Sirius XM Unveil Mirge Interoperable Radio
An interoperable radio has been on the wish list of hard core satellite radio fans for quite some time. Now that it has finally arrived in the form of the MiRGE, those fans find themselves asking one simple question. WHY? With the merged channel line-ups, and the BEST OF programming now available, there is little reason for subscribers to pay and additional $3 ($19.99 per month) for Sirius Everything or XM Everything, when BEST OF delivers almost identical content for $16.99.
The main reason behind the MiRGE is that it became an FCC requirement of the merger. Thus, because something made sense month or even years ago, the company needs to spend money today developing and dedicating shelf space to a device that was simply no longer needed.
To be fair, the Mirge will deliver some additional content, most of which will be on the sports and talk segments of the programming line-up. However, with rumored consolidation in that area of programming as well, the distinct differences that Mirge can deliver are scant at best.
While the Mirge does deliver a technological feat that many considered very important only two years ago, the announcement of the device is a hollow victory for satellite radio. Simply stated, the Mirge was outdated the second the channel consolidation happened. Seeing that the channel line-up predated the release of the Mirge, it will likely mean a short shelf life for the device.
All of that being said, the Mirge has promise of being a stable and reliable radio given that it is built on an already familiar platform. It also has potential to become a retail staple as a replacement receiver, given the fact that it allows users to pick their base service. I do not envision end users of the Merge becoming $19.99 per month dual subscribers though. The high point of the interoperable aspect of this device is not that you can subscribe to both or switch back and forth at a whim, but rather that you can have one device platform that allows you to select the base service you are familiar with.
Position – Long Sirius XM
Love the name!
I really think we need to look at this differently. Because of the different formats of the satellites, 2 receiver chips are needed for decoding.
I believe this radio is the future radio and all others will contain dual chipsets. When older radios pass on, this dual chipset receiver will allow much improved alacarte allowing sirius xm to double its capacity.
Im sure everyone is becoming familiar with the Direct HD Dish on the tops of houses with 3 to 5 LNBS (the fingers pointing at the dish) This allows your dish to pick up the different satellites, one broadcasts HD channels, One broadcasts local channels and another the spanish channels (this is generalized as im not sure the true breakup)
This is because the satellites can only broadcast so much info at one time.
This is a great thing that it came out so fast!
Satellites are in orbit! Do you realize the risk involved here? By having the core broadcasting on both systems, while integrating a dual-chip radio, it helps shield the overall company to technical malfunctions. And, in time, if they choose, they can use the majority of one system for purposes other than radio… brilliant.
While i think its great that its an option it truely doesnt benefit anyone that much anymore.
With the channel lineups becoming more and more the same this new toy offers little reason for anyone to buy it. Sooner or later, Probably sooner the channels are going to be the same for both companies. Even the talk, Sports and Key talkshow host (aka howard) are going to be the same for both services. It will take longer for somethings to become the same than others but we have to know its coming. This will remove the need of any device Of this kind. Why would anyone need access to both services if they play the exact same thing? As this article states id look for a very short shelf life for this product. Would have been great a year or more ago.
Like I said, think of this as “THE” receiver. Its only touted as interop because its a first of its kind. In several years sports and talk will be broadcast on one satellite system at a lower bandwidth (less detail, less continuous data streaming) and music will be on the other. Everyone will eventually need this type of radio.
Lower bandwidth meaning they can cram more on that half of the spectrum. Sports and talk don’t need as much bandwidth because the sound clarity isn’t required and the audio spectrum doesn’t fluctuate as much as music (think bass, midrange and treble simultaneously in a orchestra versuse a guy saying “and the batter swings…pause..strike one)
Will the Mirge offer alacarte programming?
Tyler, you know full well it is for the future of the company they did it. While the benifits will not come for a long time they will come and that being the extra spectrum that will be freed up. At least now they can start getting the radios switched out.
