XM and NPR

[Truth]

With the recent debate here over XM not having NPR, I thought this quote
from the latest issue of Radio World was interesting....

From Page 18, November 17, 2004 Issue:
------------------------------------------------------------------

XM, the current leader with 2.5 million subscribers paying $9.95 per
month, offers news channels such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox News Channel,
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, as well as XM Public Radio, featuring the Bob
Edwards Show.

Sirius is trying to come from behind, with only 600,000 subscribers
paying $12.95 per month. The rival services require different
satellite radio receivers, setting up a possible VHS/Betamax situation,
where people are stuck with orphaned technology.

Sirius also offers mainly repurposed material from CNBC, Fox News
Channel, NPR, CNN, etc. While Sirius is doing cartwheels over getting
Howard Stern and his millions of listeners, it hasn't shown the desire
to create it's own news programs.

[John A. Weeks III]

In article <41992BBF.50E57766@sucks.com>, Truth <yenc@sucks.com> wrote:

> With the recent debate here over XM not having NPR, I thought this quote
> from the latest issue of Radio World was interesting....
>
> From Page 18, November 17, 2004 Issue:
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> XM, the current leader with 2.5 million subscribers paying $9.95 per
> month, offers news channels such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox News Channel,
> NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, as well as XM Public Radio, featuring the Bob
> Edwards Show.
>
> Sirius is trying to come from behind, with only 600,000 subscribers
> paying $12.95 per month. The rival services require different
> satellite radio receivers, setting up a possible VHS/Betamax situation,
> where people are stuck with orphaned technology.
>
> Sirius also offers mainly repurposed material from CNBC, Fox News
> Channel, NPR, CNN, etc. While Sirius is doing cartwheels over getting
> Howard Stern and his millions of listeners, it hasn't shown the desire
> to create it's own news programs.

It is funny when people who have no clue what-so-ever get in a
position to be able to publish such drivel and have it come off
as authortative info. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

In paragraph #1, the NPR thing is wrong. If it was CNN, it would
be OK.

In paragraph #2, both XM and Sirius need their own satellite
recievers. If either go down, the listeners are stuck with a box
that is little more than a paperweight. That is not a drawback
specific to Sirius.

In paragraph #3, both Sirius and XM carry CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox
News, etc. Neither one produces their own news show. In fact,
XM had their own satellite news channel when they first started,
but the canned it within a year. Both systems are doing cartwheels
over getting their respective shock-jocks, and neither system is
showing a desire to create its own news programs.

-john-

--
====================================================================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708 john@johnweeks.com
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
====================================================================

[Boston Blackie]

In article <41992BBF.50E57766@sucks.com>, Truth <yenc@sucks.com> wrote:

> XM, the current leader with 2.5 million subscribers paying $9.95 per
> month, offers news channels such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox News Channel,
> NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, as well as XM Public Radio, featuring the Bob
> Edwards Show.

The press routinely reports that A "Prairie Home Companion" is on NPR.
So what else is new?

[Truth]

> > XM, the current leader with 2.5 million subscribers paying $9.95 per
> > month, offers news channels such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox News Channel,
> > NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, as well as XM Public Radio, featuring the Bob
> > Edwards Show.
> >
> > Sirius is trying to come from behind, with only 600,000 subscribers
> > paying $12.95 per month. The rival services require different
> > satellite radio receivers, setting up a possible VHS/Betamax situation,
> > where people are stuck with orphaned technology.
> >
> > Sirius also offers mainly repurposed material from CNBC, Fox News
> > Channel, NPR, CNN, etc. While Sirius is doing cartwheels over getting
> > Howard Stern and his millions of listeners, it hasn't shown the desire
> > to create it's own news programs.
>
> It is funny when people who have no clue what-so-ever get in a
> position to be able to publish such drivel and have it come off
> as authortative info. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
>
> In paragraph #1, the NPR thing is wrong.

Just goes to show you that MOST people consider NPR and "Public Radio" to mean
the same thing. I sure do. What is interesting about this article, is
that they go on to point out both NPR and XM's public radio channel, sort of
saying that they DO see a difference, yet believe XM has both. There is
only the ONE public radio channel on XM, not two.

