Satellite Radio Survey

[Sailor]

Satellite Radio has some interesting advantages over what we consider 'legacy' radio, and some weaknesses. Try getting local news, weather, traffic reports over your Satellite Radio... The demise of AM radio has been forecasted for more years than I have been alive. First it was TV that was going to put AM radio out of business. "Nobody will want to listen to the radio when they can watch TV". Then it was FM radio which would totally replace AM radio. "Nobody will tolerate the lousy signal of AM when you can get FM". Then it was cable systems and CATV which was going to put AM radio out of business. Now it's Satellite which will totally replace local radio.. I think not!

It is true that a lot of advertising (too much for my preference) is obnoxious, and in many cases the redundancy drives me crazy. But without advertising you wouldn't know about new products, where they are available, what the price is. You wouldn't know about sales, or features. You may not like advertising, but it informs, educates and when done properly, entertains. Let's not completely disrespect what puts food on our tables. I'm not sure I would want a satellite service with NO advertising.

[stitch]

I am looking into Sirius but I like having a variety of mediums to choose from. I agree with Sailor.. I don't think that mainstream radio as, we know it, will ever die out. I think there will always be an audience for it.

I do think that with all the new kinds of competition, mainstream radio will need to stay competitive and make some changes to business models.

It will be interesting to see what happens..But Satellite has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for broadcasting as a whole, including on and off-air staff and listeners alike.

[snoaudio]

monstro said:

The music is a bit eclectic at times, and I think it's tough to have (for example) 4 Alternative channels without some spillover in music. I think it's a bit redundant, and not something I'd pay for if I had to.

There's no real compelling content at all, and most of the jocks sound like cast-offs from better stations.

However, I am a guy, and more channels is all I want...whether they're good or not. Gimme my 500 channels! (even though I'll only listen to 2 or 3 regularly)

actually I think it sounds not as commercialized. and I like that there are 13 rock stations on XM alone. (30+ on both stations combined) there is definatley a difference between 'ethel' and 'squizz' and the music they play. Most FM alternative/active rock stations combine the two types of rock into one format. To me that sounds like a disaster. When I want Franz Ferdinand, I dont want to hear System Of A Down following it. To somebody my age, (30ish) there is quite a difference in variations of rock and alternative. Just like some see the difference for AC, Lite AC, Soft AC, Hot AC, Adult AC, AC AC, ect...on terrestrial radio.

Most of the jocks I hear on both services, I have both, actully rip the **** out of most FM jocks I have heard. Castoffs? No way. Having lived and worked in the #1 and 2 markets in the country, I think I might know a decent jock when I hear one. Corporate FM radio consolidation has killed most FM jocks, making them generically boring. FM radio needs the guy on the rock station to Voice Track the country and AC. THAT guy sounds good to a consultant or GM who is trying to save cash thru automation, but to average joe rocker, sounds like a guy from an AC trying to be a rocker.

And lets not forget the jocks that are gravitating to these services. Stern, O&A, Cousin Brucie, some of the specialty shows being put together with hosts like Eminem, 50 cent, Tony Hawk.

It is really obvious who these services are really targeting...18-44. They are building their listener base for the future. People wont pay $10 bucks for uncensored radio? They said that with cable. They said it with cell phones. Todays 18-44s are used to paying for everything. Besides, most markets are not fully servicing this target demo. Both services offer a combined 30+ rock channels, 20 somthing dance/hip hop/urban channels. Every single sporting event in the country, football, baseball, hockey, nascar. Some markets your lucky to have an Alternative station or Active Rock Station, if they arent combined into one format. Most markets do not have a hip hop station. There are no dance stations. These 2 services identified a hole in the radio listener market and are beginning to fill it. It will still take a couple years. No market is in any immediate danger from satillite radio. But in 5-10 years you bet some programmers in some markets will have to pay attention to what is on these services. The adult ACs will be ok with their 44-64 yeard olds, but those clusters will then have a problem getting their 18-44 #s. And when those 18-44s grow into the local 44-64s there is no guarentee that they will be dropping the satillite to return to FM.

I am a guy too. We are all the same...I love gadgets, technology and cool new stuff. I like things to sound real. Dont mind an occasional F-Bomb or fear 'tit' like the FCC does. What I do mind is homoginized, plastic sounding, mass produced for general consumption radio. That is why I got XM & Sirius, nobody was taking care of my needs on the FM dial.

FYI - I listen to Fox News, CNN, Fox Sports, Sporting events, comedy and music when I listen to the radio. Not necessarily in that order, but pretty damn close. When I do listen to music I dont want to hear Pink Floyd, Disturbed, Twisted Sister and Blink 182 in a 4 song train wreck set sandwiched between 2 4 min commercial breaks. I like all 4 bands, with satillite radio when Im in the mood for them I hit the corresponding channel. FM radio seems to neglect me and my dollars. They seem ok with putting 10 variations of AC formats on in one market, some even double and triple the same exact variation of AC, but then wont give me a rock station or two or five. Station owners and GMs that are playing it safe today will reap what they sew in 5-10 years. Keep battling for the same percentage of the market, forget about the rest of the listeners that you dont want to target because you dont like the format, or sales ****es because they are uncomfortable selling it. Forget about all your future listeners, because they just may be forgetting about you. Time will tell.

$20 bucks a month and I get 30+ channels of rock that fit my mood. Jocks that live the lifestyle and wont get fired for slipping up and saying 'ass' on air? Throw in every baseball and football game...all my news and uncensored comedy for the ride home from the in-laws? No commercials every 10 min? Ya got me. Who do I make the check out too? Oh, thats right, I already been paying for a year and a half.