XM and Sirius satellite radio

Subscription-based satellite radio service is at the forefront of the US music market. Long gone are the days when people when the only option was in choosing from just one or two measly stations that had poor reception and overbearing, irritating disk jockeys and commercials!

However, local radio stations generally don't fear the satellite radio revolution, predicting their survival in much the same way basic television has survived, despite the emergence of cable in the 90s. There's a lot to love about satellite radio and it's no surprise that Sirius Radio is ranked #1 Fastest Growing Company for 2007 (by Deloitte Technology).

First of all, satellite radio provide you with a high-quality digital signal that can transcend geographic borders by beaming down from three geosynchronous communications satellites orbiting around the Earth. Many channels feature CD-quality sound, static-free.

Secondly, instead of picking the lesser of the evils from four or five local stations, subscribers have the option of choosing from over 200 specialized channels! What are you in the mood for? Choose from Early, Late or Deep Classic Rock.

Do you want mellow rock, Jam Bands and Lite Rock -- or Punk, Heavy Metal and 80s Hair Bands? You can listen to Court TV radio, Martha Stewart radio, Howard Stern, ESPN radio, Nascar Radio, International News broadcasts, Fox News or Liberal News, Traffic and Weather stations, Comedy, Playboy Adult radio, Latino radio, or 24/7 Bruce Springsteen.

There are five Country music stations, ranging from Bluegrass to Today's Hits, and six Hip Hop stations ranging from Old Skool Rap to R&B Hits. There are mix stations and stations for each decade from the 1950s through today. Satellite radio gives you a huge range of options that span cross-country!

The third benefit - that's worth its weight in gold - is that there are NO commercials! It may be hard to believe that 100% commercial-free radio exists, but for just $13/month, you can evade the constant interruptions that plague your morning and late afternoon commutes. Satellite radio is the obvious choice for truckers, delivery drivers and long road trips.

However, the fact that satellite radio costs anything is still a deterrent to many frugal individuals. Therefore, there will always be a market for regular local broadcast stations. At this point, it can be a hassle to go to the electronics shop and get satellite radio receivers for home use or for your car.

In the future, satellite radio will become the standard and most new cars will already have it installed. Maybe then the real revolution will begin.

Some people can't live without the Howard Stern show, Martha Stewart or 24/7 Bruce Springsteen, while others need to have the Glenn Beck show, Oprah Winfrey and hits from the 1930s and 1940s. While the two stations may support a merger this year, for now you'll need to know the difference between the two available satellite radio service providers: Sirius Radio and XM Radio.

Country Music Fans may favor the XM Radio satellite service, which provides listeners with two extra stations - one focusing on Americana Country like Robert Plant or Blackfoot, and the other focusing on Folk Country like Tim Garrison and The Nitty Gritty Band. Both stations have country music from the 80s and 90s, new country, bluegrass and classic country.

Christian Music Fans may favor XM Radio. This service includes one more Christian music channel than Sirius - in addition to Christian Pop / Rock and Gospel, XM also hosts a Southern Gospel channel with Gold City, Greater Vision and The McKarneys.

Electronic Music Fans will prefer the Sirius radio service if they'd like a Breakbeat/Old SKool station, in addition to the usual Trance/Progressive stations that both satellite radio services provide. XM Radio has exclusive rights to acclaimed BPM, but Sirius has a special Dance Hits station.

Rock Music Fans will probably prefer Sirius Radio. While XM provides four different "alternative radio" stations, a punk station, a heavy metal station, a jam bands station, a college indie station and three classic rock stations, Sirius gives subscribers roughly 23 stations with everything that XM's service has -- plus New Wave, Glam Metal, Jimmy Buffet, Grateful Dead, Elvis, Canadian rock, UK rock, Garage, 60s Rock, 70s Rock and an additional punk/ska station. World Music Fans will find that both service providers offering two French stations, but Spanish-speaking subscribers will find XM Radio the better option, since they offer Rock En Espanol, Regional Mexican, Latin Pop, Latin Jazz, Hispanic Rhythmic and Spanish AC. Sirius, on the other hand, has only one Spanish music station for Latin Pop. Additionally, XM has a station for African and a business station in Italian.

