This is an archive of the old Stones Cry Out site. For the current site, click here.
« Minuteman Project Update | Main | Immigration »
April 05, 2005
Satellite Radio’s Opening Day
A big difference in the media coverage of baseball’s opening day this year is its transmission on satellite radio over the XM network. XM signed a deal with Major League Baseball last October worth $650 million that enables the company to carry most regular and postseason games over the next several years.
For the young satellite radio industry, the baseball deal is another indication of viability. Rival Sirius Satellite Radio has a five-year, $500 million deal to bring Howard Stern on board in January 2006. Last year, Sirius also paid more than $220 million for the rights to broadcast all NFL games, adding to NBA and NHL (what’s that?) packages.
The satellite radio companies are pouring millions into their new ventures, and they are still swimming in red ink. But the new medium appears to be surging.
The New York Times reports today:
The announcement on Friday by XM Satellite Radio - the bigger of the two satellite radio companies - that it added more than 540,000 subscribers from January through March pushed the industry's customer total past five million after fewer than three and a half years of operation. Analysts call that remarkable growth for companies charging more than $100 annually for a product that has been free for 80 years. Total subscribers at XM and its competitor, Sirius Satellite Radio, will probably surpass eight million by the end of year, making satellite radio one of the fastest-growing technologies ever - faster, for example, than cellphones.
So if you want to listen to sports constantly or get your jollies from shock jocks like Howard Stern or Opie and Anthony, you’re all set. What else is happening here?
Actually, quite a lot. This is the first I’ve looked into the content available, and I’ll have to admit I’m impressed. There are many channels and a lot of variety. On XM, there are music channels of every kind, talk programs from the right and left. Sports galore. Christian music and talk. Several high octane programs. You pay more for access to the smut.
Check out the XM schedule.
There’s still the need to get the hardware, which it appears will set you back at least $150.
A big selling point for satellite radio is that is commercial-free. Your subscription of about $14 a month frees you from commercial overload.
One challenge for satellite radio is that there isn’t local programming, a problem for listeners who rely on the radio for local weather, traffic, and news. They’re making an effort to address this deficiency, but can only do so for major markets at this point.
The one thing I want to know before diving in is whether the reception is solid or spotty, particularly in bad weather. Lot’s of you are probably way ahead of me. How are you enjoying satellite radio so far?
Posted by Jim at April 5, 2005 09:20 AM
Trackback Pings
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Satellite Radio’s Opening Day :
» Satellite Radio - I just don't get it from Agricolae.net
Jim at Stones Cry Out talks about all of Satellite radio's content buys in the recent past (Stern, MLB, NFL, etc...) and the amount they cost. The key being to build the "viability" of the business. I have to admit, this is one business I just don't ... [Read More]
Tracked on April 7, 2005 04:07 PM
Comments
I love my XM. My favorite channel is Family Talk, though I also appreciate being able to listen to Fox News or CNN while on the road. You're right about there being no commercials on the music channels, but I should mention that the talk channels are NOT commercial free.
Reception is great unless you block the satallite reception. That can happen in long tunnels or even briefly when driving under bridges, but it hasn't bothered me.
I'd cancel my cable before I cancel my XM.
Posted by: mili at April 5, 2005 03:37 PM