XM Satellite Radio channel history

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This is a list of former channels on XM Satellite Radio, in addition to information on format changes of existing channels. Also included is information on temporary channels and seasonal channels.

Contents 1 Format Changes 2 Former Stations 3 Channels which have changed ownership 4 Channels canceled before launch 5 Channels of unknown status 6 Seasonal 7 Micro-Channels 8 XM on AOL Radio 9 References

[edit] Format Changes

These XM channels still exist on the lineup, but have made changes to its presentation method or playlist.

• ESPN Xtra - Was 24/7 ESPNEWS TV audio rebroadcast until 2008-02-04^[1].
• Starbucks XM Café - Was mainly Album Album Alternative and formely titled XM Café until 2007-07-31.
• Quoi de Neuf - Was Art and Entertainment news & information until 2007-04-09.
• Radio Parallèle - Was Men's Lifestyle & Sports Talk until 2007-04-06. This channel titled SportPlus until 2007-04-06 and Franc Parler from 2005-11-17 to 2006-04-17.
• Fuego - Was Latin Pop until August 14, 2005. This channel titled Alegria until April 17, 2006.
• Sunny - Simulcasted WLTW in New York City, New York until December 1, 2003. Formerly titled Lite. Its format was Beautiful Music until May 1, 2006 when it changed to Nostalgic Music. Sunny again changed to AM Gold music in June 2006.
• Highway 16 - Was 90s and 2000s Country on channel 15 until December 1, 2003. Formerly titled Highway 15.
• KISS - Simulcasted KIIS-FM/KVVS in Los Angeles, California until December 1, 2003. Flipped to hits of the 90s and today in June 2006.
• MIX - Simulcasted KHMX in Houston, Texas until December 1, 2003. Changed again May 1, 2006 to play wider array of hit music from 1970s onward.
• Nashville! - Simulcasted WSIX in Nashville, Tennessee until December 1, 2003. Formerly titled WSIX.
• The Verge - Was Unsigned Artists until November 17, 2005. It is now a channel programmed by Canadian Satellite Radio. Its original name was Unsigned, and after that, (un)Signed.
• Top Tracks - Played Classic Rock until shifting to Early Classic Rock on March 1, 2006. Later Classic Rock was spun off into Big Tracks.
• XM Live - Was Live Musical Performances.

[edit] Former Stations

These channels are no longer part of the XM platform.

• BET Uptown (XM62) - Urban Adult Contemporary station from BET. Brought in-house and changed to Suite 62.
• C|Net Radio (XM130) - A simulcast of KNEW in San Francisco. The station was about news and information regarding technology. It changed formats due to financial losses. (Removed on 2/1/04)
• C-Wave (XM105) - Outsourced Chinese language music channel. Was deleted when XM decided to move more programming in-house. (Removed on 8/26/02.)
• CNNfn (XM128) - Complete coverage of business news. The network was shut down in 2002. (Removed on 12/2/02.)
• CNN Sports Illustrated (XM141) - Sports News and In-Depth Features. The network was shut down on May 15, 2002. (Removed around 5/12/02)
• USA Today (XM121) - News from USA Today and its staff in collaboration with XM. (Removed on 12/2/02.)
• Discovery Channel Radio (XM161) - Discovery Channel programming. Originally programmed 24/7, then during nights and weekends. (Was removed on 9/1/05)
• Babble On (XM168) - Talk channel geared towards teenage audience, deleted for low listenership. One of the first programming casualties of XM. (Removed on 12/2/02.)
• Playboy Radio (XM205) - Premium channel provided by Playboy for an extra $4.99 a month. Was deleted due to low subscription turnout. (Added to lineup on 8/26/02. Removed on 9/1/05.) It has now resurfaced on Sirius Satellite Radio. It is available without an additional fee, but subscribers must "opt in" to receive the channel.
• MTV Radio (XM155) - MTV audio simulcasts and pop hits. Also included Headbangers Ball and various MTV award shows. (Original channel that was on 25. Moved to 155 on 2/1/04. Removed from satellite lineup on 9/30/05.)
• VH1 Radio (XM156) - VH1 audio simulcasts and pop hits. Also included Behind the Music. (Original channel that was on 24. Moved to 156 on 2/1/04. Removed from satellite lineup on 9/30/05.)
• Buzz XM (XM166) - Hot Talk station provided for Clear Channel terrestrial talk shows, renamed "America Right" to complement Air America (originally called "America Left" but changed when Air America signed an exclusive deal with XM) (Was removed on 4/5/04)
• XM News (XM120) - In-house news service. Third party channels defeated its purpose. (Was removed on 8/26/02.)
• Tejano (XM93) - Tejano music channel owned and produced by Univision. When XM went to commercial free music, Univision pulled out.
• Radio Taj (XM104) - Outsourced Indian language music channel. Was deleted when XM decided to move more programming in-house. (Removed on 8/26/02.)
• Red Cross Radio (XM248) - A temporary channel used to aid victims of the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
• NASCAR 2 (XM145) - Second NASCAR channel for pit crew audio. Added on 9/4/04. This station ended after the 2005 racing season and has not returned.
• Sporting News Radio (XM143) - This channel simulcasted the entire Sporting News Radio lineup until 8/28/06, when it was replaced with XM's in-house sports channel XM Sports Nation. The new channel still plays select SNR shows, especially on weekends.
• MSNBC (XM130) - TV audio rebroadcast. Was removed on 9/4/06 due to scheduling changes across the XM platform.
• NASCAR Radio (XM144) - NASCAR Racing and Talk. Was removed on 1/1/07 as the NASCAR contract expired and NASCAR's new deal with Sirius started. XM Produced shows were merged into XM Sports Nation, which now occupies the channel number.
• Hear Music (XM 75) - The Voice of Music at Starbucks. Was removed on 2007-07-31, as bandwidth was used for XMX. This channel merged with XM Café to create Starbucks XM Café.
• ABC News & Talk (XM 124) - News/talk and entertainment. Was removed on 2007-09-24, as Citadel Broadcasting will be shutting down operations of, or selling off, its satellite networks as a cost-cutting measure.

