XM Radio: do you have it? (This is CEP related!)

[heyjude]

We got a new car a few months ago and it came with a trial subscription to XM (it even has a button on the dash that says “XM”). We have never had XM and had no previous interest in it. And we are unlikely to pay to keep it. But we took a road trip this weekend through a rural area and it was nice to have access to it. But as we were scrolling though the channels we came across “Breitbart” and it appears XM carries some sort of Brietbart programming. Breitbart: flamers of white supremacy and alt right, creator of Trump and defender of Roy Moore. So that killed any interest in continuing the service and now I’m mad there is a little “XM” button on my dash board. Do you have XM and are you okay with this? I googled around and didn’t see any chatter about this problem. So I’m starting it here.

[NitaX]

I have Sirius (which is basically XM). I've had it for years and love it. There is a Progressive Channel, NPR, MSNBC and all that jazz. I can't go back to regular radio now. But, I do enjoy satellite radio. I'd keep it. Just find the channels you like and you're good to go.

[heyjude]

Nov 14, 2017 12:54:46 GMT -5 mr+ms said:

Our car came with a trial as well. We decided to continue with the subscription since we spend a lot of time in the car and neither one of us has the time or will to put together music and/or podcasts to listen to. After the trial we got 6 months discounted. 

Yikes, I have never seen breitbart on there. The closest we have is a couple of Fox news channels (gross enough). There are a handful of other news stations. Maybe the lineups vary by region? Or are there different packages with more stations?

I think it’s called “Patriot Radio” and features Brietbart programming.

[LLL]

Yes I do . There's enough counter programming on it that I'm okay with it. 

[thejen626]

Yikes. Thank you for posting. I have a free trial because I just got a new car. But I've never paid for it, and won't.

[heyjude]

What is the left equivalent of Brietbart? It’s not NPR.

[candreco]

I did not know that- I've never seen it while running through channels, so I'm guessing it's not part of our package. Though now I'm looking at the full channel list for specifically XM radios (what we have) vs. Sirius, and I don't see Breitbart mentioned in any of the titles or descriptions. Do you remember the channel number?

[heyjude]

Nov 14, 2017 13:04:05 GMT -5 candreco said:

I did not know that- I've never seen it while running through channels, so I'm guessing it's not part of our package. Though now I'm looking at the full channel list for specifically XM radios (what we have) vs. Sirius, and I don't see Breitbart mentioned in any of the titles or descriptions. Do you remember the channel number?

It’s this:

www.siriusxm.com/siriusxmpatriot/weeklyschedule?desktop=yes

[Susie]

I have Sirius XM in both cars. One car is the road trip car, and I like having it so I don't have to change stations (without good presets) every time I change cities. I go through like 3+ different major radio markets every time I visit my dad. I pay for the subscription in 6 month increments at an "introductory" rate of like $5/mo, and then let it expire. They are pretty willing to give you the cheap rate again for the next re-up. Much more so than, e.g. cable companies.

The other car is new, and the trial is about to run out. I'm not sure if I'll re-up. I don't usually venture off my presets. I didn't know about the Breitbart programming, but I'm not shocked. They have programming across the spectrum.

[heyjude]

For some reason that link is redirecting. Google “XM” “Patriot Radio” and “schedule” and you will get more info on the Brietbart programming.

[miso]

Nov 14, 2017 13:02:54 GMT -5 heyjude said:

What is the left equivalent of Brietbart? It’s not NPR.

There isn't.

Because #notcrazy

[candreco]

Nov 14, 2017 13:06:24 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Nov 14, 2017 13:04:05 GMT -5 candreco said:

I did not know that- I've never seen it while running through channels, so I'm guessing it's not part of our package. Though now I'm looking at the full channel list for specifically XM radios (what we have) vs. Sirius, and I don't see Breitbart mentioned in any of the titles or descriptions. Do you remember the channel number?

It’s this:

www.siriusxm.com/siriusxmpatriot/weeklyschedule?desktop=yes

I'm really annoyed that SiriusXM Patriot is described as "conservative talk" and SiriusXM Progress is "progressive talk."  It just panders to the idea that only conservatives are really patriotic.

[LLL]

Nov 14, 2017 13:02:54 GMT -5 heyjude said:

What is the left equivalent of Brietbart? It’s not NPR.

non fiction truthiness 

[heyjude]

I just found this!

campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/sirius-xm-stop-profiting-off-of-trump-s-hate

[heyjude]

Nov 14, 2017 13:09:53 GMT -5 miso said:

Nov 14, 2017 13:02:54 GMT -5 heyjude said:

What is the left equivalent of Brietbart? It’s not NPR.

There isn't.

Because #notcrazy

Exactly.

[heyjude]

And if there were a left equivalent of Brietbart, I have a hard time believing it would be allowed on such a corporate platform as XM, and it would especially not be labeled “Patriot.”

[candreco]

Nov 14, 2017 13:12:35 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I just found this!

campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/sirius-xm-stop-profiting-off-of-trump-s-hate

Man, it only needs just over 400 signatures to meet its goal.  We've got that many people looking at this board right now, yes?

