Saturday, September 30, 2006 Why Some Retailers Get Product First
September 30, 2006 The process may seem to baffle many, but there are reasons that some retailers will get a product prior to others. A lot depend on sales figures, who produces catalogs, and what products they have received first before. a lot also depends on the type of launch that is happening for a product, and how many units are available in the first batch. There are many things to consider for a distributor. if you have not noticed, Circuit City received the very first shipments of the Stiletto. They have it advertised in this Sunday's flyer, and to launch at Circuit City guarentees a national presence. In our opinion, other retailers should be getting shipments of the device next week. Circuit City seems to have been selected to be the BUZZ generator on a national basis. The availability was likely about 2,000 to 2,500 units on a national basis over the weekend. Other retailers will likely be getting their shipment notifications at some point next week, and will be able to give those that have pre-ordered more information. A special note of caution. The Stiletto home and car kits have not shipped as yet....even to Circuit City. Before you cancel a pre-order witrh any retailer, you may want to keep this in consideration. Cancelling with one retailer will put you at the end of the line with another, and the second retailer may not get home or car kits as quickly as others. Retailers will get as much information as they can to their customers. Try to be patient. 9/30/2006 05:16:00 PM
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Friday, September 29, 2006 Stiletto Availability Update...developing story
 I just called Circuit City, and made arrangements to see one today at a location in New York City. Yesterday, there were rumors swirling about potential Stiletto delays ( LINK), however, it seems like the sirius.com retail store may just be giving retailers a jump start. 9/29/2006 03:53:00 PM
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Sirius' Judith Regan In The News
 September 29, 2006Sirius' Judith Regan is shopping to a motel according to Media Bistro. Judith Regan Shops for No-Tell Motel
"Judith Regan, according to a side-bar in W, wants to refurbish a classic 50s La-La land motel to serve as offices for staff, guest rooms for visiting authors, and eventually a writer-in-residence program. Her classy quote: I've published Jenna Jameson and Tommy Franks. My vision is to have both of them sitting side by side at the pool........" Interested SSG Readers can catch the article HERE9/29/2006 02:48:00 PM
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The Copyright Modernization Act Is DEAD!
Ding Dong, the Copyright Modernization Act is Dead(posted by www.orbitcast.com) The Copyright Modernization Act (HR 6052), which seeked to change the rules on the licensing and delivery of digital music, has died. XM Satellite Radio ran a grassroots campaign earlier this week, in a mass email sent to all subscribers, urging readers to oppose this legislation. In the email, XM claimed that HR 6052 would "drive up our costs and stop us from offering radios that allow you to record XM channels for your later listening - in the same way that TiVo allows you to record TV for later viewing." Well, it's dead. When the bill's sponsor, Senator Lamar Smith, said he'd like to delay HR 6052 until next year, "a collective sigh of relief was let out from a few rows of audience, comprised of consumer device manufacturers and some service providers," according to Public Knowledge....READ MORE: HERE9/29/2006 02:36:00 PM
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Inside Radio and NAB's BOGUS Number
 September 29, 2006 In their "talking points" numbers the NAB puts out costs, losses, etc. They also include their version of the Howard Stern deal.......and quote bad information. The NAB states that the Stern contract total is $720,000,000. Why do they do this. Simply stated, they were TOO LAZY, or TOO IRRESPONSIBLE to do a few point and clicks on a website to find out what the REAL DEAL was.. They simply took $500,000,000 and tacked on the stock that was valued at $220,000,000. The result is that the NAB has OVERSTATED the Howard Stern deal by $110,000,000 or over 18%!!!!! The REAL Deal is as follows 1. The deal is roughly $390,000,000 in cash over 5 years and 34,375,000 shares to be paid if certain pre-determined subscriber goals were reached. At the time of issue the shares were worth roughly $220,000,000. This put the value of the deal at about $610,000,000. Sterns Cash payments total about $78,000,000 per year for the length of the deal. 2. Details of the transaction can be viewed at http://www.shareholder.com/Sirius/edgar.cfm Click on the 8k form filed January 5, 2006. 3. The shares were not a bonus. They were clearly identified as part of the base contract. The SEC filing states, "....Pursuant to our October 2004 agreement with Stern, we agreed to deliver these shares in December 2010, or earlier if as of the end of any fiscal year we exceeded agreed upon subscriber targets. Our December 31, 2005 subscriber total exceeded the subscriber target we agreed upon with Stern in October 2004." 4. The Howard Stern deal encompasses all of the talent, staff and programming on the Howard Stern streams. Shows such as Bubba The Love Sponge, Scott Ferrall, Howard 100 News, the staff, etc. Are all part of the deal. 5. Sirius has stated that Stern can earn additional revenue, but stated that any additional revenue is tied to substantial targets. So, given this information, perhaps Inside Radio and the NAB will now publish a retraction. Somehow I doubt it though........They are to busy trying to line up 8 hours of commercials for each station. 9/29/2006 11:13:00 AM
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Motley Fool: Let's Get Sirius
Community Pool: Let's Get SiriusBy Rick Aristotle Munarriz (TMFBreakerRick) September 29, 2006 One of the cool things about the new Motley Fool CAPS stock-picking site is the ability to see what bulls and bears think of any given stock at any given time. Over the past two weeks, this column has taken a bite out of Apple Computer (Nasdaq: AAPL) and played hardball with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). This week, we're taking a closer look at Sirius Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI). As a stock with heavy retail investor ownership, Sirius is always a discussion-board hotbed, and rare is the day when it doesn't wind up on Nasdaq's most actively traded list. Sirius-ly goodThe case for Sirius can be pretty compelling if you stop at the top line. Growth has been phenomenal at the company, landing more subscribers than its larger rival XM (Nasdaq: XMSR) for three consecutive quarters. The company was able to lure CBS (NYSE: CBS) programming guru Mel Karmazin to head the company and, love him or hate him, Howard Stern is an audience magnet...READ MORE: HERE9/29/2006 10:58:00 AM
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The SatRad Stock Trader: Sub Data
Sanders Morris Harris writes in a note today that XMSR is going to release subscription data soon, possibly as early as October 2nd. They note that concensus is 320,000 net adds and that their estimate is 335,000. They have a "HOLD" rating on the stock. This means that Sirius will also be releasing sub data soon. Be on the lookout! 9/29/2006 10:29:00 AM
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Nick Carter Confesses, Stern Show Makes Page Six Again
If you're interested, you can listen to the replay on Sirius! HOT FOR TEACHER LONG AGO Sept 29, 2006, New York Post NICK Carter, 26, will never forget the first girl he had sex with - because she grew up to become the infamous blond Florida teacher who bedded a 13-year-old student. The former Backstreet Boy told Howard Stern on Sirius Satellite Radio yesterday ...READ MORE: HERE9/29/2006 08:27:00 AM
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Delphi SkyFi3 Users Manual
Here is the link, courtesy of Satellite Radio TechWorld (http://satelliteradiotechworld.blogspot.com) Friday, September 29, 2006 Delphi SkyFi 3 Users ManualHere is a link to the SkyFi 3 Users Guide. Hottest Electronics9/29/2006 07:40:00 AM
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Inside Radio: Terrestrial Spreads Negative SatRad Propaganda
Satellite Radio TechWorld ( LINK) has posted the NAB Radio Show Sept 2006 edition of "Inside Radio". If you download the pdf, go to page 26, titled: " What XM and Sirius Don't Talk about Very Much", you will see the source of several negative stories that have been circulating in the market lately. 9/29/2006 07:30:00 AM
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Sirius Airs First "Profane" Commercial
Sirius Airs First Ever Radio Commercial with Profanity
(via www.prweb.com, Sept 29, 2006) The sales pitch for "Sinus Buster," the world’s first hot pepper nasal spray, is a familiar sound to Sirius listeners, but there’s a brand new Sinus Buster commercial that’s sure to grab their ears like never before. Sinus Buster is making radio history on Sirius Radio with the broadcast industry's first mainstream commercial to use explicit profanity. The sales pitch for "Sinus Buster," the world’s first hot pepper (capsaicin) nasal spray, is a familiar sound to Sirius listeners, but there’s a brand new Sinus Buster radio spot that’s sure to grab their ears like never before. A couple of our managers were a little scared of the concept, but I knew it was an idea whose time had come The commercial is voiced by JR Gach ("gash"), a long time terrestrial radio personality known for his outrageous honesty. Gach has been a spokesperson for Sinus Buster regionally on terrestrial radio, and nationally on Sirius for nearly two years.In the commercial, Gach relates his true feelings about Sinus Buster, a product near and dear to his heart. With his infamous hard hitting "live read" style, Gach pounds home the truth about a product he perceives as miraculous."First off, I’m a customer, and Wayne’s a friend. That’s how I discovered the product. In early 2005, I approached Wayne Perry about doing endorsement-style commercials in Albany. Once I started doing spots for Sinus Buster and listeners began trying it, I got a stream of calls and e-mails from listeners hailing this stuff as a miracle. Sinus Buster even became a topic on our show. Shawn (Southwick), Larry King’s wife, was in the studio one day. So was Larry. She had a killer migraine and I had her try Sinus Buster live on the air. Shawn was amazed and so was Larry King. He grabbed half a dozen samples as he left the studio. It felt great to have fans thanking me for stopping their headaches and sinus problems," says Gach...READ MORE: HERE9/29/2006 07:29:00 AM
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Thursday, September 28, 2006 Stiletto Ship Dated Delayed? Not Officially
www.siriusfannetwork.com post the note below based on information provided on the Sirius website ( HERE) indicating an Oct 20th ship date. Circuit City indicates availability for delivery as early as Oct 5th, so we're not quite sure yet. Perhaps Sirius is giving the retailers a jump start... STILETTO 100 RELEASE DELAYS?Thursday, 28 September 2006 When the Stiletto 100 made its official appearance on Sirius.com on September 26th, Sirius indicated the live portable would begin shipping on October 4th. That appears to have changed...maybe. A quick check today indicates the Stiletto 100 will start shipping BY October 20th. Only time will tell..... but retailers, such as Circuit City indicate they will have stock this Sunday. Let us know when your Stiletto 100 arrives....Read More: HERE9/28/2006 08:21:00 PM
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Sirius Releases New Premium Internet Stream
(posted by GSI, getsiriusinfo.com, Wednesday, September 27, 2006) It is a great day for anyone who has been listening to SIRIUS Satellite Radio online. SIRIUS has unleashed a new higher bandwidth (129K)Premium Streaming Option. So is it worth it? After comparing both the old and new streams (both are still available to accommodate high and low bandwidth connections), I have to say that it is like night and day. The older lower bandwidth stream sounds like a streaming MP3 while the new Premium Stream sounds almost CD quality! The new Premium option could be the best sounding SIRIUS broadcast I have ever heard....Read more: here9/28/2006 08:19:00 PM
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Sirius' Catholic Channel Launch Delayed
(posted by www.siriusbackstage.com) Anyone looking for new Catholic content on channel 159 today has been greeted with some great music…and little else. Bumpers suggested that the promised programming was “coming soon” Noted Catholic blogger, Rocco Palma, posted last night that delays were due to Cardinal Egan’s recent health issues.. At the request of Cardinal Edward Egan, tomorrow’s anticipated launch of The Catholic Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio “has been put on hold for the next few weeks.” As the archdiocese is responsible for putting together the channel’s content, Zwilling — who has served as the chief liaison for the project since its May announcement — said Egan’s request was “very reasonable.” The change of time-frame will allow the 74 year-old prelate to take a full part in the launch, the revised date of which was not disclosed....Read More: HERE
9/28/2006 08:18:00 PM
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Sean Hannity Renews With Clear Channel
Clear Channel Re-ups Hannity
September 28, 2006, www.fmqb.comClear Channel Radio announced that it has renewed Talk show host Sean Hannity's contract for another three years. The deal covers 80 markets, including Pittsburgh, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Cincinnati and Minneapolis. Hannity, who has won numerous awards for his show, including the National Association Of Broadcasters' 2003, 2004 and 2005 Marconi awards for Talk Show Host Of The Year, is heard by over 15 million listeners a week on over 500 stations. "Sean has done an incredible job producing great ratings and, most importantly, desirable demographics for our stations," says Sean Compton, Clear Channel's VP Of Programming. "Clear Channel program directors were early believers in my show five years ago, and I'm thrilled our partnership continues into 2010," commented Hannity Terms of the contract were not disclosed...Read more: HERE9/28/2006 08:13:00 PM
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WMG, Universal In Video Disputes With Yahoo!, Fuse
Yahoo! and Fuse in video dispute with WMG and Universalwww.fmqb.comAs the relationships involving labels and video content become more complex, Warner Music Group and Universal Music have pulled their clips off two major outlets. WMG has asked Yahoo! Music to stop showing its artists' videos and Universal has pulled its videos from cable network Fuse. According to The Wall Street Journal, Warner claims that Yahoo! was not putting enough promotion behind its artists' videos. As for Universal, the label and the network were unable to come to a new agreement where Fuse would have paid UMG for the right to show its videos. Earlier this month, WMG became the first major label to sign a video deal with YouTube...READ MORE: HERE9/28/2006 07:56:00 PM
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TheStreet.com: XMSR Is A Turnaround Story
Twin Turnaround StoriesBy Jim CramerRealMoney.com Columnist9/28/2006 7:37 AM This column was originally published on RealMoney on Sept. 27 at 11:55 a.m. EDT. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers. Two turnaround stories are garnering a lot of attention today, and I am one-for-two with them. First, the good. We are seeing XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) paying down debt so it has longevity. Bear Stearns has an excellent note today talking about how XM can now borrow money. The implication is that any liquidity problems are behind it, so the stock is going higher...READ MORE: HERE9/28/2006 07:54:00 PM
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Content Challenged Radio
 September 28, 2006 Yesterday we here at SSG decided to give the old radio we used to listen to a new label......Content Challenged Radio Today we will look at what Content Challenged Radio is offering of consumers: 1. About 8 hours of Commercials Every Day 2. Limited Variety 3. Limited Coverage Area So, as a consumer, you can choose 8 hours of commercials, limited variety, and limited coverage, or move to the alternative wich costs only 43 cents per day. That alternative is satellite radio. Satellite Radio offers: 1. No commercials on music channels (XM does have 5 channels programmed by that Content Challenged company known as Clear Channel). 2. Ultimate Variety. Literally dozens of music channels covering every genre. 3. Unlimited Coverage in North America. Think of it as "free roaming" from cell phone days gone by. Thats it....... 8 hours of commercials vs. 43 cents.......What is your choice?9/28/2006 03:34:00 PM
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SSG ShoutOut
September 28, 2006 The weekend is fast approaching, and we will once again be publishing the SHOUTOUTS for the week. There is still time to get your SSG SHOUT submitted. Simply Click on the Shoutout link in the left sidebar, and give us your comments. Do You feel there was something interesting this week with Sirius or XM? If so, SHOUTOUT. What did you think of the Oprah launch? SHOUTOUT What do you think of the Stiletto Launch? SHOUTOUT Do you have an opinion on an article? SHOUTOUT. Shoutout was created so that SSG readers can let their opinions be know. 9/28/2006 02:35:00 PM
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Now We Know Why Sirius Is Down Today...
Certainly nothing new here...this is (and has been consistently) disclosed and discussed in all Sirius filings. Could this be yet another story "planted" by shorts who need to cover before holiday sales ramp up...? Sirius Satellite Radio may be overstating growth(theflyonthewall.com 09/28 12:34:15) According to an article in The Street, XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) have different measurements for newly-acquired customers. Sirius apparently pads its subscription numbers by counting unsold, satellite radio-equipped cars that are sitting in dealers' lots. To Sirius's credit, automakers usually pay Sirius up front for a year of radio service, so the company is actually getting revenue from these vehicles. XM Satellite Radio has been accused of using similarly tactics by counting subscribers that are on promotional plans, but XM supposedly delineates between the two categories in its quarterly filings. XM does not count vehicle-based subscriptions until a car has been purchased and the radio activated. 9/28/2006 02:26:00 PM
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Needham Initiates Directed Electronics With Buy
Live In Play ( www.briefing.com) 28-Sep-06 08:14 DEIX Directed Electronics initiated with a Buy at Needham- tgt $20 (15.54 ) Needham initiates DEIX with a Buy and a $20 tgt saying they believe Directed is well positioned to grow EPS 10-15% over the next three years on continued rapid adoption of satellite radio, double-digit growth in the co's Home Audio segment and the integration of recently acquired Polk Audio. 9/28/2006 01:33:00 PM
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Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Stiletto Remote
 September 27, 2006 just in case you were interested. Here it is. 9/27/2006 10:53:00 PM
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Saladworks Gets Sirius
 September 27, 2006 AMTC tosses Sirius another business account!!!!! Saladworks Saves Green With SIRIUSBusinessClearwater, FL, September 27, 2006 - Conshohocken, PA-based Saladworks, Inc., has made SIRIUS Satellite Radio their official restaurant background music. The service, SIRIUSBusiness, provided by Applied Media Technologies Corporation (AMTC), consists of 67 channels of commercial-free music from SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI). Under the agreement, AMTC will also provide sound equipment to the company’s locations. "Just as eating right doesn't have to mean feeling less than satisfied, eating casually doesn’t have to mean an environment without ambiance. With SIRIUS music, our customers can dine in a comfortable, casual environment and still enjoy excellent music," insisted Joe Giannetti, Vice President of Franchise Services at Saladworks. "The $24.95, no-contract service will allow Saladworks operators to enhance their customer’s dining pleasure with the best business music available, while saving them money that can be put into quality food and service," continued Dan Hecht, Director of Special Programs for AMTC. Saladworks offers customers a quick, healthy meal made from the freshest, top-quality ingredients that satisfies even the heartiest appetite. Not only is Saladworks showing amazing growth but also the majority of our franchisees go on to open additional locations. With close to 80 locations nation-wide, Saladworks has received numerous industry awards and recognition. For further information, go to www.saladworks.com. Privately held AMTC is headquartered in Clearwater, FL. AMTC is the exclusive provider of SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) for business use, under the brand name SIRIUSBusiness. SIRIUSBusiness includes 69 channels of 24-hour, commercial-free music, with all music royalties paid, and presents the first meaningful competition for Muzak in the business music arena. AMTC also manufactures a full line of professional sound equipment and provides
TelAdvantage, the world’s most recognized brand of telephone "on hold" messaging products and services. Since 1991, AMTC has served over 15,000 customers around the globe, including names like Bally Total Fitness, Bridgestone-Firestone, Continental Airlines, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co. and Morgan Stanley. For further information on SIRIUSBusiness or TelAdvantage, visit www.amtc.com.
Contact:
Laura Randall Simon
Director of Public Relations
Applied Media Technologies Corporation
800.741.2682, ext. 138
lsimon@amtc.com
http://www.amtc.com
9/27/2006 10:26:00 PM
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What's In A name?
