Who's been put off by the merger?

semipenguin

semipenguin

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It seems a lot of people are losing there favorite channels or don't like the way things are becoming because of the merger. I didn't want to see the merger, but now that it's here I guess I have to make the best of it...:(

I was willing to pay more to be a dual subscriber, but now I'm going to be getting rid of all my Sirius Subscriptions (except my lifetime sub) and just adding XM Subscriptions if need be.

So who here has been put off by this merger?

Will you stay? Will you leave? Will you say good bye and break out the iPod/MP3?

I can't live without satellite radio, so I'm in it for the long haul (no pun...:D).
 
J

Jleimer

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Oct 30, 2008
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semipenguin said:
It seems a lot of people are losing there favorite channels or don't like the way things are becoming because of the merger. I didn't want to see the merger, but now that it's here I guess I have to make the best of it...:(

I was willing to pay more to be a dual subscriber, but now I'm going to be getting rid of all my Sirius Subscriptions (except my lifetime sub) and just adding XM Subscriptions if need be.

So who here has been put off by this merger?

Will you stay? Will you leave? Will you say good bye and break out the iPod/MP3?

I can't live without satellite radio, so I'm in it for the long haul (no pun...:D).
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat as well , and I will stick with Sirius . but this handling of Wednesday's channel change has been handled piss poorly and the management is pissing alot of subscribers off.
 
DAB

DAB

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The way this has all been handled is par for the course with SIRIUS. It is likely I will be canceling my one Sirius subscription, but will likely keep my XM sub. I personally have no issues with channel line up as I've seen it. I think it is a good combination of both services. XM with a lot of my Sirius favorite music and talk channels, along with the Best of Sirius for the NFL it is all working in my favor.

I don't see myself totally canceling Sat Radio. There are too many other talk programs that I enjoy. The merger was necessary and I think it was the only hope of this thing surviving, so I am down with it even though initially there maybe some pain.
 
semipenguin

semipenguin

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I'll be interested to see how they combine the talk channels. I haven't seen anything on what they are going to keep and what they will let go away.

Talk channels like NPR and NPR Now. The comedy channels. The Fox Hole. Outq? (I don't think XM listeners will like Larry Flick...:rolleyes:)

As for the music, I can live with the music post merger. I do agree with you DAB. If it wasn't for my lifetime subscription on my Sportster Replay, I would cancel all my Sirius Subs and just have XM...:)
 
macfanatic010

macfanatic010

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i subscribe to both services but i'll probably cancel my Sirius stratus if the music channels are simulcasted mainly because my XM receiver is an Inno (in case you don't know, it's their old handheld portable) and the stratus is a dockable unit. the only reason why i never really completed my switch from Sirius to XM was because I liked the lively DJs on Sirius channels and XM's DJs might as well have been robots (most of the time they just announce songs & not talk).
 
J

jeddeth

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Why is everyone (above) leaning toward XM? Because the actual radio units are just better quality?
 
Schlep

Schlep

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I'll start with the negative and then do the positive. First, I hate that Sirius didn't hang onto all the XM talent and let them continue to do the XM programming. It's not like letting them go is going to save SXM more than $1-2m a quarter anyways. I absolutely hate the fact that Lucy and XMU bit the dust, and that we're losing even more unique programming in the way of Chrome, Fine Tuning, Beyond Jazz, and Fungus. On top of this, they're being lost for programming that consists of several single artist and gimmick channels. I'm also worried that we're no longer going to see Artist Confidential and special event coverage like Live 8, Lollapalooza, SXSW, etc. Finally, I despise the way Sirius programs its music channels.

On the positive side, every single channel I currently have on my presets is either staying or has a replacement in the same genre. Squizz, Ethel, Lucy, XMU, Flight 26, Top Tracks, Big Tracks, XM Pops, and XM Chill are all being replaced by like minded channels. The System will be lost and replaced by the inferior Area, but The System is in its dying days anyways as Worldspace prepares to go under. Maybe if someone buys them, The System will return to SXM. Also it looks like America Left will be around for quite a while. And finally, THANK GOD Cinemagic is staying. That channel was what really got me excited about XM in the first place back in the summer of '01, and it's been a staple of my listening diet for over 7 years now.

Honestly, I think this merger is terrible and Sirius bankrupted the satrad industry by starting content wars, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers.
 
D

Dark Star

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jeddeth said:
Why is everyone (above) leaning toward XM? Because the actual radio units are just better quality?
Click to expand...


I like XM's receivers better for one. More importantly their satellite/repeater coverage has always far exceeded Sirius'. I've had my XM antenna dead in the middle of hotel rooms away from windows and have gotten a three bar signal. At work I'm far from a window and I still get three solid bars. I have my current one now away from a window sitting on a dresser and I get a solid three bar. Having the Sirius antenna in the most ideal spot for me, right at a window, and I get drops at specific times of day. I tried it at work and I get absolutely nothing. The content on Sirius was still good enough to keep in spite of those issues. But it looks like I'll definitely be dropping the Sirius sub and adding the "Best of" plan onto the XM.
 
IdRatherBeSkiing

IdRatherBeSkiing

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I'm pretty put off. I was against the merger from day 1 and its been even worse than I thought it would be.

That being said, I am too addicted to satrad to give it up. I will likely cancel one XM sub when it comes up for renewal in January. I will also have a chat with CS in a couple of weeks about converting my main XM sub to a family plan on my Sirius. Failing that I will evaluate IF I could survive with just my SL2. If that is the case, I would cancel all my XM subs.
 
C

ClubSteeler

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Schlep said:
Honestly, I think this merger is terrible and Sirius bankrupted the satrad industry by starting content wars, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers.
Click to expand...

So........ You're upset that Sirius tried to compete, but you're against the merger eliminating the competition.

I see.
 
semipenguin

semipenguin

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jeddeth said:
Why is everyone (above) leaning toward XM? Because the actual radio units are just better quality?
Click to expand...

When you can get the same music on both, I'd rather have XM. I can't get the Best of XM on my old Sportster Replay, & even if I did, they don't offer MLB to Sirius Subscribers.

Plus, I didn't want to buy another radio right now. When I found out my even older Roady2 can get the Best of Sirius, I thought it was a no brainer to turn my old radio back on.

The only programming I don't get on my XM radio that I listen to on Sirius is The Frank DeCaro Show on OutQ. I hope the will offer OutQ to XM Subscriber soon...:)
 
DAB

DAB

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Little doubt when this is all said and done that Sirius Xm will likely pick the XM system over the Sirius one when they finally decide to combine the spectrum together. XM's system is superior in many ways.
 
Schlep

Schlep

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ClubSteeler said:
So........ You're upset that Sirius tried to compete, but you're against the merger eliminating the competition.

I see.
Click to expand...
Sirius spent money it didn't have, causing XM to spend money it didn't have to try to complete. And so here we are with the two musically incompatible services merging and the Sirius stock at 27¢ a share, last I checked.
 
DAB

DAB

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Schlep said:
Sirius spent money it didn't have, causing XM to spend money it didn't have to try to complete. And so here we are with the two musically incompatible services merging and the Sirius stock at 27¢ a share, last I checked.
Click to expand...

They both had their fair share of pushing each other into spending money they didn't have. But the bottom line is we have to get beyond all that and now move on as a merged service. What good does it realy do to rehash all that?

Let juts move on from here and hope they make better decisions.
 
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