The Sirius FM-5 Satellite was previously launched into outer space and now, roughly two or three months later, the satellite has been established in orbit around earth.

The satellite was launched by Sirius XM Radio in order to improve satellite reception and performance but, for many users, the result may not be large enough to warrant the exceptional cost entailed by launching the Sirius FM-5.

Sirius XM Radio promised that metropolitan areas especially would enjoy greater reception from the new satellite. The Sirius FM-5’s orbit is meant to allow more users to access solid signal strength, regardless of where you are.

[Via Orbitcast]

The Digital Home Forums have recently hosted a thread discussing the pros and cons of Canadians two satellite radio options, the still unmerged Sirius Radio Canada and XM Radio Canada.

The verdict from passionate, Canadian satellite radio fans was that one service is better for automobiles and that one is better for home usage.

So which one is for you?

XM Canada received better ratings for home usage, Digital Home members mentioning that service is great once an appropriate spot has been found. Sirius Canada on the other hand emerged as a clear favourite for users requiring satellite radio service for their cars.

[Via Digital Home Forums]

Green Day fans will want to make sure to mark their calenders for this coming weekend as the famous pop-punk band plans to host programming on Sirius XM Radio.

The Sirius XM Hits 1 Weekend Countdown this weekend will be entirely hosted by Green Day, the band introducing each of the top forty-five songs and sharing their views on the nation’s current favourite songs.

Green Day will also host Sirius XM’s Hit-Bound, helping to showcase new songs from up-and-coming artists while broadcasting their views on the newest bands, a massively popular group discussing unsigned, indie and international artists.

[Via Digital Home Forums]

After creating plenty of attention for their inability to pay outstanding royalties owed to SOCAN, XM Canada has now made good on their previous promise and fulfilled the requirements asked of them by the artist protection society.

SOCAN had launched a lawsuit against XM Canada over this unpaid money earlier this month, a move that prompted the Canadian satellite radio company to finally pay the funds.

The money had been owed to SOCAN since January 2005 and was ordered to be paid by a date no later than July 31st 2009. After XM Canada was still unable to pay the owed funds, SOCAN launched a lawsuit that led to a conclusion to the matter.

[Via Digital Home]

Football fans will be pleased to read the news today that long-time football commentator, John Madden, will be returning to Sirius XM Radio for his sixth season as a contributor to Sirius NFL Radio.

Madden will broadcast live, every Friday at 11.30am EST with Adam Schein on The Sirius Blitz, discussing every NFL game and providing his expert opinions on teams, specific players, the games themselves and prospects or developments in the 2009 NFL season.

Sirius NFL Radio is a station entirely devoted to the NFL season, detailing every aspect of each game and playing on Sirius channel 124.

[Via Sirius Press]

Sirius Radio Canada has begun to broadcast the 2009 NFL Season for satellite radio subscribers, providing outstanding coverage of the entire year of football from beginning to finals.

Beginning on Thursday, September 10th, Sirius NFL Radio began to offer play-by-play coverage of every game and will continue to air in-depth football radio as the season takes listeners through the play-offs and all the way to Super Bowl XLIV scheduled to take place in South Florida.

Listeners can tune into the 2009 NFL Season through Sirius NFL Radio, channel 124, a fully-devoted station that broadcasts twenty-four hours a day all throughout the year.

[Via Sirius Press]

As troubles have continued between SOCAN and XM Canada over the latter party’s unpaid royalty fees there has been increased agitation from SOCAN to receive their overdue payment.

Now XM Canada has announced their intention to repay the sum immediately, still bemoaning the difficult economic climate but assuring SOCAN of their continued efforts to rectify the situation.

SOCAN has rightfully responded to XM Canada’s plea for further time with a statement condemning the satellite company’s delayed payment, speaking of the sums that are being unfairly held from composers, producers and other rightful recipients due to the wait.

[Via The Canadian Press]

In another plus for Sirius Canada subscribers, a recent New York Times article has praised the satellite company’s response to the theft of satellite receivers.

While looking at corporate responses to the theft of Amazon Kindle electronic book readers the New York Times questioned the practices employed by Amazon in cracking down on stolen units.

Mentioned in the article however are the policies outlined by Sirius Radio Canada. The Canadian side of the company has maintained a policy since 2005 that allows subscribers to cancel service on stolen units by simply signing a statement, a move that is much better than XM Canada or the American Sirius XM Radio.

[Via New York Times]

Bad news has hit fans of XM Radio Canada this week with the announcement of a lawsuit being filed against the satellite company by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) over an unpaid royalty dispute.

XM Canada has been accused of failing to pay royalties owed for the broadcast of SOCAN-protected music. The royalties were due for payment by July 31st, 2009 and the company has still been unwilling (or perhaps unable) to pay.

As penalty SOCAN has demanded that XM Canada (and Sirius Canada as well from a different dispute) pay 4.26 percent of their service revenue, an amount that will prove difficult to provide during the ongoing recession.

EDIT: Sirius Canada has met their royalty responsibilities with SOCAN. Apologies for the error.

[Via Digital Home]

As school starts and summer draws to an unofficial close Sirius XM listeners were treated to a special long weekend full of Labour Day programming.

Special broadcasts were available across many channels including an highly appropriate show from The Spectrum (on Sirius channel 18 and XM channel 45) and their Labour Day Weekend with the American Secretary of Labour.

E Street Radio (Sirius channel 10 and XM channel 58) took a different approach to the holiday weekend by playing summer-themed Springsteen classics, celebrating the end of the season with a number of great songs.

There were plenty other theme-appropriate shows as well, all working together to make Labour Day on Sirius XM Radio a great choice for long-weekend listeners.

[Via Digital Home Forums]