SiriusXM Canada

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SiriusXM Canada Holdings Inc., commonly known as SiriusXM Canada, is the Canadian distributor of Sirius XM satellite radio and streaming services. The company began in 2011 after the Canadian regulators approved the merger of XM Radio Canada and Sirius Canada. This followed Sirius XM’s US merger in 2008.

Ownership and structure: After a 2016 privatization, Sirius XM holds about 70% of the equity, but only 33% of the voting shares. Major Canadian investors include Slaight Communications and John Bitove’s Obelysk Media. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) once had a stake, but exited; CBC channels remain broadcast on the SiriusXM platform as feeds. In 2022, CBC-programmed music channels were removed and replaced with Canadian channels produced by SiriusXM Canada. In 2024, ownership shares held by Slaight Communications were transferred to Gary Slaight. In 2025, SiriusXM Canada launched a new South Asian channel, SiriusXM Dhamaka.

Where it’s based and who runs it: SiriusXM Canada is based in Toronto. Anthony Viner serves as chairman and Mark Redmond is the CEO. The company operates under a single CRTC license for both Sirius Canada and XM Canada, though some programming may differ slightly due to technical reasons.

What it offers: The service provides satellite radio and internet streaming. Plans are cross-platform (satellite plus streaming) with three main tiers, plus an app-only All Access option. Some plans include streaming artist stations; in the past these were linked to Pandora. The service uses the same SiriusXM infrastructure as the US, with some channel differences to meet Canadian rules.

Canadian content rules: Canada’s regulatory rules require at least 10% Canadian-produced channels in each package, including at least one Indigenous channel, and that 85% of musical selections and spoken content are Canadian. SiriusXM Canada must also contribute to Canadian content development. Because of these rules, some American channels may not be available on satellite, though they can appear on the streaming service, subject to rights.

Notes on programming: In practice, most channels are harmonized with the US lineup, but technical differences and Canadian content requirements can lead to occasional variations. The platform continues to evolve, including new channels and updates to how Canadian content is delivered.