By: wicked_300
11 Aug 2004, 08:33 AM EDT
Msg. 79990 of 79990
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In battle of satellite providers, it's all about personal preference
By Matt Grisafi , ASSOCIATE EDITOR 08/11/2004
Sirius Satellite Radio, XM Radio offer slightly different content.
More and more people are discovering the wonders of satellite radio every day, but if you're not sure which provider to go with - Sirius Satellite Radio or XM Radio - you need to see if they have what you want.
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Both providers have well over 100 channels of music, news and sports, but there are some differences.
The most glaring - and most important, in my opinion - is the extreme difference in sports programming. This may be the music page, but just because you like music doesn't mean you don't like sports. As an avid sports fan, Sirius clearly offers the better sports package. While both have ESPN Radio and ESPN News, Sirius is the exclusive satellite provider of the NFL with 24-hour coverage on NFL Radio and every single game broadcast each week. Throw in NHL and NBA game coverage, and you're in sports heaven.
If NASCAR is your thing, however, XM Radio is your choice, carrying exclusive rights to NASCAR Radio. XM just announced they'll have live coverage of college football and men's and women's college basketball's PAC-10 and ACC conferences. XM also carries Sporting News and Fox Sports Radio - but I've found neither to be worth my while when I've got ESPN.
As far as news, talk and entertainment go, again Sirius has the slight edge. Both have all the major news networks, but Sirius has NPR, four political channels (two for each wing) and three comedy channels.
That leaves us with the music.
After trying both services, I think you're choosing between quantity or quality. What I do enjoy about XM is that they'll play different album tracks, while Sirius has the tendency to play just the singles. My favorite music, for example, is indie rock. On Sirius' "Left of Center," I'll hear Wilco, but rarely anything other than their new "Theologians." On XM's "XMU," I'll hear other tracks from their new album, A Ghost Is Born, like "Hummingbird." However, XMU plays an extreme variety of new music. So while I'll hear more variety, I'll ultimately hear Wilco less. I'll also hear a whole lot of obscure bands that quite frankly aren't very good. I can listen to "Left of Center" all day and rarely want to change the station. I can't say the same for "XMU."
If you're into hip-hop, Sirius has four hip-hop exclusive stations to XM's two. But if you like punk, XM has the only station dedicated to the genre, "Fungus," while Sirius mixes their punk with hip-hop and rock on "Faction" and Little Steven Van Zandt's "Underground Garage."
Both providers offer a station for jam bands, but Sirius' "Jam On" seems to be the better of the two, leaning more towards the Grateful Dead, while XM's "Music Lab" plays more Genesis. Again, the variety here is greater with XM, but the quality of music is better with Sirius.
When it comes to technology, it's all about personal preference. XM's "Roady2" unit is much smaller and more convenient to carry around than Sirius' PNP units, but the PNP units are a little easier to use and give you a little more information at once. One big difference I did find is that if you're in a heavily-wooded area, XM struggles for reception.
If I could, I'd have both, just because I'm a music junkie. If I had to choose, however, I think the clear choice is Sirius.
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After Sirius locked up Eminem, XM made a move of their own, hiring shock jocks Opie & Anthony. XM will charge subscribers an additional $1.99 a month to hear the duo. It will be interesting to see its response as Howard Stern's move to satellite could be on the horizon.
©News of Delaware County 2004
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