I expect this will be a topic of discussion at the “Social Justice” conference next month with the FCC.
As a condition of approving the merger of Sirius and XM, the U.S. Government extorted a promise that Sirius/XM would set aside 4% of its channels for new “diversity” programming. When the MMTC hears “Diversity”, they think “Black and/or female controlled”. What Sirius/XM wants is diversity that isn’t based on racial self-segregation, but ummm…. diversity.
Assigning the diversity channels has gotten nowhere. Even before this mandate, Sirius/XM is pretty diverse. In addition to the music channels, it has 2 French language stations, 1 French news/talk and 1 French Sports station (because of Canada), Spanish language ESPN, CNN in Spanish, English and HLN, a gay channel, a feminist channel, two NPR channels, the BBC, the Oprah channel, two Catholic channels and a Christian teaching channel, MSNBC, CNBC, Sirius Left (basically the Dial Global lineup) – and to balance that, they carry Fox News Radio and one Conservative channel.
Those people who still are on XM also get channel 158 (the Clear Channel talk station with Quinn & Rose), Martha Stewart, a Bollywood channel, The Power (Radio One’s talk channel – Al Sharpton, etc…).
The most convoluted portion of the “rules” is that Indian tribes qualify as diversity programmers – not because of their race, but because of their treaty obligations. [Can I join an Indian tribe? I don’t think so]. Another of the “rules” is you can’t have a “Diversity” channel if you’re already on Sirius/XM.
Sirius was planning a “major announcement” before year end, but perhaps I missed it.
