XM or Sirius?

[Goldmund]

I'm going to get a satellite radio for my car tonight. Which do you recommend I get -- XM or Sirius? Also, please say why.

I definitely want liberal talk radio for long car trips. As far as music, I usually listen to my own CDs instead of the radio.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I think XM is owned by Clear Channel

on edit: Yes, they are with Clear Channel: http://www.xmradio.com/corporate_info/corporate_information_main.html

[Goldmund]

2. 'Nuff said. Thank you.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I added a link to proof

[Sorwen]

6. That's not exactly true

Clear Channel initially had a sizable stake in XM, but their stake in XM has dropped to less than 5%. Clear Channel has no influence on XM programming. That said, I prefer Sirius.

[Pithlet]

12. It falls on deaf ears.

Don't even bother.

[bbernardini]

23. XM IS NOT OWNED BY CLEAR CHANNEL!!! GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS!

One can't really judge the merits of either system by their AAR coverage alone.

[Pithlet]

29. I know

I've said that a million times, and so have many others. It's really weird that that is a notion that just won't die on DU. Both are very good, and I don't think you can go wrong with either, and each have their own particular merits that some may prefer over others. People who just automatically dismiss XM because of those comments may be really missing out on things they'd like and prefer over Sirius.

[Goldmund]

31. Cool, I got it! Not owned by Clear Channel!!

I had actually never heard anything about it before, one way or the other.

:)

[Pithlet]

35. Good

:)

I was only reiterating because I think the poster thought I was agreeing with the Clear Channel Owns XM side of this long standing argument on DU. People are going to start thinking I own XM :)

[DemNoir]

19. Every time!

Somebody jumps in with Clear Channel owns them!. Wrong their stake is under 4% now.

[Ivote]

7. Sirius All The Way

They carry two stations leaning left.
Air America Radio is carried without cuts in programing. You get everything unedited not like xm.
Radio Left is great also
I have the audiovox PNR2 and I can't do without it.
I originally bought the one for the car and then bought the base station which I hook up to my home stereo. Later I purchased the boom box. The pnr2 is interchangeable with all three components
If you need more info go to
www.sirius.com
www.siriusbackstage.com
Good luck I know you will enjoy it.

[MoonbeamsLee]

42. A question about it in general...

My Dish Network loses signal in high winds and in inclement weather...does satellite radio have the same trouble?

[Oreo]

4. If you just want talk

XM is cheaper and more established.

Sirius' entire future is riding on the Howard Stern signing which won't have him on-air for another 2 years.

Not sure about Sirius but XM has Traffic and Weather for major cities.

XM also has Bob Edwards
http://www.xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=133

AAR plays EdSchultz and breaks into Randi Rhodes time if that is an issue, you might want to check into Sirius

[Sorwen]

5. Sirius has more liberal talk shows

[Ivote]

8. Another good comparison site Sirius or XM

http://www.radiosatellite.org/
Excellent place for you to compare the two available sat radios
:kick:

[Oreo]

9. Interesting

I'm open to hearing about Sirius but everything I've see makes me think XM is better. I got XM primarily for music... and primarily for alternative/new rock music. I have 5 or 6 stations that were made just for me. Working in radio about 10 years ago, I dreamed of stations like this. Now having several... and now DJs or commercials is like audio-junkie heaven.

I guess you need to take a look at what you'd listen to primarily.

I heard that Sirius has better Classic Rock stations than XM... XM really doesn't have classic rock. To me that's fine... to others it may be a big deal.

[Sorwen]

11. Sirius has too many classic rock stations if you ask me

but I also think they have some good alternative/new rock music stations like Alt Nation (my favorite), Octane, and Left of Center. I can't really compare the music with XM because I've never listened to XM. What I've heard from other people is that Sirius plays more hits but is more repetitive, while XM plays fewer hits and has a bigger playlist. I don't know if that's true, but I do find Sirius to be a bit repetitive. I think I would be pretty happy with the music from either service (especially when compared to FM), but I prefer Sirius because of the news, talk, and sports.

[Pithlet]

17. Yes.

I've listened to both because I have XM and my husband has Sirius, and XM' music is better. Sirius focuses more on hits. But they are both miles ahead of on air radio. Left of Center is my favorite station on Sirius, and is the only one I tend to listen to, while I have several XM stations I really like.

[TNDemo]

10. Let me know how the radio buying goes

if you pick up any more info tonight.

[Goldmund]

13. Sure thing.

You know, it's funny -- the reason I'm getting this now is because I'll be driving to TN next week. My parents live there.

[Oreo]

16. One HUGE selling point for any Satellite radio

Is not having to listen to country music in between civilation. Constant feed without break-ups.

