Please explain something!!!

[Stuart]

I have had XM Radio since 2003. When I started to listen, I could hear several stations from a variety of cities.

1. "KISS" from Los Angeles
2. "WSIX" from Nashville
3. "WLW" from Cincinnati
4. "WTKS" from Orlando (My Favorite)

I really liked this kind of format. I especially liked listening to their "local" advertisements. XM stills plays a little of "WTKS", but their only part of shows, in different time slots and not live.

Does anyone know why this stopped? or will this return once Sirius and XM become one company?

Thanks,
Stuart

 

[CTListener]

I have had XM Radio since 2003. When I started to listen, I could hear several stations from a variety of cities.

1. "KISS" from Los Angeles
2. "WSIX" from Nashville
3. "WLW" from Cincinnati
4. "WTKS" from Orlando (My Favorite)

I really liked this kind of format. I especially liked listening to their "local" advertisements. XM stills plays a little of "WTKS", but their only part of shows, in different time slots and not live.

Does anyone know why this stopped? or will this return once Sirius and XM become one company?

Thanks,
Stuart

Those stations were on XM due to a programming deal signed with Clear Channel before the service even launched. In return for a sizable chunk of cash, Clear Channel got itself a lifetime claim to a big chunk of XM bandwidth, to program as it sees fit. While the stations you mention aren't carried anymore, Clear Channel still programs XM channels 11, 21, 22, 24 and 161, in addition to several talk channels. Clear Channel does not disclose its reasons for the changes it makes to its channels, it just makes them. XM24, especially, has been a virtual format laboratory for Clear Channel over the years, alternately pleasing and displeasing subscribers. And, of course, all Clear Channel channels carry commercials -- XM tried to block them from doing so, but they got badly outlawyered before an arbitrator.

Oh, and Sirius and XM ARE one company. The contract is apparently ironclad, and Clear Channel is part of the XM side of the combined company for as long as it wants to be.

 

[livingfruitvirus]

I have had XM Radio since 2003. When I started to listen, I could hear several stations from a variety of cities.

1. "KISS" from Los Angeles
2. "WSIX" from Nashville
3. "WLW" from Cincinnati
4. "WTKS" from Orlando (My Favorite)

I really liked this kind of format. I especially liked listening to their "local" advertisements. XM stills plays a little of "WTKS", but their only part of shows, in different time slots and not live.

Does anyone know why this stopped? or will this return once Sirius and XM become one company?

Thanks,
Stuart

They did that in the early days since they had nothing to put on the satellites on such short notice, and several syndication companies were boycotting satellite radio simulcasting at the time. That certainly changed.

CC's iHeartRadio app would be ideal for you. It's a free app on all the big smartphone brands, and it carries the entire portfolio of Clear Channel stations that stream online.

 

[Ai4i]

WLTW, an original XM channel from NYC, has quite often been the highest rated music station in the country.
We have heard similar thoughts over the years, but this is a premium subscription entertainment service, not a conglomeration of translators rolled into one. Local means the local Continent, North America.