Satellite Television Service

Canadian channels available on Sirius Canada will include the CBC’s English and French radio networks (CBC Radio One, CBC Radio Two, La Première Chaîne, Espace musique) and new channels built from the CBC’s web services CBC Radio Three and Bandeapart. Beginning in 2005 Sirius has exclusive radio rights to cover the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. On November 18, 2004 the former COO and President of Viacom, Mel Karmazin, was named the CEO of Sirius.

Digital satellite systems have a number of advantages over traditional cable-television providers. The dog in the Sirius logo is unofficially named Mongo, a name garnished from the debut of Sirius Satellite Radio’s sponsorship on Casey Atwood’s and later Jimmy Spencer’s NASCAR entry. XM Radio Canada, controlled by Canadian businessman John Bitove, is partnered with the American service XM Satellite Radio.

On September 13, 2005, XM Radio announced a multi-year deal to carry National Hockey League broadcasts beginning with the 2005-06 season, initially sharing the coverage with Sirius but gaining satellite-radio exclusivity from 2007 onward. XM Satellite Radio has 2 satellites in space that beam down over one hundred channels of content. XM Radios come as an option at select automobile dealerships.

Each satellite radio receiver uses a small, car-phone-sized antenna to receive the XM signal. Typically, car satellite radios have an extra input, called a pass-through, that allows you to connect another same-brand component (such as a CD changer). Sirius and XM are offering completely uncensored stand-up comedy and hip-hop programming.

Satellite radio is not just a new consumer electronics product but also a whole new product category. Satellite radio, also called digital radio, offers uninterrupted, near CD-quality music beamed to your radio from space. A single cable connects the satellite radio to your stereo exactly the same way that it would a same-brand CD changer. There are several options when it comes to choosing your satellite radio.