XM Satellite Radio, now with more than 2.1 million subscribers, will launch a new channel, XM Public Radio (XM Channel 133), featuring programmes from Public Radio International (PRI) and its satellite radio subsidiary American Public Radio; American Public Media, the national production and distribution branch of Minnesota Public Radio; and Boston public radio station WBUR. The new channel is scheduled to debut on September 1.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of XM Public Radio,” said XM Satellite Radio President and CEO Hugh Panero, “and it is an honour to carve out this completely new space in the broadcasting arena with such esteemed public radio programming partners as American Public Media, WBUR and Public Radio International. We look forward to working with these partners to ensure that the quality programming they produce reaches the broadest audience possible.”
XM Public Radio will feature a host of critically-acclaimed public radio programmes, including This American Life, Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know?, Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac, Speaking of Faith, On Point, and Only a Game, among others. In addition, award-winning public radio newsman Bob Edwards has signed on to host a new morning interview program, The Bob Edwards Show, exclusive to XM Satellite Radio, which is scheduled to debut on October 4.
Media Network’s Lou Josephs writes: “This could be satellite radio’s ‘killer application’. WBUR does great local programming, PRI does the World and Marketplace, and they have a DC bureau. From a programming standpoint this is very, very smart. Someone’s done some research into who’s buying XM.”
NPR loses top talent to XM Satellite Radio
on Jul 30th, 2004 at 19:39
Other than Bob Edwards, Sirius Satellite Radio has had all of this content PLUS the World Radio Network and its coterie of some two dozen international public service broadcasters (including Radio Netherlands) since its inception (over two years now). It’s nice that XM has joined the fold at this late date; but for public radio fans, Sirius remains the choice with its three public radio streams (NPR Talk, NPR Now, PRI World), BBC World Service News 24/7 and–soon–four CBC originated streams including CBC Radio One.
John Figliozzi
(who is neither affiliated with Sirius in any way, nor compensated in any way for his opinion in this regard)
on Jul 31st, 2004 at 04:23
Ah but Sirus’s only claim to fame is an Elvis Channel. Their consultant my old boss Walter Sabo is probably kicking himself about XM’s deal. It’s very very smart.
It does appear the the NPR feeds are different streams on XM vs Sirus.
WRN is does sound great on Sirus. But BBC was just the news stream not 25/7 World Service.
Bottom line both services now have something to offer the shortwave listener.