XM Classics was a

XM Satellite Radio XM Satellite Radio (XM) was one of the three satellite radio (SDARS) and online radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Holdings. It provided pay-for-service radio, analogous to subscription cable television. Its s ...

Commercial-Free network that specialized in playing traditional classical music. It was available on channel 110 on XM and channel 864 on

DirecTV DirecTV (trademarked as DIRECTV) is an American multichannel video programming distributor based in El Segundo, California. Originally launched on June 17, 1994, its primary service is a digital satellite service serving the United States. It ...

. The program director for XM Classics was Martin Goldsmith (previously the longtime host of the public radio series ''

Performance Today ''Performance Today'' is a Peabody Award-winning classical music radio program, first aired in 1987 and hosted since 2000 by Fred Child. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million liste ...

''). In November 2008, following XM's

merger Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are business transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations, or their operating units are transferred to or consolidated with another company or business organization. As an aspect ...

with rival satellite radio provider

Sirius Sirius is the list of brightest stars, brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek language, Greek word , or , meaning 'glowing' or 'scorching'. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Latinisation ...

, XM Classics was replaced with Sirius's Symphony Hall channel.

Programming

Exploring Music ''Exploring Music'' is an internationally syndicated radio program featuring classical music, with commentary and analysis by host Bill McGlaughlin. It is a daily, one-hour show with a single in-depth theme each week. The show, which debuted in 200 ...

* Millennium of Music * Detroit Symphony Orchestra * Steinway's Black and White Blockbusters * The New York Philharmonic This Week Defunct radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 2001 Radio stations disestablished in 2008 {{US-radio-station-stub