By SARAH MCBRIDE, The Wall Street Journal

Radio host Howard Stern, center, poses with a fan as thousands of people
line up to receive a free Sirius radio in Union Square in New York in
November. The event was held to keep his fans when his show makes the switch
to satellite radio.

GREGORY BULL The Associated Press Kevin Melancon is already mapping out
plans for a glorious summer lying on the beach in Southern California -- and
listening to music from his favorite European clubs and disc jockeys.

The only obstacle: getting a satellite radio that beams the club music he
favors straight to him on the sand at Santa Monica. Confronting a baffling
array of receivers and service options on a recent visit to Best Buy, the
37-year-old part-time DJ walked out empty handed.

It is a predicament more people are facing as satellite radio picks up
momentum and attempts to expand out of cars, and as manufacturers roll out
receivers for listening at home or on the beach. Available since late 2001,
satellite radio now has five million listeners; Tom Watts, an analyst at SG
Cowen, believes that figure will jump to 24 million in three years.

Sirius vs. XM

The two rival satellite-radio services, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM
Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., are quickly adding new equipment and
features. XM released a portable, Walkman-like unit made by Delphi Inc.
called the MyFi. It comes with a built-in Tivo-like device that can store as
much as five hours of programming for playback later. Sirius says it plans
to start selling its own portable player later this year or early next. It
is touting a model, the Sportster, that can hook into a home stereo or a car
radio, and like many models, is capable of alerting listeners if a favorite
song is playing on another channel.

Both services have also been on a hiring binge that has produced a lineup
with some bonafide stars -- as well as some shows that might well be
described as having only niche appeal. Sirius has signed personalities
including Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and Bill Bradley, the ex-Senator and
former New York Knick, to host new shows. This month, XM launched a baseball
show hosted by former Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken and his brother
Billy. Earlier this year it added rapper Snoop Dogg.

Subscribers to either service pay a minimum of $100 for the radio, plus
$12.95 a month for the programming. Each service offers more than 100
channels, catering to every possible niche -- electronic dance music,
comedy, radio theater. Most satellite tuners come with a screen that
displays the song artist and title, or the name of the news or talk show, so
listeners always know what they're hearing.

Aside from having to choose between XM or Sirius (currently, the receivers
can pick up signals from only one provider, not both) new customers must
decide whether they want service that is beamed to a car, their home or a
portable device.

Both companies are trying to beef up their equipment and programming. At
the moment XM is the market leader with 3.7 million subscribers; its
equipment is generally smaller and less expensive than Sirius's, chiefly
because XM's engineering team has developed more sophisticated technology to
grab the satellite signal and convert it into sound. Sirius is growing at a
faster pace, though from a smaller base. The company quadrupled subscribers
last year and now has 1.2 million. XM more than doubled subscribers last
year.

In a bid to catch up, Sirius has been particularly aggressive hiring hosts,
and also recently stole the Nascar racing franchise from XM, adding to its
other sports programming (including all NFL and NBA games) and cementing its
lead in sports.

On XM, former public-radio star Bob Edwards hosts a current-affairs
program, and singer Tom Petty runs a music show. XM is also the exclusive
Major League Baseball satellite broadcaster and will hang on to Nascar until
2007.

Both companies are aggressively pursuing niche broadcast markets: Sirius,
for example, recently signed skateboarding champion Tony Hawk to do a show.
To the companies, it doesn't matter how many people listen to each
individual channel -- what matters is how many people subscribe to their
overall service. Another example: classical music, which draws relatively
few radio listeners in the U.S., and is losing stations every year on
traditional airwaves. However, its fans are fiercely dedicated, and each
satellite company offers three classical stations.

Grading the service

There are few resources for comparing the quality of shows on the two
systems, although a few Web sites are starting to tackle the issue. The site
radio.about.com offers a guide to each service, although some information is
out of date. Orbitcast.com has an "XM versus Sirius" link where readers post
comments.

There are a number of key differences between the programming each company
provides. Generally, Sirius's philosophy is to lock up as much high-profile
talent as it can, whereas XM's is to open its pursestrings only for certain
big draws like Major League Baseball.

Because the signals come via satellite (as opposed to over the regular
airwaves like traditional radio broadcasts) subscribers get the same
coverage nationwide: Tune into one station in Maine, and you'll keep
receiving it all the way to California. The satellite signal can sometimes
be blocked by tall buildings in dense urban areas, although the companies
have rolled out special technology that cuts down on the problem.

Occasionally, the services cut out, but typically for no more than a second
or two. However, both will lose service in underground parking garages or
lengthy tunnels.

