Satillite Radio

[AtticusFinch]

Recently got Sirius Satellite Radio in my new car and now I wonder why anyone would listen to the pure trash of terrestrial radio.

Local Boston radio has become a vast wasteland of mostly radical right wing propaganda on the talk station, repetitive news on WBZ and overly programming music stations that are not worth a dial turn.

Sirius is an inexpensive option with about 100 Plus choices across the radio topic spectrum.

Wonder if it is cutting into local radio and local radio profits. Believe some if not all local radio stations will not accept ads from Sirius or XM Radio nor will they let on-air talent even mention that it exists.

Once we come out of this recession I believe Satellite radio will take off again as did cable about 10 years ago and local - particularly AM'ers will be on the auction block for pennies and the FM will not be far behind.

Are there any rating measurements for Sirius or XM at this point?

 

[radio zombie]

I don't know about the rest of the country, but the notoriusly frugal New England
mentality may not be ready to spend for satellite radio as rapidly as the industry
may hope. (Even if there is much truth to your review of terrestrial radio).

 

[KarsonWithaK]

I had Sirius for a year, free with purchase of overly priced automobile. The real truth comes when you have to write a check, when that year is done. I loved the choices but not enough to part with $150 for something I used for twenty minutes to work and twenty minutes home. If I need more selections I can stream AOL Radio or Pandora through my iPhone in my car.

To me, the iPhone makes me feel the same way as when I bought that first Sony Walkman. Free to take my music and radio anywhere!

K~

 

[Don Juan]

Recently got Sirius Satellite Radio in my new car and now I wonder why anyone would listen to the pure trash of terrestrial radio.

....My $.02.

1.) People don't want to pay for radio.

2.) There is no real compelling content on Satellite...unless you have a specific music genre you are crazy about. (Smooth Jazz, 50's, MOR, Stern, etc.)

3.) Local Content....while WBZ may be repetitive, it's one place you can (almost) always count on to bring you local news when something happens. Howie Carr gives you local politics. WEEI/WBZ-FM give you local sports. Matty gives you local flavor, etc. Satellite radio cannot even comment on whether you are baking in heat or suffering in a snowstorm.

4.) People don't care enough about ANY radio to put money and effort behind getting satellite radio.

5.) They don't want to have to buy multiple subscriptions for listening in multiple places. (Want to listen on your computer? Pay another fee! On your iPhone? In your office?)

6.) Most of the 100+ channels get very few listening. Surprisingly, the Sirius XM channels that get a lot of listening are the ones that mimic the over-the-air formats. 60/70's oldies, Adult Contemporary, etc.

7.) If you listed all the satellite radio listening in the Boston area (and I mean the total of ALL the channels at once), it wouldn't even amount to a full share point.

Believe some if not all local radio stations will not accept ads from Sirius or XM Radio nor will they let on-air talent even mention that it exists.

That's not all that odd. Newspapers often have policies not to announce specific radio stations outside of a "local area radio station". Most radio stations do not allow talent to mention ANY radio station....never mind Sirius/XM channels.

Once we come out of this recession I believe Satellite radio will take off again as did cable about 10 years ago and local - particularly AM'ers will be on the auction block for pennies and the FM will not be far behind.

You are getting a kick out of Satellite radio because it is new to you....just like when a new station appears on the diel..it is interesting, and sounds unique..because you haven't heard it before.

You DO know that Sirius/XM is in big trouble don't you? They are up to their eyeballs in debt and have not posted a profit yet. The public has shown they are not impressed with it. The stock is in the dumper.

I would not be surprised if they declare a bankruptcy somewhere along the line.

The end point is internet radio...and then you can get AOL Radio and other services for free.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Re: Satellite Radio

Satellite radio will always have a small niche audience. If they can
change their business model,and get vast numbers of subscribers at
a greatly reduced price, they might hold on for a while longer.
Personally, if there is music I like, I already have it in some recorded
form already. How many of the other channels would I actively listen to?
Why should I pay a monthly fee for several channels devoted to my
favorites, when I can call them up on demand, in the comfort of my
own car?

