The deadline for mandatory channel leasing has come.

[jwt873]

As part of the merger, Sirius/XM was told by the FCC that they must lease 4 percent of their channels to third party interests. This was to be done by November 28th 2008, but was extended by the FCC to February 27th, 2009 (today!)

Has anyone heard which channels will be surrendered for this third party broadcasting and/or which third party companies will be using Sirius/XM bandwidth?

From: Radio Ink Magazine

FCC Extends Deadline For Sirius XM To Lease Channels

WASHINGTON -- December 1, 2008: Sirius XM Radio had until November 28 -- four months after the XM-Sirius merger that created the company was approved by the FCC -- to lease 4 percent of their channels to qualfied third parties, but the FCC's Media Bureau has now, on its own motion, extended that deadline to February 27, 2009.

As a condition of their merger, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio voluntarily agreed to put 4 percent of their full-time channels in the hands of qualified third parties through long-term leases or other agreements.

 

[JoeTan]

The FCC's demands were laughable and I'm sure Sirius agreed to them under the impression that they couldn't really enforce this when they are FLAT BROKE.

 

[syphix]

From everything I've read, it's the FCC that's dragging its feet on this, not SIRIUS XM.

 

[TheScionicMan]

The extension was for the FCC to get the rules and conditions,etc in place. Haven't heard anything from them so I'm guessing its not SiriusXM stalling the process...

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

XM136 may be the first one.

I want to know which channels they are so I know which ones I need to block from my receivers. I am fundementally apposed to this stupid waste of bandwidth.

 

[joe2k4]

It is the FCC's fault there the ones who are encharge of this.

 

[flap_jackson]

XM136 may be the first one.

I want to know which channels they are so I know which ones I need to block from my receivers. I am fundementally apposed to this stupid waste of bandwidth.

If 136 is one, then it's actually pretty good. Granted, it's not full-time yet, but I find it to be a great and unique channel.

 

[syphix]

And it's been extended again...this time to May 29th:
Radio Ink Magazine

 

[flap_jackson]

And it's been extended again...this time to May 29th:
Radio Ink Magazine

Thanks for the news :bigthumbup:

 

[Kryptonite]

I'm sure a lot of people will block these channels.

But if Sirius is leasing these channels, doesn't that mean more income? The way I see it, they're giving these organizations a channel, just like they've done for AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Elvis, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica (XM had a channel for them) and any number of groups.

If you don't listen to the channel, no one at Sirius XM really cares. But, at the end of the day, wouldn't someone be paying Sirius XM for the channels?

If they're paying for a channel AND bringing in new subscribers, it could only be double a good thing, right? (Financially speaking, of course.)

 

[sgip2000]

From my understanding, they would be similar to "Public Access" TV stations.

SiriusXM would be required to provide access to them for free.

 

[VinnyM27]

I'm sure a lot of people will block these channels.

But if Sirius is leasing these channels, doesn't that mean more income? The way I see it, they're giving these organizations a channel, just like they've done for AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Elvis, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica (XM had a channel for them) and any number of groups.

If you don't listen to the channel, no one at Sirius XM really cares. But, at the end of the day, wouldn't someone be paying Sirius XM for the channels?

If they're paying for a channel AND bringing in new subscribers, it could only be double a good thing, right? (Financially speaking, of course.)

that's what I think so why not. I wouldn't be shocked if the leased channels turn out to have better content than Sirius is churning out lately. Hopefully they won't subject us to single artists channels....and at least if the artist/label is paying Sirius/XM for the use of the bandwith, might make sense.

 

[TheScionicMan]

And if the bandwidth to provide them costs us channels that people DO listen to, then yeah, its a problem.