Search Begins for the Funniest Canadian as XM Launches Second Annual Canada's
Next Top Comic Contest

Contest opens July 5; Winner to appear LIVE at Global ComedyFest, Vancouver

TORONTO, June 28 /CNW/ - From 'Knock Knock' jokes and observational humour to hilarious impressions, XM Canada(TM), the country's leading audio entertainment company, is on a quest to find the funniest Canadian of them all. That search begins on Monday, July 5th, when the second annual Canada's Next Top Comic (CNTC) competition gets underway and submissions from the nation's emerging comedy stars start rolling in to www.CanadasNextTopComic.com. Building on the success of the 2009 CNTC contest, this year's version once again looks to offer the chance of a lifetime to an aspiring Canadian comedic talent. Contest entrants will be vying for the exclusive opportunity to perform live at Global ComedyFest in Vancouver on Wednesday, September 22nd and take home CAD $2,000 cash as well as a professionally mixed demo CD of their material.

XM Canada(TM) will accept submissions until Sunday, August 8th and will announce the Top 8 Finalists, as judged by an XM panel of comedy experts, on Monday, August 16th. Each contestant will have to submit a performance clip no longer than five minutes and complete an entry form at www.CanadasNextTopComic.com to be eligible. In order to be named Canada's Next Top Comic, the Top 8 Finalists must win the hearts of Canadians via online voting from Monday, August 16th to Sunday, August 29th. On Wednesday, September 1st, the Canadian listening audience will have spoken, voting will be tabulated and Canada's Next Top Comic will be announced.

"XM Canada is committed to supporting the Canadian comedy community in developing its next generation of stars and Canada's Next Top Comic is one of the platforms through which we deliver on that commitment," said Joe Thistel, Director of Programming, Sports & Talk, XM Canada. "There is a huge demand from our listeners to hear emerging Canadian voices, whether they're indie rockers or stand-up comics, and as a Canadian media company, we not only feel proud to offer a platform for those performers to share their work, but we also feel it's our responsibility to support Canadian content development across a number of genres, styles and formats."

Since being named XM's first-ever winner of Canada's Next Top Comic in 2009, Brian Stollery's comedy career has grown significantly. Brian is one of western Canada's most sought after corporate comedians and in May 2010 he recorded and was featured in a CBC special titled "Best of the West." The comedian attributes his CNTC win for heightening his profile which is enabling him to expand his career into the U.S. market; a challenging but professionally lucrative transition. Headlining in Calgary with a jam-packed schedule, Brian recently released his first CD entitled "Nice Enough" which was named one of the top selling stand-up comedy albums by CDBaby.com, the largest online distributor of independent music.

"Canada's comedy landscape is chockablock with talent; we raise some of the best and brightest in the industry, and I should know - I'm one of them," Stollery joked. "Winning the XM competition has been stellar for my career; it's been a great gig that has helped me establish my foothold to branch out into bigger markets."

Brian shares his personal views about becoming the 2009-winner of Canada's Next Top Comic via YouTube.

Take a Jab at Canada!

New this year as part of Canada's Next Top Comic - a secondary "Take a Jab at Canada" prize - open to all contestants who incorporate a Canadian joke into their material with the chance to win a cash prize of CAD$500. A "Canadian joke" must have a national focus and/or represent a variety of Canadian ideas/demographics/icons/issues, etc.

XM Canada(TM) is the nation's premier destination for comedy entertainment with six dedicated channels delivering a number of comedic styles to listeners including Blue Collar Radio, The Foxxhole, featuring comedy by actor Jamie Foxx and friends, Raw Dog Comedy and The Virus, offering listeners uncensored comedy at its best, while Laugh Attack, the all-Canadian comedy channel, and Laugh USA, showcase the best comedic talents from Canada and the United States.

XM is a proud supporter of emerging Canadian talent and reaches out across the country to sponsor and support Canadian musicians, performers, songwriters and comedians through festivals, live performances, awards shows, financial support, promotions and exposure. From Laugh Attack, Air Musique, Radio Parallèle, and Sur La Route to The Verge, Canada's only 24-hour platform for Canadian independent music, XM Canada(TM) is committed to delivering high quality, original Canadian programming to its listeners.

For more contest details please visit: www.CanadasNextTopComic.com

About Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.

Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR) operates as XM Canada and is Canada's premium digital audio entertainment and information company with the best signal coverage across the country. With 130 digital channels of choice, XM Canada offers Canadian listeners the most unique and original Canadian and international programming, including commercial-free music channels, exclusive live concerts and sports coverage, and the best in talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming. A free 14-day trial of XM Radio is available at http://www.xmradio.ca/freetrial/. Visit www.xmradio.ca for programming and subscription information.

XM Canada is the satellite entertainment leader in the Canadian automotive market with long-term factory installation agreements with manufacturers that own close to 60 per cent share of the domestic vehicle market. XM's industry-leading products are available at shop.xmradio.ca, and at retailers nationwide.

XM programming is available by subscribing directly through XM Canada and is also available as streams of commercial-free XM music channels on TELUS Mobile Radio and Rogers Wireless Radio on Demand. XM Canada is the exclusive music channel provider on Air Canada's flights.

To find out more about Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (TSX: XSR), visit our website at www.xmradio.ca/about/.

About Global Comedyfest

The Vancouver Global ComedyFest is in its 7th year of bringing contemporary, some say "alternative", we simply say funny comedy to the coolest city in Canada - Vancouver. From September 16th - 26th Vancouver will celebrate comedy at various venues throughout the city. Global ComedyFest Vancouver is an internationally-recognized event and has become a prime destination for all forms of funny from stand-up comedy to sketch comedy to musical comedy. Past performers include Steve Martin, Martin Short, David Cross, Flight of the Conchords, Zach Galifianakis and the legendary Carol Burnett, to name a few.

For further information: Jill Yetman, Environics Communications, Inc., 416-969-2722, [email protected]