Edition #29: We're back!
Happy New Year from SeriousXM!
Friday The 13th of January, 2023
Hello everybody! Happy new year! We’re back, back I tell you! Welcome one to all once again to the SeriousXM newsletter, your one and only weekly look at all things SiriusXM. The latest news, notes, changes, happenings, events, etc. Whatever’s happening inside SiriusXM, we’ll tell you about it here in the newsletter.
So, a few things to remind you since its still a bit rusty from coming off the new year.
First off, thank you for hanging around there and for your support. I sincerely do appreciate it.
Second, please take the time to subscribe for FREE today and share the newsletter with your family, friends, and other subscribers of SiriusXM who are willing to receive the latest news every single week.
Finally, I would also appreciate it very much if you left a donation for me to help support this newsletter and the other work that I do. It goes a long way since it takes a lot of time to research, curate, edit, and publish these newsletters every single week without any outside force telling me what to do.
All right, so without further ado, let’s get to this week’s headlines, shall we?
The Latest News
SiriusXM’s 360L is getting the aftermarket treatment.
SiriusXM is doing its best to really make its 360L radio, the one that stands out. Last week, it was announced that Alpine will be the first aftermarket car audio company to offer the units with its hybrid radio platform.
This will be available on compatible units with a free software update from the company in February. All you need is a SiriusXM SXV300 Tuner and, obviously, a subscription (sold separately).
Compatible head units include the following….
Halo11 iLX-F511
Halo9 iLX-F509
iLX-507
Certain head units specifically for Jeeps.
Get a Ford Escape if you want to remove SXM from your car.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this before, but Ford Authority is reporting that the new 2023 Ford Escape will now have the option to remove SiriusXM from the car.
The lineup will include two different SiriusXM with 360L removal options. It would remove SXM from impacted models but since this is standard on Active-trimmed Escapes and above, it would impact a wide number of future models.
The site is reporting that it’s only mandatory if the chip supply becomes inadequate plus the removal options are in late availability so its possible that it hasn’t been accommodated either or as of yet, meaning there’s still no way for customers to remove SXM from their cars if they so wish.
A new SXM Children’s Podcast… with LeVar Burton.
Last week, SXM announced that actor, director, and educator LeVar Burton (yes, that guy from Star Trek, or from Roots for you adults or Reading Rainbow for you kids and youngsters who remember), will be hosting a new children’s podcast that’ll launch this spring called Sound Detectives, a series that’ll invite youngsters to engage with sounds that surround us all.
Created by Burton and produced by Stitcher, SiriusXM’s podcast platform, it will help teach kids about sounds and use compare and contrast to listen to different kinds of sounds and cultures from all around the world. If anybody deserves to do this, its Mr. Burton who made Reading Rainbow one of PBS Kids’ most popular shows for 23 years and garnered so many awards during that time.
Sound Detectives will be available on the Stitcher and SXM apps, as well as all major podcast listening platforms. No word yet though as to when that will debut.
Channel Changes
One permanent discontinuation and more pop-ups are back at it.
88rising Radio is no more.
Right after the Christmas holiday, we learned that the Asian music channel 88rising Radio (which was on SXM 305) has ended and that SXM has since pulled the plug on the channel slot.
It looked like this was on 88rising’s decision, not SXM’s as 88rising has ended everything on radio production, though it continues to sell music as a record label, which it seems to be putting more of its focus on.
As I write this, the 305 channel slot has been turned off by SiriusXM. No replacement, nothing.
Once again, Billy Joel’s channel is back.
Its one of the most popular pop-up channels ever in SXM’s history because it keeps coming back multiple times. No surprise, its back again.
The Billy Joel Channel is back, having started last week, and runs through February 2nd on SXM Channel 14. This time, there’ll be new stories from Mr. Joel about his music and his life as he prepares to go on a stadium tour with Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks. There’ll also be Guest DJ shows, shows playing some of his favorite music from other artists, deep dives into the writing and meaning of his own songs, and much more.
The entire schedule and the list of specials are mentioned here.
Not much time left to get a MasterClass on SXM.
Also started last week but don’t have much time left on the airwaves: MasterClass. Its back for another temporary run on SiriusXM and features programming from the platform where anyone can learn about anything from the world’s best legends, icons, leaders, etc.
If you are inspired to learn how the best do their best and learn their knowledge, experience, stories, etc., then this is your shot. MasterClass is running right now on SXM Channel 109 until Tuesday, January 17th, at 3:00 a.m. ET (12 Midnight PT).
Events
Its time to take a look at events being offered up and honestly, there’s not that much. Its the new year anyways so we’re starting off pretty rusty. However, there is one event to tell you about that won’t take place until next month but was just announced by SiriusXM yesterday.
Luke Combs during Football’s biggest weekend.
Yesterday, it was announced that Luke Combs will be headlining an exclusive concert for SiriusXM and Pandora on Thursday, February 9th in Phoenix… that’ll officially kick off Football’s biggest weekend of the year leading up to Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 12th from nearby Glendale, Ariz.
