Now that SIRIUS has combined with its major competitor XM, it makes united satellite radio a far more serious threat to conventional radio. Conventional radio you have probably heard; it is also be called analog radio or free radio. Indeed, conventional radio’s biggest advantage is that it is broadcast for free, whereas SIRIUS is a subscription based service. You could compare the technology to cable or satellite TV, offering far more options than regular network television ever would. What are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of both radio technologies?

Obviously conventional radio doesn’t offer much in the way of choice. Content is dominated by sponsors and a general consensus of listeners. The biggest advantage of satellite radio is in freedom-the freedom to hear practically any content available and hear it according to your time schedule. With satellite radio you are not limited by a radio station. You can hear all your favorite singers, old time songs, comedians and shock jocks all day long. Another major advantage of SIRIUS is that you can hear your favorite channels all across the country, as the system is not based on analog radio transmission, but on space satellite technology. Therefore, you don’t have to look for local radio stations every time you travel.

While it is true that analog radio’s audience is much larger than the SIRIUS and XM audience, times are quickly changing and everyone is going the “digital route.” Even network television will start broadcasting their lineup in digital format starting in 2009. For a time, it seemed as if free radio has its ace-in-the-hole-a local radio could be taken anywhere, whereas satellite radio seemed restricted to cars and homes. However, the new age of SIRIUS and XM products, such as the SIRIUS Stiletto 2, has brought portability to satellite radio’s technology. The fact that many satellite radio receivers now include an MP3 playing device only sweetens the deal. This not only allows listeners to listen to their favorite MP3 files along with their SIRIUS radio; it also lets them digitally record their favorite radio songs for instant playback. Industry experts speculate that SIRIUS and XM’s fan base is only growing to grow as their products become more travel friendly, while analog radio’s fans will continue to dwindle.

Many fans enjoy SIRIUS [http://www.tabs-lyrics.com/sirius.jsp] and XM radio because of the exclusive content. Music channels are highly varied and can include everything from the major hits of the day to obscure genres or even channels devoted exclusively to legendary singers. Satellite radio music stations tend to have no long-winded commercials or mindless chatter interrupting your favorite song. The format also allows its content to be edgier and more original than programming on traditional radio is allowed be. It’s little wonder than popular deejays such as Howard Stern and Bubba the Love Sponge have migrated towards SIRIUS-an uncensored forum where creative minds are free to purge their deepest and darkest thoughts.

The advantages of satellite radio outweigh analog radio by a long shot. As the new decade wears on, the advent of digital, customizable content will undoubtedly overtake conventional programming as America’s listeners realize that they run the show. What used to be walk-man radios in the late 80s are quickly being replaced by portable satellite radios that have both radio and MP3 functionality. It seems that conventional radio is in for some long due competition.

By: Bob Maines

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Satellite radio is still a somewhat new concept to the modern world. Gone are the days of hopping in the car, turning on the radio and listening to endless commercials without even hearing a single song. Satellite radio is very similar to the concept of pay-per-view television. In exchange for a membership fee, you receive virtually commercial free programming specifically based on your desire.

Satellite radio companies own exclusive rights to certain content, including some sporting events. This means that the only way to hear a game being broadcast may be to subscribe to that service on satellite radio. The same is true of various other content, including the recent move of Howard Stern exclusively to satellite radio. His talk show will only be available through a paid subscription and will no longer be broadcast on regular television or radio programming.

Membership fees range from several dollars per month to several hundred dollars for a lifetime membership. The decision of how to pay is at the sole discretion of the consumer. If you plan to be a lifetime customer, and have the cash to spare, there is no doubt that a lifetime membership will pay for itself over time. If, on the other hand, you’re new to the concept and just want to try it out, many satellite radio companies offer a free trial or low monthly fees to get you started.

The concept of satellite radio derives from, as the name implies, receiving satellite signals to direct certain programming into a radio. This can be a portable gadget, such as a small radio, or it can be installed in your vehicle or even heard through satellite television. Satellite radio provides more than five dozen channels, also known as streams, of music and fifty-five channels featuring sports, news and entertainment broadcasting. Music offered includes virtually every genre and is available every day, all day and is commercial free. With a typical Sirius radio, the consumer will be able to see the song and artist information displayed on their digital screen while listening to the music.

Satellite radio is a new trend that is sure to become a permanent fixture in the industry. With technology making new advancements at every turn, more and more people will look to satellite radio for their listening pleasure. Everything from sports and entertainment to talk shows and music are becoming the exclusive property of this new technology. Companies compete for the best programming, offer multi-million dollar contracts for big name agreements and are spending the big bucks to ensure that people keep tuning in to their station.

