FREE XM/Sirius Channels?

[JohnnyElectron]

Two-pronged question:
One: Rumor has it that the Clear-Channel programmed stations on XM have nothing to lose by allowing their stations to be broadcast for 'free' to old/unsubscribed XM radios? Anybody that can confirm this half-way intelligent idea?

Two: Who's getting the 4 leased, also free, channels on each service to begin at the end of this month?

 

[drt]

I can only confirm that Clear Channel isn't doing that. (providing their content to disabled XM units).

I just hooked up an old XM radio that has been deactivated and the only two channels coming in are channel 1, their promotional/preview channel and Channel 247 - Emergency/weather channel.

drt

 

[jegrant]

The only thought I had was, if CC wanted their music stations to be available for free, who would be paying the music licensing? There isn't any *subscriber* revenue on free channels, and so they might end up having to play more ads?

Don't get me wrong, I think it'd be a good idea, to give at least a few channels free.

Last I heard, the new channels for "qualified entities" are still up in the air.

 

[qunewsguy]

Rumors said the free Clear Channel stations would start on 8/1.

 

[CTListener]

Rumors said the free Clear Channel stations would start on 8/1.

Is Clear Channel's investment in the company still so substantial that they can't be pushed out the door by Sirius XM management? Does Clear Channel's ownership of the XM bandwidth ever expire, or can CC just keep renewing it year after year after year? I can't see where providing music and talk (albeit with commercials) to deactivated XM receivers could do anything but hurt XM -- listeners with solidly mainstream musical tastes or who are hooked on Clear Channel's talk talent will either drop their subscriptions and just listen to the free channels.

This situation, with an original XM investor basically sabotaging the company from within, has really got to be eating at Karmazin, who's never had any positive dealings with Clear Channel.