NEW YORK, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that it will be the exclusive radio home to veteran broadcaster Michael Smerconish, nationally syndicated radio host, MSNBC contributor, bestselling author and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist.

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Beginning April 15, The Michael Smerconish Program will cease broadcasting on terrestrial radio and start on SiriusXM in an expanded format that builds on Smerconish's spirited discussions of government, politics, and current events without predictable left/right bias. The show will expand Smerconish's depth and breadth of topics beyond the restrictions of local radio formats. The Michael Smerconish Program will be a forum where listeners are encouraged to debate and challenge opinions without being shut down, on which guests from every political party are welcome, and where subjects can be surprising and entertaining. 

"I am ecstatic to join SiriusXM, which I see as the dynamic future of radio broadcasting," said Michael Smerconish. "I look forward to talking with SiriusXM's diverse, national audience, delivering a program that transcends the polarization that exists not only in Washington but in the media and country at large. It's time to take the national conversation to a higher plane, and I invite listeners nationwide with views that don't stack up neatly in any ideological box the way we're told they should to join."

"Michael Smerconish is one of the most compelling, entertaining and powerful voices in talk radio who places personal conviction over political agenda and we welcome him to satellite radio," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "Now, on SiriusXM, we can't wait to see what he does with the freedom of our unrestricted, uncensored, truly national platform and our engaged audience. We welcome his many current fans and look forward to new fans discovering Michael on SiriusXM."

The new show will air weekdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET exclusively on SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. channel 124, SiriusXM's non-partisan channel dedicated to the "Politics of the United States." The Michael Smerconish Program will replay during evening drive from 6:00 – 9:00 pm ET, and will be available on SiriusXM On Demand for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at siriusxm.com.

A Philadelphia lawyer turned political commentator, Smerconish started on radio in Philadelphia in the early 90s, growing to market-leading ratings and launching into successful national syndication. He publicly dropped his longtime Republican status to challenge the establishment as an independent. In August 2009, Smerconish became the first radio host to interview President Barack Obama live from the White House. He has since interviewed Obama six more times, most recently in the Oval Office in October 2012.

Smerconish is an on-air contributor with MSNBC and the primary guest host for Hardball with Chris Matthews. He has been a guest on virtually every television program where politics is discussed, including: Today, The Colbert Report, The O'Reilly Factor, Larry King Live, The View and Real Time with Bill Maher.

In 2009, Radio & Records named Smerconish News/Talk/Sports Local Personality of the Year. In 2011 the National Association of Broadcasters selected Smerconish as a Marconi Award finalist in the category of Best Network/Syndicated Host. In March 2013, Talkers ranked Smerconish's audience in the top ten.

Smerconish is the author of five books, including The New York Times bestsellers Flying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Airline Safety Post 9/11—for which he donated his proceeds to the Garden of Reflection, a 9/11 tribute garden in his native Bucks County, Pennsylvania—and Muzzled: From T-Ball to Terrorism, True Stories that Should Be Fiction, Murdered By Mumia: A Life Sentence of Loss, Pain and Injustice (co-authored with Maureen Faulkner and for which he donated his proceeds to the Daniel Faulkner Educational Grant Fund). His other books include Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking; and Instinct: The Man Who Stopped the 20th Hijacker (the story of Jose Melendez-Perez, for which he donated his proceeds to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania).

SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. tells the story of American politics with unbiased news programs, live coverage of major political events inside and outside the beltway, and on-air commentary from listeners that shape political discussion.

For more information, visit www.siriusxm.com/potus.

About Sirius XM Radio

Sirius XM Radio Inc. is the world's largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and has 24 million subscribers. SiriusXM creates and broadcasts commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment; and the most comprehensive Latin music, sports and talk programming in radio. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company in the U.S., from retailers nationwide, and online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM programming is also available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for Android, Apple, and BlackBerry smartphones and other connected devices. SiriusXM also holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has more than 2 million subscribers.

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This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "believe," "intend," "plan," "projection," "outlook" or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. 

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements:  our competitive position versus other forms of radio and  audio services; our dependence upon automakers; general economic conditions; failure of our satellites, which, in most cases, are not insured; our ability to attract and retain subscribers at a profitable level; royalties we pay for music rights: our ability to attract and retain qualified executive officers; the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation; rapid technological and industry change; failure of third parties to perform; changes in consumer protection laws and their enforcement; and our substantial indebtedness. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

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Contact for SiriusXM:
Hillary Schupf  
212.901.6739
hillary.schupf@siriusxm.com

SOURCE Sirius XM Radio