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EXHIBIT A
XM RADIO SATELLITE LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 28
Las Vegas, January 9, 2001 -- Sea Launch has rescheduled the launch of XM
Satellite Radio's satellite for Wednesday, February 28. In staying with
conservative mission parameters, yesterday's launch countdown was halted when a
possible minor out-of-specification condition was detected on the satellite.
Shortly after the launch was halted the condition identified was determined to
be within specification and the satellite remains in excellent health.
Since the launch halt command was issued shortly before intentional ignition and
occurred after some engine pre-ignition processes had commenced, the decision
has been made to return to Sea Launch's Long Beach Home Port and initiate a re-
start of the 50-day launch preparedness cycle for the XM satellite.
As a consequence of the rescheduling of XM's first satellite, the new schedule
for the launch of XM's second satellite is now mid-April. The revised timetable
should have no material financial impact on XM's satellite program and will
still allow XM to rollout its planned service this summer.
XM will transform radio, an industry that has seen little technological change
since FM, almost 40 years ago. XM's strategic investors include America's
leading car, radio and satellite TV companies -- General Motors, American Honda
Motor Co. Inc., Clear Channel Communications, DIRECTV and Motient Corporation
(Nasdaq: MTNT), which holds a controlling interest in the company. The company
has a long-term distribution agreement with General Motors to integrate XM-Ready
radios into its vehicles commencing in 2001.
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Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements in this press release include uncertainties
associated with the launch of the company's satellites, the company's dependence
on third party vendors, its continuing need for additional financing, as well as
other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form S-3 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on 10-25-2000. Copies of the filing are
available upon request from XM Radio' s Investor Relations Department.