> In paragraph #2, both XM and Sirius need their own satellite
> recievers. If either go down, the listeners are stuck with a box
> that is little more than a paperweight. That is not a drawback
> specific to Sirius.

You didn't understand. Read again: (note the reference to VHS/Betamax)

> The rival services require different
> satellite radio receivers, setting up a possible VHS/Betamax situation,
> where people are stuck with orphaned technology.

In other words, when VHS won the public, those with Beta were stuck with an
expensive paperweight and can't rent movies or buy tapes for it anymore.

When the public chooses XM or Sirrius, those that have the radio from the
service that dies, are stuck with an expensive radio that is worthless as it
can't play the other service, just as Beta can't play VHS tapes.

What was interesting, is that I not only pointed this out before, but even
chose the VHS/Beta analogy, and here comes an article from someone else with
the same exact statements and even uses the same exact analogy.

---------------------------
Let's look at your statement again:
If either go down, the listeners are stuck with a box
that is little more than a paperweight. That is not a drawback
specific to Sirius.

Now replace the word Sirius with Beta. Read it again with that word in
place.

It IS a drawback specific to Sirius, just as it was specific to Beta and not
VHS.

The consumer has selected XM over Sirius. After this Christmas, take a
look at the subscriber numbers if you don't think the great difference that
exists now is enough for you.

Sure, many people dove in and bought Beta decks not waiting to see which
format won, and they ended up with expensive paperweights and had to go out
and buy VHS decks anyway. I waited, like did many people, and got the VHS
after we saw that format won the public.

I waited until just recently to get XM. I saw that it was the winner of the
public. Yet many are running out and buying Sirius, just as they bought
Beta machines before.

Eventually, they will have a Sirrius paperweight, and will have to go out and
buy an XM radio in the end anyway.

XM has a lot more influential people and businesses on their side too, so it
is not just going to be the people's choice, but they can play dirty and force
Sirius out too.

I am just trying to help everyone not get stuck with an expensive
paperweight. For those that have not decided between the two yet, I say
this... Wait until after Christmas, only a few weeks away, and see what
happens. If anything, you will end up getting your radio cheaper on sale
anyway after the holidays.

> In paragraph #3, both Sirius and XM carry CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox
> News, etc. Neither one produces their own news show.

What about that Bob guy they got from NPR? Isn't he exclusive to XM?
They also have neat little mini informative news programs during commercial
breaks on all the talk channels.

I like those. Much rather hear something interesting about a consumer
product, this day in history, or something else rather than a commercial that
would have been in that place instead.

> In fact,
> XM had their own satellite news channel when they first started,
> but the canned it within a year. Both systems are doing cartwheels
> over getting their respective shock-jocks, and neither system is
> showing a desire to create its own news programs.

Then again, creating their own Public Radio channel, rather than putting on
NPR would seem to sort of support their point a bit.

Not that I care either way. Who cares if it is their own news program or
not? Between CNN, and the other news networks, why would we want XM or
Sirrius to waste time and money trying to do what the other networks are
already set up to do much better.

It's like McDonalds trying to serve health foods.

[Truth]

> The press routinely reports that A "Prairie Home Companion" is on NPR.
> So what else is new?

It is. I hear promos for it on NPR all the time during Car Talk.

[Bob Haberkost]

"Truth" <yenc@sucks.com> wrote in message news:41992BBF.50E57766@sucks.com...
> With the recent debate here over XM not having NPR, I thought this quote
> from the latest issue of Radio World was interesting....
>
> From Page 18, November 17, 2004 Issue:
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> XM, the current leader with 2.5 million subscribers paying $9.95 per
> month, offers news channels such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox News Channel,
> NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, as well as XM Public Radio, featuring the Bob
> Edwards Show.

