Category Archives: Radio

Canada: Satellite Radio Proposals Already on the Table

SIRIUS

XM Satellite radio comes from space bearing gifts: 100 digital channels with eclectic music options and few or no commercials, beamed directly to cars and home stereos. To date, the service has been available only in the continental United States, but all that is about to change as dueling satellite radio providers, XM and Sirius, have recently signed deals with potential Canadian providers.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, along with privately held Standard Radio, and Sirius Satellite Radio have teamed up, while a competing venture launched by Toronto entrepreneurs John Bitove Jr. and Stewart Lyons has allied with Washington-based XM Satellite Radio.
In Saturday’s Globe and mail, Michael Posner writes about the three contenders (CHUM has recently entered the picture) for consumer satelllite-radio dollars. Satellite radio is in Canada’s near future.
Some analysts expect satellite radio to grow the way satellite TV did. If so, XM and Sirius radios will become standard in cars and homes sooner than later, and both companies could become budding media giants.

Right On: Left on the Radio

ALFRANKEN Progressive commercial talk radio is about to arrive on airwaves across the United States, in what one hopes will become a successful attempt by liberals to provide counterbalance to the right-wing wackos who’ve been polluting the U.S. radio dial for oh so many years.
Comedian Janeane Garofalo is set to join Air America’s talent line-up, taking on 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. duties, while environmental activist Robert Kennedy, Jr. will host a weekend slot.

The Death of Top 40 Radio in Vancouver

The radio ratings wars are on again, as the radio scene in Vancouver continues to transform itself, in search of ever more listeners.
Or, perhaps it is that corporate radio is interested only in going after the same piece of the 18 – 34 demographic pie. Z-95 recently jettisoned its long successful contemporary hit radio format in favour of chomping on the same piece of pie that is being chewed on by radio ratings leaders, ‘soft rock favourite’ QM-FM, and the relatively new radio kid on the block, the self-styled “We play what we want”, JACK-FM, and their rehash of 80s hits.
Bad enough that there’s no place on Vancouver radio for ambient / techno / jazz and related electronica radio formats. Now, Vancouver radio listeners — particularly, young people — won’t even be afforded the opportunity to listen to the latest pop hits from Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera?
Whatever the sad and regrettable case, Michael McCullough writing in today’s Vancouver Sun covers the local radio ratings scene, and the demise of broad spectrum radio in Vancouver.