Sirius XM Radio Inc. and the National Basketball Association issued a press release, making the NBA's full available on XM (and subsequently on Sirius with the "Best of XM" package) officially official now.It's a partnership that has many folks confused, and it's particularly hard to break down into a succinct quote as I tried to do when I was talking to Wired about it. So here's the full details, I'll try to be as brief as possible.
The NBA has had a partnership with Sirius satellite radio since 2003 (it was the first major professional sports league to provide live games on Sirius even). Now with the NBA season tipping off today, the NBA has switched over to XM where listeners get access to over 1,000 regular season games, plus the Playoffs and The Finals.
Now for "most" Sirius listeners (those without older generation chips in their radios), select NBA games will be available through the "Best of XM" package. Remember that if this merger never happened, then the NBA would be lost forever to XM and not available to Sirius subs at all.
Questions remain about the details of the contract negotiations. Did the NBA talk to XM, and then present a counteroffer to Sirius, which ended up being a moot negotiation since the two were merging anyway? Seems like the most likely scenario to me, but we'll never know.
Regardless, starting today, XM (and, yes, many Sirius) subscribers will have access to the Opening Night tripleheader with the Celtics hosting the Cavaliers at 8pm ET (XM channel 231, Sirius channel 215), plus the Bucks @ the Bulls at 8:30pm ET (XM channel 232, Sirius channel 216) and the Trailblazers @ the Lakers at 10:30 pm ET (XM channel 233, Sirius channel 217).
Check the full schedule on XM here.
Sorry, but this is still crap. Taking away the NBA in any form is a raw deal for those of us who had Sirius. So they switched. So what. It's the same company. That should have still been on Sirius - as part of the Sirius package.
What, they're not giving it its own channel? I mean, Sirius has channels devoted to NASCAR and NFL, XM only devotes one to MLB & NHL. Why not NBA?
This highlights the nonsense that will lead to the doom of this valuable medium. It didn't have to be this way, but, old technology and older philosphies are dragging the whole platform down.
Here's my solution:
1. Put new generation receivers in production immediately.
2. Allow both sets of subscribers to buy a replacement for $15.
3. Give away receivers to new subscribers.
You're welcome
Looked at the schedule on Sirius.com and Wednesday night it has 2 games scheduled on the Sirius channels 127 (Kings vs. Timberwolves) and 126 (Grizzlies vs. Rockets) so two games will be available to Sirius subscribers. So its not all Best of XM exclusive.
I had The NBA on my Sirius subscription last year, and I really enjoyed it. I have been an NBA fan longer than most of you have been twidling your I-pods. Now that Sirius and XM have merged, I am overjoyed to reep the benefits of the new and improved, powerhouse of a company that is looking out for me and my fellow loyal subscribers. What is one of those benefits they have been so gracious to extend to me, you ask? The benefit of TAKING MY NBA AWAY FROM ME - AND HAVING THE AUDACITY TO CHARGE ME TO GET IT BACK !!!!! You scum sucking pieces of shit can kiss my ass. PS - Thanks for having my back, Mel. Please don't do me any more favors. I've had just about enough of the NEW and IMPROVED Sirius/XM. What a bunch of bullshit artists !!!
This will be some compelling programming. I mean, if the traffic and weather and the golf channels didn't bring them in - well, oh boy, this is going to reverse the current trends.
I know I can't miss a single NBA game - I mean all those highly paid athletes playing the most boring basketball I've ever seen. This is gonna be HUGE.
It's officially apparent that nobody gives a crap about the NBA on XM by fact that nobody has commented on this entry and its been posted for over 24 hours. And by the fact that XM waited until the opening day of the NBA to announce this. Oh'well, another 50 million dollars into the tunnel of bankrupsy for Sirius XM!
No, that would be because our good admin, Ryan, has to approve every last comment, and I imagine he's just been busy lately, so he was late. Of course, nobody really gives a crap about the NBA on XM anyways.
So after spending hundreds of dollars on equipment (Sportster Replay, Boombox, Executive Desktop) since 2003 and after supporting this merger and telling numerous friends how great it is, SiriusXM now are going to make me go out to spend another few hundred dollars for a new receiver, boombox and whatever else I will need to listen at work so I can listen to the NBA? Having the NBA was one of the tihngs that influenced my decision to purchase Sirius over XM in the first place. All of the sudden it is not available. I didn't get any word of this until 2 days before the start of the season. Plus now if I spend this few hundred more dollars I will have to pay an extra 4 or so dollars to get the NBA? That sure is not how Mr. Karmazin made it sound in his speeches before the FCC. Total CRAP.
I have a feeling that the placement of the NBA on XM was done strictly to increase the appeal of the Best of XM package. Since Major League Baseball won't allow its content to air on Sirius, the Best of XM was left with "sloppy seconds" -- NHL, Indy Car and a few college conferences minus five glamour teams -- and was not as attractive to Sirius subscribers as Best of Sirius -- NFL, NBA, Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Michigan, Notre Dame, NASCAR -- was to XMers. A shell game, pure and simple.
Apparently Jim B cares about the NBA, although I don't know why he is spending a couple of hundred bucks on a system to listen to Sirius FM. If I were you Jim B I would purchase the Altec Lansing XM3020 Docking/Speaker System. You can get one used from Amazon for 13 bucks with shipping. I have one and it works great, and it gets a 4.5 out of 5 from 59 people on Amazon.
Of course you can find cheaper units to listen to SiriusFM radio, but this is a good one and you can purchase it for $62 with shipping. Audiovox XMCK20P XPRESS-R XM Satellite Radio Receiver and Car Kit Combo. Again, I have one and I love it.
For under a hundred bucks you can start enjoying your NBA once again. Just resell your Sirius equipment and you might break even.
Can someone post the # to the Sirius customer service line. This way anyone on this page who is as pissed as me can just give them a call. How dare you sell me on a product and promise something (NBA Package) and then after you merge take it away and hand it to your competitor/new partner. This is a great way to build a long standing relationship with your customer base.
Whats next after you file bankruptcy are you going to want to bail you out.
I'm so tired of these huge conglomerate companies screwing over the same people who are making them millions/billions.
So pissed.....