What's the latest news on Sirius & Air America?

[Born Free]

Anyone actually KNOW what is going on? I know the right wingers are having a great time with it, spreading a lot of rumors that are floating around. Anyone have anything official?

I contacted Sirius several times after the first news articles to let them know I will be leaving if they allow Air America to go, and got my accounts ready to close if Sirius drops Air America. The only thing the Sirius Customer service wrote to me is they don't know what is going on but Sirius will do everything they can to keep Air America. Now, after buying the mp3 players ( actually like the mp3 player better on the Harley), setting everything up, ready to drop Sirius when Air America goes, Air America is still there. The only thing different is the name of the channel. I hate to lose the money on the 3 recievers, but will save the monthly fee - we won't be going back to XM.

[xultar]

1. I'm a sirius customer. I consider AAR left me. I've stopped listening

to aar and switched to 143 Talk left.

Sirius has great programming. I know you didn't listen to AAR full- time. I like to listen to 62 Remix. I've decided I will keep Sirius and enjoy.

[Born Free]

4. "I'm a sirius customer. I consider AAR left me. I've stopped listenin

"Sirius has great programming. I know you didn't listen to AAR full- time. I like to listen to 62 Remix. I've decided I will keep Sirius and enjoy."


You are correct, we don't listen to Air America all the time on Sirius, we do like the music as well, but found a mp3 player replaces the favorite music part rather well. At first I was angry at Air America but after reading all the comments from the vocal right wingers, I realize they are having a tough time getting the message out there. Although we will continue to support Air America by dropping Sirius, that is it - we will not go back to XM.

[pstokely]

2. channel 143 is now called simply "Talk"

[Born Free]

3. "channel 143 is now called simply "Talk""

As I posted, that is the only change so far. I thought someone might have an update or perhaps an offical statement or date they are shutting down Air America. Perhaps Sirius customers that listen to Air America need to keep pressure on Sirius.

[patricia92243]

5. I don't think Sirus dropped them. I believe AAR dropped them. I don't

know why. Sirus stock is going down the tube, so AAR may be moving before something bad happens. Don't know anything about XM. Wonder if it gets as much coverage as Sirus?

By the way, I download and listen to "Springer on the Radio" every day - love Crock News. I was happy (and surprised) to find out it has no advertisements. So if there is any program you realy want to hear, you might give that a try.

[Rosco T.]

12. XM Coverage vs Sirius (with movin' picturs!)

XM has 4+ milliosn subs
Sirius has 1.5+ million subs

XM has a more 'stable' footprint for tracking the sats (two, one over each coast, "Rock" (XM-1) & "Roll" (XM-2). Soon to be two at each coast (adding "Rhythm" (XM-3) & "Blues" (XM-4))

You just need a southern view.

Sirius has a weird ass oribital pattern, it needs a view to the north/east/west and the birds are constantly in motion... makes for 'tricky' reception ('specially in a moving vehicle)

Here's a little animation to show the birds paths/position...

[sellitman]

6. AAR made a sound business decision.

If you were in charge of getting listeners would you like 4 million potential listeners or 1 million? Sell your radio on ebay, and make the switch and stop whining. The world isn't coming to a end.

[Born Free]

7. Your argument is not valid

Your argument that XM has more customers Air America will do better is false as if the potential customers were all that is needed they would not even need XM considering the traditional markets they are currently in. As for whining, I don't take it as whining, I took positive steps and plan on dropping Sirius, but as I posted I have no desire to go back to XM. Likewise, I did not suggest the "World is coming to an end" you really do get things out of proper perspective, I'll bet you probably would do well working for FOX News reporting what is going on here at DU.

As for would I prefer 4 million vs 1 million, that depends if the the percentage of liberals is higher with the one million; then I would prefer that market as oppossed to 4 million right wingers with less chance of reaching regular listeners. Sirius was the choice AAR talked about the most and if you can believe AAR had any influence on decision making, there is a good chance Sirius actually has more AAR listeners than XM.

My original question was not out of line and although your comments certainly didn't enlighten me on any information I was seeking, it did give me a very strong first impression of your own logic and consideration. I bet you love Ebay...

As for your opinion of it being a sound business decision, it may have been their only choice. The one line that sticks in my mind is "The ball is now in their court" , meaning they were waiting to see what Sirius does. Of course what Sirius does depends a lot on customer input and if all the AAR listeners on Sirius did as you imply they should do - just shut up, give up, and walk away, Sirius would not be under any pressure at all to deal with AAR . Stop whining, forget about it you say, I wonder if you say that after each eleciton as well and each time another bill is passed that screws the people of America.

