Panero: XM To Up Fees, But Offer Satellite Users Internet Radio A La Sirius
Greg Levine, 02.28.05, 8:26 PM ET
NEW YORK - Doers and doings in business, entertainment and technology:
Big for its britches? XM Satellite Radio (nasdaq: XMSR - news - people ) said it will up the monthly fee for its radio services by some $3, or 30%. But the orbital broadcaster can't be accused of the sort of fee-raise faux pas that outraged eBay (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people ) users of late. First, XM, led by Chief Executive Hugh Panero, will fold some premium features into its basic plan. And second, according to a Wired online report, the market leader is merely matching the price scale of its rival, Sirius Satellite Radio (nasdaq: SIRI - news - people ). XM says that with its new rate schedule, subscribers to the satellite service will also get the Internet service XM Radio Online. Currently the latter costs an additional $4 per month. They will also enjoy the High Voltage channel, which boasts the puerile though popular hijinks of radio duo Opie & Anthony; HV had cost $2 extra monthly. Sirius already allows customers to listen to an Internet version of its offerings. And not to be outdone, the No. 2 satellite radio purveyor says it won't charge extra for broadcasts of salty raconteur Howard Stern's show. The off-color jock is due to start with Sirius in January 2006, after his Viacom (nyse: VIAb - news - people ) contract expires. |
