There's always room for more laughter at Sirius XM (Nasdaq: SIRI).
Live from UCB Theatre will be an exclusive weekly show on the uncensored Raw Dog Comedy channel, featuring an hour of sketch, stand-up, and improvisational comedy from the iconic New York City troupe.
I realize that there aren't many out there who were hooked the way I was on the short-lived Upright Citizens Brigade show that aired on Comedy Central in the late 1990s. The show launched the career of Amy Poehler, but the UCB ensemble hasn't produced the murderers' row of comedy legends that Chicago's Second City has.
It's still going to be a fine addition to Sirius XM, even if UCB's handiwork won't be the same without the visual elements.
The show will air Saturday nights at 11, with encore presentations airing Mondays at 7 p.m.
The timing is clever. Car sales continue to be the key driver for satellite radio sales, but there's minimal commuting taking place on Saturday or Monday nights. This should prompt UCB fans to either invest in retail home receivers or pay a premium for Web-based streaming.
Sirius XM offers online streaming through Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android smartphones. This may be a hard sell as a stand-alone service for nearly $13 a month, but it's merely a $2.99 monthly add-on for those with activated receivers.
Is Sirius XM programming exclusive content to air during low-traffic hours to drive streaming subscriptions? Probably not, but it may be good enough for a conspiracy theory.
Gayle King is interviewing Lady Gaga today at 1 p.m., another time when there are few drivers on the road. The hour-long appearance will replay often in the coming days at more convenient times, but isn't this another reason for subscribers to pay up for premium streaming?
I'm on to you, Sirius XM. Well-played, if I'm right.
Can Sirius XM program its way to streaming success? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
