New Sirius XM Campaign: Change the way you listen

Reference for SIRIUS XM Pricing Plans

Figuring out the pricing for Sirius XM Radio can be a daunting task for most people. Shortly after the merger took place both Sirius and XM added many different service tiers and packages that can be hard to keep track of. Below is a complete list detailing the costs of each plan.

If you would like to see a larger version of this list I uploaded a copy to Scribd.com. Just click Here to view it.

FREE for 2 weeks, the 60 Channel Challenge

Great news for anyone who has dumped Sirius in the past but still has their old radio. Starting today until the 30th of this month listeners can have taste of everything SIRIUS has to offer by listening to 60 channels featuring
100% commercial-free music plus sports, news, talk, and entertainment.

A list of free channels can be viewed here.

Also if you decide you like what you hear you have the ability to sign back up for a special promo price for 5 Months at $20.00, a 65% savings and no reactivation fee. The offer ends December 15th so now would be a great time to sign back up for service.

This same deal is also available for past XM Radio subscribers.

Emeril Lagasse to Launch ‘Cooking with Emeril,’ His First Live Call-In Show, on SIRIUS XM’s Martha Stewart Living Radio

During a special live broadcast on SIRIUS XM Radio today, Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse announced that starting the week of November 30, Emeril will host his first live call-in radio show, Cooking with Emeril. The broadcast will air twice-weekly on Stewart’s exclusive satellite radio channel, Martha Stewart Living Radio.

In addition, Stewart’s weekly SIRIUS XM live call-in show Ask Martha, currently broadcast once a week, will expand to two days a week. On the show Stewart takes calls from listeners across the country, answering their questions about cooking, entertaining, gardening, home keeping, what new projects she is working on and more.

The renowned chef and restaurateur will host Cooking with Emeril from wherever he is in the country, introducing his listeners to the fascinating people, places and food he experiences. On every show he’ll take questions from callers and share recipes, tips and fun entertaining ideas. Emeril will also interview chefs he meets on the road, and will bring them together for thought-provoking discussions about the world of food.

Beginning the week of November 30, Cooking with Emeril will air live Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET and will replay nightly at 7:00 pm ET. Ask Martha will air live Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:00 pm and will replay nightly at 7:00 pm ET. Both shows will air exclusively on Martha Stewart Living Radio, SIRIUS channel 112 and XM channel 157 as part of “The Best of SIRIUS” package. Weekly schedules with programming information will be available at www.sirius.com and www.xmradio.com.

“We are thrilled to offer our listeners unprecedented access to these world-class talents as we expand Martha Stewart Living Radio to becoming a true destination lifestyle channel,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio.

“I look forward to spending more time talking to our wonderful SIRIUS XM Radio audience. They always have the most interesting questions. I enjoy learning about their different endeavors and offering information and guidance that will help them with their projects in the kitchen, in the garden and all around the home,” said Martha Stewart.

“This is going be great – I can’t wait to talk to people across the country and share the colorful places, chefs and food I experience in my daily life,” said Emeril Lagasse. “Food is the universal connector, and Martha Stewart Living Radio is the perfect arena to celebrate it and have fun.”

Listeners are invited to call or email their questions to Martha and Emeril when they are on the air to 866-675-6675 and radio@marthastewart.com.

For more information please visit www.sirius.com/martha and www.xmradio.com.

Sirius or XM? Who do I sign up with?

Although Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Radio are now one company there are still a few differences between the two services. For many people new to Satellite Radio the choice can be confusing and most would assume the same content is available on both services. This may come true in the future but right now you still have an important decision to make on which service to sign up for.

I will go through some of the many options you have with both services from Station choices to hardware.

The First thing to note is that no matter what service you choose you will be paying the same price per month which after all of the fees usually comes out to around $15.00. Both Sirius and XM offer their customers the option to pay for service up front for a longer term which saves money. They both also offer a Lifetime subscription. Since both services have identical pricing I will not bore you with all of the different package details I will just let you know that both Sirius and XM offer a plethora of different options to get you Satellite Radio fix.

