October 20, 200422 yr XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. is raising the ante in its programming battle with rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., signing an 11-year programming deal with Major League Baseball, a person familiar with the matter said late Tuesday. The deal would put baseball games for every major-league team on XM's service beginning next year, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The story was first reported in The Sports Business Daily, a newspaper published by Street & Smith's Sports Group. Officials from both Major League Baseball and XM declined to comment, but MLB said baseball commissioner Bud Selig would have a news conference this morning with Hugh Panero, the CEO of XM Satellite Radio. The new deal would be worth $470 million over eight years, with Major League Baseball having the option to extend the arrangement by up to three additional years at $60 million per year. That would make the deal potentially worth up to $650 million. The deal highlights the mounting competition between XM and Sirius, both of which are spending heavily on programming in an effort to attract new subscribers. Washington-based XM is currently leading the way with 2.5 million subscribers to its pay service, while Sirius announced Tuesday that its subscription list has exceeded 700,000. Sirius, based in New York, said it is on track to reach 1 million subscribers by the end of the year. http://www.suntimes.com/output/baseball/cst-spt-bbnt20.html
October 20, 200422 yr Author New MLB page on XM's website: http://xmradio.com/mlb/index.jsp Official press release: http://xmradio.com/newsroom/screen/pr_2004_10_20.html MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PARTNERS WITH XM SATELLITE RADIO FOR 11-YEAR, $650 MILLION BROADCAST AND MARKETING AGREEMENT XM SATELLITE RADIO TO BE THE OFFICIAL SATELLITE RADIO NETWORK OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND BEGIN BROADCASTS IN 2005 Washington D.C., October 20, 2004 -- Major League Baseball and XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR] today announced an 11-year, $650 million agreement enabling XM to broadcast games of every Major League Baseball (MLB) team nationwide beginning with the 2005 regular season. XM, with more than 2.5 million subscribers nationwide, will be the official satellite radio network of MLB. "This is the crown jewel - the deal that we've been waiting for," said Hugh Panero, CEO of XM Satellite Radio. "Major League Baseball is America's national pastime and a natural fit with XM, the national leader in satellite radio. MLB has the broadest appeal of any major sport. People of all ages are baseball fans, from children to grandparents. Baseball is also a sport ideally suited for radio, given its natural pace and the ability to vividly describe each play." "This agreement between Major League Baseball and XM Satellite Radio is a significant step forward in providing baseball fans greater access to more games in more locations," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Major League Baseball given XM's ever-increasing national availability. Our fans will be able to listen to the local broadcasts of their favorite teams from anywhere in the country. This partnership will add to the continuing growth and popularity of our game. It is a further example of the renaissance that exists in baseball today." As the official satellite radio network of Major League Baseball, XM will have rights to use the Major League Baseball silhouetted batter logo and the marks of the 30 MLB Clubs. XM also will develop specific programming content that showcases Major League Baseball, its teams, and its personalities.
October 20, 200422 yr Author XM is going to create a new 24/7 Major League Baseball Channel featuring classic broadcasts... AWESOME! XM to Create Major League Baseball Channel In addition to broadcasting live games, XM will create a Major League Baseball radio channel featuring original content and classic Major League Baseball game broadcasts. As Major League Baseball enjoys strong support from its Hispanic fan base, XM also will broadcast select games in Spanish. "Baseball has enormous appeal, not only to its millions of fans, but to automobile manufacturers as well, which will help further strengthen XM's leadership position in the automotive market," Panero concluded.
October 20, 200422 yr And they should have a walkman receiver by 2005! 597297[/snapback] noice i was about to ask if they had a portable device
October 20, 200422 yr I told you guys it would come....just not this soon. I think XM may be showing up in my house and car soon!
October 20, 200422 yr Sirius has NFL, XM has MLB. I'd still buy a Sirius unit simply for the NFL coverage.
October 20, 200422 yr Sirius has NFL, XM has MLB. I'd still buy a Sirius unit simply for the NFL coverage. 597318[/snapback] im 60% sure sirius has NBA too, tho im not very sure at all
October 20, 200422 yr Sirius has NFL, XM has MLB. I'd still buy a Sirius unit simply for the NFL coverage. 597318[/snapback] 2500+ games on every day of the week >>> the 10 games you miss on Sundays for a sport that is hard to follow on radio.
October 21, 200422 yr Author Sirius has NFL, XM has MLB. I'd still buy a Sirius unit simply for the NFL coverage. 597318[/snapback] Sirius also has the NHL, but that's a moot point :lol .
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