It appears that Sirius will not allow Lifetime subscribers to pay the $4.00 a month fee for The Best of XM instead you will need to fork over $150.00 to add the Best of To your Plan.

Seems like a pretty stupid move on Sirius’s part. I’m sure XM is doing the same thing for their Subscribers also.

I hope the Lifetime subscribers don’t run into any issues if the ever plan on adding Al La Carte to their service since you will need to purchase a new Radio. I’m sure that is included in the allowable Transfers though.

Mel…can you update us on the state of Sirius XM Radio soon?

Most radios will be able to add The Best of XM. Current subscribers
should visit the “My Account” section on sirius.com to verify radio
compatibility. Will my SIRIUS subscription costs increase? How much more per month is
The Best of XM?

SIRIUS subscribers will continue to enjoy a full complement of
programming (now called “SIRIUS Everything”) like they do today at
their current monthly subscription rate of $12.95. In addition, SIRIUS
will also offer subscribers SIRIUS Everything Plus The Best of XM
programming for a total monthly price of $16.99 (only $4.04 more per
month). Several other new programming packages will be offered,
including two “family-friendly” options and packages featuring mostly
music, mostly news, sports & talk, and a la carte. Is there a package change fee for upgrading to The Best of XM?

No. There is no package change fee for upgrading to The Best of XM. Can I add The Best of XM to my family plan radios?

Yes, SIRIUS subscribers may add The Best of XM to family plan radios
(radios 2 through 5 on an account) for an additional $4 more per month. What if I don’t want some of the content (i.e. channels with
frequent explicit language)?

Sirius offers several new programming packages including two Family
Friendly options that will not contain any of the mature channels and
will be offered at a discounted monthly rate from that package’s
current monthly rate. How can I stay up to date on all available programming?

Visit www.sirius.com/whatsonsirius
for the up-to-the-minute programming schedule information. You can also
go to Sirius.com to sign up for SIRIUS’ Behind The Mic e-newsletter to
receive the latest updates on programming for SIRIUS Everything and The
Best of XM ]]> http://siriusxmnews.com/2008/10/sirius-listeners-best-of-xm-faq/feed/ 0 http://siriusxmnews.com/2008/10/sirius-xm-radio-best-of-and-a-la-carte-official-today/ http://siriusxmnews.com/2008/10/sirius-xm-radio-best-of-and-a-la-carte-official-today/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:42:22 +0000 SXMN http://siriusxmnews.com/2008/10/sirius-xm-radio-best-of-and-a-la-carte-official-today/ “Best of Both” and A La Carte Packages Available Immediately

More Choices at Lower Prices Across the Board and In-Time for Holiday Shopping

SIRIUS
XM Radio today unveiled an unprecedented offering of new
programming packages and better pricing. The company’s “Best of Both”
programming options and A La Carte channel choices are available
effective immediately.

For the first time ever, XM subscribers can add select SIRIUS channels to their existing service, and SIRIUS subscribers can add select XM channels to their service. These “Best of Both” packages will be available at a monthly cost of $16.99, which is only $4.04 more than the cost of a monthly subscription to one of the services. Most subscribers can add the premier programming without purchasing a new radio.

    –  XM subscribers can add “The Best of SIRIUS” featuring Howard
        Stern and his two 24/7 channels; Martha Stewart Living Radio dedicated
        to entertaining, cooking and more with Martha and her lifestyle experts;
        SIRIUS NFL Radio and play-by-play of every NFL game through the regular
        season, playoffs and Super Bowl; SIRIUS NASCAR Radio and broadcasts of
        every NASCAR race; and the smart and sexy exclusive talk of Playboy
        Radio. XM subscribers will also have access to play-by-play action from
        the country’s leading college teams.

    –  SIRIUS subscribers can add “The Best of XM” channels featuring
        Oprah Winfrey and her full time channel, Oprah & Friends; The Virus
        featuring irreverent radio personalities Opie and Anthony, as well as
        comedic daytime hosts Ron and Fez; XM Public Radio featuring exclusive
        interviews and documentaries from the award winning Bob Edwards;
        play-by-play of select NBA and NHL games; and live coverage of all the
        events of the PGA TOUR. SIRIUS subscribers will also have access to
        play-by-play of select games from college’s biggest conferences.

