 Sirius Satellite Radio logo, used 2003–2008 | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Nasdaq: SIRI | |
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | May 17, 1990 |
| Founder | |
| Defunct | January 13, 2011 |
| Fate | Merged with XM Satellite Radio in 2008, merged into Sirius XM Radio in 2011 |
| Successor | Sirius XM |
| Headquarters | New York City, United States |
| Products | Satellite radio |
Number of employees | 1,514 (2010) |
| Parent | Sirius XM Holdings |
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. was a satellite radio (SDARS) and online radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Holdings.
Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002. It now provides 69 streams (channels) of music and 65 streams of sports, news, and entertainment to its subscribers. A subset of Sirius music channels is included as part of the Dish Network satellite television service. Sirius channels are identified by Nielsen Audio with the label "SR" (e.g. "SR120", "SR9", "SR17").
Its business model is to provide pay-for-service radio, analogous to the business model for premium cable television. Music channels are presented without advertising, while its talk channels, such as Howard Stern's Howard 100 and Howard 101 and Jason Ellis' Faction Talk, carry commercials. Because all channels are free from FCC content regulation, songs are played unedited for language; talk programs may also feature explicit content if they wish. Subscriptions are prepaid and range in price from US$14.99 monthly (US$9.99 for each additional receiver) to US$699.99 for lifetime (of the receiver equipment[1]). There is a US$15 activation fee for every radio activated. Sirius announced it had achieved its first positive cash flow quarter for the period ending December 2006.[2]
Sirius launched its radio service in four states on February 14, 2002, expanding service to the rest of the contiguous U.S. by July of that year. On October 16, 2006, Sirius announced that it would be launching Sirius Internet Radio, with 78 of its 135 channels being available worldwide on the internet to any of its subscribers with a valid user name and password.
On July 29, 2008, Sirius formally completed its merger with former competitor XM Satellite Radio. The combined company began operating under the name Sirius XM Satellite Radio.[3] On November 12, 2008, Sirius and XM began broadcasting with their new, combined channel lineups.[4] On January 13, 2011, Sirius Satellite Radio was dissolved as a separate entity and merged into Sirius XM Radio, Inc.[5]
- ^ "Terms and Conditions for SIRIUS Subscribers". SIRIUS.com. Sirius Satellite Radio.
A "Lifetime Subscription" is one that continues for the life of the receiver equipment. ... A Lifetime Subscription associated with a home, portable, or plug & play receiver is transferable from one receiver to another receiver, up to a maximum of three (3) times. Each permitted transfer of a Subscription is subject to a transfer fee.
- ^ "Sirius Exceeds 6 Million Subscribers and Achieves First Cash Flow Positive Quarter" (Press release). PR Newswire via Sirius Satellite Radio. January 2, 2007. Archived from the original on March 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ Kawamoto, Dawn (July 29, 2008). "Sirius And XM close merger". CNet.com. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ Hinckley, David (November 12, 2008). "Sirius-XM satellite merger brings changes and cuts". Daily News. New York. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- ^ "e10vk". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-03.