This week channels 21 and 22 stopped displaying Artist and Song. Other channels seem to work fine although have not checked them all. Also, the station preset in audio dispaly has a "cm" next to the channel name. Anyone know what's up with this?

 

Doesn't mean 'consult manual', does it? Don't have access to my manual where I'm at, but that's the first place I'd check.

 

Sorry that was a hasty idiotic response on my part ... further insight available.

Without having had the chance to check nor have I listened to those channels in the past several days, I believe its due to the following:

Due to investment stakes, XM carries Clear Channel (U.S. largest radio broadcaster) programming. Out of recent arbitration, Clear Channel will now include commercials on these stations (see http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/rec..._id=1002117590)

I haven't studied the publicly available filings to see how far it goes, but right now there are five channels programmed by ClearChannel that seem subject to this situation:
11 - Nashville
21 - KISS
22 - MIX
24 - Sunny
161 - WSIX

(See http://www.xmradio.com/programming/neighborhood.jsp?hood=regional for XM's spin on it)

Seemingly related to the outcome of the arbitration, XM has reclassified these channels as "Regional News and Talk" starting May 1st, which coincides with your observation.

There are other lists/blogs more specific to XM following this issue, e.g., see: http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic...t=cc+cm#465851

 

Unles both XM and Sirrus start to show a profit soon, we will be shelling out 11.95 per month to listen to commerical programming. Another step towards the day when everything is pay per view/listen all the time.

 

Thanks for the links RLTech
I'm OK with the reclassification, but why should we lose Artist/Title in XM.
My 1999 BMW gets Artist/Title in FM (for that matter the Ford I rented today gets it too) and my RL doesn't. Now I lose this in XM!

 

I noticed today in my RL that Artist/Title are back on these Clear Channel stations but still with the 'cm' which I'm assuming means "commercial".

 

yes- Artist/Title are back. Good News!

 

I'm not sure whether I'm addressing your problem or not, but there's a "disp" button on the center console that changes the display mode. The display mode can also be changed when in the "audio" screen...I think that option is "mode" which is accessed by pushing the main control dial down.

 

blue - no I know about disp mode. This was a temporary XM issue while they changed those channels to Clear Channel programming as RLTechie indicated. I actually prefer the new "Mix" on #22. The old Mix played the same sonmgs over and over.

 

Mix is one of my presets. I don't quite understand the nature of the changes that have been mentioned here...I took a 250 mile joyride yesterday and didn't particularly notice any differences...but I hit all the channels and didn't stay on any one very long.

 

Yeah unless you are pretty much tuned into Mix or the other now-Clear Channel programmed stations you probably wouldn't notice much difference (TODAY). I am guessing the conversion staging plan to CC programming looks something like this:

1. Switch over to CC programming - only show 'cm' next to channel name
2. Offer a superior programming mix (after all, CC is the largest radio operator in the country)
3. Gradually phase in very carefully chosen/crafted ads.

 

It is a superior programming mix from the previous. I've heard more variety on the mix in 3 days then I heard in 6 months on the old one. I think the old mix must of had a play list of less than 50 songs. So, I am enjoying so far. Hope you aren't right on the upcoming ads though.

Also - anyone know if NBA playoffs are on XM. I looked at the channel list a couple days ago online and did not see it.

 

You will also see "fr" and "sp". These are French channels for the Canadian market and Spanish channels respectively.