SiriusXM has inked a distribution agreement with the Walt Disney Company’s ABC News for the distribution of two new channels on its streaming radio platform.
The channels include ABC News Live, which involves an audio simulcast of the free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel of the same name, and a new channel called 20/20 True Crime that is listed as “coming soon,” as it has yet to launch on FAST platforms.
Neither channel will be offered on SiriusXM’s traditional satellite service, but both will be available to satellite customers with supported radio packages who authenticate their subscriptions through the SiriusXM streaming app. Satellite radio subscribers with SiriusXM 360L radios in their cars or homes will be able to stream the channels with an active Internet or mobile data connection. Streaming-only customers will also have access to both channels.
The launch of ABC News Live and 20/20 True Crime on SiriusXM marks a return of ABC News programming to the satellite radio service. For about six years, Citadel Broadcasting offered a channel through XM Satellite Radio called “ABC News & Talk,” which shut down in 2007 when Citadel pulled the plug on its satellite radio networks.
Other news channels offered on SiriusXM include audio simulcasts of cable networks CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business and MS NOW; Bloomberg Radio; Fox News Headlines 24/7; C-SPAN Radio and BBC World Service. App-exclusive news channels include NBC News Now and a dedicated stream from The Weather Channel that is only active during severe weather.
