SIRIUS is kicking off a new NASCAR-related promotion offering $30 off a Sirius subscription when you send in a "competitor's" satellite radio.
View the PDF detailing the promo.
It's an interesting marketing approach that targets the price conscious shopper. NASCAR's own demographics claim that 59% of its fanbase live in homes with an annual income below $50,000 and another 32% are below $30,000 [via USA Today]. Those current XM subscribers who are aware of the "shift" to Sirius occuring in 2007 will be left with an essentially useless receiver, should they choose to follow NASCAR in January. This looks to be an attempt by Sirius to ensure that they do.
[via American Wireless]
Thanks tim!
UPDATE: Note that this only applies to Brix units, not Directed Electronics products. Also, as pointed out in the comments, a look at the fine print shows that only current XM subscribers are eligible. Interesting.
UPDATE 2: This promotion has apparently been discontinued by NASCAR's request.
Sirius has taken on another large expense in acquiring NASCAR.
There aren't enough people that want to subscribe to Sirius just to listen to cars go around a track on weekends.
It's a waste of Sirius' money.
I want to know what the asterick(spelling?) is because I'm sure somebody would send in an 'ol kenwood or sony receiver.
I'm sure there are exclusions, but i'm not too sure this will really do much anyways since it doesn't seem like that many people listened to ch 144( I did every now and then but most people watch Nascar for the wrecks and that is something a radio cannot deliver to satisfy THAT consumers needs) since XM didn't feel that it was worth $110 or so million.
In the small print it says that the person must be a current paying sub of XM. So it can't be a cancelled radio....
So really what they are saying is come to Sirius but keep XM also, but pay us for a full year now so if you don't like it then your stuck for a year.
XM's new promotion: If you don't like their service after that promotion, then send us your radio and save money on something worth keeping around.
In the small print it says that the person must be a current paying sub of XM. So it can't be a cancelled radio....
So really what they are saying is come to Sirius but keep XM also, but pay us for a full year now so if you don't like it then your stuck for a year.
XM's new promotion: If you don't like their service after that promotion, then send us your radio and save money on something worth keeping around.
The deal applies to current XM subscribers switching to Sirius as long as they have proof that they are a current subscriber instead of a fake freeloading off of Sirius. This is why they want you to send your XM Radio (cancelled radio) to them so they can send you $30 credit.
God damnit people it says current, it doesn't say anything about cancelled. They want you to send them a cancelled XM radio so they can give you a $30 credit.
No ahigee, they aren't saying keep XM. They are saying, if you are a current subscriber of XM, send us that radio (cancel your service) and we will give you $30 to join Sirius.
Its a direct attack on XM and an attempt to win over fans of Nascar who subscribed to XM for it.
I know everyone believes Nascar isn't worth the money, and time will tell, but no sport has more loyal fans, marketing wise, than Nascar. You can be sure, when Nascar fans decide they want Sat. Radio, for whatever reason, music, talk, etc., they are going to choose the one which has Nascar on it. Your crazy to think otherwise.
OT: Is TypePad slow today? I entered something, it takes long, I give up, click on Orbitcast logo, my comments aren't there, I enter something again, and the previous comment is there then my new comment.
XM didn't get a chance at a return offer, so nice information there ahigee. I am also glad that you know what everyone in the US wants. Since according to you no one wants to listen to Nascar radio because you can't hear crashes. What a joke.
realwx: The server is getting slammed with spam requests and is CRAWLING. I'm upgrading and trying to fix it.
So wait... 91% of NASCAR fans have a household income of under $50k?
No wonder why XM and NBC passed on a renewed contract.
Clearly I was using a hypothetical since XM would never do a deal like that.... Didn't know I had to put a warning before a "fantasy/never-going-to-happen" thing.
Sorry for the double post also!
Misbehavin': I see you can't see that I was singling out that particular audience and I didn't generalize the whole audience when I said "to satisfy THAT consumers needs".....I never said everyone was like that!
Sirius is getting Nascar just in time, when the ratings, attendance and souvenir sales have been in decline for the past two years. All but 4 races this season had a major decline in ratings, most over 10% - some as high as 17% less viewers. That's MILLIONS of people not watching.
