XM Satellite Radio, the first U.S. digital satellite radio service, will bring music to the New York City Marathon at 10 locations along the 26-mile course, featuring a variety of XM’s 100 channels, which it calls “Radio to the Power of X.”
Working with retail partner Best Buy and the New York City Roadrunners Club, XM will broadcast great digital music representative of its 71 music channels – ranging from rock to jazz, hip-hop to country, blues to classical – to help the marathoners as they make their way through the five boroughs of New York.
“XM will bring the most diverse selection of music, news and talk to the most culturally diverse city in America,” said XM President and CEO Hugh Panero, a veteran New York City Marathon runner and a native New Yorker. “We’re pleased to work with Best Buy to enhance one of America’s premier sporting events in the greatest city in the world.”
The marathon marks the debut of the XM sound in New York. XM is based in Washington, DC where it originates its music channels from its 80-studio broadcast center. XM also broadcasts several channels from its four New York studios, including “Frank’s Place,” the American Standards channel featuring radio personality Jonathan Schwartz. Already launched in the Southern half of the U.S., XM will officially launch service in the Big Apple later this month, when XM radios will be on shelves at Best Buy and other major electronics retailers.
XM will transform radio, an industry that has seen little technological change since FM, almost 40 years ago. Delivered coast to coast by two high- powered satellites, XM provides digital music channels to soothe the mind and information channels to fill it. XM’s programming lineup includes 71 music channels, more than 30 of them commercial-free; and 29 sports, talk, children’s and entertainment channels, plus premiere news and information services such as FOX News, CNN Headline News, CNBC, Bloomberg, CNNfn, USA Today and C-SPAN. Leading manufacturers such as Sony, Alpine and Pioneer will offer 24 models of XM radios, a broad array including universal models that will easily enable any existing car stereo system to receive XM service, and new AM/FM/XM systems offering many other great features. Delphi-Delco systems will roll out initially in Cadillac DeVille and Seville models beginning this month, expanding to more than 20 GM models next year.
XM’s strategic investors include America’s leading car, radio and satellite TV companies – General Motors, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Clear Channel Communications and DIRECTV. For more information, please visit XM’s web site: http://www.xmradio.com.
