Re: Radio on Radio

[Dan.Strassberg@att.net]

Wossname is XM Satellite Radio. Sirius was, until the 
first of this year, CD Radio. One will use two birds; 
the other three. I forget which will use how many. The 
satellites are not in the traditional geosynchronous 
orbits, which would place them near the equator. The 
satellites will appear more or less overhead in the 48 
contiguous states. Nevertheless, I'm told that, to an 
earthbound observer, they will not appear to move around 
very much. In major metropolitan areas, the satellite 
signals will be augmented by networks of terrestrial 
transmitters because the satellite signals will 
not "reach down" between canyons of tall buildings.

Each company is planning 100 channels, of which 50 will 
carry commercial-free music formats. The programs on the 
other 50 channels on each system _will_ include 
commercials.

Several radio conglomerates are backing one or the other 
of the satellite companies. I've heard that AMFM has a 
large stake in one company--I think XM. Since the report 
you heard was on WBZ, I assume that Wes..., err CB..., 
err Inf..., err Viacom has a stake in the company 
mentioned in the report you heard. Except on NPR, you 
must assume that when there is anything alleged to be 
news on radio stations owned by group broadcasters, it 
consists of little besides short-form infomercials, and, 
of course, _real_ commercials.
> <<On Wed,  6 Sep 2000 17:10:20 -0400, "Roger Kirk" <rogerkirk@ttlc.net> said:
> 
> > [...] for ~ a $10/month fee. [...]
> 
> > Since they don't even allow mention of 
> > another station's call letters, I'm 
> > surprised that they would give that much 
> > play to a competitor's business.
> 
> I think their assumption would be that ``subscription radio'' is not a
> competitor of ``free radio''.  Perhaps short-sighted, but given that
> Sirius and Wossname are for the most part not running advertising,
> they are not competitors in the business sense even if they do compete
> for listeners.  (Remember that commercial broadcasters are in the
> business of selling advertising, not entertainment.)
> 
> -GAWollman
> 
> --
> Garrett A. Wollman   | O Siem / We are all family / O Siem / We're all the same
> wollman@lcs.mit.edu  | O Siem / The fires of freedom 
> Opinions not those of| Dance in the burning flame
> MIT, LCS, CRS, or NSA|                     - Susan Aglukark and Chad Irschick