[Goldmund]

20. You've got my number!

It isn't just the country music. It's the damn wingnut radio. I always dread these trips, because I never bring enough CDs -- and I can't listen to music 15 hours straight, it exhausts me -- and I can't listen to nothing because I'll fall asleep... So I always show up at my parents' house grumpy and pissed off because I had just listened to like 3 hours of some right-wing nut.

[Oreo]

28. You'll love it

I think if more people got a taste they'd agree and dump FM.

Then again.. .I didn't think there was any way shrub could win!
There are stupid people out there that like stupid things... I actually saw a post on the XM site the other day where somebody was complaining b/c there weren't any dj's

[TNDemo]

18. In which of the three states?

West, Middle or East?

[Goldmund]

22. East

Knoxville.

So what's the deal with you guys and the "three Tennessees"? I've always been curious why they call it "East TN", not "Eastern TN" -- as if it were a different state. I know it dates back to the Civil war, but I don't know much more about it.

[TNDemo]

24. I think just because it is so long and narrow and has three

different types of geography - mountains in the east, the rolling hills in the middle and the flat delta land in the west. The culture varies widely too. That is actually a good question and I will look that up. I am in Nashville now but grew up in North Knoxville.

[Pithlet]

26. They might as well be different states.

They're very different politically and culturally. Most states have their regions, but it seems particularly distinctive in Tennessee, probably because it is such a long state and borders so many different states and regions. I live in Southwest Tennessee, which is called the Midsouth Region.

[Goldmund]

27. Is it true...

...that East Tennessee fought with the North in the Civil War?

[Pithlet]

32. Yep

I do believe that is true.

[mcerise]

38. You could buy books on CD and listen to it on your car trip.

That's what I have been doing when I get tired of listening to music on long trips.

[Goldmund]

39. You know, that never occured to me...

Thanks.

[Pithlet]

40. My dad always played comedy albums

on long road trips. It really made the drive go by much quicker. Get a couple of CDs by a comedian you really like, and you're set.

[Pithlet]

14. Since you want it mainly for talk, I'd go with Sirius

However, if the reason that you mainly listen to your CDs because radio sucks, then you might want to check into XM as well. Their music is better than Sirius. I only listened to CDs as well because I hate the local radio, but I exclusively listen to my XM now. My husband has Sirius because he likes talk radio and listening to the NFL, and Sirius is superior there.

[Oreo]

15. If this doesn't cement your decision for XM....

I am right this very minute listening to FALCO doing a rap of Der Kommissar.... In German! It's called Der Kommissar Pt 2.

I mean come on... how could you not love it?

0/~ whoa uh oh.... der kommissar's in town.... o/~

Now he's saying in english...
I'm a rappin to the beat repeatedly.


Much better... Elvis Costello - Everyday I Write the Book

[Pithlet]

21. I bet you're listening to Fred

Those sound like songs the XM channel Fred would play.

[Oreo]

30. You got it

Fred, Lucy, and Ethel is what I change between.

[Pithlet]

37. Me, too.

I also like XMU. And Deep Tracks, because they play a lot of music from the same era that on air Classic Rock stations do, but it isn't the hits, so every other song isn't Freebird or Stairway to Heaven. In fact, I've never heard either, which is so refreshing.

[Bertha Venation]

25. We chose XM for baseball & Bob Edwards. eom.

[Jack Schitt]

33. Sirius.

XM sucks for the mere fact it's owned by 'pukes.

[Goldmund]

34. Uh-oh...

[SnowBack]

36. Sirius has OutQ Gay radio

Worth it for Michelangelo Signorile's show alone....

[nutshell2002]

41. I have both...

One in each car and here are my observations about the individual services (company ownership aside):

Sirius
1. Overall better choices in Talk and News e.g. 2 liberal channels, Out Q Gay talk channel, several NPR channels, BBC, et.
2. Music choices are good, but limited compared to XM
3. Carries all NFL games
4. Subscription $12.95/mo before any discounts (more expensive)
5. Howard Stern in a year
6. Free internet stream of music channels

XM
1. Cheaper $9.95/mo before multi-year discount
2. Carries all MLB in 2005
3. More diverse music channels
4. More limited talk--combines AAR with other shows such as Ed Schultz and Alan Colmes into one "Liberal" channel
5. Fewer satellites than Sirius, but I have not encountered reception problems.
6. Charges $3/mo for internet streaming

And there you have it. Love em both, for different reasons. Hold a gun to my head, I'd choose Sirius.

[TNDemo]

43. Do you get NPR with XM?

Gotta have it.

[nutshell2002]

44. Not exactly...

xm has a channel called "xm public radio" and Bob Edwards now has his own morning show.