I still haven't bought myself the satellite radio system I've been promising myself since last year. My problem is, I don't know which one to buy.
I strongly believe in signs from God and angels and dead relatives. The last time I left a comment on someone's blog, my password verification word was: XYMXS. Although, I take that as a sign from God (or from Angel Gabriel or from Aunt Gert) that I should buy the XM system, I am also interested in the opinions of you mere mortals.
Any thoughts?
22 comments:
I'm a radoi broadcasting student, and I would be interested in knowing why you would like a satellite radio. Perhaps you could post on it?
RADIO*
No more wine, I promise.
my sister swears by her xm radio. i'm in the market for one too... thinking about xm.
Well, I don't know about your XM vs. Sirius issue, but let me tell you the sign I had today! I found a new store that I just love called World Market. So many neat things to buy and I have already spent a ridiculous amount of money there. (Thanks to Toby's girlfriend for directing me to it.) This afternoon, I was at the cash register with my collection of rust and orange colored pillows, when I said to Brian, "You know who would like this store? Laurie." Just then the salesperson read my total. $111.11. You must come to this store. The gods have spoken.
I was listening to XM radio in the car tonight and on the 90's channel, they were playing The Complete Dave Matthews Band Collection. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't get any better than that.
I went through the same decision early last summer and found myself drawn -- who knows why -- to Sirius. I went with it and have never looked back. They have a free-form radio channel called Sirius Disorder that is pretty close to radio nirvana for me.
Neither.
1. Sat radios early promise to be commercial free has gone by the wayside and they're now bartering commercial time on both services.
2. Delphi Electronics (the maker of the XM system) filed for bankruptcy about two months ago (I had about 300 shares)
3. Although new cars are coming Sat equipped, it's going to be outdated soon because of
4. soon you'll be able to get the Internet in your car and listen to music through your Internet provider like you can now.
5. Of course, you can't beat local radio for news and information in a pinch! Don't forget, the commercials are there to help you: find the best deal, when to go, where to see them, etc.
MK - I originally posted on here about a year ago that my main reason for wanting satellite radio is because of yakkety disk jockeys (who give you no useful song information) and lack of choice in music. We are only presented with what the programmers think we want to hear. Those reasons still stand. I think I'll do another post about the subject. Thanks for the nudge.
WB42 and Becca - You see my dilemma...
Jen - !!!! Weird! Our World Market just opened and I see about a dozen things in the flyer that I must have. You are correct. The Gods have spoken.
Fav File Clerk - That's a mark in the XM column!
RWS - And now, a mark for Sirius. We're neck and neck again.
George - It isn't the commercials that bother me. It's disc jockeys who chatter on and on endlessly for no reason.
News and weather are, of course, important but I can get that information from any number of sources.
Commercials don't bother me but the lack of information on the songs that are played drives me up a wall.
The main selling point for satellite radio is all about music choice. I get to decide what I am going to listen to. The decision isn't made for me according to what some anonymous programmer thinks I want to hear.
Sometimes, I want to hear comedy or talk radio. Here in Southeast Texas, our radio choices just cannot compete with 120 channels of sports, music, comedy, news and entertainment channels.
You could either wait until the Internet system becomes widely available in cars, then you'll have wi-fi, podcasting, etc. or if you MUST buy a system now, go with XM technology. (my 300 shares) The company could use your business and other than Sirius having Howard Stern (yakety vulgar disc jockey) the two services seem to be the same.
LG - I can't think of a better reason to buy than to help my friends get rich. You have pushed the For Column way over toward XM.
Go for XM. I love it. I love it. Did I say, I love it?
Cynic and Paul - If not for LG's plea to recover some of the money he invested in Delphi, we'd be back at a stand-off. (Paul, I reluctantly admit that I do like Howard Stern. His toadies get on my nerves but I like Howard.)
It's all so subjective. I'm no fan of Howard Stern, or of talk radio in general. I listen to Sirius for the music, and its music channels remain commercial-free with no indication (that I'm aware of) of that changing. It's a huge improvement over radio peppered with ads, and should Sirius ever decide to go with commercials, I'll be out of there in no time flat.
My brother bought a Sirius system and loved it for thirteen months until the receiver stopped receiving. Customer service told him that they don't do repairs and since the twelve month warrenty had expired, he had to purchase another one for $300. He opted to cancel his subscription.
I love my XM radio. It was factory
installed in my vehicle and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
You get free access to XM radio
channels with your subscription on
your computer.
Laurie -
Personally, I'm a sirius fan. Mostly becuase I have several friends who are working for them. I've had it for a year or so. Either System is good - all depends on what you want.
Sirius does a good job with it's programming and offers some great music channels, but can get repetitive. XM tends to be a little obscure sometimes (they will say "deep")
Going to MK's point - This past year I celebrated my 20th year in broadcasting. I worked in stations for 14 years and for the past six have worked for a consultancy. Today's radio is not very good. I don't think that talent today is very well directed. The Telcom bill made a lot of people (wallstreet) a lot of of money but it put a premium on profitability and owners/GM's are less likely to invest in new or groundbreaking formats/talent.
This has handcuffed good programmers into doing the same-old same-old. Sat. radio is allowing more creativity without the pressure and politics that prevail in today's stations. Hopefully as a broadcasting student you are learing the sales end as well as the programming end and the production end. Word of advice - good production people always find work - can't be said for talent though.
rws - It's all about the music, isn't it?
Ed - I would cancel, too. That leans me back toward XM.
Cousin Susan - Ah, the family has finally weighed in. I might have to go XM.
Al - Thanks for all that info. I've learned a lot about the radio business from you and Lonesome George.
What Al says is very accurate. Of course before "corporate" radio, I used to hate consultants! (Sorry Al)
In any case, now that I am a part of corporate radio I have to make two points:
1. Advertising is the oldest profession on the planet. Right - it predates the other so-called oldest by three seconds. You have to tell it before you can sell it. In 29 years of broadcasting I've learned that businesses that advertise the most, are the biggest in the long run. This is because they give good service, or sell a good product and back it up, once people have accepted their public invitation to come into their store and try them out. All the advertising in the world won't help a crappy product or bad service.
2. Advertising is a good thing. Even bad ads (and there is a lot of them around) are giving you some kind of information. Everything you have, touch, own, sleep on, drive in, wear, eat or drink has been advertised at some point. Advertising helps us get the best deal, save the money, find what we want, see the show we want to see, and so on.
I can't stand it when people say they hate advertising (even though I personally channel surf during tv commercials). Advertising, is what makes the whole world go-round.
Sadly, like Al says, most radio is cookie cutter corporate boilerplate. So sat radio does have that edge musically, but at a price. Why not simply purchase a multi-disc CD player for the car?
Sorry to be so long winded.
gf
Lonesome George - No need to apologize. It's all very interesting.
Regarding the multi-disk CD-player: the problem with that suggestion is that it will only play what I have already purchased or already know about. The biggest attraction to the satellite radio is the exposure to obscure music that I know nothing about.
LG wrote: "I can't stand it when people say they hate advertising (even though I personally channel surf during tv commercials). Advertising, is what makes the whole world go-round."
Zzzzzzzz....
rws - Let the games begin...
Rhonda - I'm the same way about Howard Stern. But, after listening to both XM and Sirius on the internet through free trials, I'm leaning toward XM. The music seems to be more eclectic.
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