XM Launches Election '08 Radio Channel

XM Satellite Radio is diving into the 2008 presidential election in a big way.

On Sept. 24, the satellite channel will launch P.O.T.U.S. '08--what it calls the first radio channel devoted to a presidential election. The channel's name is an abbreviation used by government officials for President of the United States. The site is http://www.xmradio.com/potus.

The ad-free, 24/7 channel will offer news and opinion on XM from both sides of the political divide. Traditional media and unconventional sources, such as political bloggers and podcasters, will also be included. Presidential candidates get free time each day to address listeners nationwide.

The P.O.T.U.S. '08 channel will air radio shows produced by XM and a wide array of content partners, including C-SPAN, the National Journal, Slate and Washington Monthly. Also in the mix, the polling group Zogby International, the liberal political blog DailyKos, conservative voices from the Heritage Foundation, the National Press Club, George Washington University and TV networks CNN, ABC and Fox News.

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"We want this to be a town square where people can hear the candidates, listen to the debates, get the news, and gather opinions from all sides," said Kevin Straley, senior vice president of news, talk, and sports programming, XM Satellite Radio. "You can hear diverse views across the political spectrum, including voices you don't typically hear on traditional media."

Rebecca Roberts will serve as managing editor and on-air host for the P.O.T.U.S. '08 channel. She will anchor the program "1600" weekdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. P.O.T.U.S. '08 has a varied lineup, including "Morning Briefing" with XM senior director of news programming Scott Walterman. Sunday programming on P.O.T.U.S. '08 will offer audio broadcasts of two Fox News shows, ABC "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," and CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

XM is offering P.O.T.U.S. '08 as a "free-to-air" channel, which means those who have XM radios but do not subscribe to the service, will receive the channel gratis.

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