Primosphere Limited Partnership
Encyclopedia
Primosphere Limited Partnership was one of four companies bidding for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, or SDARS, licenses in the United States
. The service would have been an advertisement-supported digital
audio service with an emphasis on serving music genres
that had lost exposure in the terrestrial radio market during that period, such as classic jazz
, "beautiful music
," "pop standards," and swing music. Two dedicated public radio talk channels were also proposed along with traditional talk radio
channels.
, known then as Satellite CD Radio, Inc., proposes the concept of a satellite-delivered digital radio service to the Federal Communications Commission
.
1991: New Jersey
radio station WPAT switches formats
on both its AM
and FM
stations from "beautiful music" to "adult contemporary" removing a high-fidelity FM radio
outlet for these formats in the New York metropolitan area
.
1993: Popular music radio station WNEW-AM in New York changes format from pop standards and swing music to business talk radio WBBR-AM. WQXR
changes call letters to WQEW
and format to pop standards and unsuccessfully attempts to capture the WNEW and WPAT listener diaspora.
1995 January: The Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) sets aside 50 MHz (2310 MHz through 2360 MHz) in the S-band for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, also known as SDARS and now commonly known as Satellite Radio.
1996: WPAT-FM
switches from music to Spanish language "adult contemporary" format. Sister AM station WPAT switches to Mexican music format, then to Korean language, and eventually paid ethnic programming.
1996: Clifford Burnstein, resident of New York and a partner in entertainment industry company Q-Prime, along with Peter Mensch bids $68 million for an SDARS license through holding company Primosphere Limited Partnership with the stated intention of restoring music genres no longer available in major radio markets.
1997 April: American Mobile Satellite Corporation and Satellite CD Radio, Inc. are each awarded SDARS licenses. The companies eventually become known XM Satellite Radio
and Sirius Satellite Radio
, respectively. Primosphere and Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation
are denied licenses by becoming third and fourth lowest bidders, respectively, during the auction.
1997 October 27: The FCC formally dismisses Primosphere's and Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation's applications for an SDARS license.
1997 November: Primosphere petitions the FCC to adopt foreign ownership restrictions for SDARS licensees in order to overturn both Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio's licenses. XM at the time had a 20% stake owned by foreign-owned WorldSpace Satellite Radio.
1999 July: American Mobile Satellite buys the 20% share of XM Satellite Radio owned by the foreign-owned WorldSpace, effectively removing foreign ownership issues.
2001 March: Primosphere petitions the United States Court of Appeals
to require the FCC to review its previous petition to require the FCC to adopt foreign ownership restrictions on SDARS licensees, now including just Sirius Satellite Radio.
2001 September 25: XM Satellite Radio
officially launches.
2001 December: The company petitioned the FCC to reconsider its 1997 decision to dismiss the company's SDARS application. The FCC reaffirmed its decision and sealed the company's fate.
2002 July 1: Sirius Satellite Radio
officially launches after several technical and financial delays.
2007 August 27: Primosphere files second comment concerning the merger of Sirius and XM Satellite Radio.
Primosphere continued petitioning through 2004, when the company "submitted a motion to withdraw the Application for Review". But in February 2007, after the Sirius-XM merger announcement, "Primosphere decided to withdraw its withdrawal" because the FCC had not acted. The FCC had promised to "re-auction the [SDARS] license among the other existing applicants" if for any reason one of the other companies lost its license. Primosphere considered itself to be an applicant and requested half the S-band spectrum if the merger was approved. The company had already paid for launch fees for satellites, which would then be put in orbit, and Primosphere expected to have its service ready in five years, or sooner if Sirius-XM were to lease equipment for sending out their signals. In its FCC filing, Primosphere said, "A better way to avoid the anticompetitive effects of the proposed XM/Sirius merger would be to have a new competitor in the SDARS who could begin operating immediately."
Burnstein and Mensch told Radio & Records
that they wanted the FCC to act as originally planned: making sure the two license holders were separate. Burnstein believed the FCC was "uncomfortable with a single provider." He also pointed out that each of the four applicants paid $70,000, and Primosphere never had its deposit returned.
Burnstein said studios could be finished in six months. Primosphere would offer about 30 music channels, with advertising. The objective was "to serve the underserved."
2009: Sirius/XM is required to lease 8% or 4 channels each to qualified groups as a condition of their merger. This could open the door to Primophere leasing channels on XM and on Sirius existing radios for free to consumers (supported by commercials).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The service would have been an advertisement-supported digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
audio service with an emphasis on serving music genres
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
that had lost exposure in the terrestrial radio market during that period, such as classic jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, "beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
," "pop standards," and swing music. Two dedicated public radio talk channels were also proposed along with traditional talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
channels.