September 27, 2006 What Is In A Name? If you are involved in satellite radio, you have likely heard several names that have been “tagged” to SDARS by organizations such as the NAB. They tend to label satellite radio as “PAY RADIO” or “SUBSCRIBER RADIO”, while at the same time assigning labels with more positive connotations to themselves. They refer to themselves as “FREE RADIO”. NAB radio stations are coming up with many ways to downplay the fact that they carry a lot of commercials. They even employ strategies to downplay their commercials. One Jack FM station has D.J.’s make statements such as, “Were going into commercials, and these companies pay big bucks to advertise, so do us a favor and pretend you are listening to them”, or “They spend thousands making these commercials, but we are going to let you listen to them for free”. Sounds like a used car salesman telling a potential buyer that the dents in the fenders “add character”. Why do they do this? The answer is simple. Apply a “bad” label to your competition and a “positive” label to yourself, and hope that the stigma of the bad label resonates with consumers while the good label props you up. Well, given the current track of the NAB, it would appear that it is time for satellite radio fans, consumers, and investors to strap on the gloves. No longer will we call AM and FM “TERRESTRIAL RADIO”. We are simply being to kind. Perhaps “COMMERCIAL RADIO” would be a better label to use. It describes the content of 20 minutes of every hour that these radio stations heap upon consumers. Maybe “2/3” radio would work, and for the same reasons. Perhaps “LIMITED SELECTION RADIO” would be a suitable moniker. After all, many parts of the country do indeed have a very limited selection. This one is “politically correct”, but is descriptive……”CONTENT LIMITED RADIO” Perhaps those that have made the switch are now conditioned to commercial free music and the ultimate variety. Perhaps we have forgotten how bad it was to spend half of your commute listening to a life insurance pitch followed by a personal injury attorney spot followed by an ad on how to fix your leaky basement and then followed by 3 or 4 more ads. Those that have made the switch have seen the light. This has the NAB worried. This has the NAB pulling out all of the stops. This has the NAB taking every step possible to downplay satellite radio. Why is the NAB so scared? They have good reason to be. For 43 cents per day, consumers can put an end to ad after ad. They can get diverse content that suits their desires. They can get a radio signal that works from coast to coast and does not fade out. So, it boils down to this……..If the NAB wants to call satellite radio “PAY RADIO”, they can………BUT……..I will now make it a point to drop the more friendly “TERRESTRIAL RADIO” moniker, and adopt a new and more descriptive name. Do you SSG readers have any interesting suggestions? 9/27/2006 10:14:00 PM
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XM Loses Arbitration Claim For Satellite Insurance
XM Loses Satellite Insurance Arbitration(posted by www.orbitcast.com), Sept 27, 2006 XM Satellite Radio in a recent SEC filing reported that they have lost their arbitration claim to recover the remaining 20% of the value of the two Boeing 702 class satellites put in orbit (XM-1 and XM-2). In July 2004, XM reached agreement with insurers that covered 80% of the amount insured. The problem lies with a progressive solar array power degradation issue that is common to the first six Boeing 702 class satellites put in orbit. XM-1 and XM-2 just happen to be the fifth and sixth Boeing 702s launched. XM walked away with about$142 million from the insurers thanks to this. In August 2004, XM filed for arbitration to get the remaining 20% of the insured amount. It's this claim was rejected, and no further proceeds will be given. Oh well. You win some, you lose some....READ MORE: HERE9/27/2006 09:35:00 PM
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Sirius Devotes Channel To George Strait
SIRIUS Satellite Radio Will Devote an Entire Channel to Country Star George StraitStrait's entire catalog, including his forthcoming new album, will be featured NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio will devote an entire commercial-free channel to the music of George Strait, starting this Friday, September 29 at 6 am ET. The special broadcast will air through October 3 as channel 61, Prime Country, goes "Strait Up." The channel will feature all George Strait music, including his upcoming new album, It Just Comes Natural, being released this Tuesday, October 3 by MCA Nashville. Music from his entire career, including live cuts and album tracks, along with excerpts from a recent interview with Strait, will be part of the exclusive channel...READ MORE: HERE9/27/2006 08:56:00 PM
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Schaeffer's Research Comments On Sirius Options
Schaeffer's Daily Market Blog Features: Gap, Sirius Satellite Radio, Newmont Mining, StreetTRACKS Gold Trust, Reynolds American
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE), Sept 27, 2006 Among the stocks featured in the September 27 edition of Schaeffer's Market Blog are Gap (NYSE:GPS), Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI), Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM), StreetTRACKS Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD), and Reynolds American (NYSE:RAI)... ...1:24 PM Options Surging on Sirius
With Howard Stern now reiterating (ad nauseam) that he isn't going anywhere now or ever (despite recent erroneous claims in the press to the contrary), investors feel confident in putting some additional speculative money into Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) . What's more, speculative players are looking long term, trading large blocks on the January 2008 5 strike (YFW AA) and the January 2009 5 strike (OAJ AA). More than 14,000 options have traded on each of these out-of-the-money strikes in today's trading. Prior to today, these long-term calls were home to 99,000 and 9,900 open positions, respectively. Given the similarity in volume and strike price, it is likely that this volume is related. Sure enough, a quick check of the trade details reveals two blocks of 7,000 contracts apiece that crossed the tape shortly after 1:00 p.m. on the 2009 call position, trading near the bid price. These two blocks were each designated as a "spread." The 2008 position saw one block of 14,000 contracts go off between the bid and the ask price at the same time. Naturally, this was also flagged as a "spread." SIRI shares have certainly seen better days; the stock has slumped more than 90 percent from its March 2000 peak. The stock continues to fight with resistance from its 10-week and 20-week moving averages. Options players aren't merely interested in LEAPS positions; the front-month series is home to more than 10,000 open calls at the out-of-the-money 4 strike, while the December series boasts heavy open interest on the 4 and 5 calls...READ MORE: HERE9/27/2006 08:52:00 PM
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AWESOME Demonstration of Stiletto
 September 27, 2006 As you may be aware, the Stiletto was launched yesterday at DemoFall'06. The photo in this article is directly from that presentation. Enough with my words, watch the video for yourself...... You can watch this video by visiting HEREThose that are interested can pre-order the Stiletto through TSS Radio. 9/27/2006 03:04:00 PM
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Maggie Moo's Gets Sirius
 September 27, 2006 AMTC has been very busy signing up Sirius business accounts. The lattest addition is Maggie Moo's. For Immediate Release MaggieMoo’s Serves SIRIUS Music in Treateries Clearwater, FL, September 20, 2006 - MaggieMoo’s International, LLC has announced that it has selected SIRIUSBusiness as the background music for its treateries throughout the United States. SIRIUSBusiness, provided by Applied Media Technologies Corporation (AMTC), consists of 67 channels of 24-hour, commercial-free music from SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI). Under the agreement, AMTC will also provide sound equipment to the company’s locations. "From their beloved, pearl-adorned 'spokescow' to the delicious ice cream treats, MaggieMoo’s offers an unforgettable experience to every guest! The addition of SIRIUS music to their treateries will only add to the welcoming atmosphere they achieve," concluded Tom Coppola, Sales Manager at AMTC. "We are delighted to have them as part of the SIRIUS family." "SIRIUS background music helps our employees enjoy their work and this translates into a memorable experience for our guests. We don’t just provide award-winning ice cream, we also provide an entertaining atmosphere, and upbeat music is essential to setting the energy and the overall brand tone," indicated Debbie Benedek, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing. Based in Columbia, MD, MaggieMoo’s currently operates more than 190 Treateries across the nation. Each location features a menu of freshly made premium ice creams, mix-ins, smoothies and custom ice cream cakes. MaggieMoo’s chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, vanilla bean and strawberry ice cream flavors all have been awarded The National Ice Cream Retailers Association’s prestigious Blue Ribbon Award, for taste, texture and overall appearance for eight years running. MaggieMoo’s is the only national retail concept to win all five awards. Privately held AMTC is headquartered in Clearwater, FL. AMTC is the exclusive provider of SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) for business use, under the brand name SIRIUSBusiness. SIRIUSBusiness includes 69 channels of 24-hour, commercial-free music, with all music royalties paid, and presents the first meaningful competition for Muzak in the business music arena. AMTC also manufactures a full line of professional sound equipment and provides TelAdvantage, the world’s most recognized brand of telephone "on hold" messaging products and services. Since 1991, AMTC has served over 15,000 customers around the globe, including names like Bally Total Fitness, Bridgestone-Firestone, Continental Airlines, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co. and Morgan Stanley. For further information on SIRIUSBusiness or TelAdvantage, visit http://www.amtc.com/. Contact:Laura Randall SimonDirector of Public RelationsApplied Media Technologies Corporation800.741.2682, ext. 138 mailto:lsimon@amtc.com?subject=Inquiryhttp://www.amtc.com/9/27/2006 11:05:00 AM
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Soccer Gets Even More Sirius
  September 27, 2006 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Adds UEFA Champions League Soccer to Unequaled Sports Programming Lineup
SIRIUS to air live matches featuring the world's premier club competition in IMG Media deal NEW YORK, Sept 27, 2006 Sirius Satellite Radio announced today an agreement that will expand SIRIUS' soccer coverage to include live matches from the UEFA Champions League, featuring the best club soccer teams in the world. The agreement was concluded between SIRIUS and IMG Media, the content, production, delivery and distribution arm of sports and entertainment marketing agency IMG. SIRIUS' UEFA Champions League coverage kicks off Wednesday, September 27 at 2:45 pm ET with live play-by-play of Inter Milan v. Bayern Munich on channel 125. SIRIUS will air Champions League matches Wednesdays throughout the competition on channel 125, featuring some of the world's most celebrated teams -- Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid and others -- as they compete for one of the most coveted titles in sports. "With the addition of UEFA Champions League soccer to the SIRIUS sports lineup, listeners will have access to the matches that feature the best soccer talent in the world -- players like Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Ronaldo and World Cup star Fabio Cannavaro," said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS' President, Entertainment and Sports. "With our live coverage of the Champions League and the English Premier League, plus our expert talk shows, SIRIUS provides fans with superb soccer programming every day of the week." The Champions League is the most prestigious soccer club competition in the world, run by the UEFA -- the governing body for European soccer -- and draws the 32 most talented teams from the best leagues in Europe to compete and produce the world's finest perennial soccer contest. The Champions League season runs from July through May and is comprised of three qualifying rounds, a group stage and four knockout rounds. SIRIUS' coverage will include select Group Stage matches and all knockout phase matches, culminating in the one-match Championship final which will take place this season in Athens on May 23. Miles Palmer, IMG Media's Head of Audio Sales and Distribution Worldwide, said: "We are pleased to continue our relationship with SIRIUS and supply these prestigious soccer games to SIRIUS for its subscribers. These games are arguably the best club competition in the world." Every Wednesday afternoon on channel 125, SIRIUS will present The Football Show with Giorgio Chinaglia and Charlie Stillitano. On the program, which debuts September 27 (5-8pm ET), Chinaglia, the famed former New York Cosmos and Italian National team striker, and Stillitano, the former GM of the New York New Jersey Metrostars, will review the performances from the Champions League and take an overall look at teams and leagues around the world. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of Barclays English Premier League and carries multiple live Premiership soccer matches each week on channels 125 and 110. SIRIUS listeners can hear the 20 best teams in the U.K. -- including legendary rivals Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal -- compete all season long for the league title. SIRIUS is also the Official Satellite Radio Partner of Chelsea Football Club and airs every Chelsea Premier League game live, providing listeners in the U.S. and Canada with Chelsea's official radio broadcast. In addition to live match coverage, SIRIUS subscribers can tune in to World Soccer Daily, the popular daily talk program that provides an in-depth look at the game with news, expert analysis and interviews with the sport's most intriguing personalities. Hosted by Steven Cohen and Nick Geber, World Soccer Daily airs every weekday from 1-3pm ET exclusively on SIRIUS, channel 125. For more information and a schedule of upcoming matches on SIRIUS, visit http://www.sirius.com/ . SIRIUS is also the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA, NHL and Wimbledon Championships. SIRIUS provides sports news, talk and play-by-play action for more than 150 colleges, including the entire NCAA(R) Division I Men's Basketball Championship, plus several of the year's top thoroughbred horse races. Starting in 2007, SIRIUS will be the official satellite radio home of NASCAR. About SIRIUS SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels. SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA and NHL and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95. SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at shop.sirius.com. SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep(R), Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Scion, Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country. About IMG IMG is the world's premier Sports, Entertainment and Media Company. IMG is a diversified global business with two major business segments: IMG Sports & Entertainment, and IMG Media. IMG employs over 2,300 people in 30 countries. Forstmann Little & Co. purchased IMG in 2004. IMG Sports & Entertainment includes: consulting services; event ownership and management; fashion events and models representation; licensing; golf course design; client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting, European football, rugby, cricket, motorsports, coaching, Olympic sports and action sports. In addition, IMG Academies are the world's largest and most advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport training and educational facility, delivering world-class sports training experiences to over 12,000 junior, collegiate, adult and professional athletes each year. IMG Media, which includes our content production subsidiaries TWI, Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP) and Tiger Aspect Productions (TAP), is recognized as a global leader in the delivery of traditional and new media content and services, with Internet, broadband and mobile expertise, transforming how audiences access and interact with content. IMG Media produces and distributes over 10,000 hours of sports, documentary, drama, comedy, entertainment, popular factual and children's content annually, over multiple platforms across 200 countries, including award-winning television and radio programming. It also represents the broadcast rights to many of the world's premier sporting events and has the world's biggest sports archive with more than 200,000 hours of footage. More information about IMG is available at http://www.imgworld.com/ , http://www.darlowsmithson.com/ and http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/ . Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance with respect to SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and, accordingly, such statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on our operational results are: our dependence upon third parties, including manufacturers of SIRIUS radios, retailers, automakers and programming partners, our competitive position and any events which affect the useful life of our satellites. 9/27/2006 09:50:00 AM
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Celebrate with SSG
  September 27, 2006 Yesterday marked 6 months that SSG has been publishing. In celebration of that we have decided to offer readers a little something special. We are offering fifty $5.00 coupons to TSS Radio, and fifty $5.00 rebate coupons to SSG Radio Store HERE ARE THE DETAILS 1. Coupons valid through October 31, 2006. Please be courtious and apply only if you intend to use them. 2. Coupons valid on product purchases of $50 or higher. 3. Those that qualify will receive a UNIQUE COUPON CODE. This code will need to be remitted in order to receive your $5.00 discount or rebate. 4. Coupons can not be combined with any other offers from TSS Radio or SSG Radio Store. These coupons will not impact manufacturer rebates. 5. For TSS Radio, the $5.00 Coupon will be discounted at the time of purchase upon submission of a valid UNIQUE COUPON CODE. 6. For SSG Radio Store, the $5.00 Rebate Coupon, will be forwarded after the sale. Simply e-mail your UNIQUE COUPON CODE along with a copy of your receipt. Rebates will be processed and forwarded withn 2 weeks. 7. Request your UNIQUE COUPON CODE by sending an E-mail to ssgpromotions@gmail.com Please put "TSS Radio" or "SSG Radio Store" in the subject line. We will E-mail those that qualify their UNIQUE COUPON CODE. 8. Enjoy, and Thank You. 9/27/2006 09:36:00 AM
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Bank of America: Still Loyal To XMSR Through Thick And Thin!
Bank of America: Still pushing XMSR over SIRI, no matter what!Seriously, doesn't Jacoby have anything else to do besides put out the same reports weekly?! The last note that mentions the long XM, short Siri pair trade was as recent as Sept 18th ( LINK). Today's release is worded curiously...he thinks that there is risk to XM's net adds, says Siri has retained more market share, but still recommends going long XM and short Siri. Go figure...! XMSR/SIRI pair trade still has legs - BofA( www.briefing.com, In Play) Banc of America sees roughly 10% risk to their 3Q net-addition est of 325k for XM Satellite (XMSR) given continued sluggish retail sales for the industry and evidence that Sirius Satellite (SIRI) has retained a bit more share. They think SIRI should meet or beat their 449k net-addition est (possibly by 20k), which it may announce shortly after XMSR reports its figures. Firm says they still think the pair trade has legs because as the business evolves into an OEM driven model, XMSR is better positioned. Also, they see risk to SIRI's '06 sub guidance of 6.3 mln.. 9/27/2006 08:38:00 AM
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Mac Streaming Support Works on Sirius.com
 September 27th, 2006 Mac Support is back working for www.sirius.com and the streaming media service. However, keep in mind that you should have Flip4Mac's WMV Player installed so that streaming works properly in your Safari web browser. To download it, drop by: http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_download.htmOnce you install it, restart your computer (or at the very least your web browser) and Sirius Radio streaming should work properly, including the new SIR. By the way, the latest version of Flip4Mac is Universal, meaning it supports both Intel Macs and PowerPC Macs running OS X. 9/27/2006 02:04:00 AM
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Tuesday, September 26, 2006 XM Files 5 Documents with SEC
September 26, 2006 Today XM satellite radio filed 5 documents with the SEC. The filings were as follows: 1. 8-K - Report of Unscheduled Material Events or Corporate Event - Current Event 2. SC TO-I - Tender Offer Schedule and Amendment Filed By Issuer - Mergers & Aquisitions 3. 4 - Statement of Changes of Beneficial Ownership of Securities - 3,4,5 4. SC 13 D/A - An Amendment to an SC 13 filing - Other 5. 4 - Statement of Changes of Beneficial Ownership of Securities - 3,4,5 Interested SG readers can see the filings HERE9/26/2006 11:14:00 PM
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Exclusive Zing Photos From DEMOfall (via www.gizmodo.com)
  Exclusive Zing Photos (via www.gizmodo.com) DEMO is a bust for hardware geeks, but we did catch a live Zing music player—you know that one that uses WiFi to download internet radio and Sirius. The nice lady showing it off told me that they weren't announcing anything right now, but gave us a little tour of the player, as well as a chance to see how it stacks up to the Sirius Stiletto, which looked just hulking next to the cute little Zing. Granted, Zing has no Sat receiver, but it did have...a really cool menu system that didn't take you out of your song playback screen. Come to think of it, it reminded me of OS X's dock. And the wheel wasn't touch based, but it seemed to work ok for a not-iPod.–Brian Lam...READ MORE: HERE9/26/2006 11:11:00 PM
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Wall Street Journal: Sirius Has Reached Agreements With Most Major Music Companies
 Sirius Unveils Portable Radio
A WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE NEWS ROUNDUP, September 26, 2006 6:09 p.m. Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. unveiled its first handheld device that lets subscribers listen to and record live satellite radio programming without connecting to a personal computer. Sirius's Stiletto 100 lets users listen to and record live programming. Sirius's new device, the Stiletto 100, will also allow users to flag songs for purchasing later by using music management software from Yahoo Inc. It will go on sale later this month for $350. The Stiletto has two gigabytes of storage space that can hold up to 100 hours of Sirius content or MP3 music files from a user's personal collection. Sirius said it is compatible with most Windows-based online music stores and services. Songs that have been purchased online can be transferred to the device. In order to receive live signals the Stiletto will need to have a clear line of sight to the satellite. It will also feature wireless Internet connectivity, or Wi-Fi, allowing users to listen to Sirius channels by streaming over the Internet at a Wi-Fi "hotspot." Although New York-based Sirius currently sells a portable device, the S50 can only download Sirius radio streams when docked to a computer. The new Stiletto closes a gap with rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., which introduced a wireless device called the Inno that receives live programming earlier this year. The Stiletto lets users save individual songs from live radio broadcasts by pressing a button on the device. A similar feature on the Inno rankled the recording industry, which filed a lawsuit earlier this year against XM challenging the legality of Inno's recording feature. Sirius spokesman Patrick Reilly said the company had reached agreements with "most" of the major music companies that resolved their concerns over the Stiletto. He declined to identify the companies or to disclose the terms of the agreements.