While some cars now come with factory-installed satellite radios, new-car
buyers don't usually get a choice of satellite-radio providers. The reason:
It is difficult for car makers to install both Sirius and XM radios in a
car, so instead they enter an agreement with one provider, and offer only
its gear as a factory-installed option. For instance, buyers of new cars
from General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., and starting from this autumn,
Hyundai Motor Co., can expect XM radios built into some models. BMW AG and
DaimlerChrysler AG, are offering Sirius radios built into some models.

Of course, it is possible to separately purchase and install a satellite
radio in most any car. Most auto dealers offer this service for an extra
fee, as do electronics retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City.

Prices for basic satellite-radio receivers at electronics retailers can
range from $100 for a no-frills model (not including installation costs) to
more than $1,000 for models that also include CD players, information
screens, and other bells and whistles. Typically, the unit gets installed
right in the dashboard -- replacing the current radio. (In-dash units like
these also can tune into traditional AM and FM radio stations, too.)

There are also some slightly less costly options, including receivers that
don't get permanently installed in the dashboard. Known as "plug & plays,"
they usually can be plugged into a car, a boombox or a home stereo.

Both companies also are also offering receivers designed to fit into
traditional home-stereo shelves and not look out of place. Models including
XM's Polk XRT 12 and Sirius's SR-H5550 usually start at about $250.
Sometimes they require that an antenna be attached outside of the building.
Both companies also have boomboxes, with prices starting around $170.

Consumers who can't decide which service they prefer might want to wait for
a radio that can receive signals from either service -- though that will
take a while. The Federal Communications Commission required the companies
to develop such a receiver years ago, but engineers have run into technical
roadblocks. Analysts estimate it won't hit store shelves until next year at
the earliest.

This story appeared on Page D3 of The Standard-Times on May 1, 2005.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily...5/d03bu440.htm

personally i'd pay dear to have a portable radio with the same radio choice
as those on sky digital. lbc, capital gold and london's heart everywhere i
went - a dream!
"Mike Terry" wrote in message
...
By SARAH MCBRIDE, The Wall Street Journal

Radio host Howard Stern, center, poses with a fan as thousands of people
line up to receive a free Sirius radio in Union Square in New York in
November. The event was held to keep his fans when his show makes the
switch
to satellite radio.

GREGORY BULL The Associated Press Kevin Melancon is already mapping out
plans for a glorious summer lying on the beach in Southern California --
and
listening to music from his favorite European clubs and disc jockeys.

The only obstacle: getting a satellite radio that beams the club music he
favors straight to him on the sand at Santa Monica. Confronting a baffling
array of receivers and service options on a recent visit to Best Buy, the
37-year-old part-time DJ walked out empty handed.

It is a predicament more people are facing as satellite radio picks up
momentum and attempts to expand out of cars, and as manufacturers roll out
receivers for listening at home or on the beach. Available since late
2001,
satellite radio now has five million listeners; Tom Watts, an analyst at
SG
Cowen, believes that figure will jump to 24 million in three years.

Sirius vs. XM

The two rival satellite-radio services, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and
XM
Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., are quickly adding new equipment and
features. XM released a portable, Walkman-like unit made by Delphi Inc.
called the MyFi. It comes with a built-in Tivo-like device that can store
as
much as five hours of programming for playback later. Sirius says it plans
to start selling its own portable player later this year or early next. It
is touting a model, the Sportster, that can hook into a home stereo or a
car
radio, and like many models, is capable of alerting listeners if a
favorite
song is playing on another channel.

Both services have also been on a hiring binge that has produced a lineup
with some bonafide stars -- as well as some shows that might well be
described as having only niche appeal. Sirius has signed personalities
including Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and Bill Bradley, the ex-Senator
and
former New York Knick, to host new shows. This month, XM launched a
baseball
show hosted by former Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken and his brother
Billy. Earlier this year it added rapper Snoop Dogg.

Subscribers to either service pay a minimum of $100 for the radio, plus
$12.95 a month for the programming. Each service offers more than 100
channels, catering to every possible niche -- electronic dance music,
comedy, radio theater. Most satellite tuners come with a screen that
displays the song artist and title, or the name of the news or talk show,
so
listeners always know what they're hearing.

Aside from having to choose between XM or Sirius (currently, the
receivers
can pick up signals from only one provider, not both) new customers must
decide whether they want service that is beamed to a car, their home or a
portable device.

Both companies are trying to beef up their equipment and programming. At
the moment XM is the market leader with 3.7 million subscribers; its
equipment is generally smaller and less expensive than Sirius's, chiefly
because XM's engineering team has developed more sophisticated technology
to
grab the satellite signal and convert it into sound. Sirius is growing at
a
faster pace, though from a smaller base. The company quadrupled
subscribers
last year and now has 1.2 million. XM more than doubled subscribers last
year.

