XM/Sirius Merger Means More Choices for Existing Customers Too

[Charlie]

A new story entry has been added:

[drupal=2567]XM/Sirius Merger Means More Choices for Existing Customers Too[/drupal]

General Motors' executive director for satellite radio services, Richard Lee, sent out an e-mail this afternoon explaining that the newly merged XM and Sirius satellite radio companies would soon begin offering combined XM/Sirius services to existing XM and Sirius customers.

[unkle bik]

While this sounds encouraging, I am appoaching it with skeptcism. Anytime competition is eliminated or merged, it means less choices for the consumer. Less choices means weaker product. I am hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.
(XM subscriber for 3 years)

[1994Saturn]

Originally Posted by unkle bik

While this sounds encouraging, I am appoaching it with skeptcism. Anytime competition is eliminated or merged, it means less choices for the consumer. Less choices means weaker product. I am hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.
(XM subscriber for 3 years)

Very well put. I also have sirius for 2 years now, and really like it.

[VTHokie00SL2]

I wonder what it means for satellite ops. I have a feeling my friends up at Telesat in Ottawa and my friends at Sirius are going to be competing with each other to hold onto their satellites!

[TechnoAura]

You'll get new pricing and packages. In fact, there will be exciting new subscription packages that combine the best of what each company has to offer. Packages including the best of both XM and SIRIUS programming will be priced below the cost of subscribing to them separately.

Although this sounds great, my wife and I would probably end up spending more money if we went with this type of combination package. Case in point: My wife's 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander came equipped with Sirius (no charge for 6-months), while my 2007 Aura came equipped with XM. At the end of our free 3-month subscription of XM, we decided to purchase a one year package, which comes out to around $12.99/month. I would imagine that when our free 6-month trial is up with Sirius we will purchase a comparable package if one is available. Both my wife and I enjoy many of the stations offered by both companies and would love to have a combination in each of our cars. If we decide to purchase a combination package for both vehicles, I imagine we would pay significantly more judging by the aforementioned quote.

We will have to wait and see what this merger brings.

[2NDSOUT]

Originally Posted by TechnoAura

You'll get new pricing and packages. In fact, there will be exciting new subscription packages that combine the best of what each company has to offer. Packages including the best of both XM and SIRIUS programming will be priced below the cost of subscribing to them separately.

Although this sounds great, my wife and I would probably end up spending more money if we went with this type of combination package. Case in point: My wife's 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander came equipped with Sirius (no charge for 6-months), while my 2007 Aura came equipped with XM. At the end of our free 3-month subscription of XM, we decided to purchase a one year package, which comes out to around $12.99/month. I would imagine that when our free 6-month trial is up with Sirius we will purchase a comparable package if one is available. Both my wife and I enjoy many of the stations offered by both companies and would love to have a combination in each of our cars. If we decide to purchase a combination package for both vehicles, I imagine we would pay significantly more judging by the aforementioned quote.

We will have to wait and see what this merger brings.

I have heard that Sirius is not going to be changing plans if you have been a subscriber for a period of time, cost-wise.

I have 2 units:
The first is $12.99/month
the 2nd is $6.99/month

with tax it equals $21.23/month.

[Low Saturn]

Originally Posted by 2NDSOUT

I have heard that Sirius is not going to be changing plans if you have been a subscriber for a period of time, cost-wise.

I have 2 units:
The first is $12.99/month
the 2nd is $6.99/month

with tax it equals $21.23/month.

I sure hope so. I have a lifetime suscription for two units in three vehicles. I have aftermarket Kenwood headunits in my Suburban and Saturn. I just swap the Sirius tuner depending on which vehicle I'll be driving.

[unkle bik]

Received a letter from Xm, yesterday.

I was hoping it was news of the merger & programming, but it was not. It was news of "possible interference" caused by Xm units produced prior to 2006. Apparently, my Roady2 unit (coupled with FM modulator) can cause interfence with FM units outside my car. Fancy that! (he-he!)

The letter stated that if I wanted to fix the problem. (i don't) I can notify them and they will send me some "ferrite" love beads for my antenna.

[Zero_DgZ]

Which, uh. Wouldn't do anything if you stuck them on your car antenna anyway. Car antenna's passive. No RF should be coming from it unless there's really something wrong with it. Say, someone hooked it up to your alternator...

(Gee, I wonder how long it would take the FCC to track you down if you did that.)

[1994Saturn]

ah, i think that you take out the radio, and put that on the antenna wire, that plugs in to the radio.