Slump Buster said:
I suggest that everyone that is knocking XM give them a listen. There is a reason that they have 2/3 of the satellite market share. Another post said it right... there are basically the same music channels but XM has a lot of the stuff that plays better on radio... baseball, hockey, Opien and Anthony (sorry, they kick Stern's arse and I'm a former fan of his. For those of you that complained about commercials, Stern's show will be having commercials where O&A only have about two minutes of show promos an hour while they take a break). Who listens to football on radio? And Martha Stewart? I think no. Trust me, XM is better.
Ramone, bring me my Roadie
I don't knock either service as they are 99% the same, but for the most part it seems they (XM) is 2/3 of the market because of the advanced head start they got in their roll out. Getting to market first has its supreme advantages in promotion, but it does not make one service far and away better or worse in the long run.
Each has "special content" that matches up with what the other has. Stern is no better or worse than O&A and visa versa.
ALL sports suck over the radio, they were intended to be watched unless you call chess or basket weaving a sport; so who cares.
Why would anyone give a rats arse about talk radio, Martha Stewart, etc? If this is someone's main reason for radio, then free radio is all you need.
Commercials are commercials regardless, just because one show may have a bit more or less for now doesn't mean much in the end because the door is wide open and the amount will grow. Anyway, NO ONE has any idea, nor can they comment or compare on how much Stern will have vs O&A or others because it has NOT EVEN AIRED YET!
So that leaves the music. The REAL reason anyone would pay for satellite radio anyhow. Now we are back to the same 99.95% commercial-free exactness between the two. Same for the monthly cost.
So listeners just use the free trials for the sampling of music and shop to get the best price and/or promotion for hardware that suits your wallet and you will be more than happy without having to deal with one-sided reviewers.
I have had both and soon realized how exactly the same they really are and it isn't worth ANY arguments.