XM Satellite Radio ( XM ) is one of two satellite radio (SDARS) services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional traffic and weather channels and 23 play-by-play sports channels. XM channels are identified by Arbitron with the label "XM" (e.g. "XM32").
The company has its origins in the 1988 formation of the American Mobile Satellite Corporation (AMSC), a consortium of several organizations originally dedicted to satellite broadcasting of telephone, fax, and data signals. In 1992, AMSC established a unit called the American Mobile Radio Corporation dedicated to developing a satellite-based digital radio service; this was spun off as XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. in 1999. The satellite service was officially launched on September 25, 2001. On July 29, 2009, XM and former competitor Sirius Satellite Radio formally completed their merger, following FCC approval, forming Sirius XM Radio, Inc. On November 12, 2008, Sirius and XM began broadcasting with their new, combined channel lineups. XM was also the largest satellite radio company in the United States before merging with Sirius.
Services
While the satellite receiver radio service is its primary product, XM operates several audio and data services, and advertising.
Satellite radio
XM's primary business is satellite radio entertainment. XM carries music, news (both simulcast and syndicated programming), sports, talk radio, comedy (both stand-up and radio shows), and even radio drama. In addition, XM broadcasts local weather and traffic conditions in its larger markets. The channel lineup is available on-line.
To receive satellite radio programming, a customer is required to purchase a receiver. Prices range from less than $50 to over $200. With a service commitment, it's possible to get a simple receiver for free. Monthly packages start at US$12.95/month with add-on "family" radios at US$8.99/month. Best-of-Sirius is available on US accounts for an additional monthly fee. Lifetime packages are also available (USA only).
There are currently several types of receivers available to consumers:
- Plug and Play receivers: The receiver snaps in to a base unit, which provides power, antenna, and audio connections. Multiple base units can be installed in the home or car, and portable boom-box style units allow the plug and play receivers to be used outdoors. This is typically the least expensive option. Examples include the Xpress line, and the Delphi Skyfi.
- In-dash receivers: These are integrated with a car's stereo system. Many factory stereo systems include XM or Sirius radio, and the more popular aftermarket stereo brands all have options to connect satellite radio receivers.
- Desktop receivers and Home theater systems: Manufacturers are now offering several XM Ready systems. These use an external tuner which can connect to the head unit. These range from small clock-radio systems to powerful home theater receivers.
- Portable personal systems: XM has offered portability kits for various receivers in the past. It also currently offers the Helix and Inno, which are self-contained and can play both live XM and recorded content with no external antennas.
XM also offers music downloads through XM+Napster for Windows users. This service is being integrated with XM Online and the new MP3 capable XM receivers, such as the Pioneer Inno or the Samsung Helix.
Several music channels of XM radio can also be received on the DirecTV or Dish Network satellite networks. To listen to XM on DirecTV or Dish Network, no XM subscription is required, but you must have a Dish Network or DirecTV subscription.
XM also offers many of its stations to subscribers via the Internet. Most of its original programming is available, but the syndicated and simulcast channels are typically not included.
XM Radio Online
XM Radio Online (XMRO), XM's Internet radio product, offers many of XM's music stations and can be accessed from any Internet connected Windows or Macintosh computer, or via the iPhone/iPod Touch SIRIUS XM app. It used to be included with XM Radio subscriptions before March 11, 2009, or was available separately for US$7.99 a month to Internet-only subscribers. It is now available as an add-on ($2.99) or alone ($12.99).
XM Radio upgraded its online audio stream to near CD-Quality sound on March 11, 2009. All customers with existing subscriptions, including lifetime subscriptions, were downgraded from the 64 kbit/s stream to a lower quality 32 kbit/s stream for the duration of their subscription contract. Following their subscription length, XMRO is available as a $2.99 add-on service. The stream is fed to XMRO subscribers as a "near CD-quality" 128 kbit/s only.
Weather and traffic
XM also provides data services such as weather information for pilots and weather spotters through its XM WX Satellite Weather datacasting service. This up to the minute weather information can be displayed in the cockpit of an aircraft equipped with a satellite weather receiver. Unlike weather radar, which relies on the aircraft's own equipment, the satellite service can give a pilot information about weather anywhere in the country. The downside is that the various weather streams (radar, cloud coverage, lightning, etc...) are transmitted every 5–15 minutes, meaning that the information is somewhat out-of-date by the time it is received. In-cockpit radar and lightning receivers return truly realtime information, but they can cost many thousands of dollars. Certain aircraft are also now integrating the XM radio service in to the aircraft's audio system, as well, allowing the pilot to listen to XM radio while flying.
XM also has dedicated traffic and weather channels that cover many major metropolitan areas. These channels play a continuous loop of local weather information and detailed traffic data.
Commercial adoption and partnerships
In 2005, AirTran Airways began putting XM Satellite Radio on their aircraft, while in January 2006, JetBlue Airways added XM Radio to their aircraft. United Airlines started carrying prerecorded XM content in March 2006. Zipcar, an urban car-sharing service in the United States, initially installed XM receivers in all of their vehicles available for daily or hourly rental. However, citing uncertainty in the satellite radio market, Zipcar announced on May 1, 2007 that all XM radios would be removed from its fleet in the following months.
In 2006, the service "XM for Business" was launched on the DirecTV platform to provide 15 channels of interruption-free background music. This service replaces the Music Choice business audio service formerly offered by DirecTV. The XM for Business channels are in the upper 500s as of August 2006 and include an exclusive "Taste of Italy" channel. The channels are programmed separately from the consumer service, but share the same names, themes, and playlists. More importantly for the background music needs of business audio these channels do not feature any kind of interruption and do not feature radio hosts, imaging, or sounders.
Effective October 1, 2006, the 15 channels of interruption-free background music, formerly part of "XM for Business", were moved from satellite 101 to satellite 119 (DirecTV-7S at 119°W). Reception now requires a single 18" dish aimed at 119°W or a Phase3 oval dish with three LNBFs and a multi-satellite-capable receiver. Older, single LNB receivers may not be able to receive these stations.
In 2007, Air Canada began replacing its current generation of EnRoute radio with XM. As with United, this is prerecorded content.
Exclusive channels
- KISS
- Mix
- Nashville!
- The Pink Channel
- Rock@Random
- Fox Sports Radio
- MLB Play-by-Play
- Extreme Talk
- America's Talk
- Talk Radio
- ATN-Asian Radio
- ReachMD
- XM Scoreboard
- ESPN Xtra
- Calendrier Sportif
- XM Deportivo
- Laugh Attack
- Canada 360
- Quoi de Neuf
Company
Company timeline
Technology
XM provides digital programming directly from two high-powered satellites in geostationary orbit above the equator: XM Rhythm at 115° west longitude and XM Blues at 85° west longitude in addition to a network of ground-based repeaters. The combination of two satellites and a ground-based repeater network is designed to provide gap-free coverage anywhere within the contiguous U.S., the southern tip of Alaska, and in the southern part of Canada. The signal can also be received in the Caribbean Islands and most of Mexico (reports have stated that areas north of Acapulco are able to receive a steady signal), however XM is not yet licensed for reception by paid subscribers living in these areas.
The original satellites, XM-1 ("Rock") and XM-2 ("Roll") suffer from a generic design fault on the Boeing 702 series of satellites (fogging of the solar panels), which means that their lifetimes will be shortened to approximately six years instead of the design goal of 15 years. To compensate for this flaw, XM-3 ("Rhythm") was
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