Sirius, which added radio host Howard Stern to its lineup earlier this year, has been gaining on XM in the past few quarters. Sirius says it is on track to have 6.3 million subscribers by the end of 2006, while XM expects to end the year with between 7.7 million and 8.2 million customers. Both companies have been spending heavily to build up their subscriber bases and programming lineups and have yet to report profit...READ MORE: HERE9/26/2006 10:30:00 PM
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Sirius Stiletto: CNET Editor's First Take, Review To Follow
CNET editors' take for Sirius Stiletto 100
By: James Kim, Post date: 9/26/2006 Sirius Stiletto 100 File the Stiletto 100 under "Top gadget rumors of 2006." We now have official details about the much-ballyhooed Sirius gadget. First, it's a compact portable Sirius satellite-radio receiver that can record programming (you can also pause and rewind TiVo-style). Competitor XM already has a couple of like devices in the Samsung Helix and the Pioneer Inno. But the Stiletto includes integrated Wi-Fi, so it can hop onto the Sirius online network to stream songs. Available "this month" ( website states October 4 shipping), the Stiletto (measuring 4.7 by 2 by 1 inches), offers 100 hours of recordable storage (2GB), and the Wi-Fi aspect gives subscribers access "to all of Sirius's 64 commercial-free music channels, plus Howard Stern's two channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, OutQ, and other original talk programming." That can be extremely useful indoors, and just the thought of dual streams--one from space, the other via the Internet--makes this gadget a wonder. The included Yahoo Music Jukebox is simply an application that will allow you to manage and purchase the tracks that you added as favorites--nothing too extraordinary about that. The device is an MP3/WMA player with a 2.2-inch screen. You also get 30 channel presets, and the ability to pause and rewind live radio back 60 minutes. From the release: Stiletto 100, with a MSRP of $349.99, will include the radio, standard battery, slim battery, AC power adapter, headset antenna, earbuds, PC cable, My Sirius Studio software, and Yahoo Music Jukebox software."...READ MORE: HERE9/26/2006 10:22:00 PM
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Satellite Standard is 6 Months Old
 September 26, 2006 Today marks 6 months since Satellite Standard Group launched. The site has changed in look and grown throughout this process, and we constantly make efforts to improve the site. Reader comments and suggestions are always welcome, and we hope to continue to be a source of timely and valuable information for our readers. Some Satellite Standard Group Tid-Bits. Days Since Inception - 184 Page Loads Since Inception - over 400,000 Average Page Loads Per Day - over 2,200 Most Page Loads In One Day - over 23,000 Posts Published - 1,210 Average Posts Per Day - 6.58 Alexa Ranking - 521,449 Technorati Ranking - 80,397 The first 6 months has been great, and we want the next 6 months to be even better. We would like to extend a special thanks to those that support this site. Cheers! 9/26/2006 02:50:00 PM
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Sirius To Air Coverage of the 2006 California Goveror and First Lady's Conference on Women
September 26, 2006 California First Lady Maria Shriver to host special coverage of conference on exclusive national radio broadcast partner SIRIUS Featured speaker Martha Stewart's speech to be broadcast live on Martha Stewart Living Radio. Judith Regan on-site to tape special edition of 'The Judith Regan Show' NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - SIRIUS Satellite Radio SIRI today announced that it is the exclusive national radio partner of the 2006 California Governor and First's Lady's Conference on Women. California First Lady Maria Shriver will host special coverage of the event for SIRIUS. Taking place on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at the Convention Center in Long Beach, California, the sold-out California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women -- the largest of its kind -- brings together over 13,000 women of all generations and backgrounds for an extraordinary and transformative daylong experience. Celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme Connect Today, Seize Tomorrow, the 2006 Conference once again features world-renowned speakers and panelists who address the issues and topics most important to women today. California First Lady Maria Shriver will host special coverage of the event for SIRIUS. Shriver will conduct exclusive interviews with select featured guests and speakers. In addition, SIRIUS will broadcast portions of select speeches from the main stage. The stellar lineup of over 60 esteemed speakers includes Shriver, Martha Stewart, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, Suze Orman, Anna Quindlen, Maureen Dowd, Tyra Banks, Tim Russert, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the first ever address to a women's conference by his Holiness the Dalai Lama. The California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women special will air multiple times throughout the weekend of October 13-15, 2006 on SIRIUS Stars channel 102. The exact times will be announced on www.sirius.com. Featured speaker Martha Stewart's speech will be broadcast live on September 26 on Martha Stewart Living Radio, SIRIUS Channel 112, at 8:58 am PT. In addition, Judith Regan will tape a special edition of her SIRIUS show, The Judith Regan Show, to be broadcast at a later date on SIRIUS Stars channel 102. Regan will interview California First Lady Maria Shriver and other featured speakers. "It is an honor to partner with California First Lady Maria Shriver in her efforts to empower and inspire women and address the issues and topics that are most relevant to them," said Scott Greenstein, President, Entertainment and Sports, SIRIUS Satellite Radio. "SIRIUS is committed to offer meaningful and important content and programming for women." SIRIUS offers a wide range of women's programming including Candace Bushnell's Sex, Success and Sensibility; Martha Stewart Living Radio; Cosmo Radio, Lighten Up with Richard Simmons, and two upcoming shows with Barbara Walters, Ask Barbara Anything and Barbara Walters' The Best of the Very Best. The California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women engages and empowers women to be architects of change. Enriched, inspired, and connected, those women touched by the Women's Conference in some way are ready to lead, to serve and to create positive change in their lives, their communities and their state. 9/26/2006 02:23:00 PM
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Oprah Delivers The Advertisers
Oprah Delivers for XM Satellite
Best Ad Sales for Launch in Radio Service's Five-Year History By Meredith Deliso Published: September 25, 2006 NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Oprah apparently wields the same kind of clout on the radio as she does on TV. The prolific talk-show host joins the airwaves today with "Oprah & Friends," original programming created and produced by Harpo Radio for XM Satellite Radio. The $55 million, three-year agreement is being billed as the most successful channel launch in XM's five-year history in terms of ad sales. Advertisers including Acuvue, Dove, GE, Iams, JC Penney, SlimFast, Splenda, Target, Warners TrueFit, AirTran, Honda and Rinnai have bought into Oprah's XM radio show. Photo Credit: WireImageThe biggest boost "Oprah & Friends" has already brought to XM is a swath of new advertisers: Acuvue, Dove, General Electric, Iams, JC Penney, SlimFast, Splenda, Target and Warners TrueFit join existing sponsors AirTran, Honda Motors and Rinnai...READ MORE: HERE9/26/2006 01:43:00 PM
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Oprah's First Segment On XMSR
Oprah Lords Over White Folk, Talks Poop on XM
Posted Sep 25th 2006 1:52PM by TMZ Staff (LINK TO AUDIO: HERE) If it wasn't already totally evident that Oprah Winfrey can talk about anything for any length of time, her debut today on her own XM Radio channel just confirmed it. The talk-show queen gabbed with her best pal Gayle King (who called her, inexplicably, "Mommy") on what is nominally King's show on "Oprah & Friends," the satellite channel that launched today. Among many, many other things, Oprah talked about her humble beginnings in Mississippi, and particularly about how her mother's highest aspiration for her was that she might end up cleaning white people's houses, because "they give away nice clothes." And then Oprah pointed out that now that she's Oprah, she has "all these white people" working for her, and that in fact there's only one black person on the staff. Way to turn the tables, girl.Finally -- and this was just in the first fifteen minutes -- Oprah moved onto her most recent favorite topic, excrement. O assured Gayle that the reason she doesn't have children wasn't that she can't deal with poo, or "pooty," as the pair called it. For this -- and whatever follows -- is what XM is paying Oprah $55 million over the next three years. 9/26/2006 10:50:00 AM
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Sirius Zing Is Here!!!
ZING Integrates Live Satellite and Wireless Music in New Class of Connected Digital Media Players
Discovery and Playback of Music Now Brought Together in One Always-on Experience, New SIRIUS Stiletto Personal Satellite Radio Line With ZING Shown in First Public Demonstration at DEMOfall Conference MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and DEMOFALL '06, SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Listening to radio programming is where most people still discover new music and hear live broadcasts.* If you're lucky, and have sticky notes on hand, you can try to remember that hot new tune and add it to your collection later. Ever miss out on your favorite live programs because you are not in the car, near a radio or forgot to schedule a download from your PC? For most people, listening to live broadcasts and playing back old favorites are separate entertainment experiences and involves managing multiple devices that don't easily work together. ZING, a new consumer technology and services company, is streamlining the process and bridging the gap between hearing a new song and ultimately collecting it in your digital music library. ZING wants to help you get your music and entertainment, wherever you are, on one device with the push of a button, and without the sticky notes. "With the explosion of digital audio streams, such as satellite radio and pervasive wireless IP, the world is connected, ready and waiting for the next wave of mobile entertainment," says ZING CEO Tim Bucher. "For the first time, we have the opportunity to deliver great live programming and enable powerful music discovery capabilities on digital music players, going well beyond the playback-only experience offered today." The SIRIUS(R) Stiletto 100 personal satellite radio -- the first digital music player to combine satellite and WiFi, and the first commercially available product based on the ZING Mobile Entertainment Engine -- is paving the way for the new era of connected entertainment and discovery. The Stiletto is being demonstrated here at DEMOfall, along with additional connected entertainment capabilities of the ZING Mobile Entertainment Engine. ZING's platform and collection of software and services provide the intelligent applications, device integration and day-to-day digital data management and services for partner products. "ZING is at the vanguard of the fully-connected, end-to-end entertainment and media experience. This fresh approach brings significant new functionality to the digital music player market," said Chris Shipley, executive producer of the prestigious annual DEMOfall tech industry conference....READ MORE: HERE9/26/2006 10:14:00 AM
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Stiletto Launches
 September 26, 2006 Press Release Source: SIRIUS Satellite Radio SIRIUS Introduces the Stiletto 100, Its First Live Portable Satellite RadioTuesday September 26, 8:00 am ET - Stiletto 100 provides live reception in portable mode, as well as easy access to previously stored programming - Includes WiFi capability, providing access to SIRIUS' Internet radio services anywhere an accessible WiFi network is available - Subscribers can purchase bookmarked songs with Yahoo! Music Jukebox(TM); features easy storage and management of MP3/WMA files NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI - News) today announced the availability of Stiletto 100, the company's first live portable radio, featuring WiFi, Yahoo!(TM) music purchasing software, and the ability to save music subscribers love for playback later. Stiletto 100, available this month, lets users listen to live SIRIUS programming almost anywhere in a small, stylish package. Stiletto 100 allows users to store up to 100 hours of SIRIUS content by: * Automatically recording hours of 100% commercial-free music from listeners' favorite SIRIUS Satellite Radio channels; * Scheduling recordings, of up to 6-hours in length, of favorite talk or music shows; and * Allowing users to save up to 10 hours of individual songs from live SIRIUS Satellite Radio broadcasts by a simple press of the "love" button. Source: SIRIUS Satellite Radio The Stiletto 100 features WiFi capability for connection to SIRIUS' Internet radio services, an exciting feature useful for listening anywhere an accessible WiFi network is available. SIRIUS' Internet radio services provide subscribers with access to all of SIRIUS' 64 commercial free music channels, plus Howard Stern's two channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, OutQ, and other original talk programming. User's own MP3/WMA files can also be stored on the Stiletto 100 and managed with the included My SIRIUS Studio(TM) software for Windows(TM) PCs. Stiletto 100 is compatible with most Windows-based Internet music providers' download and subscription services. The Yahoo! Music Jukebox(TM) software will be conveniently included with the Stiletto 100 package. Any individual song bookmarked by the user on the Stiletto 100 is moved into a favorites list, which can be accessed by a PC application when the unit is connected to user's computer. The application allows users to look up and purchase songs, full albums, or explore artists' other offerings through the Yahoo! Music Jukebox (TM) software or other compatible online music download or subscription services. Once the song is purchased or rented, it can be transferred onto the Stiletto 100. Measuring 4.7" x 2.0" x 1", Stiletto 100 stores up to 100 hours of live SIRIUS Satellite Radio programming (2 GB), has a large 2.2" bright display, Aurora graphic user interface and a six-way navigation control that provides easy one handed access to all features and content. Stiletto 100, with a MSRP of $349.99, will include the radio, standard battery, slim battery, AC power adaptor, headset antenna, ear buds, PC cable, My SIRIUS Studio(TM) software and Yahoo! Music Jukebox(TM) software. Other features of the Stiletto 100 include 30 channel presets; SIRIUS Replay(TM), which allows users to pause, rewind and replay 60 minutes of live radio; Game Alert(TM), which prompts the listener when favorite games are being broadcast and alerts when scores change; Game Zone(TM), listing all of the users favorite teams in one virtual category; and parental controls and channel lockout. A vehicle kit (MSRP $69.95) home kit (MSRP $69.95), executive system (MSRP $149.95), additional batteries and headphones, and other accessories will also be available. The Stiletto 100 incorporates the SIRIUS Universal Connector, which will enable use in a wide variety of audio systems and accessories being developed by partner manufacturers. About SIRIUS SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels. SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA and NHL and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95. SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at shop.sirius.com. SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep®, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Scion, Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country. Click on http://www.sirius.com/ to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance with respect to SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and, accordingly, such statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on our operational results are: our dependence upon third parties, including manufacturers of SIRIUS radios, retailers, automakers and programming partners, our competitive position and any events which affect the useful life of our satellites. 9/26/2006 10:09:00 AM
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UBSW: Analyst Comments On XMSR
XM Satellite: Oprah launches; inventory still being replenished - UBS (13.42 )( www.briefing.com, In Play) UBS says today marks the launch of "Oprah and Friends" on XMSR. FIrm says the program has been getting promotion from a number of outlets including Oprah herself on the Oprah Winfrey show. Firm believes this new launch, which contributes to XMSR's female focused lineup, should have a positive impact on subs. Firm expects XMSR to report its subscriber additions next week and est net adds of 305k in 3Q06, which they believe have been negatively impacted by the inventory shortages associated with the FCC recertification process as well as limited marketing and advertising by XMSR during the qrt. Firm believes XMSR is working diligently to fill its supply chain with newly compliant receivers. While firm expects sufficient supply for holiday sales, the added costs of potential air shipments, accelerated distribution, and increased advertising could have a negative impact on subscriber acquisition costs that would carry beyond 3Q and into 4Q. MORE FROM UBSW: XM Satellite-XMSR expect disappointing Q3 growth, reit Neutral@UBSW(theflyonthewall.com 09/26 09:00:23) The firm expects Q3 net adds of 305K in Q3 due to inventory shortages impacted bythe FCC recertification process and limited marketing & advertisingopportunities in the Qtr. S.FO RECO.FLY UBSW.FLY XMSR 9/26/2006 08:50:00 AM
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No Canadian Channels for Non-Sportster4 People?
 September 26th, 2006 Sirius channel updates were posted around 4:50 EDT. However, it is reported by members of Sirius Backstage that the Canadian Channels were not added to their receivers. Sportster 4 owners have had the additional Canadian Channels since the start of the product line. At this point, there is no addition of those channels to our receivers as well. No information has been provided by Sirius at this time. 9/26/2006 07:04:00 AM
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Monday, September 25, 2006 Let Them Know How You Feel
 September 25, 2006 If you are invested in Sirius or XM there is something you should know. There are many out there who have a very strong desire to see these companies fail. It can not be stated more plainly or clearly than that. There are also many out there that enjoy the benefits of satellite radio, and want to see these companies succeed. However, there does exist a split in the satellite radio world between Sirius and XM. Some carry so much animosity towards one company or the other that the “infighting” within the sector gives those that desire satellite radio sector failure an inroads to further drive a wedge between the two companies. Sometimes the “infighting” is not limited to the investors or fans of Sirius and XM, but it is propagated by Sirius and XM themselves. It is a tough road. These companies are competitors, and there is a natural need to compete with each other. What is an investor to do? First, understand the groups that want to see satellite radio as a sector fail, and the potential reasons why they want this to happen. The NABThe National Association of Broadcasters is VERY THREATENED by Sirius and XM. Listeners to satellite radio are not listeners to terrestrial radio. The members of the NAB are losing their audience at a rapid pace. They have an antiquated business plan, and they are coming to that conclusion to late in the game. For this reason, they are stopping at nothing to make life as hard as possible for Sirius, XM, and consumers who buy these services. If you subscriber to, or are invested in either company, you should take these NAB attacks seriously. Let your opinion be known. Contact the NAB at let them know exactly how you feel. The RIAA
Unlike the NAB, the RIAA does not have a desire to see satellite radio fail. They DO have a desire to garner as much money as they though. Were you aware that Sirius and XM pay royalties for every song played? Were you aware that terrestrial radio stations DO NOT? Now the RIAA wants MORE from satellite radio. This organization gets more money today than they ever got before. Hundreds of commercial free music channels all playing music 24 hours per day, and with each song, the tally goes up. Sirius and XM also play diverse music, and have stations dedicated to decades gone by. Artists are receiving BIGGER checks now because of satellite radio. To be fair, artists should get paid. No one feels that their efforts should go unrewarded. However, lets try to be fair about the situation. There is currently legislation that would make free songs to terrestrial radio, and by extension HD radio, the law, while at the same time making it law that satellite radio, and other services would be required to pay more steeply. Contact the RIAA and let them know how you feel. The LegislatureBills are now in the legislature that would not only hamper satellite radio, but would also take away the rights that consumers now enjoy. Do you want to be able to record a song for your own personal use? If you do, you should contact your senator and let them know exactly how you feel. Hedge FundsNot all hedge funds are bad for this sector. When hedge funds are on your side, it can be very beneficial for investors. However, if they are not on your side, it can be very detrimental. Hedge funds have DEEP POCKETS. They have the ability to move the price of an equity very quickly, and can maintain their pressure for days on end. Hedge Funds are nameless and faceless “organizations” to the average investor. There is little that an investor can do to counteract the desires of a hedge fund. Hedge funds are very influential in an uncertain market. Investor insecurities can be played to the advantage of deep pockets. You need to ask yourself the following questions: Do I believe that satellite radio delivers value to the consumer?For those that already subscribe, the answer is quite simple. For those who have not yet subscribed the answer is an unknown until they try it or experience it. With more and more subscriber joining every day, the word is spreading. Do you believe that satellite radio is a viable entity?
Consider this. There are roughly 12,000,000 subscribers to satellite radio today. The United States has over 200,000,000 people. No, not everyone will become a subscriber, but do you think more than the current 5% will be subscribers? That is right, the penetration of satellite radio is only at about 5% right now. This is why some organizations are so fearful of satellite radio.
Why would an organization take such extrodinary steps to discredit satellite radio?Because there is a lot at stake. Each passing quarter their business is evaporating away from them, and migrating to satellite radio. This is why you see organizations attacking these services so strongly. This is why you see stories planted, rumors propagated, and lobbyists on Capitol Hill. What Can I do?First. Understand that there is a time for unity in this sector. Competition between Sirius and XM is a great thing, but don’t let the “internal” competition cloud the bigger picture. Don’t let those that wish sector failure use that healthy competition as a wedge to divide and conquer. Second. Understand where your news is coming from, and look at it more deeply. Research what is being said, and never take it on blind faith. Third. Remember each and every day that there are powerful organizations and deep pockets that want the opposite of what you want. Lastly. LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL 9/25/2006 11:54:00 PM
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Strong Statements About Zing and Sirius
September 25, 2006 The folks at DemoFall'06 had some pretty impressive words about Zing and the Sirius Stiletto. Watch for the stiletto to be launched at DemoFall'06.  9/25/2006 10:32:00 PM
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Stiletto Shipping On October 4th
 Check out the Sirius website, here is the LINKSTILETTO 100 SL100
Model#: SL100 Sleek, stylish, personal, powerful and completely portable. The Stiletto 100 lets you listen to live and recorded SIRIUS almost anywhere. On the go, in the car, at home or in the office—Stiletto 100 also lets you experience SIRIUS Internet Radio. Price: $349.99 Free shipping on all orders over $49.99 Shipments begin October 4, 2006 Stiletto 100 Sleek, stylish, personal, powerful and completely portable. The Stiletto 100 lets you listen to live and recorded SIRIUS almost anywhere. On the go, in the car, at home or in the office—Stiletto 100 also lets you experience SIRIUS Internet Radio over an accessible WiFi network. In addition, it stores SIRIUS’s 100% commercial-free music programming and plays MP3/WMA files plus go online and purchase your favorite tracks for downloads. FEATURES: Live portable reception of SIRIUS programming Stores up to 100 hours of live SIRIUS Satellite Radio programming (2 GB) Automatically records your favorite SIRIUS Satellite Radio 100% commercial-free music One touch recording of up to 10 hours of live, individual songs from SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s 100% commercial-free music Schedule & record up to 6-hour blocks of your music programming, talk or news from SIRIUS Satellite Radio broadcasts. Listen to SIRIUS Internet Radio over an accessible WiFi network Download and manage MP3/WMA files with included My SIRIUS Studio™ software for Windows PCs Bookmark your favorite songs and easily purchase though Yahoo! Music Engine™ provides a simple and easy way for you to purchase, download your favorite SIRIUS songs Compatible with most internet music providers download and subscription services (Not compatible with AAC files) Exclusive Aurora user interface provides easy access to your favorite SIRIUS live and stored content with a bright 2.2" full color display Enhanced media dial with six-way navigation control that puts everything at your fingertips SIRIUS Replay™—Pause, rewind and replay 44 minutes of live radio 30 channel presets Audible channel names GameAlert™—Prompts when your favorite games are being broadcast and alerts you when the scores change GameZone™—Lists all your favorite teams in one category and lets you select a different team from each of the various sport leagues including NFL, NBA, NHL® and college sports Parental Control and Channel Lock Kit includes: Radio Earbuds Antenna headphone for expanded live signal reception Standard and slim batteries PC cable (USB compatible) AC adapter My SIRIUS Studio™ software with Yahoo! Music Engine™ 9/25/2006 09:45:00 PM
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Ghosen Sees A Reluctant GM
 September 25, 2006 Carlos Ghosen seems to feel that GM is reluctant about forming an alliance with Nissan and Renault. There have been several scenerios that have come across the wires including Ford with Nissan and Renault, as well as Ford partnering up with GM. GM is currently restructuring, and the U.S. automaker may well have their desires set on controlling their own outcome rather than make sweeping changes and having partners to answer to. According to an article by Joann Muller of Forbes, there are obvious synergies that are apparent to all parties, but it seems to boil down to whether or not GM wants to give up some aspects control. Article Excerpt: Ghosn Sees GM Reluctant Ahead Of Meeting Joann Muller, 09.25.06, 7:46 PM ET Paris - "If General Motors is to proceed with a proposed three-way alliance with France’s Renault and Japan’s Nissan Motor, it may well come down to the persuasive powers of Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Renault and Nissan, who is scheduled to meet this week in Paris with GM chief G. Richard Wagoner. It looks as if Ghosn will have his work cut out for him. So far, it appears GM (nyse: GM - news - people ) is not convinced. Ghosn’s chief negotiator on the discussions, Patrick Pelata, told a small group of journalists over dinner in Paris Monday that he sees clear benefits from an alliance with GM. “There are synergies--this is obvious.” But whether they are sufficient to convince GM to commit to the kind of sweeping alliance that Ghosn envisions, Pelata said, “I don’t know.” GM, which is in the early stages of recovery after a massive restructuring, insists it is approaching the alliance talks with an open mind. Others say it appears GM believes it can solve its own problems without the added complexity of two partners......." Interested SSG readers can read the entire article HERE9/25/2006 09:13:00 PM
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S50 Now Recertified?
