Is Sirus really that desperate to keep subscribers?

[the undork]

Last week I called to cancel my service. The reasons: more repitition on some channels than we get on local terrestrial radio, the bottom feeder ads (you know, "thicker and wider" for one example) that we get more than enough of on radio here and a recurring technical issue that Sirius support blames on my car and , well it had just become a luxury I could no longer justify in the budget.

They offered 3 months for the price of one, $12.95. OK, for that price I'll give it another chance. The payment was supposed to be due Monday June 15th.

On Monday I went online to make the payment and found a CREDIT. To my surprise they had REBATED half of the previous quarter balance. I thought "dang! they must be really desperate to keep subscribers. OK, I'll take it.

Today I went online to check programs scheduling and logged into my account to find it posted past due. I was really confused, and decided this was really more trouble than it's worth. I called again to cancel.

The nice customer service rep looked into the system and found that indeed there had been a rebate. She didn't know why it had been done that way but said they would respect it. In fact, she gave me the next TWO quarters. To the end of the year!

Are they really that desperate?

 

[radioman148]

Last week I called to cancel my service. The reasons: more repitition on some channels than we get on local terrestrial radio, the bottom feeder ads (you know, "thicker and wider" for one example) that we get more than enough of on radio here and a recurring technical issue that Sirius support blames on my car and , well it had just become a luxury I could no longer justify in the budget.

They offered 3 months for the price of one, $12.95. OK, for that price I'll give it another chance. The payment was supposed to be due Monday June 15th.

On Monday I went online to make the payment and found a CREDIT. To my surprise they had REBATED half of the previous quarter balance. I thought "dang! they must be really desperate to keep subscribers. OK, I'll take it.

Today I went online to check programs scheduling and logged into my account to find it posted past due. I was really confused, and decided this was really more trouble than it's worth. I called again to cancel.

The nice customer service rep looked into the system and found that indeed there had been a rebate. She didn't know why it had been done that way but said they would respect it. In fact, she gave me the next TWO quarters. To the end of the year!

Are they really that desperate?

It appears that way. They're offering deals to lots of people--basically begging them to stay.

 

[livingfruitvirus]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

 

[radioman148]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

They deserve to lose subscribers the way they've destroyed the channels.
The 60s channel has been gutted and is a mere shell of what it once was.

 

[andreajesus]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

and part of the reason for that 400,000-plus subscriber drop is, in my opinion, that when the two services merged, air positions were ELIMINATED at BOTH networks - and let's face it, there are still those who appreciate hearing a personality on satellite radio and were not too happy when they let go of some people...

 

[radioman148]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

and part of the reason for that 400,000-plus subscriber drop is, in my opinion, that when the two services merged, air positions were ELIMINATED at BOTH networks - and let's face it, there are still those who appreciate hearing a personality on satellite radio and were not too happy when they let go of some people...

And the special features that they used to carry are gone.
I liked the Top 6 on the hour & Here & There on the 60s channel.

 

[malawichild]

I'd venture to say that a good portion of Sirius' subscriber bleed was the BS they pulled with Bubba the Love Sponge. Instead of getting an unedited show 5 days a week, they give us 1. Now, Bubba isn't all there is to listen to on Sirius, but for me and a lot of others, he's one of the biggest reasons. I've flirted with dumping my subscription based on this, and with the news of these incentives, I have to give these suckers a call.

 

[ceaser]

Now honestly,sirius/xm makes it's money mostly on recievers for cars and trucks etc.With the car industry crippled financially that might explain the loss in subs.

 

[Kent]

It appears that way. They're offering deals to lots of people--basically begging them to stay.

I decided I wasn't willing to pay the increased price on the extra radio I had. So, I called them to cancel, and they gave me 3 months for the price of one. I kept it. I called to cancel right after that deal expired a couple of weeks ago, and they gave me 5-for-1. I'm keeping it at least until November. I figure, if they don't offer me anymore deals, I can add the online for less than a second radio, and it's completely portable on my iPhone. However, I suspect they'll offer me a deal in November, too.

 

[AZJoe]

I'd venture to guess that much of the 400,000+ subs lost with Sirius/XM this year were in part the people who subscribed to both services. It was said about 3% of people who had Xm or Sirius also had the other. When they merged, 90% of their programming was the same- so why have both? I cancelled some of my duplicates also. The economy also hasnt helped nor the pitiful shape of the auto sales factor.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

AZJoe well said, it is all the above. Don't forget that XM and Sirus merge started long before the country fell into this depression. Remember that when FM radio started a lot of FM radio stations went busted or came very very close to it. Satellite radio is hitting that same road right now every pot hole that combined with the state our country (USA) is in right now and you can see where there problems might be. If FM radio is any sign of what's to come in the future for satellite radio then they have to find a way to hang on whatever that might be.

