Stern And Sirius Are Taking Over Satellite Radio.

Howard Stern, the self proclaimed ?King of all media?, could also be referred to as the ?King of Fines by the FCC?. In past few decades Stern has been find countless amounts of times and costing stations that carry his program nearly $3 million dollars in penalties compliments of the FCC.

Stern, now 52, left his estimated 12 million loyal viewers for freer air waves, and a 5 year, $500 million contract to join Sirius Satellite Radio (The best Radio on Radio). The commercial free, censor free Satellite Radio was an easy way for Stern to take his off color humor elsewhere, and no longer have to deal with the commissioner of the FCC waiting for him to make an explicit comment or an act of indecency on his program.

Currently, the satellite radio market has two players, Sirius and XM. At the end of September 2005 Sirius had about 2.2 million subscribers, while XM boasted over 5 million. While both were looking to land high profile talent to take them into the land of profitability, landed Howard Stern. The King of all media, in essence is the $500 million dollar gamble for investors of Sirius Satellite Radio.

As, neither Sirius or XM have profited one cent to date, both plan to break even within the next few years. With Sirius paying Stern a $100 million annual contract, and a one time $225 million bonus in Sirius stock in 2006, Sirius suffered an enormous first quarter loss. Stern used his last few months of airtime with CBS Radio to promote his future destination, attracting over 1.1 million new subscribers, in the 4th quarter of 2005, which of course prompted a breach of contract lawsuit.

Now, almost a year after signing Stern, Sirius Satellite has about 5.1 million subscribers and even with slower retail sales from a year ago, Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin, anticipates year-end subscriber-ship will increase to 6.3 million. This would represent 80% - 85% year over year subscriber growth, which may lead to the company?s first quarter of positive free cash flow, after capital expenditures, this 4th quarter of 2006.

His critics said that Sirius was crazy for paying Stern all that money, however, the way Sirius? subscriber base as expanded, and their costs per subscriber has decreased, if not a merger in the future, don?t be surprised to see Sirius take over as the industry leader in the next few years.

People In The Know.com is a lifestyle magazine that focuses collaborating and learning through individual by sharing real experiences, real knowledge, real life issues. Topic of interest includes Automotive, Sports, Entertaining, Travel, Personal Finance, Real Estate, Investing, Law, Taxation, Business Marketing and Financing. More articles can be read at http://peopleintheknow.com

Is Sirius Satellite Radio Better Than XM Radio?

Many years ago, people didn?t have televisions. Many read the papers to get the news or listened to the radio. Just as satellite television has entered American homes, another thing has also been developed that is called satellite radio.

What is satellite radio? This piece of hardware allows the individual to listen to favorite recording artists and shows instead of watching it on television. Given that the United States is a vast place and there are various stations in each state, this also allows the user to listen to one back home hundreds of miles away.

Currently, there are two main players competing head on in the market. The first is called Sirius while the other is XM radio. Which of the two is better? This question depends on whom the individual will ask but both are doing quite well and more customers are signing up.

Sirius is the first to ever provide commercial free programming on all its music channels and has a wide array of accessories for customers to buy. This is despite that fact that XM radio launched a few months in advance.

The subscription fee of Sirius a little pricey compared to XM radio. When people want the best things in life, money maybe an obstacle. So the deciding factor will be what the hardware has to offer.

Satellite radio has been around for almost 5 years. Since this is considered to be the ?in thing? in the market, both companies have tied up with the major car manufacturers to have this installed in their vehicles. This is the same thing Ipod is doing so the owner can listen to the favorite tunes while on the road.

Sirius has 65 channels that feature sports, news and other programs aside from music. This includes exclusive coverage of special events such as the NFL. XM radio on the other hand has NASCAR and Fox news. It has 68 channels which is 3 more than what the other is offering to the consumer.

The accessories used by Sirius satellite radio allows the person to listen to this at home or in the car. One of the basic accessories it uses is the Sanyo CRSR-10 Plug and Play system that will cost about $149.99. Those who are not satisfied can have this upgraded-which will cost from $250 to $2,000.

XM radio on the other hand uses the Delphi XM Roady Receiver. This will cost an individual somewhere between $30 to $400, but those who choose to get a monthly subscription will only have to pay $12.95 per month.

Both the models being offered by Sirius and XM radio are easy to install. The person will just have to pay a small fee as a service charge when enlisting the help of a customer representative when this is being done.

