Dec 20 2006
When you subscribe to satellite radio, you are tuning into one provider (XM or Sirius) that puts selections into various formats on a variety of different channels. In effect, you get their "best picks" for Country, Rock, R&B, Mix, etc. Plus, you get a number of commercial channels like MSNBC and ESPN, and lots of original programming that isn't half bad either. So, which satellite radio provider should you go with? Some have gone so far as to recommend XM for conservatives and Sirius for liberals. The truth is, each offers slightly different programming with many unique choices. Here's a sampling of some of the differences:
XM Satellite Radio Highlights
- $9.99 a month with no contracts to sign.
- Also offers "premium channels" like Playboy Radio for a nominal monthly fee.
- On the cutting edge in terms of portable options and equipment.
- Tends to take more risks, and plays a greater variety of programs that wouldn't typically make it onto FM radio.
- Has the industry's smallest antennas that fit in the palm of your hand.
- No public radio programming available.
- XM offers an adaptor to listen on a PC (Internet not required).
- Has the Deepest Playlist in the industry with access to over 2 million titles.
- 15 channels of Rock music
- 11 News channels (Fox, CNN, ABC, CNBC, MSNBC, BBC, C-SPAN, Bloomberg)
- 11 Talk & Variety channels (Discovery, E!, Experts & advice, African American Talk, Christian Talk)
- 10 channels of Pop music & Top Hits
- 7 Country music choices
- 7 channels of Blues & Jazz music
- 7 Hip Hop and Urban music choices
- 6 different channels of music by the Decades (40's through 90's)
- 5 Sports channels (ESPN, Fox, Sporting News, NASCAR)
- 4 Dance music channels
- 4 World music chioces
- 3 Christian music choices
- 3 Comedy entertainment channels (adult comedy, family comedy)
- 3 Classical music channels
- 2 Kids entertainment channels (Disney)
- 2 Latin music choices
Sirius Satellite Radio Highlights
- $12.95/mo (unless you pre-pay for one year, then it amounts to $9.99/mo).
- Excellent play-by-play sports coverage, including the NBA, NHL, the NFL.
- Lots of veteran and celebrity DJ talent with names you know well.
- They have the only 24/7, nationwide news & entertainment channel specifically for the Gay/Lesbian Bisexual/Transgender community.
- Free access to all Sirius music channels on any PC via the Internet, which provides yet another convenient way to listen at home or while working on the computer.
- Tends to repeat a fair amount of programming.
- More talk show variety, including lots of original talk programming that's unique to Sirius.
- "Statistical Multiplexing" technology that gives you deeper bass and clearer highs.
- 16 Talk & Variety channels (Discovery, E!, Talk for Women, CourtTV, Air America, Gay/Lesbian, Body/Mind/Spirit Talk)
- 14 channels of Rock music
- 12 channels of Pop music & Top Hits
- 10 News channels (CNN, CNBC, Fox, NPR, PRI, C-SPAN, BCC, World Radio, Bloomberg)
- 9 Hip Hop and Urban music choices
- 7 Sports channels (ESPN, play-by-play channels)
- 6 Country music choices
- 6 Jazz music channels
- 5 Dance music channels
- 4 different channels of music by the Decades (50's through 80's)
- 3 Classical music channels
- 2 Christian music choices (Catholic)
- 2 channels of Blues & Reggae
- 2 Latin music choices
- 2 Comedy entertainment channels (regular and uncensored)
- 2 World music choices
- 1 Kids entertainment channels (Disney)
Pro: Best Reasons to Choose Satellite Radio Over FM
Con: Downsides of Choosing Satellite Radio Over FM
Little-Known Facts About Satellite Radio's History & Future