By: Aurel Radulescu

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Commercial free broadcasts and uninterrupted programming are one of the huge advantages of Satellite Radio. They are able to do this because revenues are raised by subscription fees and not advertisers fees.

You have the opportunity to enjoy all the different genres such as folk music, rock, blues, hip hop, country and western and dance music to. All genres are covered by over 70 different music channels.

You know how you sometimes get static popping sound on AM/FM radios? Well satellite radio has eliminated that nuisance. You can go from coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico and there will be no static.

The signal you receive is broadcast in crisp clear sounding digital format and there will be no static to put up with.

Along with the music being broadcast to your receiver, the receiver is also getting information about song title and artist name and the program and channel that you are listening to. That being said, your receiver will display this information on the front of your radio so you won’t ever have to wonder what the name of the song you were just listening to is. Let’s say you hear a song that you like and you want to know the artist. All you have to do is read the face of the radio and the answer is there.

If you have your family in the car you need to be careful as the programs on satellite radio are uncensored. If you have ever listened to Howard Stern it is pretty easy to figure out why he moved to satellite radio. It is because he does not want to be censored. Hip hop is broadcast as is with no bleeps so if your kids are in the car be careful what you listen to.

If you are in need of traffic or weather reports you are in luck. They do that to. The reports are informative but mostly targeted to big metropolises.

Satellite Radio broadcasts are not affected by national catastrophes like land based radio stations could be. The signal is strong and very reliable.Technology being what it is you can even listen in from your computer.

If you are still trying to justify paying for a service you could get for free then just think about all the wasted time you have spent listening to commercials since you first started listing to radio. Besides all that no matter what you think traditional radio is not free. When you are listening to radio you will pay for each song you enjoy with 5 minutes of mind numbing advertisements that are almost unbearable sometimes.

The monthly subscription is a real value when you consider what you get. You listen to what you want when you want wherever you want and in very clear sound quality. If you travel a great deal then the value is even greater. You can even listen to your program no matter how far you drive you won’t lose the signal. You can go coast to coast and never touch the dial if you don’t want to. With a regular radio you would have to find a new station every so often as you leave the broadcasters range of transmission. This is not the case with satellite as you receive the same signal without changing a thing. There is a very distinct chance that you will be able to enjoy video programs also.

The 2 digital broadcasters in the Satellite business are Sirius and XM. Both have made it known that they are going to be bringing out a variety of video channels with the same benefits as radio. Those benefits are commercial free great sound and watch your program no matter how far you drive.

By: Mathew Zevon

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Many satellite radio fans find that dedicated music channels are one of the best advantages offered by this new trend in technology. Sirius, one of the two major satellite radio providers, offers a wealth of dedicated music channels that are perfect for music fans that just cannot seem to get enough of their favorite groups.

One such option is a channel that is dedicated solely to the Grateful Dead. Like all music channels, this channel is completely commercial free and operates 24-hours per day. This means that no matter what time of the day or night you turn to that channel you will have the opportunity to enjoy the very best of the Grateful Dead as well as specialty programming about the iconic group that is not available anywhere else.

The Grateful Dead; however, is not the only group that has received a dedicated satellite radio music channel. Elvis Radio is another high popular channel. In fact, it is the only official radio channel in the world dedicated to broadcasting all-Elvis Presley programming. Programming is broadcast live from Graceland. Everything from the early years to Elvis classics and his comebacks are played on All-Elvis. Listeners can even listen to live tracks and rarities that are difficult to find anywhere else.

Other groups and musicians which have received dedicated music channels include Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, George Straight and The Who.

Recently it was announced that Sirius will once again dedicate a channel to the Rolling Stones as part of the release of ‘Shine a Light’; a Scorsese film. Not only will listeners be able to enjoy fabulous hits of the Rolling Stones but also interviews with band members as well. Like many of the dedicated music channels on Sirius, Rolling Stones Radio will air for a limited time only. Broadcasting will begin on March 18th and last through April 15th.

In the past, Sirius has also offered music channels that were dedicated to providing music for special events and holidays. During the Christmas season, three different music channels were dedicated entirely to holiday music. An entire channel was also dedicated to the artists and personalities who helped to shape and influence African-American music during Black History Month. Lionel Richie, Charlie Wilson, LL Cool J and numerous others were featured on the channel during the month the music channel ran.

Satellite radio has become extremely popular in the last few years due to the amount of exclusive programming and entertainment that simply cannot be found elsewhere. Dedicated music channels are just one example of the unique content and programming which satellite radio offers over traditional AM/FM radio.

Sirius radio is not the only satellite radio provider to recognize the importance and value of offering dedicated music channels; however. XM has also jumped on the bandwagon and in the past offered channels that were dedicated to the work of such artists as Led Zeppelin and George Strait as well as many others.

By: Bob Maines

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