SAY HELLO TO THE FUTURE OF RADIO
Satellite radio gains popularity with students.
By Matt Beat, Jayplay reporter
Ever since that fateful day in January when Janet Jackson unveiled herself in front of millions, it seems the popularity of the Federal Communications Commission has, believe it or not, declined even more. To the common University of Kansas student, "FCC" almost directly translates to "censorship."
translates to "censorship. For students wanting to escape FCC regulations on television, they pay for cable and digital satellite television, and the extra freedom and selection seems to be worth it.
be worth it. And now, with satellite radio, students can escape censorship of the radio airwaves.
waves. "Like cable TV, you can do just about anything on satellite radio," says Adam King, manager of Best Buy, 2020 31st St. in Lawrence. "That's one reason why everyone loves it. There are no restrictions -- you can have all of the explicitness you want."
want."
It addition to allowing disc jockeys to say dirty words on the air, satellite radio offers several things that FM and AM radio can't. For starters, it offers more channels, covering nearly every genre of music for every possible taste, including comedy, news, entertainment and children's channels. Another feature is less commercials, and CD-quality reception all over the United States.
United States. King says the cost of satellite radio systems has recently gone down, prompting even more sales at Best Buy. Just this month, the store had 13 XM consoles shipped in, and within two weeks they were sold out.
I WANT IT, I NEED IT, I HAVE TO HAVE IT.
were sold out. The two biggest satellite radio service providers, XM Radio and Sirius, are two of the fastest growing companies in the United States. According to bandradio.com, XM already had more than two million subscribers in June, just three years after its launch in 2001.
three years after its launch in 2007. Because of this rapid growth, satellite radio has become affordable. Consoles are now as low as $100, with subscription
Delphi XM Skyfi
Delphi XM Skyfi Suggested retail price: $99.00 Capable of being added to any home or car stereo with proper adaptor kits.
Delphi XM roadie
Delphi XM Roaster
Suggested retail price: $119.99
The car-ready console, featuring XM receiver, micro-antenna, and a cassette adaptor.
XM Commander
Suggested retail
price: $159.99
rates as low as $10 a month.
This rise of
popularity of satellite radio has caught the attention of FM and AM radio stations across the country.
Capable of being added to any in-dash car stereo without buying additional products.
Clarion SIRPNP
Clarion SIRNP
Suggested retail price: $99.95
The smallest Sirius receiver (pictured above right), similar to the XM Skyfi.
Audiovox SIR-BB1
Suggested retail price: $99.95
A portable satellite boombox (left) from
___ Sirius.
Courtney Aida, program director at KLZR 105.9 FM, 3125 6th St.,does not think satellite a threat to the station.
St.,does not think satellite radio is a threat to the station.
"radio is a threat to the station "
("Satellite radio") is a novelty thing right
now, where people are constantly channel surfing, and it sometimes can be overwhelming with so much to choose from," Aida says. "With our station, you know what you are going to get."
Aida compares the relationship between satellite radio and FM/AM radio to the relationship between satellite television to cable television. She says satellite radio is a very impersonal medium that doesn't focus on what's happening in one's hometown. People in Lawrence don't care about California. XM radio, for example, only broadcasts from three locations in the United States, which makes it impossible for its stations to be personal at all. It doesn't seem to matter, because the new subscribers keep on coming. Still, Aida is not worried. She feels that unless satellite radio becomes narrower in its reach, stations like KLZR would not be competing with it. Also, Aida brings up an important point: "Our station is free."
important point: Our statistics University students like Justin Douglas, Augusta senior, can't live without satellite radio. He has had satellite radio in his car for over a year now, and says it's especially nice for long trips. "You don't have to every worry about losing reception," says Douglas, "especially when you're out driving in the middle of nowhere." The only places Douglas says he doesn't get reception are in tunnels or parking garages.
parking garages.
Douglas also likes the fact that he always knows the name and artist of each song that is on air, thanks to the display screen. He loves how most of the satellite radio stations have little to no commercials.
Corporate giant Clear Channel has taken measures to cut back commercial time.Starting Jan.1, 2005, Clear Channel will significantly reduce commercial and promotional interruption on all its FM stations — apparently 20 minutes an hour was too much. This action may be a sign that Clear Channel knows it will be forced to compete with satellite radio.
to compete with satellite radios. In the meantime, students like Justin Douglas won't hesitate to spend extra cash to get what they want on the radio.
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Jayplay 8.26.04