SIRIUS Canada and BMW Canada have inked a long term deal that will make SIRIUS Satellite Radio receivers a factory and dealer option for BMW vehicles sold in Canada.

Starting this fall, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will be available in select Canadian BMW models bundled with a subscription to SIRIUS Canada's satellite radio service.

By 2007, all BMW models will be SIRIUS Satellite-ready.

XM Canada just announced that they have over 80,000 subscribers. You'll recall that competitor SIRIUS Canada announced breaking 100,000 subscribers early in May.

Is "The Stern Effect" taking hold with our friends up North as well? Sure looks like it.

[Press Release] 

UPDATE: An interesting note on semantics here. The Sirius Canada announcement never mentioned whether the 100,000 subscribers were paid subscribers or unpaid promotional subscribers. Since XM Canada is a publicly traded company, they must explicitely state this differentiation, while Sirius Canada does not. Use that information however you like.

A very nice review of the new SIRIUS Sportster4 was written in Canada's The StarPhoenix. One thing I like about it is how they keep the review short and sweet, but pack some powerful comments. They grab your attention pretty quickly with the opening sentence:

If you subscribe to Sirius satellite radio and listen only to Howard Stern, then ignore this product and buy the cheapest receiver available.

Funny. 

JJI Electronics has the Sportster 4 in stock and on-sale for $139.99.