I have just learned that starting tomorrow, February 14, Sirius Satellite Radio is dropping C-SPAN (channel 139) from its service. A response to my inquiry about this matter received from C-SPAN explains that although C-SPAN was a charter network on the satellite service, it could not come to a new contract agreement with Sirius because of the latter's demands that C-SPAN agree to have its programming pre- empted at will for coverage of sporting events. In effect, Sirius wanted to C-SPAN to agree to become a secondary channel on its service.
The promise of satellite radio--at least the Sirius version of it--is rapidly fading away, in my view. Of over 150 channels, to have one full time channel for the unbiased presentation and discussion of important public affairs events and issues should not be too much for a subscriber to ask. With the loss of PRI World a few months back and now this, Sirius takes a further step back from providing a place for intelligent, thoughtful radio. If you are a Sirius subscriber and disagree with Sirius's stance on this matter, I urge you to call and/or write to them at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and 1-888-539-7474 and to C-SPAN at [EMAIL PROTECTED] According to the CSR I spoke with at Sirius's 888 number, they are receiving a number of calls in protest already. The phone number may be the better route. And since Sirius has yet to post the changes to its web site or officially notify its subscribers, we can only hope that this chorus increases in intensity with time. Of course, whether complaining will have any effect is problemmatical. John Figliozzi Halfmoon, NY _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms To unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], or visit the URL shown above.
