I decided a couple months ago I did not want to renew my XM subscription. I was not aware that the last time I renewed it enrolled me in their auto renewal program. So I called XM and just as my friend Mat told me about his dealings with XM Radio a few months ago, they tried to keep me signed up by giving me 3 free months. I didn’t buy into any of it and told them I wanted a refund.
They asked me why I was canceling service. I told them I never use it anymore since I no longer take frequent drives between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. If I go on a long trip, I package a set of podcasts to listen to rather than role the dice and hope that I find something interesting on XM Radio.
As far as I am concerned, XM radio needs to merge with Sirius. Once local stations start broadcasting with HD Radio, the only advantage satellite will have is being capable of keeping good reception between major cities. All the other advantages satellite radio had up until the past year are about to go out the window with the availability of streaming audio through cell phone Internet connections and Podcasts.
6 Responses
Thats kinda wrong actually. HD radio has zero advantage, it still has commercials. I agree with the comment about podcasts, but some people like to listen to music at random, without loading up an mp3 disc – you could have a hundred songs and after a few listens you know exactly what is song coming up next or at least an inkling of what may be next if you play on shuffle. Some satellite channels play obscure stuff that you may never run across and get turned onto, what ever happened to the ‘mystery’ of wat may be coming up next? As for podcasts, I dig ’em, but there are more podcasts that suck than are good – some are just unlistenable. I think that podcasts are just another piece of the pie, put it together with some audio books, music mp3’s and Satellite radio, sirius more than XM or when they combine into one entity, and you have a perfect combination. All bases are covered, because simply not one of the audio outlets mentioned can or will cater to all tastes. The only thing terrestrial radio is good for is NPR.
I like your pie metaphor. The only problem is, in the past year satellite radio has amounted to a sliver of my audio listening pie. The other 99% of my pie doesn’t cost me $13 a month. So I am going on a satellite radio free diet.
If you don’t use it, why pay for it?
DOOR FROM HELL RADIO DOT COM!!
“If you don’t use it, why pay for it?”
So you DO understand conservatism! I don’t use the school system, welfare, buses, and I would rather opt out of the social security system, but I can’t.
Just imagine if you had to pay for XM against your will. Wouldn’t that suck?
Yea, well it sucks to be British, cause they have to pay for their BBC service! Imagine if you had to pay for NPR!!! 🙂
XM sucks big time! I had it for almost a year both in my car and at home. Today I cancelled my whole account. Since end of July the signal in my car’s radio has been terrible. In fact during one song I lost the signal 5 or more times making it impossible to listen. I have been between the car dealer and on the phone with XM many, many times. The dealer says is XM problem and XM is telling me that it is the unit or antenna. I am tired of paying every month with no signal or a weak signal almost 100% of the times.
I hope many others cancel too.
JAT
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