XM Satellite Radio is Going Online (September 16, 2004)

Leading satellite radio provider XM will launch a premium Internet radio service early next month, according to a company announcement.

The new service, XM Radio Online (http://listen.xmradio.com), will be an online "simulcast" of XM's music channels and select non-music content, such as The Bob Edwards show (presumably, XM doesn't have the necessary rights to stream the "third party" content -- CNN, ESPN, for example -- it broadcasts).

The service will cost $7.99/month (the satellite service is $9.99/month, plus equipment costs), $3.99 if you're one of XM's 2.1 million satellite subscribers.

The streams will most likely be available globally, while XM's broadcasts are limited to the U.S. (and soon perhaps, Canada).

RAIN Analysis excerpts: Despite the fact that millions of consumers are now listening to radio via their PCs -- and will soon be listening on their Internet-connected mobile devices as well -- it's not broadcasters, but Yahoo!, AOL, Microsoft, XM, and a handful of entrepreneurs that are shaping up to be the leading webcasters. Note the complete absence of North American radio broadcasters (with the sole exception, in Canada, of Standard Radio), all of whom are ignoring the "disruptive technology" of Internet radio while they invest in the "sustaining technology" of HD Radio.

XM Satellite Radio is going online - read the rest at this link