Blubrry.com a new podcasting social network aimed at the listener's user experience had it's big debut at Gnomedex. Blubrry is another product offered by RawVoice, Inc. who is also responsible for Podcasternews.com (where I am a podcaster hosting two shows). The new site offers the typical social networking features, podcast directory, and tagging podcasts by users.

Podcasters can join the network for free as long as they agree to promote the network on their podcasts. For this the podcasters get another presence for their podcast on the web, and the chance to be involved in network ad buys setup by the blubrry team. According to the CFO of RawVoice, Inc.,  Jeevan Padiyar, "We've taken the model that is already making money for podcasters on the PodcasterNews Network, and are using it on this site." He went on to mention that there is no lock in of content producers with RawVoice.

When John McHugh and Maggie Lee contacted SIRIUS' "Standard Time" channel to ask if they could play a few special requests during the couple's wedding reception, neither expected the 'reception' they've received.

"They e-mailed us back and asked us to send them a playlist, so we sent them our top 10 list," Lee said. "Tuesday they called and said, 'Hey, do you mind if we make this bigger?'"

Friday's wedding reception was attended by 50 people locally, and an unspecified number via satellite radio. DJ Lee Arnold of SIRIUS produced an entire broadcast focused on just this couple's wedding reception

"To my knowledge, that's the first time this has happened in the satellite radio industry," Brown said. "We just thought theirs was a neat little story."

To our knowledge, it's the largest nano-scale publicity stunt ever.

[via CBS News]

Today SIRIUS announced that NFL Legend Jerry Rice will be hosting a show on the SIRIUS NFL Radio (channel 124). This follows last week's announcement that Andrew Wilkow will be hosting a Conservative talk show on SIRIUS Patriot channel.

Last week, on June 8, SIRIUS announced that Andre Wilkow, who is called "the next generation of talk radio" according the the press release, will be starting a new show on August 1 this year. Wilkow has been hosting a daily talk show on WGY- AM in Albany NY, as well as a weekend show on WABC-AM in New Your City. He will be hosting a weekday show from 12-3pm ET,  airing on Channel 144 SIRIUS Patriot. Wilkow said of his move "Moving to SIRIUS lets me take that style and passion nationwide. I am honored to be given this opportunity."

But the wait for Jerry Rice is much shorter, as he will start June 13th co-hosting "The Afternoon Blitz" from 3-7pm ET with Adam Schein. He will be heard part time, being only on three times a week throughout the year.  Rice joins quite a team of past players that are currently on NFL Radio on SIRIUS. Other past NFL players on NFL Radio include Cris Carter, Randy Cross, Gil Brandt, Tim Ryan, Pat Kirwan, Solomon Wilcots and Adam Schein.

You can read the releases from these links
Jerry Rice
Andrew Wilkow

More new SIRIUS programming announcements, with NASCAR driver joining the network in January. Tony Stewart Live will air exclusively on SIRIUS' upcoming 24/7 NASCAR channel, providing listeners with an insider's perspective on auto racing. The weekly, two-hour show will feature Stewart, who has never been shy, taking calls from listeners, talking with prominent guests and covering the spectrum of motorsports.

Matt Yocum, who is a pit reporter for the NASCAR broadcasts on FOX/FX and NBC/TNT, will be Stewart's co-host on Tony Stewart Live.

"It's an honor to be a part of SIRIUS and its commitment to NASCAR," said Stewart. "Our show will allow us to speak with the fans on our terms, where we're free to talk about anything and everything, from racing and rock-and- roll to our travels across America. It's a unique opportunity, and we plan to make the most of it."

Preview editions of Tony Stewart Live, hosted by Stewart, will begin airing exclusively on SIRIUS in October 2006. Stewart will also be featured in SIRIUS' NASCAR related marketing and advertising.

Beginning next year, SIRIUS will be the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR, broadcasting all NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races live on a specially created, 24/7 NASCAR channel.

I am a little late in reporting this, but SIRIUS announced on Tuesday that Mark Cuban, the outspoken, sometimes too outspoken for the NBA league commissioner, owner of the Dallas Mavericks has signed to do a weekly talk show. Mark Cuban was interviewed by Kevin C. Tofel back last October for Weblogs Inc. sibling blog HDBeat.com. Cuban's show "Radio Maverick" will be broadcast on SIRIUS Stars 102 Sundays from 12 pm - 2 pm ET starting this summer.

In the press release Cuban is quoted as saying that he is fired up about the show and that "I plan on raising hell and covering any and all topics that I think are interesting and taking no prisoners along the way." Having seen and heard some of his tirades toward the NBA officials during some of the Dallas Mavericks games, he definitely has his own opinions and is not afraid to use them.SIRIUS' President of Entertainment and Sports, Scott Greenstein said "Radio Maverick will be a forum without limits, where he can talk to SIRIUS listeners about everything from the NBA to an MBA."

[Via TheStreet.com]

How is everyone doing in their pools? Hope you got the 12-5 upset, there is (almost) always at least one 12 seed upset against a 5 seed. I would have got one of them right if I had had time to fill mine out before the deadline. I always go against the Syracuse Orangemen so that one I would have got right.

I was getting ready to write about Georgetown losing and getting that game wrong as I always go for them in the first round, as they were losing when I saw part of the game while at lunch Friday. But to my happiness I just checked and the Hoyas actually won.

And the other 12th seed upsetting a 5th seed was Montana over Nevada. So there were two of them this year.

So did any of our readers listen to the games on SIRIUS? What teams are your dark horses?

SIRIUS is broadcasting the entire NCAA Men's basketball championship for the second year. They are carrying uninterrupted play by play coverage of all 64 games. After the break is the schedule for the first round, which is played on Thursday and Friday March 16-17. Are you planning to listen to any of the games on satellite radio or is it just not the same as watching "March Madness" on television?