According to TDG, it was only a few years ago that XM and Sirius were the buzz of the music industry - a new business model capable of challenging the establishment, offering listeners advertising-free content in exchange for a small monthly fee. While the early buzz was impressive, most analysts predicted that satellite radio would never be able to compete with established radio stations and, as such, be lucky to last a few years. Well, XM and Sirius have succeeded in proving the pundits wrong. As of Q2 2005, XM had close to four million subscribers and is predicting 20 million by 2010. In the same period, Sirius reported 1.5 million subscribers and has raised year-end 2005 estimates to 2.7 million, 200,000 more than prior guidance. By year-end 2005, the two companies combined will have almost eight million subscribers, each of which pays around $13 per month to receive music content free of advertising and packaged according to their tastes. While such progress is noteworthy, it only scratches the surface of what these companies are really up to. Although not widely discussed, both XM and Sirius have their eyes set on much larger prizes - in particular, providing a range of media services including music, video, and even data services to both mobile and fixed subscribers. Yes, they intend to compete head-to-head with existing satellite TV and data service providers.
Try to imagine this scenario, that General Motors and Ford were given exclusive franchises to build America's interstate highway system, and also all the highways that connect local communities. Now imagine that, based upon a financial crisis, these troubled companies decided to convert all "their" local arteries into toll-roads -- they then use incremental toll fees to severely limit all travel to and from small businesses. Why? This handicapping process reduced the need to invest in building better new roads, or repairing the dilapidated ones. But, wouldn't that short-sighted decision have a detrimental impact on the overall national economy? It's a moot point -- pure fantasy -- you say. The U.S. political leadership would never knowingly risk the nation's social and economic future on the financial viability of a restrictive duopoly. Or, would they? The 21st century Global Networked Economy travels across essential broadband infrastructure. The forced intro...