XM Satellite Secondary Puts Us on Watch (TheStreet.com, 1.14.04) Investment article discusses XM Satellite Radio's public offering of 18 million common shares. 30 day free trial registration is available to view this article. (Read more)

XM Satellite sets 18 million share offering (Reuters, 1.13.04) News article notes that satellite radio provider XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. on Tuesday announced the beginning of a public offering of 18 million common shares. The offering includes the sale of 11 million shares by certain shareholders and a offer of 7 million new shares by the company. (Read more)

Sirius sees no need for FCC okay on video service (Reuters, 1.13.04) News article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. believes that it does not need permission from federal regulators to add video programming to its product line next year, a company spokesman said on Tuesday. After Sirius announced last week that it plans to offer video programming, the Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it had initiated talks to learn more and determine if the licenses assigned to the company permitted such service or if the FCC needed to authorize it. "Our licenses from the FCC permits us to offer satellite radio and other ancillary services over the radio spectrum that has been licensed to us," said Sirius spokesman Jim Collins. "Our offering of the video will be ancillary to our satellite radio service and doesn't require any other licenses, approval or other actions by the FCC," he said. The company has said it plans to offer three to four channels of nationwide video programming in vehicles, which increasingly are being outfitted with video screens as a way to entertain passengers on long trips. (Read more)

Sirius' hopes on video may detour through U.S. FCC (Reuters, 1.12.04) News article notes Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s plan to add video to its service in American vehicles may have to take a detour past regulators at the Federal Communications Commission before getting out on the open road. The FCC has asked the company for more details about proposals to pipe a handful of nationwide video channels to those cars that have television screens by mid-2005, an agency spokesman said on Monday. "The FCC has initiated discussions about whether Sirius' planned video programming is permitted under our current rules and their current authorization or whether it would require a formal request from Sirius and a regulatory decision from the commission," said FCC spokesman David Fiske. (Read more)

Gap between Sirius,XM shares should close-Barron's (Reuters, 1.11.04) News article notes that a large gap in the valuations of rival satellite broadcasters XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio should start to close, as demand for satellite radio service soars, said Barron's in its Jan. 12 issue. Both broadcasters -- which beam music, talk and sports programming via satellite -- sell receivers to consumers who then must activate the service. XM Radio costs $9.95 a month, while Sirius costs $12.95 a month. XM has a valuation of $7 billion, which works out to about $5,100 per subscriber, according to the newspaper. Given its price of $9.95 a month, or roughly $120 a year in revenue per subscriber, XM's current valuation is equal to about 48 years worth of service, Barron's said. (Read more)

Lynyrd Skynyrd and SIRIUS Bring Consumer Electronics Show to a Halt With Live Concert (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.09.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio today brought the Consumer Electronics Show to a halt with a live performance by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The concert, broadcast live in surround sound on SIRIUS, was attended by huge numbers of convention attendees and packed the aisles and neighboring booths. The exclusive SIRIUS concert was threatened with shut down by convention authorities, and was cited for noise violations and overcrowding. SIRIUS has been the entertainment hub during the four day show. Live, exclusive performances from LeAnn Rimes, 3 Doors Down, Buddy Guy, Buddy Jewell, Trace Adkins Jonny Lang, Ricky Skaggs, have rocked CES. The Bangles, Ziggy Marley, Joe Jackson and Ray Herndon are scheduled to appear at the SIRIUS booth on Saturday. (Read more)

XM Radio plans controversial traffic service (Reuters, 1.08.04) News article notes XM Satellite Radio said on Thursday it will launch an instant traffic and weather service on March 1, prompting established U.S. radio broadcasters to denounce the move as a "back-door attempt" to skirt regulations. On its Web site, XM said its new service would offer subscribers in-depth, up-to-date information about road and weather conditions in 21 major metropolitan markets plus several interstate corridors nationwide. XM said its service would provide greater detail and more frequent updates than available elsewhere on the radio. In a statement on the National Association of Broadcasters' Web site, Edward Fritts, the trade group's chief executive officer and president, said the association questioned the legality of the program. (Read more)

SIRIUS Adds ECLIPSE to Its Premier Retail Brands (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio announced a partnership with ECLIPSE by FUJITSU TEN, the premier independent retail specialist brand. ECLIPSE in-dash headunits will be SIRIUS compatible in 2004, and the company will also manufacture a SIRIUS receiver that will combine with these units to offer consumers SIRIUS' combination of 100% commercial-free music, news, sports and original programming. (Read more)

