 RAIN 10/2: Sirius XM offers a la carte; Sprint launches WiMax in Baltimore ·Oct 2, 11:15 AM SIRIUS XM LAUNCHES A LA CARTE AND “BEST OF BOTH” PACKAGESSirius XM Radio today is offering customers a pay-per-channel, a la carte option and customized satellite radio programming packages combining the top programming of the former satellite radio rivals. For $6.99/month, customers pick 50 channels, not including live sports or Howard Stern, which costs extra. A second $14.99/month a la carte plan lets customers pick 100 Sirius channels and certain XM channels, this time with premium channels available at no extra charge. Neither a la carte plan includes online streaming.
The company is also offering “Best of Both” packages, in which former XM subscribers can add Sirius channels and personalities like Stern, Martha Stewart, NFL, and Nascar. Likewise, there’s a package for previous Sirius subscribers which features Oprah, Opie & Anthony, and some NBA and NHL. SPRINT LAUNCHES WIMAX IN BALTIMORESprint launched its new WiMax mobile broadband service, which it calls Xohm (pronounced “Zoam”), this week in Baltimore. WiMAX is the “bigger and better” mobile technology capable of a transmission speed more than five times that of Wi-Fi, and with a range measured in miles, not feet. As InternetNews.com reports, “Initial service plans include a $25 monthly home subscription, a $30 ‘on-the-go’ plan and $10 day-pass program. Users can also choose a $50 monthly service option that allows use of two different WiMAX devices and unlimited data usage for life… Users can purchase XOHM-branded Samsung Express air cards for $59.99 and ZyXEL modems for $79.99 in order to enable the WiMAX access.” Sprint reportedly plans to roll out WiMax service in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Chicago next. Read more from InternetNews.com here.
SOUNDEX OFFERS NOTE OF CAUTION: WE’VE BEEN CLOSE BEFOREA Washington Post blog reports that SoundExchange has a “note of caution” for webcasters: Passage of the Webcaster Settlement Act was positive step, but it doesn’t guarantee a settlement. SoundExchange executive director John Simson (pictured), in a statement, said “We are hopeful, but we’ve been close at other times during the past 18 months… My hope is that we can quickly get back to the table and capitalize on the momentum.” Yesterday, in his Broadcast Law Blog (see RAIN here), attorney David Oxenford expressed a similar caveat, explaining that while the negotiation period had been extended and streamlined, until a settlement is actually reached, nothing has changed. Read more in the “Post I.T.” blog here. NAB ALSO HOPING TO MOVE QUICKLY ON ROYALTY NEGOTIATIONSThe NAB issued a statement yesterday following Senate passage of
the Webcaster Settlement Act, which will allow the music industry and Internet radio to negotiate a statutory royalty rate until February 15th. “With this legislation now headed to the White House for President Bush’s signature, NAB looks forward to sitting down quickly with SoundExchange to craft equitable streaming rates that enhance the online music experience and expose more artists to our listeners,” said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. Read the NAB press release here.
WESTERGREN OFFERS LESSON IN STAFF MANAGEMENTIn an interview with Smart Business, Pandora founder Tim Westergren explains how his company maximizes efficiency by “empowering his 125 employees to make decisions with the fewest number of people necessary.” The short interview, which focuses on how to improving workplace efficiency and implementing a major culture change at your company, is here.share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
