Xm Sat Radio

Just Let Sirius XM Be

Let's flesh out the backstory. When regulators approved the merger between Sirius and XM three years ago, one of the stipulations was that the giant satellite radio would not raise its main rate to three years. Sirius XM has, indeed, has kept its base rate stuck at $ 12.95 per month. However, during the last three years, it introduced a charge of music, has narrowed the discount available for secondary receivers in the same account, and started charging for streaming access.

All these movements seem to be perfectly held the language of the agreement. Regulators, even recently lifted the freeze on rate increases primary, which is something they probably would not do if Sirius XM to color outside the lines of their agreement.

However, a dissatisfied customer has initiated a class action lawsuit two years ago. The agreement reached three months ago was quite negligible, even if Sirius XM agreed to pay legal fees of the applicant, hold off on any rate increase until 2012 primary, and to make small concessions to non-cash subscribers disappointed.

Sirius XM got off easy, but wasn't that because it had the better legal argument?

Well, 67 of the 15 million subscribers represented in the original settlement have voiced formal objections. It's a small sliver of the satellite radio membership base, but there's no harm in hearing them out -- or is there?

"I rely on satellite radio every day for weather and news," one of the objectors told the judge, as recounted by Bloomberg. "I have no alternative. Combining Sirius and XM created a firm with monopoly power in rural South Carolina."

Really?Despite his long commute, I really believe that terrestrial radio stations do not provide local weather and news? Is it really the fault of Sirius XM, if there is a lack of coverage in some rural pockets? If it costs more to have a smartphone applications with access to weather and podcasts, is it also the fault of Sirius XM?

Toyota platform board enables drivers Entune with Bluetooth smartphones to access current weather, news, and traffic. MyFord Ford Touch can be set up with a shortcut key to regional conditions and traffic. Now, no one should be telling someone that they need to buy a new car with fancy gadgetry to get something that they're getting from satellite radio, but it's not fair to call something a monopoly when coast-to-coast alternatives do exist.

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) Adds talkSPORT | Satellite Radio ...

By Demian Russian

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) said today that it is adding programs from talkSPORT, the award-winning radio network from the UK, to its soccer programming lineup. The talkSPORT shows will debut this Saturday, August 13th, the first day of the 2011-12 Barclays English Premier League season, on Sirius channel 92 and XM channel 207. The new talk programming – which is hosted by some of the UK’s best radio hosts and former athletes, many of whom are former EPL players — supplements SiriusXM’s schedule of live Premiership matches, which are available to SiriusXM listeners nationwide.

Sirius XM Radio’s EPL season kicks off with Saturday’s Newcastle United v. Arsenal match, which can be heard live at 12:30 pm ET. Sunday’s schedule will feature Stoke City v. Chelsea at 8:30 am ET and West Bromwich v. Manchester United at 11:00 am ET.  EPL matches will air throughout the season on Sirius channel 92 and XM channel 207. For a schedule of upcoming matches visit  www.siriusxm.com/soccer .

, hosted by international soccer legend Giorgio Chinaglia and U.S. Soccer Foundation founding board member Charlie Stillitano (weekdays, 7:00 am ET on Sirius channel 92 and XM channel 207). Sirius XM Radio offers an extensive lineup of international sports programming. In addition to live soccer broadcasts, listeners can also hear Formula One  races, world class cricket competitions, and World Cup skiing events from around the globe.