Sirius launches Internet Radio service

Not quite a month after we received word that Sirius was planning their its pimped-out internet radio option, the site has officially gone live and is now accepting subscriptions. While Sirius indeed offers free internet listening to its current subscribers (albeit at 32kbps), the company is hoping the "CD quality" stream offered in the pay version -- dubbed SIR -- will tempt users to write a slightly larger check each month for the enhanced online content. It promises "75 channels of 100% commercial free music and talk radio," but still doesn't include all the selections (namely sports-related) that you can fetch on your home / vehicle receiver. The cost? 'Tis a bit on the pricey side -- especially considering XM's 64kbps online alternative -- with monthly fees clocking in at $12.95 for new subscribers, $2.99 for current radio subscribers, or $6.99 for a separate account (for family members) above and beyond your regular subscription.

[Via Orbitcast]

[Brian Maholic @ Sep 25th 2006 5:09PM]

Any word on when they're going to offer an MCE plugin like XM already has? Wish they would get on that already...

[jg @ Sep 25th 2006 5:58PM]

I'm with you on that! Now that you play games right from MCE, and Vista will support CableCard, this is the last thing MCE needs to be perfect for me.

[Eagle117 @ Sep 25th 2006 5:12PM]

Way to go Sirius, you almost have caught up to XM 2 years ago!

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 25th 2006 5:26PM]

LOL

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song, XM boys.

[Mikey @ Sep 25th 2006 5:27PM]

Why would I want to pay for something that doesn't even work? I subscribe to SIRIUS for my Dodge Charger, and when I go to their website, the player works like shit. It doesn't even show the Artist or Title.

[Travis Bell @ Sep 25th 2006 5:45PM]

Why would I pay for a sub-128kbps music feed?

[Sam @ Sep 25th 2006 5:47PM]

I won't go near Sirius unless they offer month-to-month plans or 6 month plans. The radio came with my truck, but I don't want to get locked into a contract for something I would only use sparingly during football season.

[Feech @ Sep 26th 2006 12:40AM]

They do month to month plans

[Sgt Smegma @ Sep 26th 2006 1:49AM]

Uhm, moron, you have the option of paying month-to-month, six months, or a year at a time. There's even a lifetime plan...and no contract. How about checking it out before mouthing off?

[JS @ Sep 25th 2006 5:52PM]

Purchasing music. Will it make impulse purchasing music easier (one-click?) ?

I guess when apple hits selling 2 million movies and tv shows a day .. thats when folks will notice.

[Reese @ Sep 25th 2006 6:06PM]

"Purchasing music. Will it make impulse purchasing music easier (one-click?) ?"

JS - I already do that with the XM/Napster combo (And its free thanks to PSU paying for it :), not the XM part of course)

[BBK @ Sep 25th 2006 6:45PM]

It's 129 kbps for music channels and 48 kbps for the talk channels. I think you should update the entry and make that more clear. In this case, it's double the bandwidth that XM is giving and it doesn't seem like such a bad deal in comparison.

[Aigars Mahinovs @ Sep 25th 2006 7:14PM]

I have subscribed already - just for Howard. Hint - if you are outside US, have a good bank and give them the adress of something in the USA, like Google headquaters :D

[Stuttering John @ Sep 25th 2006 7:30PM]

Howard Stern, Howard Stern, Bah Bah Booey, Bay Bay Boey!

[cyclingplatypus @ Sep 25th 2006 8:28PM]

The XMRO (XM Radio Online) is free for subscribers it no longer cost $2.99 a month or $6.99 for the family plan.

[Droo @ Sep 25th 2006 9:20PM]

The 2.99 for Sirius subs or 12.99 for non-Sirius subs gives you a higher bitrate, but also several channels (including NFL Radio apparently) that aren't available with the free streaming service for Sirius customers.

You have to weigh either way if it's worth it or not. In my case, I have a home kit, so I listen here in the house.

