Advanced Television

Digital Radio

Sirius cracks 50m radio installs

Pay-radio operator Sirius-XM says its satellite radios are now installed in more than 50 million vehicles, although not all are subscribing to its services. Sirius-XM units are now factory installed in close to 70 per cent of all new vehicles sold in the USA. “We are proud that SiriusXM has reached this major milestone since […]

August 23, 2012By Chris Forrester

Shareholders sue Sirius-XM

Liberty Media has made no secret that it wants to absorb US pay-radio broadcaster Sirius-XM, and eventually consolidate it into one of its companies. However, a group of disgruntled existing shareholder have issued writs in a Delaware court arguing that Sirius’s existing directors are not doing enough to resist Liberty’s advances. Specifically, their action argues […]

August 22, 2012By Chris Forrester

Liberty makes push on Sirius-XM

Liberty Media is looking to take greater control over pay-radio operator Sirius-XM.  Liberty bought another 94 million shares on August 17th, costing some $234 million, and taking its stake to 48 per cent. Liberty has also informed US regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it plans to take its stake to beyond 50 per […]

August 20, 2012By Chris Forrester

Excellent Q2 for Sirius-XM

North American pay-radio operator Sirius-XM reported Q2 growth of 622,000 taking their total subscriber count to almost 23 million. Revenues saw similar growth, up 13 per cent on the same period last year to $838 million. “SiriusXM continued its exceptional performance in the second quarter, adding over 600,000 subscribers, which represents a post-merger record, despite […]

August 7, 2012By Chris Forrester

BBC, TalkSport share FA Cup rights

The Football Association (FA) has agreed a new six season deal with BBC Sport and TalkSport for the radio commentary rights for all men’s and women’s FA Cup and International matches along with the Community Shield. The deal covers the qualification campaigns for the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, and the 2016 European Championships. The […]

July 27, 2012

BBC Radio stays with analogue

Tim Davie, the BBC’s director of audio and music, says the BBC will continue analogue transmissions, and called for radio manufacturers to continue to include analogue reception in their new devices. “We should be selling radios with DAB and FM [reception] so that they are future-proof.” Davie, speaking at a London digital radio conference, said […]

July 16, 2012By Chris Forrester

Sirius-XM’s record numbers

Pay-radio operator Sirius-XM added more than 600,000 net new subscribers in the quarter-year to June 30th, taking their overall subscriber total to an impressive 22.9 million. The numbers were some 38 per cent up on the same Q2 period last year (452,147) and means that the radio company has now added more than 1 million […]

July 10, 2012

Stern will help Google TV

Google is getting help from shock jock Howard Stern to revive its Internet TV software, which has languished since its debut 19 months ago. Sirius XM will make all of its programming, including Howard Stern, available on Google TV, through a new app that will let listeners pause live programmes and play back up to […]

June 27, 2012

Global acquires GMG Radio for £50m

Guardian Media Group has sold its radio business, which includes the Real Radio and Smooth Radio networks, to Global Radio for an estimated price of £50 million. GMG, which has built up the UK’s third-largest radio group over the past 13 years, signed the deal with Global Radio after receiving a number of offers for […]

June 25, 2012

Tesco pays £11m for We7 digital

Tesco has bought the digital music service We7 for £10.8m (€13.3m). The supermarket has taken a 91 per cent stake in London-based digital music service, with the remaining shares to be purchased within weeks. The purchase of We7 comes as the supermarket moves increasingly into digital entertainment, after its acquisition of the online movie rentals […]

June 15, 2012