XM added 640,000 subscribers in Q2
XM Satellite Radio announced it added more than 640,000 new net subscribers during the second quarter for a total of more than 4.4 million subscribers-a 53% increase in new net subscribers compared to Q2 '04. Additionally, the 640,000 new net subscriber gain represents an 18% increase over Q1 2005 when XM recorded 540,000 new net subscribers.
"This was the best second quarter in the history of XM. The momentum behind XM's subscriber growth is undeniable. In just one year, XM has more than doubled its subscriber base from 2.1 million in the second quarter of 2004 to over 4.4 million subscribers today," said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio.
Disney taps Mayer, Yudkovitz for acquisitions intel
Disney hired an Internet consultant and the former president of TiVo to lead a streamlined corporate strategy group responsible for planning and identifying acquisitions. Kevin Mayer, who will head the unit, focused on acquisition
due diligence and digital media technologies as a partner at L.E.K. Consulting.
He had also worked previously at Disney's Internet group and been chairman and chief executive of Clear Channel Interactive. Marty Yudkovitz, former TiVo President, will be SVP of the group.
"The corporate strategy, business development and technology group will play a pivotal role in detecting and analyzing key trends impacting our markets as well as evaluating high potential new business opportunities that leverage and extend our competitive position," Disney CFO Tom Staggs said in a statement.
Radiosophy adds UBS port to HD Radio receiver
Here's another illustration of just how different digital radio is going to be from analog. With an analog receiver, things pretty much worked the same from the day you bought it until it wore out or you dropped it and broke it. The only real change in recent memory was adding to the end of the AM band. But with HD Radio, software upgrades will be able to keep receivers up to date with the latest technological improvements. Thus, Radiosophy announced that it has added a UBS port to the MultiStream HD Radio that it's going to begin shipping next month. The inbound-only service port will eliminate the need to return the unit to the manufacturer for software updates. Instead, the receiver can be updated via the Internet using a computer. "We're capitalizing on the fact that the MultiStream HD is a computer with an operating system and a programmable display. We wanted to make sure our customers wouldn't have an obsolete radio because of a software change," said Richard Skeie, President and CEO of Radiosophy. "Now we're affordable, transportable, and updateable. This could extend the useful life of a MultiStream HD by years." According to the company, some broadcasters plan to make use of the USB port to program the receiver's preset buttons, including the Home Station Preset button-an oversized preset button designed to receive raised-dome decals with a station's logo.
Zeo President taking leave
Effective immediately, Zeo Radio President Scott Thomas is taking a leave of absence due to an unforeseen family emergency and will be forced to spend an extended period of time away from the office. He named VP/Affiliate Relations Rico Garcia as Acting President.
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