Online Satellite Radio
Learn all about online satellite radio
The biggest competition to satellite radio has become online radio. Both services are very similar and provide the same essential programming. The major difference is cost: listening to Sirius satellite radio online costs you a subscription fee (as does logging into XM satellite radio online), but most pure Internet radio stations are totally free.
Morals vs. Economics
For the consumer, the choice between online radio and satellite online is not so much a choice between services as it is a choice between economics and morals. You can pay for streaming, dedicated channels of near-CD-quality broadcasting, or you can log on for free and get basically the same content. To use either XM satellite’s or Sirius radio’s programming, you must subscribe. The same channels and information are broadcast online as via radio, except there is no investment in a receiver required. Your computer—or any computer you log into—is your device.
There are a number of websites that do the same thing for free though, making the online satellite radio bill every month pointless. You can still choose from hundreds of channels (more than Sirius or XM provide) delivering music, sports, discussion and news, and you can do so at no cost.
However, if you are among those who think money should go to the artist and that media is a product that deserves to be paid for, then online radio satellite programming is for you. If you think that media is art and information that deserves to be shared, regular online radio is here for you to enjoy.
The Great Debate
The Internet is filled with message boards discussing the worth of satellite radio compared to online radio stations. Some think Sirius and XM should go purely online, giving up on satellites altogether. With the prevalence of 3G Internet connectivity, through which you can log onto the Internet anywhere there is a cell phone connection, Sirius and XM could still market themselves as portable, commercial-free broadcast options.
Furthermore, 3G technology means you go to any number of websites and log on for free for customizable audio entertainment. For urban areas, this is a viable option. In remote areas, however, satellite technology is best because of its huge coverage footprint. Cell phones do not have good reception at high altitudes or while on the water; therefore, relying on 3G cuts out a huge part of the market. If you exclusively listen to online satellite radio, then making it Internet-only makes sense. For those who rely on it for nautical data (for example) alongside their favorite radio shows, the service needs to remain satellite-based.
