Satellite Radio
Does anyone have this?
For as long as it’s been out I thought it was the dumbest thing in the world. Pay for radio? What could they possibly offer that I would want to pay for and that I didn’t already have. Even as a semi-casual Howard Stern listener I just could not fathom it.
Well recently we got a new minivan, and it comes with a sweet video screen in the front and a year of satellite radio. And I’ll be goddamned if I’m not completely hooked. To the point where I get noticeably angry when I have to drive our other car without satellite radio. And I also only have a 7 minut commute in the morning.
And I also don’t even venture beyond the 12 pre-set stations you can enter in, so I don’t even know what other great stuff I might be missing. But even speaking of just those 12 that I listen to regularly I’m amazed at the content. Both the music that they play and the news and all the other stuff.
And now I find myself with no doubts that I’ll extend the subscription once the year free period runs out (which I suppose is their plan in implementing this deal in the first place) but also seriously contemplating it for our other car.
Comments
I had it, until the car it was installed in got totaled. I tired of it after a while, but Maria was in love with it: they have 2 or 3 hair metal stations that circulate a decent amount of music. Although, there were occasions where I felt like it was a top 40’s station from the 80’s. I only listened to the “liquid metal” station, and they didn’t play the types of metal that I like very often.
She wants to renew the subscription. I’m on the fence. We’ll probably be back on by Christmas.
They have one more old school metal station (Boneyard) that I like. There are 2-3 good indie rock stations I like. The hair metal ones are good for a pass through. I also get down with the Springsteen and Dead stations.
And hearing Howard Stern uncensored after only having heard the show on terestrial radio was disconcerting at first, but I’m used to it by now and like the fact that they replay the show at other hours since my morning commute is so short.
I liked it, but never renewed when the free part ran out. I was contemplating renewing, but the people kept calling me about it, even after I told them to stop, and after I told them to lose my number, and that their incessant cold calling alone guaranteed me never giving their company a dime.
So I’m kinda in a tough spot now.
I’m in the same exact boat as you. Free with my car, thought I wouldn’t renew, probably can’t live without it now. The uncensored Stern is way less cool than the fact that the show replays all day. I absolutely love that. I also get exposed to a ton of music that I wouldn’t otherwise, mostly on channel 26.
The only debate I have over satellite radio at this point is whether or not to get the lifetime subscription.
Jay said:I absolutely love that. I also get exposed to a ton of music that I wouldn’t otherwise, mostly on channel 26.
Seriously. That station is phenomenal. If I read about some buzz type band, I almost never have to actually go through the trouble of finding and downloading something I’m going to hate. There have been a ton of bands that heard about but wouldn’t bother checking out that I’ve heard on there and loved. And others I thought I might like until I heard them there and realized I shouldn’t bother.
All I ever want to listen to in the car is NPR. Music doesn’t usually keep my attention unless I’m a drunk passenger and want to sing.
Except for when Prairie Home Companion is on. Jesus Christ do I hate that show. It’s the only time, aside from the odd Phillies game that’s on when I’m driving someplace, that my dial leaves 90.9.
Even as far as NPR/talk radio/news/whatever programming this has a shit ton of that as well.
Prairie Home Companion is one of the worst things in the history of broadcasting. It always blows my mind that their live audience sounds enormous and spends the entire hour shrieking with laughter at the idea of a sponsor name being fictitious.
That parody of the show on The Simpsons perfectly sums up my utter confusion.
I also hate Car Talk, and seem to be the only person in the world that wants to take a buzzsaw to the voiceboxes of those two bulbous, burbling hosts.
Justin said:
I also hate Car Talk, and seem to be the only person in the world that wants to take a buzzsaw to the voiceboxes of those two bulbous, burbling hosts.
I don’t think we can be friends anymore.
I was the same way and, like you, it came with my new car. I’m addicted to BBC World and how much better journalism it presents than any media outlet in the states.