I don't know where I've been but I only just found out that there are satellite radio services and that these services even work in cars. This strikes me as great for people who spend a lot of time on the road. It also strikes me as great for those in lousy reception areas, those who simply want more choices, and, since many of the channels have no commercials, those who hate commercials.
Among its stations XM has 3 classical stations with no commercials, 11 rock stations (7 commercial free) with different themes, 11 Hits stations (almost all with commercials), 6 that are focused on various previous decades, and 7 Jazz & Blues (6 commercial free). I find the only 3 classical stations to be disappointing. A blurb from their site:
One big idea can change everything. And XM Satellite Radio is one big idea: Radio to the Power of X. America's most popular satellite radio service gives you the power to choose what you want to hear - wherever and whenever you want it. XM offers 70 music channels - more than any other satellite radio service. Plus 30 channels of news, talk, sports and entertainment. 100 basic channels in all, for a low $9.99 monthly subscription. And now, XM is the first satellite radio service to offer a premium channel for an additional monthly fee.
Here's the XM Radio Full Channel Listing.
Sirius charges $12.95 per month. Sirius also has only 3 classical channels and mix of other channel types that is roughly similar to XM Radio. They claim to have 60 commercial free music channels and 40 other channels. Sirius appears to have Bluegrass similar to XM but also a Folk channel that XM doesn't have. XM has less talk, news, and sports. XM does have 3 comedy channels while Sirius has only 1.
The full Sirius channel listing is here.
Posted by Randall Parker at September 28, 2002 08:18 PM