I’ve become a serious listener of Siris XM’s channel 80 which is dedicated to things western. Lots of interesting programs and I recommend it. It’s now the default channel in my vehicle!
From their press release:
On July 15, 2013 Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) and RURAL RADIO, L.L.C. — officially launched RURAL RADIO, a 24/7 channel devoted to providing a wide variety of programming for and about rural American life, the western lifestyle, and agribusiness interests.
RURAL RADIO, channel 80, gives SiriusXM listeners all over America, whether driving a tractor cab equipped with satellite radio or driving in city commuter traffic, an unprecedented connection to the rural community. RURAL RADIO broadcasts original programming for rural audiences exclusively for SiriusXM that spans commodity market reporting, lifestyle programming, original and classic entertainment and western sports, such as rodeo and bull riding.
Every weekday, RURAL RADIO delivers extensive information for the rural community in North America, including rural news, weather and market reports during weekday hours as grain,livestock and other commodity futures are being traded globally. Traders can tune in directly to reports from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
“SiriusXM’s unparalleled programming and easy-to-use technology has been embraced by rural consumers in their cars, pickups, tractors and combines throughout North America,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder of Rural Media Group, Inc. and RURAL RADIO, LLC. “RURAL RADIO is designed to fill the growing demand for more rural content that is being ignored by urban-based broadcasters. I want to publicly thank the SiriusXM executives for seeing this opportunity and stepping up to fill this void. RURAL RADIO is a strong asset to the powerful SiriusXM lineup.”
“Rural Media Group has a proven track record of offering great programming for rural Americans and those drawn to the western lifestyle,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “In growing SiriusXM’s diverse programming lineup, we are excited to join with Rural Media Group to superserve the rural audience, thereby further ensuring that SiriusXM, with its truly nationwide coverage, delivers the best audio content for listeners everywhere in America, from city skyscrapers to small towns and farms, from the Super Bowl to rodeos, from Wall Street to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).”
RURAL RADIO’s program schedule provides a wide variety of original productions focused on agriculture, equine, hunting, fishing, western sports and living the country life in small towns
and on acreages.
Veteran farm broadcasters Mark Oppold and Janet Adkison, the current and incoming presidents of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) anchor three daily, weekday shows— Commodity Wrap, Rural Evening News and Market Day Report, a live 5-hour daily program featuring reports from dedicated news bureaus located at the CME, Chicago Board of Trade, as well as from USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Additional daily ag-related programming are provided through RMG’s strong affiliations with the leaders in rural America, including: Farm Journal Media, owners of AGDAY, U.S. Farm Report and AGRITALK, Meredith Corporation’s Living The Country Life, various state farm bureaus and Ag PhD featuring the Hefty Brothers of South Dakota.
Equine enthusiasts can now enjoy Horse Talk, a daily, one-hour call-in program that showcase the leading clinicians and horse associations, and airs live coverage from major horse shows that take place all around the world. Vets on Call, another interactive program underwritten by Zoetis, makes its top veterinarians available to answer listener questions and calls on-air.
Western Sports Round-Up (WSR) serves Western Sports news and events, which occupy a large block of programming on RURAL RADIO in the late afternoon, early evening hours and throughout the weekends. Hosted by Flint Rasmussen and Alexis Bloomer, WSR covers Professional Bull Riding (PBR) and the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) events by interviewing the stars of each association and providing standings. WSR also covers and offers results from all western sports including cutting, reining, roping, barrel racing and both professional and amateur level bronc-riding, including High School & College Rodeo news, as well as Little Britches and Junior High competitions.
“SiriusXM’s coast-to-coast coverage gives us the ability to reach listeners nationwide. The line-up of programming we’ve developed and accumulated for this new channel solidifies and expands our brand across North America. Rural is a way of life, and RURAL RADIO means listeners can tune into it from anywhere at any time,” said Randy Bernard, President/CEO, Rural Media Group, Inc.
More details about the channel can be found online at www.ruralradio80.com or on the channel’s social media sites: www.facebook.com/RURALRADIO80 & Twitter @RURALRADIO80.