In a bid to catch up, Sirius has been particularly aggressive hiring
hosts,
and also recently stole the Nascar racing franchise from XM, adding to its
other sports programming (including all NFL and NBA games) and cementing
its
lead in sports.

On XM, former public-radio star Bob Edwards hosts a current-affairs
program, and singer Tom Petty runs a music show. XM is also the exclusive
Major League Baseball satellite broadcaster and will hang on to Nascar
until
2007.

Both companies are aggressively pursuing niche broadcast markets: Sirius,
for example, recently signed skateboarding champion Tony Hawk to do a
show.
To the companies, it doesn't matter how many people listen to each
individual channel -- what matters is how many people subscribe to their
overall service. Another example: classical music, which draws relatively
few radio listeners in the U.S., and is losing stations every year on
traditional airwaves. However, its fans are fiercely dedicated, and each
satellite company offers three classical stations.

Grading the service

There are few resources for comparing the quality of shows on the two
systems, although a few Web sites are starting to tackle the issue. The
site
radio.about.com offers a guide to each service, although some information
is
out of date. Orbitcast.com has an "XM versus Sirius" link where readers
post
comments.

There are a number of key differences between the programming each
company
provides. Generally, Sirius's philosophy is to lock up as much
high-profile
talent as it can, whereas XM's is to open its pursestrings only for
certain
big draws like Major League Baseball.

Because the signals come via satellite (as opposed to over the regular
airwaves like traditional radio broadcasts) subscribers get the same
coverage nationwide: Tune into one station in Maine, and you'll keep
receiving it all the way to California. The satellite signal can sometimes
be blocked by tall buildings in dense urban areas, although the companies
have rolled out special technology that cuts down on the problem.

Occasionally, the services cut out, but typically for no more than a
second
or two. However, both will lose service in underground parking garages or
lengthy tunnels.

While some cars now come with factory-installed satellite radios, new-car
buyers don't usually get a choice of satellite-radio providers. The
reason:
It is difficult for car makers to install both Sirius and XM radios in a
car, so instead they enter an agreement with one provider, and offer only
its gear as a factory-installed option. For instance, buyers of new cars
from General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., and starting from this autumn,
Hyundai Motor Co., can expect XM radios built into some models. BMW AG and
DaimlerChrysler AG, are offering Sirius radios built into some models.

Of course, it is possible to separately purchase and install a satellite
radio in most any car. Most auto dealers offer this service for an extra
fee, as do electronics retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City.

Prices for basic satellite-radio receivers at electronics retailers can
range from $100 for a no-frills model (not including installation costs)
to
more than $1,000 for models that also include CD players, information
screens, and other bells and whistles. Typically, the unit gets installed
right in the dashboard -- replacing the current radio. (In-dash units like
these also can tune into traditional AM and FM radio stations, too.)

There are also some slightly less costly options, including receivers
that
don't get permanently installed in the dashboard. Known as "plug & plays,"
they usually can be plugged into a car, a boombox or a home stereo.

Both companies also are also offering receivers designed to fit into
traditional home-stereo shelves and not look out of place. Models
including
XM's Polk XRT 12 and Sirius's SR-H5550 usually start at about $250.
Sometimes they require that an antenna be attached outside of the
building.
Both companies also have boomboxes, with prices starting around $170.

Consumers who can't decide which service they prefer might want to wait
for
a radio that can receive signals from either service -- though that will
take a while. The Federal Communications Commission required the companies
to develop such a receiver years ago, but engineers have run into
technical
roadblocks. Analysts estimate it won't hit store shelves until next year
at
the earliest.

This story appeared on Page D3 of The Standard-Times on May 1, 2005.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily...5/d03bu440.htm

Mike Terry wrote in message
...
By SARAH MCBRIDE, The Wall Street Journal

(snip)

Both companies are aggressively pursuing niche broadcast markets: Sirius,
for example, recently signed skateboarding champion Tony Hawk to do a
show.
To the companies, it doesn't matter how many people listen to each
individual channel -- what matters is how many people subscribe to their
overall service.

Well, actually, it does matter how many people listen, at least to XM. XM
surveys its listeners periodically and drops channels to free up bandwidth
based, in large part, on the results of those popularity polls. When Special
X (a channel devoted to musical weirdness) was dropped, its failure to
register as more than a blip on the customer surveys was cited in Lee
Abrams' standard response to listener e-mails. What replaced Special X? The
Blend, a "greatest hits of the 80s, 90s and today"-type station.

Howard