SIRIUS Teams With Tivoli Audio to Develop Home-Based Satellite Radios (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio announced a partnership with Tivoli Audio to manufacture and market specialty SIRIUS satellite radios for the home market. SIRIUS and Tivoli Audio have joined forces to bring to market elegantly simple, yet technologically sophisticated, satellite radios for home use, based on the popular, award-winning Model One, Two and Three Radios, designed by Audio Hall of Fame member Henry Kloss. (Read more)

SIRIUS and Niles Partner to Offer Home-Based Satellite Radio Products for the Custom Installer (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio and Niles Audio Corporation, a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of audio/video custom installation products, today announced a partnership to manufacture and market custom installation products that will include SIRIUS tuners. Niles plans to begin incorporating SIRIUS technology into both its next generation of keypad-controlled multi-zone receivers and preamplifiers. New Niles models with satellite radio tuner capabilities are scheduled to become available as early as the second quarter of 2004. (Read more)

SIRIUS and Crestron Team to Offer Sirius-Ready Home Audio Products (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio and Crestron, a worldwide leading manufacturer of advanced control technology, today announced a partnership to incorporate SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities into home-based audio products manufactured by Crestron. Crestron will bring SIRIUS' nationwide service of commercial-free music and premium sports and entertainment programming, including live play-by-play of the NFL, NBA and NHL, to the growing number of customized homes being built in the United States. The products will be marketed by Crestron, with a focus on the customized installer market. (Read more)

Keep on Truckin' to Tunes Anytime, Anywhere with the SIRIUS Satellite Radio Boombox from Pana-Pacific (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio and Pana-Pacific, a division of the The Brix Group, today announced that a boombox for the popular SIRIUS STREAMER from Pana-Pacific will be available this month at commercial truck dealers and truck stops across the country. The portable boombox is designed to operate with the STREAMER, the transportable SIRIUS receiver from Pana-Pacific, which connects with any existing in-dash radio or home stereo. Truckers can now take SIRIUS' 60 commercial-free music streams and more than 40 streams of news, entertainment and sports, including NFL, NBA and NHL play-by-pay, everywhere they go. (Read more)

SIRIUS and Blaupunkt to Provide Consumers With More Choices for Satellite Radio Hardware (Sirius Satellite Radio, 1.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio and Blaupunkt announced that consumers will be able to purchase SIRIUS Plug & Play receivers and SIRIUS-ready satellite radios, the first-ever produced by Blaupunkt, at retail in the spring of 2004. At CES, Blaupunkt will preview two products designed to add SIRIUS Satellite Radio reception capabilities to the company's in-car audio/video entertainment systems and conventional in-dash car stereo receivers. The first is a SIRIUS tuner module with a dedicated connection to Blaupunkt's top-of-the-line audio/video entertainment system, and a separate composite video connection for use with any Blaupunkt in-car audio/video system. The second device is a portable Plug & Play SIRIUS receiver that provides satellite radio reception capability with a wireless interface that can be moved from home to car and back. (Read more)

Sirius to beam video to cars by mid-2005 (Reuters, 1.07.04) News article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said it expects to deliver up to four channels of video programming to TV screen equipped cars by mid-2005. Sirius said it expects to deliver 3-to-4 channels of video, and will likely focus on children's content, such as cartoons. The company, which charges about $10 a month for its music and talk radio service, said the shows may aggregate video from several providers, and added that it had not determined how much it would charge in addition for video. (Read more)

XM says surpassed 1.36 million subscribers in 2003 (Reuters, 1.07.04) News article notes that XM Satellite Radio said on Wednesday it surpassed 1.36 million subscribers in 2003 after adding 430,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter alone. Earlier in the day, rival Sirius Satellite Radio reported it reached 260,000 subscribers by year-end, with more than 100,000 additions in the fourth quarter. XM Radio launched its service almost a year ahead of Sirius. Both satellite broadcasters were bouyed by brisk activations of service after a strong Christmas selling season. XM Radio said it had 23,000 service activations on Christmas Day alone. (Read more)

XM Exceeds 1,360,000 Subscribers At Year-End 2003 (Dow Jones Business News, 1.07.04) News article notes that XM Satellite Radio reported about 1.4 million subscribers for its satellite radio service at the end of 2003, up about 1 million from a year-ago tally of 360,000 subscribers. XM, a radio broadcasting company, said it enrolled about 430,000 subscribers during the fourth quarter. In a press release Wednesday, XM said more than 23,000 people signed up for its service on Christmas Day -- a single-day enrollment record for the company. By the end of 2004, the Washington, D.C.-based company expects to increase its customer base by 1.4 million to 2.8 million subscribers. (Read more)

