Orbitcast

BMW lowers Sirius option price, enhances user experience with iDrive

2009-11-07T15:24:07Z

BMW has given its Sirius satellite radio factory option a little love with an expanded channel line-up and a price reduction for 2010 model vehicles (excluding 5 Series, 6 Series, and X3).

Plus BMW has improved the user interface with its latest generation of the iDrive controller.
The Sirius factory option price has been lowered to $350 (down from $595), and will continue to include a pre-paid 1-year subscription for the "Sirius Everything" package. The Sirius satellite radio option will also now include "The Best of XM" package.

Add to that, new features have been added to improve the user experience via BMW's 4th-generation iDrive interface.

With the 4th-gen BMW iDrive...

Sirius now features "Instant Replay" - giving you the option to timeshift / replay a favorite song or program
The channel list can now be displayed as channel name, artist and song title - giving a "sneak-peek" to what is currently being played on the channel line-up
Channel surfing is now made easier by the provision of Direct Channel Input.
Favorite Alert will notify users when a favorite artist, song, or game is being played.
Traffic Jump allows users to automatically tune to the traffic message of a chosen metro area when the message becomes available to avoid missing important updates.

I wasn't able to get any images of the Sirius interface (still awaiting a response from BMW), but here's some photos of how the iDrive controller and display looks inside the vehicle.

BMW vehicles that aren't equipped with the iDrive controller will still have the Traffic Jump and Direct Channel Input features added as available features for 2010 when ordered with the Sirius option.

PocketTunes: Now you can record Satellite Radio on your iPhone

2009-11-06T15:46:16Z

The folks at NormSoft have upgraded the Pocket Tunes Radio iPhone/iPod Touch app to now have the ability to record any stream you want - including recording Sirius XM satellite radio. Recording lengths are only limited by your storage capacity. And while playing back, you can skip forward and back to jump past songs - and commercials - you don't want to hear.

The update also might be good news for XM SkyDock owners as it could be an indication that Apple is loosening their hold on their internal memory and allowing apps to include recording/saving of data.

That was my one big gripe about the SkyDock - no timeshifting. So could an official way to record Sirius XM using their Premium Online app or XM SkyDock app be far behind?

Who knows - but in the meantime Pocket Tunes is available for $6.99 right now (iTunes link) so that anyone can record them for playback later.

Do you have the latest version of Pocket Tunes Radio? If so, sound off in the comments below!

[Learn More or Download the Pocket Tunes App (iTunes)]
Thanks Nathan!

Sirius XM total revenue up, while subscriber growth slows

2009-11-05T13:25:01Z

Sirius XM Radio Inc. released their financial and operating results today showing that 3Q09 total revenue grew 3 percent from the third quarter last year, while total subscribers decreased by 2 percent year over year.

Last year's quarter was the first that both Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio posted results as a combined company.
Pro forma total revenue was $630 million - a 3 percent year-over-year increase from pro forma total revenue of $613 million. Subscription revenue came in at $587 million - also up 3 percent from the same period last year.

Sirius XM also announced a 19 percent decrease in pro forma total cash operating expenses compared to the same quarter last year.

Monthly average revenue per subscriber (ARPU) was $10.87 in the third quarter 2009, up 3% from $10.51 in the third quarter 2008.

Subscriber acquisition costs decreased 17 percent, or $23 million, and SAC per gross addition declined by 7 percent to $69 from $74 in the year ago period.

Sirius XM ended the third quarter 2009 with 18,515,730 total subscribers - a decrease of 2 percent from last year but an increase of 102,295 from the 2Q09 subscribers. Self-pay subscribers were 15,456,748, up 266,160 from last year.

The self-pay monthly customer churn rate was 2.0% in the third quarter, in-line with Q2, and up from a pro forma 1.7% churn rate in the 3Q08. Ending promotional subscribers were 3,058,982 in the third quarter 2009.

Check out the full financials below...


                                             Unaudited
                            ------------------------------------------
                            Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                              September 30,            September 30,
                            -----------------        -----------------
                            2009         2008        2009         2008
                            ----         ----        ----         ----
                          (Actual)   (Pro Forma)   (Actual)   (Pro Forma)

  Beginning subscribers  18,413,435   18,576,830  19,003,856   17,348,622
  Gross subscriber
   additions              1,606,446    1,843,785   4,325,532    5,997,096
  Deactivated
   subscribers           (1,504,151)  (1,499,704) (4,813,658)  (4,424,807)
                         ----------   ----------  ----------   ----------
  Net additions             102,295      344,081    (488,126)   1,572,289
                            -------      -------    --------    ---------
  Ending subscribers     18,515,730   18,920,911  18,515,730   18,920,911
                         ==========   ==========  ==========   ==========

      Retail              7,925,904    9,036,420   7,925,904    9,036,420
      OEM                10,488,530    9,777,704  10,488,530    9,777,704
      Rental                101,296      106,787     101,296      106,787
                            -------      -------     -------      -------
  Ending subscribers     18,515,730   18,920,911  18,515,730   18,920,911
                         ==========   ==========  ==========   ==========

      Retail               (309,972)    (149,417)   (979,298)    (202,295)
      OEM                   407,131      492,216     492,692    1,744,436
      Rental                  5,136        1,282      (1,520)      30,148
                              -----        -----      ------       ------
  Net additions             102,295      344,081    (488,126)   1,572,289
                            =======      =======    ========    =========

      Self-pay           15,456,748   15,190,588  15,456,748   15,190,588
      Paid promotional    3,058,982    3,730,323   3,058,982    3,730,323
                          ---------    ---------   ---------    ---------
  Ending subscribers     18,515,730   18,920,911  18,515,730   18,920,911
                         ==========   ==========  ==========   ==========

      Self-pay               35,405      361,438     (92,838)   1,317,242
      Paid promotional       66,890      (17,357)   (395,288)     255,047
                             ------      -------    --------      -------
  Net additions             102,295      344,081    (488,126)   1,572,289
                            =======      =======    ========    =========

  Daily weighted average
   number of subscribers 18,393,678   18,710,940  18,514,041   18,187,927
                         ==========   ==========  ==========   ==========



                                       Unaudited Pro Forma
                            -----------------------------------------
                            Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
   (in thousands, except       September 30,          September 30,
   for per subscriber         ---------------       ----------------
   amounts)                   2009       2008       2009        2008
                              ----       ----       ----        ----

  Average self-pay monthly
   churn (1)(7)                2.0%       1.7%        2.1%        1.7%
  Conversion rate (2)(7)      46.8%      47.0%       45.3%       49.2%
  ARPU (3)(7)               $10.87     $10.51      $10.67      $10.53
  SAC, as adjusted,
   per gross subscriber
   addition (4)(7)             $69        $74         $63         $76
  Customer service and
   billing expenses, as
   adjusted, per average
   subscriber (5)(7)         $1.01      $1.05       $1.04       $1.08
  Total revenue           $629,607   $612,776  $1,842,924  $1,792,632
  Free cash flow (6)(7)    $26,724   $(97,594)    $35,772   $(577,648)
  Adjusted income (loss)
   from operations (8)    $106,140   $(36,851)   $347,198   $(168,096)
  Net loss               $(181,935) $(217,010)  $(416,090)  $(653,867)



                                       Unaudited Pro Forma
                            ------------------------------------------
                            Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                              September 30,            September 30,
                             ---------------         ----------------
  (in thousands)             2009       2008         2009        2008
                             ----       ----         ----        ----
  Revenue:
      Subscriber revenue,
       including effects
       of rebates          $587,442   $572,355  $1,740,477  $1,669,700
      Advertising revenue,
       net of agency fees    12,418     17,867      37,287      54,156
      Equipment revenue      10,506     12,856      31,343      38,687
      Other revenue          19,241      9,698      33,817      30,089
                             ------      -----      ------      ------
  Total revenue             629,607    612,776   1,842,924   1,792,632

  Operating expenses:
      Satellite and
       transmission          18,676     25,136      57,077      76,336
      Programming
       and content           93,230    131,630     277,614     341,422
      Revenue share
       and royalties        123,531    120,800     362,463     355,251
      Customer service
       and billing           55,795     58,857     173,517     177,159
      Cost of equipment      11,944     16,179      27,988      48,020
      Sales and marketing    52,827     78,178     152,039     260,583
      Subscriber
       acquisition costs    109,384    132,477     274,082     444,396
      General and
       administrative        48,481     75,981     142,812     215,440
      Engineering, design
       and development        9,599     10,389      28,134      42,121
      Depreciation and
       amortization          47,997     64,111     145,596     196,051
      Share-based
       payment expense       18,799     29,809      71,301      99,673
      Restructuring,
       impairments and
       related costs          2,554      7,430      30,167       7,457
                              -----      -----      ------       -----
  Total operating expenses  592,817    750,977   1,742,790   2,263,909
                            -------    -------   ---------   ---------
  Income (loss) from
   operations                36,790   (138,201)    100,134    (471,277)
      Other expense        (217,610)   (77,086)   (512,880)   (178,777)
                           --------    -------    --------    --------
  Loss before income taxes (180,820)  (215,287)   (412,746)   (650,054)
      Income tax expense     (1,115)    (1,723)     (3,344)     (3,813)
                             ------     ------      ------      ------

