For those of you subscribers that could care less about the recent iPhone app hoopla, here is some news that you should be interested.
Sirius and XM just announced another rate hike effective July 29, 2009. So that means, we will be paying $1.98 for your subscription and $0.97 for those with additional subscriptions.
Didn’t we just have one? Yes, back in March we had our rates raised on us and don’t forget having to pay extra for Internet access when you previously didn’t. This time around Sirius XM is being nice enough to pass along copyright royalties on us. The US Copyright Royalty Board is increasing their fees paid by satellite radio a full percent over the next 3 years. While the royalty fees goes up only 8.3%, our subscription rates raise by 15.3%.
In case you forget, Sirius and XM agreed to a 3 year rate freeze when they got merger approval by the FCC. Thankfully for us, they are taking advantage one last time.
Sources:
- Sirius XM Passes on Royalty Fee Hikes to Subscribers
- Sirius XM raising rates
- Sirius XM Announces Yet Another Rate Hike
We are all to blame for this, in a way. If we sit back and pay this, then it is our own fault. If every single one of us called and threatened to quit if the rates rise or actually quit when the rates rise, Sirius would have no choice but to ditch this hike. The same goes for the internet price. Any person who has actually agreed to pay for the internet is part of the problem. How would Sirius respond if all of us called and gave them a choice: Keep my rates and services the same or I am cancelling my subscription?
I pay for the Internet rate because my shitty radio died.
I’ve already decided that I cancel my service when either 1) My original Sportser dies or 2) Howard retires. I will not buy another radio from Sirius and I’m not paying for Internet service just to listen to Howard.
I will probably just pay for the hike. I was just making a point that if we all were willing to take a stand, even though it could mean we don’t hear Howard until a resolution was reached, then we could force Sirius into back down.
I gave my radio away. I use the internet stream all the time, so the radio became useless. No dead spots or obstacles fucking with the signal. No more bullshit!
As far as not paying for internet service, I refused to pay for it, too, even though I actually used the internet service almost every day at work. However, a person could create a fake e-mail address once a week and use the 7-day free trial of the internet service with a new fake e-mail address each week. It works just as well!
I have no problem paying for the service. I haven’t listened to terestrial radio since Howard came over 3.5 years ago.
If Howard retires, we may not have a choice to continue service because I feel Sirius is doomed without him; especially given the state of the automotive market and the overall economy.
My guess is Howie signs on for another 5 year stint. In the end, he owes Mel for his career as Mel was the savior that hired him, Robin and Fred after they were fired at NBC.
As for the fatman, he’s done. Still in a downward spiral. Just listen to the Jack Black replay today.
there is so much good, new, non-mainstream music online that’s free, and now even my phone has radio stations, so i only have SIRIUS for Howard.
i would gladly pay a fee to just get Howard somehow. Rawdog isn’t that funny most days, and the alternative music stations aren’t too far ahead of local radio – if i hear Kings of Leon one more time i will die.
i’ve heard others share a similar opinion, i wonder how many – is a plan to just get Howard a possibility if we ask for it?
These days, I listen just for Howard. I love my own MP3 player. Back in the day, I listened to a lot more comedy and music channels. Now its solely for Howard.
I doubt they let 50% of subscribers pay any less.
It seems everyone on this site is switching to the Internet only for Sirius. They are doomed. If you read about the start of Sirius, their start up costs were astronomical with the satellites and developing/manufacturing the radios. They will never make it if people stop buying the radios, as there is a huge markup on those.
Do Sirius subscribers who have iPhones now get to listen to Sirius on their phones for free, without having to pay for the internet service?
No, but there is a 7-day free trial for new ppl
The ms. Howard tv that was on the show yesterday had the worst laugh ever. She must have been hot b/c that laugh was unbearable. Fuck you Donna.
Muy husband got an offer from the NRA (WTF??) for a “free” Sirius radio. I told him not to take the bait-the radios simply stop working, the rates keep going up, etc. He doesn’t even listen to the show so he could get his music from the internet and use his iPod. No way am I payin’ for two subscriptions.
hMMM…..Am I the only one who doesn’t have to pay for the internet stream? Maybe us Canadian’s finally caught a break !!!
jeff, it depends on your payment plan. If you’re a lifetime member, you don’t have to pay. Or, if your current subscription is still good, then your internet is free. I pay every 6 months, so when my most recent 6 months were up, my free internet disappeared. Your freebie internet will end once your current pay period is over.
