XM Radio 33% Price Increase

[DJ Dale]

I have been a subscriber with XM radio for a while and chose XM somewhat for format over Sirius but the big factor was the cheaper price.

I was shocked to get a price increase in the mail today. Now the prices have increased to $12.95.

Its only $3 but still I think this is a pretty radical price increase just because they added a couple stations I'll never listen to.

I know there are a lot of XM subscribers on this board.

I'm curious to see how others feel about this.

[Delirious Nomad]

Good thing I just paid for 1-year in January! :)

That's a pretty "sirius" jump (pun intended)....although probably inevitable and most likely necessary to keep the format. I don't listen to any of the new stations.

No matter for me. I will be jumping over to Sirius in the next month or so. So I'll have both for 9 months or so. Don't get me wrong, I still love XM Radio and would recommend it to anyone, but FOR ME PERSONALLY, I think Sirius has really come around and has better programming now...and since they're the same price, I'm just doin' it.

Sirius has most of the news/talk stations that I listen to on XM.
Sirius has the same stations that my kids listen to.
Sirius has the NFL and XM has baseball....and I like football MUCH better.
Sirius has most, if not all, of the NCAA conferences. XM has only 3. (3 that I don't listen to)
Sirius has the same type of rock stations.
Sirius has 2 stations similar to XM's "The Boneyard". They have "Hair Nation" that plays all of our "hair" bands and they have "The Buzz Saw" that plays 80's and 90's rock like Van Halen, Def Leppard, Scorpions, Aerosmith, etc....
XM's "The Boneyard" combines the 2 genres (which is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Sirius also has a station called "Classic Rewind" that plays "later" classic rock like The Police, The Cars, Journey, Boston, etc..... It's separate from their "early" classic rock with songs from CCR, The Beatles, and Jefferson Airplane. XM combines these 2 eras into 1 station as well.

I also like Sirius's "Hard Attack" better than XM's "Liquid Metal".

Again, I think the price jump was inevitable and most likely necessary.

[rushtrader]

I listen to the Sirius streams almost every day at work. I don't know if XM does that, but with Sirius you can (as a sunscriber) listen to the music channels via an Internet stream. Their Rock stations are great and they have most of the DJs that we in NY/Long Island grew up with, probably because they are a New York based business.

The combination of all of these factors makes Sirius a far more compelling option, especially now that XM has raised their subscription price.

RT

[ZSHOTS]

I just got XM in December and am pissed but not surprised at the increase - although now XM online becomes available at NO extra cost [ previously 3.99 month extra] starting in April. I figure Sirius and XM will continue to raise there rates together- once you got it you will continue to pay more and they know that. It reminds me of the Cable increases - although with cable you have no other choice but Cablevision or no cable. I like XM for the interviews and rare recordings- live etc. They had Rush an doing acoustic set live and just today I heard rare Beatles stuff - It sure beats commercial radio.

[southernwhiskey]

XM has opie and anthony and will no longer be a premium channel plus who the hell listens to football when they are home watching tv on sunday

[DJ Dale]

The football can be nice since I live in Atlanta and am a Miami Dolphin fan. It would be nice to hear there games.

I am giving XM a second thought......

Might be time to reconsider Sirius......

[Delirious Nomad]

XM has opie and anthony and will no longer be a premium channel plus who the hell listens to football when they are home watching tv on sunday

I do......
When I'm at the lake kicking back with a beer and keepin' an eye on the kids.
Or maybe I'm at the pool...or maybe in my car traveling to or from somewhere.

Plus, I can listen to any game I want. That comes in very handy since I play Fantasy Football every year. I may want to listen to the Oakland/Seattle game at noon and the Atlanta/San Francisco game at 3.

Can't get that on tv.
:D

[Delirious Nomad]

The football can be nice since I live in Atlanta and am a Miami Dolphin fan. It would be nice to hear there games.

I am giving XM a second thought......

Might be time to reconsider Sirius......

I'd siriusly consider it.
:D

[CarlW53]

I heard that XM is buying the puppy company. Is that true????

[Delirious Nomad]

That rumor has been flying for awhile.
No action yet, but I could see it happening....especially with Sirius getting much closer in the rearview mirror.
:D

[DJ Dale]

puppy company?

Is it just me.....XM says its commercial free but I hear commercials quite a bit?

[DJ Dale]

One more thing.....

I'm paying for the online streaming which is great but isnt that why I spent $70 for the home kit?

Sorry I guess I'm venting but I spend more time listening to radio than I do watching TV so this is a pretty big deal.

Looks like I'll be selling everything on ebay and starting over....oh well... :)

[Delirious Nomad]

puppy company?

Is it just me.....XM says its commercial free but I hear commercials quite a bit?

The "music channels" are commercial free.
Things like Radio Disney, VH1, et al......they have commercials, I believe.

There should not be any commercials on the music channels.

[Delirious Nomad]

One more thing.....

I'm paying for the online streaming which is great but isnt that why I spent $70 for the home kit?

Sorry I guess I'm venting but I spend more time listening to radio than I do watching TV so this is a pretty big deal.

Looks like I'll be selling everything on ebay and starting over....oh well... :)

I take full advantage of my home kit. First, I don't do the "streaming" thing. I have hooked my home kit up to my computer through the "line in". So when I turn on my XM Radio, it comes right through my computer and its speakers. Then I have some software (very affordable) that allows me to record anything coming through my computer.
So I can record all of the XM that I want. Like live BBC concerts or in-studio appearances.

I recorded the Rush special when they were in the studio. I record Radio Disney for my kids.

And I don't know that I would junk XM Radio because of some of the issues that you have. You may run into the same situation with Sirius.

[DJ Dale]

I appreciate your input.

One thing important to me as a club DJ is the club/techno dance channels. Sirius has 5 to XMs 3.

I'm sure a bunch of people just cringed reading this ;) Yes...I'm a head bangin' rockin' roller but my DJ work has let me to the techno scene.

Just got a love for all types of music

[Delirious Nomad]

I appreciate your input.

One thing important to me as a club DJ is the club/techno dance channels. Sirius has 5 to XMs 3.

I'm sure a bunch of people just cringed reading this Yes...I'm a head bangin' rockin' roller but my DJ work has let me to the techno scene.

Just got a love for all types of music

Yes, I cringed.

Definitely gotta go where the work is. No doubt about that.
I think your own research is telling you which way you need to go.
If you need any other input, you know I'll chime in. :)

Good luck