[sellitman]

8. The odds for the argument

that there are more AAR listeners on Sirius than on XM are pretty steep against. I have been a listener since their inception and started listening to XM's "Radio Left" shortly thereafter. I actually heard very little on AAR about either station. Certainly it seems to me AAR never played favorites.

That being said I seem to have gotten under your skin more than I meant to and for that I apologize.

I will not apologize for being an ebay fan though.



Kevin

[Born Free]

14. don't know what went on, only AAR and Sirius know at this point

I do know this: We originally had XM, they were not interested in all of Air America, I contacted them several times about it, as I hated Alan Colmes. I finally decided to take the lose and switch to Sirius, XM offered me several "free" months to stay, they didn't specify how many months of freee service because I already told them I was leaving because they would not carry all of Air America ( it was presented as "Would you consider staying if we give you a few free months? - much like DTV does ). Air America has been on XM for a year and they from what I read, they still don't carry all of Air America yet as you and others want to suggest, XM suddenly needs Air America so much they insist on exclusive rights - no I don't buy that. On the other hand Sirius not only carried all of AAR, they carried more liberal talk in general. During the time when AAR was close to failing financially, Randi Rhoades mentioned on her show that talk was Sirius was going to keep her even if AAR failed. More than once I heard Sirius recommended, not sat but Sirius. I This is personal experience that I know happened. Neither Sirius nor XM know how many people listen to AAR, no one knows they only go by customer contact. If you are happy with XM that is fine, but I am using logic rather than just regurgitating the spin - BTW remember when AAR was spinning they had no lack of funds problems which later turned out to be false, they indeed had serious financial problems?

I would like AAR to be successful but will not lose any sleep if they don't. Having both XM and Sirius, I personally believe Sirius has a little better programming although I do believe XM has better hardware available. My personal experience has been more positive working with Sirius customer service people than XM customer service. This does not mean I think XM is bad, just as I don't tell people digital vcrs are no good because I think Tivo has better features. I am not speaking out of zealotry for any particular company, I gave AAR all the support I intend to, now it's just a matter of time top see what is going down. Which brings us back to the original topic of this post - what is going down, apparently from the posts so far NO one knows.


On edit: I don't hate Ebay, actually used it a few times for hard t find items

[The Gunslinger]

9. What's wrong with XM?

I'm saving my pennies for the reciever, I was just wondering why everyone was saying there not going back to XM.

Also hows the sound when its transmitted through FM radio?

[Rosco T.]

10. Here's a XM deal.... TWO receivers for $99

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6684661&type=product&id=1083711826691

AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3/CD-R Boombox $99 (on sale)

get a FREE Roady2 when you buy any XM receiver

http://www.xmradio.com/doubleplay/index.jsp

Skybox BoomBox for the House, Roady2 for the Car (and the Roady2 has a built in FM Modulator and sound great).

[kikiek]

16. Thanks..

[Born Free]

15. What's wrong with XM?

Having both I can tell you XM is fine, there is nothing wrong with XM. The big advantage to XM is numbers, they have more hardware options and more big corporations promoting them, especially GM. I prefer the programming on Sirius better than XM and found Sirius more receptive to my ideas and personal requests.

Dish network carries Sirius music, and if you wish to try it out for free they have a free 3 day trial on their web site. XM may have the same free offer, I have not been with XM for almost a year now, so not sure what they all do for free.The biggest news lately has been Howard Stern will be exclusively on Sirius, although I never heard his show and really have no desire to listen to his show - if we are still with Sirius when his show comes on I will try it to see what everyone is talking about.

We only switched to Sirius to get all of AAR, but once there liked the music programming better, XM seems to have computer generated playlist whereas Sirius has DJs that play their favorite tunes from their personal collections. As I posted previously, for non stop music, a good mp3 player works well and you have all your favorite songs all the time.

[AntiCoup2K4]

11. I'll pay for XM when they carry the entire AAR schedule.

The full Randi Rhoads and the full Malloy are required. Ed Schultz is not AAR (as he tells you daily) and it will be a cold day in HELL before I pay to listen to Alan fucking Colmes

How can they sign a contract with AAR and not air the whole network?

[Rosco T.]

13. Give'em time... contracts take time...

RIGHT NOW the only thing the don't have it 2 hours of Randi.

Malloy is on (abiet a 3 hour delay).

Ed Schultz HATES being thought of as being on Air America.

Schultz and Colmes are going to another channel.

Randi will be live and real-time.
Malloy will be live and real-time.

Patience Grasshopper, my Magic 8-Ball says "july 4th is an auspicious date".