[edit] Channels which have changed ownership

• The Torch - Programmed by Salem Communications until 2006, now programmed by XM Radio.
• The Message - Programmed by Salem Communications until 2006 under Salem's trademark brand The Fish, now programmed by XM Radio.
• Spirit - Programmed by Radio One, Inc. until 2004, now programmed by XM Radio.
• The Verge - Programmed by XM Radio until November 2005 as Unsigned, now programmed by XM Radio Canada.
• The Flow - Programmed by Radio One, Inc. until 2004, now programmed by XM Radio. This station is not present on the XM satellites anymore.
• RAW - Programmed by Radio One, Inc. until 2004, now programmed by XM Radio.
• The City - Programmed by Radio One, Inc. until 2005, now programmed by XM Radio.
• Fuego - Programmed by Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation under the name Alegria with a Latin Pop format, until it merged with Univision Radio in 2002. Univision Radio programmed the channel until 2004. It's now programmed by XM Radio, who changed its name and format. This station is not present on the XM satellites anymore.
• Caliente - Programmed by Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, until it merged with Univision Radio in 2002. Univision Radio programmed the channel until 2004. It's now programmed by XM Radio.
• Aguila - Programmed by Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation]], until it merged with Univision Radio in 2002. Univision Radio programmed the channel until 2004. It's now programmed by XM Radio.
• Vibra - Programmed by Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, until it merged with Univision Radio in 2002. Univision Radio programmed the channel until 2004. It's now programmed by XM Radio, and is a DirecTV exclusive.
• Caricia - Programmed by Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, until it merged with Univision Radio in 2002. Univision Radio programmed the channel until 2004. It's now programmed by XM Radio. On 2008-01-01, this channel returned to the satellite broadcasting with a Spanish Oldies format.
• America Right - Programmed by Clear Channel Communications until May 2006. It's now programmed by XM Radio.
• ABC News & Talk - Programmed by ABC Radio until 2007-06-12. Programming was turned over to Citadel Broadcasting as part of the merger between Citadel and ABC Radio. This station is not present on the XM satellites anymore.
• The Power - Programmed by Radio One, Inc. until 2008-01-01, now programmed by XM Radio.^[2]

[edit] Channels canceled before launch

• XM announced in April 2006 that in late spring/early summer six regional News & Talk channels (XM 134-XM 139) would be added and provide regional news coverage for every area of the continental US. These channels were to have been provided by Clear Channel Communications and were to have been located in "Regional News, Talk & Music Channels." According to Jon Zellner via a subscriber email [1], Clear Channel decided to forego the launch of these channels. The category still exists for the 5 music channels and WLW. The original plan was to create a set of regionalized, five-minute newscasts. Each newscast was to carry 90 seconds of advertising, with the 3:30-minute balance devoted to regionally targeted news.

The channels were to be titled:

• • Northeast News and Talk
  • Southeast News and Talk
  • Midwest News and Talk
  • Middle America News and Talk
  • Southwest News and Talk
  • Northwest News and Talk

[edit] Channels of unknown status

• XM Announced in 1/31/06 that they would be adding Traffic & Weather channels for Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver-Boulder, Milwaukee-Racine, Portland, Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, Sacramento, San Antonio and Wilmington, DE to their NavTraffic product during the first quarter 2006. NavTraffic requires a subscription separate from the regular XM service. More information can be found here. Rumors are reporting that a Traffic & Weather station could be dropped for Cincinnati due to the recent addition of WLW on XM channel 173.

[edit] Seasonal

These channels are season- and holiday-based, and are only around for a part of the year. It is not uncommon that they take the place of an existing channel.

