There's no doubt that 2008 has been an incredible and trying year for satellite radio, but for Orbitcast - and for me, personally - it has been the biggest year, ever.
And so I just want to give a heartfelt thanks to everyone, and share some information about this year with you.
At the time of writing this, Orbitcast has experienced an incredible 3,515,818 visits for 2008. That's more than a 27 percent increase from 2007, and an increase of over 60 percent from two-years ago.
But what's most amazing to me is that this growth wasn't from the first half of the year (when all the DOJ/FCC merger buzz was consuming us all) - to my surprise, traffic actually grew markedly after the merger was consummated. On an average weekday, the site now gets between 13,000 to 15,000 visits, each day.
And it keeps on growing: month after month traffic is on the rise - making literally each and every month a record breaker since September (and that includes December, the best month to date).
Why am I tell you all this? Simply, just to thank you. From day-one, I've always said that I'm just "a guy with a keyboard" and that it's the readers, you, that make Orbitcast what it is.
Now there's more of you than ever before, and that's truly a great feeling. We're more than just a growing community, together we're a growing culture.
Many of you have watched it evolve from the very beginning (and watched me evolve over the past 4+ years), while there's many of you who are just coming on-board. But there's no hierarchy or tenure here. We all equally share a love, a passion (and, let's admit it, an obsession) for this unique medium. Satellite radio is more than just a stream of content or a chunk of electronics, it's a lifestyle.
So thank you for 2008, and for making this culture of ours grow stronger.
Happy New Year!
But what's most amazing to me is that this growth wasn't from the first half of the year (when all the DOJ/FCC merger buzz was consuming us all) - to my surprise, traffic actually grew markedly after the merger was consummated. On an average weekday, the site now gets between 13,000 to 15,000 visits, each day.
And it keeps on growing: month after month traffic is on the rise - making literally each and every month a record breaker since September (and that includes December, the best month to date).
Why am I tell you all this? Simply, just to thank you. From day-one, I've always said that I'm just "a guy with a keyboard" and that it's the readers, you, that make Orbitcast what it is.
Now there's more of you than ever before, and that's truly a great feeling. We're more than just a growing community, together we're a growing culture.
Many of you have watched it evolve from the very beginning (and watched me evolve over the past 4+ years), while there's many of you who are just coming on-board. But there's no hierarchy or tenure here. We all equally share a love, a passion (and, let's admit it, an obsession) for this unique medium. Satellite radio is more than just a stream of content or a chunk of electronics, it's a lifestyle.
So thank you for 2008, and for making this culture of ours grow stronger.
Happy New Year!
Thank you Ryan.I have a lot of fun reading and jumping in on discussions for like you said is a obsession as satellite radio is the best medium out there.It also better stay alive or we wont have anything to praise or complain about here.i personally do not I repeat do not think its going away any time soon.Lets see what 09 brings as we have come a long way since i was a kid and AM radio 50,000 watt flame throwers like WKBW WABC CLKW WLS WERE PLAYING ALL THE HITS WE WANTED AND COULD STAND TO HEAR STATIC AND DRIFTING IN AND OUT ASIDE.Happy 2009 to all!!!!
Holy crap! I knew you had traffic Ryan but those are outstanding numbers! Do you mind if I ask how many articles you've written?
Happy New Year!!
siriusxm will be history sometime in 2009. Ryan will upgrade Orbitcast to HDradiocast to keep up with the industry.
Ryan, Happy New Year and thanks for being the go-to source for our (for now) favorite platform. I have to admit that Slacker is growing on me, but in the meantime, SXM is doing a decent job of fighting the good fight for people like me who grew up in the days of AM Radio.
Now that the combined lineup has been offered for about 3 months, here are my favorite channels:
1. The Virus [fat gay man says "What?"]
2. Grateful Dead Radio
3. Bluegrass Junction (Kyle Cantrell rules)
4. Howie 101 (Ferrelophone)
5. Margaritaville ( I'm not even ghey)
6. Deep Tracks
7. Howie 100 (hoo-hoo)
8. The Spa ( see item 5)
thj
Thanks Ryan, I have always felt Orbitcast was a top notch site for Siris/XM news. The work you did on the merger was superior to anything else out there. I hope 2009 is bigger/better for Orbitcast!
