Re: [Swprograms] Sirius/XM Drops World Radio Network

["Paul Demsky" <pdemsky1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Subscribers who have expressed displeasure about the removal of WRN on 
Sirius/XM have received a basic return email stating that BBCWS should be 
able to provide all the international news one could possibly need.

Paul Demsky


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Figliozzi" <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "DXLD" <dxld@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Shortwave programming discussion" 
<swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Internet radio discussion" 
<internetradio@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "*NASWA" <naswa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "ODXA 
yg" <odxa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 1:42 PM
Subject: [Swprograms] Sirius/XM Drops World Radio Network


Sirius/XM Drops WRN on Channel 120

Posted on April 25, 2013

As of April 25, 2013, Sirius/XM satellite radio has dropped World Radio 
Network (WRN), formerly on channel 120, from its line-up of offerings.  As 
is always the case with Sirius/XM, the act was accompanied by no explanation 
or justification.  WRN had informed its listeners that such an eventuality 
was imminent in a posting earlier in the month on its web page.  There, too 
however, there was no explanation forthcoming.

This seems a curious move by Sirius/XM.  Radio is becoming increasingly a 
niche medium and serving those many niches would appear to be the preferred 
strategy for attracting and retaining subscribers to a satellite delivery 
service.  Music radio is in some jeopardy, given the competition posed to it 
by services such as Spotify, Pandora, etc., and its future as a prime 
program source would seem less than secure.  WRN is definitely a niche 
service with interest to the relatively small community of listeners seeking 
international news accompanied by international perspectives on that news. 
Stating to listeners who complain (as I did) that they still have BBC World 
Service on channel 118 is a rather insulting response in that it implies 
that such listeners should be satisfied with one alternative on a 
distribution platform with over 200 channels.

“Spoken word” programming on Siriius/XM are accorded very limited bandwidth 
as evidenced by the satellite provider’s poor audio quality on those 
channels.  Little is saved in this regard or available for other services by 
dropping WRN.  It’s possible that a dispute over costs or full time 
availability could be the genesis of this act, but that is only speculation.

I have contacted both WRN and Sirius/XM for their perspectives, explanations 
and justifications; but I’m not at all sanguine about receiving an 
acknowledgement of my correspondence, let alone any useful details.  WRN 
remains available via other platforms, including via internet-delivered 
audio, the Tune-In app for Mac and Android and partially via WRMI, Miami on 
9955 kHz. shortwave.  The latter has indicated that it may increase its 
carriage of WRN as a result of Sirius/XM’s decision.

John Figliozzi
The Worldwide Listening Guide
www.wwlgonline.com
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