Commercials on XM Radio (Long)

[Ultra-Hog]

I have been an XM radio subscriber for quite a few years now. Commercials began to be heard on several of the channels that I listen to. Most, if not all, of them are for products that I really would rather not hear about. Goofball investment schemes and "Breast Enhancement Creams" are a couple that come to mind. I got tired of changing the channel every time that a commercial started to play. Besides, I pay to be a subscriber to XM radio because, among other things, I don't have to listen to commercials.

Here is a copy of my nasty-gram to XM radio and their response. I still am annoyed by the commercials but I am satisfied with their response. I Thought that other XM subscribers might want to be aware of the reason for the commercials.

On December 11, 2006 at 7:31 PM, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.xxx wrote:

>First Name: Xxxxx
>Last Name: Xxxxxxx
>Email Address: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
>Message Body: I have been an XM Radio subscriber for several years now. I dislike the increasing number of adds that I hear on XM. If I continue to hear them I will cancel my subscriptions and not add the additional subscriptions that I expect to be adding in 2007. I subscribe so that I do not have to listen to adds. Your adds are particularly irritating. Goofball investment schemes and breast enhancement creams are the last thing that I want to hear. Get rid of them or get rid of me.
>
>
>XM Subscriber: yes
>Account Number: XXXXXXXX

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Dear Xxxxx-Xxx

Thank you for contacting XM Satellite Radio.

We do apologize that you are now hearing commercials on some of our channels, however you will be hearing commercials on four of our channels which are:Nashville ? XM 11, KISS ? XM 21, Mix ? XM 22, Sunny ? XM 24,plus WSIX ? XM.

These channels will move to a new category: Regional News, Talk & Music Channels. Because of their early investment in XM, radio broadcasting company Clear Channel Communications provided programming for their music channels (KISS, Mix, Nashville, Sunny and WSIX), as well as content for select talk channels.

An arbitration panel recently ruled that Clear Channel has the right to include commercials on the music programming that it provides XM. As a result, these channels will start to carry commercials this spring. At the same time, XM will add new commercial-free music channels of its own so that subscribers will see no reduction in the total number of commercial free music channels.

You can now try these channel which will play similar contents as listed below:

For -Nashville ? Channel 11 - you can now listen to - US Country ? Channel 17
Kiss ? Channel 21 Hit List ? Channel 30
Mix ? Channel 22 Flight 26 ? Channel 26
Sunny ? Channel 24 Escape ? Channel 78

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to send an additional email ................. (Unnecessary text deleted)

As always, visit our website at www.xmradio.com for all the latest news on XM Satellite Radio.

Our Listener Care Centers hours of operation are as follows:

Monday-Saturday 6 AM - 2 AM ET
Sunday 8 AM - 8 PM ET

Thank you,
Josephine
XM's Listener Care Representative
1-800-XM RADIO (800-967-2346)

[Pizza Man]

Although I'm not an XM subscriber, I understand your frustration. Seems the courts have XM's hands tied. They're doing the right thing by offering alternative commercial-free selections that fit the same formats. I may just become an XM customer with my next vehicle purchase. Thanks, U-H.

[RIDGELINERNR]

No commercials and nascar radio is why I subscribed, now, no more nascar channel when traveling. Might be time to get rid of xm.

[lamric]

I have XM in one vehicle and Sirius in the other. The commercials on XM have become annoying to the point that I may drop the service. I slightly prefer the music lineup on Sirius but sometimes wish the old VJ's from MTV would not give opinion and just play the music.