News Articles From Days Gone ByThe long wait is now over.
(29 May 2003)
XM's SKYFi is now available at Wal-Mart. An "all-in-one" vehicle adapter kit can also be purchased in the automotive department. The standalone receiver is sold in the home electronics section. It retails at $129.99.
It has been revealed that the new Sirius plug-and-play units by Kenwood and Audiovox will be priced at $99.
(28 May 2003)
99 for the receiver, $69.99 for the car docking kit, and from $69.99 to $89.99 for the indoor docking kit.The combined cost of less than $200 is expected to be acceptable to most consumers and may be competitive with XM's SkyFi. Kenwood's Here2Anywhere has a memory and recall option allowing listeners to save up to 24 song titles and artist names while listening. The Audiovox "Satellite Radio Shuttle" uses an FM transmitter with four frequency adjustments to allow the receiver and docking station to connect to most vehicle radios. It includes "S-Seek," a feature that allows listeners to save up to 10 favorite songs and receive notification as soon as one of these songs is played on any Sirius music channel. Both products are planned for release by 15 June.
Despite recent problems, satellite radio is apparently capable of building an audience in Europe.
(23 May 2003)
Buoyed by the apparent success of Sirius and XM, Alcatel Space, WorldSpace and towerCast, in association with media groups Europe 1, NRJ, Radio France and RTL, demonstrated digital broadcasting through a hybrid satellite and terrestrial system. According to Alcatel's Pascale Sourisse "We are very happy with the good marketing results of XM Radio in the U.S. and we also think a solution in Europe combining satellite radio plus terrestrial retransmission is very attractive."
With a comfortable expansion of its subscriber base and the imminent availability of its new Plug & Play system, Sirius is prepared to extend its credit.
(23 May 2003)
The satellite radio provider has announced its intention to offer $125 million in convertible senior notes. The notes will be underwritten by Morgan Stanley and UBS Warburg.
Trying harder to get ahead of the competition, Avis is now offering XM receivers to its customers for $2.
(21 May 2003)
99 a day."Making America's 1 satellite service available in our vehicles reflects Avis' commitment to giving our customers the best rental experience possible," noted Scott Deaver, executive vice president of marketing for Avis' parent Cendant Car Rental Group.
99 a day."
(21 May 2003)
Making America's 1 satellite service available in our vehicles reflects Avis' commitment to giving our customers the best rental experience possible," noted Scott Deaver, executive vice president of marketing for Avis' parent Cendant Car Rental Group. A recent study by Arbitron indicates that men like satellite radio, naming Sirius an "ideal Father's Day gift." Said Sirius Veep Larry Rebich "Men can be fanatical about music and sports, and Sirius delivers both with 60 genre-specific music streams." The Arbitron study claims that approximately 17 million Americans say they are "very interested" in the concept of satellite radio, particularly men between the ages of 12 and 44.
The new Sirius Plug & Play system by Kenwood is finally at hand.
(21 May 2003)
The unit should soon be available at most major consumer electronics retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City.
Sirius is commemorating Black Music Month this June with special programming on a number of their music streams.
(20 May 2003)
Highlights include interviews with Dionne Warwick, Robert Cray, Otis Taylor, the Isley Brothers, Roy Jones, Jr., Luther Vandross, Otis Day, and the Neville Brothers. Special programming is also planned as part of the regular Sirius lineup including some of Grandmaster Flash's favorite mixes, top 20 R&B songs from 1965 to 1975, featured artists at the Jazz Cafe, and famous African-American performers on Broadway's Best.
XM is hoping to boost its chances for meeting its subscriber goals by changing advertising agencies again.
(19 May 2003)
Formerly represented by TBWA/Chiat/Day , XM is now in the able hands of Mullen of Wenham, Massachusetts and Carat North America of New York.
Those anticipating a universal satellite unit capable of receiving both Sirius and XM may have to wait a lot longer.
(19 May 2003)
USA Today reports that because the 1997 ruling by the Federal Communications Commission requiring compatibility has no deadline, the two competing services are in no hurry to unify their standards.
There may be more to be gained from becoming a finalist on American Idol than a handshake and a cameo in the next Pepsi commercial.
(16 May 2003)
Delphi has announced that all Idol Season 2 finalists, celebrity guests, and judges would receive a SKYFi satellite "boombox." It's not clear whether or not the units would come with the prerequisite XM subscription.
Just as things seemed to be settling down in the satellite arena, along comes mobile satellite television.
(15 May 2003)
The TracVision A5 antenna by KVH Industries makes live satellite broadcasts direct to vehicles possible. According to KVH's Jim Dodez "Satellite radio, for all its variety, is still just audio entertainment."