XM Exceeds 1,360,000 Subscribers at Year-End 2003 (XM Satellite Radio, 1.07.03) Press release notes that announced XM Satellite Radio signed up more than 1,360,000 subscribers, representing 1 million net additional subscribers in the year 2003, extending its market dominance in satellite radio. "XM delivered an outstanding performance in 2003 with more than 1 million new customers choosing our service this year for a total of more than 1.36 million subscribers overall," said Hugh Panero, XM President and CEO. "During the fourth quarter of 2003, XM added more than 430,000 customers - our best quarter ever. Equally exciting is the more than 23,000 subscribers who signed up on Christmas Day, the biggest single day in the history of the company. By the end of 2004 we expect to have 2.8 million subscribers, reflecting an increase of more than 1.4 million subscribers during 2004." (Read more)

Sirius Subscribers: Had 30,000 Subscriptions At '02 End (Dow Jones Business News, 1.07.04) News article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. ended 2003 with 261, 061 subscribers, more than eight times the roughly 30,000 subscribers it had at the end of 2002. The satellite radio broadcaster said in a press release Wednesday a surge in retail holiday sales led to more than 100,000 subscriber additions in the fourth quarter alone. Sirius announced in early December it had surpassed 200,000 subscribers to its network, which provides commercial-free streams of music, news and sports. (Read more)

JetBlue adds XM radio, Fox TV to in-flight service (Reuters, 1.07.04) News article notes that low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways Corp. (NasdaqNM:JBLU - News) said on Wednesday it will add XM satellite radio, Fox TV programs such as "The Simpsons" and pay movies to its in-flight entertainment. The move comes as Delta Air Lines' rival lower-cost unit Song outlined plans in November to roll out live television -- which JetBlue already has -- as well as interactive video games and music programming in its airplanes. (Read more)

Delphi Introduces Industry's First All-In-One Satellite Audio System (Delphi, 1.07.03) Press release notes that Delphi has introduced the Delphi CD Audio System, the industry's first "all-in-one" audio package that allows listeners to experience the benefits of the Delphi XM SKYFi satellite radio, AM/FM radio stations and CD/MP3 player capabilities. The Delphi CD Audio System will be available for $199 (MSRP) at consumer electronics retailers later this month. (Read more)

Delirious for Sirius (The Motley Fool, 1.05.03) Investment article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio has jumped nearly 60% with the turn of the New Year. Sure, Sirius recently inked some good-looking deals with pro sports, and they hit the 200,000-subscriber mark in early December. But take a peek beneath the hood and you'll find a company that is still losing $100 million per quarter and trading at an absurd-looking premium. (Read more)

Sirius shares surge on subscriber predictions (Reuters, 12.31.03) News article notes that shares in Sirius Satellite Radio rose sharply on Wednesday, the third day of gains for the satellite broadcaster's stock amid strong predictions of subscriber growth. Analysts said no new data supported the latest stock increases, but recent news articles touting satellite radio have raised public awareness and analysts predict both companies will report strong subscriber numbers at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. "A lot of people thought this would be a niche market and that XM Radio would be the only player. Now we're seeing there's a market here big enough for two players," said Kit Spring, an analyst at investment bank Stifel Nicolaus & Co. XM Satellite Radio, whose shares have gained about 9.6 percent this week, is expected to announce it exceeded its own forecasts for 1.2 million subscribers by the end of 2004. Sirius, whose stock is up almost 40 percent this week, said this month it had already reached it's 2003 goal of 200,000 subscribers. Spring predicts that by the end of 2004 XM Radio will add 1.4 million subscribers and Sirius will add 700,000. He expects that 25 million people will subscribe to satellite radio by the end of the decade. (Read more)

XM Satellite retreats as Sirius surges (CBS MarketWatch, 12.31.03) News article notes that satellite radio stocks were hot topics again Wednesday afternoon as XM Satellite gave back some of its recent gains and Sirius kept surging. XM fell 21 cents to $26.51 while Sirius added 18 cents, or 5.9 percent, to $3.23. For Sirius, it was the third straight day of significant gains. Its shares jumped 18 percent in the previous session, and 9.8 percent Monday. The two stocks were among the most active media issues on the last trading day of the year. Each has enjoyed a holiday run, making significant gains since Dec. 22. The companies' strong moves came on a mixed day for the media sector. (Read more)