September 25th, 2006 It has been alleged that the S50 grant has been reissued by the FCC today after needing to be re-tested and adjusted for FM Modulation issues. No more information is available at this time, but we will update as the story progresses. 9/25/2006 06:17:00 PM
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Don't Underestimate Oprah!
 Oprah is a force of nature. She has been hugely successful at a wide variety of ventures from television to magazines, from her book club to charities, from theatrical productions to film. She has a particular type of personality that is driven to succeed. Her endorsements catapult unknowns into public awareness, including her fitness trainer and chef, who have become household names. Although there are some who are skeptical about her XMSR launch, primarly because of the non-exclusive nature of the content, I think that she is going to do whatever it takes to make her satellite radio venture a massive success. Good luck, Oprah! 9/25/2006 05:28:00 PM
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Arbitron Trying Figure Out How To Include Satellite Radio
Arbitron Announces Details On Additions To Ratings
September 25, 2006 ( www.fmqb.com) Arbitron has released an update on its plans to add additional radio options into its ratings system. Beginning with the fall of 2006, public and non-commercial stations will be eligible for Arbitron's ratings books. The company is also still working on the specifics for how to report satellite radio. Public and non-comm stations will be included in Arbitron eBooks beginning with the Fall 2006 book, and will still need to meet the company's minimum reporting standards that are currently applied to all other stations. As for satellite radio, Arbitron is still collecting and analyzing data to determine the best possible way to report satellite stations. For example, rules must be established for entries that could apply to satcasters and terrestrial radio. “As an example, we want to test the rules necessary to assign entries such as 'NFL football,' or 'MLB baseball' since these programs are broadcast on both over-the-air radio and satellite,” said Brad Feldhaus, VP Product Management and Client Services. He adds, “We recognize the implementation date for reporting satellite in local markets has moved previously and for this reason we hesitate to provide another target survey date until we have this desired additional data."...READ MORE: HERE9/25/2006 04:41:00 PM
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HD And Satellite Radio: Competition Or Coorperation?
Regarding my post today, " HD and Satellite Radio: Will Co-Exist Like Network & Cable TV", another important feature of HD hardware is that most incorporate satellite radio or is satellite radio ready. Perhaps HD Radio will even spur SatRad subscriptions... Here are just a few products from a retailer's website that incorporate both: Here is an Alpine: DVD/CD player • requires external amplifier • requires external video screen for video playback • GlideTouch™ control strip • BioLite display • plays MP3/WMA files burned onto DVD • built-in HD Radio tuner • Bass Engine® Plus • video output • dual-zone mode • XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio controls • changer control • Alpine iPod® control adapter compatibility Here's an Eclipse: R/W compatible • MP3 playback • three sets of 5V preamp outputs • 3-band EQ • controls for iPod • satellite radio-ready • HD Radio-ready • 14 watts RMS x 4 Here's a Kenwood: CD-R/W, MP3, WMA, and AAC playback • detachable face • 22 watts RMS x 4 • System Q EX Sound Control • SIRIUS, XM, and HD Radio-ready • controls for iPod • 3 sets of 4-volt preamp outputs • remote • changer controls 9/25/2006 03:49:00 PM
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SSG Football Challenge Week 3 Winner
September 25, 2006 Week 3 of the SSG Football Challenge has come to a close. This weeks winner was Ian Zelman of Scottsdale Arizona. Ian correctly picked 10 winners out of 13 games for a winning percentage of 77%. This week there were several people who came in at 10 out of 13, and for the first time we had to use the random drawing to determine the winner. The SSG Football Challenge is currently sponsored by TSS Radio and My Radio Store. Please visit these retailers for your satellite hardware needs. Be it Sirius or XM, these guys have got you covered.   Ian chose a TSS Radio gift certificate for his prize, and states, "I plan on using my prize towards a Sirius Stiletto." About SSG, Ian states, " Satellite Standard Group always gives me the most up to date information about all the news going on in the satellite world."
SSG would like to thank all participants, and encourage you to try again in week 4. Week 4 games will be posted shortly, and you can always access these games in our SSG Football Challenge section of the left sidebar.
9/25/2006 02:32:00 PM
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Puccini's Madame Butterfly On Sirius Tonight
 Sirius Launches Opera Channel Today"Metropolitan Opera Radio" channel will debut on SIRIUS this Monday, September 25th, with a live broadcast of the Met's opening night gala performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, conducted by Music Director James Levine and directed by Anthony Minghella... more9/25/2006 01:44:00 PM
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HD and Satellite Radio: Will Co-Exist Like Network & Cable TV
HD Radio Not in Competition with Sirius or XM Satellite Radio, Says VPPosted by Tom LeBlanc on Sep 21 2006 @ 10:31 AM, www.cepro.comI have written that HD Radio is likely never to catch on. A recent conversation, however, with vice president of retail business development for iBiquity, the developer of HD Radio technology, Bernie Sapienza went a long way toward convincing me otherwise. The conversation coincided with six vendor partners -- Audio Design Associates, Cambridge SoundWorks, Denon, Niles, Onkyo and Rotel -- announcing HD Radio-compatible products at CEDIA Expo. It was a sign of penetration, not only for into the custom installation industry but into the mainstream.... ... There is a perception out there, said Sapienza, that HD Radio and satellite radio are pitted against one another. That's not the case because they can coexist and complement each other. "Radio will likely be the same as TV," he explained, adding that "you have basic cable service with new channels and new content being added all the time just like what's happening in radio with the rollout of HD Radio. If you want the option for pay channels with no limits on content -- like HBO, Showtime, etc. -- these are like XM and Sirius. They co-exist because they offer all kinds of choices to the consumer."..READ MORE: HERE9/25/2006 12:36:00 PM
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Sirius Internet Radio Begins
 September 25, 2006 A new era is set to begin at Sirius Satellite Radio. All of the rumors and speculation have now been confirmed. Sirius has launched Sirius Internet Radio. The service allows subscribers from around the globe to join the Sirius family, and to receive very high quality broadcasts. Over 75 channels will be offered with the service, and that may well grow as the new service develops. Existing subscribers will be able to boost sound quality at a discounted rate. This is a nice way for Sirius to boost ARPU, and to expand to markets where there is no satellite coverage for Sirius. SSG will have more details as they become available. 9/25/2006 12:30:00 PM
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Motley Fool: Sirius Potential
Fool on the Street: Sirius Potential
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz (TMFBreakerRick) September 25, 2006 Imagine, for a second, that you're Sirius Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI). You've spent the last three quarters swiping market share from your only rival. You landed the top dog in terrestrial radio and now Howard Stern is exclusively on your coast-to-coast airwaves. Your product is an easy sell as you lap the 5 million subscriber mark. Your automaker partners keep ramping up the number of cars rolling off the assembly line and, according to NPD, you are commanding 58% of all new satellite radio purchases at the retail level. Yes, life is good. Unfortunately, your shareholders are feeling the pain. After Sirius shares peaked in December of 2004, investors have suffered through a 59% drop. XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR) has had an even grimmer slide -- off by 68% -- but it's got momentum working on its side these days. Since bottoming out two months ago, shares of XM have risen 39% higher, while Sirius has only risen 8% off its springtime lows. Lackluster trading aside, Sirius has a pretty compelling story to tell, and it was the job of CFO David Frear to do just that at the Merrill Lynch Media & Entertainment Conference earlier this month...READ MORE: HERE9/25/2006 11:35:00 AM
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Motley Fool Comments On XM Oprah Launch
XM's Golden Oprah-tunity
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz (TMFBreakerRick) September 25, 2006 This is the "Oprah moment" that XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR) has been waiting for. This morning, XM launched channel 156 as Oprah & Friends. Ever since the satellite radio provider announced the $55 million, three-year deal back in February, investors have been lining up on both sides of the fence. Bulls feel that XM is getting a bargain, drawing the queen of television syndication and a proven celebrity so powerful that she can disrupt the book best-seller lists with a simple nod of the head. Bears counter that unlike the $500 million, five-year deal that Sirius (Nasdaq: SIRI) landed with Howard Stern, Oprah Winfrey is only making a partial commitment to the satellite radio medium, starring in just a weekly one-hour show with no intent of giving up her lucrative television career the way that Stern walked away from terrestrial radio...READ MORE: HERE9/25/2006 10:37:00 AM
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Worldspace Acquires Exclusive Rights For Cricket
WORLDSPACE(R) Satellite Radio Acquires Exclusive Radio Rights for CricketLive Cricket Coverage Further Expands Unique Listening Experience for Subscribers in South Asia & the Middle East Including Primary Market of India SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept 25, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- WORLDSPACE ( WRSP ) , one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, today announced it has signed an exclusive broadcast license agreement with ESPN STAR Sports to provide subscribers with live audio coverage of cricket, further enhancing its content offering and providing consumers with a truly unique listening experience. Under terms of the agreement, PLAY, the WORLDSPACE-branded all sports channel for South Asia and the Middle East, will have exclusive broadcasting rights throughout South Asia for 12 tours and over 200 days of cricket comprising both test matches and one-day internationals. Three of the 12 tours include India -- WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio's primary market in the Asia region. Coverage begins November 19, 2006 with India's tour of South Africa, and runs through February 2008, with conclusion of the India-Sri Lanka-Australia Triangular Series in Australia. "The exclusive acquisition of these premier cricket internationals is another demonstration of WORLDSPACE's continued commitment to providing the best in audio entertainment for our listeners," said Alexander Brown, co-Chief Operating Officer, WORLDSPACE. ...READ MORE: HERE9/25/2006 08:25:00 AM
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Oprah Debuts Today On XMSR
 The Oprah marketing machine sets in motion. Here's the link to the "Oprah & Friends" schedule which is launching today. Hourly slots include: Gayle King, Jean Chatzky, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Robin Smith, & Dr. Maya Angelou. Link: HEREOprah is also scheduled to be on the ABC Morning Show before the market open. 9/25/2006 08:04:00 AM
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Howard's Ad Rates Lower On Satellite, But "Cost-Per-Thousand" May Be Higher
Howard Stern's Ad Rates on Sirius Slump to Low of $5,000Audience Measurement Issues Cited as Barrier to Buyers By Abbey Klaassen Published: September 24, 2006 NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Eight months into his reign at Sirius Satellite Radio, the King of All Media's advertising rates are a fraction of what they were on terrestrial radio. Media buyers are not sure how many people actually listen to Howard Stern on Sirius. AP Rate drop Spots are going for $5,000 to $6,000, with live reads, the term for on-air talent pitching the product, maxing out at $10,000. When Howard Stern's show was broadcast on terrestrial radio stations, he commanded $30,000 for a live read. It's not a huge surprise spots are cheaper on Sirius, given Sirius' 4.7 million subscribers as of midyear. But exactly how much smaller is his Sirius audience than the crowd of 7 million listeners he drew on terrestrial? No one knows, because no one knows how many are listening to his satellite program, which also, of course, makes a cost-per-thousand comparison impossible....READ MORE: HERE9/25/2006 07:48:00 AM
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Sirius To Launch Jane Magazine Show
 September 25, 2006 COMMODITY JANE By KEITH J. KELLY September 25, 2006 -- Jane Pratt, the founder and former editor-in-chief of Jane magazine, has finally landed her own radio show on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network. Sirius is expected to announce today that she will be chatting it up once a week in a live, three-hour show called Jane Radio that will feature music, rants, and plenty of call-ins. The Post reported last year that Pratt was in talks with Sirius. One of the segments will be called "Jane Needs Help," in which the ex-mag diva solicits listener advice to deal with one of her own personal problems. "I want the show to be all about how young woman talk to each other when their boyfriends or husbands aren't listening," Pratt said. A start date has yet to be announced; Sirius officials confirmed only it will start "in the fall." Throughout her career, Pratt has managed to shake things up with her irreverent, nonconformist take on matters of sex, romance and life....READ MORE: HEREUPDATE: Thank You to SSG reader D.L. for pointing out that our headline for this story could lead to confusion. The headline has been revised from "Sirius To Launch Jane Magazine Channel" to "Sirius To Launch Jane Magazine Show". Janes show will be aired on Sirius Stars channel 102. We apologize for any confusion.9/25/2006 06:39:00 AM
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Sirius Stiletto Runs Linux and Open Source Software
 September 25th, 2006 As reported by Satellite Radio TechWorld back on Sept 19th, the Stiletto received a grant from the FCC. Along with the grant, a copy of a manual was released. In many cases, manuals on the FCC site are mockups or drafts. It appears the Sirius Stiletto manual is a finished product, if not very close to it. One of the things that caught our eye is the EULA section in the Stiletto manual. As many people that use computers know, a EULA is software license agreement between the users of a product and the producers of the product. These are usually common for software products, such as Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and even Open Source products such as Linux. Open Source software allows the ability for the public to make modifications to the programming (to add features, fix bugs, etc.) as well as provide those modifications for a future revision of the software. Linux, and many open source products, use a license known as the GPL. The GPL has a specific clause that modification to a GPL licensed product requires release of the modified product in source form (see: The Copyleft). This means that the actual programming code needs to be made available publically (along with any modifications made). The EULA for the Stiletto (which is HERE on pages 30-38, better known as 70-77 in the regular paper manual) specifically talks about certain open source software packages (in Section 12). It states that Third-Party products such as Busybox, BZIP2, cURL, ezXML, FreeType, Linux, LibPNG, OpenSSL, Pnet, Resample, SNDLib, uClibc, wpa_supplicant, zlib, uisp, YAFFS, and rrload are used in the product. Sirius and Zing are NOT required to give the code for the technologies that protect the music content (such as songs you saved, bought, the coding for the satellite signal, etc.). They are also not required to give anything they created without the aid of Open Source software. So it Runs Linux, Who Cares?Not too long ago, Linksys (a producer of Home Networking hardware) produced several router products that ran Linux. Online Communities and Homebrew Software Groups paved the way to maximize the potential of these devices. Because of these initatives, Linksys sold more devices and people were able to do everything from opening a hotspot at their business, to including their neighbors into their home network. People were able to add and request features that they wanted. Since the Stiletto is also apparently running Linux, there is a potential for the same development situation to happen. People could potentially have the ability to evolve their own plug-ins and add-ons to the device. It could help Sirius sell units, but it could also create a community and an interest in maximizing the potential of the device. Perhaps the Stiletto could offer support for different music formats, such as Ogg Vorbis, or even find some way to play stored video on the screen. Perhaps there will be a way to add menu functions, small games, remote control the Stiletto via WiFi, etc. The Stiletto is due any day now. If people start poking around and find anything interesting, we'll be sure to report on it here. 9/25/2006 12:01:00 AM
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Sunday, September 24, 2006 SSG Podcast September 24, 2006
 September 24, 2006 SSG Keeps You Informed in more ways than one. Our latest podcast is up, and readers can dowload it by clicking on the appropriate link in the podacst section of the left side bar. This week SSG takes a look at RIAA, Oprah, and more. The podcast is a bit over 13 minutes long. This weeks podcast has been brought to you by TSS Radio (for Sirius hardware) and 9/24/2006 07:51:00 PM
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SSG Football Challenge - Week 3
September 21, 2006
Sunday is fast approaching, and if you have not entered yet, don't delay any further.
The SSG Football Challenge has now been automated. You can select your teams right on line and submit your answers. If you prefer the old fashioned method, feel free to e-mail your picks to: ssgfootballchallenge@gmail.com
The SSG Football Challenge sponsors are My Radio Store (an XM retailer) as well as TSS Radio (a Sirius retailer). Please feel free to click on their links in this post and check out the deals they are offering on XM and Sirius gear.
