franco de Vita , and Laura Pausini.

• Caricia, channel 523: The classics from unforgettable artists in Spanish and English, showcasing Miguel Bose , Juan Gabriel, Bee Gees, Roberto Carlos, Camilo Sesto , Journey, Julio Iglesias, and Pimpinela.

• Luna, channel 530: Latin percussion and Afro-Cuban rhythms blended with Jazz for a fun-filled musical journey, with selections from Tito Puente ,Eddie Palmieri , Cal Tjader , Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdes, Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria, and more.

• Rumbon, channel 533: Classic salsa from the legendary artists and bands from yesterday, playing, among others, Fania All Stars, Celia Cruz ,Hector Lavoe , Willie Colon , Ruben Blades , Cheo Feliciano , Johnny Pacheco , and Roberto Roena.

• La Kueva, channel 540: Latin rock classics and today’s upcoming artists, including  Mana, Fabulosos Cadillacs, Soda Estereo, Molotov, Juanes, Puya, Rata Blanca, and more.

The expanded Latin channel lineup also adds RadioFormula Mexico, channel 560, 24/7 news and talk from the leading radio broadcaster from Mexico .  It joins on the SiriusXM lineup CNN’s 24-hour Spanish-language news network, CNN en Espanol on channel 148.

Subscribers will also get sexy, smart, refined and exclusive adult programming showcasing Latin talent on Playboy Radio en Espanol, channel 569.

Also, launching in the coming months, iconic talk show host Cristina Saralegui ’s Cristina Radio, produced by National Latino Broadcasting, will feature lifestyle, health and family programming for Latinas.

With SiriusXM Latino, we look forward to attracting subscribers from the U.S.’s fastest growing population segment, offering the widest variety of Latin programming on broadcast radio today to the bilingual and bicultural audience everywhere in the country. Our new Latin lineup includes programming from top broadcasters and commercial-free music, including various music genres finally available nationwide, all as part of the SiriusXM subscription.

– Mauro Panzera, Vice President, Hispanic Marketing

In addition, Sirius XM Radio will provide expanded Spanish-language sports coverage, featuring play-by-play from NFL teams. Play-by-play will be available on multiple Deportes en Vivo channels (XM channels 550-556), which will also carry sports play-by-play from major college programs such as Army, University of Texas, Oregon State University and University of Nevada, among others, as well as an expanded lineup of MLB games. Deportes en Vivo channels will supplement existing Sirius XM Spanish-language sports programming on ESPN Deportes Radio (channel 149), which features sports talk and soccer matches from Spain ’s La Liga—including FC Barcelona and Real Madrid—the Mexican Primera Division, CONCACAF, Major League Soccer and more. MLB en Espanol (XM channel 175) will continue to feature Spanish-language broadcasts of MLB games throughout the season. Not all Sirius XM sports programming will be available online.

For more information on Sirius XM’s new Xtra channel lineup in English and Spanish, visit www.siriusxm.com/newchannels and www.siriusxm.com/latino.

Disclosure: Long SIRI
Contact the author: DemianRussian@SatelliteRadioPlayground.com