By Demian Russian
Sirius XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI) announced today the selection procedures to lease one Qualified Entity channel to be broadcast via satellite and carried online as part of its voluntary commitment made back during the merger of Sirius and XM in 2008 and and also following what the company describes as “expanded broadcast capacity.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made this set-aside available only to lessees that are not directly or indirectly owned, in whole or in part, by SiriusXM or an affiliate of SiriusXM; do not share any common officers, directors or employees with SiriusXM or any affiliate of SiriusXM; and did not have any existing relationships with SiriusXM for the supply of programming during the two years prior to October 19, 2010.
Sirius XM Radio is looking for the following in making its selection for this set-aside: Programming representing diverse viewpoints and/or diverse entertainment content; improved service to historically underserved audiences; original content of a type not otherwise available to Sirius XM Radio subscribers; and access to new sources of content and new entrants to mass media. Applications should demonstrate that the proposer has the financial, operational, and technical ability to perform its obligations under the lease. SiriusXM will select a programmer that, in its judgment, will be able to meet its obligations and deliver its proposed mix or type of programming for the duration of the lease term.
The satellite channel will be made available only on SiriusXM satellite radios designed to receive SiriusXM’s expanded channel lineup, online at SiriusXM.com, as well as via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other connected devices.
Applications are due by February 21st, 2013. SiriusXM will inform the FCC of its tentative selection on or before April 16th, 2013. SiriusXM expects to sign a lease agreement by May 31st, 2013.
At the same time, Sirius XM Radio will also select one additional channel for its public interest set-aside. This channel will also be receivable only on certain satellite radios designed to receive SiriusXM’s expanded channel lineup and online at SiriusXM.com and via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other connected devices. For updated information and procedures for submitting applications for these set-aside channels, please visit siriusxm.com/qualifiedentity.
Demian Russian is the Editor-in-Chief of Satellite Radio Playground and Market Playground.
Disclosure: Long SIRI
Contact the author: DemianRussian@SatelliteRadioPlayground.com
