Media Life Magazine - Mixed Messages

[Kryptonite]

Media Life Magazine - What the coming year holds for radio

Part of the Q&A session:

Will Sirius/XM finally emerge as a viable challenger, or is it still struggling from the merger and the economy?

I think Sirius/XM will sink like the setting sun. And it has nothing to do with their programming, it’s about the platform.

First of all, the idea of having to provide this type of programming to a special appliance, a special radio, is not convenient or economically efficient. It can be done on the internet and people know it, it’s just a matter of when the internet is all over place, including in cars, which is happening rapidly.

Their major strength was the car, and the car is not strong right now. So their problems have only been multiplied and intensified.

Can anyone tell me just what exactly they're trying to say?

Apparently people will flock to buy new cars because they can listen to internet radio in their car. Let's throw out the fact that the "Big Three" are in trouble, and no one is really buying new cars like they were four or five years ago.

But, we read on... "the car is not strong right now."

Does anyone see a little contradiction?


Furthermore, let's say that cities are building wifi connections. That's fine and all, but how will internet radio work if i'm driving from Oklahoma City to somewhere in Iowa? There's a LOT of empty land out that way. How could someone get internet radio in their car in the middle of bumblefuck America?

 

[mynameisjamie]

Media Life Magazine - What the coming year holds for radio



Furthermore, let's say that cities are building wifi connections. That's fine and all, but how will internet radio work if i'm driving from Oklahoma City to somewhere in Iowa? There's a LOT of empty land out that way. How could someone get internet radio in their car in the middle of bumblefuck America?

Actually most internet in car solutions are using 3G cellular signals. It's still not a viable option though because it pricey and all the ones I've seen have a data cap which would limit the amount of music one could listen to anyway. On top of that 3G coverage is still pretty spotty so even if prices came down anytime soon, there isn't any 3G coverage in a lot of areas.

It's places like these that satrad makes so much sense and any other alternative has some hurdles to clear that Sirius XM has already jumped.

 

[Kryptonite]

Gotcha. So it's kinda like the internet on my phone.

And there ARE a lot of areas where SiriusXM makes more sense than anything else.

I think I was confusing it with the WiFi which is supposedly going to appear on city light poles. I keep hearing about how we won't have to pay the ISPs for internet access because we'll be able to get it off the street lights or whatever.

 

[bwaldron]

And there ARE a lot of areas where SiriusXM makes more sense than anything else.

Yep. And if they are smart, they will be able to leverage online delivery of their content as well. The key is having the most compelling content for the best price. In music, they've lost their way somewhat, IMHO. In talk and sports, they still have unique things to offer.

 

[mynameisjamie]

Gotcha. So it's kinda like the internet on my phone.

And there ARE a lot of areas where SiriusXM makes more sense than anything else.

I think I was confusing it with the WiFi which is supposedly going to appear on city light poles. I keep hearing about how we won't have to pay the ISPs for internet access because we'll be able to get it off the street lights or whatever.

Yeah. It would be exactly like the internet on your phone. As far as WiFi as a public utility provided through the city, like water or gas, I have been waiting for this forever. Tons of cities have talked about it, most have abandoned it.

I haven't heard anything about this spare white space though. I suppose they can't do anything with that until this June after the digital switch happens.

 

[Kryptonite]

Yep. And if they are smart, they will be able to leverage online delivery of their content as well. The key is having the most compelling content for the best price. In music, they've lost their way somewhat, IMHO. In talk and sports, they still have unique things to offer.

Yeah.


When Sirius XM actually has an advertising campaign, you don't hear much about the music. You hear about Howard, O&A, Martha, NBA, NHL, MLB, etc. THAT is the stuff that'll bring in the subscribers.

"In your car? Stuck 2500 miles away from your home team? Luckily you have Sirius XM with every sport offered."