XM and Sirius, the two large satellite radio providers, have teamed up to offer reduced rate a la carte-style programming, including a new choice that will allow subscribers to choose both XM and Sirius stations of their own choosing.
For $6.99 a month, subscribers of either network will be able to select 50 channels from a list of 100, although XM subscribers will only have access to XM stations and Sirius subscribers will only have access to Sirius stations.
The big news is that a $14.99 program will allow listeners to choose 100 channels of both Sirius and XM programming together, allowing them to switch between the two networks with one receiver.
Regular $12.99 per month programming of all stations on one network will continue, as well as a new $16.99 program that offers full XM or Sirius subscription and some channels from the other network.
The system will be finalized at the end of the summer and we’re expecting automakers to offer the services effective shortly thereafter. XM and Sirius say that no equipment upgrade will be necessary, so there should be no foreseeable delay in automakers offering the services.
