mrtech

This is clip from the email I got from XM:

First, XM will offer 100% COMMERCIAL-FREE MUSIC beginning February 1st. With 68
commercial-free music channels, XM will deliver the most commercial-free music
in satellite radio. From Rock to Jazz, Classical to Hip-Hop, Country to R&B,
you’ll now enjoy more of the music you love, without commercial interruption.

acuraddict

I'm amazed. That will be cooler.

Lore

Oh wow. Time to subscribe then! Are any of you guys on a multi-year pre-paid package?

mrtech

Still on the free 3 months. I won't go multi year. I know it is cheaper in the long run but just in case I change my mind.......

frqwntbyr

I'll probably do the multi-year. I figured I'd do the 90 days free, then say thanks but no thanks...but XM is simply superior to the alternative. I'm listening to stuff I never would normally, simply because it's fast to sample then move on. XM warned me though--don't sign up for a payment plan until your 90 days is nearly up; otherwise, they may screw it up and not give you all your free time before they begin billing. Could be fixed, but they have better things to do like find more customers and keep our fees from going up too much.

VTEC=happiness

Thanks for the news...that way I can just continue my subscription as opposed to letting it expire and having to pay an activation fee when I discovered the no commercial thing.

RJC RSX

oh wow. well now sirius has nothing going for them! 'cept for bmw, mb, etc. oem systems

Z Factor

I find the same thing in the sense that music that is either unavailable on regular stations, or that is a little off what radio stations like to play. I even flip to the 40's, 50's, etc., to listen to some of the music our parents undoubtedly listened to, and some of it is actually pretty good.

neuronbob

Yayyy! Of course, the news channels will continue to have commercials, but I'll at least be able to turn to a music channel during the ads...

Hybrid

This could mean the end of Sirrius, XM's competition. Their primary advantage was being commercial free. I guess XM has about 4 times the subscribers. If Sirrius eventually disappears, and XM has no competition, that wouldn't necessarily be a good thing. They could return to and commercial format, and raise prices. This might be a good reason for TL owners to prepay for a longer term.

I wish there was a way to buy a second portable receiver to have XM in another car for the one subscription price. I don't think that will happen unless they can figure out how to prevent both units from being used at the same time.

svtmike

The cynical side of me wonders when the rate hike will be announced.

Mike

RJC RSX

well they're not profitable yet, so we'll see...

nickpoore

If you subscribe for multiple years, then you are insulated agains price hikes - they make that clear in their documentation.
Also, if you pay for multiple years, and then decide to cancel; they give you a pro-rated refund.
All in all the multi-year thing seems pretty fair.

As to a 2nd XM radio, they do have the friends & family plan, where radio's 2-5 simply pay a $7 per month mirroring fee.
(Kinda like DirecTV).

All in all I love my XM.

need4spd

Glad I signed for the 2yr plan, no rate hike till jan 2006

D_Nyholm

Can anyone here verify this? Any other sources for this information. That is the one thing that is basically keeping me back from XM. I like thier programming better than Sirius, but I don't want the commercials.

decky243

Sorry for the length. I just got the email too.


Dear XM Subscriber:

First, from all of us at XM, thank you for being a valued member of the
XM family.

From every vantage point XM had a spectacular 2003. Ending the year
with over 1.36 million subscribers, XM Satellite Radio is one of the
fastest growing entertainment media ever. Building on this tremendous
momentum, we’re delighted to announce several programming content
enhancements in 2004 we know you’re going to love.

First, XM will offer 100% COMMERCIAL-FREE MUSIC beginning February 1st.
With 68 commercial-free music channels, XM will deliver the most
commercial-free music in satellite radio. From Rock to Jazz, Classical to
Hip-Hop, Country to R&B, you’ll now enjoy more of the music you love,
without commercial interruption.

Complementing the move to 100% commercial-free music will be the debut
of exciting new channels, including:
* Highway 16 – Today’s top Country Hits - Ch. 16
* The Blend – Adult Contemporary Hits - Ch. 25
* Fungus – Punk Rock - Ch. 53
* Lucy – Classic Alternative Hits - Ch. 54
* MSNBC – Global and national news - Ch. 130

We are also pleased to announce the launch of XM INSTANT TRAFFIC &
WEATHER. Powered by Traffic Pulse and The Weather Channel, XM Instant
Traffic & Weather will offer listeners in-depth, up-to-date information
about road and weather conditions in 21 major metropolitan markets
nationwide, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing greater detail and
more frequent updates than available elsewhere on the radio. The first
15 metropolitan markets are available beginning March 1st. You can
visit http://traffic.xmradio.com to hear report samples and learn more
about this wonderful new XM service.

There’s more good news. 100% Commercial-free music, exciting new
programming content, Instant Traffic & Weather – all will be included as
part of your basic subscription. There are no new charges or fees.

To accommodate these many exciting enhancements, some channels will
change number, category, and/or format, or will be eliminated.
* MTV (ch. 25) and VH1 (ch. 26) will move from Hits to Variety (ch. 155
and 156, respectively).
* Spirit (ch. 63) will move from Urban to Christian (ch. 33)
* Fine Tuning (ch. 104) will move from World to Rock (ch. 49)
* XM Live (ch. 168) will move from Variety to Hits (ch. 26)
* We will no longer carry Special X (ch. 30), Aguila (ch. 90), Vibra
(ch. 92), and Tejano (ch. 93).

A new channel lineup card will be mailed to you later this month. For
more information about all the changes and to view a new channel lineup
immediately, please visit http://lineup.xmradio.com.

Thank you again for your valued patronage and for making XM #1 in
Satellite Radio.

Best Regards,
The XM Team

subzero

The coolest thing with multi-year package is:

From the XMRadio.com site...

- No Obligation
Cancel at any time and receive a prorated refund of the unused subscription.

mrtech

So the activation charge is waived if you renew within the 3 month trial period? Do they send you a letter or you just have to remember. I know they are sending me ads in the mail.

need4spd

about 3 weeks before mine was up (which is next week) I recieved a reminder in the mail.

You could either call, or mail back the card to keep XM going, no fee for activation.

Billing (if for multi year, the whole thing is due up front) is on the day your 90 days is up.

I like the what they did, they added 5 new channels, got rid of a couple that I did not use and added realtime traffic and weather for 22 cities.

Now I don't need AM any more (too bad it still cycles with the mode button on the steering wheel).

danno

Just renewed a one year sub today!

MikeRadio

When mine free runs out I will get it renewed as long as possible