Radio Classics is a
US old time radio network owned by RSPT LLC. It provides the programming content for
Sirius XM Radio's 24-hour
satellite radio
Satellite radio is defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)'s ITU Radio Regulations (RR) as a '' broadcasting-satellite service''. The satellite's signals are broadcast nationwide, across a much wider geographical area than t ...
channel of the same name. Radio Classics also syndicates the Radio Spirits-branded program ''
When Radio Was'' to over 200
terrestrial radio stations. In addition, Radio Classics has a monthly online subscription service, providing subscribers with unlimited streaming and twenty hours per month of downloads of old time radio shows that have appeared on past ''When Radio Was'', ''Radio Super Heroes'', ''Radio Movie Classics'', or ''Radio Hall of Fame'' (special edition of ''When Radio Was'' that focuses on
National Radio Hall of Fame inductees) installments.
Shows broadcast by Radio Classics include ''
The Jack Benny Program'', ''
Abbott & Costello
Abbott may refer to:
People
*Abbott (surname)
*Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), American painter and naturalist
*Abbott and Costello, famous American vaudeville act
Places Argentina
* Abbott, Buenos Aires United States
* Abbott, Arkansas
* ...
'', ''
Gunsmoke'', ''
The Mysterious Traveler
''The Mysterious Traveler'' was an anthology radio series, a magazine, and a comic book. All three featured stories which ran the gamut from fantasy and science fiction to straight crime dramas of mystery and suspense.
Radio
Written and direct ...
'', and ''
The Shadow''. Hard-boiled noir detectives such as
Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe () is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler, who was characteristic of the hardboiled crime fiction genre. The hardboiled crime fiction genre originated in the 1920s, notably in ''Black Mask'' magazine, in which Dashiel ...
,
Richard Diamond, and
Johnny Dollar are also featured.
The Sirius XM channel, carried on channel 148 on
XM (where it was on channel 164) and
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Greek word , or , meaning 'glowing' or 'scorching'. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Latinized to Alpha Canis Majoris, and abbreviated Alpha CM ...
(where it was on channel 118), is hosted by Greg Bell, who had previous radio experience as a program director, news director, sports director, anchor, and reporter.
Shows are played in two-hour blocks of programming which are rotated in different time slots during the week. This allows the audience in various time zones to be able to hear a show at convenient times. Commercials and Sirius XM promos are played before, after and during the old radio shows, though the amount of advertising time does not exceed eight minutes per hour. Occasionally, the original vintage commercials are broadcast, though the majority of the spots are modern commercials provided by Sirius XM and/or their sponsors.
Prior to February 1, 2009 XM and Sirius had separate Radio Classics channels, with different programming on each. They were combined as part of the larger merger between the two satellite radio services.
Notes
External links
Radio ClassicsOld Time Radio Blog
maintained by Sirius XM programmer Greg Bell
Weekly Schedule for Sirius XM's Radio Classics channel
{{Sirius XM Channels
American radio networks
XM Satellite Radio channels
Sirius Satellite Radio channels
Radio stations established in 2002
Sirius XM Radio channels