Why pay for something you’ve always gotten for free? Satellite radio’s time is now -- and if you’re thinking it’s just a fad, more than nine million people who already subscribe might disagree. There are two main satellite radio providers, XM and Sirius, and each has three satellites orbiting the Earth to keep your signal clear from coast to coast, plus a ton of other perks. Check it out.
How Much?
Sirius $13 per month
$142.45 for an annual subscription with one month free
$15 activation fee ($10 if you activate online)
XM $13 per month
$142.45 for an annual subscription with one month free
$15 activation fee ($10 if you activate online for a year or more)
What You Get
Sirius 125 channels with 68 commercial-free channels of music
Tons of sports (including the NFL and NBA) and, for a really wide range, both Eminem and Jimmy Buffett have created their own channels
XM 162 channels with 69 commercial-free channels of music
Listen to talk shows by Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, or song selections from celebrity DJs like Tom Petty and Snoop Dogg
They Say
Sirius “Music is subjective, but we’re probably a little edgier than XM is,” says Sirius spokesman Jim Collins. “We’re the leader in sports and original talk shows that you can’t find anywhere else.”
XM “XM has twice as many subscribers as Sirius, more channels, and a broader variety of choices,” says XM spokesman David Butler. “Plus, XM has more cutting-edge radio.”
We Say
Sirius If you and your husband are sports junkies, Sirius is for you. If you’re into talk radio, you’ll love the two channels of NPR, as well as Martha Stewart. And, for better or worse, Sirius has Howard Stern.
XM It’s strength is in its tunes. With channels dedicated to every decade since the ’40s and multiple channels playing nonstop rock, jazz, hip-hop, country, and everything in between, XM is a music-lover’s dream.
Portable Picks
Sirius S50 Listen to live satellite radio when it’s docked at home or in the car; store 50 hours of programming for when you’re on the move.
$329, shop.sirius.com
Pioneer Inno
This Inno plays live satellite radio and MP3s. If you hear a song on the radio, you can bookmark it and buy it instantly when you hook it up to a computer.
$400, pioneerelectronics.com for retailers
by The Nest Editors
6/24/08
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