 

[radioman148]

AZJoe well said, it is all the above. Don't forget that XM and Sirus merge started long before the country fell into this depression. Remember that when FM radio started a lot of FM radio stations went busted or came very very close to it. Satellite radio is hitting that same road right now every pot hole that combined with the state our country (USA) is in right now and you can see where there problems might be. If FM radio is any sign of what's to come in the future for satellite radio then they have to find a way to hang on whatever that might be.

I think that's exactly what they're trying to do. Hang on and see what happens.

 

[Shredder]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

They deserve to lose subscribers the way they've destroyed the channels.
The 60s channel has been gutted and is a mere shell of what it once was.

Agreed. It used to be my favorite channel, but I can't even listen to it anymore. Now I mostly just keep CBS FM tuned in. You can almost psychically guess which of the same 15 or so songs will come on next. I'm starting to get really tired of that stevie wonder harmonica song, and it's a good tune!

You'd think that with this many subscribers lost, apparently the most since the merger, they'd get the clue that all the changes suck. What will it take for them to restore it to it's former glory?

 

[radioman148]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

They deserve to lose subscribers the way they've destroyed the channels.
The 60s channel has been gutted and is a mere shell of what it once was.

Agreed. It used to be my favorite channel, but I can't even listen to it anymore. Now I mostly just keep CBS FM tuned in. You can almost psychically guess which of the same 15 or so songs will come on next. I'm starting to get really tired of that stevie wonder harmonica song, and it's a good tune!

You'd think that with this many subscribers lost, apparently the most since the merger, they'd get the clue that all the changes suck. What will it take for them to restore it to it's former glory?

I've sent them several emails regarding my disatisfaction with what they've done to the 60s channel.
I've asked them to bring back the Top 6 on the hour as well as some other features.

 

[tommygraser]

They cant be to desperate to keep subscribers since they are adding Music Royalty Fee of $1.98/Month Beginning 7-29-2009

 

[RadioLoverIL]

What would be interesting after this extra $2 goes into effect, is if someone called into cancel, and they were offered the 3 months free, but a person turned that down and counter-offered by asking them to waive the music royalty fees for a year, what the response would be. Because think about it, wouldn't waiving the music royalty fees for a year be cheaper for Sirius/XM than giving away 3 free months?

 

[zman]

I've wondered if they were doing this for a bunch of people. We have calledto cancell our SIRIUS account a number of times in the last year and in the last twelve months we have paid for a total o two of them. The reason we were droping is for financail reasons but if they are going to keep giving us free months we'll keep exepting them.

 

[XavierRenegade]

Yes they are. They lost 404,000 subs in the last quarter. The first posted subscriber loss since the launch of either service.

They deserve to lose subscribers the way they've destroyed the channels.
The 60s channel has been gutted and is a mere shell of what it once was.

Agreed. It used to be my favorite channel, but I can't even listen to it anymore. Now I mostly just keep CBS FM tuned in. You can almost psychically guess which of the same 15 or so songs will come on next. I'm starting to get really tired of that stevie wonder harmonica song, and it's a good tune!

You'd think that with this many subscribers lost, apparently the most since the merger, they'd get the clue that all the changes suck. What will it take for them to restore it to it's former glory?

This has gotten me to think. People talk about the problems of HD radio but Sirius/XM have been having a lot problems. If Sirius/XM is really desperate for subscribers you would think they would try to fix the channels. Since the channel changes late last year people have been complaining about the channels not being the same.

There had been talks about them going Bankrupt and possibly going out business but what about HD radio. I don't see how you can say HD radio going out of business. If Sirius is still here I don't see how HD radio will go away either. The big question is do you still want to keep your subscription to Sirius or XM? Do you want to go back to listening to FM?

I could purchase a Slacker Radio and listen to music that way but then you don't get News, Talk Radio, Sports or Comedy. I don't want only music. That's why I would go for an HD radio. There are many problems with HD radio but also some problems with Sirius/XM. With the HD radio your only purchasing the unit and not paying for the monthly subscription. You are also getting fewer channels. The people that do have satellite have so many more channels. I don't think there are any local radio stations that just do Comedy. Satellite radio has some niche stations that you would never have on terrestrial radio. That's one the reasons to have Satellite.

 

[strangelove]

I canceled mine within 3 weeks of the merger. My favorite channels were gutted and it wasn't worth the (then) $9.95 a month for the same tired songs I could get for free on the abysmal radio stations here in South Florida. Sorry, 'Rock Lobster' on the so-called college channel and all U2 all the time on the classic alternative channel (formerly Fred on 44) isn't worth what I could be spending on Itunes.

 

[radioman148]

I canceled mine within 3 weeks of the merger. My favorite channels were gutted and it wasn't worth the (then) $9.95 a month for the same tired songs I could get for free on the abysmal radio stations here in South Florida. Sorry, 'Rock Lobster' on the so-called college channel and all U2 all the time on the classic alternative channel (formerly Fred on 44) isn't worth what I could be spending on Itunes.

How did you get a $9.95 rate? I thought it was $12.95 for the first radio.