The rules of the SSG Football Challenge can be found HERE
Make Your Week 3 Picks Below:
Good Luck! 9/24/2006 09:49:00 AM
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Saturday, September 23, 2006 SSG Shout Out - September 23, 2006
 September 23, 2006 Well, the first SSG Shout Out column launches today. We would like to thank everyone for their submissions, and would love to hear from even more of you. Remember, your shout can be about anything related to the satellite radio sector, and does not have to be limited to SSG or our columns. To participate in SSG Shoutout simply refer to the appropriate section in the left sidebar, fill in the form, and submit it. This weeks Shout Outs: From S.D. of Richmond, Indiana:"I think that you do a good job overall. I would like to see an enhancementwhere articles can be submitted. For instance you might have a shareholder forum. Iwould like to submit an article on shortsales of Sirius. Keep up the good work."Editors Response:We here at SSG would welcome articles submitted by readers. We can not guarantee that every submitted article will be published, but we will give all submissions consideration. Please submit your article to satellitestandard@gmail.comFrom N.D.K. of Wrightstown, New Jersey"I have found SSG to be the top site where a person can find the most up todate info on Satrad. Keep up the good work. SSG is the place for breaking news on Satrad. Satellite Radio Tech World is the next most 'valuable' click after SSG!"Editors Response:Thank you for the kind words. There are several sites out there that supply information, and we are happy that you like SSG. Satellite Radio Tech World is also doing a wondeful job. Hopefully readers will support these sites so that they can continue to offer up to date and relevant opinions and information. Thanks again for your response.From B.D. Holland, Ohio:"Love the website I check it every day. Wanted to let you know I saw theSirius Stiletto at Amazon.com and it says that they will go on sale OCT. 2. Didn'tknow if there was an official date yet or if that was the date"Editors Response:We understand that Stiletto availability will be happening very shortly. In our opinion, look for the device to launch next week at a show in California.From R.R. Windsor, California:"Sirius to have a 'link' on their home page that has coupons to say, 'tide'or 'Crest' toothpaste. I click, print, go to the store, buy tide soap instead of Downy or , Crest instead of Colgate. Tide pitches in $.50 cents that month towardsmy monthly sirius sub, Crest pitches in $.50 cents as well. This combined with otherpurchases from 'sirius' approved vendors will ultimately pay for my subscription.This kills 3 birds. 1: takes away peoples arguement not to pay for radio.(it's paidfor by advertisers) 2: Takes away 'sector' bashers favorite argument. 'Nobody willpay for radio'!! 3: Advertisers will flock to sirius to advertise to 8 million (soonto be subscribers) Bonus 'bird': Another revenue stream for Sirius. Bonus 'bird':Advertisers can TRACK who is buying, ELECTRONICALLY; as soon as you scan the couponat the store, advertisers know you bought their product , unlike 'Blindly' payingnews papers to advertise."Editors Response:Interesting concept. As long as the music remains commercial free, I do not think anyone would take exception. Perhaps the creation of a Vendors page on Sirius' website will be something that Sirius considers. Kind of an "alliance" with other companies.From P.W. Colorado"SSG just kicked the NAB's ass"Editors Response:Well, the NAB had it coming after having the nerve to write their letter in the first place. Perhaps our readers will also give the NAB a piece of their mind.From D.D. Garden City, New York"As an investor in the Satellite radio sector, I am very appreciative of the important information you continually provide. Your site is my first and most helpful source of all kinds of news and insight about the SATRADs. If you charged money, I would pay. Instead, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude, and hope you willcontinue performing your great service, while both Sirius and XM stocks go over $100 per share! All the best!"Editors Response:Thank You for the kind words. There are many who are under the impression that this site generates a lot of money. In fact, it does not. I am lucky if it covers my coffee in the morning. There are several people who are involved in SSG, and I like to be able to reward them in some way for their efforts. There is a method by which you can help support what we do, and hopefully grow the site bigger and better. In the right side bar there is a "Support SSG" section. Readers who feel compelled to help can do so by giving $1.50 per month (about .05 cents per day). We have some great ideas for the site, but, as any good entity will tell you, will not impliment them until the site is self supporting.Thank you all for your participation in SSG Shoutout9/23/2006 03:22:00 PM
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Friday, September 22, 2006 A New Site For Information
September 22, 2006 Satellite radio is growing very quickly, and there are many sites that follow the sector in one way or another. We recently were made aware of a new site that tracks postings related to satellite radio. The site is www.radiofromspace.com. These guys have cretated a nice site that acts as an information pool from various other sites that follow the sector. SSG would like to offer Radio From Space a warm welcome, and we encourage readers to do the same. 9/22/2006 09:09:00 PM
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SSG Shoutout
 September 21, 2006 *** A Technical Error was fixed, this should work now. *** Satellite Standard is interested in your feedback and comments, about the site, as well as comments about happenings in the sector. Because of this, we have created SSG Shoutout. If you want to comment on how we're doing or have feedback regarding one of our articles, feel free to fill out the form. Your post may be featured in a weekly rundown of SSG Shoutouts every Saturday. The link to submit an SSG Shoutout is located in the left sidebar. Simply click "Submit Shoutout". Look for the SSG Shoutout archives in the left sidebar of the site. Please consider a few suggestions. * Any messages regarding technical issues or errors in an article should go to ssg(at)satellitestandard.com, not to Shoutout. * Keep it brief. Anything after 1000 letters/numbers/spaces is ignored. * Shoutouts with language higher than PG rating may not be posted online. There are ways to get your point across without being * If we use your post for the weekends segment, we'll suppress your name and we won't give out your e-mail address. For instance, we'll use A.J. from Irvine, CA.* We may or may not respond to your comment, even if we post it. 9/22/2006 05:10:00 PM
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XMSR: Oprah & Friends Kicks Off On Monday
 Oprah and Friends' Join XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq:XMSR) CEO Hugh Panero to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Opening BellChannel Debuts Today Exclusively On XM Satellite Radio MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 22, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- What: Oprah Winfrey and Hugh Panero, CEO of XM Satellite Radio, will preside over the opening bell to celebrate the debut of the "Oprah & Friends" channel on XM Satellite Radio.  Who: Joining them will be Oprah's "friends" who host shows on the new XM channel: legendary poet, award-winning actress and best-selling author Dr. Maya Angelou; interior design and style expert Nate Berkus; financial coach and money expert Jean Chatzky; renowned exercise physiologist and fitness expert Bob Greene; O, The Oprah Magazine editor-at-large Gayle King; noted cardiologist and award-winning author Dr. Mehmet Oz; distinguished psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Robin Smith; and spiritual teacher and internationally acclaimed author and lecturer Marianne Williamson. When: Monday September 25th, 2006 from 9:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. EDT...READ MORE: HERE9/22/2006 12:09:00 PM
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BOA's Jacoby Sees A New Era At XM
 September 22, 2006 Yet another analyst who reported on meeting with XM Management and Nate Davis in particular. Jacoby, of Bank Of America outlines Davis' action plan: First 60 days:
o Added senior talent to improve focus on product development, sales & marketing, retailing, and customer service. o Gave marketing a greater voice in product development. o Switched advertising agencies. Next 90 days:o Step up advertising spending and improve in-store merchandising. o Fill Chief Marketing Officer post. o Incentivize an “enhanced” installation of “plug-and-play” radios. Beyond:
o Targeted marketing campaigns (i.e., segment marketing). o Incentivize multi-year service contracts with discounted hardware. o Focus on free cash flow…balance between growth and profitability. o Create a rational industry environment. This type of outline should be encouraging to investors in this sector. SSG readers who are interested in the BOA report should visit BOA HERE9/22/2006 10:55:00 AM
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Nate Davis - A Commanding Figure For XM
  September 22, 2006 XM management met with several analysts yesterday to outline the focus and direction of XM Satellite Radio. Barton Crockett of JP Morgan attended the conference, and it appears that the focus of discussions was on cost responsibility measures, and smart growth of the company. There can be little doubt the Nate Davis will play a key role in XM's future. Mr. Crockett outlined some of Davis' Perspectives: Davis sees numerous opportunities to improve basic blocking and tackling. He described an organization which, prior to his arrival, had grown so rapidly, and taken on so many disparate challenges, that top executives were trying to juggle too many difficult chores simultaneously, hurting their performance. He is splitting up duties, and bringing in new talent. He also believes he can improve operations without meaningfully upping the expense profile, so that opex continues to grow slower than sales, aided by trimming spending on less productive initiatives.
Davis cited three areas of potential near-term improvements.
Improved retail channel management
XM Advertising CampaignNew targeted Marketing PushJP Morgan maintains a neutral rating on XM as well as Sirius.Investors interested in the JP Morgan report can visit JP Morgan HERE9/22/2006 10:37:00 AM
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A Timely Article On Short Selling
SSG keeps you informed about developments in the satellite radio space, AND market forces that may influence the sector. Naked shorting, has been an issue of concern to investors, and the SEC! Time to Bring Share Lending Into the Light
By FLOYD NORRIS, High & Low Finance, The New York Times, Sept 22, 2006 He who sells what isn’t his’n
must buy it back or go to pris’n.
— Attributed to Daniel Drew, 1797-1879The annals of short selling have no better exemplar than Daniel Drew, whose career demonstrated both the risks and rewards of pursuing such an unpopular strategy. He made, and lost, several fortunes, along the way founding a Methodist seminary that bears his name. He died broke. In an era when insider selling was not illegal — and, in fact, was deemed a sacred right of insiders — it was Mr. Drew who persuaded members of the New York City Council to first sell short shares of a railroad company controlled by Cornelius Vanderbilt and then to revoke the company’s license to operate a street railway in Manhattan. The idea was that the councilmen, and Mr. Drew, would profit when the share price plunged. The scheme backfired when Mr. Vanderbilt bought shares, keeping the price from falling. Eventually he owned more shares than existed, leaving those who were short at his mercy. They needed to buy shares to cover their short positions and he was the only possible seller. The city councilmen were allowed to exit with small losses, in return for reinstating the license. It cost Mr. Drew much more to get out...READ MORE: HERE9/22/2006 06:54:00 AM
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Renault: Will It Be GM OR Ford (or GM AND Ford)?
Ford, Ghosn May Talk as GM-Renault Fades, People SayBy Jacqueline Simmons, John Lippert and Jeff Green, Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) Carlos Ghosn's Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. may start talks with Ford Motor Co. as prospects fade for a link with General Motors Corp., two people with knowledge of the discussions said. Executives from the Renault-Nissan team and Ford have been in touch in the past month about exploring a possible link, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the proceedings are private. William Clay Ford Jr. initially called Ghosn in July to discuss a partnership if the GM-Ghosn talks led nowhere, three people familiar with the matter said last month....READ MORE: HERE9/22/2006 05:44:00 AM
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Thursday, September 21, 2006 Audio Of Howard 100 News Report About Post Columnist Mainelli
 September 21, 2006 Steve Mainelli was interviewed by Howard 100 News regarding the now famous story in the N.Y. Post regarding a rumor that Stern was returning to terrestrial radio. Mainelli's last words in the interview were "Kiss Howards Butt On Your Own Time, I'm Busy....Bye"Well, it appears that Mr. Mainelli is not as busy as he once was. A report from Radar this evening stated that Mainelli was canned from his position at the N.Y. Post today.Thanks to YouTube, we now have access to the audio clip where Steve Langford grilled Mainelli. SSG readers can hear the full story by visiting HERE9/21/2006 11:23:00 PM
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Ziba - The People Behind the S50 and Stiletto Design
 September 21, 2006 An article about the team behind the design of the S50 and Stiletto Article Excerpt: Some in the design world, of course, barely bother with consumer research. Nike's designers, to take one example, don't have to study their market; they are their market, a bunch of hard-core triathlete types who essentially design for themselves. But in a commercial design shop such as Ziba's, where the variety of assignments is almost boundless--from cat litter to feminine-hygiene products to industrial winches--a design team must constantly learn to empathize with rarefied consumer subcultures.
So when Sirius Satellite Radio enlisted Ziba to fashion a handheld receiver (what would become the Sirius S50 and the new Stiletto, which was scheduled for a September launch), McCallion and his squad went in for a deep dive, spreading out across Portland, Boston, and Nashville to spend some quality time with 44 Sirius subscribers. They toured people's CD collections, hung out with them at Saturday afternoon tailgating parties, studied how they accessorized their cars, and got them to riff on why music matters to them. Then, back at Ziba's studios, the team spent weeks harvesting raw data, photographs, and field notes. McCallion edited the material down to a design target--the "iPod fatigued"--and assembled more-focused profiles of Sirius users, such as the "intelligent fan" (dialed into a wide range of sports; listens to the radio while attending Red Sox games) and the "business charismatic" (drives a BMW 5 Series; holds a platinum frequent-flier card).
Working from the profiles, McCallion crafted a positioning statement--"discovery, portability, personalization"--that drove the entire design process as Ziba tested and refined scores of prototypes. He knew the business charismatic was looking for a device that wouldn't detract from a car's interior, so he urged his designers to give the S50 and the Stiletto a simple, accessible interface. The intelligent fan was keen on portability, and by storyboarding scenarios for the S50, McCallion discovered that many people wanted to use it to record programming and play it back later. McCallion also pushed for the prominent media dial and a lustrous black finish, based on his conviction that both were powerfully reminiscent of "radio."
SSG readers can read the entire article HERE via Fast Company9/21/2006 11:15:00 PM
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A Letter To NAB
 September 21, 2006 David K. Rehr Ph. D President and CEO National Association of Broadcasters 1771 N. Street NW Washington DC, 20036-2800 Dear Mr. Rehr: I have reviewed a copy of the letter( http://tinyurl.com/qjxuc )that you sent to Mr. Nate Davis, and Mr. Mel Karmazin. I can imagine that the letter you receive back from these two individuals will be very respectful and “politically correct” This letter will not hold back any punches. You state that you “observed with great interest the recent developments concerning the distribution of satellite radio devices unlawful, unwelcome interference to free over the air radio services.” Please let me take a moment to clarify your statement……..What you actually meant to say was that you complained to the FCC about these devices, hired consultants to show that they were non-compliant, and then complained even more. Then, the resulting FCC actions were something you cheered about with a big smile on your face. Now, the news flash…….You can cheer about small “victories”, but should be aware that what you have effectively accomplished is to make satellite radio subscribers use alternate methods of hooking up their receivers which in effect actually IMPROVE the sound quality of the satellite radio listening audience over that which an FM Modulator offered any way. You then urge Sirius and XM to take what you term as “the next logical step by voluntarily withdrawing and replacing all noncompliant receivers already in circulation to resolve existing interference to terrestrial radio service” While you may feel that this is the next logical step, it does not make it so. The next logical might actually be in your court. The next logical step may well be for the members of the NAB to offer compelling enough programming to compete with satellite radio where it really matters. You see, it is the success of satellite radio that is the root cause of your actions. You feel threatened by the fact that consumers are adopting satellite radio faster than cable television, satellite television, and cell phones. It would seem that you now understand all of this, and will stop at nothing to combat it in any way possible. Perhaps if your membership had given consumers what they wanted in the first place, they would not be so compelled to leave “free (20 minutes of commercials per hour) radio”. You then have the audacity to suggest that Sirius and XM “suspend services to subscribers with activated, integrated FM Modulators” News Flash #2……This suggestion is simply ludicrous. FM modulation is but one method by which a subscriber can listen to satellite radio. The fact is that the receivers with FM modulators can also be hard wired, use a tape adapter, or even an aux-in jack. Are you truly suggesting that subscribers that use their radios without an FM modulator have their services suspended? Given the choices of installation methods, and the fact that the FM modulators offer the least desirable sound quality, as well as the fact that people seem to move to satellite radio for better sound quality, it is quite possible that 75% of the installs you feel are non-compliant actually do not even utilize the FM modulator. Once again, this seems to be a request born out of frustration that people are freely making the choice to move to satellite radio in droves. I would like to express that I can understand your frustration, but also feel compelled to inform you that it is YOUR actions (or perhaps inaction is a better term) that put you in the position you are now in today. The industry that you once laughed about at NAB cocktail parties is growing much faster than you anticipated. It is a bigger threat than you ever anticipated. It is more of a success than you ever anticipated. What scares you more than anything else is that the BIG PICTURE 5 years from now is looking bleaker for the NAB with each passing day. It is little surprise that you have taken the road you have chosen. The tactics of attacking the FM modulators, as well as the carefully placed stories designed to make it appear that satellite radio has “peaked”, or that people dislike the services are desperate measures, but we all know that you are in desperate times. In closing, I would like to give you a bit of advice. The sooner you understand the ROOT CAUSE of your problem, the better off you will be. Satellite radio is not your problem. Your problem lies with poor programming, to many commercials, and an overall uncaring attitude towards the consumer. Had you addressed these long before now, satellite radio would likely not have even been a consideration for consumers. It is obvious by the fast growth of satellite radio, that there are many who are dissatisfied with the product you offer. It is a sad commentary that your choice is not to improve your own product, but to instead attack what is obviously the better product. I will be watching with great interest the developments of what I would now anticipate to be vast improvements in the quality of the product delivered by NAB members, and look forward to seeing the next logical step……improved programming on terrestrial radio. Best Wishes SSG 9/21/2006 09:28:00 PM
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Mainelli Canned Over False Stern Article
 September 21, 2006 Amid accusations of conflicts of interest, it appears that N.Y. Post columnist John Mainelli landed in some hot water, and it cost him his job. Mainelli was discovered to have a lucrative consulting business with the radio industry. He printed an article that is widely suspected to be a planted rumor that Howard Stern was returning to terrestrial radio. This investiogation is sure to go deeper over the coming weeks. Radar Excerpt: Radar Exclusive Stern Warning Gets Post Writer Canned
JOCK SLAP SternHoward Stern's words may not carry the same weight now that he's on satellite radio, but he's still got enough juice to get a pesky critic fired. John Mainelli, the New York Post writer who irked Stern by reporting a rumor that he would return to terrestrial radio with his tail between his legs on Tuesday, has left the paper after receiving an ultimatum from editor in chief Col Allan.
Allan told Mainelli Wednesday that he had to choose between his freelance job covering the radio industry for the Post and his lucrative sideline consulting for radio stations and owners. "I consider myself fired," Mainelli tells Radar. "I can't live on what I earn from the Post."
Mainelli claims he has made no secret of his consulting relationships and has always been careful to recuse himself from stories that might present a conflict of interest. But Allan, according to a Post spokesman, was not aware of the arrangement, and would have put a stop to it long ago had he known. Stern has been waging war on Mainelli since Tuesday, when Mainelli reported on speculation that Stern might cut a deal to get part of his broadcast back on terrestrial radio. (Since Stern left CBS in January, his show has only been available to Sirius subscribers.).....SSG readers can get the rest of the story HERE via Radaronline9/21/2006 09:25:00 PM
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XMSR: Oprah Marketing Push Gains Steam
 XM Being Featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show (Today!)(via www.orbitcast.com)
Oprah is running a segment talking about her upcoming XM channel on The Oprah Winfrey Show this afternoon from 4pm to 5pm ET. I'm working to get video of this, but if someone else is able to grab it please email me and I'll put it up for everyone to see. 9/21/2006 04:29:00 PM
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Hedge Funds On The Wrong Side Of A Trade
Natural gas and oil are down significantly from their highs. Some naive souls believe this is due to supply and demand, but could it possibly be a result of hedge fund liquidations (see article below)? Hedge funds have the ability to use huge amounts of leverage. Forget margin requirements...through derivitives and bank borrowing, they can establish positions with less than 10% equity (and evade short selling rules!). This works great when momentum is on their side, but when it's not, watch out! I only mention this because it is common knowledge that some funds have established short positions in the satellite radio space. Even with their great contacts, Wall Street access, research and pools of capital, hedge funds can be wrong, too, and one day, they will indeed have to cover! Hedge Fund Sheds Assets in Energy
By JENNY ANDERSON. The New York Times, Sept 21. 2006 Amaranth Advisors, the hedge fund that lost $5 billion betting on natural gas prices, sold its book of energy trades to J..P. Morgan and the Citadel Investment Group, according to two people briefed on the negotiations. The sale leaves Amaranth, once a well-regarded $9.25 billion fund, with $3.4 billion, down 55 percent from the beginning of the year and down 65 percent for September, according to a letter sent to investors late last night. The energy portfolio holds what remains of Amaranth’s disastrous trades on price differences in the natural gas market. Multibillion-dollar losses on those trades caused banks to recall large loans to Amaranth, in turn forcing the fund to sell significant holdings to pay the loans to avoid default...READ MORE: HERE
9/21/2006 01:24:00 PM
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Motley Fool: XM At Goldman Conference
Fool on the Street: Fine Tuning at XM
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz, www.fool.com (TMFBreakerRick) 09/21/2006 These are some pretty rewarding times for XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR) investors. Really. Sure, the stock is well off the all-time high it set just before the 2004 holiday season. However, the shares have soared 40% higher since bottoming out two months ago. That's a pretty impressive run for a company that was floundering earlier this year, when it was being attacked by everyone from the FCC to the RIAA to even a bolting director. Chairman Gary Parsons spoke at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference yesterday. After all that XM has been through lately, it was a great time to get the company's story out there for others to hear...READ MORE: HERE9/21/2006 11:04:00 AM
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A GM-Ford Alliance? Then, XM-Sirius Deserves A Closer Look
I have been closely watching negotiations between GM and Renault-Nissan. If these talks fail to materialize, a GM-Ford alliance could become a reality. If GM and Ford merge, this creates a strong motivation for talks between XM and Sirius. GM alliance talks slowed by differences-reportThu Sep 21, 2006 9:22 AM ET, DETROIT, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Ongoing talks between General Motors Corp. and Renault-Nissan about a global automotive alliance have not yet produced an agreement on how deeply the partnership would go in key areas, the Detroit News reported on Thursday.
The newspaper cited unnamed people close to the talks as saying that GM has favored limiting the proposed cooperation to a few dozen plants and several vehicles, while Renault-Nissan have pushed for a broader analysis of potential savings.
GM and Nissan had no comment on the report. A representative for Renault was not immediately available for comment.
The three companies began a 90-day review of the benefits of a potential alliance in mid-July after a meeting between GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner and Carlos Ghosn, who serves as CEO of both Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co.<7201.t>...READ MORE: HERE
Ford, GM alliance talks confirmed
By James Mackintosh in London, Monday Sep 18 2006 20:25
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) and General Motors (NYSE:GM) talked this summer about a deal between the two largest US carmakers, while both were shutting factories, cutting tens of thousands of jobs and discussing possible outside partnerships.
People familiar with the talks said there was "one discussion" and it did not lead anywhere. "There is nothing going on," one insider said.
The talks, which were reported in the trade magazine Automotive News, emerged as Ford surprised Chinese rival Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp by exercising its right to buy the defunct Rover brand name from Germany's BMW....READ MORE: HERE9/21/2006 10:16:00 AM
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Directed Electronics To Present At RBC Conference
Directed Electronics, Inc. to Present at the RBC Capital Markets Consumer ConferenceVISTA, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Directed Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: DEIX - News), the largest designer and marketer of consumer branded vehicle security and convenience systems in the United States based on sales, and a major supplier of home audio, mobile audio and video, and satellite radio products, today announced that Kevin Duffy, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, will present at the RBC Capital Markets Consumer Conference. The conference will be held September 26 - 28, 2006 at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel & Resort, Orlando, Fla...READ MORE: HERE9/21/2006 09:32:00 AM
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Sirius' Catholic Channel To Launch On Sept 26
SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Archdiocese of New York to Launch The Catholic Channel on September 2624-Hour Catholic Radio Network to Air on Channel 159 Will Feature Exclusive Participation of His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Call-in Talk Shows, and Notre Dame Football NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Archdiocese of New York and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI - News) announced today that The Catholic Channel will debut Tuesday, September 26th exclusively on SIRIUS channel 159. The lifestyle radio channel will air nationally 7 days a week/24 hours a day, and will feature contemporary talk and live daily Mass from Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York...READ MORE: HERE9/21/2006 09:30:00 AM
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006 Cramer, Again!
 Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Politics, Education and the Markets 9/20/2006 8:16 PM EDT When Luke asked Cramer about Sirius Satellite Radio ( SIRI - news - Cramer's Take), Cramer said it needs to merge with XM Radio ( XMSR - news - Cramer's Take). If that happens both stocks will go high and "you can have an overnight hit," Cramer said. READ MORE: HERE9/20/2006 08:39:00 PM
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Sirius and Zing To Present
  September 20, 2006 SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Zing Systems will be presenting at the DEMOfall '06 Conference, September 25 - 27th, at the Sheraton San Diego. The DEMO conference is generally used as a launch pad for new products offerings from leading tech companies. Previous DEMO events saw the introductions of TiVo, the Palm Pilot, the Danger hiptop, and Ask Jeeves, to name just a few. Zing is the platform for the Sirius Stiletto. It is quite possible that the DEMOfall '06 Conference may serve as the launch pad for the device. 9/20/2006 07:18:00 PM
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DCX and Sirius Installs
 September 20, 2006 It seems that every time an auto manufacturer annonces production cuts that folks in this sector get an impression that this means less satellite radio installs. Quite simply, an assumption such as this, while it may seem reasonable, is off base. We took a look at the Sirius/Chrysler deal, and found that, in the simplest terms, the warrants that Chrysler can earn are tied to the NUMBER OF INSTALLS DCX DOES, and NOT what percentage of installs DCX does. The short answer is this. If DCX wants to earn their warrants they need to install a certain and specified number of Sirius radios. Should they fail to meet the terms of the agreement........They wont get paid. DCX has every reason to install Sirius regardless of production cuts. While I have not spelled out the terms of the Ford deal, there are many similarities. An assumption made by anyone that production cuts will impact the installations of satellite radio is an assumption that these companies are going to give up on warrants. SIRIUS/DCX Contract Excerpts: (a) with respect to 750,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) June 30, 2004, if DCC has included a one-year subscription to the Sirius Service as part of the sales price or leasing cost of every 2005 model year DCC Factory Enabled Vehicle or (ii) the date on which 250,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(b) with respect to 750,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) June 30, 2005, if DCC has included a one-year subscription to the Sirius Service as part of the sales price or leasing cost of every 2006 model year DCC Factory Enabled Vehicle or (ii) the date on which 250,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(c) with respect to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2004, if on or before such date DCC has certified to the Company in writing (which certification shall include reasonable supporting documentation) that it has commenced factory
installation of Sirius Receivers in production models of 12 of the following 13 vehicle lines: PT Cruiser, Durango, Ram, Dakota, 300 Series, Sebring/Stratus, Magnum, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Wrangler, Caravan, Town & Country and Pacifica or (ii) the date on which 250,000
Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(d) with respect to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) August 31, 2005, if on or before such date DCC has delivered, or caused a supplier reasonably acceptable to the Company to deliver, to the Company an Integrated Head Unit suitable for commencement of DCC's design verification, and such Integrated Head Unit has passed the Company's reasonable type acceptance requirements; provided that if DCC fails to deliver, or fails to cause a supplier
reasonably acceptable to the Company to deliver, such Integrated Head Unit on or prior to August 31, 2005 solely as a result of the failure of the Company (or a supplier to the Company) to deliver to DCC, on or prior to December 31, 2004, a Sirius Standard Module suitable for
commencement of DCC's design verification, then such August 31, 2005 date shall be extended by the number of days such delivery to DCC has been delayed, or (ii) the date on which 3,200,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(e) with respect to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2006, if on or before such date DCC has commenced, or caused a supplier reasonably acceptable to the Company to commence, production of commercial quantities of an Integrated Head Unit, and such Integrated Head Unit has passed the Company's reasonable type acceptance
requirements; provided that if DCC fails to commence, or fails to cause a supplier reasonably acceptable to the Company to commence, such production on or prior to December 31, 2006 solely as a result of the failure of the Company (or a supplier to the Company) to deliver
to DCC, on or prior to September 30, 2005, commercial quantities of the Sirius Standard Module, then such December 31, 2006 date shall be extended by the number of days such delivery to DCC has been delayed, or (ii) the date on which 3,200,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(f) with respect to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2004,if on or prior to such date, DCC has shipped 100,000 Bundled DCC Factory Enabled Vehicles to its authorized dealers or DCC approved "ship-to-points" or (ii) the date on which
250,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(g) with respect to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2005, if on or prior to such date DCC has shipped 400,000 Bundled DCC Factory Enabled Vehicles to its authorized dealers or DCC approved "ship-to-points" or (ii) the date on which 800,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(h) with respect to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2006, if on or prior to such date DCC has shipped 700,000 Bundled DCC Factory Enabled Vehicles to its authorized dealers or DCC approved "ship-to-points" or (ii) the date on which
1,600,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced;
(i) with respect to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock, on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2007, if on or prior to such date DCC has shipped 1,000,000 Bundled DCC Factory Enabled Vehicles to its authorized dealers or DCC approved "ship-to-points" or (ii) the date on which 2,400,000 Eligible Vehicles have been produced; and
(j) with respect to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock, upon execution and delivery of an agreement between the Company and Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., in form and substance acceptable to the Company, pursuant to which, among other things, Mitsubishi
Motors North America, Inc. agrees to factory-install Sirius Receivers in its vehicles on an exclusive basis.
9/20/2006 04:55:00 PM
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A Look At the XM SkyFi 3
 SkyFi 3: A Hands-On Look(via www.orbitcast.com and www.xm411.com)
The boys over at XM411 have the first hands-on look at the upcoming SkyFi 3, along with a nice quick review of the unit. Some of the features described are what we saw earlier, but there's a few additional things that we didn't know about. Here's the rundown: This is Delphi's first unit since the release of the Inno/Helix. The 2.8" screen the largest of any plug-and-play satellite radio receiver. Screen display flips between horizontal and vertical with press of a button. The SkyFi3 allows for 30-minutes of pause/replay functionality. The 30-minutes of replay gets saved even with the power turned off (sweet!), so you can just power up and keep listening. The 10-hours of XM recording is separate from the 2Gb microSD storage - where you store your own digital music collection. (No doubt this is to appease the RIAA) You can create hybrid-playlists between the XM content and the microSD content, but you can't copy the XM content to the microSD card. No internal antenna, but it does have an internal battery. With the optional Standard Wearable Kit, you get a live-wearable unit but with 90-minutes of listening. The optional Premium Live Wearable Kit gives 7-hours of XM listening (longer than the Inno/Helix) and 40-hours (!) of pre-recorded playback time. Very impressive, and a great review (plus a ton of pics). LINK TO FULL ARTICLE: HERE9/20/2006 04:13:00 PM
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California Blames Automakers For Global Warming
California sues automakers for global warming damages
By Gabriel Madway, www.cbsmarketwatch.comLast Update: 3:09 PM ET Sep 20, 2006 California on Wednesday filed suit against six U.S. and Japanese auto manufacturers, alleging their vehicles' emissions have contributed to global warming, and harmed the resources and environmental health of the state, costing it millions of dollars. Filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the complaint names as defendants DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Motors Corp., General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor North America Inc., Honda North America and Nissan North America. "Vehicle emissions are the single most rapidly growing source of the carbon emissions contributing to global warming, yet the federal government and automakers have refused to act," said California Attorney General Bill Lockyer in a statement. "It is time to hold these companies responsible for their contribution to this crisis." READ MORE: HERE9/20/2006 03:27:00 PM
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RealMoney Comments on Satellite Radio
Satellites of LoveBy Steven Smith About this article:"Satellites gone Way up to Mars. Soon it will be filled With parking cars." -- Lou Reed Is it time to start showing some love for satellite radio companies? Sirius and XM Satellite have both recently put in higher lows, potentially breaking yearlong downtrends in their charts. Sirius took a bit of an ugly dip Tuesday on a news report that Howard Stern was "unhappy" and considering a return to terrestrial radio, but all parties have denied such a rumor. Shares have rebounded this morning, and a close above $4 would turn the chart moderately positive. It would also offer a good entry point in which a tight stop of a close below $3.85 creates a good risk/reward position. For those who want to use options to leverage their capital, a purchase of the March $3 calls at $1.20 might make sense. Just be aware that you are paying...Articles like this are available only to RealMoney subscribers. Get a FREE TRIAL now. 9/20/2006 02:42:00 PM
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Ford Launches "Edge" Crossover Vehicle
2007 Ford Edge Will Debut Under $26,000; Crossovers Poised to Become Industry's Largest Segment(PR Newswire 09/20 14:00:08) Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) will launch its all-new and highly anticipated 2007 Ford Edge crossover with a sticker price below $26,000, Cisco Codina, group vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, announced today at a meeting of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. At the meeting Codina reaffirmed that between now and the end of 2008, 70 percent of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup by volume will be all-new or significantly freshened. That includes strong new vehicles in new segments like the Ford Edge, which goes on sale in November, as well as a new 2008 Ford Super Duty pickup, which will be revealed next week at the State Fair of Texas and will go on sale in January. " ... ...The five-passenger 2007 Ford Edge has a bold design with a stylish, functional and clever interior. It features a fuel-saving powertrain, with Ford's all-new 3.5-liter V-6 engine with best-in-class 265 horsepower mated toa six-speed automatic transmission. Its highway fuel economy is anticipated to be in the mid-20s. Visit the Edge Web site at http://www.fordvehicles.com/edge . 9/20/2006 02:24:00 PM
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Win A Movie Screening At Bam Margera's House
September 20, 2006 Sirius' Faction Channel (channel 28) has a contest that will send two people to a private screening of "JackAss Number Two" at Bam's own home. Contest Details: Here’s your chance for you and your dumb little buddy to watch a screening of Jackass Number 2 at Castle Bam! (Bam Margera’s house) We will fly you and you guest to West Chester, PA, set you up with 2-nights hotel and round trip transportation from the hotel to the screening at Bam’s house. Fill out your information below for your chance to win…Jackass!SSG readers can enter by visiting the faction page on the Sirius web site HERE 9/20/2006 11:18:00 AM
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Howard Stern Presets
 September 20, 2006 Sirius Satellite Radio has a little segment on their website that points out the top 5 presets of many Sirius personalities. Today, they are featuring Howard Stern. So what does Howard have his Sirius tuned to? Sirius Hits - Channel 1 The Pulse - Channel 9 Howard 100 Howard 101 Sirius Stars - Channel 102 9/20/2006 11:16:00 AM
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Commentary On XMSR Options Activity
XM Satellite Radio-XMSR option implied volatility Calm ( www.theflyonthewall.com 9/20, 11:02) XMSR is up .33 to $13.64. XMSR spoke at Goldman Sachs Communacopia XV 2006 this morning in NewYork. XMSR call option volume of 3,955 contracts compares to put volume of540 contracts according to Track Data. XMSR October option implied volatilityof 56 is near its 26-week average, indicating non-directional price risk. 9/20/2006 11:13:00 AM
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Merger Rumors: CCU For XMSR
XM Satellite ticking to session highs... hearing CCU-for-XMSR chatter is out there (13.73 +0.42) -Update- ( www.briefing.com, In Play) 9/20/2006 10:52:00 AM
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A Notice For Readers
September 20, 2006 From time to time readers will notice that there may be an "overlap" of posts regarding issues surrounding satellite radio, where separate articles cover essentially the same subject. This happens because there is more than one writer at SSG, and one of SSG's goals is to get information to readers in a timely fashion. This often has writers covering the same subject at the same time. There is a lot of work that goes into this site all of the time, and I wanted to take a moment to say a special thank you to those that contribute to this site. Readers get to see the end product, but there are several people who contribute in order to make that happen. Writing, research, analysis, and technical support and reader comments all play a role in this site. What I find most impressive is the amount of time and effort that these people dedicate to this site, and the fact that they do this without much of a "reward" for their efforts. This is why I would like to take a moment to express a "THANK YOU" to those that contribute to SSG, and to let you know that I admire your dedication and passion behind what you do. I would like to encourage readers to show their support as well if they so desire. So in closing I would like to say, once again, to those that contribute, THANK YOU for helping make SSG what it is, and for our readers, THANK YOU for your support of this site. 9/20/2006 10:15:00 AM
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XM's Gary Parsons Sees Growth Ahead
 September 20, 2006 Gary Parsons, Chairman of XM Satellite Radio, showed confidence in XM Satellite Radio, as well as the sector, citing the growth that is happening. Parsons acknowledged that the shares of XM Satellite Radio have seen a rough period, but that there now exists a "significant upside potential." Parsons hammered home his points at the Goldman Sachs Media Conference in New York. The comments from Parsons should be encouraging to investors. In the face of FCC issues, XM had in the past spoken about a weakness in the retail channel. These comments seem to reverse that sentiment, and that is welcomed news. Parsons also stated that XM "will be in pretty good inventory shape across the board for the holidays" 9/20/2006 09:41:00 AM
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Commentary: NPD Data Vs OEM Installations
SSG posted " Slowing Growth? Not If You Look At The Big Picture" to address the concern that the NPD August sales data indicated a decline in the satellite radio retail channel compared to same period last year. "High fives" to my colleague for pointing out that as OEM installations begin to accelerate, and consumers begin to plan for and purchase their 2007 vehicles, sales of satellite radio in retail channels will go through an "adjustment" period. Thus, to give an accurate picture, NPD and OEM data must be evaluated simultaneously, within the context of total subscribers. 9/20/2006 08:52:00 AM
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Stiletto Vehicle Kit Recieves Certification, Too
Satellite Radio TechWorld ( http://satelliteradiotechworld.blogspot.com/index.html) is keeping us busy! Here is another one of their timely posts... Tuesday, September 19, 2006 Sirius Receives Certification on the Stiletto Vehicle Kit
As mentioned in the previous post, Wistron NeWeb also received certification today for the Sirius Stiletto Vehicle kit. The preliminary manual may be viewed here. And, if one would like to see it, here are some photos. 9/20/2006 06:51:00 AM
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Businessweek: Positive On Stiletto
  Sirius' Sharp Stilettoby Olga Kharif, BusinessWeek, Sept 20, 2006 The satellite radio company offers an early glimpse at the features it hopes will set its newest portable music player apart from the pack Steve McCallion taps a few keys on his laptop to open a presentation on the Sirius Stiletto, a new portable satellite radio. He calls up a page that displays photos of pocket transistor radios from the 1950s, knobby dials and all. "At the end of the day, it's just a radio," says McCallion, a creative director at the company that designed the Stiletto, twirling the device in his fingers. His point is that Sirius ( SIRI ) wants its own brand of radio, transmitted via satellite, to be the way people listen to radio nowadays, in much the same way they listened to transistors half a century ago. But the company is relying on a device that has come a long way since those crackly gizmos of a bygone era. BRISK SALES. Today, some 12 million people pay $12.95 or more a month to Sirius and its larger rival, XM ( XMSR ), to listen to satellite radio channels, most of which run no commercials. Those rising subscriber numbers are likely to grow, drawing audiences from traditional, free AM/FM radio, in part because of the proliferation of satellite radio devices for the car, the home, and for listening on the go. From September, 2005, to this August, Sirius and XM sold more than 325,000 portable satellite radios in the U.S., an increase of 88% from the year before. The units generated $80 million in sales, an increase of 49%, according to consultancy NPD Group. That figure doesn't include sales from big retailers like Wal-Mart ( WMT ). And chances are, sales are going to keep climbing. Sirius is hoping the Stiletto will play a big part in that growth. "Stiletto can make a major contribution," says Tom Watts, an analyst at Cowen & Co. Analysts at Standard & Poor's, which like BusinessWeek.com is owned by The McGraw-Hill Companies, also expect brisk sales. YAHOO! CONNECTION. What's so special about Stiletto? Part of the reason for the excitement is that the device appears to be comparable to other consumer electronics such as cell phones and music players like Apple's ( AAPL ) iPod and the upcoming Zune from Microsoft ( MSFT ) in appearance and features. Indeed, the new Stiletto's interface and capabilities look eerily like those of the iPod. Stiletto's predecessor, the Sirius S50, was also designed by McCallion's company, Ziba. It was released last year and features a radio-like knob to pause, rewind, or stop programs. By contrast, the Stiletto offers an iPod-like round media dial. With its polished black face, the Stiletto evokes the black iPod nano. But the new gadget also features more chrome accents and a pearlized back, giving it what McCallion calls a "gem-like quality." But the Stiletto has some features the iPod lacks. Unlike the S50, which could only download radio streams when docked (in effect, it was a low-capacity MP3 player), the Stiletto can catch live satellite radio feed. The Stiletto can reach Sirius' programming via wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, connections. It can also download songs from Yahoo's ( YHOO ) music service, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, into 2 GB of storage. SHADOW RADIO. While final details of the Yahoo arrangement are being worked out, the feature is likely to let users tag songs they like on Sirius broadcasts and buy them later by connecting the device to the PC. Eventually users might also be able to download songs from Yahoo via Wi-Fi connections. Yahoo's jukebox is an appealing choice as it's one of the cheapest music subscription services around. For $5 a month (when paid for the full year)—half of what many other download services charge—Yahoo allows for unlimited access to more than 1 million songs. The service works on 16 different music devices from the likes of iRiver, Motorola ( MOT ), and Nokia ( NOK ) already, and the addition of Stiletto to Yahoo's roster could result in incremental subscriber growth for the portal, says Russ Crupnick, an analyst at NPD. NPD's surveys indicate that, as of late 2005, 6% of digital music buyers went to Yahoo's site while 54% went to iTunes. Sirius also allows for so-called shadow radio recording. That means whenever a user listens to a channel for more than 10 minutes, the device records the entire stream into your free storage space, so you can replay it later, when you might not have a clear connection to a Sirius satellite. S50 only allowed such recording from five channels. A HALO EFFECT. Lately, the Web has been swirling with rumors that Stiletto shipments will be delayed as Sirius negotiates licensing fees with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which had, earlier this year, sued XM for offering similar features in its portables. However, an RIAA spokesperson claims it hasn't even seen the Stiletto yet and is not involved in negotiations with Sirius. Music labels themselves are in discussions with the company or have concluded negotiations. Sirius is playing catch up to XM in some capabilities. XM's portables have offered live feed, for instance, since late 2004 (see BusinessWeek.com, 9/7/06, "A Sirius Stab at XM"). "This is finally bridging the gap for Sirius," says Dan Benjamin, an analyst with consultancy ABI Research. But XM's latest units offer less storage and no Wi-Fi connectivity, which can prove handy inside buildings where access to satellites can be spotty. Stiletto is taller and thicker—though narrower—than XM's latest models, Inno and Helix. And while it one-ups the iPod on Wi-Fi, it lacks the video capabilities available on some iPods. The iPod can also offer up to 30 GB of storage for $249, while the Stiletto will be priced at $349.99—the same price as an iPod with 80 GB of memory. "We want someone to love the product," says McCallion. "Apple has this halo of an emotional connection [with its users]. We are trying to create this emotional halo about this product. The iPod is square and static. The Stiletto is emotionally more dynamic." UP AGAINST THE GOLD. The device's front is designed to allow for navigating without looking. Several buttons are part of a continuous surface, and they can be located by their slightly raised edges. While they look to be part of the Stiletto's uniform black face, the buttons are made of a different material that feels warmer and softer to the touch than the rest of the surface. "The sensory difference gives users confidence that they are using the product correctly," says McCallion. The round media dial below the color screen on the front of the device tilts to let users fast-forward or pause a recording. Its edges are raised slightly to further enhance blind navigation, McCallion explains. The designers also played around with edges that sloped down, but the raised edges worked out better. As you scroll through a menu, the colorful menus zoom in and out, and menu commands pop up for easier navigation. All of the Stiletto's functional controls are on the front of the device, and its side buttons are used for volume control and to power on and off. It remains to be seen just how easy Stiletto is to use and how well its antenna works. In the past, communications companies have had to go through several iterations of the technology to get the antenna right, says Jim Goss, an analyst at Barrington Research. Then it will need to set itself apart from a growing range of handheld music players, the granddaddy of which is the iPod. Notes Roger Kay, founder of consultancy Endpoint Technologies Associates, "the gold standard is the iPod." ...READ MORE: HERE9/20/2006 06:36:00 AM
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Tuesday, September 19, 2006 The Metropolitan Opera Gets Sirius
September 19, 2006 NEW YORK, Sep 20, 2006 (AP Worldstream via COMTEX) -- Sirius Satellite Radio and the Metropolitan Opera plan to announce Wednesday that they will launch a new channel to broadcast four performances a week during the company's 32-week season, part of the company's vast media expansion under new general Peter Gelb. Metropolitan Opera Radio will debut with Monday's opening-night gala of a new production of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly." When not broadcasting liveperformances, the channel will air operas from the Met's archive of 1,500 radio broadcasts that date to 1931. The announcement follows deals to broadcast six live performances this season in high definition to movie theaters in North America and Europe, which will be televised later on PBS, and to stream live performances on the Met's Web site, which launched its redesign Tuesday. "The Met right now is the talk of the opera world, I would say, because of all these new initiatives," Gelb said. "All of these initiatives have one common purpose, which is to improve the Met's position by educating audiences and increasing the box office. "Seventy-seven percent of the Met's available tickets were sold last season, down from 93 percent in 1999-2000. Met spokeswoman Sommer Hixson said the company had not yet determined how much overlap there would be between the radio channel and the Internet streaming, which will include at most a weekly performance. The streaming is designed to promote the subscription service. Sirius, which has about 125 channels, has a subscription price of $12.95 ($10.23) per month, with discounts available for long-term deals. It was available to 4.7 million subscribers at the end of June and expects to be in 6.3 million by the end of the year, spokesman Patrick Reilly said. XM Satellite Radio, its competitor, has 170 channels and is currently available to 7 million customers. "There's nothing like the Met, and more importantly, there's nothing like the Met archives of the great operas that have taken place over the years, "said Scott Greenstein, Sirius' president of entertainment and sports. "The idea that we could have our channel and get the best of the current stuff right now as well as the archives, it's something very unique we could bring to our subscribers." The Met's media expansion was made possible by new deals with its unions that were announced Sept. 6. Sirius will have 10 historic broadcasts per week, Hixson said. The Met also is making about 500 of its 1,500 archived broadcasts available through RealNetworks' Rhapsody online service. The Met Radio Channel will replace Classical Voices on Sirius. Greenstein would not say how many new subscribers Sirius hopes to get because of the Met channel. Instead of the original commentary by Milton Cross and Peter Allen and original intermission features, the historic broadcasts will be repackaged with new lead-ins and intermissions. The channel's announcer will be MargaretJuntwait, who replaced Allen in 2004 as host of the Met's Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts, which run from December until spring and will continue. 9/19/2006 11:32:00 PM
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Slowing Growth? Not If You Look At The Big Picture
September 19, 2006 With so many reports and articles written about satellite radio, it is important for investors to digest the information, but also to keep their eyes on the BIG PICTURE. It seems that each passing month there are reports indicating a weakness at retail in satellite radio, and those reports seem to generate some overall uneasiness about these equities (SIRI and XMSR). What we really have here is a natural course of events coupled with a narrow view of the sector. For whatever reason, many of these reports that indicate weakness at retail fail to mention or even consider the ramp up that is happening in the OEM segment of satellite radio. How is it that this rapidly growing component of satellite radio is virtually ignored? Satellite radio generates subscribers from two primary avenues……RETAIL and OEM. Now is it a reach to understand that if I bought a new car tomorrow, and it was equipped with satellite radio, that my “need” to buy a radio at retail is diminished? The key here is that satellite radio has not lost subscribers. They are simply coming in greater numbers from the OEM channel, and thus taking away from the retail channel. This does not even consider that so far this year, the retail channel is still above last years pace. In fact, according to NPD, sales this year at retail are 23% above last year. One only has to look at the subscriber numbers to see this bear out. Through Q2 of 2005 satellite radio had generated 1,859,774 subscribers. This year through Q2 satellite radio has generated 2,328,729 subscribers. That represents nearly a 500,000 subscriber gain over last year. This has happened with Ford just starting to ramp up, and other manufactures getting ready to come on line in the next 6 months to a year. Those that look at the bigger picture understand and see that satellite radio is still growing nicely. The basic and simple point here is that retail is ABOVE last years pace, while at the same time OEM’s are as well. Understanding that every OEM install depletes a potential retail sale underscores this example that satellite radio is still very healthy and growing. This overview looks at the sector as a whole. One can, if the desire, break down the numbers for individual equities within the sector as well. Remember.......Take in as much information as you can, but always be sure to look at the BIG PICTURE. 9/19/2006 11:26:00 PM
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HD Radio: No Buzz
HD Radio Lacking Early-Adopter Buzz(via www.orbitcast.com)
Hear 2.0 makes a great point in a recent post. Mark Ramsey takes a look at Engadget's reaction to the new Cambridge Soundworks Tabletop HD Radio, and (gasp) they could give a hoot about it. Here's the snippet from Engadget: HD Radio, the new digital radio format, for those of you keeping score at home, is now available from about 1,000 stations who are simulcasting in HD and in traditional formats -- which is still less than 10 percent of all American radio. Furthermore, the price of a new HD radio still remains significantly higher than a pocket or tabletop analog radio. How much higher? Well, this newest offering will set you back $300 when it becomes available in November -- and that little $20 "transistor" radio your Mom gave you in 1987 still works great, doesn't it? So yes, we're still listening to National Public Radio and baseball games in analog, thank you very much....READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 10:10:00 PM
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What Cramer Said Tonight on Mad Money Lightning Round
 Cramer's 'Mad Money Lightning Round': Dawn of a New Century 9/19/2006 7:01 PM EDT Sirius Satellite Radio ( SIRI - commentary - Cramer's Take): "Somebody launched a bear raid against Sirius today [with rumors that Howard Stern would return to regular radio] . ... Mel [CEO Karmazin] himself is assuring me that that is not going to happen ... This stock is going to trade 3-4, 3-4, until Mel picks up the phone [and calls XM about a merger] ."...READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 10:02:00 PM
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Direct From The Horse's Mouth: You Heard It From Stern, Now From Sirius
Sirius: Stern not going anywhere
By David B. Wilkerson, MarketWatch Last Update: 5:19 PM ET Sep 19, 2006 Sirius Satellite Radio on Tuesday denied speculation that Howard Stern might be headed back to traditional radio.