  Net loss                $(181,935) $(217,010)  $(416,090)  $(653,867)
                          =========  =========   =========   =========



                                            Unaudited Actual
                               -------------------------------------------
                                 For the Three              For the Nine
                                  Months Ended              Months Ended
                                  September 30,             September 30,
  (in thousands, except        -----------------         -----------------
   per share data)             2009         2008         2009         2008
                               ----         ----         ----         ----
  Revenue:
      Subscriber revenue,
       including effects of
       rebates               $578,304     $458,237  $1,699,455     $980,396
      Advertising revenue,
       net of agency fees      12,418       14,674      37,287       31,413
      Equipment revenue        10,506       11,271      31,343       25,290
      Other revenue            17,428        4,261      28,379        4,710
                               ------        -----      ------        -----
  Total revenue               618,656      488,443   1,796,464    1,041,809
  Operating expenses
   (depreciation and
   amortization shown
   separately below) (1):
      Cost of services:
          Satellite and
           transmission        19,542       19,526      59,435       34,800
          Programming
           and content         78,315      106,037     230,825      222,975
          Revenue share
           and royalties      100,558       85,592     296,855      177,635
          Customer service
           and billing         56,529       47,432     175,570       97,218
          Cost of equipment    11,944       13,773      27,988       28,007
      Sales and marketing      52,530       63,637     152,647      151,237
      Subscriber acquisition
       costs                   90,054       86,616     230,773      257,832
      General and
       administrative          56,923       57,310     182,953      148,555
      Engineering, design
       and development         11,252       10,434      32,975       28,091
      Impairment of goodwill        -    4,750,859           -    4,750,859
      Depreciation and
       amortization            72,100       66,774     231,624      120,793
      Restructuring,
       impairments and
       related costs            2,554        7,430      30,167        7,457
                                -----        -----      ------        -----
  Total operating expenses    552,301    5,315,420   1,651,812    6,025,459
                              -------    ---------   ---------    ---------
      Income (loss) from
       operations              66,355   (4,826,977)    144,652   (4,983,650)
  Other income (expense):
      Interest and
       investment income          962        4,940       2,602        9,167
      Interest expense, net
       of amounts
       capitalized            (78,527)     (49,216)   (240,062)     (83,636)
      Loss on extinguishment
       of debt and credit
       facilities, net       (138,053)           -    (263,767)           -
      (Loss) gain on
       investments                (58)      (3,089)        457       (3,089)
      Other income (expense)    1,246       (3,870)      2,505       (3,935)
                                -----       ------       -----       ------
  Total other expense        (214,430)     (51,235)   (498,265)     (81,493)
                             --------      -------    --------      -------
      Loss before
       income taxes          (148,075)  (4,878,212)   (353,613)  (5,065,143)
      Income tax expense       (1,115)      (1,215)     (3,344)      (2,301)

                             --------   ----------    --------   ----------
          Net loss           (149,190)  (4,879,427)   (356,957)  (5,067,444)
      Preferred stock
       beneficial conversion
       feature                      -            -    (186,188)           -
                                  ---          ---    --------          ---
          Net loss
           attributable
           to common
           stockholders     $(149,190) $(4,879,427)  $(543,145) $(5,067,444)
                            =========  ===========   =========  ===========
  Net loss per common share
   (basic and diluted)         $(0.04)      $(1.93)     $(0.15)      $(2.76)
                               ======       ======      ======       ======
  Weighted average common
   shares outstanding
   (basic and diluted)      3,621,062    2,527,692   3,577,587    1,836,834
                            =========    =========   =========    =========
  -------------------------
  (1) Amounts related to share-based payment expense included in operating
      expenses were as follows:

  Satellite and transmission   $1,086       $1,331      $3,020       $2,887
  Programming and content       3,037        3,529       7,418        7,477
  Customer service and
   billing                        734          596       2,052        1,137
  Sales and marketing           2,722        3,672      10,081       11,376
  Subscriber acquisition
   costs                            -            -           -           14
  General and administrative    8,442       12,904      40,141       36,359
  Engineering, design and
   development                  1,653        1,973       4,841        4,167
                                -----        -----       -----        -----
  Total share-based payment
   expense                    $17,674      $24,005     $67,553      $63,417
                              =======      =======     =======      =======



                                                 September     December
                                                 30, 2009      31, 2008
   (in thousands, except share and               --------      ---------
   per share data)                              (Unaudited)
                         ASSETS
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                    $380,372      $380,446
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
     doubtful accounts of $9,872 and $10,860,
     respectively                                  87,148       102,024
    Receivables from distributors                  41,755        45,950
    Inventory, net                                 20,996        24,462
    Prepaid expenses                              107,350        67,203
    Related party current assets                  109,172       114,177
    Other current assets                           64,317        58,744
                                                   ------        ------
        Total current assets                      811,110       793,006
  Property and equipment, net                   1,694,235     1,703,476
  FCC licenses                                  2,083,654     2,083,654
  Restricted investments                            3,400       141,250
  Deferred financing fees, net                     35,889        40,156
  Intangible assets, net                          629,288       688,671
  Goodwill                                      1,834,856     1,834,856
  Related party long-term assets                  114,073       124,607
  Other long-term assets                           62,438        81,019
                                                   ------        ------
          Total assets                         $7,268,943    $7,490,695
                                               ==========    ==========
         LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses        $521,621      $642,820
    Accrued interest                               65,537        76,463
    Current portion of deferred revenue           987,177       985,180
    Current portion of deferred credit
     on executory contracts                       247,566       234,774
    Current maturities of long-term debt          103,674       399,726
    Related party current liabilities              90,869        68,373
                                                   ------        ------
          Total current liabilities             2,016,444     2,407,336
  Deferred revenue                                285,488       247,889
  Deferred credit on executory contracts          851,955     1,037,190
  Long-term debt                                2,874,391     2,851,740
  Long-term related party debt                    265,659             -
  Deferred tax liability                          906,428       894,453
  Related party long-term liabilities              21,928             -
  Other long-term liabilities                      39,005        43,550
                                                   ------        ------
          Total liabilities                     7,261,298     7,482,158
                                                ---------     ---------

  Commitments and contingencies
  Stockholders' equity:
    Preferred stock, par value $0.001;
     50,000,000 authorized at September 30,
     2009 and December 31, 2008:
       Series A convertible preferred stock
        (liquidation preference of $51,370
        at September 30, 2009 and December
        31, 2008); 24,808,959 shares issued
        and outstanding at September 30, 2009
        and December 31, 2008                          25            25
       Convertible perpetual preferred stock,
        series B (liquidation preference of
        $13 and $0 at September 30, 2009 and
        December 31, 2008, respectively);
        12,500,000 and zero shares issued
        and outstanding at September 30, 2009
        and December 31, 2008, respectively            13             -
       Convertible preferred stock, series C
        junior; no shares issued and outstanding
        at September 30, 2009 and
        December 31, 2008                               -             -
    Common stock, par value $0.001; 9,000,000,000
     and 8,000,000,000 shares authorized at
     September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008,
     respectively; 3,858,186,839 and
     3,651,765,837 shares issued and
     outstanding at September 30, 2009 and
     December 31, 2008, respectively                3,858         3,652
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     loss, net of tax                              (6,598)       (7,871)
    Additional paid-in capital                 10,265,752     9,724,991
    Accumulated deficit                       (10,255,405)   (9,712,260)
                                              -----------    ----------
          Total stockholders' equity                7,645         8,537
                                                    -----         -----
          Total liabilities and
           stockholders' equity                $7,268,943    $7,490,695
                                               ==========    ==========



