SIRIUS Satellite Radio has hired Jennifer Betka as the VP of Interactive. Betka, a former top online marketer with Time Warner, AOL and Ogilvy, will be responsible for creating an innovative Internet presence and marketing platform for SIRIUS, including the development and implementation of enhanced programming features and e-business initiatives.

(psst, hey Jennifer… you hiring anyone? wink wink)

Starting this summer, the BBC’s popular music station Radio 1 will be broadcast in the United States over Sirius Satellite Radio. Radio 1 is renowned for introducing Britons to up-and-coming rock, pop and hip-hop musicians.

Sirius said the programming will be broadcast on a time-shift basis, so that listeners on the East Coast, could hear Chris Moyles’ popular morning show in the morning for example.

Very cool. Thanks candlebougie!

Sirius just announced that Steve Leeds has joined the team as the VP of Talent and Industry Affairs. Leeds has been a consultant for Sirius, working to reinforce relationships with artists and labels, and bringing new talent to the Sirius programming mix.

In his new position, he will focus on strengthening Sirius’ music and entertainment industry relationships. He will also work with labels and recording artists to emphasize the Sirius’ commitment to breaking new artists and offering new platforms for exposure.

Wow, that’s scary - looks like my guess was dead on - SIRIUS Satellite Radio just announced they’ve signed a deal with Sprint to offer select SIRIUS content, over the Sprint network soon to be available. Right now details are still sketchy, but we’ll find out more when both Sprint and Sirius give us more specifics later this year.

Sprint’s current Internet radio service, MSpot, contains 13 channels available for $5.95/month (or for free if you’re a Vision Multimedia Services subscriber). I expect that this new deal will be a combination of MSpot and SIRIUS, but what the new service is branded under is probably still under debate.

The implications of this deal are huge. Sprint PCS has something like 26 million subscribers, with I think about 6.7 Million Vision subscribers alone. The market reach possible is pretty impressive. Factor in the Sprint-Nextel merger, the reach could get even bigger. You want huge? THIS IS HUGE.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio has developed a new, advanced proprietary technology that will initially increase the company?s total network capacity by approximately 25%. Known as hierarchical modulation, this new technology will allow SIRIUS to offer additional audio channels, as well as advanced services such as data and video, without affecting the quality of its broadcasts.

Developed by SIRIUS? Advanced Development Team based in Lawrenceville, NJ, the hierarchical modulation will work over SIRIUS? current network, with only minimal upgrades to its satellite uplink and terrestrial repeater infrastructure.

Backwards compatible, this new modulation technology will not have any impact on existing receivers, but future receivers will be outfitted allowing them to receive the additional services enabled.

This is all expected to rollout in the second half of 2006.

Bruce Morrow, aka the famed “Cousin Brucie” will be joining SIRIUS Satellite Radio and host popular hit music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. He will host three regularly scheduled programs each week and several daily features.

Bruce Morrow has been on the New York airwaves for more than 40 years and was inducted into the NAB Radio Hall of Fame, Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, and a bunch more.

His debut on SIRIUS will be during the July 4th weekend broadcasting from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Sirius and Ford announced a couple days ago that they’re extending Sirius’ exclusive deal with Ford to 2011, which originally was only promised for the 2006 and 2007 model-year period.

The extension doesn’t come without conditions of course, with Ford having the option to extend up to 2013 as well as the option to change the terms to non-exclusive in 2009. If Ford should decide to dump Sirius’ exclusive terms, they’d be forfeiting all future economic benefits.