Legendary Entertainer Regis Philbin Returns as Host of SiriusXM's "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio," Welcomes Crosby's Wife Kathryn and Son Harry in Studio for Tribute Specials
Philbin to sit down with Kathryn and Harry Crosby to answer fan questions on "SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall"
Limited-run holiday channel airs December 20-26, features vintage Bing Crosby holiday radio programs, Kathryn Crosby music special and more
NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SiriusXM today announced that legendary entertainer Regis Philbin, host of FOX Sports' "Crowd Goes Wild," will return as the host of SiriusXM's "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio," a limited-run 24/7 holiday channel devoted to the American entertainment icon synonymous with classic holiday entertainment.
(Photo: https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131204/NY27540-a )
(Photo: https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131204/NY27540-b )
(Logo: https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/NY82093LOGO )
The channel will feature vintage Bing Crosby holiday radio programs from 1942-1962 and two new specials: "SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall," an intimate Q & A hosted by Philbin with Bing Crosby's wife Kathryn, son Harry and a select group of listeners, and a music show on which Kathryn Crosby will share memories and the stories behind her favorite Bing Christmas songs with Philbin and listeners nationwide. "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio" also features personal anecdotes and memories from Bing's daughter Mary and son Nathaniel Crosby.
"Bing Crosby Christmas Radio" will launch on December 20 at 12:00 pm ET with the premiere of "SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall," and air 24/7 through December 26 at 12:00 pm ET on SiriusXM channel 111.
On "SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall," fans will have the opportunity in the intimate setting of the SiriusXM studios to ask Kathryn, Harry and Regis questions about Bing's life, music, holiday specials and stellar career as a multi-talented star and to reflect on what Bing means to them and to fans from multiple generations. Following its premiere on December 20 at 12:00 pm, encore presentations of "SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall" will air December 20 at 9:00 pm, December 21 at 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, December 22 at 2:00 pm and 11:00 pm, December 23 at 10:00 am and 8:00 pm, December 24 at 4:00 am and 4:00 pm, December 25 at 10:00 pm and December 26 at 11:00 am (all times ET).
Kathryn Crosby will share her favorite Bing Christmas songs, the stories behind them and memories of Bing with Regis and listeners nationwide on a special music show premiering on "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio" on December 20 at 5:00 pm ET. Encore presentations will air on December 21 at 1:00 pm and midnight, December 22 at 7:00 pm, December 23 at 3:00 pm, December 24 at 9:00 am, December 25 at 6:00 pm and December 26 at 7:00 am (all times ET).
"We are delighted to celebrate Bing's life, music, classic radio programs and love of the holidays with Regis and millions of fans and listeners across the country on SiriusXM's "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio,'" said Kathryn Crosby.
"Bing Crosby has been my idol and greatest inspiration from the first time I heard him on the radio when I was a young child to the thrilling moment I met and sang for him on 'The Joey Bishop Show,'" said Regis Philbin. "I love sharing my memories and his incredible body of work on SiriusXM's 'Bing Crosby Christmas Radio,' and am thrilled that Kathryn and Harry will be with me in studio to share their family memories and the stories behind the music we love with SiriusXM listeners and Bing's millions of fans across the country."
"SiriusXM's 'Bing Crosby Christmas Radio' is a holiday treat and tradition that we look forward to offering our subscribers every year," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "We are honored to work with Regis and the Crosby family, whose deeply personal memories, perspective and reflections on Bing and his incredible body of work offer our listeners a one-of-a-kind channel that truly captures his spirit, many talents and timeless legacy."
Vintage shows and specials spanning twenty years of Crosby's legendary radio career on "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio" include "White Christmas," his most popular recording ever, variety shows featuring Bing singing, storytelling, performing skits and celebrating the holidays with the biggest stars of the time: Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Orson Welles, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Mercer, Ethel Barrymore and Edgar Bergen with his daughter, a young Candice Bergen. "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio" also features Crosby's Christmas Day 1950 guest spot on "The Bob Hope Radio Show," Bing's holiday specials "Christmas Sing with Bing," "The Bing Crosby Show," "Philco Radio Time," "Kraft Music Hall" and "Bing's Basement," a two-part Christmas collection of recently discovered Christmas-related outtakes, rarities and obscurities from Crosby's personal vault.
"SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall," Kathryn Crosby's music special and other parts of "Bing Crosby Christmas Radio" 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.
Veteran broadcaster Philbin, host of "Crowd Goes Wild" on FOX Sports 1, is the proud recipient of five Emmy® Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a Broadcasting & Cable Lifetime Achievement Award, the Walter Camp Distinguished American Award at Yale University, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into both the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Television Academy's Hall of Fame.
"SiriusXM's Crosby Christmas Town Hall" is part of the SiriusXM series featuring iconic entertainers and figures sitting down with studio audiences of SiriusXM listeners.
Previous SiriusXM "Town Hall" specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Eminem, Katy Perry, Willie Nelson, Alicia Keys, KISS, Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Cher, Ringo Starr, Taylor Swift, Usher, Pearl Jam, Roger Waters and the surviving members of Nirvana.
Visit www.siriusxm.com and www.bingcrosby.com for more information.
About SiriusXM
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the world's largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and has 25.6 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. and from retailers nationwide as well as at shop.siriusxm.com. SiriusXM programming is available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other connected devices as well as online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM also provides premium traffic, weather, data and information services for subscribers in cars, trucks, RVs, boats and aircraft through SiriusXM Traffic™, SiriusXM Travel Link, NavTraffic®, NavWeather™, SiriusXM Aviation, SiriusXM Marine™, Sirius Marine Weather, XMWX Aviation™, and XMWX Marine™. SiriusXM holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has more than 2 million subscribers.
On social media, join the SiriusXM community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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; 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.
P-SIRI
Contact for SiriusXM:
Hillary Schupf
Senior Director, Public Relations
212.901.6739
hillary.schupf@siriusxm.com
SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
Released December 4, 2013