Sirius Xm Radio Merger Q&A
Here are a few answers to common questions I have been reading around the net concerning the merger between Sirius and XM. Though not 100% official these answers are taken straight from press releases and interviews Mel Karmazin has done post merger.
What are the new pricing plans? Will my Monthly Bill go up now?
If you do not listen to Howard Stern (Premium Channel) there are $6.99-9.99 pricing plans, so you will actually save money on your monthly bill. You can add on optional premium channels but as long as you don’t get into any XM programing your bill will never go above the current price of $12.95. I repeat as long as you don’t add on any XM programing your bill will never go above $12.95.
So to sum up above if you are paying $12.95 now, do nothing. You will have the same programing and same price as you always had as a Sirius Subscriber.
Can I get XM channels yet? When will I be able to get XM programming?
As of right now you can not get XM channels on your Sirius Radio. There are plans for an Al La Cart system but for right now your reciever can not get transmissions from the XM Satellites. Mel said that new radios are already designed but they are not going to be available until they start mass production.
What you will be able to get is a “Best of XM” package that consists of 11 XM Channels wich will brodcast over Sirius’s current satellites. So you will not need a new radio but there will most likely be a price involved with this service. Also what 11 channels are being offered is not known at the moment.
How long before I can get MLB Radio on my current Sirius Radio? I want it now, why is it taking so long?
The MLB will not be available to Sirius right away. There are currently licensing issues that need to be worked out with no deffinate time table. The MLB will not let Sirius brodcast. So your best option is to contact the MLB and not Sirius. The same goes for NASCAR on XM.
What about Howard Stern? I’m on XM and I’ve been waiting for this day to happen, when can I hear him?
Howard Stern will be available to XM subscribers this Fall. No specific date was given yet but it could be as close as September. It’s also unclear if both Howard 100 and 101 will be included also he will not be a part of the “Best of Sirius” package since it’s considered premium content.
What about my current receiver? Do I need to buy a new one?
No not unless you need a new one. You existing WILL NOT BECOME OBSOLETE. You will still be able to enjoy Sirius or XM as you have been in the past.
What about my Lifetime Subscription?
You will still have your lifetime subscription. How it will work with different Sirius/XM packages is not known.
What about my Favorite channels? Are they going to remove channels? How will they do this?
They will be slowly merging channels from XM into Sirius programming. This means that some of your favorite channels may get replaced. If XM has a better Hip-Hop channel it may replace one of Siriu’s, but if Sirius has a better performing Country channel it will stay and replace one from XM.
No official word but the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s channels will most likely be merged and be the same on both Sirius and XM.
I have a Factory XM radio in my car with DVD Monitors, can I convert the XM Radio and Screens to Sirius Backseat TV?
NO
That is it for now, as I gather more Questions I will post them. The main question I’m trying to find out right now is how Internet Streaming will work with the newly merged companies.