So the big question is what’s the difference in programming between these two services?

I will start with the Sports Channels since this is often a hot topic among listeners and a main reason why a customer may choose one service over the other. This is also one of the last things that really set Sirius and XM apart programming wise.

With The Sirius Everything package, which is their basic service you will receive Sirius NFL Radio and NASCAR Radio. Although Sirius only has two professional sports there are a plethora of sports channels to choose from including ESPN Radio and Mad Dog Radio.

With XM Radio Everything your choices include MLB, NHL, NBA and College Football games. As with Sirius you will also have access to many other channels devoted to sports programming.

As you can see this can be a tough decision to choose a service for any sports fan, luckily both Sirius and XM can make the decision a little easier with their new Sirius/XM Everything Plus Services. With the Sirius Everything Plus XM plan you get the ability to listen to NHL, NBA and PGA channels. And if you are an XM Subscriber you can get the XM Everything Plus Sirius package which includes NFL and NASCAR. I would just like to add that the Everything Plus plan’s will cost an additional $4.00 a month but if you you can not choose between both services $4.00 is much cheaper then adding a second $12.95 a month subscription and having an additional radio. Besides the sports channels you will also get additional programming that I will discuss a little later in this article.

Now that Sports programing is out of the way what else is different about each service?

To be honest both Sirius and XM radio offer more than enough channels to keep anyone busy and entertained. I have been a subscriber to Sirius for the past 6 years and I’m still discovering new channels all the time. From Music to Comedy, Talk Radio to Children’s programming you will never have a reason to listen to “Free” Radio again. And if you ask anyone who is a true fan of satellite radio if they listen to terrestrial radio 98% of the time you will get a no. I also find myself having a hard time when I’m a passenger in a car that does not have Satellite Radio. That may sound weird to some but any true fan will tell you that is normal.

Now that we got that out of the way lets talk about music choices. Both Sirius and XM Radio offer so an extremely large amount of choices when it comes to music programming. Before Sirius and XM radio merged the differences in channels was more apparent then it is now. With the merger came the dropping and merging of most music channels so choosing a service based on Music Programming is not a big deal as it used to be.

Both Sirius and XM offer music channels dedicated to different eras from the 40’s all the way to the 90’s. They both also offer specific genres including Country, Pop, Hip-Hop, Dance, Christian, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Musicals, and International. As you can see there is a wide variety of choices to choose from, the list actually goes on and on since every genre has an average of 4 stations and I’m sure there is something I missed!

In all honesty now that the merger has occurred if you are only interested in music you cant go wrong with either service. Sirius and XM also have dedicated channels for some of the most popular artists past and present. A few examples are Elvis Radio, Radio Margaritaville, E Street Radio and Shade 45.

Talk Radio, Shock Jocks and Other Specialty Programming.

Both Sirius and XM have spent a good amount of money hiring big names to become part of Satellite Radio. Unless you have been hiding out on a deserted Island for the past 5 years you have no doubt heard that Sirius signed the largest voice on radio…The King of All Media, Howard Stern. For some this may be a deal breaker on deciding on which service to sign up for. The good news is that with the XM Best of Sirius Package you have the ability to add Stern to your service although at an additional cost. I would also like to mention that another favorite and controversial DJ featured on one of Howard Sterns channels is Bubba The Love Sponge.

The good news for XM Subscribers is that Opie and Anthony have their own station on XM called The Virus. The Virus also features Jim Norton and the popular Ron and Fez. I know that talking about Stern and Opie and Anthony in the same sentence can turn out to be quite the “Flame War” but this article is not about that debate. The great thing about Sirius and XM is that as a fan you can choose who you listen to and which service you decide to sign up for, something Terrestrial Radio really can’t match.