And you actually admit that you believe everything your read?
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If there's nothing that offends you in your community, then you know you're not
living in a free society.
Kim Campbell - ex-Prime Minister of Canada - 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For direct replies, take out the contents between the hyphens. -Really!-

[bugman]

Er..........................Bringing Howard Stern in house and
unrestricted does not count as creating their own programming?
>

[John A. Weeks III]

In article <41994764.B19A187F@sucks.com>, Truth <yenc@sucks.com> wrote:

> > The press routinely reports that A "Prairie Home Companion" is on NPR.
> > So what else is new?
>
> It is. I hear promos for it on NPR all the time during Car Talk.

Prairie Home Companion is produced by Minnesota Public Radio, and
it is syndicated by American Public Media, which just changed its
name from American Public Radio. NPR is not involved. The give
away for such programs is the short 5-second violin music at the
start of the show, followed by the line "from Minnesota Public
Radio" or "from American Public Media". Sound Money and Marketplace
are in the category.

Certain radio stations that also happen to subscribe to National
Public Radio shows also happen to subscribe to certain American
Public Media shows. Thus, Prairie Home Companion can run on a
station that is affiliated with NPR, but it can also run on a
station that is not affiliated with NPR. There are many non-NPR
public stations, and there are several non-NPR public radio
networks such as American Public Media and Public Radio International.

As an analogy, consider Star Trek. It was produced by Paramont,
and it was carried on NBC for the first run. That doesn't mean
that NBC was a Paramont station, nor does it mean that Star Trek
was an NBC show. It just happened to run on NBC. Star Trek
later ran in syndication on many other stations. Our local CBS
station ran it for a while. That doesn't mean that the CBS
station carried NBC shows.

Car Talk is an NPR show, so if you hear it, odds are pretty high,
but not 100%, that you are listening to an NPR affiliated station.

This really isn't that hard of a concept.

-john-

--
====================================================================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708 john@johnweeks.com
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
====================================================================

[Truth]

> > > The press routinely reports that A "Prairie Home Companion" is on NPR.
> > > So what else is new?
> >
> > It is. I hear promos for it on NPR all the time during Car Talk.
>
> Prairie Home Companion is produced by Minnesota Public Radio, and
> it is syndicated by American Public Media, which just changed its
> name from American Public Radio. NPR is not involved.

The rest of us are saying an orange is the same as an orange, and you are
comparing where each orange was grown and trying to make the argument to be
comparing oranges to apples.

It's PUBLIC RADIO! Shows like Car Talk and Prarie Home Companion are
played on PUBLIC RADIO stations across the country. We consider them all
oranges. Who cares where the oranges were grown, they all taste like
orange.

> As an analogy, consider Star Trek. It was produced by Paramont,
> and it was carried on NBC for the first run. That doesn't mean
> that NBC was a Paramont station, nor does it mean that Star Trek
> was an NBC show. It just happened to run on NBC. Star Trek
> later ran in syndication on many other stations.

And any station that airs Star Trek, becomes a Star Trek station. Just as
any station that plays public radio programs is public radio.

> Car Talk is an NPR show, so if you hear it, odds are pretty high,
> but not 100%, that you are listening to an NPR affiliated station.

Never will hear it on anything but a public radio station, the show is not set
up for commercial stations with their breaks and whatnot.

> This really isn't that hard of a concept.

We just think of an orange as an orange, and you are too worried about what
sticker is on the orange and what city it was grown in.

We just care that it is an orange.

YOU need to have someone jump all over you now about what makes a REAL NPR
station, and how many shows of what type makes the legal limit, or bla bla
bla, someone could be just an ass about it to you and take it one step deeper
just for the sake of argument.

Here is how to settle this problem. From now on, just use the term PUBLIC
RADIO, not NPR or anything else, then we will all be on the same track.

Forget the "N" just make it PR.

[Truth]

> > With the recent debate here over XM not having NPR, I thought this quote
> > from the latest issue of Radio World was interesting....
> >
> > From Page 18, November 17, 2004 Issue:
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > XM, the current leader with 2.5 million subscribers paying $9.95 per
> > month, offers news channels such as Bloomberg Radio, Fox News Channel,
> > NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, as well as XM Public Radio, featuring the Bob
> > Edwards Show.
>
> And you actually admit that you believe everything your read?