                                               Unaudited For the Nine Months
                                                      Ended September 30,
                                                      -------------------
  (in thousands)                                       2009          2008
                                                       ----          ----
  Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net loss                                       $(356,957) $(5,067,444)
      Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
       net cash provided by (used in)
       operating activities:
          Depreciation and amortization                231,624      114,923
          Impairment of goodwill                             -    4,750,859
          Non-cash interest expense,
           net of amortization of premium               32,909       (1,933)
          Provision for doubtful accounts               23,879       11,125
          Amortization of deferred income
           related to equity method investment          (2,082)        (471)
          Loss on extinguishment of
           debt and credit facilities, net             263,767            -
          Restructuring, impairments and
           related costs                                26,954            -
          Loss on disposal of assets                         -        4,879
          Loss on investments                           10,967        3,089
          Share-based payment expense                   67,553       63,417
          Deferred income taxes                          3,344        2,301
          Other non-cash purchase
           price adjustments                          (142,487)     (23,770)
          Other                                              -        1,643
          Changes in operating assets
           and liabilities:
              Accounts receivable                       (9,002)       1,575
              Inventory                                  3,466        2,952
              Receivables from distributors              4,195        9,595
              Related party assets                      15,539       (1,357)
              Prepaid expenses and other
               current assets                           30,188        3,528
              Other long-term assets                    64,034       37,110
              Accounts payable and accrued expenses    (68,135)    (122,969)
              Accrued interest                          (6,600)      (2,810)
              Deferred revenue                          11,569       (4,577)
              Related party liabilities                 44,424        3,315
              Other long-term liabilities                3,958       (1,972)
                                                         -----       ------
                      Net cash provided by (used in)
                       operating activities            253,107     (216,992)
                                                       -------     --------

  Cash flows from investing activities:
      Additions to property and equipment             (217,335)    (102,705)
      Sales of property and equipment                        -          105
      Purchases of restricted and
       other investments                                     -       (3,000)
      Acquisition of acquired entity cash                    -      819,521
      Merger related costs                                   -      (13,047)
      Sale of restricted and other investments               -       65,642
                                                           ---       ------
                      Net cash (used in) provided by
                       investing activities           (217,335)     766,516
                                                      --------      -------


  Cash flows from financing activities:
      Proceeds from exercise of warrants
       and stock options                                     -          471
      Preferred stock issuance costs, net               (3,712)           -
      Long-term borrowings, net                        579,936      533,941
      Related party long-term borrowings, net          364,964            -
      Short-term financings                              2,220            -
      Payment of premiums on redemption of debt        (17,075)     (18,693)
      Payments to minority interest holder                   -      (61,880)
      Repayment of long-term borrowings               (610,932)  (1,082,428)
      Repayment of related party long-term
       borrowings                                     (351,247)           -
      Other                                                  -          (98)
                                                           ---          ---
                      Net cash used in
                       financing activities            (35,846)    (628,687)
                                                       -------     --------
  Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                (74)     (79,163)
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     380,446      438,820
                                                       -------      -------
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period          $380,372     $359,657
                                                      ========     ========



  FOOTNOTES TO PRESS RELEASE AND TABLES FOR NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

  (1)  Average self-pay monthly churn represents the monthly average of
       self-pay deactivations by the quarter divided by the average self-pay
       subscriber balance for the quarter.

  (2)  We measure the percentage of subscribers that receive our service and
       convert to self-paying after the initial promotion period. We refer
       to this as the "conversion rate." At the time of sale, vehicle owners
       generally receive between three and twelve month prepaid trial
       subscriptions and we receive a subscription fee from the OEM.
       Promotional periods generally include the period of trial service
       plus 30 days to handle the receipt and processing of payments. We
       measure conversion rate three months after the period in which the
       trial service ends. Based on our experience it may take up to 90 days
       after the trial service ends for subscribers to respond to our
       marketing communications and become self-paying subscribers.

  (3)  ARPU is derived from total earned subscriber revenue and net
       advertising revenue, divided by the number of months in the period,
       divided by the daily weighted average number of subscribers for the
       period. ARPU is calculated as follows (in thousands, except for per
       subscriber amounts):

                                        Unaudited Pro Forma
                              ----------------------------------------
                              Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                September 30,           September 30,
                               ---------------        ----------------
                               2009       2008        2009        2008
                               ----       ----        ----        ----

  Subscriber revenue        $587,442    $572,355  $1,740,477  $1,669,700
  Net advertising revenue     12,418      17,867      37,287      54,156
                              ------      ------      ------      ------
    Total subscriber and net
     advertising revenue    $599,860    $590,222  $1,777,764  $1,723,856
                            ========    ========  ==========  ==========

  Daily weighted average
   number of subscribers  18,393,678  18,710,940  18,514,041  18,187,927
  ARPU                        $10.87      $10.51      $10.67      $10.53


  (4)  SAC, as adjusted, per gross subscriber addition is derived from
       subscriber acquisition costs and margins from the direct sale of
       radios and accessories, excluding share-based payment expense divided
       by the number of gross subscriber additions for the period. SAC, as
       adjusted, per gross subscriber addition is calculated as follows (in
       thousands, except for per subscriber amounts):

                                          Unaudited Pro Forma
                                --------------------------------------
                                Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                   September 30,        September 30,
                                  ---------------      ---------------
                                  2009       2008      2009       2008
                                  ----       ----      ----       ----

  Subscriber acquisition cost   $109,384  $132,477  $274,082   $444,410
  Less: share-based payment
   expense granted to third
   parties and employees               -         -         -        (14)
  Less/Add: margin from direct
   sales of radios and
   accessories                     1,438     3,323    (3,355)     9,333
                                   -----     -----    ------      -----
  SAC, as adjusted              $110,822  $135,800  $270,727   $453,729
                                ========  ========  ========   ========

  Gross subscriber additions   1,606,446 1,843,785 4,325,532  5,997,096
  SAC, as adjusted, per gross
   subscriber addition               $69       $74       $63        $76


  (5)  Customer service and billing expenses, as adjusted, per average
       subscriber is derived from total customer service and billing
       expenses, excluding share-based payment expense, divided by the
       number of months in the period, divided by the daily weighted average
       number of subscribers for the period. Customer service and billing
       expenses, as adjusted, per average subscriber is calculated as
       follows (in thousands, except for per subscriber amounts):

                                      Unaudited Pro Forma
                            ------------------------------------------
                            Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                               September 30,           September 30,
                             ----------------        ----------------
                             2009        2008        2009        2008
                             ----        ----        ----        ----
  Customer service and
   billing expenses        $56,644     $59,786    $175,928    $180,270
  Less: share-based
   payment expense            (849)       (929)     (2,411)     (3,111)
                              ----        ----      ------      ------
  Customer service and
   billing expenses, as
   adjusted                $55,795     $58,857    $173,517    $177,159
                           =======     =======    ========    ========

  Daily weighted
   average number of
   subscribers          18,393,678  18,710,940  18,514,041  18,187,927
  Customer service and
   billing expenses, as
   adjusted, per average
   subscriber                $1.01       $1.05       $1.04       $1.08


  (6)  Free cash flow is calculated as follows:

                                         Unaudited Pro Forma
                               --------------------------------------
                               Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                 September 30,        September 30,
                                ---------------      ---------------
  (in thousands)                2009       2008      2009       2008
                                ----       ----      ----       ----

  Net cash provided by
   (used in) operating
   activities                 $116,248  $(101,983) $253,107  $(468,078)
  Additions to property and
   equipment                   (89,524)   (32,403) (217,335)  (133,548)
  Merger related costs               -      1,796         -    (13,047)
  Restricted and other
   investment activity               -     34,996         -     37,025
                                   ---     ------       ---     ------
  Free cash flow               $26,724   $(97,594)  $35,772  $(577,648)
                               =======   ========   =======  =========


  (7)  Average self-pay monthly churn; conversion rate; ARPU; SAC, as
       adjusted, per gross subscriber addition; customer service and billing
       expenses, as adjusted, per average subscriber; and free cash flow are
       not measures of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted
       accounting principles ("GAAP"). We believe these non-GAAP financial
       measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our
       operating performance and are used by us for budgetary and planning
       purposes; when publicly providing our business outlook; as a means to
       evaluate period-to-period comparisons; and to compare our performance
       to that of our competitors. We also believe that investors also use
       our current and projected metrics to monitor the performance of our
       business and to make investment decisions.

       We believe the exclusion of share-based payment expense in our
       calculations of SAC, as adjusted, per gross subscriber addition and
       customer service and billing expenses, as adjusted, per average
       subscriber is useful given the significant variation in expense that
       can result from changes in the fair market value of our common stock,
       the effect of which is unrelated to the operational conditions that
       give rise to variations in the components of our subscriber
       acquisition costs and customer service and billing expenses.
       Specifically, the exclusion of share-based payment expense in our
       calculation of SAC, as adjusted, per gross subscriber addition is
       critical in being able to understand the economic impact of the
       direct costs incurred to acquire a subscriber and the effect over
       time as economies of scale are reached.

       These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in
       conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. These
       non-GAAP financial measures may be susceptible to varying
       calculations; may not be comparable to other similarly titled
       measures of other companies; and should not be considered in
       isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to measures of financial
       performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

  (8)  We refer to net loss before interest and investment income, interest
       expense net of amounts capitalized, income tax expense, loss from
       redemption of debt, loss on investments, other expense (income),
       restructuring and related cost, depreciation and amortization, and
       share related payment expense as adjusted income (loss) from
       operations. Adjusted income (loss) from operations is not a measure
       of financial performance under U.S. GAAP. We believe adjusted income
       (loss) from operations is a useful measure of our operating
       performance. We use adjusted income (loss) from operations for
       budgetary and planning purposes; to assess the relative profitability
       and on-going performance of our consolidated operations; to compare
       our performance from period-to-period; and to compare our performance
       to that of our competitors. We also believe adjusted income (loss)
       from operations is useful to investors to compare our operating
       performance to the performance of other communications, entertainment
       and media companies. We believe that investors use current and
       projected adjusted income (loss) from operations to estimate our
       current or prospective enterprise value and to make investment
       decisions.