XM subscribers can add “The Best of SIRIUS” channels by calling
1-866-9SIRIXM (866-974-7496) or go to XMRadio.com for complete details.
SIRIUS subscribers can add “The Best of XM” channels by calling
1-888-7BESTXM (888-723-7896), or go to SIRIUS.com for complete details.

“One of the most exciting benefits of the SIRIUS and XM merger
is giving subscribers the chance to expand their subscriptions to
include ‘The Best of Both’ services. Given the popularity of
programming on both SIRIUS and XM, we expect many subscribers will
upgrade their current subscriptions,” said Jim Meyer, SIRIUS XM Radio
President, Operations and Sales. “It’s hard to imagine an XM subscriber
who wouldn’t be interested in adding Howard Stern and NFL games, or a
SIRIUS subscriber who wouldn’t want to get Oprah’s channel or follow
the games of the NBA and NHL, and the world’s best golfers on the PGA
TOUR.”

Today also marks the official launch of a la carte-capable radios
and the unveiling of A La Carte programming packages. The first a la
carte-capable radio is the SIRIUS Starmate 5 (MSRP: $129.99) now
available at Best Buy, Crutchfield, RadioShack and regional retailers.
Starmate 5 radios are also available at www.shop.sirius.com.

More information about the new programming packages and pricing for XM and SIRIUS is available online at www.xmradio.com and www.sirius.com.

Make sure you take the poll below, so far it looks like the majority of people are interested in adding Best of to their programming package.

Now if Sirius XM Radio could figure out how to fix their ever declining stock everyone could be happy.

If you take a Visit to the Sirius Website today you will notice that you are now able to Add the new Sirius Best of XM Package, Family Friendly, Special Interest and A La Carte Packages.

Link is here.

The Best of XM Now on Sirius:

Now for the first time, you can add XM channels
to your SIRIUS subscription. Add “The Best of XM” on SIRIUS and get
Oprah & Friends, Opie & Anthony, NHL and NBA games, the 24/7
NHL Home Ice Channel, The PGA TOUR Network, college sports, and XM
Public Radio. The Best Radio on Radio™ just got better.

Get the best of both worlds, with over 140 channels. You’ll hear the
full SIRIUS lineup, including Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, live games
and races from the NFL, NASCAR and exclusive 100% commercial-free music
channels like the Grateful Dead Channel and SIRIUSLY Sinatra.

You’ll also get a selection of XM channels – The Best of XM
- including Oprah & Friends®, NBA and NHL games, the 24/7 NHL Home
Ice® channel, The PGA TOUR Network, Opie & Anthony, XM Public
Radio® and more.

• Includes free online listening with SIRIUS Internet Radio* (32k)

• Eligible for Premium SIRIUS Internet Radio upgrade (128k)

• Additional savings on annual subscription plans

• Eligible for discounts on additional subscriptions

• See complete channel list

* See SIRIUS Internet Radio complete channel list

More information on other packages
http://www.sirius.com/packages/more

A LA CARTE INFORMATION:

A LA CARTE GOLD:

Create your own personalized package of 100
channels. Choose from the full SIRIUS lineup, plus some of the hottest
channels from XM. There are no extra charges for Premium channels,
Howard Stern or live games and races from the NFL, NASCAR, college
sports and more.

• Requires an A La Carte-capable SIRIUS radio

• This package does not include free online listening with
SIRIUS Internet Radio* (32k); choose a SIRIUS EVERYTHING package if you want to listen online.

• For complete package details and a list of channels available,
click here

* See SIRIUS Internet Radio complete channel list

A LA CARTE:
Choose what you want to listen to. Pick 50 channels
from a selection of SIRIUS’ 100% commercial-free music, sports talk,
entertainment, news, traffic and weather channels to create your own
personalized package.

• Requires an A La Carte-capable SIRIUS radio

• Does not include live games or races

• Premium channels cost extra

• This package does not include free online listening with SIRIUS Internet Radio* (32k); choose a SIRIUS EVERYTHING
package if you want to listen online.

