Sirius XM signs sports talk host "Mad Dog" Russo
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sirius XM Radio has signed veteran radio personality Chris "Mad Dog" Russo to headline a sports talk channel, the first new premier talent brought on board since the company completed its acquisition of rival XM Satellite Radio.
Russo, who quit last week as long-time co-host of the popular "Mike and the Mad Dog" show on CBS Radio's WFAN in New York, signed a five-year deal, Sirius said on Tuesday. It did not disclose financial details.
From September 15, Russo will host a daily five-hour show on "Mad Dog Radio," a sports talk radio program that anchors the channel's other offerings of interviews, news and remote broadcasts from sporting events.
The channel will be the first original programming to air on both Sirius and XM's radio systems, following on the company's promise to offer "Best Of" content to its combined 18.5 million subscribers.
Other satellite radio personalities like Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart are only available on either Sirius or XM's networks, but not both.
Known for his rapid-fire and humorous style, Russo, along with co-host Mike Francesa, is credited with helping to popularize the sports talk radio format in the United States.
The move echoes Sirius and XM's strategy of hiring popular radio talents, such as Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony, in an effort to woo consumers to subscribe to satellite radio, which costs about $13 a month, beyond the cost of the radio.
The channel is sure to compete with regional sports talk channels, as well as affiliates of Walt Disney Co's ESPN Radio network, which also has a national focus.
(Reporting by Franklin Paul; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