       Because we fund and build-out our satellite radio system through the
       periodic raising and expenditure of large amounts of capital, our
       results of operations reflect significant charges for interest and
       depreciation expense. We believe adjusted income (loss) from
       operations provides useful information about the operating
       performance of our business apart from the costs associated with our
       capital structure and physical plant. The exclusion of interest and
       depreciation and amortization expense is useful given fluctuations in
       interest rates and significant variation in depreciation and
       amortization expense that can result from the amount and timing of
       capital expenditures and potential variations in estimated useful
       lives, all of which can vary widely across different industries or
       among companies within the same industry. We believe the exclusion of
       taxes is appropriate for comparability purposes as the tax positions
       of companies can vary because of their differing abilities to take
       advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the
       various jurisdictions in which they operate. We believe the exclusion
       of restructuring and related costs is useful given the non-recurring
       nature of these transactions. We also believe the exclusion of share-
       based payment expense is useful given the significant variation in
       expense that can result from changes in the fair market value of our
       common stock. To compensate for the exclusion of taxes, other income
       (expense), depreciation and amortization and share-based payment
       expense, we separately measure and budget for these items.

       There are material limitations associated with the use of adjusted
       income (loss) from operations in evaluating our company compared with
       net loss, which reflects overall financial performance, including the
       effects of taxes, other income (expense), depreciation and
       amortization, restructuring and related costs, and share-based
       payment expense. We use adjusted income (loss) from operations to
       supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of
       the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results
       alone. Investors that wish to compare and evaluate our operating
       results after giving effect for these costs, should refer to net loss
       as disclosed in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
       operations. Since adjusted income (loss) from operations is a non-
       GAAP financial measure, our calculation of adjusted income (loss)
       from operations may be susceptible to varying calculations; may not
       be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies;
       and should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or
       superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance
       with GAAP.

       The reconciliation of the pro forma unadjusted net loss to the pro
       forma adjusted income (loss) from operations is calculated as follows
       (see footnotes for reconciliation of the pro forma amounts to their
       respective GAAP amounts):

                                           Unaudited Pro Forma
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                    September 30,         September 30,
                                   ---------------      ---------------
  (in thousands)                   2009       2008      2009       2008
                                   ----       ----      ----       ----
  Reconciliation of Net loss to
   Adjusted income (loss) from
   operations:
      Net loss                 $(181,935) $(217,010) $(416,090) $(653,867)
  Add back Net loss items
   excluded from Adjusted
   income (loss) from
   operations:
      Interest and investment
       income                       (962)    (5,534)    (2,602)   (12,180)
      Interest expense, net
       of amounts capitalized     81,707     70,153    254,677    164,380
      Income tax expense           1,115      1,723      3,344      3,813
      Loss on extinguishment
       of debt and
       facilities, net           138,053          -    263,767          -
      Loss (gain) on investments      58      7,549       (457)    16,099
      Other (income) expense      (1,246)     4,918     (2,505)    10,478
                                  ------      -----     ------     ------
        Income (loss)
         from operations          36,790   (138,201)   100,134   (471,277)
      Restructuring, impairments
       and related costs           2,554      7,430     30,167      7,457
      Depreciation and
       amortization               47,997     64,111    145,596    196,051
      Share-based payment expense 18,799     29,809     71,301     99,673
                                  ------     ------     ------     ------
  Adjusted income (loss)
   from operations              $106,140   $(36,851)  $347,198  $(168,096)
                                ========   ========   ========  =========


       There are material limitations associated with the use of a pro forma
       unadjusted results of operations in evaluating our company compared
       with our GAAP results of operations, which reflects overall financial
       performance. We use pro forma unadjusted results of operations to
       supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of
       the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results
       alone. Investors that wish to compare and evaluate our operating
       results after giving effect for these costs, should refer to results
       of operations as disclosed in our unaudited condensed consolidated
       statements of operations. Since pro forma unadjusted results of
       operations is a non-GAAP financial measure, our calculations may not
       be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies;
       and should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or
       superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance
       with GAAP.

  (9)  The following tables reconcile our GAAP results of operations to our
       non-GAAP pro forma unadjusted results of operations (in thousands):

                                    Unaudited For the Three Months Ended
                                             September 30, 2009
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                                        Allocation
                                                          of
                                            Purchase     Share-
                                              Price      based
                                   As      Accounting   Payment       Pro
                                 Reported  Adjustments   Expense     Forma
                                 --------  -----------  --------     -----
  Revenue:
      Subscriber revenue,
       including effects of
       rebates                   $578,304       $9,138        $-   $587,442
      Advertising revenue,
       net of agency fees          12,418            -         -     12,418
      Equipment revenue            10,506            -         -     10,506
      Other revenue                17,428        1,813         -     19,241
                                   ------        -----       ---     ------
  Total revenue                   618,656       10,951         -    629,607
  Operating expenses
   (excludes depreciation
   and amortization shown
   separately below) (1)
      Cost of services:
          Satellite and
           transmission            19,542          331    (1,197)    18,676
          Programming
           and content             78,315       18,117    (3,202)    93,230
          Revenue share
           and royalties          100,558       22,973         -    123,531
          Customer service and
           billing                 56,529          115      (849)    55,795
          Cost of equipment        11,944            -         -     11,944
      Sales and marketing          52,530        3,155    (2,858)    52,827
      Subscriber acquisition
       costs                       90,054       19,330         -    109,384
      General and administrative   56,923          374    (8,816)    48,481
      Engineering, design and
       development                 11,252          224    (1,877)     9,599
      Depreciation and
       amortization                72,100      (24,103)        -     47,997
      Share-based payment expense       -            -    18,799     18,799
      Restructuring, impairments
       and related costs            2,554            -         -      2,554
                                    -----          ---       ---      -----
  Total operating expenses        552,301       40,516         -    592,817
                                  -------       ------       ---    -------
      Income (loss) from
       operations                  66,355      (29,565)        -     36,790
  Other income (expense)
      Interest and investment
       income                         962            -         -        962
      Interest expense, net
       of amounts capitalized     (78,527)      (3,180)        -    (81,707)
      Loss on extinguishment of
       debt and facilities, net  (138,053)           -         -   (138,053)
      Loss on investments             (58)           -         -        (58)
      Other income                  1,246            -         -      1,246
                                    -----          ---       ---      -----
  Total other expense            (214,430)      (3,180)        -   (217,610)
                                 --------       ------       ---   --------
      Loss before income taxes   (148,075)     (32,745)        -   (180,820)
      Income tax expense           (1,115)           -         -     (1,115)
                                   ------          ---       ---     ------
          Net loss              $(149,190)    $(32,745)       $-  $(181,935)
                                =========     ========       ===  =========

  (1) Amounts related to share-based payment expense included in operating
      expenses were as follows:

  Satellite and transmission       $1,086         $111        $-     $1,197
  Programming and content           3,037          165         -      3,202
  Customer service and billing        734          115         -        849
  Sales and marketing               2,722          136         -      2,858
  Subscriber acquisition costs          -            -         -          -
  General and administrative        8,442          374         -      8,816
  Engineering, design and
   development                      1,653          224         -      1,877
                                    -----          ---       ---      -----
  Total share-based payment
   expense                        $17,674       $1,125        $-    $18,799
                                  =======       ======       ===    =======



