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About XM Radio
What is XM Satellite Radio?
What will I hear on XM?
Does XM carry local stations?
Does XM have commercials?
How does XM compare to Sirius?
Why do I hear weekly Emergency Alert System Messages across XM channels?
What is XM Satellite Radio?
- XM Radio is broadcasting over 170 digital channels of totally new music, news, sports and children's programming direct to cars and homes via satellite and our extensive repeater network, which supplements the satellite signal to ensure seamless transmission. The channels originate from XM's broadcast center, the world's largest all-digital studio complex in Washington, DC, and uplink to our satellites. These satellites transmit the signal across the entire continental United States. Each satellite provides 18kw of total power making them the two most powerful commercial satellites ever built, providing coast-to-coast coverage. XM Satellite Radio is changing the way people listen to radio in the same way cable changed television.
What will I hear on XM?
- XM offers a huge variety of stations you'll never hear on commercial radio. Many of our music channels are commercial free. Most are unique and innovative XM Originals, which include totally new programming. Virtually every musical style is represented in depth and variety. Some channels include Fox News Channel, BBC World Service, PBS's News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Bloomberg News Radio, NASCAR, CNN News, Radio One, Salem Communications, The Weather Channel, and many more.
Does XM carry local stations?
- XM Satellite Radio is revolutionizing radio by offering exciting and unprecedented coast-to-coast programming. Listeners need to tune to the XM band on their XM radio to tune into our programming. XM's listeners still have access to their local AM & FM stations for local content.
Does XM have commercials?
- All music channels programmed by XM are commercial-free. We offer the most music in satellite radio, including 69 commercial-free music channels. Many of our news, talk, sports and entertainment channels (including comedy and kids), as well as four music channels programmed by Clear Channel Communications carry a limited amount of commercials. Most local radio stations carry 18 minutes of commercials every hour.
How does XM compare to Sirius?
Why do I hear weekly Emergency Alert System Messages across XM channels?
- Beginning on December 31, 2006, XM has had to comply with new FCC regulations that require satellite radio operators to carry national emergency alert announcements similar to the ones that you hear on terrestrial radio broadcast stations. The FCCs decision requiring XM to carry emergency alert requirements imposed similar requirements on providers of digital broadcast and cable TV, digital audio broadcasting, and direct broadcast satellite services. Under the new regulations, satellite radio operators such as XM must carry weekly and monthly emergency alert announcements on all of our channels simultaneously, to ensure we have the ability to receive and distribute this information in the event of a national emergency.
This will cause an interruption of normal programming on all channels for a period of less than one minute.
This will be heard on satellite channels only. Audio channels on XM Radio Online, DirecTV, Alltel, and Cingular will not be interrupted.