Satellite Radio Reviews

Until recently, satellite radio was simply the best radio product on the market. Virtually all of the country has a variety of radio stations depending on what types of programming are popular in those markets. FM frequency is a limited commodity however; so many people live in areas where much if not all of the broadcast radio offerings are not to their tastes.Satellite radio enjoyed almost a decade of offering the best radio that could be purchased by consumers. Prices were generally cheap and many consumers purchased multi-year packages and are happy with the wide range selections of programming that satellite radio offers. And all was good in the satellite radio marketplace until a little company calledClear came along and changed the playing field forever.4g wireless internet offers consumers affordable wireless broadband internet at a price anyone who can afford satellite radio would be happy to pay once they learn that there are literally tens of thousands of high quality internet radio stations available for them to listen to on the internet in addition to having the convenience of wirelessly surfing the web no matter where you are.As consumers become more aware of what the internet has to offer in radio station selection, satellite radio will become less important in the consumer entertainment industry. Internet appliances that focus exclusively on internet radio are widely available on the internet and combined with wireless internet access provide a listening experience and selection that dwarfs all others.

Less 6th months after announcing her final day on the radio airwaves, Dr. Laura Schlessinger is back in the booth. Ending her radio show amid concerns she could no longer express her 1st amendment rights (religion, speech, petition, assembly, press, for those counting at home) and “say what’s on her mind,” it seems Dr. Laura has found a suitable solution for the limitations of standard broadcast radio. On January 3, 2011, she will join the Sirius XM programming lineup, it what is believed to be a multiyear deal. Satellite radio, free of the tight FCC regulations that restrict radio personalities in other mediums, will indeed give Dr. Laura more free forum for expression. Of course, this could be interpreted as anti-Stern positioning, with Dr. Laura on record as saying she would never work for the same company as the self-proclaimed “King of All Media.” Then again, their on-air presence in the Sirius XM airspace may never overlap, as Stern’s contract expires on December 31, with no indications to this point that it will be renewed going forward. (more…)

When Howard Stern first moved to Sirius to start the 2006 year, he was credited as a major reason for the initial success of the business, believed to have attracted more than 2 million subscriptions to the service. Now with Howard Stern’s contract on the brink of expiration and no certainty surrounding his return, what might be the implications for letting the crudest, rudest radio personality take his talents elsewhere in the world of airwaves?For starters, Sirius would save a lot of money, and as with any financial surplus they could use that money however they see fit. How much money is at stake here? Sterns original contract spanned 5 years paying out 500 million, so according to the laws of simple division 100 million dollars a year. These funds could be allocated to acquire new talent, perhaps covering a broader area of expertise than just one man, no matter how popular may provide. As there are only a few familiar voices out there who could command a Stern-esque pay day, it is fair to assume that with Stern’s salary at their disposal, several new DJs could be brought in to fill the void and pretty much any familiar radio celebrity in the world would be well within the price range. Sirius could choose to go another route, instead using the cash influx to improve technology or lower subscription costs. (more…)

In the old days it was clear, both XM and Sirius were two separate entities each with a certain selection of talk and music options that fit the various needs of different listeners. XM had more channels and was cheaper for those on a budget. Sirius, on the other hand had higher end sound quality and offered internet listening at no additional charge, bringing the total price of the package for those who enjoy streaming their radio over the web. A primary difference in the two services also boiled down to personality. Not just the personality of each would be listener, but the radio personalities prominently featured on either Sirius or XM. For example, Sirius held exclusive rights to talk radio bad boy Howard Stern on his own uncensored station. For some it boiled down to baseball vs. football, as XM struck a deal with Major League Baseball to broadcast every game, while Sirius listeners enjoyed limitless NFL coverage. Now that the two major radio providers have merged to form a satellite super-company, a lot of potential subscribers are left wondering, “Sure the same stockholders will benefit from my subscription, but is there a difference between XM and Sirius?” (more…)

With over 19 million Sirius XM listeners tuning out the traditional AM and FM radio, is satellite radio all it is hyped up to be? For generations, radio was afree commodity, symbolizing a sense of freedom both in the music played and the ease of accessibility for everybody. Then again, water was free for hundreds of years but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t money to be made by bottling it, putting bubbles it in or further purifying it well beyond drinkable requirements. While many can’t claim to tell the difference between the finest bottle of Evian and what leaks out of their faucet on in the morning, the benefits of satellite radio programming sing out loud and clear. (more…)

The SCV1 satellite radio tuner is the first of its kind, bringing suddenly silent and well behaved backseats to appreciated moms and dads across the country. By connecting with Sirius Backseat TV, the SCV1 is able to offer the three biggest names in family friendly programming suitable for children of all ages: Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. Sirius Backseat Television content is live 24 hours and 7 days, so even on long, overnight car trips, the front seat can enjoy care free ride while the backseat is intensely glued to their favorite TV shows, such as “Spongebob Squarepants” and “Hannah Montana.” (more…)

Over the past few years internet radio companies such as Pandora have risen in popularity, especially with the younger crowd, with their ability to offer streaming radio content for a wide variety of stations with no charge to the listener. You might be stuck listening to a brief 15 second commercial or two and can only skip a certain number of songs due to licensing constraints, but Pandora’s free radio platform has exceeded 48 million users in an amazingly short time frame. (more…)

Satellite radio has revolutionized the way we listened to music, not only in our car but when we are on the move as well. Portable satellite radio receivers allow you to take your limited commercial, limitless option listening experience with you, wherever you go, but can be pricy. Here is a look at two older satellite radio receivers reviewers have loved for years now that might be best to get you started: (more…)

While satellite radio is often thought of as a primarily in-car luxury, its sound can be enjoyed outside at the beach or a friend’s barbecue just as you would a vintage portable boom box. This isn’t a endorsement to pull a John Cusack in Say Anything, but you should know there’s still technology available to make full blast front lawn serenades a realistic option. (more…)