Rap and Hip Hop Fans may prefer XM Radio because their service focuses on more Soul and Funk, along with uncensored Hip Hop and Urban Contemporary -- unless they're big Slim Shady fans, in which case they may need Sirius Radio's Eminem station.

You'll probably find talk radio that you like on either satellite radio service. Be aware that there are some exclusive contracts, however. For example, Howard Stern and Martha Stewart only deal with Sirius Radio, whereas Oprah Winfrey, Casey Casem, Colmes and Good Morning America are only on XM Radio.

Sports Fans will find many similarities in XM and Sirius service options. For instance, both providers have ESPN, Nascar and NHL exclusives, as well as both college and NFL football. XM gives better golf / PGA Tour coverage and Fox Sports, while Sirius gives better NBA coverage. On XM, catch shows with Jimmy Johnson, Dale Jr, Coach K, James Carville, Luke Russert and Cal Ripkin. With the Delphi SkiFi2 radio, you can get a sports ticker to show game scores on your display screen and the SportsCaster comes with 30 sports presets programmed in.

However, Sirius gives you game alerts, 30 presets and lists all your favorite teams in one category with the Sportster and Streamer satellite radios. Additionally, get exclusive programming with Jerry Rice, Daryl Johnston, Randy Cross, Adam Schein, Shannon Sharpe, Ray Evernham, Tony Stewart, Rick Ackerman and Frank Isola.

Whichever satellite radio service you prefer, you'll be surprised to find that both are competitively priced at $13/month and most of the radio components cost from $20 - $200. However, which ever service you choose for now, you will still need to purchase a satellite radio receiver and luckily, most of the satellite radios will work in your home and in your car.

Do you ever find yourself relentlessly station flipping on an already aggravating drive home from work? You probably have that feeling that if you could just find that one feel-good, sing- along tune you're craving, all the chaos and stress would just melt away. With Sirius Satellite Radio, say goodbye to all your frustrations and program in up to 30 sure-fire stations that will revitalize your mood and satisfy your musical needs, static and commercial-free.

The Sirius stations appeal to people of all different markets and niches. One is the middle-aged "I love all music" types. For these people, there's "Sirius Hits 1", a top 40 station which plays everything from Avril Lavigne, Kanye West and Junior Senior to Fall Out Boy, Nickelback and Linkin Park. The "Sirius Supermix" station shuffles all of the other Sirius stations for one of the most diverse line ups you can imagine.

If you're feeling stressed out, perhaps Sirius Radio Classical or Jazz will help you unwind. Try one of the four Sirius satellite Jazz stations: "Jazz Cafй" (smooth eclectic jazz like Richard Eliot and George Benson), "Pure Jazz" (classic American jazz like Miles Davis and John Coltrane), "Spa 73" (soothing Enya and Yanni), "Sirius Blues" (past and present blues from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton). Classical music and Orchestra lovers will enjoy Channel 80's "Symphony Hall" (featuring Mozart, Haydn, Bach, Dvorak). Or catch thrilling classical performances from New York City on "Metropolitan Opera Radio" (from Macbeth to Le Prophete). "Sirius Pops" gives you classical music favorites like James Galway, George Gershwin, Frederic Chopin or John Philip Sousa, and if you listen carefully you may even catch music from Pirates of the Caribbean III and other motion pictures!

One of the best things about satellite radio is that it panders to niche markets. Sometimes fans of the loud and rowdy rock genres have a hard time finding a station to suit their needs. Not on satellite radio! If you're having a hard time finding The Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys and The Misfits on the radio, try Channel 29's "Punk" station. Or if you need some Lamb of God, Slayer or Pantera, Channel 27 "Hard Attack" will do you good. Keep the weekend rave playing with Paul Van Dyk and Deep Dish on "Area 33" or breakdance to your favorite energetic tracks by the Chemical Brothers and DJ Icey on Channel 34 "Boombox". Not enough Grand Master Flash, LL Cool J and Run DMC? Check out the Channel 43 "Backspin" for old school rap at its finest.

