The results are in, and the conference call is scheduled for 8:00 AM Eastern. SIRIUS XM Radio announced results that were highlighted by Revenue of $283 Million (Up 25% Year Over Year), Total Subscribers of More Than 8.9 Million (Up 25% Year Over Year), Record Second Quarter Gross Additions, and an Adjusted Loss from Operations Improves 70% Year Over Year. The financial results are driving headlines trumpeting “loss narrows”.

Full Press Release Below;

SIRIUS XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today announced stand alone SIRIUS Satellite Radio second quarter 2008 financial results, including a 25% increase in revenue to $283.0 million, total subscribers in excess of 8.9 million and a 70% decrease in the adjusted loss from operations.

“Second quarter stand-alone SIRIUS results once again demonstrated that we achieved strong revenue growth and solid cost control,” said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. “Despite a tough economy and weak auto sales, gross additions set a new second quarter record. In the second quarter both revenue and subscribers grew 25% as compared with last year, while cash costs remained essentially flat leading to a 70% reduction in our second quarter EBITDA loss.”

“The combined company now has an annualized revenue run-rate of over $2.4 billion, making SIRIUS XM Radio one of the fastest growing and best positioned subscription media businesses. With rapid integration efforts underway, we started realizing synergies on Day 1. We expect to realize $400 million in synergies next year and see this figure growing substantially beyond 2009.”

SIRIUS ended the second quarter 2008 with 8,924,139 subscribers up 25% from 7,142,538 subscribers at the end of the second quarter 2007. Retail subscribers increased 7% in the second quarter 2008 to 4,676,814 from 4,364,646 at the end of the second quarter 2007. OEM subscribers increased 53% in the second quarter 2008 to 4,247,325 from 2,777,892 at the end of second quarter 2007. During the second quarter 2008, SIRIUS added 279,820 net subscribers.

Total revenue for the second quarter 2008 increased to $283.0 million, up 25% from second quarter 2007 total revenue of $226.4 million. Second quarter 2008 average monthly self-pay customer churn rate was 1.6%. The second quarter 2008 conversion rate was approximately 48%. SAC per gross subscriber addition was $78 in the second quarter 2008, an improvement of 27% over second quarter 2007 SAC per gross subscriber addition of $107.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The discussion of operating expenses below excludes the effects of stock-based compensation. SIRIUS believes this presentation improves the transparency of disclosure and is consistent with the way operating results are evaluated by management.

SECOND QUARTER 2008 VERSUS SECOND QUARTER 2007

For the second quarter of 2008, SIRIUS recognized total revenue of $283.0 million compared to $226.4 million for the second quarter of 2007. This 25%, or $56.6 million, increase in revenue was driven by a $56.9 million increase in subscriber revenue resulting from the net increase in subscribers of 1,781,601 from the second quarter of 2007.

The company’s adjusted loss from operations decreased $55.5 million to ($23.8) million for the second quarter of 2008 from ($79.3) million for the second quarter of 2007 (refer to the reconciliation table of net loss to adjusted loss from operations). This decrease was primarily driven by the increase in total revenue of $56.6 million and a $24.3 million improvement in subscriber acquisition costs which more than offset an increase in revenue share and royalties.

Satellite and transmission expenses for the second quarter 2008 remained consistent with the second quarter of 2007 at $6.7 million.

Programming and content expenses increased $1.0 million to $54.1 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $53.1 million for the second quarter of 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to license fees associated with new programming and higher compensation-related costs for additions to headcount.

Revenue share and royalties increased $19.9 million to $49.7 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $29.8 million for the second quarter of 2007. The increase was attributable to the determination by the Copyright Royalty Board in January 2008 of the royalty rate under the statutory license covering the performance of sound recordings. The 25% growth in the company’s revenues also contributed to the increase in revenue share and royalties.

Customer service and billing expenses increased $1.2 million to $22.6 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $21.4 million for the second quarter of 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to call center operating costs necessary to accommodate the increase in our subscriber base and respective transaction fees. Customer service and billing expenses, as adjusted, per average subscriber declined 18% to $0.86 for the second quarter of 2008 from $1.05 for the second quarter of 2007, due to efficiencies across a larger subscriber base.

