SiriusXM has expanded its offerings, adding over 100 new, curated music channels to its streaming platform. Dubbed “Xtra Channels,” the commercial-free streams will be available on the SiriusXM app, web player and certain devices to its All Access and Premier Streaming subscribers. In addition to the app, SiriusXM subscribers and trial users can preview some of the new offerings in their cars via SiriuxXM Radio’s SiriusXM Spotlight (channel 4) throughout the month of March.
Marking the streaming service’s largest channel expansion to date, the new additions bring the application’s channel count to over 300. The added digital channels feature skip-ahead functionality and are tailored to fit a diverse array of moods and activities, such as “80s on 8 Workout,” “Prime Country Party” and “BPM Top Hits.” The company has also developed a new Discovery category, much like other competitors including Spotify; however, SiriusXM’s discovery channels are curated by programmers and personalities from its existing radio stations like SiriusXM Hits 1, The Highway, Alt Nation and The Heat.
As Steve Blatter, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Music Programming, explained:
With more than 100 new commercial-free channels to choose from, SiriusXM is offering even more variety for our subscribers. … The new channels have the DNA of current SiriusXM channels that our subscribers love, but offered in a variety of new versions that fit listeners’ tastes, moods and activities. We have also developed channels that satisfy the demand for combining SiriusXM channels together into exciting new curated experiences. These new channels are sure to make our streaming service even more attractive and valuable to our listeners.
The announcement comes on the heels of SiriusXM’s acquisition of Pandora Media for $3.5 billion dollars, which effectively made the satellite radio company “the world’s largest audio entertainment company.” The expansion marks the first major service change since the merger completed on February 1.
[via Billboard]