                               Unaudited For the Three Months Ended
                                         September 30, 2008
                         ------------------------------------------------
                                               Purchase  Allocation
                                                 Price      of
                                  Predecessor  Accounting  Share-
                                   Financial    Adjust-    based
                            As      Inform-      ments    Payment    Pro
                         Reported    ation        (a)     Expense   Forma
                         --------    -----       -----    -------   -----
  Revenue:
      Subscriber revenue,
       including effects
       of rebates        $458,237   $95,684     $18,434       $-   $572,355
      Advertising
       revenue, net of
       agency fees         14,674     3,193           -        -     17,867
      Equipment revenue    11,271     1,585           -        -     12,856
      Other revenue         4,261     4,242       1,195        -      9,698
                            -----     -----       -----      ---      -----
  Total revenue           488,443   104,704      19,629        -    612,776
  Operating expenses
   (excludes depreciation
   and amortization
   shown separately
   below) (1)
      Cost of services:
          Satellite and
           transmission    19,526     6,644         638   (1,672)    25,136
          Programming
           and content    106,037    15,991      13,912   (4,310)   131,630
          Revenue share
           and royalties   85,592    24,198      11,010        -    120,800
          Customer
           service and
           billing         47,432    12,249         105     (929)    58,857
          Cost of
           equipment       13,773     2,406           -        -     16,179
      Sales and marketing  63,637    17,268       2,081   (4,808)    78,178
      Subscriber
       acquisition costs   86,616    33,366      12,495        -    132,477
      General and
       administrative      57,310    33,209         777  (15,315)    75,981
      Engineering,
       design and
       development         10,434     2,611         119   (2,775)    10,389
      Impairment
       of goodwill      4,750,859         -  (4,750,859)       -          -
      Depreciation and
       amortization        66,774    10,828     (13,491)       -     64,111
      Restructuring,
       impairments and
       related costs        7,430         -           -        -      7,430
      Share-based
       payment expense          -         -           -   29,809     29,809
                              ---       ---         ---   ------     ------
  Total operating
   expenses             5,315,420   158,770  (4,723,213)       -    750,977
                        ---------   -------  ----------      ---    -------
      Loss from
       operations      (4,826,977)  (54,066)  4,742,842        -   (138,201)
  Other income (expense)
      Interest and
       investment
       income               4,940       594           -        -      5,534
      Interest expense,
       net of amounts
       capitalized        (49,216)  (14,130)     (6,807)       -    (70,153)
      Loss on
       extinguishment of
       debt and
       facilities, net          -         -           -        -          -
      Loss on investments  (3,089)   (4,460)          -        -     (7,549)
      Other expense        (3,870)   (1,048)          -        -     (4,918)
                           ------    ------         ---      ---     ------
  Total other expense     (51,235)  (19,044)     (6,807)       -    (77,086)
                          -------   -------      ------      ---    -------
      Loss before
       income taxes    (4,878,212)  (73,110)  4,736,035        -   (215,287)
      Income tax
       expense             (1,215)     (508)          -        -     (1,723)
                           ------      ----         ---      ---     ------
          Net loss    $(4,879,427) $(73,618) $4,736,035       $-  $(217,010)
                      ===========  ========  ==========      ===  =========

  (1) Amounts related to share-based payment expense included in operating
      expenses were as follows:

  Satellite and
   transmission            $1,331      $305         $36       $-     $1,672
  Programming and content   3,529       586         195        -      4,310
  Customer service and
   billing                    596       228         105        -        929
  Sales and marketing       3,672       770         366        -      4,808
  Subscriber acquisition
   costs                        -         -           -        -          -
  General and
   administrative          12,904     1,634         777        -     15,315
  Engineering, design and
   development              1,973       510         292        -      2,775
                            -----       ---         ---      ---      -----
  Total share-based
   payment expense        $24,005    $4,033      $1,771       $-    $29,809
                          =======    ======      ======      ===    =======

  ------------------------------
  (a) Includes impairment of goodwill.



                                  Unaudited For the Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30, 2009
                                ----------------------------------------
                                                     Allocation
                                                         of
                                           Purchase    Share-
                                             Price      based
                                   As      Accounting  Payment     Pro
                                Reported  Adjustments  Expense    Forma
                                --------  -----------  -------    -----
  Revenue:
      Subscriber revenue,
       including effects of
       rebates                 $1,699,455   $41,022       $-  $1,740,477
      Advertising revenue,
       net of agency fees          37,287         -        -      37,287
      Equipment revenue            31,343         -        -      31,343
      Other revenue                28,379     5,438        -      33,817
                                   ------     -----      ---      ------
  Total revenue                 1,796,464    46,460        -   1,842,924
  Operating expenses (excludes
   depreciation and
   amortization shown
   separately below) (1)
      Cost of services:
          Satellite and
           transmission            59,435     1,013   (3,371)     57,077
          Programming and
           content                230,825    54,708   (7,919)    277,614
          Revenue share and
           royalties              296,855    65,608        -     362,463
          Customer service and
           billing                175,570       358   (2,411)    173,517
          Cost of equipment        27,988         -        -      27,988
      Sales and marketing         152,647     9,986  (10,594)    152,039
      Subscriber acquisition
       costs                      230,773    43,309        -     274,082
      General and administrative  182,953     1,252  (41,393)    142,812
      Engineering, design and
       development                 32,975       772   (5,613)     28,134
      Depreciation and
       amortization               231,624   (86,028)       -     145,596
      Share-based payment
       expense                          -         -   71,301      71,301
      Restructuring, impairments
       and related costs           30,167         -        -      30,167
                                   ------       ---      ---      ------
  Total operating expenses      1,651,812    90,978        -   1,742,790
                                ---------    ------      ---   ---------
      Income (loss) from
       operations                 144,652   (44,518)       -     100,134
  Other income (expense)
      Interest and
       investment income            2,602         -        -       2,602
      Interest expense, net
       of amounts capitalized    (240,062)  (14,615)       -    (254,677)
      Loss on extinguishment of
       debt and facilities, net  (263,767)        -        -    (263,767)
      Gain on investments             457         -        -         457
      Other income                  2,505         -        -       2,505
                                    -----       ---      ---       -----
  Total other expense            (498,265)  (14,615)       -    (512,880)
                                 --------   -------      ---    --------
      Loss before income taxes   (353,613)  (59,133)       -    (412,746)
      Income tax expense           (3,344)        -        -      (3,344)
                                   ------       ---      ---      ------
          Net loss              $(356,957) $(59,133)      $-   $(416,090)
                                =========  ========      ===   =========

  (1) Amounts related to share-based payment expense included in operating
      expenses were as follows:

  Satellite and transmission       $3,020      $351       $-      $3,371
  Programming and content           7,418       501        -       7,919
  Customer service and billing      2,052       359        -       2,411
  Sales and marketing              10,081       513        -      10,594
  Subscriber acquisition costs          -         -        -           -
  General and administrative       40,141     1,252        -      41,393
  Engineering, design and
   development                      4,841       772        -       5,613
                                    -----       ---      ---       -----
  Total share-based
   payment expense                $67,553    $3,748       $-     $71,301
                                  =======    ======      ===     =======



                            Unaudited For the Nine Months Ended
                                   September 30, 2008
                      ---------------------------------------------------
                                             Purchase    Allocation
                                              Price         of
                                Predecessor Accounting    Share-
                                 Financial    Adjust-      based
                        As        Inform-      ments      Payment    Pro
                      Reported     ation        (a)       Expense   Forma
                      --------     -----       -----      -------   -----
  Revenue:
      Subscriber
       revenue,
       including
       effects of
       rebates         $980,396   $670,870     $18,434       $-  $1,669,700
      Advertising
       revenue,
       net of
       agency fees       31,413     22,743           -        -      54,156
      Equipment revenue  25,290     13,397           -        -      38,687
      Other revenue       4,710     24,184       1,195        -      30,089
                          -----     ------       -----      ---      ------
  Total revenue       1,041,809    731,194      19,629        -   1,792,632
  Operating expenses
   (excludes
   depreciation and
   amortization
   shown separately
   below) (1)
      Cost of services:
          Satellite and
           transmission  34,800     46,566         638   (5,668)     76,336
          Programming
           and content  222,975    117,156      13,912  (12,621)    341,422
          Revenue
           share and
           royalties    177,635    166,606      11,010        -     355,251
          Customer
           service and
           billing       97,218     82,947         105   (3,111)    177,159
          Cost of
           equipment     28,007     20,013           -        -      48,020
      Sales and
       marketing        151,237    126,054       2,081  (18,789)    260,583
      Subscriber
       acquisition
       costs            257,832    174,083      12,495      (14)    444,396
      General and
       administrative   148,555    116,444         777  (50,336)    215,440
      Engineering,
       design and
       development       28,091     23,045         119   (9,134)     42,121
      Impairment
       of goodwill    4,750,859          -  (4,750,859)       -           -
      Depreciation and
       amortization     120,793     88,749     (13,491)       -     196,051
      Restructuring,
       impairments and
       related costs      7,457          -           -        -       7,457
      Share-based
       payment expense        -          -           -   99,673      99,673
                            ---        ---         ---   ------      ------
  Total operating
   expenses           6,025,459    961,663  (4,723,213)       -   2,263,909
                      ---------    -------  ----------      ---   ---------
      Loss from
       operations    (4,983,650)  (230,469)  4,742,842        -    (471,277)
  Other income
   (expense)
      Interest and
       investment
       income             9,167      3,013           -        -      12,180
      Interest
       expense, net
       of amounts
       capitalized      (83,636)   (73,937)     (6,807)       -    (164,380)
      Loss on
       extinguishment
       of debt and
       facilities, net        -          -           -        -           -
      Loss on
       investments       (3,089)   (13,010)          -        -     (16,099)
      Other expense      (3,935)    (6,543)          -        -     (10,478)
                         ------     ------         ---      ---     -------
  Total other expense   (81,493)   (90,477)     (6,807)       -    (178,777)
                        -------    -------      ------      ---    --------
      Loss before
       income taxes  (5,065,143)  (320,946)  4,736,035        -    (650,054)
      Income tax
       expense           (2,301)    (1,512)          -        -      (3,813)
                         ------     ------         ---      ---      ------
          Net loss  $(5,067,444) $(322,458) $4,736,035       $-   $(653,867)
                    ===========  =========  ==========      ===   =========

