Dr. Farrag's quarter-sphere antenna (quite a ways down the above linked webpage) looked pretty promising for car usage. The current solution of the "helmet" shaped antenna, with integrated receiver and video sender, would attract too much attention - people would wonder which aliens I was talking to
.
Also, there was a very short-lived attempt at an FTA version of satellite radio, but it didn't take off. Signal Radio US, apparently associated with long-time shortwave broadcaster Chuck Harder, leased a transponder on a Ku satellite and used a 1/2 FEC rate to make it easier to receive on a portable receiver. In any case, they then offered individual audio channels to broadcasters who were interested - and there was even a choice of mono or stereo (stereo costing about twice as much).
From what I can tell, the Signal Radio idea died due to lack of broadcaster interest combined with the lease deal on the satellite falling apart.
An archive of the website:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041229110339/http://www.signalradio.us/pages/1/index.htm
It says the system was designed to accommodate up to 500 (presumably mono) (or 250 stereo) channels.
I still think it would be a great idea. It just needs someone with more financial backing to get behind it. It would be interesting to see some of the big shortwave broadcasting stations and/or networks get behind this. It would give them a platform for the future, with better reception and coverage.