I cannot decide?!
Question:
I cannot decide?
is sirius better than xm or not? both have too much frickin talking during the day, but they do seem the same. if sirius had my town like xm does it switch because of football, but the radio device is more expensive?
Answers: Everyone has their own idea about which is better (that's why there's chocolate AND vanilla - because everyone has different taste). But in actuality, they are both pretty much the same with the exception of sports.
I don't notice an excessive amount of talk on the music channels (I Have XM).
XM and Sirius, both public companies that you can buy stock in, are trying to merge. Both companies want this merger to save themselves. They have both spent LOTS of $$$ to set up their respective businesses and the subscription and advertising revenue hasn't come in as well as they'd hoped.
For instance, you should see the studios at XM in Washington - incredible! Every toy and gadget you could imagine. It's an engineer or DJ's playground... but very expensive!
Both fall under the authority of the FCC and FTC (among others). It is likely this merger will be allowed by the FCC (currently only one FCC commissioner is opposed). However the FTC may have a problem with the merger as they are concerned about a monopoly situation - though I wish they'd spend their resources on FPL, the Florida power company (but I digress).
The good news is that, if the merger is approved, the new company will be financially stronger than the two separate ones and the chances of you being able to enjoy satellite radio will be better under a stronger, merged single company.
One of the things promised by Sirius boss Mel Karmazin (who will undoubtedly end up as CEO of the merged company) is a special deal where you'd be able to select your favorite 50 stations from each service and only pay $6.99 per month for that new plan. Or keep the full service for about $13 (what you are paying now). There will also be other deals. Plus, all the sports will be available, so you don't have to choose which service to get based on whether you like football or baseball - you'll have it all: pro and NCAA.
The merger would be a good deal for all involved - except maybe terrestrial radio and certain employees who would be let go - as one of the reasons for the merger would be to cut costs by taking advantage of the economies of scale it would provide, i.e. only one accounting department, sales dept., combining some of the channels that are virtually identical, etc.
Others who might not benefit are those seeking jobs in the industry as there would be fewer jobs available and only the best, most mature and most experienced would be hired.
Hope this helps clear the air.
-a guy named duh
Sorry this is so long - new info:
This edit has more info direct from MSNBC:
Hoping to persuade skeptical regulators to approve their proposed merger, the nation’s two satellite radio companies announced detailed plans Monday to give consumers the ability to choose the programs that make up their subscription package.
The companies, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, said they would offer two “à la carte” pricing plans. One would enable consumers to purchase the best of the premium services now offered by each company — like professional football, baseball and basketball — for a monthly fee of $14.99. For $6.99 a month, the other would enable listeners to choose 50 of the nonpremium channels, with each additional channel costing 25 cents. To subscribe to the “à la carte” plans, consumers would have to buy new radios. Sounds like you are asking a question that you know the answer to.