Siriusly lacking

[greatbear]

I am a fan of satellite radio. I was skeptical at first when XM first hit the airwaves and ushered in the first nationwide 'pay radio' service. Formed by the same people who created Clear Channel Communications, otherwise known as The Bastards That Ruined Radio Forever, I could not see spending money to basically receive the same commercial-laden stuff that could be found for free all over the place. Then another player calling themselves Sirius came into the picture. Slightly more expensive, their music channels were delightfully free of commercials, and they even touted a GLBT-focused channel. I eventually took the bait and been a faithful subscriber for at least six years now. XM, forced to play catch-up, removed commercials from most of their music channels.

A bit over a year ago, I bought a new truck that came with an XM receiver. After the 3 free months I paid for a year just to have something different. Life was mostly good. Neither service, despite millions of subscribers was truly a profitable venture. Sirius, in all their wrongheaded stupidity (IMO) lured shock-jock Howard Stern to their service, for an insane 500 million dollars. While this did create a big increases in subscriptions for the Sirius service, it was also a huge financial noose for the service. Eventually, or should I say inevitably, the two operations floated the idea of a merger. Somehow they managed to convince regulatory agencies that this would not constitute a monopoly, that the merged entities would be good for the consumer, prices would not rise, and all the other typical lies. The merger happened, and this past Wednesday, the fruits of the merger were finally foisted onto the faithful listeners.

Needless to say, I was not happy.

The music channels, once independent to each, were combined across both services, with portions of XM's selections joining those from Sirius and removing redundant channels. Other 'exclusive' content remained on each other's respective service as a way to have people sign up for more content at additional costs. The music lineup originally hosted by Sirius was now diluted and actually less varied.

My subscription to XM was up in about a week, so I called to cancel it. Of course, I was subjected to the retention spiels offering the service at half price, etc. When asked why I was canceling, I told the dutiful phone jockey over in India that I was no longer getting anything I cared for via XM that I was now getting through Sirius.

Jeff went through the revised music channel lineup on his Sirius radio and decided it was no longer worth it and canceled his subscription today. I will give a bit of time to see how the new lineup pans out on my remaining Sirius subscription, but I have a feeling I will be tossing that as well. We both have a lot of money invested in receivers and accessories between us (Jeff has two, I have three) and it'd be a shame to toss it all. Many of the benefits I had with Sirius at the outset have evaporated. The once vibrant OutQ gay channel has become tedious for the most part, Larry Flick (lfkbear) rose to new heights of arrogance and pomposity (especially after Hillary Clinton lost the primary election, whereupon he used his morning show as a bully pulpit to remind us how upset he was time after time). The weekends, once used for music and other personalities were relegated to reruns of weekly shows. Most of what I would listen to is played while I am at work. So this no longer is of interest.

Here's my prediction of what will happen to the new merged SiriusXM service: Prices will rise. That's a given. Commercials will slowly infect the service at increasing rates until they invade the music channels. And if any new channels are added, they will be of no interest to me. By that time, I will have canceled it all for good and tossed out my hardware. At this point, really, I couldn't care less if SiriusXM remains a viable business entity. They are pissing off subscribers, and they are leaving. At least the satellites themselves can be used for celestial target practice.

Comments

[thetarnishedowl.livejournal.com]

I was very happy with my XM service, but today noticed the change in the music channels. The one big change that I really don't like is the presence of DJs. I just want the music. Ugh.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

DJs were in place in most of the pop or otherwise 'energetic' music channels on Sirius, but many channels were all music. I've noticed that in the surviving 'overlap' channels, the one which had the DJs seem to have made the cut. Ironic, since a personality costs them more money. However, the presence of a DJ and the interrupted nature of the music stream makes inserting commercials a lot easier.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Yep, the disco channels are out. Sirius had a total of five dance/electronica/disco channels, now there are three.

