"Ted Koppel" wrote in message
...
I bought XM radio service just before Christmas (December 2003), so my
experience is not even a year long. However, in my case, getting XM
changed my radio listening habits around 98%.
The *only* time I have my radio on (regular) FM is Saturday mornings
at 10:00am for NPR's Car Talk. With that exception, my XM is always
in use. Once XM adds channel 133 in September (Public Radio stuff) I
may not even need to do that.
If you take n=100 meaning the time that I am listening to the XM
signal, I would guess about 40% of the time I am listening to XM talk
stations (usually CSPAN or the comedy channels, occasionally CNBC and
CNN, every now and then Fox). The remaining 60% is music, and that
varies based on my mood and the time of day.
Absolutely the #1 selling point for me was reception *everywhere*.
MountAINS OF Pennsylvania, coast of North Carolina, never any fadeouts
or other reception issues. (Well, I shouldn't say NEVER. On some
roads, like the Pa. TUrnpike where there are hills right next to the
road, the satellite can't see the antenna and I get occasional
dropout. But almost perfect, and far better than AM or FM.
Since PBS went commercial, I get more for my $10/month on XM than I
ever did with a membership to a public radio station.
--
Ted Koppel
For god's sake DONT tell the NAB about that! They are still running around
telling everyone that satellite radio is just a fad, its going away and cant
succeed. Meanwhile, back at the IBOC ranch they are STILL trying to get it
to work and sound good. Plans to destroy the AM broadcast dial is still in
the works. This is the NAB's answer to a fad that wont be around smile
Meanwhile....XM, Siruis and Worldspace continue to get new customers. More
and more channels get added, the choice gets better. Car units, home
units,Computer units. Around the corner are "Walkman" style radios, armband
holders for XM's Roadie. It will be easy to listen to satellite radio
everywhere.
Here is whats going away....Multipath distortion,commercials,stupid
DJ's,commercials,stale traffic reports,commercials,dumb contests,
commercials and did I mention commercials?
EAT **** NAB!!!! hear the driving public, were tired of your manhandling of
the radio offerings. The satellite providers are giving us what we want.
Programming, news,talk,traffic,weather,comedy,albums,all genre of music
WHERE we want, WHEN we want it and how we want it and its here NOW and
getting better all the time.
As far as IBOC goes, GO SUCK AN EGG, yep...it will take off just like AM
STEREO (another failure). KISS OFF NAB! you have trashed the public listener
way too long, we now have a choice and will exercise it. Oh sure! you will
have holdouts that wont pay for radio. Remember when they wouldnt pay for
television too?
Other "Fads" that wouldnt make it either...Color TV....Microwave
Oven...Cable TV..personal computer (who the hell would even need one).