Other niche markets include Country, with five different Sirius satellite stations: "New Country" (Tim Mcgraw, Terry Underwood, Toby Keith), "Prime Country" (Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, George Strait), "The Roadhouse" (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton), "Outlaw Country" (Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard) and "Bluegrass" (Ricky Skaggs & KY, Lonesome River Band, Thunder). Christian listeners can choose from "Spirit 66" with powerful hits from Third Day, Avalon and Point of Grace or "Praise 68" with gospel favorites by Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams. The Latin / World markets will also get grooving with XM radio stations tailored specifically to their needs: "Universo Latino" (Latin pop mix including Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias and Gloria Estefan), "Rumbon" (Reggaeton with Marc Anthony, Tito Nieves and Ivy Queen), "Band A Parte" (the French language music scene), "Rock Velours" (Canadian soft rock like Celine Dion, Sarah Mclachlan, Michael Buble), and "Energie 2" (urban pop including French Canadians like Eric Lapointe, Simple Plan and Coldplay).

In addition to music, there are even more specific stations to choose from on Sirius satellite radio. Nine sports stations focus on Soccer, Horse Racing, NBA, NFL, Nascar, College Sports, CFL, AFL, ESPN. Talk Radio includes: NPR, CNN, Fox News, BBC, World Radio Network, Entertainment radio, CNBC, Bloomberg financial Radio and Daily Variety. Need religion, weather, or traffic talk? No problem. Additionally, you can get 24/7 Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and comedy channels.

Sirius Satellite Radio is more than just music. Some of the 12 million listeners prefer television-like content delivered right to their morning commute to help them stay awake. Whether you need a good laugh from Monty Python, some acerbic criticism from Hannity and Colmes, a world report from Barbara Walters, or the latest traffic and weather updates, Sirius Radio has it all, amid 130 incredible channels.

Political animals, beware! You have many options for heated debate from your Sirius radio satellite. Catch GOP debate recaps on either "Sirius Left" or "Sirius Patriot," including highlights, opinions and analysis. Hannity & Colmes take their show from television to the "Sirius Fox News" station and "Sirius CNN" offers a combination of US and world news. Both "CNBC" and "Bloomberg Radio" stations offer financial and business news from around the world. For world and international news, choose from eight different stations in multiple languages and a variety of perspectives: International Talk (French), Info Plus (French), The Korean Channel (Korean), CNN En Espanol (Spanish), BBC World News, World Radio Network, Premiere Plus (Canadian News) and CBC Radio One.

Lighter Lifestyle reports and Entertainment are plentiful on Sirius Radio as well. Whether you'd like the latest home decorating tips from Martha Stewart (channel 112), inspirational motivation from Mary O and Deepak Chopra ("Stars" channel 102), or the latest from Maxim Magazine and Cosmo Magazine, you will find it amid the 130 channels Sirius Radio has to offer! Other specialty channels focus on Court TV programming (110) or Gay and Bisexual culture (109), or news and information related to truckers (147).

Perhaps you want to just kick back and laugh. On Channel 104 "Raw Dog," catch Dave Attell, Dane Cook, Jim Breuer, Mojo Nixon and Bob Saget. Channel 103's "Blue Collar Radio" will give you everything from College Football and Nascar to Ralphie May and PJ Walsh. Channel 105 "Laugh Break" is a riot with Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Weird Al, Dane Cook, Bill Cosby and Monty Python. Channel 106 "The Foxhole" is comedian Jamie Foxx's own station for news-related comedy. Of course, there's always Howard Stern on channels 100 and 101 offering his madcap viewpoints.

Sports Junkies won't miss a game when they sign up for the Sirius radio sports weekly newsletter. With radio receivers like The Streamer or The Sportster, they can receive Game Alerts directly from their radio satellite and also pause and rewind for up to 44 minutes of game play! College Sports, Canadian Sports, poker, tennis, soccer or horse racing.

Don't get caught in New York City or Toronto traffic without Sirius Satellite Radio! If you need updates on weather or traffic and live in a metropolis, you may find what you need on Sirius channels 148 - 158, 184 and 185. Channel 184 will also give you the latest updates on severe floods, fires, mudslides, blizzards, tornadoes and all kinds of apocalyptic emergency weather conditions.

