• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, December 13, 2007

ESPN has gone into space--again. It has launched a second channel on Sirius satellite radio that will include simulcasts of on-air programs, including "SportsCenter" and "Pardon the Interruption."

The new channel--ESPN Radio will continue to be simulcast on a second feed--will include an original weekly show featuring ESPN Magazine writers and editors.

The new channel comes via an extension of a current agreement between the parties. The bulk of it will include programming from the ESPNNews network and simulcasts of "SportsCenter's" 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. editions on weekdays, as well as "Around the Horn," "Pardon the Interruption" and "NASCAR Now."

Weekly shows, such as "College GameDay" during the football season and "Outside the Lines," will also be available.

Sirius continues to look for ways to differentiate itself from competitor XM, although the two are actively pursuing a merger.

"SportsCenter" has been used as the moniker on ESPN Radio for its periodic news and score updates, but the company has been wary about overexposing the flagship brand. Still, the growth of the multimedia universe appears to have softened their stance.

Earlier this year, ESPN launched "SportsCenter Minute," a snapshot version of the show that is available on ESPN.com, with entry points elsewhere on the Web.