Free To Air (FTA) satellite radio is not as well-known as subscription satellite radio, such as Sirius or XM, but is growing in popularity, according to PSN. FTA offers both radio and TV digital broadcasts.It is called Free To Air because listeners in North America may access FTA programming legally at no cost. Listening requires the use of a Ku band satellite setup. These sell for as little as $150, with no subscription fees following, making FTA programming attractive to a growing number of consumers.

PSN is offfering FTA satellite radio airtime at the rate of $1/minute via the Podsat.net site.

“The whole idea is to provide simple and affordable access by podcasters to the gigantic broadcast footprint of FTA satellite radio,” said PodSat.net General Manager, Michael McBride. “Our research suggests that the FTA satellite radio audience will love the podcast content, opening up a significant new second audience to our podcasters. Because we offer a digital FTA satellite signal, local AM and FM stations may also freely rebroadcast our satellite feed, expanding our listening audience to yet another market level beyond FTA satellite listeners.”

PodSat is positioning the Network as an alternative to traditional radio broadcasting

“FTA is to subscription satellite what a simple internet connection is to AOL or what Open Source is to Microsoft – or what podcasting is to traditional professional radio, for that matter,” said McBride. “The FTA satellite audience as a group, and podcasters as a group, have both made an end-run around the system to innovate a significant new use of available technology for themselves.”