P.S. lets not forget this is a luxury item. I still feel most that subscribe are the ones in the top 30% income bracket. Most of these people want what they want and will pay to get it, if that means 3 buck a month to get it all then they will. I also feel that, for the reason I gave before, is one of the reasons SIRIXM has not seen the churn as high as this economy would have it. I also never like them having the penitration as high as it is as fast as it is in the OEMs. I do trust Mel though and if he wants to try and get the product out there that fast then I will give that to him because he is more intelligent in this bussiness then I am.
M hartless must be furious right now!
As long as you cannot get all MLB games or any at this point on Sirius and same for NFL, NBA & NHL, College sports, this is where the real value comes in.
I have a Sportster 5 and an Inno & would love to have all content on 1 device for $25/month. I would then maybe upgrade my Inno to best of Sirius with savings on the combined subscription, for portable content and take the wiring out of my car for this.
It’s much cleaner, so I’m all for this.
Thats exactly my point, and believe me you are not the only one.
The consolidation going on now will free up bandwidth for other channels and services. Perhaps even services like customizeable channels like pandora. You go online to set up your preferences, then your songs are downloaded via sat onto a HD in your sat radio. I see it as inevitable. More diverse channels could also be used by freed up content. Sat radio will only service if its content and services are better then everyone else. Whoever has the best content wins!
…this radio was made only because fcc made them do it.
Nobodys going to buy one because the programming is all the same. who would buy 1 of these?
If the fcc hadn’t required it no way would they have made this receiver. they won’t sell 10,000 of them before they announced it is being discontinued for lack of interest.
First of all If you were a betting man (or woman), I would bet you are wrong. Second as said before this radio is the future of the company, not soon but eventually everyone will have to have a interoperable radio to be able to get satellite radio. That is where they are going, it is there to free up spectrum.
John, Im sure you are correct.
Let’s also not forget that just because this particular radio model costs so much does not mean that other models which may come out in the future will not cost a lot less. So, as with other “new” products of other technologies which become more commonplace, subsequent offerings may very well cost a lot less.
Also, I wonder if, as this dual technology goes further along, and the purchase cost goes down with subsequent models, if such a later dual radio will offer the option of a person subscribing to either both services for a higher cost, or just one of the services for the regular cost. To use cable TV as an example, do you want basic service or do you want to pay more per month and get the “premium channels” – all on the same piece of hardware.
I imagine you don’t have to have both subscriptions to use the radio. Like Starplayer for sirius xm internet is interop but i only have a sub to sirius.
And that’s one beautiful slick device and to be able to handle both in such a small chipset is awesome.
Lehman bros, bear stearns, wash mutual, wachovia, merrill, 19+ bank failures nationwide, fannie mae, freddie mac, 1MM+ jobs lost in 2008…
yet SIRI
Sustained growth in Revenue, subscribers, EBITDA and OEM penetration in perhaps the worst economy in 75+ years. introduction of a new MIRGE interoperable radio (yes FCC mandated) 18 month EBITDA guidance of positive cash flow… Mel Karmazin, Howard Stern, Oprah, Backspin 43, led zeppellin, mlb, nfl…..
bankruptcy?! if this were the planned course of action why not do it before the capital expenditure for MIRGE interoperable radios, gradual pay down of debt, realization of synergies??
think about it
phonograph, reel to reel, turntable, album, 8 track, am radio, cassette, am & fm radio, cd…. ahh what a beautiful thought for all those who remain poised and patient..
long SIRI with my Suede Puma’s on in a BBoy stance!
Peaceout!
Sirius XM will be bought long before they file bankrupcy. Microsoft, Google, and Apple are all potnetial buyers and/or partners with deep pockets. Sirius XM has 20 million subs and is GROWING. Growth at any rate in this environment is a huge positive. name one other company growing at the rate of Sirius XM?
Apple (ipod)and Microsite (Zune) could really use Sirius XMs exclusive content. Music is becoming a commidity and everyone does music, but its the exclusive/live content that will differentiate the ipod from the zune, or visa versa.