SiriusXM Insight
 | |
| Broadcast area | United States, Canada |
|---|---|
| Branding | SiriusXM Insight |
| Frequency | Sirius XM Radio 121 |
| First air date | September 1, 2004 |
| Format | Defunct |
| Class | Non-profit satellite radio station |
| Affiliations |
Public Radio International American Public Media WBUR George Washington University National Geographic |
| Owner | Sirius XM Radio |
| Website | Sirius XM Insight |
SiriusXM Insight is a 24/7 Sirius XM Radio channel dedicated to public radio programming.
Prior to January 2015, the station was known as "Sirius XM Public Radio", or SXMPR. Broadcasting in stereo, Sirius XM Public Radio was one of two talk channels on the Sirius XM platform which broadcasts two-channel audio—the other being Opie Radio. Programming was provided through partnerships with American Public Media, Public Radio International, Boston's WBUR, New York's WNYC, George Washington University, and National Geographic, who own a chunk of time on the channel. XMPR also carries The PBS NewsHour. Despite being a channel for public radio programs, the channel did not carry any programming from the nation's leading provider, National Public Radio (NPR). The NPR network currently has an exclusivity contract with Sirius XM Radio, and airs some of their programming on Sirius Channel 122; although there were, previously, two NPR channels on Sirius.
In October 2006, Public Radio International's channel on Sirius XM Radio was dropped from the channel lineup. Shortly afterwards, SXMPR responded by adding several new PRI programs to its lineup, including The World, To the Point, To the Best of Our Knowledge, Le Show, and The Changing World. There is no word on whether money exchanged hands to make this deal occur, or if it was simply Sirius' dissatisfaction in the channel and Sirius XM's attempt to capitalize on the listener base.
Starting in March 2007, SXMPR added several more programs from American Public Media, including popular programs A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace, as well as The Story with Dick Gordon, Weekend America, Sound Opinions, and Performance Today Weekend. Following the Sirius-XM merger, Sirius XM Public Radio was added to Sirius on September 30, 2008, as part of its "Best of XM" package and broadcasts on channel 205 (previously 196). XM airs the channel on 121 (it was on 133). The name was then changed from "XM Public Radio" to "Sirius XM Public Radio".
On January 12, 2015, Sirius XM Public Radio changed its name and format to “SiriusXM Insight”, an all-new, exclusive, groundbreaking news, information, and entertainment radio channel. While the new channel retains some of its Sirius XM Public Radio content such as Best of Car Talk and The Bob Edwards Show, the new channel format introduces new exclusive content.[1]
Canadian coverage
In April 2007, XM Radio Canada dropped their carriage of SXMPR. The only explanation given was that the channel's availability in Canada violated a licensing agreement between SXMPR and one or more of its affiliates. The contract between XMPR and the affiliate(s) was eventually renegotiated, and Sirius XM Public Radio was returned to the XM Canada platform on August 1, 2007.