I can only listen on the internet as I am in the UK i pay the fee but dont listen I download it from the pirate sites. I pay and don’t listen. Damn my morals. I should cancel.
I’m the only sucker paying for this …..my friends just d/l the show or listen though different streams you can find online…….the second HOwie goes I go.
If they finally kick BG off the show then I will get my friends to actually pay for it….
At the end of your subscription period just call sirius and tell them that you want to cancel because basically you are only using the internet and are not willing to pay more for it. I did this and they threw in 5 months of premium internet service. Quality is a bit better than the standard but in my opinion not worth the extra money if you had to pay.
I get free internet too but I renewed my subscription for one year in December. I guess that was before you had to pay extra for internet? I have a few friends who got the lifetime subscription, but I’m with you guys. My subscription dies with the King.
New York’s Attorney General, the guy who raised hell about AIG and GOT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT would definitely welcome a high profile case like this!!!
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/contact.html
As for Sirius RADIOS…when you see them homeless dudes with Sixties’ transistor radios that work then it’s obvious they’re going the GM route…and we all know what happens when you use planned obsolescence.
Jeezus, from what I’m reading, I’m lucky the sirius radio that came in my Jeep still works!
I’m so thirsty. Artie, can you toss me a bottle of water?
Hot Chicks Day today…what happened to all the homos???
When contacted that my subscription was about to expire and that my rate was going up and that I would have to pay extra for the internet stream my reply to them was BULLSHIT! I told them I wasnt willing to pay a dime more than last year. Their reply? Ok we will renew you at the old rate and give you internet streaming for free. So have a tantrum and they will knuckle under in a heartbeat.
Then it should be interesting to see what all the iPhone app bashing will stir up.
Dana is 100% right. We are all to blame for this for already paying through the nose for “pay” radio. For the record today I got so freaking fed up with the morons at XM. You see I saw this new Mirge Radio that is able to get both Sirius and XM on one radio and I called XM about it, and I mind you was also in getting the lifetime subscription to my current radio so I don’t have to worry about paying anymore. When I told the lady I was interested in “maybe” getting this new Mirge radio depending upon what she told me I asked him as dumb as it sounds that if I got the lifetime subscription, the higher priced one that includes “The Best of Sirius” would I be able to get all the Sirius channels along with XM on this new radio if I bought it. She said that indeed I would but i”m to blame because my gut told me that the $499 plan is total XM with the “Best of Sirius” which is about a few extra stations that they add in your lifetime subscription for a $100.00 more which is really a rip. Turns out I was right, after all the XM rep told me once I got the radio I had to speak to a Sirius rep, which I did beforehand and she told me that no, no lifetime subscription was available for the Mirge, and that a plan for only 2 years ran you about $400 +. Also that a two year plan was the most you could pay in advance for unlimited Sirius and XM for the Mirge. God I was pissed, and I in my defense flat out asked the XM rep about 20 times, directly if buying the new radio and getting the XM (with the best of Sirius) package would enable me to get ALL of BOTH Sirius AND XM she said YES and she seemed annoyed that I made it a point to stress that issue in my questions to her. Of course I know it’s a lie and now I have to cancel my newly ordered Mirge radio about a hour later when I ordered it. Something tells me that the XM people either don’t know anything about what they are selling or are just flat out lieing to get you to purchase something and hope that you are stuck with it once it arrives. Mind you I can’t use the radio by getting a “XM only” subscription package, even the XM lifetime deal. Have to get both, either pay by month for $20.00 or get a 2 year deal like I said with over $400. No thanks, that’s absurd, rather obscene pricing. I’d rather just stick with XM and forget Sirius ever existed. If they merged then why aren’t they ONE entity, instead of “you have to call them” or “you have to call US” whatever, if combining was such a big deal then why aren’t you “COMBINED” and stop this screwing around. Just goes to show the shady ways of big buisness.