Or in your case, everything you DON'T read. Show me where you read my admission
of that. You didn't.

So you believe everything that you never read anywhere.

[Truth]

> Er..........................Bringing Howard Stern in house and
> unrestricted does not count as creating their own programming?

When have they ever actually done that? They never have. So you
can't count it yet.

In fact, I would bet that Sirius is not around by the time Stern gets
out of his current contract.

We shall see.

[Bob Haberkost]

"Truth" <yenc@sucks.com> wrote in message news:419A2F5B.1C26D5D1@sucks.com...

>> > > The press routinely reports that A "Prairie Home Companion" is on NPR.
>> > > So what else is new?

>> > It is. I hear promos for it on NPR all the time during Car Talk.

>> Prairie Home Companion is produced by Minnesota Public Radio, and
>> it is syndicated by American Public Media, which just changed its
>> name from American Public Radio. NPR is not involved.

> The rest of us are saying an orange is the same as an orange, and you are
> comparing where each orange was grown and trying to make the argument to be
> comparing oranges to apples.

> It's PUBLIC RADIO! Shows like Car Talk and Prarie Home Companion are
> played on PUBLIC RADIO stations across the country. We consider them all
> oranges. Who cares where the oranges were grown, they all taste like
> orange.

You were the one to make such a big stink about there being *N*PR programming on XM.
Now you want to disavow this? I'd say that Mr Weeks wins. Besides, NPR product is
actually quite different from PRI/APR, as much of the NPR product is news-based,
whereas PRI is largely entertainment....entertainment for the elite, but
entertainment all the same.

That said, XM clearly lacks NPR programming. It duplicates the PRI and BBC content
that's on Sirius which also has World Radio Network and will have (I'm betting) CBC
Radio One, Premiere Chaine, CBC Radio 3 and Band-a-Parte, all utterly
commercial-free. So, as far as "public radio" goes, Sirius wins in a walk.

> Forget the "N" just make it PR.

Yeah. Easily said. Wish you two had done this days ago.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If there's nothing that offends you in your community, then you know you're not
living in a free society.
Kim Campbell - ex-Prime Minister of Canada - 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For direct replies, take out the contents between the hyphens. -Really!-

[Bob Haberkost]

"Truth" <yenc@sucks.com> wrote in message news:419A3000.33BB9223@sucks.com...
>> Er..........................Bringing Howard Stern in house and
>> unrestricted does not count as creating their own programming?

> When have they ever actually done that? They never have. So you
> can't count it yet.

> In fact, I would bet that Sirius is not around by the time Stern gets
> out of his current contract.

> We shall see.

You will lose.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If there's nothing that offends you in your community, then you know you're not
living in a free society.
Kim Campbell - ex-Prime Minister of Canada - 2004
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For direct replies, take out the contents between the hyphens. -Really!-

[Truth]

> >> > > The press routinely reports that A "Prairie Home Companion" is on NPR.
> >> > > So what else is new?
>
> >> > It is. I hear promos for it on NPR all the time during Car Talk.
>
> >> Prairie Home Companion is produced by Minnesota Public Radio, and
> >> it is syndicated by American Public Media, which just changed its
> >> name from American Public Radio. NPR is not involved.
>
> > The rest of us are saying an orange is the same as an orange, and you are
> > comparing where each orange was grown and trying to make the argument to be
> > comparing oranges to apples.
>
> > It's PUBLIC RADIO! Shows like Car Talk and Prarie Home Companion are
> > played on PUBLIC RADIO stations across the country. We consider them all
> > oranges. Who cares where the oranges were grown, they all taste like
> > orange.
>
> You were the one to make such a big stink about there being *N*PR programming on XM.

Right, because just as I said, we are all talking about PUBLIC RADIO... Or just read
the above again about the oranges. SLOWER this time.

> > Forget the "N" just make it PR.
>
> Yeah. Easily said. Wish you two had done this days ago.

Oh good. You understood the point this time.