Just as many TV viewers have come to consider cable TV a life necessity, so too is satellite radio becoming a mainstream replacement for traditional AM/FM listening. Yes you have to pay for it, but just as with cable, you get way more channels and edgier, more innovative programming. Plus, you don’t lose your favorite station as you travel across the state or country. And satellite players show the artist and name of the song, which is definitely a plus for those who like to know what they’re listening to. In the U.S. there are just two main players in the satellite radio industry, Sirius and XM. WorldSpace, which has been broadcasting the longest and covers the most area, currently does not offer coverage in the United States. So with just two providers to pick from, one would think that the choice would be easy, but each has its own pluses and drawbacks and the decision usually comes down to budget and personal preferences.

How It Works

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You’ve caved. Initially the idea of paying $13/month for radio seemed silly, since you already had a perfectly fine set up, but over time the idea of having 130 channels of commercial-free listening charmed you. Since you’ll need a few items to get started, you may be wondering what kind of Sirius Satellite radios to look for at your local electronics shop.

Sirius satellite radios were originally designed for use in your vehicle. These are subscribers who are frequently stuck in bumper to bumper traffic at 5pm every day. Some of them drive large semis or delivery trucks for their jobs. Others need a 24/7 dosage of Bruce Springsteen or Howard Stern’s humorous programming to help them make it through their road trip, however long it may be.

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Used cars are not normally a market you think of when you think about satellite radio. For most consumers, that thought comes with new vehicles, free trials and built in satellite radio functionality. However, that functionality does not leave a vehicle, simply because it is not new. XM Satellite Radio has broadened their net and has begun marketing through Auto Trader.com in an attempt to bag more of the market.

Most used car buyers (it must be assumed) simply choose to ignore the built in XM or Sirius radio functions in their vehicles. Perhaps they assume that the service is too expensive or that it applied only to the original owner. There is a myriad of reasons why they might not think about it. Regardless, XM is making it known that the radios in all GM, Honda and Acura vehicles can be activated by the vehicle’s new owner and often times the activation fee can be waved. This service comes with a free 3 month trial of XM’s service.

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Continuing with the rivalry that every oligopoly sector provides, I will try and tackle the radio industry this update. However, while my other contests have been focused on the technical and fundamentals of each company, this update will be a little different as finding a winner will not be so rudimentary.

Looking at the radio giants of XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) and Sirius Satellite (SIRI), the positives and negatives are not as transparent as originally desired. Speaking in terms of fundamentals, it does seem like XM has the slight advantage. The company has the potential, according to Yahoo Finance, to grow over 25% over the next five years and grow almost 14% this year. Compared to Sirius’s potential growth of negative 28% this year and a growth only limited to 20% there might be an advantage to buy XM in the long run. However, what is interesting to note is that out of the last nine actions committed by financial institutions, XM has been downgraded six times, while during the last eight actions of Sirius, the company has been upgraded six times. Such statistics post a conundrum for investors with fundamentals spread all over. In terms of actual data, both companies have posted numbers surprising investors in a negative way. Three out the last four earning results, XM has failed to even meet earnings expectations illustrating a possible slowdown in terms of margins. Sirius did only slightly better only failing to meet expectations two out the last four reports. Margins for both in terms of revenue are both similar and adequate, but profit has been negative for over three years severely underlined by poor cash flow from operating margins and other areas. Therefore, the numbers for both companies may not be completely reflected over the power each contains in its industry, but do not provide any relief for investors looking to get into to one of these stocks.

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You need three things to hear Sirius Satellite radio – a receiver, an antenna and a subscription.

First, receivers. There are three types available. One is called “Sirius satellite ready.” This is the kind that plays through your car radio’s CD or cassette player. The second is a Sirius tuner that can be connected to your car radio. The third is usually referred to as plug and play and can be used in both your care and home.

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SIRIUS Satellite Radio recently launched a new music channel dedicated exclusively to the Grateful Dead on channel 32 and here’s it what I heard in just the first couple of hours. To kick off the new channel, SIRIUS aired a rarely heard recording of a 1974 concert from the Hollywood Bowl as well as a talk session with Bob Weir.

In listening to the newly added channel over the weekend I was able to tune into archived as well as recent interviews with some of the band members, jam out to some sweet music that I haven’t listened to in a long time, and reminisce with some fans about their incredible experiences with the Dead. If you often refer to yourself as a bona fide Deadhead then I think its time you checked out this station for your road trips.

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Radio is one of the oldest media forms in the world. Long before television existed, radio served to bring the nation together to listen to news, stories and generally enjoy a common experience. Television has largely filled the role that radio once held, but radio as a medium has grown into places that television can never completely control if the status quo remains the same.

For example, while in car television is popular, it does not have the potential offered by radio. This is due largely to our society and our mentality about driving alone. Millions of commuters everyday tune into their favorite radio shows, rather than watching television, because we’re talking about drivers, rather than passengers.

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Howard Stern is probably the most hip 54-year-old man you will ever meet. He is the horny equivalent of Peter Pan, a man who refused to grow up, even when confronted by CBS Radio and the FCC. He has been dubbed a “shock jock” by members of the press, who were never quite sure how to characterize his groundbreaking radio show. Stern at once appeared to be an out of control comedian who didn’t tell jokes and a serious journalist intent on breaking rules that didn’t even exist yet. Despite his shrewd mind when it comes to business, Stern seems to enjoy the shallow descriptions associated with his character and his radio show: scatological, sexualized, and willfully offensive.

Stern has publicly declared that although he makes no excuses for the adult content, he doesn’t feel that his show is about shocking people, but primarily meant to offer his honest opinion on world affairs. Who is Stern that he should be qualified to offer an opinion on world affairs? Though he is not quite humble enough to admit that he caters to a certain demographic and is not a god among media worshipers, it is fairly obvious that Stern’s humor appeals to a younger demographic of iconoclasts, both the uninhibited college crowd of today as well as the angry baby boomers who are discontent with their lot in society.

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