• For complete package details and a list of channels available, click here

* See SIRIUS Internet Radio complete channel list

† Each premium channel is an additional 25¢ / month, up to a
maximum monthly package price of $12.95. Add Howard and/or Sports bundles for an additional fee. Click here for details.

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacartegold

http://www.sirius.com/packages/alacarte

What about a Radio that supports A LA CARTE and Best of XM?

Right here. The Starmate 5

Update 1: This information is also up on XM’s Website. From what I have been hearing these packages will be officially available tomorrow October 1st, but this is also just a rumor.

Update 2: It’s now official. You can now add Best of Sirius to your XM Subscription.

A quick check Here reveals that The Stern Show is set to Air Tomorrow.

Here is a Screen Shot

Also another Screen Grab from the XM 100 Program List.

According to a recent XM Signal Email-

“Beginning September
30th, the following channels will relocate on the XM dial: The Joint
(XM 101) moves to XM 95, Air Musique (XM 100) moves to XM 96, and Sur
La Route (XM 102) moves to XM 97. Additionally, Starbucks XM Cafe (XM
45) reverts back to XM Cafe (XM 45).”

In related news forum member marker101 at xmfan.com checked his Inno today and saw updated logos for Sirius XM Radios best of both Programing.

You can see the thread and pictures Here.

We will keep you updated as more information comes in.

Subscribers

– The company expects to end 2008 with approximately 19.5 million subscribers and to end 2009 with approximately 21.5 million
subscribers.

Revenue

–
SIRIUS XM expects to post pro forma revenue of approximately $2.4
billion in 2008 and to post revenue of approximately $2.7 billion in
2009.

Adjusted EBITDA

– SIRIUS XM expects a pro forma
adjusted EBITDA loss of approximately $350 million in 2008 and
reiterated its previously stated financial guidance of approximately
$300 million in positive adjusted EBITDA for 2009. Adjusted EBITDA is
net income / (loss) before interest and investment income, interest
expense (net of amounts capitalized), depreciation expense, and
non-cash stock compensation expense.

Synergies

– SIRIUS XM announced it is increasing its estimate of net synergies to $425 million in 2009.

–
The Company also provided a line item breakdown of how the expected
2009 synergies will be achieved, which will be available as an exhibit
to the Current Report on Form 8-K that the company is filing today.

“We have
made great strides over the last six weeks and continue to make
progress integrating the company and delivering on our promises to
customers and stockholders,” said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS XM Radio.
“We are finding significant cost savings on every line item of the
P&L and are beginning to realize these synergies already. SIRIUS XM
also continues to be one of the strongest growth stories in media, with
pro forma revenue growth of approximately 17% in 2008.”

“Best of Both” information:

As part of “Best of Both” programming, most current XM customers will
continue to receive their existing XM service, and be able to obtain
select SIRIUS programming. Likewise, most current SIRIUS customers will
continue to receive their existing SIRIUS service and be able to obtain
select XM programming. In addition to their existing service, SIRIUS
and XM subscribers will be able to purchase the following channels:

* Sports offerings will also include channels for play-by-play of NBA, NHL, NFL, and College Sports games.

Included
on the “Best of” XM on SIRIUS will be such shows as Basketball and
Beyond, hosted by Duke and Olympic basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski;
Andretti Green, with driver Danica Patrick; 60/20, a sports magazine
show by Luke Russert and James Carville; Indy Racing League car races;
and games from the top college conferences, including the PAC 10, SEC,
Big 10, Big 12, Big East and ACC.

Karmazin stated, “We have
been working closely with our content providers since the day the
merger closed and have made significant progress in those discussions.
The resulting “Best of Both” options we are outlining today represent
another step towards fulfilling our promise of more choices and lower
prices for our subscribers. We are very excited to begin offering
existing and prospective listeners access to even more compelling
programming and new packages.”

“Best
of Both” programming will be available to satellite radio consumers
beginning October 6, 2008 on most existing satellite radios at a
monthly cost of $16.99. Also, the company’s full slate of new packages
will be available to consumers on Oct. 6, including the opportunity to
choose programming on an a la carte basis for the first time ever in
subscription media.