 

[raccoonradio]

I don't mind paying for sat. radio even though I don't use it as often as I prob. should, and wish it were slightly cheaper. I do like some of the specialty music channels and also major league baseball (imp. to me with playoffs
coming)

I pay by the month and like to look at it as 50 cents a day or so. I don't really buy the Globe anymore so there's
$1.00/$1.50 per day that can go to XM instead...so yeah, worth it to me.

 

[Speaker of Truth]

Commercial radio is dying a slow quiet death on both AM and FM, with Boston being one of the worst large markets as far as radio that I've ever heard..

I've given up on terrestrial radio entirely..XM/Sirus has some excellent options including Stern, O&A, Bubba and commercial free music..I listen on my computer on a daily basis..

As far as bankruptcy, Clear Channel, Entercom, Citadal and Cumulus will be in Chapter 11 long before XM/Sirus..

 

[KarsonWithaK]

Commercial radio is dying a slow quiet death on both AM and FM, with Boston being one of the worst large markets as far as radio that I've ever heard..

From my perspective, Jon Stewart may have said it best, "we make the doughnuts, we don't drive the trucks." As long as artists, performers and personalities are providing compelling entertainment then someone while find a profitable way to distribute that content.

K~

 

[Don Juan]

I've given up on terrestrial radio entirely..XM/Sirus has some excellent options including Stern, O&A, Bubba and commercial free music..I listen on my computer on a daily basis..

As long as you dont want to be informed of things happenning in your own backyard, then fine. ;-) If Stern, O&A & Bubba satisfy your need for good radio...then you're off to the races! Enjoy!

As far as bankruptcy, Clear Channel, Entercom, Citadal and Cumulus will be in Chapter 11 long before XM/Sirus..

Not true. Radio is in bad shape everywhere...AM, FM AND satellite.

They are all under incredibly heavy debt loads and are all on the brink. It is not true that Sirius/XM is in a much better position than the big broadcast companies.

 

[Neanderpaul]

Sorry...But this whole thread is just troll bait.

The original post reads like a viral marketing campaign. Satellite radio is an undeniable failure.

See: CB Radio.

It may survive as a niche option. But, the game is over. The consumer knows it's out there, and have chosen not to take part.

You want concrete evidence? Apple's putting FM tuners in their new Ipods. So much for the death of terrestrial radio huh? Were the cutting edge technology the wave of the future, you know Gates and Jobs would've embraced it, and perhaps saved the medium.

Nice try. Satellite = CB

10-4. Over.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Commercial radio is dying a slow quiet death on both AM and FM

Commercial radio dying a slow death? The 92% of the US population who listen to AM/FM radio at least once a week would disagree with you. The 93% of the US population ages 18-49 who listen to AM/FM radio at least once a week would disagree with you. The 94% of the US population with incomes over $75,000/year who listen to AM/FM Radio at least once a week would disagree with you. The 94% of US college graduates who listen to AM/FM radio at least once a week would disagree with you. Radio has retained 86% of its total TSL despite all the other choices out there.

Doesn't sound like any kind of death to me.

(Source: The Radio Advertising Bureau)

 

[radio zombie]

Commercial radio is dying a slow quiet death on both AM and FM

In my opinion, saying commercial radio is dying and talking about the heavy
debt load of those stations as the reason, is comparing apples and oranges.
Just because corporations, whether through bad luck, bad investments, (i.e. Citadel/ABC)
or just stupid fiscal policies, brought some companies to the brink of financial meltdown,
doesn't mean the public isn't listening. (An earlier post citing listening stats bears that out).
It's going to be a long, uphill battle to get consumers to pay for what satellite is currently
offering.

 

[FrankK80]

Radio isn't dead people! Do you drive by people at stoplights? If so, listen to what they are listening to...the RADIO!!!

