Max World: Finds From the Archives

People are considering whether it's worth their effort and expense to install satellite radio. But there was a time when fun and entertaining radio was available for the cost of listening to a few commercials. "And...It's Mild." The people who were part of this kind of radio did things in real time, not that it's necessarily an advantage, but it does have a spontaneity and continuity that's missing today. See this item: Max World: Finds From the Archives.

In the overall picture, radio has less importance in people's lives than in the past. With mp3 devices playing thousands of songs on demand, news on demand, podcasting, instant information on the internet, traditional radio and satellite radio are going to have to find a way to distinguish themselves in order to catch the consumer's attention. Sirius may have the right idea by having one compelling reason, Howard Stern, to attract customers. The rest of the channels could then be considered a bonus. XM is too much like regular radio, with fewer commercials. Their attempt at being different from regular radio is insignificant, although it may be enough for listeners hungering for even the slightest difference from what's on the commercial radio bands today. The back door delivery of satellite radio in cars may be a way to gain subscribers ("It's rolled into the monthly payment), but I know people who have the Onstar™™ receiver on the roof of their cars, but they don't subscribe to the service. It's not the latte factor (for the cost of a latte a day you can have Onstar™™ or satellite radio) it's just that the perceived value is not there. For others, it is.