Radio about to go higher tech

May 23, 2001
Web posted at: 7:52 a.m. EDT (1152 GMT)

Artist drawing of a satellite radio receiver

By Amanda Barnett
CNN

(CNN) -- You can't surf the Web, you can't watch TV and your local government may be about to ban you from talking on your cell phone. What's a motorist stuck in traffic to do?

The answer may be flying overhead.

The average American spends 36 hours per year in traffic, up from 11 hours in 1982, according to a recent study from the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University in College Station.

That's a lot of idle time and two companies hope drivers are willing to pay to ease their boredom.

Sirius Satellite Radio, based in New York, and competitor XM Satellite Radio, based in Washington, D.C., have launched satellites to upgrade an old, familiar medium for road warriors: the radio.

Now, instead of a handful of local stations, listeners will be able to pick from about 100 channels -- for a price.

"It flips the concept of radio on its head," said Joe Capobianco, senior vice president for content for Sirius.

Capobianco means satellite radio will be aimed at listeners instead of advertisers. But listeners who now get free radio will have to pay a minimum of $9.95 a month for satellite delivery.

Consumers also will have to buy equipment. Special receivers to capture the satellite signal start at about $150.00. At least 24 different models of satellite radio receivers are in the works. XM and Sirius predict that eventually, cars will be equipped with the new receivers already installed.

Not quite ready to rock and roll

Sony plans to offer a portable satellite radio receiver

Both companies have their satellites in orbit, two for XM and three for Sirius. Neither company would give a hard start date for service.

Charles Robbins, director of program communications for XM says his company's two Boeing satellites, named Rock and Roll, are both undergoing testing and that service for consumers would start in late summer. The satellites will provide coverage for the continental United States, but won't reach Hawaii or Alaska.

To prevent dropout for motorists driving around mountains, through tunnels, or between tall buildings, XM is setting up as many as 1,500 repeaters on the ground to boost the satellite signal.

Sirius has three satellites in orbit and also will use ground repeaters where needed to push the signal around tall structures.

Both companies say their signals will be better than current FM signals. Capobianco with Sirius says the sound will be crystal clear.

All music, all the time

Both satellite radio companies promise more songs and fewer commercials, music to the ears of radio fans everywhere.

For $9.95 per month, XM will offer 100 channels, some with commercial-free formats. Other channels will have up to 6 minutes of ads per hour, according to Robbins.

Sirius promises 100 channels for $12.95, including 50 commercial-free music stations.

But don't expect to hear any of your favorite AM or FM stations on the satellite band. Neither company will rebroadcast local stations; both have hired their own programmers and disc jockeys.

Radio for the rest of us

The formats will include many that aren't available on the broadcast band in some cities including reggae, jazz, classical and dance. Also, some channels will be provided by companies like Bloomberg, Fox, NPR, AP Radio, the BBC, C-Span and CNN.

And if you like a station, you can listen as long as you like, even if your commute takes you cross-country. Unlike local stations that have a limited broadcast range, the satellite stations will be nationwide.

Consumers shouldn't have to learn any new tricks to operate the radios, a welcome relief for motorists trying to keep at least one eye on the traffic. The new receivers will simply add a third button. And if a listener does want to hear a local station for traffic or weather, they simply push a button to go back to AM or FM.

Satellite radios also will work in homes and office buildings. At least one company, Sony, offers a portable receiver.