  (1) Amounts related to share-based payment expense included in operating
      expenses were as follows:

  Satellite and
   transmission          $2,887     $2,745         $36       $-      $5,668
  Programming
   and content            7,477      4,949         195        -      12,621
  Customer service and
   billing                1,137      1,869         105        -       3,111
  Sales and marketing    11,376      7,047         366        -      18,789
  Subscriber acquisition
   costs                     14          -           -        -          14
  General and
   administrative        36,359     13,200         777        -      50,336
  Engineering, design
   and development        4,167      4,675         292        -       9,134
                          -----      -----         ---      ---       -----
  Total share-based
   payment expense      $63,417    $34,485      $1,771       $-     $99,673
                        =======    =======      ======      ===     =======

  ------------------------------
  (a) Includes impairment of goodwill.



  (10) The following table reconciles our GAAP Net loss per common share
       (basic and diluted) to our non-GAAP Net loss per common share (basic
       and diluted) excluding the following charges: (a) preferred stock
       beneficial conversion feature, (b) loss on extinguishment of debt and
       credit facilities, net, and (c) loss on impairment of goodwill.

                                                  Unaudited
                                  -----------------------------------------
                                  Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                                      September 30,           September 30,
  (per share data includes        ------------------      -----------------
   basic and diluted)             2009          2008      2009         2008
                                  ----          ----      ----         ----

  Net loss per common share      $(0.04)      $(1.93)   $(0.15)      $(2.76)
  Less: Preferred stock
   beneficial conversion feature      -            -     (0.05)           -
                                    ---          ---     -----          ---
  Net loss per common share
   excluding preferred stock
   beneficial conversion
   feature                        (0.04)       (1.93)    (0.10)       (2.76)
  Less: Loss on extinguishment
   of debt and credit
   facilities, net                (0.04)           -     (0.07)           -
                                  -----          ---     -----          ---
  Net loss per common share
   excluding loss on
   extinguishment of debt
   and credit facilities,
   net and preferred stock
   beneficial conversion
   feature                        (0.00)       (1.93)    (0.03)       (2.76)
  Less: Impairment of goodwill        -        (1.88)        -        (2.59)
                                    ---        -----       ---        -----
  Net loss per common share,
   excluding charges             $(0.00)      $(0.05)   $(0.03)      $(0.17)
                                 ======       ======    ======       ======

Sirius XM holiday music lineup released: Holly returns

2009-11-04T23:18:16Z

Your favorite holiday music on satellite radio is returning once again this year, including the fan-favorite Holly channel among others that will offer listeners the perfect soundtrack to any holiday party.

Sirius XM will showcase traditional holiday songs, classical Christmas carols, Hanukkah music, country Christmas hits and contemporary festive music - and it's all starting November 16th.
The Sirius XM Radio holiday channel lineup features:

Holly (Sirius channel 3 and XM channel 23) will feature contemporary holiday music as well as traditional favorites, including songs by John Mayer, Colbie Caillat, Josh Groban and Michael Buble.

Holly will run from Monday, November 16th through Thursday, December 31st
Holiday Traditions (Sirius channel 4 and XM channel 4) will feature traditional holiday recordings from the '40s through the '60s by artists such as Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Ray Conniff and Nat "King" Cole.

Holiday Traditions will run from Monday, November 16th through Friday, December 25th
Holiday Pops (Sirius channel 79 and XM channel 77) will feature classical Christmas carols sung by the greatest classical musicians of all-time, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Luciano Pavarotti, Boston Pops and Leontyne Price.

Holiday Pops will run from Monday, December 7th through Friday, December 25th
Country Christmas (Sirius channel 62 and XM channel 10) will feature a wide-ranging assortment of country Christmas music, including Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood and Kenny Rogers.

Country Christmas will run from Monday, December 7th through Friday, December 25th
Radio Hanukkah (Sirius channel 76 and XM channel 28) will feature an extensive collection of Hanukkah music and special segments celebrating Jewish culture, including Jewish community leaders, prominent artists and various celebrities sharing personal stories and memories about the holiday season.

Radio Hanukkah will also feature a live broadcast of the lighting of the National Menorah on the Ellipse in front of the White House.

Radio Hanukkah will run from Monday, December 7th through Saturday, December 19th

All the holiday channels will also be available online at on Sirius Internet Radio and XM Radio Online.

Thanks David!

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Satellite Radio

2009-11-02T23:08:12Z

Satellite radio is without a doubt one of the most cost effective forms of entertainment on the market today.

Think for a minute about the amount of content that Sirius XM Radio makes available to consumers and the price that they are providing it at. It's pretty hard to find any other form of entertainment that can even come close to satellite radio when it comes to getting the most "bang for your buck."

But the amount of features packed into these radios can sometimes be confusing for consumers looking to buy a satellite radio. Have you ever bought a new device only to find out that you could have purchased something that did a lot more for only a few more dollars? I think we all have.

It's with that in mind that I've put together this "Ultimate Guide to Buying a Satellite Radio" to help sort though the confusion.

As new satellite radios come out, I will continuously update this article to provide and maintain a consistent point of reference for anyone looking to buy the best satellite radio receiver possible.

The Best Satellite Radio

But first, we need to cover one thing: there really is no such thing as the "best" satellite radio.

Satellite radio receivers have a variety of different functions and options because each one meets the different needs of a different kind of user. So the best satellite radio receiver really only has to do with what meets your needs as a consumer.

There's nothing more irritating than to read on message boards or radio reviews that one receiver is "the best" over another. It doesn't work that way - the decision is ultimately up to you and what suits you based on budget, features, usage, etc.

As such, I've split this guide into three different types of users - The Power User, The Intermediate User and The Light User - and then created comparisons of different receivers within those tiers to help you find the satellite radio that suits you best.

So... let's begin!

The Power User

I think the best way to describe "power users" are folks who absolutely has to have satellite radio all day long. Most people listen to Sirius or XM in the car, with the occasional listening at work or at home. But "power users" will have needs beyond what the average listener wants. Power users will demand advanced features like extended recording, portable "on the go" listening, etc. And for this type of user, you really can't go wrong with either Sirius or XM's portable satellite radios.

Let's first start with Sirius...

Sirius Stiletto 2
The Sirius Stiletto 2 is a portable satellite radio that is great for all-day listening because it provides many versatile options. The Stiletto 2 has an internal satellite antenna plus antenna headphones for listening "on the go," as well as built-in WiFi and the ability to record up to 100 hours of recorded Sirius content right on the device.

The internal satellite radio antenna is meant to make it a truly portable receiver, but the antenna can be unreliable unless you live in a metropolitan area where there is a strong "terrestrial" signal (I'll explain all about that in another article). To help, Sirius has provided a set of antenna headphones to help get that signal - but remember you need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky for any satellite radio antenna to work.

If you are indoors and have access to WiFi, the Stiletto 2 has the ability to listen to Sirius through their online internet stream of channels (even if it's a secured network). I've found this particularly useful when the Stiletto 2 is paired with a boombox, so I don't need to run any additional wires.

The Stiletto 2 also has the ability to record and store live content as well as add MP3's from your personal digital audio library. And if there isn't enough memory for all of your MP3's, it had a built in micro SD card slot located behind the battery.

Now if your an XM fan...

XMP3
You'll definitely want to check out the XMP3 if you're a power user. It's also a small portable satellite radio (smaller than the Stiletto 2) with an internal satellite radio antenna, but has some pretty outstanding features.

My experience is that the built-in antenna of the XMP3 is by far the best-in-class antenna out there for portable "on the go" listening. You still need clear line of sight to the sky - or a strong terrestrial repeater signal - but the sensitivity of the XMP3's antenna is without a doubt the best you can get.

The XMP3 comes with it's own home kit but not a car kit (a car kit is available for purchase though). Unfortunately, the XMP3 does not have a built in WIFI antenna like the Stiletto 2, so keep that in mind.

Aside from the superior portable XM listening capability, the unique function of the XMP3 is that it can record up to 5 different channels while still listening to live radio. That's a lot of content in a short amount of time.

MP3's are easy to add to the device through the included USB cable and software that comes in the box, plus there's also the expandable micro SD memory card slot is built into the unit to help expand your library. And much like the Stiletto 2, the XMP3 has replay functions available with the unit allowing you to pause, rewind and fast forward up to live content.