It will be hosted by The Highway (SXM 56)’s Storme Warren and will feature music from his latest album Growin’ Up plus fan favorites. Before all that, an exclusive interview with Combs himself.
The event is open to SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners, and if you wanna go to the concert, first of all, make sure you have the time, money, and lodging to go there and if so, then you can RSVP to attend the in-person show HERE (link provided by SiriusXM).
The special performance will air live on The Highway on Thursday, February 9th at 11:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. PT) and will be available to stream on the SXM App as well. There’ll also be free giveaways, photo opportunities, branded in-show moments, and more thanks to generous brand sponsors of the event.
Sports
Let’s get into sports. The first time we mention it in the new year, but it is also that time of the year again…
🏈: NFL Playoffs time!
Its that time for the NFL Playoffs to kick in to find out which two teams will play in the Super Bowl come early next month. First, we gotta get through the Wild Card games.
Let’s find out more about the matches and where you can hear them on SiriusXM this weekend. A reminder… full complete coverage and analysis can be found on SiriusXM NFL Radio (SXM 88) and on SXM’s other sports channels.
Saturday, January 14th
4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) - Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks Hometown Broadcast via 97.3 KIRO-FM Tacoma/Seattle: SXM 225 or online-only 828.
49ers Hometown Broadcast via 680 KNBR/104.5 KNBR-FM San Francisco: SXM 226 or online-only 827.
National feed: SiriusXM NFL Radio on SXM 88.
Spanish feed: SXM 229 or online-only 983.
8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) - Los Angeles Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Chargers Hometown Broadcast via 98.7 KYSR Los Angeles: SXM 225 or online-only 817.
Jaguars Hometown Broadcast via 1010 WJXL/92.5 WJXL-FM Jacksonville Beach/Jacksonville: SXM 227 or online-only 814.
National feed: SXM 228 or online-only 966.
Spanish feed: SXM 229 or online-only 983.
Sunday, January 15th
1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT) - Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills
Dolphins Hometown Broadcast via 560 WQAM Miami/Fort Lauderdale: SXM 225 or online-only 819.
Bills Hometown Broadcast via 550 WGR Buffalo: SXM 226 or online-only 803.
National feed: SiriusXM NFL Radio on SXM 88.
Spanish feed: SXM 229 or online-only 983.
4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) - New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings
Giants Hometown Broadcast via 660 WFAN/101.9 WFAN-FM New York: SXM 225 or online-only 823.
Vikings Hometown Broadcast via 100.3 KFXN-FM Minneapolis/St. Paul: SXM 227 or online-only 820.
National feed: SXM 228 or online-only 968.
Spanish feed: SXM 229 or online-only 983.
8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) - Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Ravens Hometown Broadcast via 1090 WBAL/101.5 W268BA/97.9 WIYY Baltimore: SXM 225 or online-only 802.
Bengals Hometown Broadcast via 700 WLW/1530 WCKY/102.7 WEBN Cincinnati: SXM 230 or online-only 806.
National feed: SXM 226 or online-only 966.
Spanish feed: SXM 229 or online-only 983.
Monday, January 16th
8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) - Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cowboys Hometown Broadcast: SXM 226 or online-only 808.
Buccaneers Hometown Broadcast: SXM 225 or online-only 829.
National feed: SiriusXM NFL Radio on SXM 88.
Spanish feed: SXM 229 or online-only 983.
🎾: Time to preview Tennis’ first major of the year.
The first major tennis tournament of the year is approaching and SiriusXM wants to help you preview the Australian Open. Therefore, Mad Dog Sports Radio (SXM 82) host Dan Graca and Tennis Channel analyst and former player Tracy Austin will offer an Australian Open Preview Show that’ll air tomorrow, Saturday, January 14th.
Then, after that, if you wanna hear all live matches plus expert analysis, interviews, and more, the Tennis Channel will make a temporary appearance on SiriusXM on Channel 392 and online on Channel 982 throughout the two-week run of the tournament. It begins on Monday, January 16th, and runs until the Women’s final on Saturday, January 28th, and the Men’s final on Sunday, January 29th.
⛳: Aloha! Golf in Hawaii this weekend.
Its been a while since we talked about golf around here so why not bring it back? This week, the PGA Tour is in Hawaii for the Sony Open in Hawaii from the Wai’alae Country Club in Honolulu.
The tournament has already begun but live coverage will air all weekend on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio (SXM 92). Friday and Saturday’s second and third-round coverage will begin at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT) with Sunday’s fourth and final-round coverage beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 Noon PT).
I’m glad to be back. And I’m glad to talk to y’all again. Thank you again for reading and supporting the newsletter. Also, thanks for reading this week’s edition. A reminder, new editions of the newsletter come out every Friday and show up in your inboxes by 7:00 a.m. ET.
Remember to subscribe for FREE, share it with those you love, and donate to support me and my work.
Until next Friday, have a great weekend, stay safe… and happy listening.
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