Sirius Satellite Radio was ranked the #1 Fastest Growing Company in 2007 by Deloitte Technology. This is in part due to its growing selection of specialty channels and unique programming, but also because the prices are so fair. For just $13/month and for as little as $50 for the satellite radio receiver, you can have over 130 channels of music, news and entertainment to suit your every whim!

You can put an XM satellite radio in your vehicle, in your office or in your home. Whether you prefer silver, black or even pink, there's an attractive, futuristic-looking satellite radio XM for you. If you're one of the eight million subscribers, you'll love the easy-to-read LCD display, sleek designs, custom backlight colors and easy installation.

For your car, the Commander MT XM satellite radio gives you a bright four-line display, a stocks / sports ticker, the "Tune Select" function which finds your favorite artists or songs, 30 channel presets and installs right into your vehicle for $179 (plus installation). Other similar options include: the Sportscaster (for the ultimate sports fans) or the Audiovox XpressEZ (for just $70)! The Audiovox XpressEZ is perfect for the first-time XM satellite radio buyer, offering just the basic necessities - room to program in 10 of your favorite channels, a bright three-line display of artist, track and station, a car cradle, cigarette power adapter, vent clip and antenna. There are many optional accessories available to make this a multi-functional unit that can be removed and used with the XM Radio Home Kit or Boombox audio system as well.

For versatile functionality, a stylish new model of XM satellite radio is the Delphi Xpress RC. The large, color split-screen display allows you to view four stations at once, pause and replay 60 minutes of music, save ten favorite channels, save ten favorite songs and allows you to plug-and-play anywhere. The Audiovox XpressR is a very similar model that is offered at a slightly lower price.

People naturally sort of gravitate towards their favorites. There are Dell people and there are Mac people. There are GM motorists and there are Ford motorists. In the same way, there are Sirius radio users and there are XM satellite radio users. Some people simply prefer XM's unique programming, futuristic receiver designs and functionality a bit better.

Why be limited to just MP3s when you can have an MP3 player/satellite radio device? Portable satellite radios are the latest trend for teenagers, joggers and music aficionados alike. It's a great way to hear your favorite tracks when you need them, but also to find new artists and songs through one of the 170+ satellite radio stations!

If you're leaning toward Sirius Radio, the newest portable satellite radio is the Stiletto 2, which goes for $329 full price. Looking very much like an iPod with its black and gray cover and turquoise dials, you'll also be astounded by what it can do! Schedule and record up to 100 hours of radio programming, bookmark and store an additional 10 hours of songs, replay an hour of music, get personalized sports alerts if you choose and upload your MP3s onto this 2 GB portable satellite radio. However, if you're not super fussy about an extra inch or so, you may be perfectly happy with the Stiletto 1 for $199. The initial prototype has all the same features of the Stiletto 2 - but it's a little bit bigger and has a little less battery longevity. The Stiletto 10 weighs the same as the Stiletto 1, offers 256 MB of space and stores 10 hours of Sirius Radio. Save your favorite channels and fifty hours of music, replay songs, import playlists, get game alerts, listen to six hours of music on one charge and access traffic reports at the touch of a dial with the Sirius S50 Radio (with car kit). This portable satellite radio is usually $300 brand new, but you can sometimes find it on sale as low as $179!

If you're thinking about XM Radio, there are some amazing options. The $249 Pink Pioneer Inno offers: 50 hours of storage, sports and news tickers, one touch recording, artist and tune select features, MP3 storage and play. While girls may prefer the Pink Pioneer, guys can get excited about the gray Pioneer Inno or the Samsung Helix, which has all the same features. Both of the Innos can also play Audible.com audio books as well! The Nexus has a little less storage space and lacks the bells and whistles (like sports and news updates), but it will get the job done for $129 full price or $70 on sale. Your Nexus will come complete with a mini-tuner, home stand and antenna, power adapter, RC cable, USB cable, rechargeable battery, earbuds, Napster CD, belt clip and remote.

Be aware that portable satellite radio may not necessarily have the high quality reception of other XM Sirius satellite radios on the market. You may want to purchase an additional antenna to get the best service when you're traveling in the car with your portable player. Also, you can buy extra batteries for around $30 and leather holsters for $20 to keep your player from scratching or breaking.