Posted on 07/27/2006 12:44:18 PM PDT by iowamark
XM Satellite Radio has cut its forecast for subscriber growth for the second time and reports a wider loss for its latest quarter.
However, subscriber gains last quarter did help push revenue up 82 percent.
The District-based broadcaster, which earlier this month lowered its goal for subscribers from 9 million to 8.5 million, now says it expects to end the year with between 7.7 million and 8.2 million, citing "marketplace dynamics and regulatory uncertainties."
Both XM and rival Sirius have stopped sales of some radios after the Federal Communications Commission questioned whether they complied with rules.
For the quarter, XM's loss grew to $229.1 million, or 87 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $146.6 million, or 70 cents per share, a year ago.
XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) had quarterly revenue of $228 million, up from $125 million. It reported a net gain of about 398,000 subscribers and says it now has more than 7 million subscribers.
Sirius (NASDAQ: SIRI) has said it added more than 600,000 subscribers last quarter, for a total of about 4.7 million.
There's lib trash talk on both XM and Sirius. I won't get either for that reason alone.
I like XM but if they raise my rates one more time I'm outta here.
I have had XM for a couple of months and it has saved my sanity in the car. Charlotte, NC local radio is just horrendous. 1 useless news station (except for Rush), 1 completely idiotic sports station, fire and brimstone types, Espanol, and rock stations that play the same 10 songs over and over and over.
America Right is kind of lame, but they do have Fox News Radio which plays O'Reilly and Gibson's radio shows and ABC Radio plays Hannity in afternoon drive. And I can listen to all of my favorite '80s music
Worth every single penny. I hope it turns around for them.
I've had XM in my car for a year and a half. Its great! I love not losing the signal when we go on road trips.
My XM at $13.85 per month is about at the peak of what I'm willing to pay. OnStar, which came on my Chevy van, is way over-priced at $16.95 a month. It's gotta go.
I've really enjoyed mine as well. I hate paying for radio, but unless Houston's music format improves, I'll continue with my XM. I've never heard Sirius, but assume it's pretty much the same as XM.
I've had both.......i had XM in one vehicle as OEM and it sounded great.
my new vehicle has a sirius aftermarket unit (FM Modulated)and it sounds awful....more like digital AM.
I thought that rumor was spiked and that NASCAR will be on both. Tork?
Besides the sats, it's also the up-front costs of subsidizing radio purchases.
That said, I know *very* few that have dropped satellite radio, once they have it. Most become raving fanatics, and one friend just picked up a subscription for a second radio, because his wife didn't like him taking the first one they had with him when he had to travel.
I agree with your assesment. I like my XM but America Right does bite.
I love it too. My subscription expires in 2010. Hope they stay in business til then.
I have an XM wired FM modulation (unit outputs to a box on the antenna cord going to my car radio), and that works pretty well. The short-range broadcasting FM modulator systems generally aren't nearly as good.
I'll try to explain it to you.
The digital music sounds better
The few times I've tried to listen to XM, everything sounds like overly-compressed MP3 files (tinny and muddy; e.g. cymbals that go "squish, squish").
Sure, the frequency range is better than FM. That just means I get to hear the downside of digital compression. It's that compression which causes no MP3s to sound as good as CDs. Good music MP3s (at least 192 Kbps) are tolerable but, at least when I've listened to it, XM sounds like bad MP3s (perhaps 64 Kbps).
Regardless, if you're generally satisfied with the sound of MP3s, you're probably satisfied with the sound of XM, and I'm happy for you.
I don't think Rush would need to sign on to satellite because 98% of the population can get it on AM or FM.
It was a lot better when they had Michael Medved instead of Dr. Laura. While I generally agree with her, I can't stand to listen to her, and that's a prime time slot for me.
I believe Rush has said that will never go to satellite radio.
I believe that it is because he wishes to promote (and honor contracts with) his numerous AM and several FM stations that he can be heard on.
I don't either. I guess some people need something to complain about...
Having said that, everything's great, EXCEPT the antennae, especially the ones you clip to your shirt. The radio has to be positioned just right or there's no reception in my home.
My understanding is that OnStar is a big selling point for GM.I wish I could get it.The airbag deployment notification alone would be worth the price,IMO.
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