Why? Because the racing is boring. Because Nascars powers that be have been making the sport more "politically correct". Because all the car makes are essentially the same, and this will get worse next year. Because Nascar has no real rule book and makes things up on the fly and plays favorites. Because Nascar has forsaken it's roots, dumped classic races and moved them to dull tracks that don't even sell-out.
And it's going to get even worse with the "car of tomorrow" that the owners/drivers hate, and with Toyota spending more money than Ford, Chevy and Dodge combined to buy their way into a formerly American pastime.
Bottom line, I stopped watching races this season, and could care less about next year. What Nascar needs is some COMPETITION. Worse yet, the major press coverage of Nascar for the most part tows the party line afraid they'll be punished by the all-mighty organization. I'm hoping that XM can be the place where the truth is spoken. Two drivers still have shows, and Claire B. Lang will still be at the races reporting. I can even hear the races on terrestrial if I want - so I'm not losing much even if I did still care about it.
>>>if I did still care about it.
With a 260 word tirade about how much you don't care and why, I am very happy that I did not have to waste my time reading a novel if you did care. Or is it that you really do care in the first place?
I have a solution for you. Get a SIRIUS radio so you can care less even more.
>>>Get a SIRIUS radio so you can care less even more>>>>
If Sirius was supporting a new stock car series I might. You're right, I DO care that Nascar sucks now. It sucks so bad I don't care to watch it. I care that the France family and greed have lowered the sport to the point where millions are no longer watching it.
I care that Nascar has such a monopoly on "stock car" racing that it's difficult to even start up another series. I care that Toyota's money has done to the truck series what it's done to every other series they are involved with. I care that many Americans still don't have enough integrity to TURN IT OFF and contact the sponsors, as I have.
I'm hoping that Ford and GM pull out completely (which would lower fan interest heavily) and start up their own series. One that takes V8, RWD production vehicles and races them - you know, STOCK CAR racing.
Rich - you obviously cared enough to count how many words I typed. Why would I want to continue to support Nascar (by buying Sirius) and listen to the one-sided crap that'll be coming from them? F**k Nascar, and f**k Sirius for over-inflating Nascars value, especially when they are trending downward. What else is new.
SteveWeBB- Why does it really matter if Toyota is getting involved in Nascar. No matter how you look at it Dodge is no longer an American car company. The days of the Big Three are over.
Ryan: If the TypePad thing doesn't work out, there's always WordPress ;)
One reason I bought XM was for NASCAR. Thank god it's gone. It is aweful. I listened maybe 20 total minutes in 2 years. Vrooom, Vrooom, Vrooom. Wow. I love to watch on TV still but listening? Terrible, terrible stuff which is always on free radio. In fact, that's the feed you recieve, the regular terrestrial feed. XM still has the NASCAR stuff I care about, talk, about the races, the drivers. As for the races, I'll be happy to see what channel replaces it, audio of a prostate exam would be more entertaining.
"Why does it really matter if Toyota is getting involved in Nascar. No matter how you look at it Dodge is no longer an American car company. The days of the Big Three are over."
It matters because of the way Nascar currently works. That is, the make with the most money gets the most favors. Nascar is forsaking the makes (not to mention the region) that built the sport. Nascar was supposed to be American, V8, RWD sedans. Toyota has NEVER, in their entire corporate history - produced a push-rod, V8 RWD car in North America. Never. They have bought their way in, and it will eventually push out GM and Ford (like it has in the truck series) and ultimately hurt the sport. As for Dodge, are they even really in Nascar right now? They get worse year after year (it's because they spend the least and get no favors) and are apparently content finishing 10th every week. At least they are an "American" nameplate, and are powered by engines based off of classic, Mopar 360 engines. The bottom line is the Mercedes takeover should have never happened. Chrysler was healthy (made the most money per vehicle of the big 3 and had massive cash reserves) and Daimler-Benz was hurting. Chryslers management sold-out the company (and the country) and took a huge payday for it. It never should have happened, and while I can't blame Toyota for wanting exposure - I'm upset at Nascar for forsaking it's roots. Either way, Nascar is on a 2-year overall decline, and risks a continued one next year as it pisses off more or it's traditional fan base.