Customers can buy the unit in a store or order this online. It is not only ordinary individuals who are very interested in this product since there are also other models for commercial use that are being broadcasted in public access systems of hotels and other retail establishments

Is Sirius satellite radio better then that XM radio? Given that both companies have different things to offer, this really depends on the tastes of the customer.

If you're looking for a Sirius portable satellite radio buyers guide you should visit http://TopSatelliteDeals.com where you'll find great satellite entertainment deals and some helpful information.

Satellite Radio Antennas - Improve Your Reception

Conventional radios in our vehicles have an antenna provided for us. Is usually located in the rear of the vehicle and it works for FM and AM which operate in the megahertz and kilohertz frequency range respectively. Satellite radios require an antenna that will not work well from the one in our vehicle, so they require the driver to install it.

The purpose of the antenna is to attract the radio signal from satellites orbiting the earth back to your vehicle. It is not as impossible as you may think since the antenna is highly tuned for the exact frequency that satellite radio providers use. Our only job is to position it in a place where it works close to 100% of the time.

The easiest place to locate the antenna is simply throwing it up on the dash. This works most of the time but the signal from space could be bouncing off the car especially the roof since the antenna is located inside the vehicle. Creating reflection points is the last thing you want to do since it is now harder to reach the antenna. It may be easy to locate the antenna inside but the reception may be fuzzy.

It does not matter which satellite radio provider you choose, the antenna should have a magnet on one end. This works great while attaching it to sheet metal on the external of the vehicle. The sheet metal actually helps the reception by turning the whole vehicle into an extension of the antenna. The antenna uses the antenna currents of the vehicle to boost the reception power of the antenna.

Not all locations on the sheet metal will work the same and you may have to do some trial and error. Antennas work different on each vehicle since the sheet metal is different on each vehicle. This difference changes the reflection points and other antenna properties, which does not make for a cut and dry solution. The roof will mostly work the best since there are no obstructions between the antenna and the satellite. Placing the antenna on the trunk lid may also work well provided the length of the cable is long enough.

Now that you have the antenna positioned, the last word of advice is the antenna cable. This cable is most cases are very long and you have to hide it somewhere. Make sure there are not kinks in the line. This will degrade the signal even though you positioned the antenna correctly. Imagine the cable, as a water hose, any kinks and you would be preventing the water from continuing through. The antenna signal works the same.

Try different spots in your vehicle and even try different spots for your receiver as well. In some cases, moving the receiver can make the reception change drastically. This is only for some models but if you have located the antenna correctly and the reception is still poor, try that next and of course make sure you are using a blank station. Use these tips and you will be on your way to a happy satellite radio experience.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Antennas

Now Might Be a Great Time to Buy a Satellite Radio But There Are Some Things to Consider

If you've been thinking about buying an XM or Sirius Radio, now might be a good time to make that purchase as the cost of these radios is now at the lowest point ever.

For example, Crutchfield has the Delphi Roady2 XM Satellite Radio Personal Audio System Package for just $79.99. This package includes Roady2 XM radio with car kit, antenna, and wireless remote and Personal Audio System. As recently as six month ago, the cost of this unit might have been twice as much.

Crutchfield has the hot Delphi SA10113 MyFi XM2Go for $149.99 after $150 savings and a $50 mail-in rebate. This package includes MyFi portable XM receiver, car kit, home kit, earphones, rechargeable battery, belt clip, and wireless remote.

If Sirius is more your thing, you can get the XACT XTR2CK Sirius Satellite Radio and Car Kit from Crutchfield for $29.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate, or the XACT XTR3CK Plug and Play Radio and Car Kit for just $49.99.

Why have these radios gotten so cheap?

The prices of these radios have dropped to these new lows because both companies have adapted the ?razor and razor blade? marketing strategy. This is based on a discovery made years ago by razor manufacturers ? that you can just about give a man a razor because you will then sell him the blades to use with it for years and years to come.

In other words, XM and Sirius are offering you satellite radios at really cheap prices so they can continue to sell you their services at $12.95 a month for years and years to come.

Stop and think before you buy

Before you buy a satellite radio, you might think about two things. First, that $12.95 a month. On the face of it, that might not seem like much but that's $155 a year ? this year and every year ? for years and years. The second thing to think about is HD Radio. This new technology makes AM sound as clear and static-free as today's FM, and FM sound as crystal-clear as if you were listening to a CD. Plus, HD radio is broadcast over the airways and is completely free, just like AM or FM radio.

