Sirius XM iPhone App Unavailable in Canada
Posted by Reid on 22 June 2009
10 Comments
Sirius XM has provided a bittersweet week for Canadian fans of satellite radio, releasing the long anticipated official iPhone App . . . but denying it to subscribers north of the US border.
The iTunes app provides access to 120 satellite radio channels and is available free. It touts all of the features that Sirius XM fans have been awaiting so anxiously and has been marked as the #1 free iTunes download due to immense popularity.
Unfortunately Canadians will have to hope for the acclaimed download to warrant a release apart from the American iTunes App Store if we want to check it out ourselves. Since there has been no official word on a release here in the north we’ll all simply have to wait and keep our fingers crossed.
[Via Digital Home]
Reader Comments
Are we undeserving subscribers here in Canada?? This sort of attitude makes me want to cancel the service…
Why can’t we get it in Canada?! I pay the same as everyone else!
I was going to cancel while ago but this app made me reconsider… now that I can’t get it…. eff you Sirius.
Definitely pushing me over the edge to cancel!
This unfortunately has nothing to do with Sirius or XM. This is more of the wonderful world of CRTC bulcrap. Have you ever tried to download any american TV series shows. AINT gonna happen. If you want to complain, send your complaints to them. not Sirius
Yeah total bs just another thing us candians get screwed over on
I don’t think its a CRTC issue. If it was, whey then can you listen to Sirius/XM Radio via the Sirius Canada Website?
The problem here is that XM isn’t willing to adhere to Canadian copyright laws. Canadian law would require them to pay royalties for artists and song writers for their Canadian subscribers.
Rumour has it they aren’t paying the royalties for their Canadian subscribers in the first place and their going to get their pants sued off. Publishing the app in the Canadian iTunes app store would require them to prove to Apple that they’re playing by the rules, which they aren’t. Apple doesn’t want to associate themselves with legal issues.
It’s okay for them to take our money, but don’t piss on us and call it rain. Any company that wants to dismiss the rights of the artists (Canadian or otherwise) deserves to go down, which they will. Apple pays the tariffs, so should they.
The main problem is that Sirius & XM merged in the USA but not in Canada. THIS is why we don’t have the app. They are still 2 separate companies in Canada.
The most recent article I read was that XM has absolutely no intentions of creating an app for Canada but Sirius is considering it. So, Sirius Canada customers could benefit while XM Canada customers are screwed.
I know how most of you feel, I also was about to cancel but when US customers had the app available to them, I held off on cancelling. My term is almost up and will not be renewing this time.
Umm guys..
you can download Wunderradio or Pockettunes from the app store…both of which play Sirius/XM stations (you will need your sirius login info). I have been listening to Sirius on my iphone for 6 months now. all my favs on the go: CHill 35, Howard 100, spa 79 and of course backspin on 39