Sirius XM iPhone app missing Howard Stern, NFL

Satellite radio service provider Sirius XM announced the launch of an official mobile application optimized for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch, promising smartphone users access to programming including Oprah Radio, Opie & Anthony, The Grateful Dead Channel and Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville--however, many of the premium network's marquee attractions, including The Howard Stern Show and play-by-play coverage of the National Football League and Major League Baseball, will not be included. According to Sirius XM, the iPhone app is free to Sirius and XM Internet subscribers, offering 120 channels of sports, talk, entertainment, news, comedy and commercial-free music--mobile users will also enjoy access to Internet-only showcase channels including Sirius XM Bootlegs, Sirius XM Talk Showcase, Sirius XM Music Showcase and Sirius XM Comedy Showcase. In addition, users can tag favorite songs for subsequent purchases from Apple's iTunes Store, save favorite channels for more efficient access and view what's playing on other Sirius channels via the Lookaround function.

And yet, there's no getting around the fact that the Sirius XM mobile experience is missing a significant chunk of the content that subscribers tune in to hear. "Some select programming, including MLB Play-by-Play, NFL Play-by-Play, Sirius NASCAR Radio and Howard Stern will not be available on the iPhone and iPod touch," reads the press release. "Listeners will continue to be able to access that programming through the platforms they are currently offered on." Sirius XM does not offer details on why the content is not available via iPhone, although it seems a safe assumption that licensing rights are at issue.

For more on the Sirius XM iPhone app:
- read this release

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