Satellite Radio to Expand into Canada

XM and Sirius both received approval this week to market their satellite radio services directly to Canadians, thanks to a ruling handed down by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission - Canada's equivalent of the FCC.

Both companies agreed to follow certain stipulations in order to provide service in the country.

Americans with either XM or Sirius have been able to receive satellite radio over much of Canada since the services launched four years ago. However, neither company could market satellite radio directly within Canada.

As part of the deal, both services must produce 1 out of every 10 channels in Canada, with a quarter of the content on those channels in French.

Neither XM nor Sirius has provided a launch date for any possible satellite radio services.