America Online and XM Satellite Radio, today, announced they will join forces to create a new online radio service. The service brings together XM and AOL Radio Network products and programming to form the combined digital radio network. The new co-branded service will include a web radio offering and an enhanced premier radio offering that will be available to AOL members at no additional charge and as a premium service to consumers on the web. The new offerings, which are expected to roll out beginning this summer with the launch of AOL’s next generation AOL.com web portal, will be promoted online.
AOL and XM will co-promote their programs across their networks including to XM’s nearly 3.8 million subscribers and to AOL’s claimed 100 million unique monthly visitors across the AOL network of properties.
The new co-branded online radio service will feature selections from the AOL Radio Network and XM Radio such as AOL’s Radio KOL, AOL Music Sessions and AOL Music LIVE! and original XM programs such as Artist Confidential and Then…Again.. Live!. People will have the ability to select the offering that best meets their needs. The co-branded offerings will include:
- A new, unlimited listening web radio service featuring a sampling of 20 XM stations plus 130 AOL Radio stations that will be available free on the web.
- An enhanced version of AOL’s popular premium radio service featuring over 70 XM stations plus over 130 AOL Radio original and third party stations that will be available to AOL members at no additional charge and to consumers on the web for a low monthly fee.