So before you rush out to buy one of those low-price satellite radios, you might want to stop and think about that $155 a year vs. free.

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Satellite radio costs

Everybody has heard about satellites. But how many people heard about satellite radios? Satellite radio is a subscription radio service. It's somehow identical to cable television, with the difference that it provides a wider range of stations not available on a standard AM / FM radio. There are many questions to be answered about satellite radios like "How does satellite radios work?", "What kind of equipment should I purchase?" etc. but in this article I will try to answer a question that first pops up in everybody's mind: "HOW MUCH DOES SATELLITE RADIO COST"? This is a tricky question because the cost of a satellite radio is divided in two: installation (or activation) costs and the monthly subscription fee.

Activation costs

Activation costs refers to the amount of money that are to be spent on a XM or Sirius Satellite Radio to start the service. Although you can find many promotions that allows you to save up money, the activation costs vary, being able to make the activation by phone or by World Wide Web. To be more precise, if you activate your satellite by phone, you will pay $15.00 if you choose Sirius Satellite or $14.99 by choosing XM and, as for WWW activation, the cost of goods is somehow lower: $5 with Sirius or $9.99 with XM. As for the monthly subscription costs we will discuss this below, but, before that, I must say that recent media campaigns are dramatically dropping the prices for installation and activation, both on Sirius or XM, in some cases even offering free activation.

Typical costs for a car dedicated installation

If you want to install a satellite radio into your car you are to consider buying a new satellite-ready car stereo if you don't have one. Although many local dealers offer built-in car satellite radio, there is still the problem of having a satellite radio receiver. And these, as you may notice, cost money. It is possible though to use the existing car stereo that does not support satellite radio. How? There are two known ways of connecting the receiver to the available non-satellite radio car stereo. First, by using the radio inputs (usually the CD) and installing a control unit for tuning up the satellite radio streams. The second method consists in installing a satellite radio receiver, which broadcasts the satellite radio signal on a FM frequency. The place where you can install the receiver depends: under the seat, in your trunk, etc. taking care of connecting the receiver to the satellite radio antenna mounted on the car's exterior. So, there will be a minimum cost of $350.00 and a maximum of $600, like below:

Receiver $75 - $125 Radio $125 - $250 Antenna $60.00 Labor $80.00 Activation $10

Costs for a dedicated home installation

If you choose this option, that means you will have to install a dedicated stereo receiver unit, which in some cases is similar to regular AM / FM receivers. As an additional cost, you will have to buy an antenna, which can be found at a price of $60. Here is a short review of the approximate price of installing a dedicated stereo receiver unit:

Receiver $150 - $300 Antenna $60 Activation $10

Costs for a Portable Unit

Portable units gives you the ease of using you brand new satellite radio wherever you want, but, in every room you will have to own a home kit (antennas, output cables and power supplies). The price for this option is around $400.

Receiver $120 Home kit $140 Boombox x2 $100 Activation $10

Subscription costs

As for the subscription costs, it depends if you own a Sirius or XM Satellite Radio. Subscription costs for a Sirius Satellite Radio are paid monthly where the charge is $12.95, with a low adjustment is you subscribe to a year or two. The highest number of Sirius radios that can be activated are three for $6.99 each per month. Business subscriptions are $24.99 per month. Another interesting thing is that for $499.99, Sirius is offering a life time subscription. On the other hand, if you have a XM Satellite Radio, you will have to pay a monthly charge of $9.99. Still, some channels are to be paid separately, like Playboy Radio, which costs an additional $2.99 per month. Commercial and Business Subscriptions cost $24.99 per month.

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Best LIVE Satellite TV/Radio for Your PC

Are you looking for the best website for watching 1000s of Satellite TV/Radio stations from all around the globe right on your PC? If yes, I've an answer for you. I've purchased a few online TV packages and this is the best site (SatelliteTVtoPC.com) that I recommend for watching more than 3000 quality Satellite TV stations right on your PC with a wide range of selections at the cheapest onetime price.

First of all, you don't need any special/extra hardware or equipment such as TV card or Satellite Receiver to use this service. As soon as signup was done, I got a link to the download site via email to download their software for LIVE broadcasts. I was able to watch worldwide TV stations instantly after installing the software. The picture resolution and sound quality are good. The software is neatly arranged with user-friendly menu options for easy navigation. It provides thousands of TV (3000+) stations and as well as major Radio stations from around the globe.

