Satellite Blog » XM

Sound Quality in Satellite Radio

Administrator — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:08:37 +0000

John Caldwell over at Electronic House has a lengthy blog entry about the quality (or lack thereof) in satellite radio. It’s a quiet problem few people are willing to talk about.

His rant is directed at XM and not owning XM, we can’t comment about XM’s sound quality. But the inventor of satellite radio, Sirius, was interviewed today on the Howard Stern show and spoke to this issue. He said that XM used cheaper components and a cheaper, easier technology to implement its radio broadcasting via satellite, which affects things like sound quality and reception.

Sirius, on the other hand, spent more time in development and working on quality (realizing that quality does indeed matter). And so while it hurt their business to be second to market, anybody who’s listened to the two in side-by-side comparisons notices the sound quality difference.

That said, both technologies, we believe, allow for “high” and “low” fidelity broadcasts. Stern is broadcast like the music channels on Sirius, in “high” quality fidelity. Having been a listener now for years, I have to say I’m hard pressed to tell the difference between Sirius and an FM station or even a CD while in my car.

My biggest problem is I live in an area where a lot of the roads have trees and other obstructions overhanging them. I get dropouts regularly, and that is my biggest pet peeve with satellite radio. There’s little that can be done about drop-outs (times when the sound just cuts out for a second or two), since it is a satellite line-of-sight issue. In cities, the companies fix this with repeaters, but that doesn’t help the majority of Americans who live outside a big urban center.

Ah well. The joy of satellite is the commercial-free aspect and the ability to listen to the same stations (and shows like Howard Stern) anywhere in the country. That is a very big, positive freedom to have, and one we here at Satellite Blog very much enjoy!!

Sirius and XM – Have and Eat Cake too?

Administrator — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:33:29 +0000

If the FCC approves the Sirius and XM Radio merger, they would only do so because they consider their competition to be “all of radio,” including terrestrial radio.

But, if they are on the same playing field as terrestrial radio, then shouldn’t they have to play by the same rules as traditional radio, including FCC oversight?

The Sirius and XM merger can’t have their cake and eat it too. If they are not creating a monopoly (and only an idiot would think they aren’t — how many other satellite radio operators are there?), then they should be regulated as all radio is regulated (for better or worse).

Otherwise, it’s clear they’re creating a monopoly and consumer prices will rise.

Sirius and XM Propose Merger of Equals

Administrator — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:29:57 +0000

Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin joined the cast of “The Howard Stern Show” this morning to share with the shock-jock’s audience his reasons for the merger with XM and how it will be “good for subscribers.”

First of all, he eschewed the suggestion that the combined company would be a monopoly, thus allowing it to raise prices. “We still compete with terrestrial radio,” he said, reiterating the fact that his biggest competition offers its service for free. In addition, he mentioned Apple’s iPod as a competitor to satellite radio.

He even said that, if it would assure the passage of the merger through the appropriate regulatory commissions, he would make promises concerning subscription prices.

One question that’s been on the minds of subscribers and dealers has been whether they’ll have access to both services, or will they need to purchase additional equipment. Karmazin, who would be the CEO of the combined company, said that the immediate intention is to offer both services to both subscriber bases, by piggybacking the channels from one service onto another. However, it’s true that the direct connections between satellites and receivers are not compatible and new equipment will be required to do that.

In fact, one sticking point in the merger, Karmazin said, was the fact that XM has forged more deals with automotive manufacturers than Sirius, leading the former to demand a bigger share of the combined company’s value. The two companies ended up going 50-50.

Another problem Karmazin feels the merger solves is the fact that sports fans have to choose which service they want, depending on the sport they enjoy most, since XM and Sirius combined carry the NHL, NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball, but not individually.

Other issues Karmazin and the self-described “King of All Media” discussed were Stern’s wedding plans and Stern sidekick Artie Lange’s concerns about how the merger will affect the selection available in the company’s vending machines.

XM radio says to be in 1.8 mln GM cars in 2007

Administrator — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:49:37 +0000

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. on Tuesday said that automaker General Motors Corp. plans to make over 1.8 million vehicles with the XM radio-service built-in in 2007.

Every GM vehicle with factory-installed XM radio includes a three-month trial service period. After that period, customers typically pay about $13 a month for the nationwide system, which features music, news, talk and sports channels, many of them commercial-free.

XM and rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. see factory-installed units in millions of new cars as an important means of gaining new subscribers, and between them have signed deals with all the major car makers. In many cases, consumers can also have their choice of satellite service installed at a local dealer.

Opie & Anthony replaced David Lee Roth

Administrator — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:43:57 +0000

Opie & Anthony replaced David Lee Roth on CBS’ New York-based Free FM radio network. The duo were fired by CBS Radio’s WNEW-FM in New York for coercing a couple to make love inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral and have been working for XM Satellite Radio since August 2004.

In what may be the first satellite to terrestrial radio deal, sources say XM and CBS are working out a deal to air three hours of Opie & Anthony in the seven markets where Roth replaced Howard Stern in January, the New York Post reported Thursday.

Cleaned-up versions of the duo’s satellite broadcast would be heard over the airwaves of WFNY New York, WYSP Philadelphia, WBCN Boston, KLLI Dallas, WNCX Cleveland, WRKZ Pittsburgh and WPBZ West Palm Beach, the newspaper said.

