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  • Standard Radio joins CBC/SIRIUS satellite radio partnership

    2/10/2004

    TORONTO - Standard Radio today announced that it will join with CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS Satellite Radio in a joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canadians.

    "As this country's largest privately-owned broadcaster we are excited to be partnering with CBC/Radio-Canada and with SIRIUS," said Gary Slaight, president and CEO, Standard Radio Inc. in a press release. Standard owns 51 radio stations, reaching over 6.5 million Canadians, with annual revenue exceeding $500 million. "Not only will this service expand the choices available to Canadians, it will also create new opportunities for Canadian talent on this new platform," he added.

    As reported by broadcastermagazine.com in December 2024, CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS announced their partnership to bring satellite radio to Canada and filed an application with the CRTC. If licensed here, this new Canadian-controlled subscription-based service will be available across the country, from urban centers to the most remote regions of the country.

    The other American satellite radio service, XM Satellite, has partnered with Canadian entrepreneur John Bitove, and has its own application before the Commission. Also, the CRTC recently issued a call for additional Canadian satellite radio applicants.

    "Standard Radio has a long and distinguished history, especially in terms of innovative programming and support for Canadian talent, and will be an excellent partner in this exciting venture which will bring a fresh new national service to Canadians," said Robert Rabinovitch, president and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. "Through this and other strategic partnerships CBC/Radio-Canada is able to better fulfil its mandate by providing Canadians with even greater access to a wide range of commercial-free music, information, and entertainment programming, including Canadian content."

    "We are thrilled to welcome Standard Radio Inc. to this exciting initiative," said Joseph P. Clayton, president and CEO of SIRIUS. "Working closely with CBC/Radio-Canada, we believe that this combination of broadcasting experience and unique entertainment programming will be a great benefit to Canadians. Plus, our exclusive car manufacturers, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW, sell over half a million vehicles in Canada each year, so this will enhance our reach as well."

    SIRIUS offers 61 music streams with no commercials, along with over 44 sports, news and entertainment streams for a monthly subscription fee of US$12.95. It's also the official satellite radio partner for the NFL. Stream jockeys create and deliver music in virtually every genre to our listeners 24 hours a day. Satellite radio products are manufactured by Kenwood, Panasonic, Clarion and Audiovox, and are available at major retailers. It has exclusive partnerships with DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW. Other automotive brands currently offering SIRIUS radios in select new car models include Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Audi and Ford. Automotive brands that have announced plans to offer SIRIUS in select models include Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Volvo, Volkswagen, Land Rover and Aston Martin.

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