Washington - Sep 25 - XM Satellite Radio officially launched the first U.S. digital satellite radio service featuring 100 coast-to-coast, digital channels of music and information.

XM's programming lineup features 71 music channels, more than 30 of them commercial-free, and 29 channels of sports, talk, children's and entertainment including 13 premiere news channels covering the latest national, world and financial developments. People for the first time will be able to receive on the radio the diverse selection of 24-hour news sources that they're used to getting at home on cable and DirecTV.

XM had originally scheduled its commercial launch for Sept. 12 but postponed it following the tragic events in New York and Washington.

XM has also launched service in its two lead markets, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Diego, covering 8 million people. XM had activated several hundred customers in those markets since postponing its original launch.

In three weeks, XM's rollout expands to the entire Southwest United States, including such major cities as Los Angeles, Denver and Houston; and to the entire Southeast, including Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans, covering a combined 136 million people. In November, XM expands across the rest of the country. XM had originally planned to launch the Southeast in the final phase of its national rollout, but was able to accelerate launch of that region into October.

The launch included 71 songs representing the spirit and passion of each of its music channels.

Tuesday, September 25, 2001, was not only the launch date of XM but is also the birthday for 71 XM music channels. Thus, each disc jockey and music director was tasked with identifying that one song that summarized the spirit and passion of their respective channel. The list is as follows: