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.

[Doohickey]

You say they have no commercials on their music channels?

None at all. Occasionally the DJ will talk for a few seconds, but other than that nothing but music. I've driven for two hours at a time with zero interruptions.

[kcrackel]

XM 49 Big Tracks - Bad to the Bone!

[Atlas Sneezed]

None at all. Occasionally the DJ will talk for a few seconds, but other than that nothing but music. I've driven for two hours at a time with zero interruptions.

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As an XM subscriber, my occasional experience with Sirius is that the DJs talk a LOT more than on XM.

[Doohickey]

I guess it would depend on what music channels you listen to. I'd imagine the on-air talent gets some leeway there, and several appear on more than one channel and have developed something of a following.

[Space Wrangler]

The ads are the result of Clear Channels' early investment into XM giving them control of the content on four channels. XM responded to this by creating four new channels of the same genre of each one that CC took over that are commercial free.

[reformed_dem]

Oh, what are the new channels?

[trumandogz]

Just like CB Radio.

[Space Wrangler]

The channels are, "XM 17 - U.S. Country" (commercial-free alternative to "Nashville"), "XM 26 - Flight 26" (commercial-free alternative to "MIX"), "XM 30 - XM Hitlist" (commercial-free alternative to "KISS")and "XM 78 - Escape" (commercial-free alternative to "Sunny") .

I don't think you'll even notice the difference. I think this is an overall net gain for subscribers. Even though the CC channels have commercials, it's very few when compared to traditional FM, and we got the additional channels to replace them. If you think of it in terms of the volume of music available, four of the most popular channels nearly doubled in content.

We love XM. I have even considered adding Sirius to my truck as well so I can have both. I haven't listened to an FM channel in nearly two years. I cringe at the thought of taking a road trip without it.