DirecTV Adds Channels
Today DirecTV customers woke up and that they now have Comedy Central in full high definition. In addition DirecTV also launch the Sportsman Channel today on channel 605.The Sportsman Channel promises viewers “all hunting, all fishing, all the time.”
DirecTV announced that it would be adding The Sportsman channel to its CHOICE XTRA package last week. The Sportsman Channel was launched in 2003 is owned by InterMedia Outdoors and is based in Wisconsin.
The Hole at Sirius XM Keeps Getting Deeper
The folks at Sirius XM seem to be serious about digging themselves a big hole. Word is now coming out that Sirius XM will be raising their prices in the near future.
The rumor of the price increase was first posted to the popular satellite radio discussion forum DigitalRadioCentral.COM. The rumor came from a user who claimed to work for Sirius XM. It didn’t take long however for this rumor to be confirmed by Sirius XM customer service reps that are now trying to get customers who call in to lock in their rates by selling them lifetime subscription plans.
While the base rate of the service remains at $12.95 a month, the cost for additional radios are going up from $6.99 to $8.99 per unit. In addition online streaming of the Sirius XM services which are currently included free with any radio will no longer be free; instead the online service will cost customers an additional $2.99 a month.
To me this seems to violate the agreement that Sirius XM made with the FCC. It was reported at the time of the merger that Sirius agreed not to raise its rates. And while the base price of the service is not going up, the fact that they are taking away a service (online streaming) and will be charging extra to get this service back is indeed a violation of this agreement with the FCC. I wouldn’t mind if the base subscription charge included online streaming at no extra charge and extra online streaming accounts would be an add on for all the family plan radios, however it appears that all Sirius XM customers will lose their online streaming service unless a customer wants to pay an extra $2.99 a month to get the service back.
I will admit though I would be willing to pay $2.99 a month extra to Sirius XM if they had an iPhone application available which would allow me to enjoy Sirius XM anywhere.
Paul commented:
My lifetime radio died a year ago. I listened online…noy anymore. Goodbye SIRI- hello Pandora!
DishDunce commented:
These sirius/xm folks touted to Congress the $6.99 ala carte. What they didn\’t mention was you can only get it by spending $120+ on a new radio.
Al Escoto commented:
As a dance music fan.This is the only place you can get it.There is only 4 dance channells.The System ,was been movied to online,only.This would make 5 channells.That is not a lot,compared with the other formats lineups they have.I wish they would bring it back to the lineup.Do I ,as a subscriber have any say?
bk commented:
As an XM subscriber I\’ve really enjoyed some of the additional channels from Sirius, but it has been a trade off with others gone or some changed. Best of Sirius is a joke….you\’re basically paying for the NFL unless you want Howard Stern, which I don\’t. BUT….I don\’t want to lose NHL and MLB as I spend much time in my car. We\’ll see how it shakes down.
MikeD-C05 commented:
Looks like I will be canceling my subscription to XM. I refuse to pay more than I already do . I\’ll save about 21.50 a month X 12 =$258.00 a year.
Sirius Johnson commented:
Seems to me the only likely move for people who want to cancel would be to cancel there additional subscription because the first subscription price will still be $12.95
And if you don\’t like your radio and only listen to the internet feed then you can pay the extra $2.99 and get the upgraded internet feed or shut off the radio and pay $12.99 for the internet only subscription. Seems like a no brainer to keep both and pay the extra $2.99.
Im sure most people who really use the internet feed already pay the $2.99 for the 128k feed so it won\’t affect many.
Bob commented:
My Subscription is up Feb and to pay for online and no MLB, they can stick it!!!!!!
ScotsmansKilt commented:
Just say NO! When it comes time to renew your Sirius/XM subscription, threaten to cancel if they want to charge you extra for online streaming. Then see if they\’ll change their tune. I listen more to Sirius online in the office and at home than I do in the car, so it\’s a dealbreaker for me as long as Internet radio is free elsewhere.