For the first time since the launch of XM in 2001, a music station programmed by iHeartMedia will not be heard on the platform as 102.7 KIIS-FM Los Angeles will be removed from channel 14 on June 1.
The deal dates back to then-Clear Channel purchasing a stake in XM Satellite Radio prior to its launch. The company at one point programmed nine channels on the XM platform including simulcasts of KIIS-FM, WHTZ and WLTW New York, WSIX Nashville, KHMX Houston, and WLW Cincinnati as well as many shows from WTKS-FM Orlando, Premiere Networks and Fox Sports Radio. The company sold its stake in SiriusXM in August 2013, with the deal being restructured that October to carrying just KIIS-FM and “Z100” but on both the Sirius and XM platforms. WHTZ would be moved to streaming only in June 2020, and KIIS-FM moved from channel 11 to 14 last November.
The SiriusXM channel guide lists Channel 14 as becoming home to limited run channels with Yacht Rock Radio airing there starting June 1. WHTZ will also depart the SiriusXM app.
INSTANT INSIGHT: At one point this would be a much bigger deal. But with the proliferation of streaming and each company’s separate platforms, the continuance of KIIS with commercials around the remainder of SiriusXM’s commercial-free music stations stuck out like a sore thumb. Now SiriusXM can focus completely on their brands, while iHeartMedia can push remaining KIIS-FM and WHTZ listeners to the iHeart platform.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com