While we are on the subject of Shock Jocks there is one more show that I would like to point out. If you have not heard The Jason Ellis show on Sirius Faction (28) (52 on XM) I would recommend you give it a try. It may not be for everyone but if you are a fan of Stern or Opie and Anthony you may be surprised at what you hear.

So what are some other high profile names Sirius and XM have to offer?

Sirius Subscribers get Martha Stewart Living Radio (Also available on Best of XM channel 157). XM Subscribers receive Oprah Radio (Also available with Sirius Best of XM). I could go on and on for day’s about the content on these two services but I recommend everyone who is not a subscriber to take some time to check out Sirius or XM’s website to see all that is offered. If you are interested both Sirius and XM are now offering a free 30 Day Trial, you have nothing to lose and can cancel at any time. I can almost guarantee that before the 30 Days are expired you will be hooked to the service. It’s well worth the $12.00 per month.

A few more Features that Sirius and XM offer subscribers.

Not everyone is sitting in their Automobile’s 24/7 so what are the options for listening outside of your car?

Both Sirius and XM offer a good portion of their channels online at an additional cost. Although this service used to be free you can add Premium Internet Streaming for only $2.99 per month. If your like me and work around computers a good portion of your day the additional money is a no brainier. I would like to mention that some channels are not available online so it’s a good idea to check first before you sign up for the service.

In addition to online streaming Sirius XM Radio have also released an App for the iPhone and iPod Touch. You will need to be a Premium Internet Subscriber and additional channels are currently missing from the application.

Finally both Sirius and XM offer some great choices when it comes to Portable, Home, and Dock and Play products. A very popular option for Sirius Subscribers is the Stiletto 2. XM Subscribers have a few more options with the Inno, newly released SkyDock and the XMP3. In my opinion if you are looking for more options in receivers and radios XM has always had superior choices, which may be a determining factor in choosing a service provider.

Now on to Sirius Backseat TV. This is one product that I have no experience with but I do know that this is exclusive to Sirius. Basically you are getting 3 channels (Nick, Disney and Cartoon Network) to keep your children occupied while riding in the back seat. If someone reading this article has any experience with this product I would love to hear your thoughts. You can click the link to read more or watch the video below to get a good idea of this service.

Both Sirius and XM offer services for small businesses, you can check out the links Here and Here. Even though Sirius and XM offer dedicated channels for Traffic which come with a regular subscription, Sirius offers a product called Sirius Traffic and XM offers XM NavTraffic. There are a few more services that both companies offer but most consumers are mainly interested in their regular Entertainment Packages. If you would like to see additional services you can check out the individual sites.

Is that all? Is there more?

I could actually go on and on about both Sirius and XM and all of the Products and services they offer but I could be writing for weeks. If you are having a tough time deciding between Sirius or XM I would recommend you take the time to visit each site and do some more research. Before the merger Sirius and XM used to be totally different services but as you can see each service has almost melted into each other allowing subscribers of both services the Best of Both (Pun Intended!)

In closing if you found this article helpful please sign up at Digital Radio Central to leave some feedback. If you would like to add anything that you think would help out anyone contemplating Subscribing to Sirius or XM please do so. And finally if you decided to finally sign up for service, Congratulations and welcome to the future of radio!

Miles Davis Radio to Launch Exclusively on SIRIUS XM Radio

SIRIUS XM Radio announced today that it will launch Miles Davis Radio, a 24-hour commercial-free channel devoted to the music and career of Miles Davis, one of the greatest visionaries and most important figures in jazz history.

The limited-run channel will launch on Friday, November 20 at 3:00 pm ET and will run until Wednesday, November 25 on SIRIUS channel 72 and XM channel 70.

Miles Davis Radio, hosted by Davis’ son Erin Davis, his nephew drummer Vince Wilburn Jr. and legendary bassist, producer and writer Marcus Miller, will feature music from Davis’ extensive catalog, which includes over one hundred albums.

