Sirius Satellite Radio Ping List
Freepmail me to be added or removed.
Posted on 02/22/2005 10:32:00 AM PST by LittleMoe
By SCOTT LAUCK
It’s the nature of technology these days to change from analog to digital and to move from the earth to the sky. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that satellite radio is becoming increasingly popular. Satellite radio has been around for years but has only recently begun to make a big dent in the market. In December, the United States’ two satellite radio companies, XM Radio and Sirius, reported record numbers of subscribers.
While mainstream FM radio continues to dominate, there are clearly a number of listeners who are trying something different.
Fred Dimmel, a student at Missouri Western State College, is among them. He first heard about satellite radio from an uncle who owned a car with the service factory-installed.
Mr. Dimmel says he forgot about satellite radio until he began looking for a space-efficient way to listen to music in his Ford Ranger.
“All I had in my truck was the tape player,” he says. “Rather than try to fit CDs into a small truck or finding a place to put a CD changer, the satellite deal was kind of the cheap, easy option to put in there and still get digital music and a pretty good selection, so I didn’t feel limited like with normal radio.”
Unlike normal FM or AM radio, which only broadcasts on a limited number of frequencies, satellite radio includes hundreds of channels, exposing listeners to a much wider variety of music, as well as talk radio, sports and other features.
Because users pay a subscription fee, most programs contain no commercials. In addition, the receivers can usually be plugged into a home stereo or computer, allowing for in-home use.
Like the majority of satellite radio listeners, Mr. Dimmel subscribes to XM Radio, the nation’s largest such provider. The Washington, D.C.-based company was founded 12 years ago, and as of December had 3.1 million subscribers.
XM’s competitor, New York, N.Y.-based Sirius, reported at the same time that it had surpassed its goal of 1 million subscribers. Company CEO Mel Karmazin called 2004 a “watershed year.” “We believe that this enthusiasm will continue, and we expect to double our subscribers during 2005,” he says.
Although younger and smaller than XM, Sirius got a boost this year when radio shock jock Howard Stern said he would begin broadcasting with the company in 2006.
Mr. Stern’s decision highlights another difference between satellite and conventional radio: looser regulations. While the U.S. Federal Communications Commission enforces decency rules on publicly broadcast material, subscription-based systems are left alone.
Both XM and Sirius have taken a number of other approaches to get their systems in people’s hands.
Among the most effective has been through deals with car manufacturers. These days, the systems come installed in a number of new vehicles.
While satellite radio offers a number of advantages, it has a few drawbacks as well. Unlike cell phones, service for satellite radio is available in far-flung locations. However, it is often blocked by tall buildings, parking garage roofs and other impediments. In larger cities, repeaters allow the signals to get through. However, Mr. Dimmel says he sometimes has trouble getting reception in downtown St. Joseph.
And occasionally, he said, he misses the ability to play his own CDs, noting that “you have more options but you can’t control what’s on there.”
Nonetheless, he’s found that loss hasn’t been much of a burden.
“It doesn’t happen as much as I thought it would,” he says.
#1 reason for going satellite: No Nanny Staters telling me what I can hear.
It's all about the contract...
Uhhhh, corporate conglomerates killed radio. Satellite radio is actually letting some variety exist again.
I know quite a few long distance motorcyle riders who really like having the XM or Sirius.
It seems to be more of a "space" issue. Some of this can be solved by having a CD player that plays MP3's.
I expect as audioDVD capacity CD's become more popular and more audio players have "chip" slots, it will hinder sat. radio.
I think its real benefit is in the non-storable type stuff like sports and talk radio.
Don't forget Amos 'N Andy.
I currently have Sirius, and if I decided I could easily have XM again since my brother's roommate's family has about 7 XM radio's subbed. My brother was the first one that I knew who had satellite radio, he got XM when it first came onto the market. I always use to listen to it when he had it and then after XM screwed up with his billing and started canceling his subscription every other day for a week he finally canceled it and got Sirius. After I listened to it for about 3 days online I knew what he was so impressed about over XM. The XM channels seemed to need improvement and I always bugged by the talking that the DJ's did, maybe its improved since I last listened but I don't know.
