My radio is up for renewal and I learned tonight they have a lifetime subscription for $399. I can add the Best of Sirius package for an additional $100 for a total of $500.

I can transfer the subscription to a different radio up to 3 times for $75/ea.

Has anyone done this yet?

I'd love to get on this (five year average would be 6.75/mo), but with the merger still so new, with the two companies continuing to synergize and change channel lineups and subscription plans, and with their huge amounts of debt and a low stock price, I can't help but think I wouldn't get $500 of service before the company goes belly up.

1/13/2009 10:36:37 PM

i doubt you'll find much guidance here, nobody can predict the future.

i got the sirius lifetime for $400 a year ago or so, but the situation looks much more bleak now than it did then...especially when you think about their losses, their stock prices and the frozen credit markets

and even if they pull through this, i wonder how the lifetimes will be treated. i'm assuming they'll pick one of the technologies/equipment to run with, so what happens to the lifetime contracts from the other equipment type? grandfathered in? who the hell knows.

i did recently transfer mine though, from one receiver to another. they tried to say something about htat $75 and I said a bunch of my friends didn't get charged and i'd rather not pay it...and the dude had no issue with it...so odds are good for escaping that charge

1/13/2009 10:39:10 PM

yeah, i wouldn't go for it if i were you.

i've been paying monthly for years now and it's never really bothered me that i could have gotten a lifetime subscription.

1/13/2009 10:40:35 PM

i do the quarterly plan with sirius + best of xm

i dont think that it is worth the risk quite yet

1/13/2009 10:48:55 PM

i was gonna get the best of sirius package but i didn't really see anything i wanted

1/13/2009 11:26:56 PM

a lifetime subscription isn't worth it. the best deal, IMO, is usually around the 3-month range. you may save 10% by having a 12 month subscription, but consider that if your unit breaks, or you want to cancel, chances are you're probably paid up on it for the next 6 months.

1/14/2009 1:43:54 AM

You don't save anything with the quarterly. Discounts only start if you go for the yearly plan or higher.

I'd like to try the Best of Sirius before I buy it, but they won't let me do that if I get the lifetime package. (wtf, mate?) I'd like to get it for Howard Stern but I don't know if I would really listen to him that much.

I've been able to get them to waive the fee to transfer the subscription from one unit to another. Usually if the unit fails they cut you a break.

1/14/2009 8:26:12 AM

even without the unit failing, seems like if you ask they just do it

1/14/2009 10:34:46 AM

I wouldn't bet on Howard being around much more. He might do a 2-3 day week after this contract runs out in another year, or he may be gone altogether if the company doesn't toss enough money his way.

His show has gotten old and I subscribed to listen for a bit. But I found nothing like the old Howard, so I cancelled and went back to just listening to O&A.

I personally would NOT buy the lifetime package myself.

1/14/2009 10:48:12 AM

Quote :

"His show has gotten old and I subscribed to listen for a bit. But I found nothing like the old Howard, so I cancelled and went back to just listening to O&A."

well in all fairneess, there seems to be some sort of grudge thing between O&A fans and Stern...and it seems to be one way to me. I don't know if it's jealousy or what.

So given your extreme dislike of stern for the last few years (at least), I wouldn't expect you to like his program

http://brentroad.com/message_search.aspx?type=posts&searchstring=stern&username=Nighthawk&usertype=match&sortby=date&sortorder=descending&page=

I can only guess that O&A fans are fueled by O&A or something, cause I don't understand where its coming from. Sounds like that's the case:

Quote :

"On October 25, 2007, it was revealed that Opie and Anthony's weekly satellite audience was 216,800 - well behind the numbers alleged by their former rival, Howard Stern. Opie and Anthony contest the numbers and say they make more for XM than Howard does for Sirius."

Quote :

"Host Anthony Cumia does impressions of various personalities such as Charlton Heston, Don West, Sylvester Stallone...and Howard Stern"

1/14/2009 12:44:41 PM

Quote :

"Back to current day, O&A and their "Pests" have been wreaking havoc with portions of Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio channels. Recently, Scott Ferrell's test run on Sirius was derailed by O&A's fan base as they inundated and controlled the phone lines making it impossible for Ferrell to get a caller on the air that wasn't a fan of O&A. O&A have also been pointing out what they call more hypocrisy by Stern for taking off certain Fridays, playing audio of Stern, Robin Quivers and Artie Lange discussing why it is important to be in the studio five days a week. "If you are not there on Fridays, then you are doing a disservice to your audience," says Stern in the audio clip. "If you are going to do this job, then you show up every day and give it your best." "

yeah it's all making sense now

1/14/2009 1:42:25 PM

had my sirius lifetime sub for 3 years now. transfered my unit recently and they ddint charge me the 75 either.

worth it for me, but who knows how itll go.

1/14/2009 1:43:03 PM

^ well hopefully you'll get to the point where it's all gravy...have you calculated that date yet?

1/14/2009 1:49:20 PM

i think the 4 year mark is the breakeven point if you get yearly subscriptions. monthly im right about at the breakeven.

1/14/2009 2:03:14 PM

xm is just like TWC on the promotions, when yours is about up call and cancel... there is the ole trusty 'retentions' department that will offer you some crazy offer like 12 months for $77... at least this is what i do cause im an ass hole like that ;-)

1/14/2009 2:27:35 PM

That $75 transfer charge is bs. I've transferred my sub to 2 different radios and have yet been fined.

1/15/2009 6:04:09 AM

O&A > Stern.... HOWEVER.

I MUCH prefer Covino and Rich (Maxim Radio). Their show is ALWAYS more entertaining that either of the aforementioned.

I also side that Sirius (1.5 yr) is better than my XM (had it 4 yrs).

and I would NOT do a lifetime plan to try and save money.... I'll sell you my 1800 shares of sirius for a bargain price though!

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 11:49 AM. Reason : earg]

1/15/2009 11:49:08 AM

i will give ya $10 to take those share off your hands

1/15/2009 11:55:20 AM

what is sad, is that is about 4% of the total shares.....

1/15/2009 3:30:55 PM

Quote :

"O&A > Stern"

chicken > beef
country > rock
purple > green
IE > firefox
cnn > msnbc
salt > pepper
...

1/15/2009 4:56:12 PM

you forgot western > eastern

1/15/2009 5:52:26 PM

I'm still pissed off that Squizz and Fox Business is gone. I'm hoping a cellular data solution is around the bend to compete. Too many crappy channels since the merger.

1/15/2009 9:34:40 PM

sirius might not even be around much longer - they have a mountain of debt maturing in 2009. Just check out their stock price, that says it all

1/17/2009 4:29:04 PM