@banff21: In total, I've written 4,657 entries on Orbitcast. Roughly about 1,000 posts/year.
Thank you everyone, and have a Happy New Year! I know we're wrought with negativity lately, but I share the sentiment that Sirius XM will be around for many years to come.
Happy New Year Ryan! Good work!
Orbitcast is one of my favorite websites.
Thanks Ryan!
Thanks a ton Ryan for keeping this site going. I had viewed this towards the beginning when doing a search for O&A and I've been stuck on it ever since. It's been a fun ride watching this turn into a real "force" in the sat radio community and seeing it referenced across meduims has been a treat to hear.
I can't go without thanking you for being a tangable, honest and down-to-earth guy. I've thrown a few emails on and off toipc your way and you've always great at interacting with toe O-Cast community.
Many more linger longer years to the sat community and to Orbitcast!! And to Ryan: Good luck Bro!! Your mom's box!
thanks for the great site....and may the power of dice compel you! and props to O&A for shouting out your site a while back!
Ryan...you have always been a cool guy with me and this site is a blast. Orbitcast will continue to grow since it's in my opnion bigger than just the SatRad industry. Your site reminds me of engadget but not so uptight and a small community feel to it. Thanks for a great site...
Ryan. Outstanding stats and it's good to see such passion for the medium. Even the negative stuff here proves that people, although many displeased by changes, have a passion for satrad. Great to see and applause for your forum.
I love this site!
Thank you! I usually check Orbitcast a few times a day just see what's going on with Sirius XM. I have found out more from reading your column then I ever did just going to XM's webpage. Thanks for keeping me/us updated.
Thanks for all your work Ryan, and a Happy New Year! Keep up the great work. Your site has been in my favorites for quite a few years.
Thank you, Ryan, for an excellent & informative site. Hope your 2009 is even better.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ron and Fez noon to three
Thanks Ryan, You site is still the place to be with the news!!!
May The Force Be With You In 2009 :)
Happy New Year... Good luck in 2 0.0 9 !!
Ryan IS the man..
Well, it has been a wild year. I didn't expect to see the merger get through (at least not without ridiculous concessions). I started the year as someone who still extolled its virtues to anyone who asked how I liked it.
Today I ended the year by cancelling both me & my wife's subs. We've both fallen in love with Slacker. Mine's refreshing, she just picked one up on Sellout.woot yesterday. My mom likes hers too, and may get another, and may cancel their Sirius account.
What a year.
Either way, I'll still be around to support Orbitcast, and if something amazing happens I may come back to XM, but the next year looks pretty scary for their financials to me.
Thanks for the great ride, Ryan!
Thanks Ryan,
For providing a GREAT site for all great SiriusXM news. I can get through a day without visiting your site at least 10 times (give or take) in a day. Keep up the great work!
Happy New Years to you Ryan.
Congrats on another great year, Ryan. you are THE news source for SatRad.
Hope 2009 includes a return of Orbitcast Radio. Loved that feature!
You did a great job in covering the merger that occurred over the summer and all of the bs that went on with FCC. Keep up the good work. I am a big fan for sat radio. Hopefully, siriusxm will survive the credit crunch and move on to greener pastures.
Thanks
Happy New Year? Try telling that to Bob Edwards. According to his Facebook and DCRTV.com, it looks like his days at XM are numbered. Sad to a whole new level!
Great..... sirius will prob give bob edwards his own channel!
@tom wilson: I just received notice from Bob Edwards himself that his Facebook status was taken TOTALLY out of context. I've retracted my post as a result. Check DCRTV - Dave updated as well to clear the air.
All is well between Bob Edwards and Sirius XM Radio. They've even expanded airings of the show.
It's been a roller coaster year for the Sat-radio industry and us listeners. Thanks for keeping us informed. Thanks to the "insiders" for keeping Ryan informed as well.
Ryan,
Thanks for giving those of us who love satellite radio a forum to speak our minds. I have spent hours typing up my opinions and reading those of the other who post here. Oribitcast is the only site that I check out on a daily basis. You do an excellent job keeping us all informed. I look forward to 2009 and seeing what happens with Satellite. 2008 was a stressful time to be an XM subscriber. Hope the New Year proves to be better for us, but even if it's not, it's nice to know I have a place to go to get accurate and unbiased information regarding satellite.
Thanks,
Ed Baxter