Sirius and XM merger

[CharliesTheMan]

I'm getting ready to buy a satellite radio system for the house and car. I'm a bit of a talk radio addict and we just don't have much here in Louisiana over the regular air waves, the only thing we have is a channel with exactly opposite views on everything thats important to me lol.

Anyway, I know that Sirius and XM radio merged, so here's my question. Do both systems now offer all the channels? In other words, if I buy one or the other, can I now access the channels from both companies?

 

[ajames942]

I had no idea they merged.? lol when did they merge

 

[CharliesTheMan]

I'm not sure about when, but I heard a lot of talk about it in the news. I don't know the details, I just assumed the merger was done, but it could still be in the works I guess. Someone with more knowledge can chime in, I'm just going on what I've heard in the news in bits and pieces.

 

[WoodiE]

Charlie,

Yes the merger is complete.

No you are not able to access both XM and Sirius stations...not yet.

I have Sirius (and highly recommend it, love it!), my father just bought an 06 or 07 Chevy pickup that has the XM radio built in. I just called Sirius two days ago to see if I could add him to my account since additional accounts are half off. The gentlemen I spoke with said that the terms of the deal that the government made was that both companies has to run as separate "sister companies" in order to avoid a monopoly such as AT&T had back in the day.

Why do I say yet? Well in the next month or two Sirius XM radio will be releasing new radio plans, these radio plans will offer anything to very limited stations to plans that offer the best of both radios. So while you can't mix and match both right now, in the very near future you will be able to listen to both or most of each station programs soon.


-Michael

 

[CharliesTheMan]

Thanks Woodie. Yeah the reason that I head about the merger was because of discussions of the monopoly that everyone was freaking out about, so that clears it up nicely. I think I'm going to go with Sirius since you're using it and you like it.

 

[MrClean]

I know you said you're getting it for the talk radio stations, I think they both offer a pretty good variety of stations for that. You might check into which ones carry sports broadcasts (if that interests you at all). I know XM carries a lot of MLB and Sirrus carries most of the NFL. You may have already looked into all that, so I'll shut up now.

I never thought I'd pay for radio, but now that I have it, I couldn't imagine living without it.

 

[insaneatvs]

I have Sirius and love it. I did the one time pay lifetime plan..yeah its a hit at first but i do have to worry about a bill coming to my door ever. My Brother has XM and doesn't really care for it....I hate driving my wifes truck because we dont have Sirius radio in it....so i gotta listen to crap radio today

Pm me and i will give you my code so you can preview it on line before you buy...

 

[GrudgE]

Definatly Sirius I had XM and the music choices didn't impress me much. Sirius has a better selection of everything I feel, talk shows, comedy channels, and music the octane channel rules.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

I appreciate all of the input guys. I don't listen to much sports radio, but thanks for the input. My stepdad is big into sports (he was a pro ball player on a farm team when he was younger, gave it up to become a pro bull rider. He rocked at that as well, but every bone has been broken at one time or another lol) so that information will be quite handy when I buy his unit.

I mainly listen to current event type stuff and political stuff, what's affecting us as a country, things like that. Anyone got advice on which one is better for that kind of stuff? I mainly listen to music that isn't really on either setup very much, so I will stick to my MP3's for the music. Which leaves talk radio as the deciding factor.

That just gave me an idea. Maybe I'll buy one of each, and then I can try them both and see which one I like better, and give the other one to Mom or my stepdad.

 

[WoodiE]

I never thought I'd pay for radio, but now that I have it, I couldn't imagine living without it.

I thought the same thing, I've now had the radio for almost 6 months if not longer and since I've had the radio installed in my Jeep I've never once turned on AM/FM radio since - no poop.


Charlie,

I'm with you man - I don't listen to a whole lot of music but I do listen to a few music stations from time to time. It's mostly talk radio or NFL for me. What can I say I'm hook on Sirius.



-Michael

 

[alpinehyperlite]

I think I'm going to go with Sirius since you're using it.

Hey charlie, you got a lil brown somthing on your nose. Might wana wipe that off. lol

 

[CharliesTheMan]

hmmm, all the times I kiss ass and politic on here, and you choose a statement where I simply decided to use the one that someone actually told me they enjoyed. ah well, good times for sure.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

Sorry man, its the uniform it makes me assholic sometimes. lol.

 

[hamz9561]

Sirius is the way to go, imho. I've used both and really enjoy the programming on Sirius.

 

[Webbage]

Jebus, they actually merged at last? This deals been dragging on longer than I've been giving a crap. I remember them first proposing it in 2005! I think they've been shot down by thew US competition commission several times.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

Well I made the jump to satellite radio, Sirius all the way for me. Of course I went to radioshack to buy the $40 basic unit to see how I would like it, planning to give it to my step-dad and buying me a better unit. I got in there, and I just couldn't see buying something and then regretting not getting the top of the line system and having to go back in a few weeks and get another one, so I went in to spend $40 and came out having spent around $200 lol. I got one of the hardrive models, I mostly wanted it because it had more text and a better head unit face.

Could anyone let me know of talk radio shows that they like that have a democratic or third party feel to them. If I have to listen to Rush Limbough one more time, I'm going to commit suicide by tablesaw (yes its really been done, in Mississipp.) If you could let me know some good shows and the station or channel, that would be great. Republican is alright too, as long as its not so far out there to the side like Rush.

 

[WoodiE]

Charlie,

If you haven't already I would strongly urge you to purchase the Sirius direct connect - it's worth every bit of the $50 and you won't have to look for empty radio stations anymore if you travel with it. I've driven from Lexington, KY to Indy as well as all the way down to Gatlinburg, TN w/o ever having to touch the radio.


-Michael

 

[CharliesTheMan]

Thanks for the info Woodie. I will consider than when I install it in my step-dad's truck, but in my other vehicles I'm running aftermarket stereos with head units designed with an auxillary input to plug right in.