ESPN and XM Satellite Radio today announced that XM will add a new
slate of ESPN programs to its line up starting February 4 featuring a
new ESPN Radio-dedicated channel.

XM and ESPN will re-brand XM channel 141 as ESPN Xtra. This channel
will enhance its current schedule of ESPNEWS programming with new shows
and specials, including three of ESPN Radio’s premier talk programs
from its owned stations in New York and Dallas, which will be available
for the first time for a national radio audience only on XM.

The ESPN Xtra channel will also air content produced by ESPN
exclusively for XM throughout the year, live coverage of events ranging
from the X Games to the ESPY Awards, and ESPN columnist Bill Simmons’
popular podcast from ESPN.com. In addition to the newly branded ESPN
Xtra channel, XM will continue to offer ESPN Radio (XM channel 140).

“ESPN is the most popular brand name in sports, and XM is the
nation’s leading satellite radio company,” said Eric Logan, XM
executive vice president, programming. “ESPN has been an integral
partner of XM since the day XM started broadcasting in 2001. Now we’re
going to be bringing some of the best sports talk shows from ESPN Radio
stations to millions of new listeners across the country, as well as
ESPN specials that you can only hear on XM. This new channel — ESPN
Xtra — is another important milestone in our partnership with ESPN.”

Traug Keller, ESPN senior vice president, production, business
divisions, said, “We are excited about our expanded relationship with
XM with nationally exclusive talk programming from two of our owned
stations, and special event programming. The unique offering of
terrestrial, podcast, and television audio increases the value of XM to
its subscribers, and provides new ways for ESPN listeners to access our
content.”

The Michael Kay Show and The Max Kellerman Show from 1050 AM ESPN
Radio in New York and Galloway and Company from 103.3 FM ESPN Radio in
Dallas will be heard nationwide on the ESPN Xtra channel, marking the
first time that these programs will be aired nationwide.

The Michael Kay Show will be heard weekdays on the ESPN Xtra channel
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. In addition to hosting the radio show, Kay
serves as television play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees
and the host of Centerstage on the YES Network.

The Max Kellerman Show will air on ESPN Xtra weekdays from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Kellerman is also an analyst for HBO Boxing and is well known
for his hosting stints on ESPN2, Fox Sports Net, and Spike TV.

Galloway and Company, hosted by Randy Galloway, will be carried on
ESPN Xtra weekdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Galloway has been a radio
talk show host for 21 years, and he writes a newspaper column for the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

ESPN Xtra specials will include an in-depth Major League Baseball
preview in advance of Opening Day. This special comes on the heels of
December’s BCS preview special hosted by ESPN’s Colin Cowherd that ESPN
created for XM.

Bill Simmons, a.k.a. “The Sports Guy,” is a columnist for ESPN.com’s
“Page 2″ and ESPN The Magazine. The New England native, renowned for
his passion for Boston sports teams, will be heard Fridays at 3 p.m.
and at 10 p.m. ET when ESPN Xtra airs his popular 40-minute podcast
from ESPN.com.

Technorati Tags: xm satellite radio, xm radio, espn, espn Xtra

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