The folks over at Sirius Backstage have learned that Sirius is planning on offering an online-only subscription which has reportedly been given the moniker, "Sirius Internet Radio Plus."
The new internet-only service will provide both music at "CD quality" and select talk channels (yes, including Howard) at a whoppin' 48kps. The current free Sirius Internet Radio service (which is included with a regular Sirius subscription) offers streaming audio at a mere 32kps.
According to SBS, Sirius Internet Radio Plus will run you $12.95 a month, with 3 additional SIR Plus subscriptions for $6.99. If you're an existing subscriber, you can upgrade to SIR Plus for an additional $2.99 a month.
No additional channels will be offered according to SBS, this is simply an upgrade in sound quality.
Compare this to XM's existing XM Radio Online (XMRO) service, and you have to wonder what Sirius is thinking (if in fact these numbers are true). XM Radio Online offers up to 64kps - for free - to current subscribers. And if you want an Internet-only subscription, XMRO will only run you $7.99 and month.
I really hope Sirius has something more up their sleeve for this one.
[Sirius Backstage]
UPDATED: Music will actually be provided in "CD quality" and talk in 48kps.
I know what they are thinking... they are hoping this will help them keep from raising subscription prices, or at least delay it.
So right now, the only thing streaming at 48kps is The Stern Show?
I just noticed that...
Ryan- Just to clarify the music channels will stream at 128kbps with SIR Plus. The talk channels will stream at 48kbps.
Still below XM's standard 64kbps stream. I hope XM won't attempt the same thing because I really don't think it's going to draw in more revenue for Sirius and if it does then "wow". Maybe if XM did it then they would bump it up from 64 to 96 or 128kbps. Anyways we'll see how this one pans out for Sirius.
You guys are misreading the post. Its CD quality sound for the music stations and 48kbps for select talk stations. I don't think internet only subs will sell but I bet people who want music with better sound quality will fork up the 2.99 a month.
actually if you re read what SBS posted, it says that the sirius channels will be cd quality, and the talk channels will be 48kps.
Tries not to take a jab at music content providers who get the shaft up next to the King of all of Sirius's Money.
The king of getting new subs and putting sirius on the map.
Maybe sirius executives think people will pay this much for the service. I think it should come free with your subscription. It does beg the question what more comes with the service.
I would hope XM keeps the 64kbps free... since that seems to be about what my network at work can handle without constantly rebuffering... and the quality's pretty decent.
Maybe Sirius plans to stream ALL their channels. As far as I know I think XM only stream selected music and Bob Edwards, no other talk
Well I'm sure if XM did something like this and added more channels to it's online lineup, it come at a higher rate and also add more bandwidth but at the same time they would give you the option to keep the 32k low bandwidth stream and also have the option for 64k also.
TVGenius...sounds like your work needs a updated network. Either that or someone needs to find your bottlenecks.
This is purely for those folks who want to listen to Stern, but don't want to buy any hardware. There's alot of people who have been waiting for this.
Since I get it free with my sub, I'm not going to bother upgrading. The sound quality difference between 32KBS and 48K is pretty minimal and I have my Ipod for music.
As far as I know I think XM only stream selected music and Bob Edwards, no other talk
XM202 is streamed as well. Opie & Anthony and Ron & Fez available online.
I wonder if Sirus is going to try and get some deals with other media players so consumers aren't stuck with just the online interface and the Yahoo! widget some guy put together.
"I wonder if Sirus is going to try and get some deals with other media players so consumers aren't stuck with just the online interface..."
That would be great if they did. Their online interface sucks and barely works on the Mac (I think there's some annoying ActiveX issue)...
I like the deal @ 2.99 although free would be much better of course.
I'm happy because the other stations that I listen to aren't available on their network now(ESPN Radio, ESPNews, NFL network, etc etc).
"I'm happy because the other stations that I listen to aren't available on their network now(ESPN Radio, ESPNews, NFL network, etc etc)."
and they still won't be. Sirius doenst have the rights to rebroadcast those over the internet if I am correct.
MarkS,
No idea. What would I be paying for then?
I agree with FaFaFluFly. If Sirius wants to do this, fine, (it's a bad idea) but people aren't going to be interested and eventually they will have to do something. We still don't know if Sirius did in fact reach an agreement with their other channels to stream all or if new online subs are just going to be $12.95 for CD-quality music & 48kbps (isn't it 49kbps for Howard?) talk channel.
" agree with FaFaFluFly. If Sirius wants to do this, fine, (it's a bad idea) but people aren't going to be interested and eventually they will have to do something. We still don't know if Sirius did in fact reach an agreement with their other channels to stream all or if new online subs are just going to be $12.95 for CD-quality music & 48kbps (isn't it 49kbps for Howard?) talk channel.
"
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Sirius cannot re-broadcast anything other than what they stream now. The rights to do so would be outrageous.
I believe there is one other benefit of this SIR service: people travelling out of the country that are in Wifi "hotspots" MAY be able to stream this channel content on their Stiletto. This has NOT BEEN CONFIRMED, but i've heard it's a possibility.
While I believe this to be a good idea, WiFi simply isn't global enough (yet) to be of much use, but it sure is a nice idea. Give it a couple of years.
>>This has NOT BEEN CONFIRMED
Consider it confirmed and it is the USA that is behind in the application of WiFi.
SIRIUS Internet Radio Plug-in for Windows Media Player
http://reickenbacker.com/SIRIUS/WebUI/Default.aspx
Features:
The SIRIUS Internet Radio Plug-in is a program that helps you listen
to the audio stream on sirius.com using Windows Media Player.
Enjoy commercial-free music, select talk programming and Howard Stern
(for SIRIUS Subscribers Only).
* Artist / Song Seek
* Real-Time Channel / Artist / Song Updates
* Song / Artist detail from Yahoo! Music
* Auto-Login (Saved Username / Password)
* Hundreds of Skins available!!!
* SIRIUS Account Management
Install SIRIUS Internet Radio Plug-in for Windows Media Player:
Download setup.exe
http://reickenbacker.com/SIRIUS/WebUI/download/Setup.zip
NOTICE: This project is in no way sponsored by or affiliated with SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
"SIRIUS" and related marks are trademarks of
SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. (http://www.sirius.com)
Installation Notes:
- Unzip the Setup.zip file
- Run Setup.exe
- Open Windows Media Player
- Go to: View, Plug-ins, SIRIUS Internet Radio
- Click Account, Account Login
- Select a channel!!! Your ready to go.
If you are not currently a SIRIUS subscriber, you can:
Sign up for a free 3-day pass on the SIRIUS website.
*You must have a valid SIRIUS account.
*You must be connected to the internet.
Prerequisites:
- .NET Framework 2.0
- Windows Installer 3.1
- Internet Explorer 6+
- Windows Media Player 10+
Version History:
1.0.0.1 BETA (09/10/2006)
-Initial release, works for me.
Contact Information:
Chris Reickenbacker
shivachrome@hotmail.com
What most people don't know is that along with the introduction of the premium 128KB streams, they actually lowered the quality of the free streams as well. I suspect this was at the behest of the marketing department who is hoping to get $2.99 a month upgrades from those who were previously happy with their included Internet stream.
The above plug-in does not seem to be working anymore.