Satellite Radio News (3.25.04)

The following is a summary of today's satellite radio headlines:

Satellite Radio Eager to Receive Howard Stern Fans (The Los Angeles Times, 3.24.04) Article by John O'Dell notes that talk-show host Howard Stern has been threatening lately to go where the FCC can't touch him: satellite radio. Neither XM nor Sirius would disclose whether they've had discussions with Stern. He began talking about switching to satellite after a bill was introduced in Congress to dramatically raise FCC fines for "obscene" or "indecent" material heard or seen on broadcast radio stations or television networks; federal indecency rules don't apply to satellite or cable television networks or satellite radio. Hugh Panero, XM Satellite's chief executive, pooh-poohed the possibility, saying he doubted whether XM or Sirius could afford the reported $20 million Stern pulls down a year through his contract with Viacom Inc.'s Infinity Broadcasting. (Read more)

SIRIUS Satellite Radio Available as Factory-Installed Option on Kenworth Class 8 Trucks Starting in June (Sirius Satellite Radio, 3.24.04) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio announced that Kenworth will offer SIRIUS as a factory-installed option on Class 8 model trucks beginning in June. SIRIUS provides subscribers with more than 100 digital-quality channels of premium entertainment. In addition to 61 streams of 100% commercial-free music, SIRIUS offers subscribers nationwide play-by-play of NHL, NBA and NFL games, as well as talk programming from ESPN and Motor Racing Network (MRN). SIRIUS will also create "The NFL Satellite Radio Network," a year-round stream of NFL content. SIRIUS also offers truckers around-the-clock traffic and weather reports for the top 20 traffic markets in the country, and the SIRIUS Trucking Network, including overnight programming from the Midnight Trucking Radio Network. (Read more)

Delphi Satellite Radios to be Outfitted in Penske Truck Leasing Fleet (Sirius Satellite Radio, 3.24.04) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio and Delphi Corp. announced today at the Mid-America Trucking Show that its SIRIUS Satellite Radios will begin to accompany drivers of Penske Truck Leasing's Fleet over the long miles of travel on the road. Delphi Electronics & Safety's SIRIUS Satellite equipped radios enable subscribers to listen to news, talk, weather, entertainment and sports. Penske Truck Leasing will outfit some of its class 8 trucks with Delphi's satellite radio and antennas to receive SIRIUS reception through a deal with its distributor -- Pana- Pacific. "We are very pleased that Penske Truck Leasing chose to add our hardware to a portion of its truck fleet," said Jeff Owens, president of Delphi Electronics & Safety. "It is exciting to be selected by a first class organization like Penske, and we believe that Delphi SIRIUS satellite radio will add value to Penske's fleet." (Read more)

Interstate Connections and SIRIUS Satellite Radio Team-Up to Expand Distribution in the Heavy Truck Market (Sirius Satellite Radio, 3.24.04) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio announced an agreement with Interstate Connections, LLC, a distributor of high end mobile electronics in truck and travel centers to expand SIRIUS' availability through Interstate's network of stores. Interstate, with its 70 store-within-a-store outlets located in Travel Centers of America and Petro Shopping Centers, will provide SIRIUS with direct access to professional truck drivers through Interstate's assisted sales floors across the U.S. In conjunction with SIRIUS' products, such as the Brix Streamer, designed specifically for the professional driver and distributed by Pana-Pacific Corporation, the agreement uniquely positions both parties to tap into the heavy truck aftermarket that today represents approximately 3.5 million potential subscribers. (Read more)

SIRIUS Satellite Radio Launches The Wiseguy Show, A Celebration of Italian-American Culture (Sirius Satellite Radio, 3.23.04) Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio announced The Wiseguy Show, a weekly three-hour celebration of Italian-American culture. Veteran actor Vincent Pastore, best known for his role as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the HBO-TV series The Sopranos, will host the program. Each week on The Wiseguy Show, Pastore will interview prominent guests from the Italian-American community. Pastore will also discuss current events, review movies, perform skits, give sex advice, and interact with SIRIUS listeners. Of course, no show about Italian-Americans would be complete without music from such notables as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Al Martino, Jerry Vale and other classic crooners, and they'll be included in The Wiseguy Show. (Read more)