[woofytexan.livejournal.com]

Derek on OutQ said the 70s on 7 channel will be undergoing a retool to focus more on disco and the other 70s music will go to the classic rock station.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, I think the channels I listen to are mostly unchanged: The Virus (must have my Ron and Fez, and O&A (mostly for Jim Norton, because we like our pervs.)), and the uncensored comedy channel 150. I also listen to the Rock-ish channels (my head unit has a channel mode and a genre mode when turning the dial. Very handy if you only want to stay within a genre. I don't know if they all do this), but I haven't scanned through them today. I hope they kept both the hard-core metal station, as well as the lighter "hair metal" station. From what I hear, Ethel, Fred, Lucy, etc are all still there, but their names have changed (I'm a 'friend of Fred').

XM used to only have adverts on their spoken word channels (Virus, Comedy 150, etc), but none of the music channels. I expect this to slowly change. They also got rid of XM on SAT TV. I know a lot of people used to catch XM on SAT TV.

Yes, prices will rise. I'll still pay $35/year (which is what I have been paying), but not more than $60/year. Of course, if they crap it up with more ads, then I'll toss it. A shame, as that's *all* I listen to anymore.

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

I had Sirius in the old MINI and when I got the new MINI two years ago I decided not to get it. So much music out there was never played on Sirius because entire record labels failed to negotiate contracts with Sirius. Stuff with cheap royalties got overplayed to death (Barry White has to have the cheapest royalties in the world) I just felt like I wasn't getting the body of music I could get elsewhere for free. I pay that kind of money every month I want all you can give me, not all you think you can get by with giving me. I left.

I got an iPod and a MINI iPod adapter that runs thru the head unit. My music, free and when I want to hear it.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

OutQ weekend music was the big draw that got me to sign up. Now that's gone and i just don't do talk radio, I use music to lull the subsconcious when I work. Talking is a distraction. I need to talk to Dave, he rarely ever has his on and mine is only on a few hours a day at the most.

[shuntphl.livejournal.com]

I have given up my Sirius radio two years ago in favor of podcasts where I can really fine-tune my playlists and talk shows to my liking.

I used to listen to OutQ, but most of the programming was just too pompous and "too gay" for me, except for Larry Flick and John McMullen. When John left, I cancelled my subscription.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

I never got into Sat radio, namely because I could not afford it (don't have cable either) and I"m not much of a radio listener to begin with. 2 NPR stations and KMTT on good ol' FM are it and KMTT plays a wide mix of music and rarely ever plays the same thing twice in a program so there is an endless stream of never repeating music and groups, from the rock/pop catalog that spans the 60's to current stuff, including the Indigo Girls, Cowboy Junkies, Nirvana and then play some goofy New Wave one hit wonder to a classic rock from the 70's, you get the idea.

But I don't listen to the radio much as far as time goes, in the mornings getting ready for work (KMTT) and NPR in the truck when not spinning CD's.

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

Having been a long term Sirius subscriber, I have to wonder where they'll finally land in terms of combined programming. So far, the channels I regularly listen to aren't too much changed. It could merely be an impression but the variety on the rebadged "On Broadway" channel has expanded. SiriusXM Pops seems less burdened with DJ babble. And oddest of all, the overall sonics seem improved. I read long ago that XM transmission system offered better sound and am wondering if that's part of what I'm hearing. Or, is it just another of my delusions...

[joelbear1.livejournal.com]

i don't listen as much as i did when i was commuting to work, since now i am not working but i rarely go up the dial past 9 or 10. i stopped listening to OutQ because it wasn't interesting. i was quite disappointed with Larry's show.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Larry used to have weekend where he would play a variety of music from many different artists and genres. Either the station will no longer pay him to do this, or he feels he does not want to do it anymore. The barrage of increasingly sleazy commercials dont help either. In just the past year he has become too obnoxious at times to bother with.

music - music - music

[disccub.livejournal.com]

My husband Phil has a Sirius radio. He will probably keep it despite the merger since, when he travels across state lines, he always can find the music/sports channels that he wants.

What has peaked my curiosity is the fact that Direct TV includes XM music stations as part of our digital TV package. I wonder if that will change somewhat. I usually listed to XM Cafe, which is a close approximation of WXPN's World Cafe (how many commercial radio stations have played the Ting Tings?)