[crazycakes]

Nov 14, 2017 13:15:21 GMT -5 heyjude said:

And if there were a left equivalent of Brietbart, I have a hard time believing it would be allowed on such a corporate platform as XM, and it would especially not be labeled “Patriot.”

XM has a station called "Progressive", which is definitely left-leaning. I don't really listen to it (NPR is my go to) but from what I've heard it's not anywhere near the amount of crazy that Patriot is. Every time I've flipped passed Patriot, Hannity is on 😕

[Velar Fricative]

I love SiriusXM. My commute is much shorter now but it's a lifesaver for longer commutes. Subscription is up in February and there are ways out there to score it very cheaply, so I will probably keep it. DH loves all the sports on it so even when we're out as a family, he prefers that we take my (smaller) car because of the sports.

I didn't know there was a Breitbart station buuuuuuuuuut I'm not sure it's worth me eliminating the 90s on 9 station from my life. MC Hammer >>>>>>>>> Breitbart

[miso]

FWIW, yes, I do have Sirius XM, and the existence of Breitbart does not dissuade me from having it.

I don't cancel TV or the Internet because there is shitty content there.

You can pry AltNation, Fly, and PopRocks out of my cold dead hands.

[secretlyevil]

I did but the reception was horrific plus I hated calling annually to threaten to cancel in order to get a better rate. I still get offers for $5 per month from them. I miss my stations.

[heyjude]

Nov 14, 2017 14:22:51 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I love SiriusXM. My commute is much shorter now but it's a lifesaver for longer commutes. Subscription is up in February and there are ways out there to score it very cheaply, so I will probably keep it. DH loves all the sports on it so even when we're out as a family, he prefers that we take my (smaller) car because of the sports.

I didn't know there was a Breitbart station buuuuuuuuuut I'm not sure it's worth me eliminating the 90s on 9 station from my life. MC Hammer >>>>>>>>> Breitbart

MC Hammer is on Pandora!

[somersault72]

Boy, this board really does ruin everything, huh? I have Sirius and I loooooooooooove it. I was unaware of both the Patriot (eye roll) and Progessive stations, but I only want to listen to music in the car. #90son94lyfe

[heyjude]

Nov 14, 2017 14:27:56 GMT -5 miso said:

FWIW, yes, I do have Sirius XM, and the existence of Breitbart does not dissuade me from having it.

I don't cancel TV or the Internet because there is shitty content there.

You can pry AltNation, Fly, and PopRocks out of my cold dead hands.

I thought about that too. But the internet is huge and not controlled by one person or company. Even then there are lots of issues and discussions with the way the internet is used to spread right wing/Russian lies, white supremacy, and hate. And I think I would cancel my Sling TV if it turned out they were giving Breitbart a platform to spread the above.

[heyjude]

I guess for me Brietbart is a bridge too far.

[susiebw]

My new car Sirius trial is about to run out as well. I haven't re-upped yet, but I think with the discount they keep offering me, I might.
Like some others said, they have such a broad range, I'm over the Patriot channel. I don't listen to 2/3 of what is available from Sirius, but what I do listen to is worth a (discounted) subscription.

[y4m]

I work for a company that helps a lot of big companies give better customer experiences. I had a meeting with SiriusXM once, and they could not have made it clearer in that meeting that they give ZERO shits about customer experience. They basically see themselves as a marketing company. X number of people never cancel their subscription - we just have to get the funnel big enough and then it's a cash cow.

Only company I've met in a decade doing this that didn't at least pretend to give a shit about their customers.

I walked out of that meeting, cancelled, and never looked back

[heyjude]

Nov 14, 2017 15:11:39 GMT -5 y4m said:

I work for a company that helps a lot of big companies give better customer experiences. I had a meeting with SiriusXM once, and they could not have made it clearer in that meeting that they give ZERO shits about customer experience. They basically see themselves as a marketing company. X number of people never cancel their subscription - we just have to get the funnel big enough and then it's a cash cow.

Only company I've met in a decade doing this that didn't at least pretend to give a shit about their customers.

I walked out of that meeting, cancelled, and never looked back

Do you know who the XM target audience is? Because before we even saw the Brietbart program pop up on the dial my husband and I were both thinking that XM is for white male baby boomers just based on the sheer number of 60s/70s rock stations we found.

[y4m]

Nov 14, 2017 15:27:36 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Nov 14, 2017 15:11:39 GMT -5 y4m said:

I work for a company that helps a lot of big companies give better customer experiences. I had a meeting with SiriusXM once, and they could not have made it clearer in that meeting that they give ZERO shits about customer experience. They basically see themselves as a marketing company. X number of people never cancel their subscription - we just have to get the funnel big enough and then it's a cash cow.

Only company I've met in a decade doing this that didn't at least pretend to give a shit about their customers.

I walked out of that meeting, cancelled, and never looked back

Do you know who the XM target audience is? Because before we even saw the Brietbart program pop up on the dial my husband and I were both thinking that XM is for white male baby boomers just based on the sheer number of 60s/70s rock stations we found.

I'd say you are pretty spot on.

[jeaniebueller]

I used to get XM or Sirius and loved certain stations (especially when you are driving in the middle of nowhere) but cancelled it because I couldn't really justify paying for radio and wanted to start supporting my local NPR station more. I mostly listen to podcasts anyway.