The Intermediate User

"Intermediate Users" need to have the advanced functions such as pause/replay, but don't need to have the portable satellite radio functionality like the XMP3 or Stiletto 2. They're not your average listener, and as such they need a bit more than the average radio.

For the intermediate user I would suggest going with a plug and play satellite radio that has some replay functions as well as a lot of accessories available.

Sirius Sportster 5
For Sirius, the Sirius Sportster 5 is the right way to go. With it's full color screen, replay functions and sports ticker, it's the top of the line plug and play unit for Sirius today.

The color screen is also customizeable, so you can select the color that best matches your mood or the interior colors of your vehicle. The sports ticker also gives you live updates of your favorite sports team while still being able to be tuned into your favorite station.

If this is too much for you and all you want is the pause/replay functions and 30 presets, then I would suggest the Starmate 5. It has a small compact design that still carries all of the replay features of the larger plug and play radios. It's great if you are trying to stay cost effective too because the unit is also available to receive Sirius' A La Carte programming.

XpressRC
On the XM side, the dominating radio is definitely the XpressRC receiver. This plug and play boasts a full color screen with replay functions of up to 60 minutes as well as Multi Channel Viewing.

Multi-channel Viewing is a pretty unique feature that allows you to view the current channel and three other channels at the same time. The XpressRC also comes with a sports and stock ticker allowing you to get live updates of the game while keeping an eye on your investments all while listening to your favorite channel.

If this radio has a bit too much for you, you can take a step down to the XpressR. This radio has a split screen displaying option that allows you to listen to one channel and view six others. It also had up to 30 minutes of pause, rewind and fast forward functions as well as tune select, that helps you find your favorite songs when they are playing.

All plug and play units from both Sirius and XM come with car kits, but home kits and boomboxes are available for each model.

The Light User

Light users are generally consumers who listen to satellite radio in the car, and maybe sometimes at home or at work. But they don't really need the pause/replay functionality of their Intermediate brethren - and as such, they don't need to spend the price.

For the beginner or "Light User," there are several units available, all with great bang for your buck features.

XM SkyDock
The XM SkyDock is one of the newest satellite radios to hit the market, and it stradles the line between "Intermediate" and "Light" users. The great thing about the SkyDock is its simplicity - all you need is the dock and an antenna - and, of course, an iPhone or iPod Touch.

The XM SkyDock uses the iPhone/iPod Touch as the interface to the XM satellite radio technology (which is packed into the dock itself). As soon as you plug in and turn on the XM SkyDock App, you can listen to live satellite radio.

It doesn't have pause/replay functionality, which is why I've classified it under the "Light" user category (though, I should note, it's priced more like the Intermediate category). If/when Sirius XM Radio Inc. is able to include pause/replay functionality into the SkyDock app, then this radio might get reclassified.

XM onyX
XM also has a great simple radio called the XM onyX (which is essentially an upgraded replacement to the XpressEZ). With it's simple functions of storing 10 presets and displaying artist, song and channel, it is a great introductory radio.

The OnyX brings the added bonus of being "customizable" - in that you can change the display with different selectable colors and add on customizable "trim rings" to match your vehicle dash lights and interior.

One huge benefit to the XM onyX is that it features the new PowerConnect FM transmitter. This is an incredible upgrade to previous satellite radios in that sound quality - and simplicity of installation - has been immensly improved.

Stratus 5
And for you Sirius lovers out there, they also have a small and compact radio available called the Stratus 5. It also has the ability to store only 10 channel presets and displays artist, song and channel.

(Tip: the Stratus 6 is coming out soon, so hold off on a purchase if you can. The Stratus 6 will have a better FM transmitter and the ability to get A La Carte subscriptions).

Do you have one of these radios and would like to share your experience? Add your own review in the comments and help others like yourself buy the best satellite radio for their needs. Sound off below!

Chrysler gets free Sirius trial on Certified Pre-Owned vehicles

2009-10-30T14:05:55Z

Just like Acura, GM, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Volvo in the past; Chrysler is now the latest automaker to jump aboard offering a free satellite radio trial to Certified Pre-Owned vehicle owners.

The question now remains: where's Ford?

Chrysler customers in the U.S. will receive an introductory 3-month trial subscription of the "Sirius Everything" package when they purchase of any and all Sirius-equipped Chrysler Group LLC Certified Pre-owned Vehicles.

So that includes Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge.

Chrysler Group LLC will continue to offer satellite radio as a factory-installed feature on most new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold in the United States (including the 2010 Challenger in Plum Crazy, pictured above) each with a one-year subscription of Sirius included.

But with all these announcements of extending trial periods to satrad-equipped CPO vehicles, there's one obvious omission: Ford.

It can't be long before that announcement is made...

Opie & Anthony's "The Worst of Jocktober" airs this weekend

2009-10-30T09:29:34Z

This weekend, The Opie & Anthony Show is highlighting clips from terrestrial morning shows from all across the country... and ripping them to pieces.
Join Gregg "Opie" Hughes, Anthony Cumia, comedian Jim Norton, and show producers "Primetime" Sam Roberts and Erik "E-Rock" Nagel, as they make fun of the worst terrestrial radio jocks that litter our public airwaves.

You'll hear on-air male and female hosts that sound like they're married... but really aren't. Plus a plethora of forced laughter and hacky bits, all rolled up into a convenient "Worst of" episode. It's the perfect way to enjoy your Halloween weekend.

"The Worst of Jocktober" airs this Saturday and Sunday, 9am and 2pm ET, on The Virus (XM channel 202 and Sirius channel 197).

Lady Gaga takes over Sirius XM Radio this weekend

2009-10-30T00:18:16Z

Pop phenom Lady Gaga will spend an entire weekend hosting specials, sharing stories and playing her favorite music on Sirius XM Radio.

It's been one year since Lady Gaga's debut album The Fame hit the streets, becoming the most successful debut album this year, peaking at #4 on the Billboard 200 list and selling more than 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone. On Friday, October 30th, Lady Gaga will sit down with The Morning Mash Up to share details about her new album, The Fame Monster, her dating life, why she's not touring with Kanye West and her plans for Halloween.

On Halloween, Lady Gaga will host a special edition of the Sirius XM Hits 1 Weekend Countdown, during which, Lady Gaga will tell listeners about her love for Flo Rida, what she would like to do with Britney Spears and her upcoming project with Beyonce.

The "Lady Gaga Takeover" will continue with the singer hosting Hit-Bound, the weekly show showcasing the best new music from new and unsigned artists. Listeners will hear Lady Gaga play music by Leona Lewis, Cobra Starship, La Roux, Weezer, Jay-Z, Michael Jackson and more.

The "Lady Gaga Takeover" will kick off with The Morning Mash Up interview on Friday, October 30th at 7am ET on Sirius XM Hits 1 (Sirius channel 1) and XM's 20 on 20 (XM channel 20).

The "Hallo-Weekend Countdown with Lady Gaga " will air on Saturday, October 31st at 6am ET and the special Hit-Bound will air on Saturday, October 31st at 9am ET - also on Sirius Hits 1 and XM's 20 on 20 - with each of the specials to be replayed throughout the weekend.

Sirius XM giving away FREE satellite radio

2009-10-28T13:22:45Z

Well... free for 30-days at least. But it's definitely a taste at one of the longer free satellite radio trial periods yet.

We all know that trial drives purchase - forget all the celebrities and hype: hearing is truly believing - and I've always felt that the 3-day trial was never enough.

So now Sirius XM are giving away free satellite radio for 30 days of the premium online subscription in a "Hear. Now" promotion.
The 30-day trial is available on the PC, iPhone, iPod Touch and stand-alone connected devices. It rolls over to a full internet subscription after the 30-day free trial period, but for a full month you get a backstage pass.

[Check it out here]

XM SkyDock: The full in-depth review

2009-10-28T00:02:00Z

When I first had the chance to play with the XM SkyDock back in August, I boldly stated that Sirius XM Radio "hit the ball right out of the park" with this latest device. I was enamored with the concept of being able to combine my iPhone and a satellite radio in a single neat package.

That was then. The question is, does the sentiment still hold up?

This full in-depth review of the XM SkyDock satellite radio/iPhone dock comes to you after a week of hard testing to find out all the intricate details about it.

But, do I still feel the same about the SkyDock as I did two months ago?
In short, yes, I love it. But I have to caveat this by saying that the XM SkyDock may not be perfect for everyone. Read on (and please excuse the finger print smudges in the photos).

Installing the SkyDock
First impressions are always the most important, and the XM SkyDock is no exception. My first impression of the install was incredible. Out of literally dozens upon dozens of satellite radios that I've tested, this was the simpliest install I've ever done.

When the SkyDock showed up at my doorstep on my birthday (courtesy of Orbitcast's supporters TSS Radio) I was a little surprised. There are almost no wires in the box!

