Sirius Satellite Radio News

SpaceX plans to launch another SiriusXM satellite Sunday

ORLANDO, Fla., June 4 (UPI) -- Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to launch a communications satellite for SiriusXM on Sunday from Florida in what will be the first such mission since one of the broadcast company's spacecraft failed after launch in December.


The satellite, known as SXM-8, is prepared for liftoff aboard a Falcon 9 rocket during a nearly two-hour window starting at 12:25 a.m. EDT from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.





Weather risks at that time include showers and cumulus clouds, according to a forecast from the Space Force, which determined a 40% chance of weather-related postponement. SpaceX may attempt a launch around the same time Monday if weather causes a delay.


The satellite is intended to aid the delivery of Sirius XM's entertainment and data services to 34 million subscribers, according to the company.

SiriusXM’s Newest Satellite Aces In-Orbit Test

July 30, 2021

The SXM-8 satellite has completed in-orbit testing and has been handed over to SiriusXM.


A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the satellite into space on June 6 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.


SXM-8 is the ninth high-powered, digital, audio radio satellite built by Maxar Technologies for SiriusXM.


Built on Maxar’s 1300-class platform and designed to provide more than 15 years of service, SXM-8 is more than 27 feet tall and weighed nearly 7,000 kg at launch. SXM-8 has a large, mesh, unfurlable reflector almost 30 feet in diameter that will allow SiriusXM programming to reach its radios, including those in moving vehicles.


“We are proud of our long-standing relationship with SiriusXM and excited to see SXM-8 ready for service to bring entertainment to millions of SiriusXM subscribers,” said Chris Johnson, Maxar’s Senior Vice President of Space Programs Delivery. “The entire Maxar team is committed to excellence, and playing a role in the success of our customers’ missions is what drives us every day.”


SXM-8 will provide continuous delivery of SiriusXM’s audio entertainment and information services to consumers in the United States and will expand SiriusXM’s coverage area in Canada and the Caribbean.


Importantly, SXM-8 will extend the health of SiriusXM’s satellite fleet and its satellite-delivered services through at least 2036.

Conan O’Brien Sells Podcast Business to SiriusXM for $150M

05/24/2022

Under the deal, podcasts like 'Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend' and 'Parks and Recollection' will move to the satellite radio firm. O'Brien will also produce a comedy channel for the company.



Former NBC and TBS late night host Conan O’Brien has sold his podcast and digital media business, Team Coco, to satellite radio giant SiriusXM.


The deal will see O’Brien’s popular interview podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, as well as Team Coco’s 10 other podcasts (which include a behind-the-scenes look at his late night shows called Inside Conan and a Parks and Recreation series hosted by Rob Lowe and Alan Yang called Parks and Recollection), join the SiriusXM podcast network.


As with other podcast deals, the shows will continue to be distributed on other popular podcasting platforms.

SiriusXM Commissions Maxar to Build Two New Satellites, SXM-11 and SXM-12

11/30/2022



Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR) and SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced a new agreement commissioning Maxar to build and deliver two new geostationary communications satellites for SiriusXM.



The Maxar-built SXM-11 and SXM-12 satellites for SiriusXM as shown in an artist rendering. Credit: Maxar.
The SXM-11 and -12 satellite orders increase the total number of spacecraft in development for SiriusXM by Maxar to four, following the 2021 agreement for the construction of SXM-9 and -10.

“This investment reaffirms our commitment to satellite content delivery systems and cutting-edge technology,” said Bridget Neville, SiriusXM’s Senior Vice President of Satellite and Terrestrial Engineering and Operations. “SXM-11 and -12, along with SXM-9 and -10, will allow us to innovate and improve our service offerings for subscribers and will extend the continuous and reliable delivery of our audio entertainment content.”
“This agreement, in combination with SXM-9 and -10 ordered last year, shows one of Maxar’s greatest strengths—the advantage of performance at scale,” said Chris Johnson, Maxar’s Senior Vice President of Space. “These satellites will provide more capability to SiriusXM’s fleet, including an expanded service area and higher service quality. We continue to push for new ways to expand capability for commercial geostationary customers, keeping our leadership in this market secure and growing.”

There are more than 150 million SiriusXM-equipped vehicles on the road today that rely on SiriusXM’s proprietary satellite network, which is also a key delivery mechanism for the company’s 360L platform. SiriusXM with 360L combines satellite and streaming to ensure the best possible coverage across the U.S. and Canada and the best customer experience. SiriusXM also offers a suite of satellite-delivered Marine and Aviation services that provide pilots and boaters important weather data and information directly to their cockpits.
SXM-11 and -12 will be twin high-powered digital audio radio satellites, built on Maxar’s proven 1300-class platform at the company’s manufacturing facilities in Palo Alto and San Jose, California. Maxar has been building satellites for SiriusXM for more than two decades, including the first-generation Sirius satellites launched in 2000; the second-generation Sirius satellites launched in 2009 and 2013; and the company’s current third-generation satellites, the first one of which started service in 2021. The delivery of SXM-11 and -12 will bring the number of Maxar-built spacecraft for SiriusXM to 13.

SiriusXM Set to Open New Broadcast Facilities in Miami
Howard Stern's show will air live from Florida to celebrate the studios' opening

BY ELLE KEHRES ⋅
PUBLISHED: APRIL 25, 2023
SiriusXM has announced that Howard Stern will bring his show to Miami to officially open its newest broadcast complex. “The Howard Stern Show” will air live May 1–3 from the SiriusXM Miami studios, where Stern will be joined on-air by various music and celebrity guests.

SiriusXM Miami’s official opening week will also feature broadcasts and performances across several SiriusXM channels, all originating from the South Beach complex.

This includes the launch of a Latin Pop channel called Hits Uno. Inspired by Miami’s musical culture and roots, Sirius XM said its programming will showcase some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Anitta, Becky G, Carlos Vives and Pitbull.

The Miami facilities include a 50-seat performance space and several “artist-first” radio and recording studios, in addition to office space, according to the company. It had announced plans for this last year.

An artist’s image of the Starwood Capital building in which SiriusXM is planning its new space.
“Miami is an incredibly rich center for music and entertainment,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s president and Chief Content Officer, in a press release. “SiriusXM Miami will capture the city’s unique culture and character and bring it to audiences across North America, as we’ve proudly done from our existing studios in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Washington DC. We’re thrilled to have Howard kick things off in the biggest way with three exceptional days of shows.”

All programming will be available to SiriusXM subscribers in their cars and on the SXM App. Full details on SiriusXM Miami events kicking off in May can be found on the SiriusXM Blog.