Shares of Sirius, XM Satellite Radio Up on Growth Outlook (Dow Jones Business News, 12.30.03) News article notes that shares of radio broadcasting companies Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. rose for a second session Tuesday as talk of strong holiday sales continued to circulate on Wall Street. The companies are driven by subscriber growth, Sanders Morris Harris analyst Steve Mather said, adding that channel checks indicate that "subscriber growth will be adequate to support the theme that satellite radio is here to stay." The year-end subscriber numbers, according to Mr. Mather, will likely be around 241,000 subscribers for Sirius and 1.25 million subscribers for XM Satellite. Mather expects the companies to report 2003 subscriber figures around Jan. 8. (Read more)

XM on Trial (The Motley Fool, 12.30.03) Investment article about a die-hard believer tries converting a techno-phobe to satellite radio. Writer Dayana Yochim wrote notes that when my friend put [her] at the top of the XM religion pyramid, [she] let him know that [she] was the hardest sell he'd have. "Resistance is futile," he said as he left. (Or at least that's what I thought he said.) Yochim isn't completely sold on satellite radio, but then again she doesn't have cable TV either. (Read more)

Holidays good to XM Satellite; shares advance (CBS MarketWatch, 12.29.03) News article notes that the holidays continued to be good to XM Satellite Radio on Monday as the maker of direct broadcast radio saw its shares rise another 2 percent. The shares advanced 48 cents to $24.77 as sales of the company's specialized radio systems apparently hit their stride during the holiday season. They opened the holiday period on Dec. 22 at $22.85. Rival Sirius Satellite Radio did even better, adding 5.5 percent to $2.48 in recent trading. (Read more)

Satellite Radio Is On the Rise (The Washington Post, 12.27.03) News article notes that this may be the holiday season that satellite radio began to show its promise. The nation's two major satellite radio providers reported brisk sales in recent weeks, helped by discounts in subscription rates and expanded product lines. Neither company is ready to release holiday sales figures, but Washington's XM Satellite Radio Inc. expects to have 1.2 million subscribers by year's end, compared with 347,000 subscribers a year ago. The money-losing company hopes to break even by the end of the coming year or the first half of 2005. (Read more)

BMW Rolls Out SIRIUS Satellite Radio as Factory Option On New 5 Series Sedan With a One Year Pre-Paid Subscription (Sirius Satellite Radio, 12.24.03) Press release notes that BMW will offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio systems this month as both a factory option on 2004 5 Series sedans and as a dealer installed accessory in February, 2004 at BMW centers across the country. SIRIUS Satellite Radio can be installed as a factory option for only $595.00. The price includes a one-year pre-paid subscription plus two bonus months of free SIRIUS service and free activation. BMW makes SIRIUS available as a dealer-installed accessory on select 2004 3 Series Sedans, Coupes and Convertibles, 5 Series Sedans, select X5 SAVs, and on the all-new X3 SAV. (Read more)

The Future of Consumer Electronics (Fool.com, 12.23.03) Investing article notes that over the next few years, there are going to be millions of people who will flock to consumer electronics stores for guidance on satellite radio. Will it be Sirius or XM Satellite Radio? You're going to have questions that discounters may not be able to answer. (Read more)

XM Satellite Seen Outpacing Sirius Satellite (Forbes.com, 12.22.03) News blurb notes that J.P. Morgan initiated coverage of XM Satellite Radio Holdings at "overweight." J.P. Morgan said the company will use its higher initial brand awareness, strong distribution partnerships and more rapid product innovations "to garner 60% of the satellite radio industry's new subscribers through 2010." "At least through the end of 2004, we believe that XM will continue to introduce new and lower- priced radios before Sirius, which should provide it a competitive advantage in the retail channel," J.P. Morgan said. (Read more)

Delphi XM SKYFi Satellite Radio Selected as Favorite Holiday Gift by 'Dr. Phil' and MTV'S 'TRL: Total Request Live' (XM Satellite Radio, 12.19.03) Press release notes that XM Satellite Radio and Delphi Corp are providing the industry's first portable satellite radio boombox - the SKYFi Audio System -- to audience members of two of daytime television's most popular programs: "Dr. Phil" and "MTV TRL: Total Request Live." Today's episode of "Dr. Phil," the highly-rated TV talk show hosted by renowned psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Phillip C. McGraw, features the Delphi XM boombox as one of Dr. Phil's personal recommendations for holiday gifts. When the audience learns that each of them will receive their own Delphi XM boombox, the crowd erupts into a standing ovation. On Monday, Dec. 22, MTV's TRL audience will receive the SKYFi system for Day Eleven of TRL's Twelve Days of Christmas promotion. "We're delighted that the 'Dr. Phil' show and 'TRL' would recommend XM Radio as a holiday present," said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio. (Read more)

