XM and Sirius Replace Confusion With More Confusion

by Robert Farago

Published: July 24th, 2007

xm and sirius replace confusion with more confusion

When faced with a choice between paying $12.95 a month for 170 channels of XM satellite radio or 130 channels of Sirius, many consumers bought neither. In an effort to lure new customers, the merging satellite radio companies are switching to a la carte pricing. So instead of a straight either/or choice, it's either XM or Sirius and THEN a choice between one of eight packages in seven price ranges (with a .25 per additional channel option on a la carte 1). If you thought the two companies would merge content, they have, kinda. "SIRIUS customers will also be able to choose a family-friendly version of SIRIUS programming that includes select XM programming. And XM customers can select a family-friendly XM programming option that includes select SIRIUS programming. These packages will cost $14.99 per month, a credit of $2.00 per month from the cost of the "best of" packages." Confused? You will be.

Robert Farago

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4 of 15 comments

Jthorner on Jul 25, 2007

Subscription radio is an idea I can live without. I don't need one more company dipping into my pocket once a month. Also, I like my radio listening to have a local flavor. Who wants the same thing everywhere? How dull!

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Benders on Jul 25, 2007
jthorner: Local flavor? With the consolidation of radio stations, you're already getting the same thing everywhere. Look it up, Clear Channel probably owns the station you listen to already.

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Pch101 on Jul 25, 2007
I like my radio listening to have a local flavor. I remember in the old days that "local flavor" on the radio was comprised of the Farm Report, a guy singing in a twang about the wife who had left him and the pickup truck that wouldn't start, and an angry minister detailing the fine points of damnation and how it was going to find me. This is one of those instances when I think that I prefer the New Coke.

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Sherman Lin on Jul 25, 2007

Clear channel does own both radio stations I listen to in Tampa but the local sports djs do add a local flavor and the ones we have in Tampa I prefer to the nationally syndicated sports djs

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