The price of Sirius for me is about $6 a month since I pay for my account under my brother's. Even at $13 Sirius is still cheap as can be, especially for my tastes. Before I got Sirius I used to download MP3's by the hundreds each week, I have about 15k songs but have not even listened to an mp3 cd in my car or on my computer for a while.
Before you goto buy, do the 3 day test on XM and Sirius's site and see what one you like more, preferences make a big difference. On Sirius my favorite channels are 32 Prime Country (80's-90's), 23 Hair Nation (80's vintage rock) and 9 The Pulse (90's and todays pop/rock). When you decide to buy its really nice to get the CD players that have the modules you buy, I bought a Alpine MP3 Head-Unit in the summer of 2003 that was originally made for XM but since it connects to the satellite radio via Alpine's "patch cord" like cable, I can also run Sirius. However, if you switch vehicles alot and want to use the home docking kit to listen in your house (or you could just use the computer) the mobile ones work great, however the only downfall I have about them is since they use the broadcast antenna, unless you buy the kit which plugs into the car antenna behind your stereo, you will get some static and interference from other radios.
Just my $.02, Good luck and if you need any more help send me a PM :)
From jayski.com today: (Another feather in the Sirius cap)
Sirius Satellite Radio takes over NASCAR Broadcasts in 2007: Sirius Satellite Radio on Tuesday announced a five-year agreement to give Sirius North American satellite radio rights to broadcast NASCAR racing and events that will bring unprecedented programming and marketing opportunities to NASCAR fans.
Beginning in 2007, Sirius will broadcast all Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series races live on a specially created, 24/7 NASCAR channel, and Sirius will be the only place on satellite radio to listen to NASCAR. As part of the agreement, Sirius will become the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR, with exclusive trademark and marketing rights, and the right to sell all advertising time on its NASCAR channel and during the race broadcasts.
Sirius will pay NASCAR rights fees totaling $107.5 million over the term of the agreement, with the highest payments in the final years of the term. Sirius and NASCAR will work together to develop an extensive consumer marketing and outreach campaign for NASCAR fans. This effort could include advertising, cross-channel promotion throughout Sirius programming, officially licensed products, extensive at-track activation and ways for current NASCAR fans to switch to Sirius.(NASCAR PR), would assume XM Satellite Radio is out after the 2006 season as NASCAR Radio.(2-22-2005
I picked XM, solely because it doesn't have H. Stern or NPR.
I will not go back to regular radio...
WHAT "OLD RADIO STARS"?
When I think of Old Radio Stars I am certainly not thinking of anyone on the radio today or even in the last 40 years.
The true Old Radio Stars, like Amos & Andy, Fibber MgGee and Molly, Burns and Allen, Jack Benny, and the rest will live on forever.
Radio personalities, yes but most of those are on talk radio and I don't see that going away anytime soon.
I have XM and would recommend satellite radio. Get news (Fox, CNN, BBC, PRI, CSPAN, MSNBC, CNBC, etc.) music of many genres, and sports. I've maxed out the family plan with 5 radios -- My kids have 3 of them and love it, too. Besides the listening, I have found other benefits:
I drive slower and am more relaxed, finding I don't feel as rushed to get to my destination.
I put my satellite TV on "vacation" mode, finding I actually enjoyed "listening" to the news rather than the constant "flutter" of the television running.
There is nothing more enjoyable to me than relaxing at a mountain campsite, listening to XM, and a glass of wine.
Yup, go for it!
That's what I did, and love it.
Brian, I DON'T have Sirius radio, but do own Sirius stock, so thanks for including me.
Aye, I read that you owned stock so I thought I'd add you, if you do want on the list send me a freepmail. :)
For example, even prior to satellite radio, local Los Angeles news radio stations have gone to National News coverage, based mostly in New York City at the top of the hour, even during local catastrophic earthquakes, riots, floods and fires.
It's strange to hear a New York based reporter giving old, and often vague details about ongoing emergency situations occurring locally, thousands of miles away from the actual on-air "reporter."
In my opinion, XM and Sirius, as well as Westwood One, Satellite Music Network, and Unistar before them are accelerating the complete elimination of the personal and local connection many people have found on local radio broadcasts.
In my opinion, centralized radio broadcasts resemble our very large centralized Federal government.
on national talk shows, like Rush for example, what happens when they take a commercial break? Are there commercials or is it dead air?
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