Incorporated in 1992, XM Satellite Radio now has 6 million subscribers nationwide. With the largest and most extensive radio station in the United States, they are based in Washington, DC and use three satellites. With just 21 channels dedicated to traffic and weather updates, 30 news, sports and entertainment channels, and a playlist of more than 2 million songs, XM entertains, informs and educates its listeners. XM also offers 69 separate music networks.
With XM, subscribers can tune in to more than 5,000 live sporting events a year, including games from the National Hockey League, NASCAR, PGA, and ACC and Big Ten college football and basketball. XM also has a wide range of talk shows, with popular hosts like Ellen DeGeneres, Al Franken, Jerry Springer, and more. Subscribers can listen to XM anywhere without having to use a radio, as the company offers an online streaming service that is available anywhere customers have an Internet connection. This service is part of the standard XM subscription. All of XM’s music is completely commercial-free: 24/7 radio, no breaks.
Part of XM’s appeal is that the company offers music shows, talk shows, and interviews that subscribers can’t find anywhere else. They have an impressive variety of channels: Radio Disney, ESPN Radio, Soul Street, XM Comedy, FOX News, The 60s, Major League Baseball, XM Instant Traffic and Weather, and Nashville. XM offers a total of 160 digital radio channels, 24 hours a day. With digital radio, listeners get CD-quality sound in their cars, at home, and at work—virtually anywhere.
A special website called XMTestDrive.com can help subscribers choose the channels they want and features a full list of shows, music categories, and recommendations for every taste. XM radio is now expanding its presence. It is currently available through Direct TV, as part of most of its programming packages. United Airlines recently added XM to its menu of inflight entertainment offerings. For a limited time, as part of a special promotion, the airline will now offer customers 19 channels of commercial-free XM Radio music for in-flight entertainment. XM radio has also partnered with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen/Audi to bring satellite radio service to new cars beginning this year.
Current XM radio highlights include the Artist Confidential Series, an intimate music show and interviews with top artists like Joan Baez, Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant and Coldplay. Tom Petty hosts his own radio show, Tom Petty’s Buried Treasures, every week from his home in Los Angeles. The Classical Confidential series features top classical artists like Joshua Bell and Cecilia Bartoli, with live music and interviews. New shows planned for the future include Oprah & Friends, which will premiere in September. The talk show will feature special guests from Oprah’s television show and will cover hot topics including fitness, health, relationships, family, nutrition and home. Bob Dylan has also signed on to XM and should start DJing on his own show in May.