Listeners will hear composer and former Miles Davis music director Robert Irving III premiere never before heard soundtrack music recorded by Davis for the 1986 film Wise Guys. In addition, the channel is scheduled to include special segments and interviews with former Davis band members and various guests, including drummer Jimmy Cobb, pianist Herbie Hancock, guitarist John Scofield, pianist Monty Alexander, record executives Bruce Lundvall and Clive Davis, Davis’ long-time road manager Gordon Meltzer, bassist Ron Carter, guitarist Carlos Santana,Rolling Stones bassist Darryl “Munch” Jones and friend and peer Quincy Jones.

Words and music will also be devoted to different phases of Davis’ career including stories from the legend himself. Courtesy of CBS News, excerpts from the 1989 60 Minutes interview with the late Harry Reasoner will be aired and musician/broadcaster Ben Sidran contributes his 1989 conversation conducted on the beach at Davis’ Malibu home.

Miles Davis Radio continues SIRIUS XM’s practice of creating exclusive limited-run artist-branded channels dedicated to iconic musicians. In addition to the current broadcast of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Radio, SIRIUS XM has previously offered limited-run channels such as Mandatory Metallica, Paul McCartney’s Fireman Radio, Rolling Stones Radio, AC/DC Radio, Led Zeppelin Radio, The Spectrum of John Mellencamp,The Who Channel, Radio R.E.M., Coldplay Nation, ABBA Radio,Neil Diamond Radio, Jay-Z Nation, Garth Brooks Radio and Duran Duran’s Red Carpet Radio among many others.

The channel coincides with the November 24 release of Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection, a deluxe limited edition retrospective of the iconic music Davis created during his 30 years with Columbia Records – 70 CDs and 1 DVD packaged in Japanese-styled mini LP Jackets, plus a 250-page book with a biography, discography, complete song index and rare photos. For more information, visit  www.miles-davis.com.

Nasdaq Notifies SIRIUS XM That It Complies With Independent Director Rule

SIRIUS XM Radio today announced that it received a letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market acknowledging that the company complies with the independent director and audit committee requirements of the Nasdaq rules.

On July 9, 2009, The Nasdaq Stock Market notified SIRIUS XM that it did not comply with the independent director and audit committee requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market after the resignation of one of its independent directors upon his confirmation as Deputy Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. Upon the resignation of Gary Parsons as a director of the company, independent directors under the Nasdaq rules constitute a majority of the SIRIUS XM Board of Directors.

Eddy W. Hartenstein to Serve as Non-Executive Chairman of SIRIUS XM Board of Directors

Big news from Sirius XM Radio today, Sirius XM announced that Gary Parsons has resigned as a director and Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Eddy W. Hartenstein, an independent director, to serve as non-executive Chairman.

“I could not be more proud of everything that has been accomplished in satellite radio,” said Gary Parsons. “It has been a true honor to serve the stockholders of these companies since founding through delivery of an unparallel service to millions of loyal and devoted subscribers. While it has been a privilege to serve SIRIUS XM as Chairman and to have guided the company successfully through the merger of SIRIUS and XM, I believe now is the right time to step aside. As SIRIUS XM, we have achieved significant synergies while bringing together two incredibly talented teams and unique service offerings. Moreover, despite the challenging economic environment, we have begun to generate positive cash flow and have substantially improved our financial condition. While challenges remain, I’m confident that under the direction of Mel Karmazin and with the assistance of Eddy Hartenstein, SIRIUS XM will continue to grow and flourish.”

Parsons was founder of XM Satellite Radio and was the Chairman of XM Satellite Radio, prior to the merger of SIRIUS and XM.

Mr. Hartenstein said, “It is a great honor to have been appointed to the position of Chairman by my fellow Directors. For several years I have worked closely with the Board, Mel and the rest of the management team and I look forward to assisting the company in this role. Gary leaves big shoes to fill. His understanding of our industry and our technology is impressive, as is his vision for what this exciting service can offer our subscribers. SIRIUS XM is an extraordinary company that is well positioned for success as it maintains and builds on its strong position in the months and years ahead.”

