Sirius is one step closer to the NFL Radio Network

[BenDee]

From RandR.com:

Steve Cohen Joins Sirius

The WFAN/New York NFL beat reporter will become the satcaster's Director/NFL Programming and will also co-host a show. He'll make occasional appearances on the Sports station known as "The Fan" and will continue to host his Westwood One-syndicated NFL show.

Hope this means we are close to getting the NFL Network started!

[EersNHerd]

...drool...

[ArbitRon]

Indeed, we are closer to the NFL Satellite Radio Network ... you can look for it to kick off during the summer. In the meantime, Steve will be anchoring coverage of the NFL Draft later on this month. Look for a beloved (depending on which team you followed) retired player to join Steve.

[Oberlyn]

ooooh yummy. I am looking forward to it BIG time.

[LouPickney]

So am I to understand that Sirius' NFL Network is to begin with the 2004 NFL Draft? I was under the impression that there was some comfusion/dispute on when that was going to go into effect.

[RoadRunner]

The best I've heard Lou, is that there will be coverage of the NFL Draft from the staff that is working on the NFL Radio Network, but that the full-time stream will not start until this summer.

[EersNHerd]

I would wager that the draft will be covered live on ESPN radio as well.

[DUDE # 824]

I cant wait. this is gonna be great! I have a sat. t.v system in my truck, but I cant get any games because its a mobile system. thank you sirius!

[LouPickney]

I was talking with my friend Bill on Sunday afternoon. He just moved to Orlando, but I went to high school with him in Nashville.

Anyway, he is a current XM subscriber (he found out about me working for Bubba The Love Sponge® by hearing me mentioned on Bubba's show back when it was on XM), but he told me he plans on switching to Sirius based on Sirius having the NFL contract. He's almost as much of an NFL fantasy football fan as I am, and he's very excited about the prospect of a channel that focuses on the NFL and matchups and injuries and the latest news and what not.

Bill might be on the early end of that curve, but come July/August when the NFL excitement really starts to build, I think this could be a very marketable feature for Sirius.

[The Interpreter]

Teases are running as promos during CNN Headline News.

[BenDee]

Originally Posted by LouPickney

...he told me he plans on switching to Sirius based on Sirius having the NFL contract.

Would you say it is also based on hearing your voice on Sirius as well?

...because CNN Headline News is not the only thing teasing us

[LouPickney]

Originally Posted by BenDee

Would you say it is also based on hearing your voice on Sirius as well?

LOL Bill's decision was based solely on the NFL contract. Though if (and notice I say if) the BTLS show ends up on Sirius, that would certainly be another selling point for Bill (who liked the BTLS show before he ever knew about my involvement with it).

[leviramsey]

Sports is Sirius' number-one trump card over XM.

Let's see:

* NHL
* NBA
* NFL

versus

* NASCAR

Now if Sirius can get MLB...

[LouPickney]

Keep in mind also that NASCAR radio has near full national penetration on terrestrial radio. Whereas for the NFL, where you have as many as 16 games in a weekend (versus one Winston Cup race), having that variety is a nice edge for Sirius.

[leviramsey]

I see that NFL Network (TV) will be showing tons of preseason games, with one idea being to take, if the Panthers are playing the Redskins, the Panthers broadcast for the first half and the Redskins broadcast for the second.

Is NFL Radio Network going to be doing this?