Satellite Radio (Sirius/XM) Ping List
Freepmail me to be added.
Posted on 08/11/2005 5:39:38 PM PDT by Brian328i
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Three members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), the immediate past chair, Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) and Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.), have asked Sirius Satellite Radio (Sirius) executives not to cancel The Word Network, a five-year-old mainstream media broadcaster for African-American ministries and gospel music.
On behalf of their constituents, the members of Congress urged Mel Karmazin, Sirius' CEO, to continue broadcasting The Word Network's family values programming. The letters from the CBC members cited the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) original intent for satellite radio: to serve the public interest.
"We view the availability of family-oriented programming such as The Word Network as consistent with the promotion of the FCC's public policy objectives," Cummings and Wynn wrote in one letter. "The Word Network is truly unique in this respect, as it is the only network providing family value programming specifically oriented toward urban ministries and the African-American community."
The letters followed a meeting yesterday with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, host of The Word Network's program Rainbow Push, and Lewis Gibbs and John Mattiello, respectively The Word Network's vice president of operations and director of marketing, and Sirius' Vice President of Programming Jay Clark in which they discussed the network's decision to cancel The Word Network on Sept. 2. During the private meeting, Clark told Jackson and Gibbs that Sirius had also cancelled two other minority channels.
"We're certainly going to explore why they are silencing minority voices," Gibbs said. Gibbs went on to say, "Our request is simple: if Sirius can make room for the values Howard Stern represents, we'd also like them to make room for the values we represent."
The Word Network provides religious programming for 36 million American households, for America's Armed Forces around the world, and for tens of millions of other listeners in 137 countries.
The letters by Cummings went on to say, "Both the FCC and Congress want to ensure that our laws and policies preserve and promote the kind of programming that makes radio - whether satellite or terrestrial - a source of diversity and enrichment."
"Sirius should want to ensure those same values," Gibbs stated.
To voice your support to The Word Network, contact your member of Congress by visiting http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/?command=local and tell them that wholesome, family programming is a necessity on satellite radio, or call Sirius' customer care center at 1-888-539-SIRIUS (7474).
For more information on The Word Network, visit http://www.thewordnetwork.org/.
If it's not making money, then Sirius has every right (and responsibility to its shareholders) to dump it. Sirius has no obligation to any anti-capitalist Democrats.
Probably doesnt play well with the Stern crowd.
The Word Network Delivers Protest Letters To Sirius Executives
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, host of The Word Network’s Rainbow Push with Jesse Jackson and executives from The Word Network met this week with Sirius Satellite Radio’s VP/Programming Jay Clark to hand-deliver more than 15,000 cards protesting Sirius decision to end Word Network broadcasts when the current contract expires on September 2.
The Word Network broadcasts African-American ministries, gospel music and religious family programming.
Lewis Gibbs, vice president of operations for The Word Network, asked, “If Sirius can make room for the values Howard Stern represents, we’d also like them to make room for the values we represent."
Anyone familiar with the World Network? I just can't imagine the Congressional Black Caucus getting too worked up about a religious station being cancelled, unless it's really just another leftist propaganda outlet.
I doubt they are cancelling just because they do not like their 'values'. More than likely they are being cancelled due to lack of interest of the listeners.
Is there a similar station alive and well on XM? Quick, someone ask Eric Logan.
Seeing Jesse Jackson's name attached to it was enough to convince me of that. The only thing this reverend preaches of late...is hate.
You have to recognize the fact that the CBC has not iota of power in Washington these days. Ditto for the NAACP. Blacks surrendered their political power when they voted for the Democrat Party. Fools be they!!! I guess they love the "bottom of the barrel" economic slavery the Democrats afford them. Who knows, maybe someday they will wake up!!!
Sirus isn't run by the government. If there's no money in it, why should Sirus be forced to eat the cost? What's with this?
This is like forcing gas stations to repair cars for free. Why would gas stations want to do something that stupid? Sheesh!
They should keep their noses out of private business. Period.
What is the Congressional BLACK Caucus crap. Don't they re[resent ALL Americans regardless of race? Where is the Whit Caucus?
Do you know what preachers are on "The Word?" I might know them, one way or another, and could evaluate whether this is a smart move or not. Since Jesse and friends oppose it, I suspect it's smart, but you never know.
I love the line that says that "satellite TV's there to serve the public interest".
Uh, NO---that is PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM...PBS..that I DON'T think taxpayers should have to pay for...but,
Satellite radio was "invented" for the exact opposite reason...to make money...subscribers pay money!!!!
If you don't have subscriberS that will PAY, you don't PLAY!!!!
"The Word Network" just needs to find a charity to raid, to use as a payoff to get a gig on Air America.
Totally off subject, but I'd be interested to see what stations people listen to most. It would be an interesting look. I listen to XM and stay on either America Right for Glenn Beck, Fox News, Ask for Coast to Coast, and I float through various music stations, but mainly the following: 60-90's, Mix, Deep Tracks, Top Tracks, and whereever I see a song I like. Every now and again I'll tune into Sonic Theatre to catch Twilight Zone, or Sherlock Holmes, and Laugh USA. Laugh is a now and again pleasure, but repeats too much stuff after awhile. Anyone else want to fess up?
I guess now that Sirius is being run by a guy with a backbone (Mel Karmazin), they've decided not to play Jesse's little game any more, especially since they're running out of channel space.
Other than making sure that their transmissions do not interfere with other transmissions, the FCC and Congress should have absolutely no say in what Sirius and XM transmit on their stations.
no, thats one of the reasons i changed from xm to sirius
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