Wasn't sure if I should use my Baby Daddy icon or the BNL icon. I decided that, since some people may feel that they are being deprived of something they enjoyed as a result of the merger, a group of men deprived of clothes would be the more appropriate icon.

Re: music - music - music

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I listen to WXPN via the internet at work. It is the ONLY station not blocked by the proxy now. Otherwise at home I mostly listen to 'net radio and stuff from my ridiculously huge library. I enjoy sat radio especially when traveling. While I can, and will listen to my iPod while driving, it takes effort and can be distracting. There are times when I want someone else to do the spinning within my selected genre, hopefully cluing me in on something new and/or different. I was raised on radio, and what passes for broadcast AM/FM radio is not even a sad remnant of what I grew up with.

[orejen.livejournal.com]

Whew! I had to go check the lineup to make sure Radio Margaritaville and the Grateful Dead channels were still there, or the SO would have had great frothing at the mouth.

He has a nice setup where he has Sirius through his Dishnetwork satelite. He runs a cable from his dvr to his computer and captures Jimmy Buffett and Grateful Dead concerts. He then tracks them, burns them and has copies of live concerts.

This new hobby makes him very happy and thus keeps me happy too.

I do wonder, with your prediction of rising prices, how that will affect their relationship with Dish? I'm sure there is some sort of contract in place, but when it comes time for renewal, what then? (I think I just used way too many commas.)

[nyrimmer.livejournal.com]

Like the Dead? Try this
http://www.nugs.net

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I've heard that XM's relationship with DirectTV has been severed, but didnt talk to anyone about it directly that I know uses DirectTV. Hell, I havent gone into the music channels of my own Dish Network in a while to see what has changed, if anything.

Already things have changed since the merge. I used to pay an additional 2.99 for 'premium' internet access that gives a high bandwidth (128k/s) stream both over the web and the wi-fi stream that my Stiletto receives. Now I have to subscribe to one of the 'everything' plans in order to get that. IMO the standard internet audio stream is unlistenable.

[jkusters]

So far, we're okay with the change. I think XM subscribers were less affected than Sirius, judging from the channels I listen to.

We lost U-POP, but got BBC1. I think that was a downgrade. Yeah, we lost disco, but I didn't listen to disco, so no loss for me. Deep Tracks is still there and seems to still be playing the music I like. We lost Fred, but got First Wave, which is more new wave oriented, which I am quite enjoying. Lucy turned to Lithium and lost all of the really, really hilarious bumpers. I think we're most saddened by that. And the On Broadway channel seems to have lost the host and weekly shows, and seems to be featuring less and less cast recordings. If there's anything I'm going to complain about, it's this last issue.

I listen mostly to talk, and so far they have kept all of the talk channels I used to listen to and have added NPR, a definite win. I'm hoping eventually we'll get OutQ, just to say I can listen to it. (What I've heard of it previously wasn't exactly to my liking, but it's important to me that it simply exists.)

Prices going up? Probably. More DJs and commercials? Possibly. Hopefully as they lose customers and start facing new competition, things will balance out before they hit bottom.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

If they eventually fail, it will be from their own fault. People are not happy at all for the most part, and are canceling left and right.

[nyrimmer.livejournal.com]

Being the cheapscate that I am I wouldn't ever pay for radio! I use Itunes and listen to commercial free radio all the time

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I got Sirius for traveling and for commercial free music for the most part. At home I tend to listen to 'net radio the most anyway. These days it will most affect what I listen to while driving more than anything else if I cancel.

[sparkygearhead.livejournal.com]

I've got both Sirius and XM receivers, and neither of them are hooked up. Between my iPod and my internet radios, I have no need of them. The only thing I truly enjoyed on XM was the comedy channel, and by the end of my subscription it seemed I'd heard everything they had to offer.

I can see where satellite radio would come in handy if you frequently drive long distances, but for me it would have been vanity to keep paying for something that provides me no value.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I kept XM in the truck after my free three was done, but I fully expected to quit after a year was up. I did that, but still have the Sirius receiver to listen to. I could never listen to XM on the web, they could never get it working.