Sirius launching another satellite

It's a pretty serious matter when any private media company decides to throw up a private satellite into orbit, which is why we're not taking it lightly that the heavily indebted Stern-enabled Sirius satellite radio network is dropping more than a quarter billion dollars to put satellite number four -- lovingly named SIRIUS FM-5 -- into space. Just don't be surprised if you start hearing more rumblings about their supposedly forthcoming video and data systems in the near future; sounds like this SS/L's 1300 system's going to pack in some serious tech.

[dhruv @ Jun 12th 2006 5:17AM]

lookin forward to that hi-def audio video portable. or how bout dmb-h. 1st post

[Johan S @ Jun 12th 2006 6:45AM]

Does this mean it will be possible to buy music or content off satellite radio? That is, hear a song or radio show, press a button during it and it's downloaded to your music device? Or at minimum be able to add it to a shopping cart or wish list of sorts.

[Johan S @ Jun 12th 2006 6:52AM]

FYI, TV (collaborate with cable companies) should implement that (press a button during a show and u buy it), not just satellite radio. There'd be mad money in it. I suppose we have to wait for better computer-tv media center style integration first though so that purchases can be on a computer or other more accessible storage.

[Elias @ Jun 12th 2006 8:16AM]

Maybe they'll improve sound quality, or do high-definition radio, to compete with terrestrial HD-Radio.

[Joe @ Jun 12th 2006 8:51AM]

I just hope it helps with their coverage for their regular service. My wife's car has Sirius and it drops out to the point of frustration. My car has XM and the service only drops out if I'm sitting under an overpass, while hers will drop out for no apparent reason at all (maybe sunspots or those pesky satellites that move out of range of the US).

[tiremfej @ Jun 12th 2006 9:25AM]

We have Sirius at work, I have XM in the car and at home. I have to say, I truly prefer XM. Not only are the music channels better, I feel the variety of music played is more diverse, also XM has far less "DJ" time. It seems that after every two songs on Sirius, a DJ will pop in a try to be "uber-cool". I ain't havin' it. In fact it has gotten so bad they are pulling Sirus and replacing it with XM, simply because of the far less frequesnt DJ chatter. I don't pay a monthly fee to listen to arrogant DJ's every three minutes. That's worse than real radio! At least you sometimes get a song block or something! "F" Sirius and Howard. I don't care to pay to listen to his rehashed garbage either. Sirius also doesn't have Coast to Coast AM...either...or does it?

[tiremfej @ Jun 12th 2006 9:26AM]

Note to self..."edit spelling before you post"...

[Rodeo @ Jun 12th 2006 10:01AM]

Don't be fooled by tiremfej's comments. XM is nothing but a satellite jukebox. If you are a true music lover, get Sirius. I had XM for 2 years and I couldn't take it anymore. The programming is very corporate and formulaic . You can hear the influence of Clear Channel in every station. You only hear the Sirius DJ's about 5 minutes an hour and they add just the right amount of color to the stations. They add just the right amount of info on the artists and songs that a music lover would appreciate. XM is just song after song after song...very monotonous. Also, Sirius is run out of NYC whereas XM is run out of DC. What sounds cooler to you??

[gio @ Jun 12th 2006 11:19AM]

More:
XM Radio: Opie and Anthony
XM Radio: Ron and Fez
XM Radio: MLB, WorldCup, NASCAR, NHL and more

Less:
Sirius: Howard

When Sirius allows Howard to be streamed online, thats when more subscriptions will pull in. At the moment we cant hear Howard online. Oh yeah and once that sattellite shoots up in space, Expect Sirius customers to get a letter in the mail "Dear customer your sub rate just went up $1.25 higher"

[Rodeo @ Jun 12th 2006 11:54AM]

Opie and Anthony...who are they again?? Aren't they back on free radio 'cause they didn't bring any listeners?? MLB radio...I'll give you that one but it won't be exclusive to XM for much longer. NASCAR over the radio...even more boring than watching NASCAR on TV. Oh, XM does have Oprah for about 30 minutes a week. Sirius has the NFL network...enuff said there. XM is going down...get Sirius

[Ryan Block @ Jun 12th 2006 12:01PM]

Ok, time to quit with the "my service is better your service sux0rs" thread, keep it relevant.

Best, Ryan

[Rick @ Jun 12th 2006 12:26PM]

I had XM since day one and I was glad to get it last year and get Sirius. Gone are all those zillion promos for 'other channels'. No more self-promotion ad after self-promotion ad.

