XM Satellite Radio's XM Advanced Services vehicle (a concept car featuring all their bells & whistles like in-car video, voice command, weather alerts, parking space locator, and more) will be unveiled next week at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show.

The XM Advanced Services vehicle, a hopped up 2006 Lexus LX 470, will be a satellite swiss-army knife on wheels. With in-car satellite video technology developed with XM's partner On2 Technologies, as well as a vast array of other new technologies like their Voice Command technology, XM ParkingLink (which we heard about a lil' while back), XM WeatherLink (developed with WxWorx using satellite technology based on XM WX) all of which can be delivered directly to the automobile by XM's network of satellites and ground repeaters.

Damn.

[Press Release] 

XM Satellite Radio and VoiceBox Technologies (a company that makes a "conversational" voice search technology) have teamed up to create a voice-search-enabled platform. In other words, just "say it and get it" - and ta-da, it's on your radio.

The platform's speech recognition algorithms are designed to determine the context and intent from conversational speech, letting you speak in free-form language and it will obey your command. I wonder if we'll be able to give our radios names? I will call mine, Ramone.

Expect this to be available to automakers and the aftermarket in mid-2006, and for it to be displayed at CES.

[Billboard Radio Monitor] 

XM Satellite Radio and Neural Audio have teamed up to broadcast select XM satellite radio channels in 5.1 Surround Sound. The 5.1 Surround ability will begin in March 2006, and will be available on XM's Fine Tuning (free-form music) and XM Pops (classical greatest hits) music channels. XM will also broadcast a variety of specials and live music performances at the XM studios in XM HD Surround.

XM Satellite Radio will demonstrate XM HD Surround broadcasts at CES 2006 (January 5th-8th) in the XM booth #4606 in the North Hall of the LVCC. Manufacturers like Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer and Yamaha will introduce home audio systems capable of playing XM HD Surround in 2006.

This is the first time that a radio company has broadcast in 5.1 Surround Sound 24 hours a day.

[Press Release]

WorldSpace and Raytheon test-launched their global Disaster Warning, Response, and Recovery (also lovingly known as DWRR) broadcast system. The new system combines commercial satellites, and 24/7/365 network operations.

The system is a real-time emergency alert and recovery tool for use in disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. DWRR reaches into remote areas, and to mobile users such as emergency response vehicles. DWRR dispatches audio alerts to warn people that a disaster is imminent and, during disaster recovery, delivers vital information to governments and relief agencies in the affected areas.

This appears to be part of the MESA (Mobile Enhanced Situational Awareness) program that XM Satellite Radio, Raytheon and WorldSpace we heard about back in May.

I've gotten a dozen or so emails about XM covering the college bowl games (and another dozen asking about the USC cheerleader). Sorry I didn't get to it, it's been mayhem the past few days.

Anyway, enough crying. XM's coverage began yesterday (that's December 21st) at 8pm ET on XM Channel 193 when the University of Texas at El Paso took on the University of Toledo (Toledo won) and will continue through the January 4 BCS National Championship contest between the University of Texas Longhorns (hook em horns!) and the defending national champion University of Southern California Trojans in The Rose Bowl at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio (XM Channel 140).

XM will carry all four of the 2006 BCS games from January 2 through January 4 -- the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl, and Rose Bowl -- on ESPN Radio.

Get the whole schedule after the jump... 

[Press Release] 

Hockey legend Mark Messier has signed a marketing agreement with XM Satellite Radio to promote XM broadcasts of NHL games and XM's hockey talk radio channel Home Ice.

XM will also be the sole presenting sponsor of the New York Rangers' ceremony to retire Messier's #11 jersey on January 12th.

the 16-time NHL All-Star will promote XM in a variety of print, broadcast, online, and in-store marketing campaigns aimed at sports fans� He will make regular appearances on Home Ice (XM Channel 204), including an exclusive, in-depth interview to air in January

XM Satellite Radio and VICI Racing have extended their partnership to continue throughout 2006.

The partnership between the two started earlier in 2005 with XM sponsoring the VICI Porsche GT3 Cup racer in the inaugural North American IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup.

XM has given a high level of marketing concentration in the auto-racing arena with sponsorship deals like Indy and Hot Import Nights. This shows a lot about XM's strategy in the auto industry. People who follow auto events like GT3, Indy, and HIN are not only enthusiasts but are influencers when it comes to other people seeking automotive advice. Appeal to the influencers and you gain WoM advertising through trusted sources.

Losing NASCAR to Sirius is a blow to this approach, but it looks like they're trying to make up for it.

[VICI Racing]

XM Satellite Radio is launching "The Good Morning America Radio Show" which will be broadcast beginning on January 23rd. The four-hour radio program will air Mondays through Saturdays, combining content from Good Morning America, plus other original content that expands upon segments and topics discussed on the morning news program.

The launch was announced today on Good Morning America with Hugh Panero appearing live on the show. "The Good Morning America Radio Show," will feature Diane Sawyer, Charles Gibson and Robin Roberts along with radio personality Hilarie Barsky.

The Good Morning America Radio Show will be on Take Five between 8am - 12pm ET.

[Press Release] 

The XM Satellite Radio & DirecTV love-match now is a threesome with Network LIVE (which is, as you'll recall, the joint venture between XM, AOL and AEG). Viewers now have a choice between AOL's online video and a TV (including HD) experience. Network Live's programs will be available at no extra charge to subscribers of DirecTV Total Choice or DirecTV Seleccion

It's interesting how reciprocal this XM/DirecTV partnership is getting.

[PaidContent] 

XM Satellite Radio has signed on Bob Dylan to host a new music show exclusively for XM, set to debut in March 2006 on Deep Tracks.

The hour-long weekly music show will feature music hand-selected by Dylan as well as regular commentary, special guest interviews, and Dylan will take emails from XM subscribers.

[Press Release]