XM Satellite Radio Extends Lead With More Than 640,000 New Net Subscribers During Second Quarter of 2005

Administrator — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:03:59 +0000

XM Satellite Radio Extends Lead With More Than 640,000 New Net Subscribers During Second Quarter of 2005

XM Satellite Radio in early July announced it added more than 640,000 new net subscribers during the second quarter of 2005 for a total of more than 4.4 million subscribers. This subscriber gain represents a 53 percent increase in new net subscribers compared to the second quarter of 2004, when XM recorded 418,000 new net subscribers. Additionally, the 640,000 new net subscriber gain represents an 18 percent increase over the first quarter of 2005 when XM recorded 540,000 new net subscribers.

“This was the best second quarter in the history of XM. The momentum behind XM’s subscriber growth is undeniable. In just one year, XM has more than doubled its subscriber base from 2.1 million in the second quarter of 2004 to over 4.4 million subscribers today,” said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio. “Millions of consumers are choosing XM because of our outstanding programming, including unprecedented coverage of Major League Baseball and the most commercial-free music in satellite radio, as well as strong support from our automotive partners and breakthrough products like our line of XM2go portable, hand-held radios.”

XM Radio Set to Turn Profit – Subscriber base grows as rival does too.

Administrator — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:00:31 +0000

XM Radio Set to Turn Profit – Subscriber base grows as rival does too.

XM Satellite Radio will turn a profit next year, says the company’s chairman.

Gary Parson, XM chairman, said during a visit to Detroit that the company’s start-up plan, which included provisions for heavy losses, is unfolding as planned. Thus XM is on course to turn a profit next year and sign up as many as 20 million subscribers by the end of the decade and 40 million by 2015.

XM now has more than 4 million subscribers under contract and should have 5.5 million on board by the by the end of the year, Parsons added. “Every million subscribers adds about $100 million to our cash flow,” added Parsons after a speech to Detroit ’s Automotive Press Association.

Parsons added XM’s strong cash flow also is making it easier to cover the startup costs that are inherent in acquiring new subscribers and launching the new service.

XM also now reviewing the possibility of offering service in Canada. Canadian regulators have approved XM’s application to offer service north of the border. XM, however, haven’t decided to accept the conditions, which include offering a heavy dose of Canadian-oriented programming and music, Parsons said. A decision is expected in about 90 days. XM’s rival, Sirius, has indicated it plans to offer its service in Canada.

Parsons noted that satellite radio in general and XM in particular, has been accepted by consumers faster than any other entertainment technology introduced during the past 30 years, including the VCR and DVD player.

The popularity of satellite radio has made the cost of acquiring subscribers smaller than originally forecasted. In addition, the renewal rate is running at better than 90 percent, he added.

Parson added satellite radio’s automotive partners report they have never seen a feature with such quick acceptance from consumers and probably half of XM’s new subscriptions will be linked to new vehicle purchases.

Military might draft XM Satellite Radio

Administrator — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 20:30:18 +0000

Military might draft XM Satellite Radio

Customers of XM Satellite Radio aren’t the only ones who appreciate its digital quality and nationwide coverage. The U.S. military might draft XM’s service for homeland security purposes.

XM and Raytheon have jointly built a communications system that would use XM’s satellites to relay information to soldiers and emergency responders during a crisis.

The Mobile Enhanced Situational Awareness Network, known as MESA, would get a dedicated channel on XM’s satellites that would be accessible only on devices given to emergency personnel. The receivers would be the same as the portable ones available to consumers, with slight modifications to make them more rugged.

The military often leases transmission space on commercial satellites, but this collaboration between a massive defense contractor and a fun-loving radio network — XM’s first two satellites were dubbed “Rock” and “Roll,” and its next two might be “Rhythm” and “Blues” — is unusual.

Taking satellite radio for a spin

Administrator — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 13:23:04 +0000

Taking satellite radio for a spin

f you’re a long-haul trucker, stop reading, polish up your big belt buckle and just go buy one.

If you’re a troll living under a bridge where reception’s bad, save your dough.

For the rest of us, deciding whether to shell out for satellite radio – and if so, which one to pick – is a little more complicated. So I did some legwork and test-drove a couple of satellite setups to find out more about the pros, the cons and the differences between the two options, Sirius and XM.

Canadian Satellite Radio awarded licence to offer XM satellite radio service in Canada

Administrator — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 13:21:28 +0000

Canadian Satellite Radio awarded licence to offer XM satellite radio service in Canada

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today granted Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR) a broadcasting licence to deliver commercial-free music and premier news, sports, talk and entertainment to Canadians from coast-to-coast-to- coast, subject to certain programming requirements.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for all Canadians and an evolutionary milestone in maintaining our country’s leadership position within the global broadcasting industry,” said John I. Bitove, chairman, CEO and founder of CSR. “We have the potential to reach out to all areas of our country with the industry’s most exceptional audio content and technology.”

“We are very excited about being licensed and we appreciate the balanced and progressive approach the CRTC has taken in making this decision. We now have to sit down with our partner XM to discuss the new and incremental programming conditions of this licence which were not contemplated in our original application,” continued Bitove.

CSR is a Canadian-owned and operated company who first applied for the licence in August 2003. It has partnered with XM Satellite Radio (XM), the No. 1 satellite radio service in the U.S. with more than four million subscribers. CSR applied to the CRTC to launch a satellite radio service and develop Canadian programming for broadcast to all regions of Canada and the U.S. through XM.