Satellite Radio in Fiscal Trouble
prostoalex writes "It looks like Sirius Satellite Radio is going through its worse times. From the same article XM Satellite does not seem to be doing well either, even with 200K customers. Will it signify the end of the satellite radio?"
That may be the case, but it's probably not a good enough biz model to sustain them. What they ought to think about doing is providing a large commercial-laden offering for free, and a "premium" offering for money. That way the business is sustained by a large enough revenue stream (advertising) and those who want the indie stuff can still get it, but it costs them more. 200k customers may seem like a lot, but think about the amount of money they must be paying to run the service.
Key to financial independence: Spend less than you earn. Save and invest the difference. Do it for a long time.
According to the recent New Yorker article on Willie Nelson, he loves satellite radio which lets him listen to a few of his musical inspirations (in cluding Frank Sinatra). But how many of us really are on long drives in tour buses with drivers?
I'd like to see them offer programming from other countries. Give me a feed from the Australian Broadcast Company, or the BBC, even plug in the Voice of America stations (if they allow that now) to hear what we're telling other nations about ourselves. Let Grandma listen to radio from the 'old country'. I love listening to radio stations on the net now and I think to have *that* in your car to listen to would be more a great selling point.
1. I live in country, no large GOOD radio stations.. And since I'm in the country I'm always in my car
2) I have a 30 minute commute, listen to traffic for 5 mins then have 25 more minutes to listen to good (and honest to god) NEW music without having some idiot rattle on and on about what they are playing..
3) Since I'm in the country all my friends live atleast 30 mins to 1 hour away.. not exactly long trips but the XM radio makes them go alot quicker.
4) I have a fairly large music collection myself at home and yes, even some MP3's I downloaded.. Secondly I don't have digital cable because I'm really thinking it's a complete rip off.. Something along the lines of 50 Bucks for the same old crap on normal cable BUT with music channels (I get the music channels on XM for a lot less).
There yah go.. This here hick boy really enjoys listening to the music I want to when I want to.. I can tune in on 3 different types of trance/techno music and also listen to Alternative with a quick flip of the button.. It's all relative and I suggest keeping a slightly more open mind.. never know when you'll get fired and have to move out in the good ol' country...