Sam, Sirius offers 6 month, month to month, 1 year, 2 year and lifetime for the regular radio service.
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1150907696769

I don't know how pricing is structured for the Internet Service.

--D

[Arizona Glover @ Sep 25th 2006 9:31PM]

I have sirus and unless XFM gets BBC1/2/ect. I don't think I will be switching.

[Corey @ Sep 26th 2006 12:22AM]

Anybody else but me just want to puke at anything less than 128kbps?

***Cough***Get broadband...at least DSL***Cough***

Oh, and I can get that all for free with currently available radio stations on line, so why would I pay for it again? Ah, you're banking on me being an idiot...gotcha.

[Eli J. @ Sep 26th 2006 1:50AM]

ONE WORD FOR EVERYONE: Pandora. www.pandora.com does everything SIRIUS and XM does... And it's CD quality for free. I can't see why on earth anyone would want to buy online radio...

[Toru Samejima @ Sep 27th 2006 9:42AM]

thx for the heads up. I've been listening to pandora for about 1/2 hour. They are jamming!!!

[Dustin Earnhardt @ Sep 26th 2006 7:49AM]

XM's Online Service is FREE for subscribers; it doesn't cost $2.99. Also, its 64kbps which, although its only 25% higher than Sirius, makes a world of difference in playback.

[digitalking @ Sep 26th 2006 9:48AM]

The premium 48Kbps sounds unbelievable. It sounds definitely like CD quality. Best online radio I have heard so far. When you are listening to the online radio, you need to click on the premium button to enjoy this sound.

[JonAtkins @ Sep 26th 2006 1:13PM]

SIRIUS rules, their online service is great... even the free version. Can't justify the extra $3/month though for a measly 50% increase in bitrate.

[Splatterpunk @ Sep 26th 2006 6:27PM]

Just to update the information, Sirius has expanded its free online offerings. NFL Radio, Maxim Radio, All 3 Comedy Channels, and a few more Talk channels have been added to the free player offered to Sirius subscribers. Howard 100 and 101 are there, as well as all of the Music channels. The only channels that I wonder about are the live channels used for NFL games. The channels used on my home/truck receiver are not normally used that I know of, so I wonder if and how Sirius will offer the games online. Talk and music channels are still 32Kbps in the free version. I do wish they would make their online player a little better. It's a tad clunky. However, it does display artist and title, just not for the song that is playing when you first get to the channel. The data must be transmitted when a new song starts, b/c if you didn't hear the first of the song, you won't get to see the artist and title.

[Denis @ Sep 26th 2006 9:59PM]

Dustin Earnhardt - You need to do your research. Sirius subscribers can listen online for free.

[digitalking @ Sep 26th 2006 10:04PM]

I just tested the premium version. Plays at 128Kbps!!!!! Not 48Bps!!! Engadget needs to update their article!!!

[jg @ Sep 27th 2006 8:36AM]

Mikey I haven't had any problems at all with the streaming player. I'm actually pretty impressed with it. As far as displaying the songs, log in using IE and not FireFox and all of that is displayed.

[Scott @ Sep 27th 2006 6:26PM]

"I have sirus and unless XFM gets BBC1/2/ect. I don't think I will be switching."

They just dropped BBC?
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Page&cid=1107787276403

"Why would I want to pay for something that doesn't even work? I subscribe to SIRIUS for my Dodge Charger, and when I go to their website, the player works like shit. It doesn't even show the Artist or Title."

Tell me they didnt at least fix the player now they want to charge extra for it! That no artist or song title info is just plain retarded. But than again everyone knows what H100 is and whats airing. Its the only reason to get Sirius.

[neverender @ Oct 2nd 2006 12:20PM]

@mikey - its probably your outdated browser. sirius plays and updates fine in mine.

@sam - sirius does offer a month to month term. you probably spend more on coffee a week.

[Anna @ May 26th 2009 1:54PM]

I think that sirius radio will not be very popular since with the rise of radio directories websites like http://www.soltrago.com and other, the internet is over fulled with quality radio stations.