The TracVision A5 antenna by KVH Industries makes live satellite broadcasts direct to vehicles possible.
(15 May 2003)
According to KVH's Jim Dodez "Satellite radio, for all its variety, is still just audio entertainment." "These excellent subscriber results indicate that we are beginning to see some traction in the marketplace." These are the words used by Sirius boss Joe Clayton to announce his company's more than doubling of the number of its subscribers to 68,000 during the first quarter of this year. Sirius used the occasion of its quarterly meeting to announce new subscription plans and transportable "Plug & Play" products designed to compete with XM's successful SKYFi. "With the introduction of our transportable 'Plug & Play' products from Kenwood and Audiovox hitting retail shelves this summer, we fully expect to exceed 100,000 subscribers this quarter, and reach our goal of over 300,000 subscribers by the end of the year," Clayton said. New Sirius subscription services include a "Preferred Plan" whereby a customer paying an initial subscription rate of $12.95 can add additional subscriptions for only $6.99. In addition, a "Lifetime of Music & More Plan" is being offered to allow a subscriber to pay $399.99 to cover the life of a purchased unit.
Ford is finally getting Sirius as the automaker announces its intention to offer the service on ten 2004 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
(14 May 2003)
The lineup is eventually going to be expanded to include Mazda, Land Rover, Volvo, Jaguar and Aston Martin. Said Jeff Wood, Director of Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering at Ford Motor Company, "Ford Motor Company is dedicated to technological advancements and providing features that our customers want. The Sirius service fits very well with our commitment to bring new car buyers the most innovative applications and services in their vehicles." Sirius Veep Doug Wilsterman added "Ford Motor Company and its brands have been entrenched in consumers' hearts and minds for 100 years now. We are thrilled to join Ford in offering Sirius to its new car buyers across so many of its leading brands."
Although satellite radio is at least a limited success in the U.
(13 May 2003)
S.the same cannot be said of Europe. Global Radio, the European counterpart of XM and Sirius, has recently filed for bankruptcy in Luxembourg, its home country. At least part of Global Radio's difficulties may have been the result of the new financing negotiated by both U.S. satellite providers in exchange for equity positions. Satellite maven Jimmy Schaeffer of the Carmel Group said "What amazes me, is how a satellite subsector, like satellite radio, can do so relatively well in one region of the world and flop in another. XM and Sirius are growing and building, yet just the opposite has been true for Global Radio."
Just to show they're sirius about National Public Radio, the folks at "The Dog" are adding more programming from the NPR lineup.
(9 May 2003)
Performance Today and SymphonyCast are being broadcast on Symphony Hall and Vista, streams 80 and 82 respectively. "Sirius has proven to be a great place for our programs. New shows, like The Tavis Smiley Show and The Motley Fool Radio Show were part of the NPR Sirius lineup from day one. We value our successful partnership with Sirius, and we look forward to providing their listeners with exceptional NPR programs as the service continues to grow," said NPR Veep Margaret Low Smith.
The folks at NPR aren't very happy about their Sirius prospects on satellite radio.
(7 May 2003)
After a year of NPR2 public radio officials are somewhat underwhelmed by the promise of new listeners, new pipelines for local programs, and new revenue streams. Since Sirius had only 30000 listeners at the end of 2002, NPR2 was unable to make any significant contribution to NPR's anticipated revenue growth.
SKYFi comes to Wal-Mart!
(7 May 2003)
Delphi announced that the trend setting satellite boom box would soon be available at the world's largest retailer. Said Frank Ordonez, president of Delphi's Product & Service Solutions, "We are very excited to offer Wal-Mart customers SKYFi products. Delphi and XM Radio understand that Wal-Mart customers are looking for quality and value and we believe SKYFi products will offer them both." The price of XM shares rose significantly by $1.69 to $11.39 upon the Wal-Mart announcement.
In an ex parte letter to the FCC the National Association of Broadcasters complained that the Commission should not permit XM to avoid full disclosure of its plan to provide local content from its repeaters.
(6 May 2003)
XM is currently asking the agency for permanent licenses for thousands of the stations that could potentially be used to compete directly with conventional broadcasters. Of particular concern is XM's plan to provide a new service to deliver localized weather data to graphic displays in boats and aircraft.
The welcome XM financial numbers are coming out on 8 May for the first quarter of 2003.
(2 May 2003)
Those wishing to access the company conference call for the big announcement can call at (800) 274-0551.
The not necessarily welcome Sirius financial numbers are coming out on 14 May for the first quarter of 2003.
(1 May 2003)
Anyone wishing to do so can access the company conference call at (888) 942-8135, Pass code: SIRIUS.