Satellite Radio Extends Its Orbit (New York Times, 12.18.03) Technology article by David Pogue explores the question: "So why would people pay for radio, when they have a free alternative? Because satellite radio is fantastic - a cultural source unlike any other. It's so addictive, the Sirius manual actually refers to its customers as 'users.'" The article goes on to discuss the technology and products available to receive satellite radio. It ends by noting that, "finally, remember what happened to cable TV, which also started out as a fee-based reaction to the commercials and unimaginative programming of the networks. Over the years, most cable channels began carrying just as many commercials as network TV did." (Read more)

Alpine Debuts Aftermarket Radio With Integrated XM Receiver (Radio & Records, 12.18.03) News blurb notes that while previous XM-ready aftermarket receivers required users to install a separate XM receiver, the new Alpine CDA-9820XM integrates all satellite-radio functions into one AM/FM/CD head unit. An XM antenna must be purchased separately, but XM VP/Corporate Communications Chance Patterson tells R&R that XM's new micro antenna is compatible with the Alpine unit. The CDA-9820XM will hit shelves in January at a retail price of about $349. (Read more)

S&P comments on Sirius Satellite Radio (Reuters, 12.17.03) News blurb notes that Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s seven-year, non-exclusive broadcasting and marketing agreement with the National Football League does not affect the company's rating or outlook. The agreement adds to Sirius' extensive sports programming, which is a modest content differentiator from XM Satellite Radio Inc., its only direct competitor. Still, it is highly uncertain that Sirius will be able to earn a satisfactory return on this sizable investment or that the deal will meaningfully help it attract subscribers, despite some advertising and promotional incentives with the NFL and local teams. The $220 million deal includes $188 million in cash. However, initial cash payments are limited to $95 million, including $85 million that will be placed in escrow, and no further cash payments will be required until Aug. 15, 2009. Nonetheless, this will erode some of Sirius' near-term liquidity, consisting of $479 million in liquid assets at Sept. 30, 2003, plus $150 million in net proceeds from a common stock offering in November. Sirius consumed $80 million in cash in the third quarter and is unlikely to achieve positive discretionary cash flow for the foreseeable future. Failure to maintain sizable liquid asset balances and to show continued operational progress could lead to a revision of the outlook or rating. (Read more)

Alpine Electronics Unveils Industry's First Automotive CD Receiver With Fully Integrated XM Satellite Radio (XM Satellite Radio, 12.17.03) Press release notes that XM Satellite Radio and Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. today announced the industry's first in-dash CD receiver with an integrated XM tuner. With its smart, all-in-one design, Alpine's new CDA-9820XM receiver eliminates the need for a separate XM tuner box for easier installation and delivers best-in-class sound performance. Alpine's CES 2004 Innovations Award-winning CDA-9820XM features an integrated XM tuner module. Previous configurations required a user to purchase an XM Ready head unit, separate XM tuner module and satellite radio antenna to enjoy XM's service in the car. Now, a consumer can just make an easy purchase of the CDA-9820XM and the new XM Micro antenna (sold separately). (Read more)

Sirius Satellite Radio Signs NFL Deal (RadioInk, 12.17.03) News blurb notes that Sirius Satellite Radio has signed a $220 million deal with the National Football League to broadcast professional football games beginning in 2004. Over the course of the seven-year deal, the NFL will receive $188 million in cash and $32 million in Sirius stock, with the ability to earn warrants to buy an additional 50 million shares. Sirius gets national broadcast rights to all regular season NFL games, as well as select preseason and playoff contests. It also becomes the official satellite radio provider of the NFL. (Read more)

A Sirius "Hail Mary" (Fool.com, 12.16.03) Investing article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio became the "Official Satellite Radio Partner of the National Football League." But at what price? Sirius will pay the NFL $188 million in cash over seven years, plus $32 million in stock. In addition, the NFL will have the ability to earn warrants to purchase another 50 million shares. In an interview this morning with Fool Jeff Fischer, an XM Satellite Radio executive called the move "desperate looking." We agree. (Read more)

Sirius in multi-year NFL radio pact; shares rise (CBS MarketWatch, 12.16.03) News article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio shares rose Tuesday on news that the company will offer broadcasts of every regular-season National Football League game in 2004, along with selected playoff games, under a multiple-year deal. Also under the New York-based company's deal, Sirius will create an exclusive 24-hour stream of pro football content including news, features and other NFL-related programming. The radio channel will also feature programs from the TV version of The NFL Network, launched on cable and satellite systems last month. Sirius shares added 5 cents to recently stand at $2.28, a gain of 2 percent, on heavy volume of more than 53 million. (Read more)

