Press Release
September 26, 2006

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004
202.332.7766

 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS OPPOSES XM/SIRIUS MERGER
National Grassroots Organization Cites Harm to Diverse Programming, Small Market Radio Stations and Lack of Consumer Benefits

(Washington, DC) - The National Association of Neighborhoods (NAN) filed their “…strong objections…” to the proposed merger of the XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week.

Signed by Ricardo C. Byrd, Executive Director of NAN, on behalf of NAN and its 2,500 member organizations from across the country, the letter expresses serious concerns about the availability of diverse radio programming and the viability of small market radio stations. In addition, NAN points out that the merger of XM and Sirius makes little sense for consumers.

The complete text of the letter on file with the FCC is below:

July 23, 2007

Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20445

Dear Ms. Dortch:

The National Association of Neighborhoods (NAN) requests that our strong objections to the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, be registered in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) record for MB Docket No. 07-57. We believe this merger will do irrefutable harm to the availability of diverse radio programming, impair the survival of small market community oriented radio stations, and lacks significant benefits for consumers.

The National Association of Neighborhoods is one of America's oldest and largest grassroots multi-issue membership organizations. NAN's mission is to improve the quality of life in the nation's most important communities - its neighborhoods. Individually and collectively, NAN and its more than 2,500 member organizations strive to improve economic, social, environmental, health, and safety conditions in their neighborhoods.

Initially, satellite radio held the promise of reaching underserved and niche audiences. Yet, of the more than 300 channels available between the two companies, currently, there is only one talk channel committed to African-American interests and issues (XM 169). Further, local radio stations throughout the country are programmed by radio station staff that live in the communities they serve, catering to the specific tastes and interests of their hometown neighborhoods. It is unlikely that the central programming of XM and Sirius will be as reflective of the needs and interests of local neighborhoods as the programming broadcast by local radio stations.

A merger of XM and Sirius makes little sense from a consumer point of view. XM and Sirius use incompatible delivery systems, which means that XM radios cannot receive Sirius signals, and vice versa. With the limited amount of spectrum, a newly merged satellite radio service would need to drop channels to make room for its more popular programming. NAN is concerned that those channels catering to minorities and other niche markets would, most likely, be dropped.

NAN prides itself on its continuing mission to improve the quality of life in the nation’s most important communities – its neighborhoods. An XM-Sirius merger would add little, if any, value to our neighborhoods. Subsequently, NAN requests that our objections be registered and further, urge the Commission to reject the proposed merger.



Sincerely,
Ricardo C. Byrd
Executive Director

Press Release March 15, 2007

African American Organizations Sponsor Cinema Ad Campaign in Support of Smokers Quitting — Washington, DC, March 15, 2007 — More than a million moviegoers will learn that if they smoke and wish to quit, help in doing so is just a telephone call away, thanks to a digital cinema ad campaign that will be run in eight Baltimore-area theaters for 12 weeks beginning March 16.

The National Association of Neighborhoods (NAN), together with five other national African American organizations that form a coalition called African American Partners for a Tobacco Free Society, are sponsoring a unique initiative in support of a new public health pilot program created by the American Legacy Foundation and called "eX".  National CineMedia, one of the nation’s largest and most innovate in-theater advertising distributors and marketers, is handling placement of the coalition’s digital program. Funding for the effort will come from grant monies provided by the Foundation; the digital ad used in the campaign was created and produced by American Legacy.

“We strongly support programs and policies that will improve the health of citizens in our communities,” said Ricardo C. Byrd, executive director of NAN, “especially those that are aimed at a lifestyle that claims the lives of more than 45,000 African Americans each year.” Joining NAN in this coalition effort are the NAACP, the National Urban League, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the National Newspaper Publishers Foundation and the National Conference of Black Mayors.

The "eX" program aims to change the way smokers feel about the difficult process of quitting smoking, and points them to valuable resources to guide their attempt to quit. "eX", through use of broadcast media, will encourage smokers who wish to quit, but don’t necessarily know how to do so, to access free resources and methods that are proven to increase their chances of quitting successfully.

The digital cinema ad campaign sponsored by African American Partners will appear on more than 100 screens and will include encouragement that smokers who want to quit should call the toll-free telephone number: 1-800-QUIT NOW. The telephone number is funded, supported and monitored by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Callers will be provided personalized coaching advice on quitting smoking. In addition, the cinema ad will be played on lobby digital screens in certain theaters and in all, banners and posters specially designed for the "eX" program will be displayed.

Further, to the supportive efforts of the African American Partners, the American Legacy Foundation is collaborating with local Baltimore public health and community organizations to provide information and expert guidance to smokers who want to quit. Joining the Foundation in this significant effort are the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the City of Baltimore Health Department,

the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians, the Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc. and MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society.

Theaters showing the African American Partners Cinema Ad Campaign beginning March 16 are: East Point Movies 10; Bel Air Cinema 14; Hunt Valley Mall 12; Westminster Cranberry Mall 9; Movies @ Marley Station; Snowden Square; Owings Mills 17; and, Columbia Mall 14.