Wow. This is big news. XM Satellite Radio and DIRECTV have partnered together to deliver XM content to DirecTV’s 14.6 million customers starting on November 15th.

72 channels of XM’s programming will be available via DIRECTV, almost doubling the current audio programming lineup at no additional cost. In addition to music channels and children’s programming, XM will provide XM’s Major League Baseball “Home Plate” talk radio channel, and the High Voltage channel (AFRO!).

Customers subscribing to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE programming package will have access to 50 XM Satellite Radio music channels and customers subscribing to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE Plus programming package and above will have access to more than 65 channels. DIRECTV PARA TODOS customers will also have access to the same XM channels, as well as five additional Latin music channels.

New York Post: This doesn’t look good. According to this article, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has been raising a suspicious eyebrow at the two latest MP3/Satellite Radio devices - the Sirius S50 and the Samsung neXus - being introduced by XM and SIRIUS this fall. Apparently the RIAA doesn’t like the fact that you can record the music and listen to it later - essentially reducing the revenue generated by per-per-download services like iTunes.

As a result, things could get ugly for both XM and SIRIUS because the seven year music licensing contracts are coming up for renewal at the end of this year. The RIAA gave the satellite radio industry their current music licensing contracts at “below market rates” as a means to help jumpstart the industry. But apparently the RIAA is taking these devices as a slap in the face, and could very well bump those licensing fees much higher.

A lawsuit also isn’t out of the question (or out of character for the RIAA), If XM and SIRIUS don’t modify the devices to appease the RIAA gestapo then “they can’t do this without being sued,” says a high-level music exec involved in the discussions.

Ugh.

The Wall Street Journal today has an inspired article written by someone who is obviously hooked on satellite radio (much like everyone reading this blog). The thing I like about the WSJ article is that writer Jeffrey Zaslow focuses on the comedy channels (specifically he talks about XM, but it applies to Sirius too) which provides content that you would NEVER hear on terrestrial. Ever. Terrestrial can throw against the wall as many ideas as they want (Jack, Jill, HD Radio, whatever) but in the end they can’t give us true comedy in it’s untainted entirety. In the end, the laughs you get from terrestrial are watered down versions of what is possible.

The NAB can whine and complain, or talk about how great they think they are, but in the end - they’re inferior to satellite - and they know it.

Go read the WSJ article, it’s definitely worth it.

I know these have been going on for sometime now, but it’s worth mentioning for those who don’t know - Sirius Satellite Radio has an ongoing auction with some of the coolest stuff I’ve seen yet (Super Bowl XL VIP tickets, signed helmet by Donovan McNabb, BMW driving school, etc) and XM Satellite Radio’s pest-inciting duo Opie and Anthony have been running an ongoing auction on eBay as well with some cool MLB and O&A related items.

I love to see that both companies are using their connections to do something good. And the winners get some awesome items, all the while knowing that the money spent is going to a good cause. Can’t beat that.

Thanks Josh!

A study by Bridge Ratings & Research since Fall 2004 has some pretty interesting results. According to the study, Sirius Satellite Radio will gain an estimated 980,000 new subscribers from October through December, and pick up another 500,000 in January, for a total of 1.48 million new subscribers by February of 2006.

10% of those surveyed say it was “very likely” that they would subscribe to Sirius by December 31st and also intend on giving subscriptions as gifts, which would account for more than 50,000 additional subscriptions.

Q4 should be very interesting….

XM Satellite Radio just announced they’ll offer play-by-play coverage of every game for home and visiting teams’ broadcasts of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), National League Championship Series (NLCS), and the 2005 World Series.

In addition to the game broadcasts, MLB Home Plate (XM Channel 175) will offer thorough coverage of the 2005 Pennant Races, Division Series, League Championship Series, and of course the World Series including the latest team news, game updates, interviews, highlights and more.

XM’s MLB en Espanol (XM Channel 190) will provide Spanish language coverage of the 2005 League Championship Series and World Series with national feeds from ESPN Deportes Radio.

A complete listing of MLB play-by-play channels (XM Channels 176-189) for the 2005 MLB post-season will be available soon on XM Satellite Radio’s website.

So Apple announced yesterday it’s new iPod nano, which is definitely a sexy product. They also finally unveiled the Motorola ROKR iTunes Phone, which is seemingly “blah” in my opinion (100 songs? c’mon). But admist all the mayhem, Apple also announced their partnership with Acura, Audi, Honda, and Volkswagon to integrate iPods into their 2006 model lines. And that’s raising some eyebrows in terms of competition with satellite radio. Some are feeling this will put a dent in the growth of the satellite radio industry, but will it really affect it that much?

I’m having troubles seeing iPod support being an actual selling factor, it’s just a convenience. But with Satellite Radio you actually get the unit, plus a free trial subscription, so the benefits are much more tangible to the consumer.

The American Red Cross and XM Satellite Radio have joined forces to start up Red Cross Radio (XM Channel 248), a 24-hour XM channel to give news and information for Hurricane Katrina victims, Red Cross workers along the Gulf Coast and across the country.

On top of that, XM is donating radios to the Red Cross for relief workers, shelters and aid stations. The Red Cross is not only using the XM Radio channel to deliver news and info directly to workers but is also using the channel to send mass messages to staff across the country.

Red Cross Radio is airing continuous updates on the elief efforts in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas devastated by Katrina, as well as the sites where victims have been relocated to receive Red Cross assistance.

Very impressive and smart. In a place where terrestrial radio has been knocked out, this shows the benefits of satellite radio first hand.

XM Satellite Radio will launch a new talk and lifestyle channel targeting women called Take Five. This new women's channel will feature daily satellite radio broadcasts of the Emmy Award-winning "Ellen DeGeneres Show," and the new "Tyra Banks Show," as well as original content from the Food Network and HGTV. XM's new Take Five will launch in October 2005.

Take Five will also include "The Judith Warner Show," which will be hosted by the New York Times best-selling author of 'Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety'.

To kickoff the launch of Take Five, Ellen DeGeneres will be giving away Pioneer AirWare XM2go portable satellite radio receivers to her in-studio audience during the first week of the new season of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

More details on the new Take Five content after the jump: