Satellite Service

A subset of Sirius’ music channels are included as part of the DISH Network satellite television service. Canadian channels available on Sirius Canada will include the CBC’s English and French radio networks (CBC Radio One, CBC Radio Two, La Première Chaîne, Espace musique) and new channels built from the CBC’s web services CBC Radio Three and Bandeapart. Many digital satellite providers now bundle DVR systems with their decoder box.

Unlike XM Radio, Sirius Radio does not use GEO satellites fro its satellite radio services. As of 2005, Sirius receivers are available for various new Ford, BMW, Volkswagen, and DaimlerChrysler vehicles, and the service plans on adding availability for portable use. On March 1, 2004, XM Radio launched Instant Traffic and Weather Channels for major metropolitan markets in the United States.

XM Satellite Radio provides digital programming directly from three satellites in geostationary orbit above the equator. XM Radio features 160 digital channels XM Radios come as an option at select automobile dealerships.

XM Radio's automobile manufacturing partners include General Motors Corporation, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Toyota, Audi, and Nissan North America. Satellite radio is a subscription service that offers you a wide variety of entertainment, including music, news, sports, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather services, and much more. Plug-and-play satellite radios are compact units that work with sets of accessories to play over both your car and home stereos.

While none of the digital satellite systems offered in the United States are truly on-demand, Great Britain’s SKY provider offers on-demand and interactive material. Terk makes a single XM radio that works with a variety of stereo brands. To connect it to an XM-ready stereo, you just need to use an adapter cable designed specifically for your brand of stereo. Portable satellite radios that also store and play back MP3 files will soon be available. XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Radio both have looked at DirecTV's success and thought about how to attract that type of market to its product.