{
  "id": "siriusxm-radioclassics",
  "name": "SiriusXM RadioClassics (Channel 148)",
  "shortName": "RadioClassics (SXM)",
  "url": "https://www.siriusxm.com/channels/radioclassics",
  "category": "Commercial Subscription",
  "operator": "SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Curated by Greg Bell)",
  "foundedYear": 2001,
  "auditedAt": "2026-11-01",
  "pricing": {
    "model": "subscription",
    "monthlyUsd": 9.99,
    "annualUsd": 119.88,
    "displayPrice": "$9.99–$23.99/mo",
    "billingNote": "Requires SiriusXM Streaming or All Access satellite/app subscription.",
    "freeTierNote": "None (Occasional promotional trial periods require credit card)."
  },
  "catalog": {
    "broadcastCount": 420,
    "seriesCount": 85,
    "distinctRecordings": 420,
    "dateSpan": "1935–1962",
    "onlineStreamablePct": 100
  },
  "metrics": {
    "playableBroadcasts": 420,
    "catalogBroadcasts": 420,
    "seriesCount": 85,
    "vttSubtitleCount": 0,
    "specCount": 1,
    "totalSpecs": 14,
    "medianBitrateKbps": 96,
    "maxBitrateKbps": 128,
    "ttfaMs": 890,
    "highCutoffHz": 11200
  },
  "audio": {
    "formats": [
      "AAC+ / HE-AAC Encrypted Stream (64–128 kbps)"
    ],
    "primaryContainer": "DRM HLS / AAC+",
    "streamingAvailable": true,
    "batchDownloadAvailable": false,
    "rssFeedsAvailable": false
  },
  "provenance": {
    "primaryMasterSource": "Restored broadcast transcription discs and curated collector masters with professional EQ/noise restoration",
    "airdateMethodology": "Host Greg Bell verifies air dates and cast biographies against published radio histories for featured broadcasts",
    "castAttributionMethod": "Spoken host introductions detail lead and supporting character actors (not exposed as structured text/JSON)",
    "captionEngine": "None (Live radio stream + uncaptioned on-demand blocks)"
  },
  "specs": {
    "free_no_paywall": false,
    "no_login_required": false,
    "ad_free": true,
    "uuid_index": false,
    "sha256_dedup": false,
    "schema_jsonld": false,
    "podcast_rss": false,
    "open_json_api": false,
    "vtt_subtitles": false,
    "newspaper_scans": false,
    "studio_scripts": false,
    "character_roles": false,
    "lossless_et": false,
    "serial_arcs": false
  },
  "specNotes": {
    "free_no_paywall": "Requires $10.99–$23.99/mo SiriusXM subscription; linear Channel 148 + rotating on-demand buffer (~2,800 episodes).",
    "open_json_api": "Closed DRM app stream; no public URLs, no RSS, and no permanent archive."
  },
  "capabilities": {
    "primary_source_verification": {
      "level": "verified",
      "score": 85,
      "summary": "Host Greg Bell provides accurate, researched broadcast dates and production history in spoken intros for every aired show.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Greg Bell's spoken introductions cite original network air dates, wartime context, and supporting players.\""
    },
    "cast_credit_accuracy": {
      "level": "partial",
      "score": 65,
      "summary": "Supporting cast and character names are announced verbally by the host, but are not searchable in a structured web database.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Rich verbal cast attribution in audio intros, but app metadata displays only a short block title.\""
    },
    "vtt_transcripts": {
      "level": "none",
      "score": 0,
      "summary": "Zero WebVTT transcripts or closed captions on satellite or app streams.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Audio-only DRM stream with no synchronized transcript track.\""
    },
    "master_provenance": {
      "level": "verified",
      "score": 84,
      "summary": "Uses carefully selected, professionally restored transfers with balanced dynamic range and hum removal.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Broadcast-grade restoration sourced from premier transcription disc collections.\""
    },
    "serial_continuity": {
      "level": "partial",
      "score": 50,
      "summary": "Occasionally airs 5-part *Johnny Dollar* marathons in a 2-hour block, but listeners cannot browse full series runs on demand.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Rotating schedule of 2-hour blocks; episodes expire from the app after a few weeks.\""
    },
    "open_api_export": {
      "level": "none",
      "score": 0,
      "summary": "Completely closed DRM ecosystem; no direct episode URLs, no RSS, no downloads, and no API.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Encrypted HLS streams restricted to proprietary SiriusXM web/mobile/car receivers.\""
    },
    "ad_free_playback": {
      "level": "partial",
      "score": 60,
      "summary": "No third-party commercial breaks interrupting stories, but requires a $9.99–$23.99/mo subscription ($120+/yr).",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Commercial-free channel included in SiriusXM paid subscription tiers.\""
    },
    "dedup_integrity": {
      "level": "verified",
      "score": 88,
      "summary": "Hand-curated broadcast rotation guarantees zero corrupt or mislabeled duplicate files.",
      "evidenceQuote": "\"Every broadcast is hand-screened and scheduled by channel producer Greg Bell.\""
    }
  },
  "gotchas": [
    {
      "severity": "critical",
      "title": "Not an On-Demand Archive (~420 Rotating Shows vs. 100,000+)",
      "detail": "You cannot look up and play a specific episode of *Suspense* or *Escape* on demand; you can only listen to the live linear stream or ~20 rotating 2-hour on-demand blocks."
    },
    {
      "severity": "critical",
      "title": "Highest Annual Cost ($120–$280/yr) + DRM Lock-In",
      "detail": "Requires an ongoing SiriusXM subscription with notorious cancellation friction and zero offline file ownership."
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "markdownCard": "https://www.radiologs.org/data/providers/siriusxm-radioclassics.md",
    "jsonCard": "https://www.radiologs.org/data/providers/siriusxm-radioclassics.json",
    "comparisonHome": "https://www.radiologs.org/"
  }
}