Sirius Satellite Radio Signs NFL Deal (Reuters, 12.16.03) News article notes Sirius Satellite Radio said on Tuesday it signed a $220 million deal with the National Football League to broadcast professional football games beginning in 2004. Over the course of the seven-year deal, the NFL will receive $188 million in cash and $32 million in Sirius stock, with the ability to earn warrants to buy an additional 50 million shares. Sirius gets national broadcast rights to all regular season NFL games, as well as select preseason and playoff contests. It also becomes the official satellite radio provider of the NFL. "I would call this a transformative event," said Sirius CEO Joseph Clayton. "There's no question we're the leader in sports compared to terrestrial radio or our (satellite) competitor." The deal is not exclusive, but Clayton said it contains a provision that would make it "very expensive" for Sirius competitor XM Satellite Radio to gain the same kind of rights to NFL games. As part of the agreement, Sirius will create an additional sports channel, "The NFL Radio Network," an around-the-clock stream of NFL games, features and analysis. (Read more)

SIRIUS and NFL Announce Multi-Year Broadcast and Marketing Agreement (Sirius Satellite Radio, 12.16.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio and the National Football League announced a seven-year agreement for SIRIUS to broadcast all NFL games live nationwide, and for SIRIUS to become the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the National Football League, with exclusive rights to use the NFL "shield" logo and collective NFL team trademarks. Beginning with the NFL's 2004 season, SIRIUS will carry the entire NFL regular season as well as select pre-season contests and playoff games. As part of the agreement, SIRIUS will create "The NFL Radio Network," an around-the-clock exclusive stream of NFL content for SIRIUS subscribers. The radio channel will provide news, features, and a wide-range of other programming highlighting the NFL and its teams. The NFL Radio Network will also include programs from The NFL Network television channel, the first television network dedicated to the NFL which launched in November. SIRIUS will offer all of the NFL programming at no additional cost to its subscribers. (Read more)

Sirius seen as NFL satellite-radio broadcaster-WSJ (Reuters, 12.16.03) News article notes that the National Football League is expected to announce that Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. will be its first satellite-radio broadcaster and an official league sponsor, the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday. In a seven-year deal worth $220 million, the NFL will receive $188 million in cash and $32 million in Sirius stock, with the ability to earn warrants to buy an additional 50 million shares, the newspaper said, citing NFL officials. The price of the deal, expected to be announced on Tuesday, dwarfs other agreements between satellite-radio companies and the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League, according to the Wall Street Journal. (Read more)

CBC/Radio-Canada And Sirius To Bring Satellite Radio To Canada (Radio Ink, 12.11.03) News blurb notes Canada's national public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada and Sirius are forming a joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canada. CBC/Radio-Canada President/CEO Robert Rabinovitch said, “CBC/Radio-Canada is excited about the opportunity to partner with Sirius to bring satellite radio to Canada. By expanding the choices available to Canadians, this new service will enable the national public broadcaster to better fulfill its mandate by extending its reach and enhancing its services to Canadians. Fueled by the digital revolution, radio services are changing dramatically. We’re forging ahead to ensure that CBC/Radio-Canada has an expanded reach and presence for the benefit of Canadians. We’re also encouraged to know that the CRTC wants to deal with the matter of satellite radio expeditiously.” (Read more)

Sirius Eyes North of the Border (SkyREPORT, 12.11.03) News blurb notes that national broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada and Sirius Satellite Radio said they are forming a joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canada, and will soon file an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for a license to deliver the offering north of the border. The proposed subscription-based national service will give Canadians access to satellite-delivered programming, including Canadian content. CBC/Radio-Canada said it secured distribution of two of its main channels, Radio One and La Premiere Chaine, for the service. (Read more)

Sirius Heads To Canada, Thanks To CBC (Radio & Records, 12.10.03) News blurb notes that Sirius Satellite Radio formed a joint venture with the government-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to bring Sirius' streams to Canadians. The joint venture will soon file an application with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission for a license to do so, and the move allows the CBC to secure distribution of its two primary radio stations: English-language News/Talk Radio One and French-language News/Talk La Première Chaîne. SIRIUS and the CBC are holding talks with and may add other Canadian financial or broadcasting investors to the venture, the companies said. The Sirius pact comes following an August announcement from rival XM Satellite Radio that it had filed an application with the Canadian government to expand its service to Canada. (Read more)

Clear Channel, Cox Radio Execs Disagree On Future Of Satellite Radio (Radio & Records, 12.10.03) News blurb notes that at the UBS Media Week conference, Clear Channel CFO Randall Mays and Cox Radio EVP/COO Marc Morgan expressed markedly differing viewpoints on the competitive challenge satellite radio presents to the radio industry. While both men said they haven't experienced any competitive impact from Sirius or XM, Mays — who sits on the XM board of directors — is much more optimistic about the sector's future. "It is a business, and there are going to be people listening to satellite radio," Mays said. Noting that the eight-track tape and in-car CD players were also once viewed as threats to radio, he continued, "Radio has always faced challenges, and we can continue to do well as a business." But Cox EVP/COO Marc Morgan doesn't think radio has a lot to worry about from satellite radio. "Where is the business model?" he asked during his company's presentation. "Where are they going to make money — ever? They need to worry about staying in business." Morgan also said he doesn't believe the variety of programming offered by the satcasters is going to be enough of an attraction to sustain them, citing radio-industry studies about what listeners want to hear to support his claim. (Read more)

CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS Announce Venture To Bring Satellite Radio to Canadians (Sirius Satellite Radio, 12.10.03) Press release notes that CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada's national public broadcaster, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio today announced that they will form a joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canada. CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS also announced today that the venture will soon file an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a license to provide satellite radio in Canada. This new, subscription-based, national service will give Canadians access to a wide range of programming and Canadian content. CBC/Radio-Canada was able to secure the distribution of two of its main channels, namely Radio One and La Premiere Chaine. As a result of CBC/Radio-Canada's involvement, the new venture will also provide significant opportunities for existing and emerging Canadian artists to showcase their talent and be heard not only across Canada, but throughout North America as well. (Read more)

BusinessWeek Names Delphi XM Roady Radio a 'Best Product of 2003' (XM Satellite Radio, 12.09.03) Press release notes that XM Satellite Radio's Delphi XM Roady satellite radio has been named a "Best Product of 2003" by BusinessWeek in its December 15 issue. Delphi Corp. and XM Satellite Radio also announced the introduction of new accessories for the Roady: a wireless FM adapter for car radios and a free Roady home adapter available through a special holiday promotion. The Roady, the first complete satellite radio solution for under $120, is the most affordable option for listening to XM's 101 channels of music, news, sports, and entertainment on the road or at home. As a BusinessWeek "Best Product of 2003," the Roady is part of an elite group, including Intel's Pentium M chip, the new $20 bill, and the AIDS medicine Fuzeon. Also selected were the Cadillac XLR roadster and the Scion xB, two of the more than 80 vehicles that feature XM Satellite Radio.
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Sirius Tops 200,000 Subscribers (Radio & Records, 12.09.03) News blurb notes that Sirius Satellite Radio has reached President/CEO Joe Clayton's stated year-end goal a few weeks earlier than it needed to, and while Clayton's target number was reduced from a previously anticipated subscriber count of 300,000 during Sirius' Q3 earnings conference call, reaching the 200,000 subscriber mark early in December lends weight to previous expectations inside the company that Sirius could actually best Clayton's reduced estimate. "This is the first time that we are going into a busy holiday selling season with a full complement of products at retail," Clayton said. "We believe that this will help to drive subscriptions this year, as well as position us favorably as we transition into 2004." (Read more)

Sirius Reaches 200,000 Subs (SkyREPORT, 12.08.03) News blurb notes Sirius Satellite Radio said it surpassed 200,000 subscribers on its nationwide service. Sirius currently has four "plug & play" products available at retail. The Kenwood Here2Anywhere, two versions of the S.R.S. Satellite Radio Shuttle from Audiovox, plus the Streamer, which is primarily marketed to truckers. A home unit from Kenwood is also available, and a "boombox" from Audiovox is expected to hit retail stores in limited quantities in time for Christmas. (Read more)

U.S. satellite radio companies stick to targets (Reuters, 12.08.03) News article notes that XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said in separate announcements on Monday they were on track to meet their fourth-quarter targets. Sirius announced on Monday it had signed up 200,000 customers to its satellite radio service. It said on Oct. 29 it expected to have more than 200,000 subscribers by year end, down from its earlier target of about 300,000. XM told investors it expected to beat its 1.2 million subscriber goal by adding about 300,000 customers in the fourth quarter. (Read more)

SIRIUS Satellite Radio Reaches 200,000 Subscribers (Sirius Satellite Radio, 12.08.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio surpassed 200,000 subscribers on its nationwide service of 60-commercial-free music streams and 40+ streams of news, sports and entertainment. "We achieved another important milestone for SIRIUS, which clearly demonstrates the growing interest in our premium service of nationwide satellite radio entertainment," said Joseph P. Clayton, President and CEO of SIRIUS. "More consumers are discovering the pleasures of our commercial-free music offering, and more are also recognizing the value of receiving such premium quality programming, such as play-by-play sports, for only $12.95 per month.". (Read more)

