AfterDawn: News

Sirius-XM channel merging to begin next week

The combination of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, Sirius-XM, will begin merging channels next week. The new company has 19 million paying subscribers currently, and despite an economic downturn, it is expecting growth. A drop off in car sales is somewhat threatening to its future business prospects however. While the company is being quiet about the exact details of programming change, many stations from the previous companies are expected to be merged if they provide similar content.

There will also be new subscription offerings for each system, with XM subscribers getting Sirius content like Howard Stern and the NFL for an extra $4 per month. All existing XM radios will get the Best of Sirius package, whereas only the recently-released Sirius Starmate 5 will be able to get the Best of XM package.



The Starmate 5 will get a la carte options as well, with users able to pick their 50 - 100 favorite stations for a lower monthly fee.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 9 Nov 2008 22:56

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• 6 comments

• DXR88

  Pay For NFL radio, common its called AM Band Radio, and Coward Stern, id much rather listen to golf announcers than Stern.

  10.11.2008 00:16 #1

• b18bek9

  lol if u dont like it dont buy it....its not everyones cup of tea so why knock it....and i dont get the coward stern remark but ok if u say so....i prefer sirius mainly cuz i can get the same station no matter where i go since i drive for about 10-12 hours a day i prefer sports/comedy/talk radio so if it aint for ya dont buy it....

  10.11.2008 03:33 #2

• spydah

  Originally posted by b18bek9: lol if u dont like it dont buy it....its not everyones cup of tea so why knock it....and i dont get the coward stern remark but ok if u say so....i prefer sirius mainly cuz i can get the same station no matter where i go since i drive for about 10-12 hours a day i prefer sports/comedy/talk radio so if it aint for ya dont buy it....
  I have XM and I get the same stations no matter where I go. So what differences in stations are you referring to? All i want is the NBA and NFL packages and maybe their comedy channels mixed in with XM's current lineup.

  10.11.2008 12:36 #3

• wabashman

  so is this extra 4 bucks a month only going to be charged during the nfls season? or will i have to pay all year round for something i can only listen for for 23 weeks or so.

  11.11.2008 16:13 #4

• iluvendo

  Originally posted by DXR88: Pay For NFL radio, common its called AM Band Radio, and Coward Stern, id much rather listen to golf announcers than Stern.
  LMAO *as I fall out of my chair onto the floor*
  

  "The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
  Ferengi 82nd rule of aqusition
  
  

  11.11.2008 16:48 #5

• kubapolak

  I just hope the "new company" won't hit the slump. A big loan is going to have to be paid off in 2009, and with the current economy I don't think they have the money. So enjoy what you have because we don't know if its going to be around.....

  17.11.2008 23:48 #6