Link: Satellite radio: Going, going gone?

[It's On A Slab]

Report: Sirius XM on the ropes, EchoStar ready to pounce : Ben Patterson : Yahoo! Tech

Man, I was thinking about getting into satellite radio. Outside of my local public radio station (jazz, great NPR programs), local radio sucks hind tit.

Is satellite radio a good idea that never caught on?

Can EchoStar save the medium?

 

[rizolltizide]

My two cents. Once you have satellite you will never go back to terrestrial radio. It's that good. Will it make it? With the economy as it is now? Questionable, but I hope so.

I used to think that I would never pay for it. You know, you get tired of all these little things costing "only" $10 to $25 "extra" a month. But once you get it, it's like crack. Commercial free, except for the talk stations. The only thing better is your Ipod. I don't even have any local presets on my radio.

 

[CBag4Bama]

My two cents. Once you have satellite you will never go back to terrestrial radio. It's that good. Will it make it? With the economy as it is now? Questionable, but I hope so.

I used to think that I would never pay for it. You know, you get tired of all these little things costing "only" $10 to $25 "extra" a month. But once you get it, it's like crack. Commercial free, except for the talk stations. The only thing better is your Ipod. I don't even have any local presets on my radio.

Seconded. Please don't go away Sirius!!

 

[bamanut_aj]

I love my Sirius/XM channels. I hope they make it!

 

[Bamaro]

I have 1 year free XM. Some really good stations (XM40 Deep Tracks & XM74 Bluesville etc) but I do miss the local DJ connection. Not sure yet whether I want to be nickle & dime'd when my free service ends. Ipod connected to my radio is another option.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

Oh god please no. I just got satellite radio this past year. Losing it would be like getting cable TV only to have to go back to UHF.

 

[TexasBama]

I got six months free when I bought my car and re-upped for a year. If you drive a lot its fabulous.

Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Bama4Ever831]

Like most I hope for them to not cancel satellite radio. It is great for the long drives homes. It would be terrible to go back.

 

[SavannahDare]

I am also a fan of my Sirius/XM and hopefully this hostile takeover won't happen. Terrestrial radio is horrible and can't compare in any way with satellite radio. Of course, if Howard Stern retires in two years, radio won't be worth listening to anymore anyway.

 

[Bamaro]

Stock price is currently $0.07:eek2: Not looking too good unless someone with deeper pockets buys them.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

Stock price is currently $0.07:eek2: Not looking too good unless someone with deeper pockets buys them.

I just bought 1000 shares. Thought I'd give them a cash infusion.

 

[Bama4Ever831]

Maybe you will be the one to bail them out. :biggrin:

 

[derek4tide]

I, too, am a big fan and listener of Sirius/XM since 2005. I will go through withdrawal bigtime, if it goes. Some are now saying that CEO Mel Karmazin may take it private. Overall, the buzz on Wall Street is that Sirius/XM will survive. Whew.

Well, if you're one of the nearly 19 million subscribers, there is hope. Even if the company files for bankruptcy, analysts think it was more likely to be a reorganization, not a liquidation.

"It's hard to imagine the company will go away. It will survive in one form," said Joe Bonner, an analyst with Argus Research. "There are assets there. Sirius XM has nearly 20 million customers that seem to like their service. That's nothing to sniff at."

Is Sirius XM seriously toast? - Feb. 11, 2009

 

[TiderB]

I really hope it makes it. There's no way I can go back to FM.

 

[Vinny]

My subscription renewal will be in May. I've had XM in my car since I bought it in 06. I enjoy it on a long road trip with not having to worry about changing the stations when you get into another area.

Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Leviathan]

There is just too much available on Sirius/XM to think about going back to AM/FM. So much more variety. There is no comparison. I bought the lifetime membership for $400 (didn't want the constant monthly or annual bills) and with a 45 minute drive to and from work.....makes things sooooo much better. :BigA: :biggrin: :BigA:

 

[Bodhisattva]

To follow up on Derek4Tide's post, the service will endure even if the present company offering it doesn't. The technology is in place, and the demand is there. It'll be interesting to see what the final version looks like. SIRI can't just keep issuing new shares though. Who do they think they are? The government printing money?

SIRI has been a very good investment for me over the years. I bought thousands of shares at $1.60, and then sold off most of it (after the securing of Stern) between $7 - $9. Paid off a student loan. I kept a couple hundred shares for the hell of it. So, even if it goes to $0 it's no biggie.

 

[Bamaro]

To follow up on Derek4Tide's post, the service will endure even if the present company offering it doesn't. The technology is in place, and the demand is there. It'll be interesting to see what the final version looks like. SIRI can't just keep issuing new shares though. Who do they think they are? The government printing money?

SIRI has been a very good investment for me over the years. I bought thousands of shares at $1.60, and then sold off most of it (after the securing of Stern) between $7 - $9. Paid off a student loan. I kept a couple hundred shares for the hell of it. So, even if it goes to $0 it's no biggie.

Something is wrong with the business model considering that the stock is at 7 cents and ch 11 is just around the corner.