For anyone who has done a DIY satellite radio install, you feel my pain (and joy). In the box there's one wire for the satellite antenna, a small AUX wire that's not really necessary with their new PowerConnect FM transmitter (more on that in a minute), and a couple clips for fitting the dock to your iPhone. But that's pretty much it.

For the first time in a very long time, installing a satellite radio was simple again.

I do have one point of criticism though: the antenna wire supplied is significantly shorter than others I've encountered in the past. This required a bit more "creativity" when it came to routing the cord through my truck. But it also comes with the added benefit of not needing to hide the massive amounts of antenna cable that have been left over either, so some people will like this feature.

Using the SkyDock
What can I say? It's the best interface for a satellite radio yet. By separating the interface from the hardware, the SkyDock now benefits from Apple's touchscreen technology without any native hardware limitations.

Menus are easy to navigate, the touch sensitivity is accurate (it leaves a white mark to show you where you pressed - nice for eyes-on-road use), and a simple swipe of your finger lets you scroll through channel categories or individual channels with ease.

There's a couple glitches here and there - particularly when flipping from landscape to portrait modes (mine would get stuck). But it's nothing a simple software update can't solve, and definitely not a showstopper.

I also really like how responsive the SkyDock is. As soon as you are snapped in to the XM SkyDock and start the app - you immediately get audio. Other players like the Slacker App or Pandora have an annoyingly long start-up time, and as such I was surprised when the XM SkyDock fired up audio instantly.

Does the new FM Transmitter really work?
Without a question, it works great. The PowerConnect FM Transmitter is truly the best thing that Sirius XM could have developed.

Ever since mid-2006 when the FCC forced Sirius and XM to pull radios because of their super-strong FM transmitters, satellite radio has had issues with the do-it-yourself install. Now with the PowerConnect FM transmitter, the signal is sent through the vehicle's own electrical system surrounding the radio - making for an amazing signal.

Don't believe me? Give it a shot for yourself. I tested it in several vehicles, and had flawless performance for each one. Even if you buy the SkyDock and never activate the XM subscription, it kicks ass as an FM transmitter/iPhone charger.

iTunes Tagging
One of the newly introduced features for the XM SkyDock is the ability to tag a song for later purchase on Apple's iTunes. It's neat, sure, but not a big game changer in my opinion. Consider it a "nice to have" feature especially since you don't need to leave the device to purchase the song, but again, not a game changer.

The Verdict
Three words: simple, simple, simple. The SkyDock brings simplicity to satellite radio. If you are one of the millions who own an iPhone or iPod Touch and prefer a clean install, this is the radio for you.

There's is one drawback about the XM SkyDock that I think power-users would have an issue with: no timeshifting. If you've ever owned an XMP3, Stiletto 2 or any of the other dozens of satellite radios with pause/replay functionality - this is a feature that would be sorely missed.

But the tradeoff is simplicity. And for many people, that's where it counts. With the XM SkyDock it's just one device with multiple uses.

If you're a power-user who simply needs to take your satellite radio recordings with you, then stick with the XMP3 or Stiletto 2. If you like a clean and simple look, with the convenience and flexibilty of the iPhone interface - then check out the XM SkyDock.

Check out more photos below...

Special thanks to longtime Orbitcast supporters TSS Radio for providing the XM SkyDock for review. Please consider supporting them as they've supported us!

Rosie O'Donnell gets added to the satellite radio roster

2009-10-27T09:58:18Z

Celebrities are still getting signed by Sirius XM Radio Inc. - now the latest addition to the satellite radio ranks is Rosie O'Donnell with her new morning show Rosie Radio set to launch on November 2nd.
For two-hours every weekday, Rosie will host the live, call-in show covering topics like raising kids, losing weight, watching TV, finding inspirational people, and hearing Rosie's extraordinary stories.

Rosie will be joined on Rosie Radio regularly by some of her closest friends, including:

Lifelong friend Jeanne Kopetic who will stop by Tuesdays to reminisce about growing up in the '80s, high school life, and the music they love.
Janette Barber, Rosie's longtime friend, producer and fellow comedienne, will be by her side as the show's executive producer.
Rosie's friend and makeup artist Helene Macaulay will also join the fun, appearing regularly on Fridays.

"This is an exciting new adventure - two hours of talk show entertainment, without having to wear makeup. Perfection," said Rosie O'Donnell.

Rosie Radio will air Mondays through Fridays from 10am - 12pm ET on Sirius XM Stars (Sirius channel 102 and XM channel 155). Replays will air from 8 - 10pm ET, with a "Best of the Week" sprinkled in at various times on the weekend.

XM SkyDock selected as one of Apple's Staff Picks

2009-10-24T12:25:27Z

The newly released XM SkyDock was just recently selected as one of Apple's own Staff Picks on their website and is featured on the Apple Store homepage as a result.

I've been reviewing the SkyDock myself for a week now - look for Orbitcast's own in-depth review coming soon.

[Apple]
Thanks Gary!

"Halloween Radio" channel coming to Sirius XM

2009-10-19T19:52:09Z

It's the return of Halloween Radio! Much like we've seen in prior years, Sirius XM Radio Inc. have once again is launching their Halloween Radio channel (Sirius channel 126 and XM channel 120), starting on Monday, October 26th.
From October 26th to October 29th, Halloween Radio will air classic scary stories, Halloween music, man-on-the street thoughts, listener comments, stories and personal Halloween memories, and a special appearance by Rosie O'Donnell (whose satellite radio daily morning show premieres this fall).

The channel will also feature Halloween-themed segments including stories and memories from a variety of Sirius XM hosts like Martha Stewart, Cousin Brucie, Jane Pratt, Jay Thomas, Judith Regan, and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.

And then there's the catchy, creepy, fun, and scary sounds that will start airing on Halloween Radio beginning at 5pm October 30th, including creaking doors, wolves baying, footsteps, bubbling potions, a fog horn, breaking glass, the sounds of being chased through the woods, eerie screams, the echo of dripping water, a heartbeat and thunder. Halloween Radio is the perfect atmosphere for Halloween parties at work or at home and to set the mood for trick-or-treating.

Check out more Halloween goodness on Sirius' website, to sample Halloween Radio by playing with the spooky sounds in their interactive soundboard. (Also embedded below.)

Halloween Radio will start on October 26th at 10am ET, and run until November 1st at 6am ET.

Aerosmith's Joe Perry guest hosts on Classic Vinyl this Friday

2009-10-13T14:24:02Z

Legendary guitarist Joe Perry from Aerosmith will be guest hosting on Sirius XM Radio's Classic Vinyl channel (Sirius channel 14 and XM channel 46), this Friday, October 16th.

On Classic Vinyl's Guitar Legends with Joey Perry Perry will introduce the legendary guitar heroes of classic rock including, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend of The Who, Jimi Hendrix and more
Last Thursday, Joe Perry stopped by Classic Rewind (Sirius channel 15 and XM channel 49) to play music by Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and his own band, Aerosmith. This is all part of Perry hitting the road and promoting his new album, Have Guitar, Will Travel.

Classic Vinyl's Guitar Legends with Joey Perry will air on Friday, October 16th at 6pm; with encore broadcasts on Saturday, October 17th at 6pm and Sunday, October 18th at 6pm ET (all times Eastern) on Classic Vinyl.

(The video above is of Joe Perry talking about Aerosmith's latest tour, where they played Toys In The Attic from start to finish, and their plans to play other early albums in their entirety)

Bob Edwards celebrates 5 years on satellite radio

2009-10-13T10:33:20Z

It's been five-years since Bob Edwards has been hosting The Bob Edwards Show on XM Public Radio (and incidentally, Orbitcast is nearing its 5-year anniversary blogging about satellite radio... more on that soon). Since coming to satellite radio in October 2004, Edwards has received many journalism accolades including the ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award for Overall Excellence in Music Coverage, three Gabriel Awards, the National Press Club's Robert L. Kozic Award for Environmental Reporting, and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award.

Guests have run the gamut from Presidents to Nobel Prize winners, including Forest Whitaker; Ralph Nader, Mike Wallace, Bonnie Raitt; basketball coach Phil Jackson; President Jimmy Carter; actor Adrien Brody; singer Jennifer Hudson; and director Ron Howard.

The Bob Edwards Show features documentaries and interviews with newsmakers, political figures, journalists, writers, scholars, entertainers and anyone else with something interesting to say. The original morning program airs weekdays on XM Public Radio (XM channel 133 and Sirius channel 196 as part of "the Best of XM" package), at 8am ET, with encore presentations airing at 9am, 10am, 4pm, 8pm, 9pm and 10pm (all times ET).

Bob Edwards Weekend features highlights from throughout the week from the show in a 2-hour format and airs on Saturdays starting at 8am ET and Sundays starting at 11am ET.

Congrats Bob!