Re: [Swprograms] PRI Gone from Sirius

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

That would explain it some, though there had been some overlap 
previously between the PRI programs on XMPR and Sirius' PRI 
World.  "This American Life" had not been exclusive to either, but 
other programs were depending on their origins (WGBH, WHYY, KCRW, 
Chicago Public Radio etc.)

If XM skunked Sirius on this one, it wouldn't be the first time.  
Parenthetically, I wonder if the BBC News feed on Sirius is now the 
more or less straight news service programmed by London rather than 
PRI's somewhat richer mix that's been there the last two years or so.  
I'm unable to tell so far from checking the Sirius and BBC web sites.  
BBC still says that BBC Mundo is available via Sirius, which is no 
longer true; so they probably haven't updated that page yet.

Change is inevitable in dynamic and competitive industries like this 
one.  But the frustration lies in the paucity of advance and 
explanatory information.  Does everything have to be treated like some 
state secret?  If Sirius lost the contract, why not just say so?  If 
they decided to go in a different direction, why not just explain 
why?  

John Figliozzi

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 6:38 am
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] PRI Gone from Sirius
To: Shortwave programming discussion <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: odxa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> I wonder if XM offered exclusivity deals for some of the flagship PRI
> programs such as "This American Life" -- it's now on XMPR.
> 
> John, have you checked out any of the message boards at Sirius 
> Backstage?
> I've sent a note off to Customer Care as well as Media Relations;
> we'll see if my luck is any better.
> 
> A disappointment, to be sure.
> 
> Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA
> 
> On 9/26/06, John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > According to an e-mail message from Sirius called "Behind the Mic",
> > PRI has been dropped from the Sirius line-up.  No explanation
> > whatsoever given.  It should be mentioned here that Sirius now
> > apparently outright lies to its customers.  Here's a June 24 e-
> mail I
> > received from Sirius Customer Care stating unequivocally that 
> PRI was
> > not going to be dropped.
> >
> > > Dear John,
> > >
> > > Thank you for contacting SIRIUS regarding Talk // Channel 136 
> and News
> > > // Channel 141.  We understand you are wondering about the name
> > > change,
> > > and if we are getting ready to take it off the air.  We are 
> happy to
> > > help you.
> > >
> > > We have not been informed of the reason behind the name change of
> > > those
> > > channels.  Don't you worry, John, we have no intention of 
removing
> > > those
> > > channels from our programming line up.  We apologize if this has
> > > caused
> > > you any frustration.
> > >
> > > We are committed to providing you with the best in customer 
> care.  If
> > > you have any more questions, please feel free to contact SIRIUS
> > > Customer
> > > Care.  For your convenience, we are available 24 hours a day, 
> 7 days a
> > > week at:
> > >
> > > 1-888-539-SIRIUS (7474)
> > >
> > > As well as by email at:
> > >
> > > www.sirius.com/customercare
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > > Debra G
> > > SIRIUS Customer Care
> >
> > So much for that.  Evidently Debra G. was not clued in by Sirius
> > management which gives her the protection of plausible 
> deniability, I
> > suppose.  Perhaps "Customer Care" should change its name to 
> "Customer> Manipulation".  Previously, it had promised over the 
> period of a year
> > that "The Globe", a world music channel, was going to be introduced
> > "shortly".  It never happened and no explanation was ever provided.
> > When a Sirius press relations representative, Rebecca Schnall, was
> > contacted for explanation, she not only declined the opportunity to
> > do so but directed this reporter in future to contact customer care
> > only--which could not provide an explanation because they were not
> > supplied one by management.
> >
> > Why press relations will not explain its programming decisions 
> to a
> > reporter is a mystery to me.  What escapes me further is how a
> > service that charges its customers monthly for service does not 
feel
> > it owes them even a cursory explanation for the decisions it 
> makes--
> > apparently in a vacuum.  I've been a subscriber since almost the
> > beginning of the service and have never once been polled about my
> > preferences.
> >
> > BBC Mundo has also been dropped in favor of the lesser regarded CNN
> > in Spanish.  Eight other services have been added including a 
second
> > all Catholic network (!?) and several channels that had been
> > available only in Canada.  The Metropolitan Opera channel replaces
> > Classical Voices.
> >
> > If you detect a certain frustration in the tone of this message, 
you
> > are most perceptive.
> >
> > John Figliozzi
> > Monitoring Times magazine
> >
> >
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