Raquel Bruno Now MTV Radio's Talent Director (Radio & Records, 12.04.03) News blurb notes that in Bruno's new role she'll continue to book all music and celebrity talent for MTV Radio Network, MTV Satellite Radio (on XM channel 25), and MTV's TRL Weekend Countdown. Bruno joined MTV Radio as a Manager in 2000 after working at VH1 on Rock Collectors and Before They Were Rock Stars. (Read more)

Hertz to Offer Sirius Satellite Radio in More Locations Nationwide (Sirius Satellite Radio, 12.02.03) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio is now being offered in 29 vehicle models at 53 Hertz major airport locations nationwide. Also, Hertz customers can now request SIRIUS through their travel agent by calling the Hertz reservation center (1-800-654-3131), or at rental counters at participating Hertz locations. The additional cost for renting a vehicle equipped with SIRIUS is only $3.00 per day. (Read more)

Best Buy Names XM Hot Holiday Gift (RadioInk, 12.01.03) News blurb notes that XM Satellite Radio has been named one of the “hottest” consumer electronics gifts for the 2003 holiday season by retailers, including Best Buy. According to Best Buy, the “most-wanted mobile electronic accessory this holiday season” is the Delphi XM Roady. Next on Best Buy's “Most Wanted” list is the XM Commander. (Read more)

The potential of a 3-month free trial makes a lot of sense for both Ford and Sirius. Ford will still be making a nice margin when customers choose to add the optional satellite radio receiver, and that margin only increases on higher sales volumes. Whether customers choose to keep Sirius after the trial Ford still makes money on the deal. Sirius wins by getting a boost in subscribers and betting that customers can't imagine life without Sirius after three months. 90 days is a pretty long time to sample a in-car audio service when you think about it.

Should my sources turn out to be correct, it would appear that Ford and Sirius are stealing a page from General Motors' playbook. GM built subscribers to its OnStar service initially by giving it away for free for the first year. OnStar is now in the middle of a very major advertising campaign to brand the service and to make sure customers renew in greater numbers. The most ironic part of all of this is that GM is a major shareholder in XM Satellite Radio. Stay tuned...

SIRIUS Reunites Three Pioneering Alternative Rock DJS (Sirius Satellite Radio, 11.20.03) Press release notes that three Los Angeles radio personalities who pioneered the alternative music genre in the early 1980s have reunited on Sirius Satellite Radio. Richard Blade, Swedish Egil and Freddie Snakeskin will host daily shows on First Wave, SIRIUS' Classic Alternative stream. First Wave plays pioneering alternative artists including The Cure, Depeche Mode, R.E.M., The Smiths and more. (Read more)

Sirius Stock Offering (Motley Fool, 11.20.03) News article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio shares lost almost 5.5% yesterday and led the Nasdaq in volume after announcing yet more share dilution. The company will offer 73.17 million shares at $2.10 to boost the asset side of its balance sheet by $150 million. Most people consider debt worse than stock sales because debt requires service -- diverting cash to interest payments. Interest can be quite onerous if you don't happen to have today's low-interest rate environment. But would low-interest debt be preferable to diluting Sirius shareholders another 7.3% now and up to 25% if the company follows through? The catch for investors is that it's possible that selling stock at a paltry $2.10 a share is the company's only option -- that they can't find financing at any reasonable price. And meanwhile, management is failing to meet its own subscriber number goals. Let's look at it this way: Your company issues debt... or its issues equity. Oprah, Uma. What's the difference? (Read more)

XM's Sirius Competition (Motley Fool, 11.20.03) Interview transcript with XM Satellite Radio's President and CEO Hugh Panero on The Motley Fool Radio Show on NPR. Here's an excerpt: "Sirius really isn't that much in the game right now. I would say the biggest threat to our business is simply that we are competing for discretionary dollars and listening time against a variety of different products and services. It is really up to us to continue to deliver the kind of content that we have that will make us the choice instead of these other alternatives. At the end of the day, it is not the chip set or the satellites or the compression technology that really matters; it gets back to the content. That is where we really have to focus all of our attention." (Read more)

Sirius Sells Stock Again (TheStreet.com, 11.19.03) News article notes that Sirius Satellite Radio would raise about $150 million by selling 73.2 million shares. UBS Securities will underwrite the offering, which is expected to close on Monday, Sirius said. The offering comes just eight months after Sirius completed a $1.2 billion recapitalization that put the lion's share of its stock in the hands of its bondholders. The stock slipped 5% to $2.11 in early trading Wednesday. Sirius shares are up some 200% for the year. (Read more)