XM Adds 1.7 Million Subscribers In `06(Stock dropped 50% last year)

RadioandRecords.com ^ | Jan 5, 2007 11:42 AM ET | Mike Boyle

[MovementConservative]

Based on preliminary results, XM Satellite Radio Friday morning (Jan. 5) reported that it added 1.7 million new subscribers for calendar year 2006 -- 442,000 coming in Q4 -- giving them a total subscriber base of 7.6 million.

XM also reported in its preliminary results that it achieved positive cash flow from operations during Q4 `06.

"XM completed another year of significant subscriber growth, despite retail softness, and did so with continued cost controls, achieving positive cash flow from operations during the fourth quarter," said XM CEO Hugh Panero in a release.

Earlier this week, competitor Sirius Satellite Radio said it ended 2006 by meeting its latest Q4 guidance with about 6,024,000 subscribers, which is an 82% increase over its 2005 year-end finish of 3,300,000 subscribers.

Both XM and Sirius will be reporting full Q4 results in February.

[BurbankKarl]

Since Clear Channel has been sold, they may chose not to renew Rush, or break up the radio network to raise money....you never know!

[BamaDi]

me three....i absolutely love XM....then I bought it for Christmas last year for my brother and he feels the same....now my nephew has listened to XM in both my car and his dad's and says he wants one.....

[BurbankKarl]

I was listening to XM168 this morning (Fox Radio Talk) and heard Judge Napolitano and some other guy discussing how Britney Spears now looked like Courtney Love and how the Judge would love to have KFED in his court room.....I was cracking up...he would never say that on TV.

[sitetest]

Dear Alberta's Child,

That will be the day I cancel my XM radio.

I very much enjoy my channels 110 and 113 - all classical, all the time, no annoying commercials.

If WGMS is ultimately sold here in Washington to the Boy Owner, I'll likely put XM radio in the house, too.


sitetest

[Live and let live conservative]

If they merged then the single company would have a monopoly and be able to charge whatever they wanted.

I'm fairly sure that most of their customers have a limit on what they're willing to spend for satellite radio.

[Doohickey]

I love satellite radio (I have Sirius), and I hope the competition continues. The range of programming available is fantastic, and I'll gladly pay not to have to listen to commercials on music stations.

[Hawthorn]

> Rush CANNOT do it....it would cannabalize his other contracts with radio stations <

Rush has the upper hand in any contract negotiations with the local stations, because he has a unique product that nobody can duplicate. There's no way a terrestrial station is going to drop him just because he goes onto XM or Sirius, unless the station's program director is incredibly stupid.

[Exactly how many stations have dropped Sean Hannity because he's satellite? I don't know of any. And in the meantime, Sean is still number two nationwide.]

By the way, I have XM and like them very much -- even though their talk radio line-up leaves a lot to be desired. And if Rush should migrate there, I'll still be listening to him on the nearest terrestrial station whenever one is avaiable -- because I'll always want the local weather and traffic info.

But if I'm driving out in the boondocks without a good terrestrial signal for Rush, then his availabiltiy satellite would be a terrific blessing.

[BlueNgold]

Advertising already exists on every element of satellite except the dedicated music channels.

I love my Sirius - I have one for each car, and a home docking station for my Sportster. XM, despite it's affiliation with GM, is not performing where it should. If Sirius can maintain and exploit it's contracts with NFL, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, and Stern then nothing short of Rush will save XM.

From what I hear, and it's all rumor, Sirius wants Rush badly. If they can sign him - XM will be on a death watch. And they supposedly have more cash available than XM.

I really don't understand the merger talk - Sirius doesn't need the hardware, they don't need the overhead of additional HQ/office/broadcast space, and MLB is the only contract property XM has that is worth acquiring. A merger would only saddle Sirius with more overhead and more debt. (I can't fathom how XM could possibly be the controlling management after a merger.)

[TET1968]

Looks like Sirius added twice as many subscribers as XMSR.

[Doohickey]

There is already on-air advertising on most channels. Just not the music channels.

[The Lumster]

I wonder if these 4th Q numbers are real subscribers.

I had XM in a vehicle I bought in 2003. Loved it, but I sold the vehicle last August (2006). My subscrption expired right before I sold it and since I knew I would be selling I did not renew. Service had been discontinued by the time I completed the sale

They kept sending me notices and deals to get me to re-up for a couple of months but yesterday I got an actual invoice billing me for Nov - Dec 06.

I wonder of they put me back in their computer as a subscriber to boost their 4thQ numbers? It was probably just a renewal tactic - send a bill hoping I would pay it with all the other Christmas bills but it made me wonder.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

and MLB is the only contract property XM has that is worth acquiring.

That is the only thing I miss about terrestrial radio. If Sirius could wheedle the MLB contract from XM, it'd be game over for XM.

[TET1968]

Rush should create a package that does not compromise his loyalty issues.
If that package goes exclusively to Sirius, it's stock would go through the roof, XMSR would sink like a stone and Sirius would buy it for peanuts.
Rush's power and wealth in the broadcasting industry would triple.

[reformed_dem]

There is already on-air advertising on most channels. Just not the music channels.

If you're talking about XM, there are ads on some of the music channels. Of course, mostly the ones I listen to. It seems to me that in the last couple of months they have increased the number of ads. I find it annoying because I don't pay for radio to listen to commercials.

[Doohickey]

If you're talking about XM...

No, I was talking about Sirius which is what I subscribe to. I should have been more specific, sorry.

[Poundstone]

I bought a Sirius portable car radio last summer and set it up. No signal. Took it back to Circuit City. They said there was a broken cable in the radio and gave me a new one.

Set that one up. This time the signal was erratic and intermittent. Got maybe 10 seconds of signal out of each minute.

Took it back to Circuit City. They said there was some other problem in the radio and offered to give me a (third) new one. I said no thanks, two strikes and I'm out.

I think the concept of satellite radio is OK, but the technology is not up to the challenge. Instead, I'm now looking seriously at HD radio (which requires no monthly subscription fee!).

[reformed_dem]

No, I was talking about Sirius ...

Oh, if that's the case, maybe I need to switch. You say they have no commercials on their music channels?

[BlueNgold]

Correct, no commercials on the music channels. Although some of the hosts seem to enjoy hearig themselves talk more than is needed. I don't need a DJ to tell me what's on when all I have to do is look at the screen.

[Uncle Miltie]

Rockin' out to Cream on XM 46 Top Tracks.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Satellite radio -- like cable television -- will eventually shoot itself in the foot by incorporating the one element of radio broadcasting that drives people away from terrestrial radio today: on-air advertising.

---

I doubt that, but they are already squandering opportunities by making the mistake of emulating terrestrial radio: more stations playing the most "popular" music, abandoning the diversity and oddball stations that attract listeners who can find it nowhere else.

Example: "Gee! Top Tracks and The Blend are the most popular stations! Let's make more like them, and cancel the Latin jazz and the avant garde music stations."

Simply put, the diversity is what makes people subscribe, even if they tend to listen mostly to the popular stuff.

I love XM, but I get sick of their limited playlists, and my new iPod is giving it stiff competition.