Sales and marketing expenses increased $2.7 million to $46.7 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $44.0 million for the second quarter of 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to equipment related retention costs associated with efforts to retain existing subscribers that we believe will result in higher revenue and lower churn. This was offset by lower consumer advertising and reduced cooperative marketing spend with the company’s channel partners.

Subscriber acquisition costs (SAC) decreased $24.3 million or 23% to $81.4 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $105.7 million for the second quarter of 2007. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower retail and OEM subsidies due to better product economics.

SAC per gross subscriber addition decreased 27% to $78 for the second quarter of 2008 from $107 for the second quarter of 2007. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower retail and OEM subsidies due to better product economics.

General and administrative expenses increased $3.7 million to $31.0 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $27.3 million for the second quarter of 2007. The increase was primarily the result of higher litigation costs and compensation-related costs to support the growth of the business.

Engineering, design and development expenses decreased $2.3 million to $8.0 million for the second quarter of 2008 from $10.3 million for the second quarter of 2007. This decrease was attributable to reduced OEM and product developments costs.

SIRIUS reported a net loss of ($83.9) million, or ($0.06) per share, for the second quarter of 2008, compared to a net loss of ($134.1) million, or ($0.09) per share, in the second quarter of 2007. The adjusted net loss per share, or net loss per share excluding stock-based compensation was ($0.05) in the second quarter of 2008 as compared to an adjusted net loss per share of ($0.08) in the second quarter of 2007 (refer to the reconciliation table of net loss per share to adjusted net loss per share).

SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 VERSUS SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, SIRIUS recognized total revenue of $553.4 million compared with $430.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. This 29%, or $122.9 million increase in revenue, was primarily driven by a $121.7 million increase in subscriber revenue, resulting from the net increase in subscribers of 1,781,601 from the end of the second quarter of 2007.

The company’s adjusted loss from operations decreased $100.1 million to ($63.2) million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from ($163.3) million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 (refer to the reconciliation table of net loss to adjusted loss from operations). This decrease was driven by a 29%, or $122.9 million, increase in total revenue which more than offset the 3%, or $21.9 million, increase in operating expenses.

Satellite and transmission expenses decreased $0.3 million to $13.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $14.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

Programming and content expenses increased $2.8 million to $113.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $110.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to license fees associated with new programming and higher compensation-related costs for additions to headcount.

Revenue share, royalties and residuals increased $35.0 million to $92.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $57.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

The increase was attributable to the determination by the Copyright Royalty Board in January 2008 of the royalty rate under the statutory license covering the performance of sound recordings. The 29% growth in the company’s revenues also contributed to the increase in revenue share and royalties.

Customer service and billing expenses increased $6.1 million to $49.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $43.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to call center operating costs necessary to accommodate the increase in our subscriber base. Customer service and billing expenses, as adjusted, per average subscriber declined 13% to $0.96 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $1.10 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, due to efficiencies across a larger subscriber base.

Sales and marketing expenses increased $0.5 million to $79.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $79.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

This increase was primarily attributable to equipment related retention costs associated with efforts to retain existing subscribers that we believe will result in higher revenue and lower churn. This was offset by lower consumer advertising and reduced cooperative marketing spend with the company’s channel partners.

Subscriber acquisition costs (SAC) decreased $32.7 million to $171.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $203.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower retail and OEM subsidies due to better product economics.

SAC per gross subscriber addition decreased 19% to $84 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $104 for the six months ended June 2007. This decrease was primarily driven by lower retail and OEM subsidies due to better product economics.

General and administrative expenses increased $17.1 million to $67.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $50.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily a result of higher litigation related costs and compensation-related costs to support the growth of the business.

Engineering, design and development expenses decreased $6.2 million to $15.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from $21.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. This decrease was attributable to reduced OEM and product developments costs.

SIRIUS reported a net loss of ($188.0) million, or ($0.13) per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with a net loss of ($278.9) million, or ($0.19) per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The adjusted net loss per share, or net loss per share excluding stock-based compensation was ($0.10) for the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared with an adjusted net loss per share excluding stock based compensation of ($0.16) for the six months ended June 30, 2007 (refer to the reconciliation table of net loss per share to adjusted net loss per share).

Position – Long SIRI