XM's Clear Channel-programmed Top 40 channel Kiss (ch 21) now has personalities culled from various Clear Channel stations around the country. But have no fear, you won't have to listen to anyone living or anything like that... they're all on tape!Here's the line-up (all times Eastern):
- 8-10am: Brotha Fred (WIBT/Charlotte)
- 10am-Noon: Kasper (WAKS/Cleveland)
- Noon-2pm: Melissa Chase (WRVQ/Richmond)
- 2-4pm: Randi West (WDCG/Raleigh)
- 4-6pm: Toby Knapp (WIHT/Washington D.C.)
- 6-8pm: Kane (WIHT/Washington D.C.)
- 8-10pm: Big Boy (WKQI/Detroit)
- 10pm-midnight: Java Joel (WAKS/Cleveland)
- Midnight-2am: Geller (WDCG/Raleigh)
[FMQB]
Shouldn't they be done with those ClearChannel stations this or next month? Doesn't that contract expire?
"Shouldn't they be done with those ClearChannel stations this or next month? Doesn't that contract expire?"
We can only hope. I think XM would be better off looking for in-house content.
Wasn't that the point of SatRad to begin with? Getting something you couldn't get on Terrestrial.
I will probably take some heat for this next comment.. But i think i'd rather hear voice tracking on KISS.. Then nothing at all and having the station on auto pilot anyway...
hm.. go WAKS i guess. apparently kiss cleveland has very voicetrackable hosts. i know Java Joel used to voicetrack out of chicago
HAHAHAHA... Kane returns to XM... that's hilarious. Yes, that's the same Kane that used to be Program Director on the 90s... he moved to Florida, did the KISS/HOT station down there for a while, then moved back to DC and is on HOT 99.5 in the afternoons... and now he's (kinda) back on XM... full circle, eh? :)
Sounds like some good stuff, gives xm listeners a tiny window into what they are missing on HD Radio
HD Digital Radio • IT'S TIME TO UPGRADE!
HD Digital Radio. It's here. It's local. It's free. DISCOVER IT!
www.hdradio.com
HD radio. The same old crappy programming, only in CD quality.
XM please dump the Clear Channel horribleness with some quality programming!!!
"Sounds like some good stuff, gives xm listeners a tiny window into what they are missing on HD Radio"
Yeah, annoying fucking commercials and DJ's who can't say "fart".
JD Powers:
They found some interesting things in surveying consumer's views on HD Radio and satellite radio.
Here is the headline:
Premium surround sound systems and high-definition (HD) radio are highly attractive features consumers would like to see in their new vehicles based on their estimated market prices, and consumers prefer to pay a one-time fee over a monthly subscription for satellite radio.
Apparently consumers don't like monthly fees for radio. Here is another quote:
"Even though satellite radio is at an advantage over HD radio by offering commercial-free content and coast-to-coast coverage, interest in HD radio is higher than satellite radio after the introduction of price," said Wu. "In general, consumers would rather pay once for a feature and have been reluctant to embrace subscription fees. This is evident in the trade-off exercise in this year’s study in which almost twice as many consumers chose lifetime (life of vehicle) satellite radio with a one-time $499 subscription fee compared to a one-year option."
The concept of paid radio will continue to lose popularity with the adoption of car radio technology such as HD radio, as well as Wi-Fi and WiMax streaming audio. HD radio currently offers high quality radio feeds that can provide many of the text display functionalities offered by existing satellite radio but with the added local touch. It has the bigger potential to open up a huge range of new radio features and stations for consumers. HD radio is free but its adoption will take time since it requires the purchase and installation of new HD radio players. In time I predict most new cars will come pre-equipped with HD radio receivers.
While Sirius and XM wait for the FCC to rule, the WSJ looks at the deteriorating market conditions taking their toll on both businesses.
Satellite radios aren't selling at retail: sales declined 35% across both companies last year.
Sales of new cars, the biggest source of new radio activations, are also slowing.
Each company has more than $200 million in cash, but reserves are dwindling.
Both have convertible bonds, $400 million for XM and $300 million for Sirius, that re-up next year.
XM said it will tap a $150 million credit facility from GM for the first time this year.
Stifel Nicolaus analyst Kit Spring says he's looking for added pressure on consumer discretionary spending (higher gas, food prices, etc.) to start showing up in both company's Q2 churn rates. Makes sense to us. Meanwhile satellite's competitors aren't letting up: Combined, the two companies have about 18 million subs.