Mel Karmazin, SIRIUS XM’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “As Chairman of the Board, Gary has very effectively steered our company in the right direction, through our merger and beyond. He is a true pioneer; he believed in the promise of satellite radio before there were subscribers, programming or even satellites. I want to thank Gary for his vision, expertise and tireless commitment to SIRIUS XM. We greatly appreciate his many contributions and wish him all the best in all his future endeavors. I am also looking forward to working closely with Eddy in his new role. As an independent director, he will bring an important new perspective to the Chairmanship; a perspective that our stockholders will benefit from.”

“The Board is delighted that Eddy W. Hartenstein has agreed to step into the role of Chairman,” said James F. Mooney, Chairman of the company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. “The Board is committed to following “best practices” in governance matters, including the selection of an independent director as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Eddy is a strong voice of independence on the Board, and his existing role on the Board will also allow for a seamless transition.”

As a result of Mr. Parsons’ resignation, SIRIUS XM is in compliance with NASDAQ’s independent director requirements for continued listing.

Eddy W. Hartenstein has been a director of SIRIUS XM since July 2008. From May 2005 until the closing of the merger with XM in July 2008, Mr. Hartenstein served as a director of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. In August 2008, Mr. Hartenstein was named Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times and continues in that capacity. Mr. Hartenstein was the Vice Chairman and a member of the board of directors of The DIRECTV Group, Inc. from December 2003 until his retirement in December 2004. Mr. Hartenstein served as Chairman and CEO of DIRECTV, Inc. from late 2001 to 2004 and as President of DIRECTV, Inc. from its inception in 1990 to 2001. Mr. Hartenstein also serves as a member of the board of directors of SanDisk Corporation, The City of Hope and Broadcom, Inc.

Free Thanksgiving Hotline Cookbook from Sirius XM and Martha Stewart

Get ready for the holidays with delicious recipes by Martha Stewart and her friends with a
FREE Thanksgiving Cookbook. Plus, they will be on call for you Thanksgiving week with
advice, recipes and more!

Download Your Holiday Cookbook:
MARTHA STEWART LIVING RADIO’S THANKSGIVING HOTLINE RECIPES

• 30 famous chefs including Martha, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Nigella Lawson and more
• Over 30 recipes from Soup & Starters to Desserts
• 5 different, savory ways to cook your turkey
• For all cooking levels, whether you’re a novice or an expert chef

Download your FREE Cookbook Here

SIRIUS XM To Launch ‘Women’s Conference Radio’ Channel Hosted By California First Lady Maria Shriver

SIRIUS XM Radio today announced that for the fourth consecutive year it will launch Women’s Conference Radio, a channel created to broadcast in-depth coverage of The Women’s Conference 2009 hosted by California’s First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the annual event designed to empower women of all ages and backgrounds to be “Architects of Change” in their lives, within the communities and around the world.

Hosted by Maria Shriver, Women’s Conference Radio will feature key speeches and panels from The Women’s Conference 2009 in their entirety, as well as behind-the-scenes interviews with speakers and attendees. Women’s Conference Radio is a 24-hour channel and will air November 15 beginning at 12:00 am ET on SIRIUS channel 117 and XM channel 163.

The Women’s Conference 2009 featured its signature “once-in-a-lifetime conversations” led by a distinguished roster of more than 100 speakers and participants including former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Sir Richard Branson, Katie Couric, Elizabeth Edwards, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie B. Jarrett, Caroline Kennedy, Annie Leibovitz, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Robin Roberts and others.

The Women’s Conference is produced by the non-profit, non-partisan organization, the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women, which was established more than twenty years ago. Under First Lady Shriver and Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, the annual event has blossomed into the nation’s premier forum for women.

SIRIUS XM Radio is home to a diverse, powerful and exclusive lineup of programming for women including Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Cosmo Radio, Rosie O’Donnell’s Rosie Radio and Barbara Walters’ Here’s Barbara. For more information visit www.sirius.com and www.xmradio.com.