The CBC and Sirius Satellite Radio have announced a joint venture to
bring satellite radio to Canada and Canadian content to the U.S. via
Sirius. The significance for shortwave listeners is that Sirius already
carries both BBC News and the World Radio Network, which in turn carries
over two dozen international broadcasters. It now appears that two CBC
domestic radio networks will be added to Sirius's list of international
broadcasting offerings.

John Figliozzi

Here's today's joint press release:

----------------------------------------

CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS to File License Application with CRTC

OTTAWA AND NEW YORK - December 10, 2003 -CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada's
national public broadcaster, and SIRIUS (NASDAQ: SIRI), known for
delivering the very best in commercial-free music and premium broadcast
entertainment to cars and homes throughout the continentalUnited States,
todayannounced that they will form a joint venture to bring satellite
radio toCanada. CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS also announced today that
the venture will soon file an application with the Canadian
Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a license
to provide satellite radio inCanada.

"CBC/Radio-Canada is excited about the opportunity to partner with
SIRIUS to bring satellite radio toCanada," said Robert Rabinovitch,
CBC/Radio-Canada's President and CEO.* "By expanding the choices
available to Canadians, this new service will enable the national public
broadcaster to better fulfill its mandate by extending its reach and
enhancing its services to Canadians."

This new, subscription-based, national service will give Canadians
access to a wide range of programming and Canadian content.
CBC/Radio-Canada was able to secure the distribution of two of its main
channels, namely Radio One and La Première Chaîne. As a result of
CBC/Radio-Canada's involvement, the new venture will also provide
significant opportunities for existing and emerging Canadian artists to
showcase their talent and be heard not only acrossCanada, but
throughoutNorth Americaas well.

"Our agreement with CBC/Radio-Canada is an exceptional example of a
time-honored brand joining with SIRIUS to bring an innovative national
service to Canadians." said Joseph P. Clayton, President and CEO of
SIRIUS.* "60 of our 100 premier channels are commercial-free, and this
makes SIRIUS an ideal match forCanada's public broadcaster and its
unparalleled Canadian programming content.* Also, we have exclusive
agreements with DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW car manufacturers, who
sell nearly 40% of all vehicles sold inCanada, which adds to our reach
as well."

The CBC/Radio-Canada and SIRIUS venture will ensure that Canadians have
the greatest possible access to a wide array of commercial-free music,
information and entertainment services, as well as their national public
broadcaster.* When licensed by the CRTC, this new subscription-based
service will be available to Canadians across the entire country, from
urban centers to even the most remote regions.

"Fueled by the digital revolution, radio services are changing
dramatically," added Mr. Rabinovitch.* "We are forging ahead to ensure
that CBC/Radio-Canada has an expanded reach and presence for the benefit
of Canadians.* We are also encouraged to know that the CRTC wants to
deal with the matter of satellite radio expeditiously."

SIRIUS and CBC/Radio-Canada are holding talks with, and may add, other
Canadian financial or broadcasting investors to the*venture.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada isCanada's national public broadcaster and one of its
largest cultural institutions. CBC/Radio-Canada reaches Canadians
through eight national radio and television networks, its full-service
Web sites, local/regional stations and affiliates, the digital
television channel Country Canada, and the continuous music network
Galaxie. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada has forged partnerships with
other broadcasters and is a partner in the specialty television services
ARTV and The Documentary Channel. Through this array of activities,
CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into
the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight aboriginal
languages. CBC/Radio-Canada was included this year in Canada's Top 100
Employers.

About SIRIUS

SIRIUS is the only satellite radio service bringing listeners more than
100 streams of the best music and entertainment coast-to-coast in
theUnited States. SIRIUS offers 60 music streams with no commercials,
along with over 40 world-class sports, news and entertainment streams
for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95, with greater savings for
upfront payments of multiple months or a year or more. Stream Jockeys
create and deliver uncompromised music in virtually every genre to our
listeners 24 hours a day. Satellite radio products bringing SIRIUS to
listeners in the car, truck, home, RV and boat are manufactured by
Kenwood, Panasonic, Clarion and Audiovox, and are available at major
retailers in theUnited StatesincludingCircuitCity, Best Buy, Car Toys,
Good Guys, Tweeter, Ultimate Electronics, Sears and Crutchfield. SIRIUS
is the leading United States OEM satellite radio provider, with
exclusive partnerships with DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW. Automotive
brands currently offering SIRIUS radios in select new car models in the
United States include BMW, MINI, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Nissan,
Infiniti, Mazda, Audi, Ford and Lincoln-Mercury. Automotive brands that
have announced plans to offer SIRIUS in select models in the United
Sates include Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Volvo, Volkswagen, Land Rover and
Aston Martin. Genmar Holdings, the world's largest manufacturer of
recreational boats, Formula Boats and Winnebago, the leading supplier of
recreational vehicles and motor homes, also offer SIRIUS. Click on
www.SIRIUS.com to listen to SIRIUS live.

John A. Figliozzi wrote:

The CBC and Sirius Satellite Radio have announced a joint venture to
bring satellite radio to Canada and Canadian content to the U.S. via
Sirius.


Great. What used to be free is now being charged for. Digital receivers
make sure you pay as you go. This is especially disturbing, as the
Canadian taxpayers are already paying for the program content and
delivery. They're going to pay twice now?




mike

M. Sebastian wrote:
John A. Figliozzi wrote:

The CBC and Sirius Satellite Radio have announced a
joint venture to bring satellite radio to Canada and
Canadian content to the U.S. via Sirius.


Great. What used to be free is now being charged for.
Digital receivers make sure you pay as you go. This is
especially disturbing, as the Canadian taxpayers are
already paying for the program content and delivery.
They're going to pay twice now?

No. What used to be free remains free. Digital terrestrial DAB is also free.
Only those who subscribe to this digital satellite service will be paying an
additional 13 cents a month per channel. Why would they do so? To be able to
receive programs that interest them while driving or fixed in locations
poorly served by broadcast transmitters. To be able to select a program that
you can listen to in high quality without re-tuning as you drive 100 miles
or 10,000 miles around the continent. To get programs without commercials.
To have choice when so much of North American 'free' broadcasting has so
little variety. And subscribers will still have to turn to local
broadcasters for local information and in many high-rise urban centres and
mountain valleys, a signal.

Tom