"There has never been any discussion of Howard Stern in any way, shape, or form being anything but exclusive to Sirius," said Sirius spokesman Patrick Reilly, in a statement. "Published reports suggesting otherwise are wrong." A New York Post report said Stern, who bolted to Sirius ( SIRI) early last year after more than two raucous decades as a top-rated morning host on Infinity Radio, was concerned that he had lost impact as a performer since his move to satellite radio, and that a deal between Sirius and terrestrial radio group Citadel Broadcasting ( CDL) might have allowed him to return to the free airwaves...READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 09:59:00 PM
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Radio Ownership Rules In Question, Boxer Calls For Investigation Into FCC Reports
Sen. Boxer Calls For Investigation Into FCC ReportsSeptember 19, 2006, www.fmqb.comLast week during FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's renomination hearing, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) revealed the existence of a 2004 study on localism in the media that she claimed was killed by the Commission. Later in the week, a former FCC attorney confirmed its existence and a draft of the study appeared on the FCC.gov. Now a second report on media ownership has been unearthed and Boxer has written an open letter to Chairman Martin, calling for an investigation into the matter. In her letter, Boxer revealed the existence of a draft of the 2003 FCC report “Review of the Radio Industry.” According to the report's findings, "while there was a 5.9 percent increase in the number of radio stations in the country between March 1996 and March 2003, there was a 35 percent decrease in the number of radio owners. The report also found that Clear Channel Communications, the largest radio group owner, went from owning 62 stations in 1996, to 1,233 in 2003."...READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 04:43:00 PM
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Consumer Groups Decry Copyright Bill
Tuesday September 19, 4:05 pm ET By Dan Caterinicchia, AP Business Writer Consumer Groups, Satellite Radio Providers Rally Against Online Music Licensing Bill WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer groups and satellite radio providers held a press briefing Tuesday to protest proposed legislation that would require most temporary copies of songs made on computers and consumer products to be licensed and paid for regardless of why the music was downloaded. Overall, the groups back the proposed law, which seeks to simplify licensing of online music. But they protest language in the bill that would require temporary copies of downloaded songs to be licensed and often paid for, saying such restrictions would stifle technological innovation and prohibit consumers' fair use of songs...READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 04:15:00 PM
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Stiletto Preorders Back On Line
 September 19, 2006 With the news that the Stiletto has been approved, retailers have received, it would appear, authorization to resume pre-orders of the Sirius Stiletto. Retailers such as TSS-Radio are now back to business as usual. As yet, there has still been no word from Sirius regarding the device. We here at SSG would expect official word in some capacity this week. Once this happens, consumer eagerness is sure to take over. TSS Radio is once again accepting e-mail reservations for the SIRIUS Stiletto. You can save your spot in line by visiting TSS Radio HERE9/19/2006 02:51:00 PM
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XMSR To Present At Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference Tomorrow
Event Details XM Satellite Radio at Goldman Sachs Communacopia XV ConferenceWednesday, September 20, 2006 8:10 a.m. ET Webcast Presentation Help Click here for webcastEvent Details Title XM Satellite Radio at Goldman Sachs Communacopia XV Conference Date and Time Wednesday, September 20, 2006 8:10 a.m. ET Duration 30 Minutes Location New York, NY 9/19/2006 01:36:00 PM
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Stiletto Approved
September 19, 2006 The quick eyes over at Satellite Radio Tech World just posted that the Stiletto is now past the FCC hurdle. The Sirius Stiletto and the home kit just received approval from the FCC today, while the home kit was approved last week. This news could be what Sirius was waiting for to make a formal announcement regarding the device. Interested SSG Readers should visit Satellite Radio Tech World for more details 9/19/2006 01:05:00 PM
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Howard: "No Way I'm Going Back To Terrestrial Radio"
More Bulls**t About Howard In The Press(via www.marksfriggin.com) ...Howard said he was just reading another story in the paper about what a failure he is and how he's going back to terrestrial radio. He said they also wrote that all of his guests have dried up. Artie said that now that he's in the industry he realizes what kind of bullshit there is in the news. He said about 80 percent of it is just lies. Howard said this guy John Mainelli seems to hate him and always seems to have it in for him. He prints stories about him that just aren't true. He read some of the article about where Mainelli claims that there are rumors flying around that say Howard is going to do what Opie and Anthony did and return to terrestrial radio from the ''obscurity'' of satellite radio. Howard read that Mel Karmazin is trying to cut a deal with Farid Sulemon on terrestrial radio to get him back there. Howard said that he would know something about that if it was happening because he would have some say in a deal like that. Howard said that Mainelli says they're saying that rumors won't die about that story but Howard pointed out that's because this guy won't let it go. Howard said that there's no way he's going back to terrestrial radio. He has over 4.7 million people subscribing to SIRIUS already and there's no reason to go back to that horrible terrestrial radio. He said he had dinner with a guy last night who is very high up in the radio industry who said he loves to listen to the show now that there are such short breaks. No more 20 minute commercial breaks like there were on terrestrial radio....READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 01:00:00 PM
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Sirius To Be Exclusive Provider Of Chelsea Football (Soccer)
SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Chelsea Football Club Announce Exclusive Broadcasting Agreement
SIRIUS to carry the official club broadcast of the two-time defending English Premier League Champion Blues Legendary soccer star Giorgio Chinaglia to host exclusive coverage NEW YORK, Sept 19, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Chelsea Football Club, the two-time defending champions of Barclays English Premier League, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ( SIRI), the Official Satellite Radio Partner of Barclays English Premier League, announced today an agreement to make SIRIUS the exclusive satellite radio provider of Chelsea football. Starting this season SIRIUS, which currently airs multiple EPL games every week throughout the season, will broadcast every Chelsea Premier League game live, providing listeners in the U.S. and Canada access to the official Chelsea club broadcast. This Saturday, September 23, SIRIUS will air Chelsea v. Fulham at 10:00 am ET on channel 125....Link to full article: HERE9/19/2006 12:56:00 PM
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Analyst Comments On SIRI And XMSR
UBS:Sirius Satellite-SIRI implied volatility is low as SIRI trades near 22-month (theflyonthewall.com 09/19 10:36:22) Lows - SIRI is down .14 to $3.98. UBSW say's "we expect SIRI to report 3Q06in late October. However, we would not be surprised if SIRI were to preannounce subscribers in conjunction with surpassing 5 million." UBSW has aNeutral 2 rating with a $4.50 price target on SIRI. SIRI option impliedvolatility of 49 is at the low end of its 26-week range according to TrackData, indicating decreasing price fluctuations. CSFB:Satellite Radio: Would be buyers of SIRI & XMSR, don't believe Stern (theflyonthewall.com 09/19 10:41:20) leaving@FBCO9/19/2006 11:32:00 AM
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Rooms To Go Gets Sirius
 September 19, 2006 Rooms to Go Designs with SIRIUS Radio Clearwater, FL - September 19, 2006 – Rooms To Go, America’s #1 furniture company with the nation’s largest furniture inventory, has begun installing SIRIUSBusiness background music service in select store locations. Rooms To Go, headquartered in Seffner, Florida, has nearly 100 retail outlets across the nation. SIRIUSBusiness, provided by Applied Media Technologies Corporation of Clearwater, FL, consists of 67 channels of 24-hour, commercial-free music from SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI).“Rooms To Go has succeeded by offering stylish furniture at low prices, and AMTC is following the same formula with SIRIUSBusiness: offer a full-featured business music service, at a fraction of the price of traditional providers like Muzak,” insists Connie Locke, Account Executive for AMTC. Privately held AMTC is headquartered in Clearwater, FL. AMTC is the exclusive provider of SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) for business use, under the brand name SIRIUSBusiness. SIRIUSBusiness includes 67 channels of 24-hour, commercial-free music, with all music royalties paid, with subscriptions starting at $24.95 per month, with no contract required. AMTC also manufactures a full line of professional sound equipment. Since 1991, AMTC has served customers around the globe, including names like Bally Total Fitness, Bridgestone-Firestone, Continental Airlines, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co. and Morgan Stanley. For further information on SIRIUSBusiness or TelAdvantage, visit www.amtc.com. Rooms To Go introduced the concept of displaying and packaging furniture in complete room settings. Their designers coordinate each room’s colors, fabrics and accessories to the last detail, so customers don’t have to. This approach affords customers a simplified shopping experience and increased savings when buying an entire room. Rooms To Go introduced the concept of displaying and packaging furniture in complete room settings. Their designers coordinate each room’s colors, fabrics and accessories to the last detail, so customers don’t have to. This approach affords customers a simplified shopping experience and increased savings when buying an entire room. 9/19/2006 10:37:00 AM
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Howard Responds To Rumors Of Return To Terrestrial On His Show
 Developing story... I did not get a chance to listen to Howard today, so this is unconfirmed, but one of our SSG readers sent me a note saying that "Howard reiterated that the would never go back to terrestrial." The replay will be on Sirius Channel 101 or log onto www.marksfriggin.com for show summary. Additionally, based on several calls I have made to the investment community, it is a possibility that the NY post story was "planted" by a certain hedge fund that may have a short position in Sirius stock. Also mentioned in the New York Post article are rumors of a "mega-deal" between Sirius and Citadel. No comment on this yet. 9/19/2006 09:48:00 AM
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Daimler Chrysler Set To Steamline And Cut Production
DCX expects bigger truck profits as it cuts production
By MATT MOORE, Associated Press, September 19, 2006 FRANKFURT, Germany — DaimlerChrysler AG said Tuesday that its truck division will continue to increase its profitability through 2006 as it streamlines production in preparation for a sector-wide slowdown. “The Truck Group will continue to grow its return on net assets and profitability this year,” division chief Andreas Renschler said during his speech at the International Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover. To do that, he said the company would expand its use of common parts and components for manufacturing, making it easier for production to go forward and eliminating costs. “This includes the future use of only three engine families worldwide, instead of the current eight, the use of common axles and transmissions, and the continued use of many common parts such as standardized steering wheels,” he said. The company says it has saved 300 million euros ($380 million) so far by cutting down the number of different components. After strong truck sales over the past years, demand is expected to cool next year in key markets like North America and Western Europe, the company said.In the first six months of 2006, the unit sold 257,900 vehicles, down from the 263,600 it sold in the same period a year ago.... LINK TO FULL ARTICLE9/19/2006 09:45:00 AM
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Napster Considering A Sale
Napster to explore sale, cites interestMonday September 18, 8:54 pm ET By Duncan Martell, Reuters Napster Inc. (NASDAQ: NAPS - News) said on Monday it was considering selling the company or other possible ventures with outsiders looking to hook up with the once-notorious online music service. Shares of Napster surged 11 percent to a four-month high. "There's been interest by third parties to acquire the company," Chris Gorog, Napster's chief executive, said in an interview, adding that other proposals had included strategic partnerships or joint ventures. "That activity has heated up as we've gotten traction with a lot of our new products."... LINK TO FULL ARTICLE 9/19/2006 08:32:00 AM
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Stiletto - A Catchy Video
  September 19, 2006 The guys over at TSS radio have developed a catchy video regarding the Stiletto. This creative video is an eye grabber, and speaks of more news to come. Check it out for yourself. http://www.tss-radio.com/stiletto_video9/19/2006 08:31:00 AM
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Howard In The New York Post Business Section Today
 As un likely as this may be, SSG posts this to inform you (I'm sure Howard will have something to say about this on his show today!): HOWARD'S RETURN TO FREE AIR RUMOREDBy JOHN MAINELLI, September 19, 2006, The New York Post Howard Stern may be coming back to earth - on WPLJ or WABC. Radio insiders are reporting rampant rumors that the shock jock will "do an Opie & Anthony" and return to old-fashioned radio from the obscurity of satellite radio. Persistent industry chatter says "some sort of mega-deal's brewing among Sirius [Satellite] chief Mel Karmazin, Stern and Mel's longtime associate Farid Suleman," says Inside Radio editor Tom Taylor. Suleman currently runs Citadel Broadcasting, which is buying Disney/ABC's radio division, including WPLJ (95.5 FM) and WABC (770 AM). In his widely read tradesheet, Taylor said the rumors "just won't die, despite what Stern and Sirius have said in the past." This much is certain: Stern has complained loudly of late about published reports that he's lost his influence and is no longer a "watercooler topic" since he bolted from CBS for Sirius in a $500 million deal last January. His celebrity-guest bookings have all but dried up and sidekick Artie Lange's new movie "Beer League" bombed over the weekend in spite of heavy hype on Stern's show. The Post's Page Six reported last week that since his move to pay radio, traffic to Stern's Web site was down a whopping 71 percent and his search-engine action plunged a staggering 90 percent. "Terrestrial radio is so scared of this broadcast that they've even hired a full-time publicist to slander and disparage me and try to make me look like a failure," Stern told Sirius listeners last week...READ MORE: HERE9/19/2006 06:45:00 AM
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Monday, September 18, 2006 Sirius Stiletto Gets A Positive Mention In Wired News
 The Music Store In Your PocketBy Eliot Van Buskirk Also by this reporter, 02:00 AM Sep, 18, 2006, Wired News The first big deal about digital music was that you could use the internet to get music. The second big deal about digital music could be that you won't need a computer to use an online store. This is one of the things Microsoft got right with its new Zune digital music player, which bypasses the centralized store concept somewhat by letting you grab files wirelessly from other users (more on that below). Some cell phones already allow you to access massive catalogs of music without a computer, of course, but they're too proprietary and expensive to catch on. A recent promotion on the Sprint Music Store allowed you to download three songs to your phone for $5 -- not much of a bargain, and that's for songs that wouldn't play on your new phone if you were to switch carriers. Plus, streaming high-quality music channels to a cell phone is way too expensive, which limits your music discovery options to short clips of songs you already knew you were looking for.... ... If you hear a song on a Sirius Satellite Radio channel that you like, the Stiletto 100 will let you tag the song for download from an online music store or subscription (almost certainly Yahoo's, in the case of the Stiletto, although Listening Post couldn't confirm that). I'm hard-pressed to think of anything that lets you fulfill your instincts to capture music from a programmed channel in a smoother way.
