Sirius Radio Completes Satellite Constellation; Launch Success Clears Way for New Era in Radio
NEW YORK, Dec 1, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Sirius Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI chart, msgs), the satellite radio broadcaster, today announced the launch of its third satellite and the completion of its three-satellite constellation. Lift-off aboard the Proton launch vehicle occurred at 2:59 p.m. EST on November 30 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Sirius Satellite Control successfully established a communications link with Sirius-3 at 7:02 p.m. EST and deployed the satellite's solar panels at 10:14 p.m. EST. In-orbit testing is expected to be completed within 45 days. Sirius is scheduled to begin broadcasting in the beginning of 2001.
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Video footage of the launch can be viewed on the company's website at www.siriusradio.com .
From its three orbiting satellites, Sirius will directly broadcast up to 100 channels of digital-quality radio to motorists throughout the continental United States for a monthly subscription fee of $9.95. Sirius will deliver 50 channels of commercial-free music in virtually every genre, and up to 50 channels of news, sports, talk, comedy and children's programming. Sirius' broad and deep range of almost every music format as well as its news, sports and entertainment programming is not available on conventional radio in any market in the United States.
Sirius has alliances to install three-band (AM/FM/SAT) radios in Ford, Chrysler, BMW, Mercedes, Mazda, Jaguar and Volvo vehicles as well as Freightliner and Sterling heavy trucks. Numerous manufacturers will furnish radios to automakers, and will also provide adapters to electronics retailers that will allow radios in existing vehicles to receive Sirius broadcasts.
Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance with respect to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and, accordingly, such statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in Sirius' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on Sirius' results of operations are the potential risk of delay in implementing Sirius' business plan; dependence on satellite construction and launch contractors; risk of launch failure; unproven market and unproven applications of existing technology; unavailability of Sirius radios; and Sirius' need for additional financing.
Source: Sirius Satellite Radio |
