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Broadcasters seek ban on local satellite radio
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. radio broadcasters have asked federal regulators to bar rival satellite radio services from offering content tailored to local markets, according to a petition obtained on Friday.
The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents radio conglomerates like Clear Channel Communications Inc. , filed the request due to concerns the up and coming satellite services are trying to replace local radio outlets.
Both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. now offer traffic and weather for several cities on its national service, but are barred from using ground-based transmitters that extend service into hard-to-reach areas to air programming aimed specifically at a local market.
"This foray into local content is directly contrary to ... repeated and express promises that satellite radio service would be limited to delivering national programming to serve the unserved and underserved," according to the petition filed this week and obtained by Reuters.
NAB said the two companies may also be developing satellite radios that can receive advertisements, news and other content targeting a local market by using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).
The broadcasters' group demanded that the Federal Communications Commission, which licenses satellite services, explicitly ban their rivals from using any technology to offer content in one area that is different from another location.
The NAB also asked that the FCC bar XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. from offering local services on nationally distributed channels.
An FCC spokeswoman said the agency is reviewing the petition.
The satellite companies, which offer their service on a monthly subscription basis, have denied they are violating the terms of their licenses.
"The licenses we were given were for nationwide distribution of our content and that's what we do," said Sirius spokesman Jim Collins.
That sentiment was shared by XM spokesman Chance Patterson who noted that its weather and traffic information provided a public service to subscribers and that the company also offers alerts about kidnapped children.
"The NAB wants to quell content that provides a public service and that's wrong," he said. Together the two companies have almost 2 million subscribers who receive 100 channels of entertainment, music, news and sports.
Entercom Communications Corp. , the fourth-largest U.S. over-the-air radio company, has been running advertisements poking fun at satellite radio services, roasting the $10-$12 monthly subscription rate as well as lack of local information and spotty signals when traveling between buildings.
(Additional reporting Michael Learmonth in New York.)
? Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd.
04/16/2004 17:41
RTR
Broadcasters seek ban on local satellite radio
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. radio broadcasters have asked federal regulators to bar rival satellite radio services from offering content tailored to local markets, according to a petition obtained on Friday.
The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents radio conglomerates like Clear Channel Communications Inc. , filed the request due to concerns the up and coming satellite services are trying to replace local radio outlets.
Both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. now offer traffic and weather for several cities on its national service, but are barred from using ground-based transmitters that extend service into hard-to-reach areas to air programming aimed specifically at a local market.
"This foray into local content is directly contrary to ... repeated and express promises that satellite radio service would be limited to delivering national programming to serve the unserved and underserved," according to the petition filed this week and obtained by Reuters.
NAB said the two companies may also be developing satellite radios that can receive advertisements, news and other content targeting a local market by using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).
The broadcasters' group demanded that the Federal Communications Commission, which licenses satellite services, explicitly ban their rivals from using any technology to offer content in one area that is different from another location.
The NAB also asked that the FCC bar XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. from offering local services on nationally distributed channels.
An FCC spokeswoman said the agency is reviewing the petition.
The satellite companies, which offer their service on a monthly subscription basis, have denied they are violating the terms of their licenses.
"The licenses we were given were for nationwide distribution of our content and that's what we do," said Sirius spokesman Jim Collins.
That sentiment was shared by XM spokesman Chance Patterson who noted that its weather and traffic information provided a public service to subscribers and that the company also offers alerts about kidnapped children.
"The NAB wants to quell content that provides a public service and that's wrong," he said. Together the two companies have almost 2 million subscribers who receive 100 channels of entertainment, music, news and sports.
Entercom Communications Corp. , the fourth-largest U.S. over-the-air radio company, has been running advertisements poking fun at satellite radio services, roasting the $10-$12 monthly subscription rate as well as lack of local information and spotty signals when traveling between buildings.
(Additional reporting Michael Learmonth in New York.)
? Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd.
04/16/2004 17:41
RTR
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