XM, Sirius slowly build customers with content

The Sun News ^ | Sun, May. 01, 2005 | Monty Phan

[Brian328i]

I haven't really looked into other receivers, but I know my Alpine CDA-9815 that I bought in middle-late 2003--I think thats when I purchased it--was originally designed for XM Satellite but when Alpine released the Sirius Tuner last November or December I was able to connect it with the AI-Net Cable. I think Alpine is the only company currently making head units that work with both companies, but I may be wrong.

[Brian328i]

Satellite Radio (Sirius/XM) Ping List
Freepmail me to be added.

[Petronski]

Sirius, for example, last month signed a four-year deal to devote a 24-hour radio channel to Martha Stewart, whose syndicated 90-second radio spots on traditional radio were dropped during her legal problems.

Great, now I can get my instructions for making manure tea and cat hammocks while I'm out on the road.

[1stFreedom]

People, stop acting like consumers.. Why pay for music when you can get it for free on AM / FM??

Technology for the sake of technology is crazy..

(Yes, I've used Sirius in a friends car. Not worth paying for unless one travels cross country.)

[Tom D.]

I live in a very rural area and Sirius - XM is worth it here. No ads, lots of music, lots of choice, good reception, etc. They even have a couple of right wing talk stations.

[1stFreedom]

I understand that...

Ever try the internet??

Yahoo has radio
Itunes has radio
etc..

[kjam22]

People said the same thing 20 years ago about cable tv. Who would pay for cable when you can get it for free?

[oldironsides]

Sirius came our new boat for one year. We activated it for 2 months( we bought late in the season) and called to see if they would put a hold on it while it was put up for the winter in storage. Not a chance
that they would credit us for the boat downtime. When the time comes to renew? No way. They do not have all consumers in mind. They repeat the same music too much anyway.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I started with XM a month ago, and it makes life wonderful. I shudder to think of the hundreds (thousands?) of hours wasted listing to advertisements, when I could have avoided them for $10 per month. And instead of 3 or 4 crappy music station alternatives, I have dozens of outstanding choices.

I get free Internet streaming at my desk for the workday, with no extra equipment.

And on those occasions when I am not picking one of the 5 jazz stations, or many other nice options, I can listen to one of the adult contemporary pop station and not hear the same one or two top hits by each of the big artists. With XM, you remember that famous artists were usually not one-hit wonders.

XM has made the jaded guy a music lover again. I used to listen to talk radio out of boredom with music radio. now I listen very little talk, and my productivity and happiness has greatly increased.

[1stFreedom]

Well, we have plenty of channels on am & fm..

Back then, there were just 3-4..

Big difference.

[Ken H]

Why pay for music when you can get it for free on AM / FM??

Yes, but can you sit in your recliner with a contented look on your face and flip though 185 channels with your remote on an AM/FM (like the guy in the Comcast commercial)? I don't think so.

[1stFreedom]

>>Yes, but can you sit in your recliner with a contented look on your face and flip though 185 channels with your remote on an AM/FM (like the guy in the Comcast commercial)? I don't think so.

Hmm, maybe the fact that you have to channel surf means that there really isn't much on those 185 channels...

[Ken H]

Just an attempt at humor. But siriusly, I really like my XM.

The 50's music channel has the familiar classics, as well as earlier songs from that era which I hadn't heard before.

There is also a channel geared to independent truckers which I'm hooked on now. Dale Sommers (aka the Trucking Bozo) and his son Steve are great.

They talk politics a lot and are generally pro-military, pro-small government conservative in their commentary. They're good old boys with common sense.

[Dick Vomer]

I just wish XM had the NFL.... baseball blows goats.. I own stock in both. I figure that every car and truck will have it in 10 years. As well as GPS and video for security. Imagine carjackers "smiling into the camera"...

[Paul_B]

If they're going to survive they need to up the content quality dramatically. When FM took over AM it was because the content totally blew AM away. That's not happening with SatRad yet. I turned in my xm sub because content was so horrible in my narrow scope of interest, CCM. They've got 6M subs now, there's no excuse for Top 100 (and the "top" part is debatable) playlists that are throwbacks to radio formatting from the '60s. Since I'm home more than on the road, I took up Launchcast Plus; at $3/month it's a shade better than XM. In the car I'm fine with CDs.

Still a XM stockholder, though.

[davidtalker]

I aways love it when people heap scorn on those who enjoy satellite radio. I don't care if you don't think it's not worth paying for. Some of us find it a small price to pay for first rate variety and near digital sound.If you think it's not worth it don't get it.

However, for those of us who love listening to FOX News in the car on weekends when local radio offers nothing, it's a great addition. The musical niches that are all but ignored by terrestrial radio are a sensational treat. How about every regular season Major League Baseball game at the flip of a button?

Fine. live in your "rabbit ear" world. Your choice. But some of us (I have both Sirius and XM subscriptions) are enjoying the heck out of satellite radio.

[My Favorite Headache]

Begin the day
With a friendly voice
A companion, unobtrusive
Plays that song that’s so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood

Off on your way
Hit the open road
There is magic at your fingers
For the spirit ever lingers
Undemanding contact
In your happy solitude

Invisible airwaves
Crackle with life
Bright antennae bristle
With the energy
Emotional feedback
On a timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price ---
Almost free...

All this machinery
Making modern music
Can still be open-hearted
Not so coldly charted
It’s really just a question
Of your honesty

One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity

For the words of the profits
Are written on the studio wall,
Concert hall ---
Echoes with the sounds...
Of salesmen.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Dish network forced people with the dish to pay $3.00 a month for the crap called Sirius. I hate this to be pushed down my throat for something I will never use!

[firewalk]

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