Audible has announced that they’ll be making much of their content available in Podcast form (via secure RSS syndication). With XM’s partnership with Audible, I wonder if this is an indication that XM may be offering Podcast content by proxy in the future.

This seems to be the beginning of a big Podcast initiative by Audible. We don’t know whether XM content will be made available via secure RSS, but it’s a distinct possibility.

A member of XM411 has created a dope little program that streams XM online through the PocketPC, and even more gooder is he’s offering it as a free download here. Very nice. I reported about another PocketPC program a while back, but that cost something like $45 - XstreamXM is free! That’s the kinda price we like.

Hopefully we can have something similar for Sirius online soon as well.

Thanks Scott!

Audiographics obtained an internal memo (I won’t ask) from Lee Abrams, XM Satellite Radio’s Chief Programming Officer, rallying up the troops in Programming.

It’s actually a pretty cool memo, and I’m impressed with the level of transparent honesty (if my boss cursed in an email, I’d shit myself - but when Lee does it, it’s inspiring funny enough). You can’t really read the memo and disagree, and I dunno - all the points he brings up are pretty valid in my book. Very cool stuff even if you’re on the Sirius camp.

But you all know I drank the Kool-aid a long time ago, so go ahead and read it yourself (PDF) and if you’ve got some arguements against what he has to say, feel free to comment about it here.

NICE. Gizmodo got their sleezy hands on a dope graphic of the XM Satellite Radio / Raytheon MESA Network we reported on a few weeks back. Apparently Gizmodo has an XM insider (“Hearsay Man”) who feeds them this juicy stuff - wish we had our own Hearsay Man, but then again Orbitcast isn’t nearly as cool. :)

A bigger image is available after the jump.

Yesterday we reported that XM was granted an extension for an Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC for the use of a mini-repeater tower during it’s PGA Tour broadcasts.

Total RF (the production company in objection of the STA) and XM were given until today to figure out the interference issues that were of concern. Well that deadline has come and XM has won the authority to use the mini-repeater towers. No word as to what (if any) resolution was made between Total RF and XM.

With XM Satellite Radio broadcasting the PGA golf tour and distributing XM2go units to tournament attendees, they applied for a Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to operate these mini-repeaters at PGA Tour events to ensure a consistant signal. Total RF has been against XM?s request, claiming that the terrestrial repeater would cause interference to its own wireless services at PGA Tour events.

The FCC has granted an extension to the STA to June 10th while XM and Total RF sort things out.

Link via The Future of Radio

Well, the rumors were true, not that we doubted it of course, but the official word from XM has come down that the next XM-5 Satellite will be built by Space Systems/Loral.

XM-5 will be finishing construction in 2007 and is intended as a ground spare for XM's in-orbit fleet because the current spare, XM-4, is scheduled to launch in 2006.

Audible (the digitally-powered spoken-word audio service) and XM Satellite Radio have announced they will introduce a line of handheld satellite radio devices that are capable of playing both XM Satellite Radio as well as Audible content. Audible content will be downloadable into the devices’ memory through a web-based interface.

With the launch of these “AudibleReady/XM” devices in 2006, subscribers will be able to purchase audiobooks and other content from Audible and listen to it seamlessly with Satellite Radio content.

In addition to the new AudibleReady/XM devices, Audible will offer XM talk programs via the Audible Web site this year, beginning with The Bob Edwards Show and Opie and Anthony. XM programs will join the more than 45 regularly recurring audio subscriptions available for downloads to users of AudibleReady digital audio devices.

And to boot, XM will produce a new Audible audiobook program for broadcast on XM Satellite Radio that will consist of features, interviews, and news focusing on the rich world of audiobooks and other spoken-word listening available for download at Audible.com.

No official word as to whether this indicates an MP3/Satellite Radio device from XM in 2006 - but considering other AudibleReady players, it’s not too far of a guess to say YES. An article in the Wall Street Journal seems to indicate otherwise, but I think that XM just doesn’t want to spill the beans just yet.

Consider the content and partner implications with this as well. Audible has a nice relationship with Apple iTunes, as well as with the NFL, and providing shared content between XM and Audible could be the coup many are looking for. We’ll find out for sure in 2006.

Reuters is reporting that the new XM Satellite should cost about $186 million. Originally the Wall Street Journal said the cost would be $300 million, but they then updated the article to read "over $200 million" instead. I'm speculating that the new satellite will be Loral's 20.20 as the available power for that model ranges from 17kW to 30kW and it's Loral's bad boy bird. With XM-4 being built right now with an estimated 2007 launch date (though some have mentioned 2006), you'd figure they'd need to have this new XM-5 Satellite ready as a backup around the same time.