I think you are referring to the "Best of Sirius" extra-cost option available
to XM customers. I believe it will allow you to listen to the formerly
"exclusive to Sirius" programming featuring Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, et al.
More to your point, when Howard Stern was first signed to Sirius, subscribers
had to pay an extra amount to get the Howard Stern channels, so that group of
listeners would be a rough "listening audience" figure for his shows. I don't
know if Sirius eventually included Howard Stern in all subscription packages as
part of re-pricing effort. XM did to that a while ago with Opie & Anthony.
They raised the basic package rate, and included what were formerly extra cost
items (Opie & Anthony and online listening.)
The group of listeners who have paid to purchase the extra-cost programming
probably forms the number used to describe the listening audience.
There are also online listening options for both Sirius and XM subscribers, but
I believe that the online listening options mirror those on the satellite
line-up (e.g., you pay extra for Howard Stern and the other personalities.)
Thus, that listening group is going to equal the size of the radio listening
audience.
I doubt that the satellite units transmit info back to the company. I can't
remember the issue date, but an article in 2600 some time ago described the
process XM used to enable/disable satellite receivers. Basically, XM transmits
a key to the individual radio (e.g. when you sign up for service you are
instructed to leave the satellite receiver on for several hours) with a command
to enable or disable programming. If you cancel the service (or report your
radio stolen) XM will transmit a signal that disables your specific radio.
That signal has to be run up to the satellite and/or through the XM terrestrial
repeaters. There is probably plenty of stuff on the web about that, but I
haven't looked around.
I have had XM service since 2005 and I am still getting used to the
channel changes instituted on 11/12/08 as part of the XM-Sirius
merger. In some cases the playlist/music appears to be the same with
just a different channel name and number assigned. In other cases the
channel changes appear to be more substantive.
xm and sirius are now ONE.
the channels have been scrambled, and i now have the thrill of listening to HS
on XM receiver, if i so choose.
i wondered, because i wonder how large his audience to be.
At 09:50 AM 11/14/2008, you wrote:
>No. Howard Stern is on Sirius.
>
>On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 9:13 AM, gerald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> can xm radio track my listening habits? do they know how many are listening
>> to howard stern?
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