[iband @ Jun 12th 2006 12:40PM]

Rodeo - Doesn't sound like you ever had XM. First of all, CC was an early investor and dropped its investment awhile age. CC only programs a few stations that have been replaced by XM's commercial-free in-house programmers. As for "formulaic", you have to be kidding. Read any of the XM or Sirius boards -- the complaints are that XM's programming is too deep, while Sirius' is too shallow (shallow meaning repeats -- basically, FM without commercials). For those interested in sat radio, visit www.xm411.com and www.siriusbackstage.com for advice.

If you like hearing the same playlists, either save your money and keep the same CDs in your changer, or go to XM and let XM open you up to new music everyday.

[Ryan Saghir @ Jun 12th 2006 12:52PM]

The biggest deal about this satellite isn't just that they're throwing another one up into orbit, but the type of satellite Sirius is using.

Instead of the rest of Sirius' fleet, the new FM-5 will be in a geostationary orbit - just like XM's satellites. The rest of Sirius' birds are in an inclined elliptical geosynchronous orbit (pretty much a 'figure 8' pattern above North America).

The result? Theoretically - better reception.

(oh and Elias? "HD Radio" doesn't stand for "High Definition" at all - that's just fancy marketing hype. If you listen to it the quality really isn't much better than FM.)

[Belcho @ Jun 12th 2006 1:28PM]

I love my Sirius service. If you're into Heavy Metal you owe it to yourself to check out Hard Attack on Sirius. The DJ's aren't too much, just enough. And they can say whatever they want.

[Brian from Texas @ Jun 12th 2006 1:32PM]

who are these guys? XM Ron and Fez

How about this:
Bubba the Love Sponge
NASCAR Radio on SIRIUS in 2007
NFL Radio on SIRIUS // Ch. 124
HORSE RACING ON SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY 1 // Ch. 125:
NBA Radio on SIRIUS // Ch. 127

Check it out:
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=Page&cid=1107787275024&

[Brian from Texas @ Jun 12th 2006 1:33PM]

Yeah, and the DJ's on Sirius add a good amount of comments. And they know their stuff which is good when like to learn about music.

[LongshotX @ Jun 12th 2006 1:48PM]

Two Words: Shade 45.
Beat that XM!

[tiremfej @ Jun 12th 2006 3:07PM]

To Rodeo:

I'm just giving an opinion, based on my experience. I have spent quality time with both services. I prefer XM, there is far less DJ'ing and a far better music selection on XM. Also, XM has far better talk channels, MLB, PGA, NHL, College Sports...it's more suited to my tastes. You like what you like, I like what I like. Spend some quality time with XM, the difference is astonishingly better.

[sdonham @ Jun 12th 2006 5:36PM]

I'm hoping for better sound quality. Both XM and Sirius suffer from lackluster audio. While a few of the more popular stations (mainstream music and sports) have a higher and barely palatable bit-rate, the less popular (i.e. NPR or news stations ) have digital artifacts in the audio that are so bad, you cannot understand the garbled speech.

[ChillyWilly @ Jun 12th 2006 5:45PM]

Cool news about the new satellite Sirius is launching. My reception is pretty good, except for under some overpasses. Although I've noticed here in Salt Lake in the last two months that my reception has gotten better. I think it's due to them adding more ground repeaters.

As for the Sirius vs. XM, I'm happy not going with XM. Long time Stern fan (15+ years) and the DJ's on the music stations are well knowns (Mark Goodman, Dusty Street, Richard Blade, Nina Blackwood, Martha Quinn, Sweedish Eagel), not to mention all of the other channels, including NFL.

A friend of mine has XM and even without the lure of Stern, I just wasn't impressed with the music and selection of channels.

Maybe this satellite will help the service for those that need better reception.

[Deathwish238 @ Jun 12th 2006 9:03PM]

Doesn't XM and Sirius lose something like half a billion dollars a year? It dumbfounds me how they're still alive

[Rusty @ Jun 12th 2006 10:32PM]

I wish both XM & Sirus would DROP all the DJ stuff.
I have a DISPLAY that gives me the artist name and song title, I don't need endless DJ chatter. One of the reasons I have a sat radio is to get away from CHATTER...DJ chatter, commercial chatter. I want "elevator" music....rock, but without chatter.

[Gail @ Jun 16th 2006 11:42PM]

Buying either XM or Sirius as Fathers Day gift and husband is Nascar Nut.. well racing of any kind nut. I understood from sales pitch that while XM has exclusive NASCAR events.. Sirius has all the races now and an exclusive in 2007.. Which do you suggust for race fool?

[Julie Chadwick @ Jun 18th 2006 1:42PM]

@Gail,

If he's into Nascar, it seems that you really only have one choice.