History
1990: Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
, known then as Satellite CD Radio, Inc., proposes the concept of a satellite-delivered digital radio service to the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
1991: New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
radio station WPAT switches formats
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
on both its AM
WPAT (AM)
WPAT is the callsign of a radio station licensed to Paterson, New Jersey. Located at 930 kHz in the medium-wave AM band, the station runs paid ethnic programming....
and FM
WPAT-FM
WPAT-FM, known on-air as "93.1 Amor", is a radio station with a Spanish-language Rhythmic AC format. Located on 93.1 FM, the station, which is licensed to Paterson, New Jersey, serves the New York City Metropolitan area.-History:...
stations from "beautiful music" to "adult contemporary" removing a high-fidelity FM radio
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
outlet for these formats in the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
.
1993: Popular music radio station WNEW-AM in New York changes format from pop standards and swing music to business talk radio WBBR-AM. WQXR
WQEW
WQEW is a Radio Disney affiliate licensed to New York City. Its transmitter is located in Maspeth, Queens. WQEW has a transmitter power of 50,000 watts and is listed as a Clear-channel station...
changes call letters to WQEW
WQEW
WQEW is a Radio Disney affiliate licensed to New York City. Its transmitter is located in Maspeth, Queens. WQEW has a transmitter power of 50,000 watts and is listed as a Clear-channel station...
and format to pop standards and unsuccessfully attempts to capture the WNEW and WPAT listener diaspora.
1995 January: The Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) sets aside 50 MHz (2310 MHz through 2360 MHz) in the S-band for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, also known as SDARS and now commonly known as Satellite Radio.
1996: WPAT-FM
WPAT-FM
WPAT-FM, known on-air as "93.1 Amor", is a radio station with a Spanish-language Rhythmic AC format. Located on 93.1 FM, the station, which is licensed to Paterson, New Jersey, serves the New York City Metropolitan area.-History:...
switches from music to Spanish language "adult contemporary" format. Sister AM station WPAT switches to Mexican music format, then to Korean language, and eventually paid ethnic programming.
1996: Clifford Burnstein, resident of New York and a partner in entertainment industry company Q-Prime, along with Peter Mensch bids $68 million for an SDARS license through holding company Primosphere Limited Partnership with the stated intention of restoring music genres no longer available in major radio markets.
1997 April: American Mobile Satellite Corporation and Satellite CD Radio, Inc. are each awarded SDARS licenses. The companies eventually become known XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
, respectively. Primosphere and Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation
Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation
Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation was one of four companies bidding for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, or SDARS, licenses in the United States...
are denied licenses by becoming third and fourth lowest bidders, respectively, during the auction.
1997 October 27: The FCC formally dismisses Primosphere's and Digital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation's applications for an SDARS license.
1997 November: Primosphere petitions the FCC to adopt foreign ownership restrictions for SDARS licensees in order to overturn both Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio's licenses. XM at the time had a 20% stake owned by foreign-owned WorldSpace Satellite Radio.
1999 July: American Mobile Satellite buys the 20% share of XM Satellite Radio owned by the foreign-owned WorldSpace, effectively removing foreign ownership issues.
2001 March: Primosphere petitions the United States Court of Appeals
United States court of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
to require the FCC to review its previous petition to require the FCC to adopt foreign ownership restrictions on SDARS licensees, now including just Sirius Satellite Radio.
2001 September 25: XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
officially launches.
2001 December: The company petitioned the FCC to reconsider its 1997 decision to dismiss the company's SDARS application. The FCC reaffirmed its decision and sealed the company's fate.
2002 July 1: Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
officially launches after several technical and financial delays.
2007 August 27: Primosphere files second comment concerning the merger of Sirius and XM Satellite Radio.
Primosphere continued petitioning through 2004, when the company "submitted a motion to withdraw the Application for Review". But in February 2007, after the Sirius-XM merger announcement, "Primosphere decided to withdraw its withdrawal" because the FCC had not acted. The FCC had promised to "re-auction the [SDARS] license among the other existing applicants" if for any reason one of the other companies lost its license. Primosphere considered itself to be an applicant and requested half the S-band spectrum if the merger was approved. The company had already paid for launch fees for satellites, which would then be put in orbit, and Primosphere expected to have its service ready in five years, or sooner if Sirius-XM were to lease equipment for sending out their signals. In its FCC filing, Primosphere said, "A better way to avoid the anticompetitive effects of the proposed XM/Sirius merger would be to have a new competitor in the SDARS who could begin operating immediately."
Burnstein and Mensch told Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
that they wanted the FCC to act as originally planned: making sure the two license holders were separate. Burnstein believed the FCC was "uncomfortable with a single provider." He also pointed out that each of the four applicants paid $70,000, and Primosphere never had its deposit returned.
Burnstein said studios could be finished in six months. Primosphere would offer about 30 music channels, with advertising. The objective was "to serve the underserved."
2009: Sirius/XM is required to lease 8% or 4 channels each to qualified groups as a condition of their merger. This could open the door to Primophere leasing channels on XM and on Sirius existing radios for free to consumers (supported by commercials).
See also
- SDARS
- Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
- XM Satellite RadioXM Satellite RadioXM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
- Digital Satellite Broadcasting CorporationDigital Satellite Broadcasting CorporationDigital Satellite Broadcasting Corporation was one of four companies bidding for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, or SDARS, licenses in the United States...
- Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...