• Holly - Holly is one of XM's annual month-long Christmas music channels that plays all the holiday musical hits. Its playlist is similar to what one would find on an FM Adult Contemporary station that has switched to Christmas music.
• Holiday Traditions - Another one of XM's holiday channels, Holiday Traditions focuses on older seasonal pop recordings.
• Music City Holiday - This temporary XM holiday channel features country themed Christmas music. Formerly known (in 2005) as "A Nashville Christmas".
• A Classical Christmas - This XM holiday channel plays choral and orchestral music with a Christmas theme. It replaces XM Pops in December and is therefore presented in XM HD Surround. Formerly known (in 2005) as "Pops Holiday Classics".
• Special Xmas - The most unusual of XM's holiday channels, Special Xmas features novelty holiday music. From songs by the likes of Alvin and the Chipmunks and Barney, to the more grown-up xL tastes from punk rock bands. Special X also plays this channel online and on DirecTV.
• Radio Hanukkah - This channel was debuted in 2006 for the Hanukkah celebration. Radio Hanukkah featured the best in Jewish music, comedy, Broadway, talk and kids programming. This was the first radio channel dedicated exclusively to Jewish culture.

[edit] Micro-Channels

These channels are specialty themed channels to coincide with an event.

• Me-103 (XM 103) - In celebration of XM's 4 million subscribers, they held a contest for a listener to program his/her own channel for a day.
• FIFA World Cup 2006 (XM 148) - Was the home for English World Cup Soccer Commentary and Play-by-Play. Added on 3/24/06. This station left the day after the completion of the 2006 World Cup. (Removed on 7/10/06.)
• XM Green - Between 2007-03-16 and 2007-03-18, this channel featured Irish folk music in honor of Saint Patrick's Day on channel 200.^[3] In 2008, XM Green preempted Fine Tuning on channel 76 from 2008-03-15 to 2008-03-17.
• Play Ball! (XM 120) - A special program of baseball-themed songs and spoken word bits, timed to coincide with Opening Day of the Major League season. Aired on channel 200 between 2007-03-30 and 2007-04-02, and on channel 120 between 2008-03-29 and 2008-03-30.
• Larry! (XM 130) - Between 2007-04-16 and 2007-05-04, channel 130 featured replays of The Larry King Show along with interviews and new material.^[4] Originally scheduled for 5 days starting on 2007-04-16 the broadcast was extended due to the Virginia Tech Massacre and replayed the CNN coverage of Larry King Live that was aired during that week.
• Summer 2007 (XM 120) - Between 2007-06-20 and 2007-06-22, this channel featured the greatest summertime songs ever recorded, aired on channel 120.^[5]
• Uncle Sam (XM 120) - Between 2007-07-03 and 2007-07-05, this channel featured patriotic music dedicated to the Fourth of July. The channel aired on XM Live 120.^[6]
• Earth Sounds (XM 39) -Between 2007-07-07 and 2007-07-09, this channel featured nature sounds of the earth, aired on channel 39. This micro-channel was a part of XM's Live Earth coverage.^[7]
• Christmas In July (XM 120) - Between 2007-07-25 and 2007-07-26, this channel featured popular Christmas music themed in the middle of summer. The channel aired on XM Live 120.^[8]
• Car-B-Q (XM 120) - Between 2007-09-01 and 2007-09-03, this channel featured a mix of songs about traveling and Car music aired on XM Live Channel 120.^[9]
• P.O.T.U.S `08 (XM 130) - Produced in conjunction with C-SPAN and covering the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, this channel launched on 2007-09-24 and will run until after the election on 2008-11-04.^[10]
• Igor (XM 120) - Between 2007-10-29 and 2007-11-01, this channel featured a mix of Halloween music aired on XM Live Channel 120.^[11]
• Party City (XM 120) - Between 2007-12-26 and 2008-01-01, this channel featured a mix of music to bring in the New Year that aired on XM Live Channel 120.^[12]
• XM LED: The Led Zeppelin Channel (XM 59) - Between 2007-11-08 and 2008-03-08, this channel featured Led Zeppelin music 24/7 on channel 59.^[13]
• XM THRILLER (XM 63) - Between 2008-03-01 and 2008-03-31, this channel featured Michael Jackson music 24/7 on channel 63, in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Jackson's Thriller album.^[14]
• Strait Country (XM 17) - Between 2008-04-01 and 2008-05-31, this channel will feature the music of country singer George Strait 24/7 on channel 17, temporarily pre-empting US Country.^[15]
• Papal U.S. Visit '08 (XM 120) - Produced in conjunction with EWTN Global Catholic Network, this channel covered Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the U.S. on channel 120 from 2008-04-15 to 2008-04-20.^[16]

[edit] XM on AOL Radio

On 2008-04-30, the XM channels was no longer offered on AOL Radio^[17] thus ending a partnership between the two.

[edit] References