Comments on: Review: XM Channel 159 ATN Asian Radio

By: RB

RB — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:44:17 +0000

The quality of the audio is very poor. I’ve been an XM subscriber for 2 years and it appears they have no interest in addressing it. My other major issue is the deejays who host Bollywood Bananza and Desi Mix. They seem to have no radio experience and at times I have to change the station because their inane blathering gets to be too much. The Desi Mix deejay seems to think that speaking in a sing-song cadence, emphasizing random syllables, makes her sound professional. Ninety percent of what comes out of her mouth is per verbal diarrhea. I have no interest in listening to her read someone’s 2-page song request letter, and then follow up with 10 minutes explaining in 120 different ways that she is, indeed, about to play the request. The deejay for Bollywood Bananza should stick to playing music and not reading outdated Bollywood gossip off of the internet while on air. They need to either hire trained deejays who know how to speak succinctly and get to the music, or just play the music without the useless deejays.

By: Amar Gandhi

Amar Gandhi — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:39:14 +0000

I wish I had read the review before I subscribed to XM for Desi music.
While the guzals and oldies are ofetn quiet good, shows like bollywood bonanza and desi mix are truly irritating.

What is depressing is tha the DJs cant pronounce the names of artist to save ther lives. I realize they must be brought up in the western world but come’on. Atleast learn to pronounce the names of people you are talking about.

Sound quality to put it loosely is horrid.

I am cancelling my sub when it runs out. Not worth spending on crappy chan. like ATN

By: Santosh

Santosh — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:43:00 +0000

Nikhil,
All this while I thought it was the crappy music they were playing. I guess compressing it down to 14 kbps doesn’t help

By: Nikhil

Nikhil — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:16:24 +0000

I am surprised no one has commented about the quality of audio. Its sounds like its compressed down to 14kbps – worse than most online radio stations. I cant get myself to listen long enough to be able to comment on programming content.

By: Über Desi | IPL commentary live on XM ATN Channel 159

Über Desi | IPL commentary live on XM ATN Channel 159 — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:02:26 +0000

[...] Other posts on XM ATN Channel 159 [...]

By: In praise of AIR « Entertaining Research

In praise of AIR « Entertaining Research — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:22:27 +0000

[...] is the reason why I found the following sentences (emphasis mine) in this blog post jarring (link via Desi Pundit): Their programming needs some serious upgrading to be at the level [...]

By: XM Channel 159 ATN Asian Radio | DesiPundit

XM Channel 159 ATN Asian Radio | DesiPundit — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:10:59 +0000

[...] is not satisfied with the only desi music station on satellite radio, channel 159 ATN Asian Radio. Their programming needs some serious upgrading to be at the level of [...]

By: Runa

Runa — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:46:38 +0000

I can’t speak for all desis but devotional music on my way to work is not a selling point to me.

My theory:
Its a throwback to the des where devotional music is popular while driving so that there is some control over road rage that would otherwise go out of proportion while fighting to get to office on time. Look at traffic in Delhi/Ahmedabad/Pune – its a wonder that more people do not get killed in road rage incidents since everyone drives like a maniac Those bhajans help

By: Karthik

Karthik — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:28:12 +0000

I used to have the same problem when I lived back east, now in the ‘mornings’ they play crappier hindi music.

I guess they were targeting the west coast for listeners.

By: CB

CB — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:46:33 +0000

That’s pretty cool. Once your parents find out about this channel its over.