Newly merged Sirius XM details "Best of Both" plans

Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:03PM EDT

See Comments (18)

Want to hear XM stations on your old Sirius radio, or vice versa? Starting next month, you can—but you'll only get seven specific stations, and you'll have to cough up extra cash for the privilege.

Sirius XM—the new name of the combined XM/Sirius satellite radio service, which won FCC approval in July—says it will launch its "Best of Both" plans starting October 6, for $16.99 a month (about $4 more than the standard $12.95/month subscription).

The service will let those with Sirius radios listen to a package of seven XM Radio stations on their existing Sirius receivers. Got an XM receiver? Then you'll get seven Sirius stations.

So, the details:

"Sirius on XM" stations
Howard 100, Howard 101, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Sirius NFL Radio, Sirius NASCAR Radio, Playboy Radio

"XM on Sirius" stations
NBA, NHL Home Ice, Oprah & Friends, The Virus, Public Radio with Bob Edwards, College Sports, PGA Tour

Overall, it's good news for XM listeners looking for a daily dose of Stern or NFL action, while Sirius users will finally get a crack at pro and college hoops; Martha and Oprah fans will be covered, as well. Missing from the lineup, however, is MLB on XM—although by Oct. 6, the regular season will be over anyway.

Want to pick and choose any combination of XM or Sirius stations? Well, you'll need a new receiver, and according to Sirius XM CEO Mel Karmazin, such dual-mode radios won't be available until next year. Brutal.

So, satellite radio users: Willing to shell out $16.99 a month for a taste of both XM and Sirius? Or will you wait until dual-mode XM/Sirius receivers hit the market?

Comments on Newly merged Sirius XM details "Best of Both" plans

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  • 6 Posted by gregorylopez4881 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got Sirius with my Ford last year and I'm not interested in XM at all. I'm good with all Sirius all day.

  • 8 Posted by sjpelusi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Now, if we could get the cable companies to let us pick and choose the channels we want....

  • 9 Posted by princessnbutch on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    brilliant Microsoft type maneuver. Build customer base, sell equipment. Make loud noise in market claiming huge customer satisfying changes. Launch initial changes of limited use, tie "big" changes to hardware changes, sell everyone new hardware and up price of associated software. Hope no one notices most of this stuff (all but live tv or sports) can be found on net / cut into cd's or mp3's. My Sport portable is now just an mp3/podcast replay device for my car.

  • 10 Posted by mckayx9x on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    They won't be in business in a year, so what difference does it make? Anyone checked the stock price lately? 98 CENTS per share, as of Sept. 10th.

  • 11 Posted by alexgannis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    I rather listen to tv or radio it free no monthly plan, Who can throw their money away now and these days anyway give a break.

  • 12 Posted by ctjbeirne on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've had XM for several years now, and after looking at the list of available Sirius channels, I have no interest in upgrading. I can watch football at home, and as strange as it might be, I listen to the radio to hear MUSIC, so this plan means nothing to me. It isn't broken, so I'm not going to fix it. Personally, I also feel like I should be paid to have Howard Stern in my car or house, instead of the other way around.

  • 13 Posted by zmon400 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Isn't this exactly what we thought would happen??? No competition, therefore higher prices!! I got a new Dodge with a year of free Sirius. Am I gonna pay for it when the year is up? Not freakin' likely, unless they rethink this!!!

  • 14 Posted by leodham on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    i am just waitting for my contract to expire , well is not a contract but i already paid for service ( 1 year 0 after that , i will listen to aol radio on my iphone

  • 15 Posted by isackqbs2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    As a Sirius subscriber, I'll just wait for the new radios. It's nice to know that I have those options if I change my mind however. Baseball was the only thing on XM that interested me anyway. It's also nice to know that the current cost isn't going to go up for at least 3 years. Unless I decide to upgrade that is.

  • 16 Posted by leftrok on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Given the options, I would not choose the higher rate nor the stations. Give me HD music stations to choose from at a lower cost.

  • 18 Posted by srcrowl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Since my vehicle only can receive XM at the moment, looks like I will have to go with Best of Both...no plans to get dual-mode receiver.

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