Well they started it - commericals on XM. Someone else on this Board predicted it (I forgot who).

I heard it today on Channel 22, one of the channels they "outsource" to Clear Channel.

The new mix on Channel 22 is much better than the old mix - much more variety and I was just thinking that it would be worth it to re-up my subscription. Now commercials!

 

Only a few music channels have commercials- the ones with "cm" at the end of the channel name.

 

what the heck does "CM" stand for?

 

understand that only the "cm" have commercials, but what are we paying for?

 

I just picked up my new RL tech two weeks ago. Enjoying XM radio for free for the first year. After that time period is up, how much is it per year to subscribe?

 

Anybody know the story behind having to pay for XM service and then having to listen to commercials? I admit to not keeping up.

I've yet to hear any, but can imagine how I'm going to feel after paying for a subscription for commercial-free radio.

 

I'm not sure of the details but Clear Channel (Radio conglomerate) provides the feeds from some of their stations to XM. XM told them they couldn't have commercials so they sued XM -- and won. XM is contracturally obligated to continue airing the stations -- even with the commercials. The only stations affected are designated with a "CM" at the end of the station name. I hear -- but have not confirmed -- that once they realized they lost the suit, XM added approximately the same number of commercial-free stations with approximately the same music.

I'm sure someone will tell me if I got any of that wrong.

 

lflorack - interesting
as an update to my original post, I have only heard one commercial, that is the same commerical for some Petcare Store, a few times. I would say the commercial airs maybe once an hour, but cannot say that for sure. Perhaps they are "easing" us into it. As I said before, I think the content on New Clear Channel Ch 22 Mix is far superior to the old XM Mix. So at this point, I'm OK with the limited commercials.
I have not noticed any new XM channels, but I also have not really searched for them. I will look on the XM web site. I do know that they do not provide the Clear Channel #22 (or any of the other Clear Channel stations) on their Web streaming service.

 

Makes sense...Flight 26 sounds to me a lot like the old XM Mix. Mix cm is playing at least one artist not widely available on commercial radio...so I'm going to continue to listen in.

 

Listening to Mix 22 coming home this afternoon, I heard a bunch of commercials. So, I just called XM and requested that all of the cm channels be blocked from coming into my radio. The ones I requested were Mix22, WSIX161, Sunny24, Kiss21 and Nashville11. These were all of the cm channels I located in a quick run through before getting out of my car...the only one I've tuned into regularly has been Mix22.

I've been putting off blocking 7 other channels...these I won't list since they are personal to me and were for political reasons.

So, tonight I requested that 12 channels be removed from my radio.

One of the great pleasures I've enjoyed about my RL this past year has been the music without commercials on XM satellite. From the posts here, I figure the commercials may not be their fault, but I'm not listening to any commercials while paying for a subscription service, no matter the cause, and no matter how good the programming becomes.

I found the commercials to be loud, intrusive and *extremely irritating.*

The process for blocking these channels isn't exactly a user friendly process...the rep first told me to go online, but when I asked her how I can do this online, she came back, and we did it while I was on the phone...it took a few minutes.

Hopefully, this will work out OK...I don't know what the blocked channels will look like in the car, but will find out tomorrow. I can always change my mind if the channel lineup changes, or I'm not satisfied otherwise.

 

Works well. The deleted channels are no longer in the lineup...no blank spaces, etc. They're simply gone...even managed to completely eliminate one whole category!

After firing up the radio, it takes a few minutes for the subscription to "update"...radio displays "updating" if tuned to one of the deleted channels.

One of the talk channels I requested to be deleted is still there, so XM will get another phone call if it's not out of there by morning.

Got *my* radio back and will not miss those channels!

No big deal at all...

 

Deleting is a great idea!!!

cm stands for Clear Channel Media btw...

I'll delete anything 'urban,' 'latin,' or whatever I know I'll never listen to. Excellent idea!
Can I get them to delete Air America or the talk shows from the left from their satellites too? (not just in my car)

 

Thought I'd mention that XM offers a "parental control" page with the option to block certain channels they deem qualifying for that option due to explicit language.

http://www.xmradio.com/parentalcontr...p?refsrc=hp_ex

 

I just received a reply from XM on the use of commercials.

Pete

XM generic response to my complaint email...I guess there have been many complaints that they now have a form-letter response.

Thank you for contacting XM Satellite Radio.

We appreciate your active participation in the growth of XM Satellite Radio. Your comments have been forwarded to the appropriate departments. If there are specific artists you are seeking, please go to www.xmtestdrive.com to find other channels featuring those artists.

The XM Programming Team is dedicated to providing our subscribers with the most and best choice of content in satellite radio. We also have a firm commitment to showcasing the broadest array of commercial-free music channels, plus a wide range of news, talk and sports programming that carry commercials.

If you are writing about the recent addition of commercials to a few of our music channels, let us explain the reason for that action. XM and Clear Channel Communications, an early investor in our company, had taken to arbitration a dispute on this matter. The arbitration panel ruled that Clear Channel has the contractual right to include commercials on the music channels they provide to XM. These channels have been Channel 21- KISS, Channel 22- MIX, Channel- 24 SUNNY and Channel 11- NASHVILLE. XM must honor the arbitration panel’s decision and we are doing so.

These Clear Channel channels continue to be among the highest rated and largest appeal channels on XM. We hope that our subscribers continue to find their programming exciting and compelling.

However, for those subscribers who desire only a commercial-free music presentation, XM suggests you sample at Channel 30 - XM Hitlist (Top 40), Channel 26 - Flight 26 (Modern AC), Channel 78 - Escape (Easy Listening) and Channel 17 - US Country (80’s and 90’s country superstars).

XM’s commitment to commercial-free music is clear; commercials will not be introduced on any of XM’s current commercial-free music channels. Going forward, Clear Channel Communications does have the right to add a few more channels, some of which could include music with commercials. However, these channels would be in addition to our current commercial-free music offering.