For instance, if you want to watch LIVE Game broadcasts, you don't need expensive Satellite or Pay-Per-View service anymore. You can watch all of them including their local commercials for FREE in your PC, which we think is the greatest feature. None of the channels are pre-recorded and all of them are LIVE stream videos from the fastest servers in their network. If you're a great Jazz fan, you got all Jazz Radio stations around the world including major US Jazz stations in one place.

The TV/Radio channels are arranged by country names and selecting a specific country's TV stations is very straightforward. I like the stations especially from UK, Canada, Australia, and of course US channels including News, Shopping, Sports, Weather, Movies, Music & much more. If you're a world traveler don't want to miss your home favorite channels, this is the best software for you. All you need is your Laptop, this software and of course internet connection.

Check this out: http://www.MoviesNMusic4u.com/SatelliteTVtoPC

Why You Should Get XM Satellite Radio Now

If you like listening to the radio, you should know that there are huge changes happening in the radio broadcasting industry and they all center around satellite radio. This new breakthrough will change forever the way that we listen to radio programming. If you haven't already heard a sample, or experienced satellite radio for yourself, make sure that you do soon.

Currently there are two major providers of satellite radio in North America and that is XM and Sirius. In this article let's see what you can expect to get when you become an XM radio customer.

First and foremost is the incredible unique programming that XM offers as part of it's service. With over 100 channels to choose from there is always something good to listen to. But check out some of these one-of-a-kind special broadcasts that is available, many of them only on XM :

* Music shows hosted by Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Tom Petty, and Wynton Marsalis.

* Public Radio's Bob Edwards

* Major League Baseball games

* NASCAR

* World Cup

* Good Morning America Radio

* The Ellen Degeneres Show

* Oprah & Friends

and much more. New and fresh programming is being added constantly too.

Now consider that with all that great programming to choose from, most of it is provided absolutely free of all commercials and ads. Who actually likes listening to those anyway? And who likes having their favorite music or talk show interrupted by a person pitching something instead? Since the subscriber base pays for the programming with their $9.95 monthly subscription, there is no need to load up the channels with ads and commercials.

XM also records and transmits all of their radio signals in digital format, so as the listener you get clean clear sound that rivals that of CDs. This allows you to play XM satellite radio over your home or car stereo equipment without any hiss, fade, or loss of sound quality.

And because the radio signal is broadcast from satellites you never have to lose it like you do with standard radio stations. One of the most irritating things about standard radio for travelers is that the sound begins to break up and fade after just 30 miles or so and so you have to keep fishing for new radio stations that have the kind of programming that you like to listen to. But with XM radio that is a thing of the past.

So all-in-all XM satellite radio is inexpensive, high quality radio programming is always on no matter where you go. What could be better?
 

Satellite Radio: Subscription Costs

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio subscription costs vary and are changing though recent promotions.

XM Satellite Radio Subscription

If you agree to a commitment ranging from two to five years and prepay you can lower your effective monthly charge to as low as $7.48.

XM Satellite Radio Subscription costs are a monthly service where the charge is $9.99.

Adding up to four additional receivers only costs $6.99 each, per month. Certain special channels cost a little more for your satellite radio subscription cost, for example, Playboy Radio, a premium service, is an additional $2.99 per month. Commercial and Business subscriptions cost $24.99 per month. Business subscriptions are a little more expensive due to additional royalties that must be paid when potentially more people are listening to the station.

Sirius Satellite Radio Subscription

Sirius Satellite radio subscription costs are a monthly service where the charge is $12.95. With a year or 2 year commitment, Sirius offers lower monthly rates.

Check out this hot deal going on right now! For $499.99, your radio is live for life! Sirius is currently offering a pretty good deal on a lifetime subscription that is radio-attached.

With Sirius you can activate as many as three additional radios for $6.99 each per month. Business subscriptions are $24.99 per month.

Satellite radio subscription cost is based on the number of stations that you have access to any the amount of extras that you add. Adding special services can increase your satellite radio subscription.

Scott Fish is the owner of Top Satellite Radio which is a resource for consumers seeking the history and facts about satellite radio. We also sell electronics related to Satellite Radio.

www.TopSatelliteRadio.com | Quick Access: www.TopSatRadio.com

sf@topsatelliteradio.com