 

[raccoonradio]

True, or in some cases satellite radio through their radio. (I also drive by one location where someone has Sirius beaming from their own apartment--usually Howard 100 but the other day it sounded like ESPN radio, and I don't mean 890..was coming in on 88.5) Satellite may have a small piece of the pie but some do subscribe, like me (for
music I don't get elsewhere, some talk shows, MLB, etc.)

>>It may survive as a niche option.

Some are saying wifi/Net radio listening in the car could be the next niche too

 

[Neanderpaul]

>>It may survive as a niche option.

Some are saying wifi/Net radio listening in the car could be the next niche too

Could be...but Terrestrial's already on the net. And getting lots of listeners. So, as long as the local radio is well executed and properly targeted, there should be no real threat.

I'd say "net radio" is far more potentially viable a competitor than satellite. But, again...we do what we do better than they do. And until fidelity compression and net burps are not an issue...

Not yet.

 

[JoshuaC]

I wonder how someone can get off saying that paying $30 a month plus initial equipment costs for Satellite Radio is inexpensive compared to paying $0 a month for radio. Hell... even if you go out and buy an HD Radio it's still cheaper.

Satellite Radio does have its uses... it's great for my friends who travel long distances for business and don't feel like channel surfing. However... for listen-around-town use it is a gimmick and little more.

Internet Radio is more likely the heir-apparent (if you are to believe terrestrial radio is dying). However, as an engineer I have always had the following problem with Internet Radio:

A Radio is a pretty standardized piece of equipment and one can assume that, short of serious damage, one will function about as good as another. I can take for granted that the radio in your car or on your desk will pick up my FM or AM Signal (assuming it is present). So, I have control of the product from the point of origination (the studio) to the point of transmission (the Tower Site) and to some extent the point of reception (I can rely on the receiver properly functioning and short of severe atmospheric phenomenon I can rely on the signal propagating properly).

With Internet Radio, I likely only have control at the point of origin. Generally the streaming provider is a third-party (it costs an arm and a leg to do it yourself) so if something goes wrong with them I have to twiddle my thumbs until they fix it. Even assuming it works, I have no way of knowing what sort of network traffic/restrictive protocols exist between the point of transmission (streaming provider) and the point of reception (your computer or internet desktop radio). I can't rely on the receiver to get a reliable stream based on my skills at the point of origin, and so I cannot guarantee as much Quality of Service.

 

[CrankyYankee]

You won't believe this(then again, maybe you will)but I got XM Radio because I lived out in the sticks and radio was spotty and many formats that you city dewllers could get very easily just aren't available up here in the woods. At the time I was driving a LOT more than I amnow ansd was in the car for 8+ hours a day and satellite radio was a Godsend. Due to the money crunch I've since discoed the service but I thought I'd add my two cents to this thread.

 

[radiojay1]

Sorry...But this whole thread is just troll bait.

The original post reads like a viral marketing campaign. Satellite radio is an undeniable failure.

See: CB Radio.

It may survive as a niche option. But, the game is over. The consumer knows it's out there, and have chosen not to take part.

You want concrete evidence? Apple's putting FM tuners in their new Ipods. So much for the death of terrestrial radio huh? Were the cutting edge technology the wave of the future, you know Gates and Jobs would've embraced it, and perhaps saved the medium.

Nice try. Satellite = CB

10-4. Over.

CB is still being used by many over the road truckers as I have heard on my scanner, but I am sure some truckers are listening to satellite radio as they can keep one station on without having to change it like when a terrestrial radio station fades out.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Satellite Radio

Comparing CB radio to satellite radio is absurd. The former is very local, 2-way
point-to-point communication. The latter is one-way broadcast. One has
absolutely nothing to do with the other. Long-haul trucking is exactly in the
niche for satellite radio's existence.

 

[Don Juan]

As far as bankruptcy, Clear Channel, Entercom, Citadal and Cumulus will be in Chapter 11 long before XM/Sirus..

http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=1503775&spid=32061

A study by the Wall Street firm Audit Integrity thinks the satellite radio operator may not be out of the woods yet. It concludes there's a 9% risk of the company filing Chapter 11 in the next year to deal with a large debt load.