Special Edition #2: Channel Changes
There are loads of changes to tell you about, none bigger than the CBC-branded ones.
Saturday, October 1st, 2022
We have another special edition of the SeriousXM newsletter for you. Within 24-48 hours, the channel lineup has been shaken with name changes, a few drops, and at least one online-only addition.
Today in this special edition, you’ll learn about them all. Let’s get right to it.
By the way, this special edition will NOT include The Garth Channel as we have talked about it for the past two weeks. You will hear the channel's final sign-off later in this newsletter.
CBC-branded channels
Probably the biggest shakeup of this new channel lineup is that the agreement between CBC and SiriusXM has been allowed to expire and all CBC-branded channels, with the exception of TWO, are now gone.
Here’s the full list of what’s gone down, all of it in the Canadian section of the lineup.
CBC Radio 3 is now gone from Channel 162. Having started in 2005 on Sirius, it first aired on Channel 94 until 2008 when was moved to Channel 86. In 2011, it then moved again to 152, and in 2013, it finally stayed on Channel 162 where it also launched for XM subscribers. After a 17-year run on satellite and a 22-year run overall (having launched back in 2000 on the web), CBC Radio 3 is history.
ICI Musique Chansons, home to French pop, is no longer on Channel 163. Instead, we welcome back Attitude Franco to the SXM lineup on the channel slot. The channel is home to Everything in French Rock.
Mixtape North is a new channel devoted to Canadian Hip-Hop and R&B. Located on Channel 164, it has been designated with the XL symbol for the first time in the history of the Canadian category.
ICI Musique Franco Country is now more on Channel 166. Instead, it has been replaced by Racines Musicales, a French-language music channel featuring Homegrown Music from the Heart. It plays a lot of music from French and Indigenous artists, whether it be Country, Folk, Cajun, or Traditional music.
CBC Music Country on Channel 171 is now done. Its replacement is another Country music channel, Top of the Country Radio. It plays Country music from across Canada, mainly from the ‘90s and 2000s up to today. It includes artists like Dallas Smith, Megan Patrick, Tenille Townes, Tim Hicks, Shania Twain, and many more.
The ONLY channels unaffected by this agreement are the two CBC-branded channels that are still on the lineup today… the two big news/talk/information services that CBC Radio-Canada provides… CBC Radio One on Channel 169 and ICI Radio-Canada Première on Channel 170.
Americano Media is gone from SXM.
This wasn’t a well-known channel, but it was available on Channel 153 as part of the More category.
Americano Media, which offered Spanish conservative talk, has left the lineup as it will soon make the move to traditional radio, first in Miami. It will instead launch as WAXY Radio Libre 790 (South Miami - Miami - Fort Lauderdale) on Monday. This will be a part of the company’s first step to expand into traditional over-the-air radio but had to leave the SiriusXM lineup as a result.
Law and Crime is Online on SXM.
Finally, within our list of changes, we have the Law and Crime Trial Network now expanding to satellite radio but on streaming plans only. The network, founded by Dan Abrams, airs programs like Law and Crime Daily, Brian Ross Investigates, Justice Rules, Sidebar, and plenty more plus live coverage of trials from courtrooms nationwide.
Its similar to Court TV when SiriusXM carried it for a short time as well, also on their streaming plans.
If you wanna listen to it, its part of the News, Talk, and Entertainment category within their online streaming plans on Channel 793.
Before We Go…
We didn’t mention The Pop Off, a new Xtra channel within the lineup since that was already mentioned yesterday.
And speaking of The Garth Channel, it ended its run at 12 Midnight ET today after a six-year run. Someone on Reddit happened to capture the final moments before it became a temporary simulcast of Red, White, and Booze, which is regularly available on Channel 350.
Check out its final few moments here, courtesy of u/DynamiteCupcakeM223.
Finally, also courtesy of u/DynamiteCupcakeM223 on Reddit, Águila has temporarily taken over Channel 14 instead of Happy Radio, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The station plays Regional Mexican music. When it goes away, you can find it at its regular home on Channel 761 as part of its online streaming plans.
That’s it for this special edition of the newsletter. You are now caught up with all the changes made within the past 24-48 hours, with the CBC ones being the biggest news. Its a lot so I hope you appreciate this comprehensive report of all the changes.
I’ll be back on Friday with another regular news edition. Until then, have a great rest of your weekend, and welcome to October.
SeriousXM is a newsletter service of TheRolyPoly Productions.