As I wrote in my last column, the Stiletto 100's insides were designed by a company called Zing Systems (the outer design came from Ziba Design). Zing's CEO Tim Bucher was on the board of advisers for Xenote, and helped develop the iTag, so it makes sense that the same concept is included in the Stiletto...READ MORE: HERE9/18/2006 10:40:00 PM
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TSS-Radio Is Selling XM-to-Sirius Antenna Adapters
 Posted on GSI, Link: HERE
TSS-Radio.com ( www.tss-radio.com) is offering 3 cables that allow you to use your OEM satellite car antenna with your aftermarket SIRIUS Radio. They are offering 2 models for GM, which is great news for GM SIRIUS Connect users who would like to keep the OEM look of their XM antenna. They are also offering a model that will allow you to use the stock "Shark Fin" satellite antenna on your Audi/BMW/VW with aftermarket SIRIUS Radios also. posted by Chris at 9/18/2006 11:08:00 AM - Permalink for TSS-Radio Offers XM to SIRIUS Antenna Adapters9/18/2006 10:31:00 PM
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XMSR Oprah Launch Gains Momentum
 Oprah & Friends on Larry King Live (posted by www.orbitcast.com)
Larry King will be welcoming Oprah and the stars of the upcoming Oprah & Friends channel on XM Satellite Radio (ch 156), next Monday, September 25th at 9pm ET. The episode of Larry King Live coincides, oddly, with the debut of Oprah & Friends on XM. Larry King apparently took out a full page ad in People magazine this week and they are heavily promoting the episode on CNN as well. [ Larry King Live] 9/18/2006 10:28:00 PM
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Week 2 Winner - SSG Football Challenge
September 18, 2006 Week 2 of the SSG Football Challenge is complete. The SSG Football Challenge is brought to you by TSS Radio and My Radio Store. This weeks winner is Karl Mitchell who says, "As a Sirius investor and multiple subscriber, I make sure to stay up to date on Sirius news by reading Sirius Standard Group. When I saw the SSG Football Challenge, I figured I’d try it for fun, never expected to actually win.....Glad I entered." Karl correctly picked 13 out of the 15 games played this past Sunday for an impressive 87% accuracy.
As his prize Karl has chosen a $10 Gift Certificate to TSS Radio, and states that he is looking forward to putting his prize towards the upcoming Sirius Conductor.
Stay tuned for next weeks SSG Football Challenge (enter early), and please visit the SSG Football Challenge sponsors to check out what they have to offer. You can click their ads and peruse their sites for the latest that XM and Sirius have to offer, as well as special deals.
9/18/2006 03:43:00 PM
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The Tunes Are Great, But Don't Try To Stop On A Dime
 September 18, 2006 The new Nissan Versa is a pretty nifty car, and you can get a lot of bells and whistles with it, but try to add satellite radio (Sirius or XM) and you see an interesting quirk. Go to the Nissan web site HERE and try the "Build Your Versa" option. When you include satellite radio in your option (either Sirius or XM), you have to sacrifice ABS brakes!!!! It appears that fast stopping and great content selection simply are not an option on this vehicle. Try it for yourself 9/18/2006 01:09:00 PM
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RFMI Gets mention as Consolidation Player
September 18, 2006 Those that follow SSG are aware that we offer news on other companies aside from Sirius and XM. We also follow companies that do business with Sirius and XM. One of those companies is RF Monolithics (symbol:RFMI) Recently we outlined some aspects of what has been happening at RFMI and the role this company plays in satellite radio. Well, RFMI is playing a big role in their own sector via mergers and aquisitions. Specialty Publishishing recently wrote an article that mentions RFMI, stating that RF Monolithics is emerging as a much needed leader in the mesh networking arena. SSG Readers can get more details about the article HERE 9/18/2006 12:48:00 PM
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City Sessions and Nashville
 September 18, 2006 City sessions is keeping busy, and a frequent term is used in their press releases.......GLOBAL. For those unfamiliar with City Sessions, it is part of TMTC and WDMG. Sirius satellite Radio is a partner in WDMG: Press Release: Sept. 14, 2006, 11:05AM (BW) Nashville's Hottest Indie Artists To Be Featured In ''City Sessions,'' The New High-Definition Show With Global Distribution; Katie Herzig, The Hot Rocks among Nashville artists recording at the Sound Kitchen By Business Editors(c) 2006 Business Wire DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2006--Your Music Channel Television (YMCtv) today announced that "City Sessions," a show in which music industry veterans showcase the vibrant local music scenes of cities across the nation, will produce its Nashville episodes at the Sound Kitchen the week of Sept. 18. YMCtv is a division of the World Digital Media Group (WDMG), which was founded in 2005 as collaborative effort by SIRIUS Satellite Radio, EchoStar Communications, Radio Shack and CC Entertainment. "City Sessions" spotlights the hottest indie bands in each city by producing shows in a new and unique format that combines the best of both a live recording in a real studio and high-definition video that works on platforms globally. Giving Nashville artists a global platform carries special meaning for the head of "City Sessions." "I started my music career in Nashville, knocking on doors looking for someone who would listen to my music, so it's exciting to go back to Nashville with a TV show that will share some of the best talent in Nashville with 'City Sessions,'" said multiple Grammy- and Dove-award winner Chris Christian, CEO of WDMG, and the executive producer of "City Sessions." "We're giving hot Nashville acts the chance to be seen around the world. These independent artists will have a high-resolution show that showcases their talent on DVD; it's a product that, in most cases, the artists couldn't afford to produce or distribute on their own." "City Sessions" wraps up its first season in Nashville featuring local artists such as The Hot Rocks, recognized by MTV as one of the top 25 indie bands of 2006; and Katie Herzig, who is currently opening for The Fray. "City Sessions" has already filmed episodes in Los Angeles, New York City and Dallas. Some of the artists to be featured in the Nashville "City Sessions" are: Chelsea Field http://www.chelseafieldfan.com/Cory Ryan http://www.coryryanmusic.com/Jay Speight http://www.jayspeight.com/Josh Wilson http://www.joshwilsonmusic.com/Katie Herzig http://www.katieherzig.com/Peter Moon Band http://www.petermoon.com/Solvi http://www.solviband.com/Swampdawamp http://www.swampdawamp.com/The Hot Rocks http://www.thehotrocks.com/The Remedy http://www.theremedyrock.com/Tyler James www.tylerjames.comEach "City Sessions" episode features a single artist recording in-studio, as well as an interview with the artist, giving fans an intimate look at the performer and the passion that powers their music. The candid, behind-the-scenes format sets the show apart from traditional music programming such as music videos and televised concerts. "City Sessions" recently signed an international distribution agreement, and later this year, the show's executives plan to announce DISH Network programming and an Internet channel through a popular online portal. "City Sessions" is the first of many shows that YMCtv is developing to focus on artists and their music, as well as the business side of the music industry. Bands interested in being featured on future "City Sessions" episodes should contact Producer Darren Fair via the "City Sessions" Web site ( http://www.citysessionstv.com/) or by e-mail to sessions@ymctv.com. About World Digital Media Group World Digital Media Group (WDMG) is a multi-platform music and digital content company focused on the marketing, distribution, and sales of independent, known, and world music artists through retail, television, radio, the Internet, and wireless devices. Formed by RadioShack Corporation, EchoStar Communications Corporation, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and CC Entertainment, WDMG is one of the first companies to be conceptualized, developed and launched fully leveraging and integrating all possible media by maximizing the existing reach of its assets, bringing music directly to the public in a variety of forms. The CEO of WDMG is Chris Christian, a multiple Grammy- and Dove-award winning record producer, performer, songwriter, and record label executive. 9/18/2006 12:35:00 PM
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Smart Money/Dow Jones: Positive On Satellite Radio
Tech File: Satellite Radio Falls To Earth
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, September 18, 2006 6:04 a.m. (From SMARTMONEY) By Eric J. Savitz I wrote about the prospects for the two satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius. I laid out my issues with the stocks in the first sentence: "Based on any normal valuation measure," I wrote, "the share prices for the two players in the satellite radio business appear flat-out ridiculous." A paragraph later, I noted that the stocks had a combined valuation of $17 billion, despite the fact that the two companies were headed for combined full-year revenue of less than $1 billion. Had I stopped there, I would now look like a hero. But nooooooo, as John Belushi used to say. I ignored my instincts and instead outlined the bullish case for both stocks. I asserted that you could overlook their high valuations by focusing on the future, when satellite radio will become commonplace. I said that, "for investors with a speculative bent, the play is to buy a little of both, stash the shares away, watch for the inevitable dips in the stock prices to buy more, and then wait for proof that consumers are frustrated enough with the homogenized mush of commercial broadcast radio to pay for satellite channels." What happened next is that the stocks had one of those "inevitable dips" I mentioned. Well, "dip" is a bit of an understatement: The stocks cratered. Since Aug. 1, 2005, about the time that issue was going to press, Sirius shares have declined more than 41 percent. But that rather ugly performance looks downright stellar compared with XM, which over the same span fell 65 percent. So first, I offer my apologies for screwing up. And second -- I can't believe I am going to do this again -- let me suggest that you consider betting a few bucks on the pair... ... Moffett argues that the stocks do in fact have a lot of the characteristics of a value play. "They are beaten up; sentiment is atrocious; they face a number of near-term headwinds, which creates investor anxiety," he says. "But there's also a big opportunity. Customers love this service." At the same time, he agrees with Cohen that the relative valuation gap is not going to last. "Both stocks have a compelling story to tell," he adds. Having come back around to these stocks one more time, I sure hope he's right. READ MORE: HERE9/18/2006 09:51:00 AM
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Analyst Comments This Morning: Bank Of America
Nothing New...Bank Of America (Jacoby) still positive on XMSR, negative on SIRIReiterate SIRI/XMSR pair trade, see more risk to SIRI subscriber numbers@BOFA(theflyonthewall.com 09/18 08:48:57) 9/18/2006 08:59:00 AM
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iPod Rivals On The Horizon
 As satellite radio begins to stake a claim in the wearable market, SSG likes to keep you informed on developments and trends in the sector. IPod, TheyPod:Rivals Imitate Apple's Success
By NICK WINGFIELD and ROBERT A. GUTHm September 18, 2006; Page B1, The Wall Street Journal After years of watching Apple Computer Inc.'s success in digital music, rivals are ripping a page from the company's playbook. RealNetworks Inc. today plans to announce a deal with SanDisk Corp. to sell a digital music device that's specifically designed to work with RealNetworks' online music service, Rhapsody. The move follows one made by Microsoft Corp., which will release a digital music player of its own design this holiday season that will be closely coupled with its own online music service. Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. is working on a similar plan. The Sansa e200 will pair with Rhapsody. The deals are an effort by Apple competitors to improve technological coordination between online song sellers and digital-device makers. Many consumers have been frustrated by hardware and software glitches when they try to download songs sold by one company onto a gadget made by another. The iTunes Store and iPods, by contrast, have long worked smoothly because they were both designed from the start by one company, Apple, to operate together. "That's something that Apple has played up very well," says Microsoft Vice President Bryan Lee. "One brand, one device, one service." READ MORE: HERE9/18/2006 07:44:00 AM
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Ford And GM Have Discussed Merger
  Ford Motor and General Motors talk about a partnership that would rock the industry and send Carlos Ghosn packingAutonews.com (via www.briefing.com, In Play) Autonews.com reports senior executives at General Motors (GM) and Ford Motor (F) have discussed a merger or alliance, according to several sources familiar with the talks. But it is not at all clear whether the negotiations will bear fruit. As of now, the two cos are not holding talks, and one source says there's a slim chance that anything will come of it...READ MORE: www.autonews.com9/18/2006 06:43:00 AM
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Sunday, September 17, 2006 SSG Podcast - September 17, 2006
 September 17, 2006 Satellite Standard Keeps You Informed. SSG has added a new podcast to the line-up. You can here the latest podcast by clicking HERE, or you can always access any of our podcasts by referring to the Podcast section in the left sidebar. 9/17/2006 10:09:00 PM
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More On Wired FM Direct Adapters For Satellite Radio
Commentary: Why Some FM Mods Go Over Limits
Wired FM Modulators Are the Best Technical Solution for the Bleed-Through Problem
by Mike Bergman, 9.13.2006 (The author is vice president of new digital technologies for Kenwood USA.) Recent tests conducted by the NAB and NPR have raised questions regarding wireless FM modulators. Some of these products are apparently over FCC Part 15 limits. The view of this situation is somewhat different, depending on whether one is a broadcaster or a consumer electronics maker, for obvious reasons. As manufacturers, we generally look to comply with existing regulations as much as broadcasters do, but recent events have shown that not all regulations are being observed, or at least not with the same attention to detail. When we're discussing wireless FM modulators, or "mods," we're generally talking about the low-power intentional radiating devices that are expected to transmit a weak signal a short distance to an FM receiver. By "short distance," I mean perhaps a meter or two. FCC rules are located in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. CFR 47, Part 15 covers these items. Part 15.239 and Part 15.209 cover the requirements under which these devices operate, with measurement specifications in several places including ANSI/IEEE standard C63.4. Was I speeding, officer? Many consumer applications for these modulators are for the mobile (car) environment - using a modulator to play your iPod, for example, over your OEM car stereo. A wireless modulator that strictly complies with Part 15 limits will sometimes have noisy audio in a real-world environment. The device would need higher than Part 15 power to get clean performance under the majority of normal conditions. Markets such as New York City don't have any open channels, so there is an ongoing motivation for transmitting higher power. Put another way, the existing Part 15 limits don't allow for reliable transmission enough of the time that consumers will be happy with the product. This leads to consumer calls and complaints - on the CE side. Of course, transmitting too much power leads to calls and complaints to the broadcasters, and eventually a letter from the FCC...READ MORE: HERE9/17/2006 09:48:00 PM
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Saturday, September 16, 2006 Sirius Starmate Replay Passes FCC
 September 16, 2006 The all new starmate Replay has now cleared the FCC Hurdle. These new units are expected to ship in the early fall. 9/16/2006 10:53:00 PM
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Sirius FM Direct Adapter
 September 16, 2006 There has been a lot of discussion relating to FM modulation and satellite radio. FM modulation offers a very easy install, but recent events surrounding FM modulation have made the FM modulators weaker than in the past, and people may be looking for a new solution. The fact is that FM modulation is not the best choice any way. Better sound is experienced via other installation methods. One solution to FM Modulation is the wired FM Direct Adapter from Sirius. Sirius outlines several installation methods on their website, and one that people should take note of is this wired adapter. SSG readers can learn more about various installation methods HERE9/16/2006 10:43:00 PM
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Sirius Stratus Passes FCC Muster
 September 16, 2006 It would appear that the new Sirius Stratus has received the green light to launch. The FCC has issued an authorization for the compact piece of Sirius hardware, and it should be shipping this fall. 9/16/2006 10:32:00 PM
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Stern Gets Sirius on 60 Minutes
 September 16, 2006 Howard Stern is stepping into the spotlight once again, and it is irony that it will be with the CBS staple 60 Minutes. Stern spent many years working for CBS, and their relationship strained substantially when Stern decided to leave CBS and shine his star from Sirius Satellite Radio. CBS tried to sue Stern, but the litigation was resolved. In the end, stern got the rights to his previous content. From the CBS Site: HOWARD STERN – In a rare interview, the controversial radio jock talks about his personal life and his new business venture in satellite radio. Ed Bradley reports. Ruth Streeter is the producer. SSG readers can learn more by visiting CBS HERE9/16/2006 10:13:00 PM
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Yahoo Gets Sirius
  September 16, 2006 First things first. Sirius has not made an official announcement regarding Yahoo, but there have been several indicators that the two would hook up. The instruction manual for Sirius contains the following language: My Sirius Studio Software Installation
If you are using the home dock to connect to your PC computer, the My Sirius Studio®
software included with your Stiletto will allow you to connect your Stiletto to your PC. The software requires your PC computer to be using the Microsoft Windows® XP operating system with Service Pack 2 installed.Important: The software must be installed before connecting the Stiletto to your PC computer. The following list provides a few highlights of the capabilities of the software:
-Create playlists and download songs to the playlists.-Streaming of SIRIUS music channels over the internet.-Check for updates to the operating system software and download them to Stiletto, and re-install deleted operating system files. During installation you will be given the opportunity to install Yahoo! Music Engine™ software. The Yahoo! Music Engine software will recognize the Stiletto and enable you to manage playlists and download music files. Yahoo! Music Engine will also allow you to view the songs and artist saved by you as "Favorites". By using the Yahoo! Music Engine software, it may be possible to purchase or download this content. To install the My Sirius Studio software:Place the My Sirius Studio software CD into your PC computer's CD-ROM drive to start the software installation.
9/16/2006 10:00:00 PM
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Is Sirius Getting Ready To Launch With Yahoo?
While the post below turns out to be a band, there is now more substantial information that Sirius and HERE Yahoo are indeed working together. No official announcements as yet, but you can read more  There have been rumors about a Sirius-Yahoo partnership, but so far, that's all it's been. One of our eagle-eye SSG readers sent me a note with this link: http://launch.yahoo.com/ar-21307067-downloads--SoSirius. If you look closely at the page, there is a box that says "So-Sirius Downloads". Are they getting ready to make an announcement soon? UPDATE - READER COMMENTS:"Just thought I would let you know that So-Sirius is actually the name of the artist. One the page in question, you will notice that the "Artists" tab is highlighted purple on the top right of the page. If you type "sirius" in the "search box" you will get several other artists that have "Sirius" in their name.I'm not implying that Yahoo isn't going to team up with Sirius. I just figure I would let you know.Hope your had a great summer and keep up the good work with the SSG site. It's really getting some exposure. I have noticed it being mentioned on other sites."I believe if you dig a little deeper the 'so-sirius download' page you Refer to is actually a SINGING GROUP called 'so-sirius'
http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=42126233
Thank You for the information, and keep the comments coming.9/16/2006 08:41:00 AM
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Friday, September 15, 2006 Stilletto News From Satellite Radio Tech World
Sirius Receives Three New Certifications Friday, Sept 15, 2006 "This could be breaking news. The Stiletto Home Kit received certification today. It has the FM modulator built into it. Apparently, the Stiletto does not have a built in modulator. In addition, the new StarMate 3 received certification, as well as the new Status. All great news for Sirius!"...READ MORE: HERE
9/15/2006 09:04:00 PM
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The Who Gears Up For Tour (And Launch Of Sirius Channel)
 The Who’s Youth Is Lost, but Not the Power Chords
By JON PARELES, The New York Times, Sept 15, 2006, Music Review YOUNG rockers don’t know any better than to write brash anthems like the songs that gave the Who its place in rock history. Aging rockers have to deal with disillusionment, ambivalence, waning energy and nostalgia. At the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on Wednesday night, starting a string of local concerts, the Who grappled with both its past and its present. It will never be the band it was in the 1960’s and 70’s, when every power chord delivered by Pete Townshend’s windmilling arm sounded like an insurrection, and when Roger Daltrey was a cocky, pugnacious rock archetype. But it can still pack a kick. On the Who’s umpteenth tour since its farewell concerts in 1982, the band has something new: songs from its first full album of new material in 24 years, set for release on Oct. 31. Once again, Mr. Townshend, 61, is writing songs for Mr. Daltrey, 62, to sing, reclaiming both hard-rock muscle and introspection to reveal what’s on his mind now: memories, the state of the world, metaphysics. Onstage, Mr. Townshend was almost apologetic about including new songs amid the oldies. The new songs are decidedly mixed, but they’ve freed the Who from its routines...READ MORE: HERE9/15/2006 02:49:00 PM
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Sirius Ivy League Football Broadcasts Begin On Saturday
For the second straight season, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will broadcast an Ivy League football 'Game of the Week,’ re-transmitting institutional broadcasts across the country.The first broadcast of the season will be this Saturday (Sept. 16), as the Harvard Crimson -- picked as the League's preseason favorite by the media -- hosts Holy Cross, coached by former Ivy Player of the Year Tom Gilmore.“As we celebrate the Ivy League’s 50th anniversary this year, we’re very pleased to again have the national exposure that our SIRIUS partnership provides for Ivy alumni and fans,” said Ivy League Executive Director Jeff Orleans. “And we’re delighted that basketball broadcasts again will follow this winter.”Each school will have at least two football broadcasts on the nationwide satellite radio provider. The September 30 broadcast will highlight that 50th anniversary in a pre-game ceremony at the Princeton-Columbia matchup at Wien Stadium/Baker Field in Manhattan. The first official Ivy League football game took place on the same field on September 29, 1956, when Brown defeated Columbia 20-0...READ MORE: HERE9/15/2006 02:35:00 PM
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SSG Football Challenge Week 2
September 12, 2006
The SSG Football Challenge has now been automated. You can select your teams right on line and submit your answers. If you prefer the old fashioned method, feel free to e-mail your picks to: ssgfootballchallenge@gmail.com
The SSG Football Challenge sponsors are My Radio Store (an XM retailer) as well as TSS Radio (a Sirius retailer). Please feel free to click on their links in this post and check out the deals they are offering on XM and Sirius gear.
The rules of the SSG Football Challenge can be found HERE
Make Your Week 2 Picks Below:
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