According to several reports, Sirius XM 2.0 plans might be revealed tomorrow when CEO Mel Karmazin announces the satcom's first quarter results. CNET believes that the company's Satellite Radio 2.0 will be released this fall and will contain on-demand playback. In simple terms - DVR comes to radio! Licensing limitations now prohibit recording and storing Sirius programming in your car. Howard Stern, Oprah and sports fans will be happy at that new development but it kind of kills the spontaneity of radio, doesn't it? Sirius XM doesn't think so...
Sirius believes that customers will care enough to pay for DVR service. Look for the availability of tapeable, customized music lists too. There are also rumors that Satellite 2.0 will include two-way internet communication. Listeners would be able to vote on the music they're listening to and the system will scan radio channels to sort out music based on the tastes of listeners. The current system on voting for music you want is called changing the channel. That could become outdated with the launch of Satellite 2.0. I know that Mr. K doesn't consider Pandora competition but...a voting-for-music feature would take away the non-competitor's edge, wouldn't it?
My guess is that 2.0 will be designed primarily for in-car listening since that's Sirius-XM's strength. There might be listeners that care enough to tape Howard or Oprah, but the big benefit of DVR for radio is putting your own music radio station together for multiple plays. That alone gives Sirius XM something to shout about...
Timeline Memories:
1939] Streak ends: Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games played comes to an end when the Yankee slugger removes himself from the lineup. Babe Dahlgren replaced Gehrig...
1960] Long live the King: Ben E. King leaves the Drifters for a solo career. "Spanish Harlem" will be his first solo hit...
1966] Number One on this date: "Monday, Monday" - Mamas & Papas...
1974] Fake shark attack: The filming of "Jaws" begins on Martha's Vineyard. The extras in the water were freezing in 50 degree temperatures...
1976] Number One on this date: "Welcome Back" - John Sebastian. The school in the background on "Welcome Back Kotter" is New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn (my alma mater)..
1994] Victory in South Africa: Nelson Mandela claims victory in South Africa's first democratic elections...
2003] Failed experiment: The MLB players association agrees to a 2-year experiment in which the winning league in the All-Star game will have home field advantage (one extra home game) during the World Series. It's past time that this experiment should end...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Lily Allen (26), Sarah Hughes (26), David Beckham (36), Dwayne Johnson (39), Donatella Versace (56), Christine Baranski (59), Lou Gramm (61), Lesley Gore (65), Engelbert Humperdinck (75) & Theodore Bikel (87)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until the Kentucky Derby, 6 days until Mother's Day & 28 days until Memorial Day...
