Fans Speak, DIRECTV Listens, XM's Opie & Anthony Return
April 25, 2006 02:00 PM US Eastern Timezone
Fans Speak, DIRECTV Listens, XM's Opie & Anthony Return to DIRECTV Programming Lineup
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 2006--In response to numerous requests from fans of the "Opie & Anthony" show, a popular program on XM Satellite Radio's High Voltage XL channel, DIRECTV has returned the channel to its XM lineup. DIRECTV had removed the channel last week in an effort to move its XM radio service to a 100 percent commercial-free music format.
High Voltage XL is now available on XM channel 879 for customers who subscribe to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE(R) PLUS or TOTAL CHOICE(R) PREMIER package.
In addition to XM's exclusive Opie & Anthony show, DIRECTV will also broadcast a new three-hour version of the Opie & Anthony show airing on CBS and simulcast uncensored on XM.
"The uproar from fans, pleading with us to put Opie & Anthony back on the air, was deafening to say the least," said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc. "And though our original intent was to focus our XM service on more music, we now understand the passionate following that Opie & Anthony have and we're happy to bring them back on board in an expanded format."
DIRECTV began offering 72 channels of XM's quality music, children's, and talk programming in November of last year, nearly doubling its audio programming lineup at no additional cost. Customers subscribing to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package have access to 50 XM Satellite Radio's music channels and customers subscribing to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE(R) Plus programming package and above will have access to more than 68 channels. DIRECTV PARA TODOS(R) customers will also have access to the same XM channels, as well as five additional Latin music channels.
With the addition of the CBS simulcast on XM starting Wednesday, April 26, DIRECTV customers will now get five hours of live Opie & Anthony every weekday on High Voltage. The simulcast will air from 6 a.m to 9 a.m. ET and the duo's exclusive XM show will air from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET with replays throughout the day. Hosted by Opie (Gregg Hughes) and Anthony Cumia, the show observes and comments on a wide range of topics related to American social and popular culture.
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc. is the United States' leading digital television service provider with more than 15 million customers. DIRECTV (NYSE
TV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment services. DIRECTV is approximately 37 percent owned by News Corporation.
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