Comments on: Who Cares About Sirius and XM Radio?

By: Jon Schallert

Jon Schallert — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:00:32 +0000

Now, Michael:

We’ve known each other for quite some time, and I have to say, I DO like Sirius radio. You know, some of us don’t have computers in our cars, and some of us get hooked to specific radio stations. Personally, I am hooked on Sirius’ NFL channel, which allows me to listen to every Broncos football game, even if I am in my car, in any part of the country. So, who cares about Sirius? Your good buddy, Jon, does.

By: Gloria

Gloria — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:03:32 +0000

The article in Business Week just goes to show the power that our society gives our journalists — they can direct commerce by their statements. Yes, there are currently many newer options for receiving music and other audio programming that were not available a few years ago, but they have their “hidden” costs. For instance, if I were to stream music to my computer via DSL, I’d need to spend $$ to add an audio card to my ‘puter and to purchase high end speakers, something I already have available on my sterio for my XM connection.

Also, as already mentioned, the cellular network is far from adequate for complete coverage that satelite reaches. What about driving across the unpopulated plains of Kansas, Oklahoma, or Nebraska. And, it even gets worse when you are on one of the canyon roadways in the Rock Mountains. Here even traditional radio coverage is somewhat spotty, but my XM only cuts out when I’m in a tunnel.

Also, I don’t want to have to pick through the huge lists of new age artists as there seem to be more in this genre than all the others combined. I prefer to have a DJ compile a list of songs, from several different artists. I have many new favorites from those I have heard on the XM channel. Until the companies go belly up, I’ll be a satelite user.

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:51:49 +0000

Just a note for Jim and Richard,
I know it seems impossible, but both of these services have “to-go” options. As long as you keep paying your monthly subscription you can play Rhapsody and Yahoo on your MP3 player – which works nicely in a car, either wireless to FM or the old fashioned way to your tape deck.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:13:03 +0000

I agree with Jim. Although I believe itunes, Rhapsody and other internet music content sites compete with free and satellite radio at home or in the office, in the car the story is different. You would need to compare mp3 players like the Ipod, and car stereos capable of playing mp3’s. The merger is not about internet music. It is about over the air, satellite and portable music.

By: SateLink.net » Mid-day breaks are for satellite-radio merger talk

SateLink.net » Mid-day breaks are for satellite-radio merger talk — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:45:23 +0000

[...] Benidt at Hidden Business Treasures has doubts about the entire enterprise: The XM/Sirius story last week was big news, but I’m not really sure [...]

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:30:45 +0000

When was the last time you listened to Internet radio in your car? I agree these services offer compelling content listening at home or at work (which I do BTW) but the days of seamless nationwide broadband wireless coverage, which is what is needed to listen to these services, is a long way off. I have a Smartphone with Verizon and in theory I could use that to listen but even nationwide celluar broadband is far from mature.