Sirius Plans An iPhone App For Its Programming

By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 5/18/2009

New York — Sirius XM reiterated plans to launch a Sirius iPhone application in the next two months and said it will offer expanded programming for the service.

Scott Greenstein, president/chief content officer, told analysts during a financial call that the iPhone application will stream additional “showcase” channels for talk, music, news and sports using Sirius talent. Sirius personalities, which include Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and Eminem, will also promote the iPhone app on its traditional satellite radio service.

Sirius did not reveal an exact launch date nor pricing for the app that will stream Sirius programming to iPhone and iPod touch devices.

Sirius XM also said new Internet radios will debut later in the year, reportedly this summer. With the new iPhone application and Internet radios, Sirius hopes to broaden the service’s reach beyond the new car customer, which currently accounts for 75 percent to 80 percent of new subscribers.

On the conference call to discuss first-quarter results (see www.twice.com), Sirius XM CEO Mel Karmazin said it extended its agreement with General Motors to 2020 under improved terms.

He also said Sirius XM has resolved its liquidity problems of earlier this year and said it has sufficient cash to cover both its 2009 and 2010 maturities.