With regulatory approval, the Sirius Canada Merger with XM Canada will likely take effect later this 2011 year. Both companies will follow suit with SiriusXM out of New York and become one company.

It is the hope of many Sirius radio and XM radio subscribers in Canada that they will now be able to access the best of packages for each respective entity.

Sirius subscribers will hopefully be able to obtain the Oprah channel along with full NHL hockey and Major League Baseball coverage which XM radio carries. In the same scenario, XM radio subscribers will hopefully be able to now access great programming on Sirius such as the Howard Stern and Martha Stewart channels, as well as Sirius NASCAR radio and the Sirius NFL football radio stations.

This kind of cross programming will allow many users to fully embrace the kind of entertainment available to them on satellite radio. How great for a hockey fan like myself to be able to find any NHL hockey game being broadcast for online listening. In addition to checking on my favourite teams I would love to be able to hear the commentary in between periods of these stations which are feeding the games through to XM radio subscribers. Hopefully this merger between the two entities will be of benefit to subscribers while the company works to gain and subsequently maintain a presence of profitability.

It is my understanding as well that Sirius radio units will be easily programmable in order to access the best of XM once that happens. Sirius customers will not be required to purchase new equipment.

I invite readers to comments and share opinions on what you think of the merger and if we will benefit from it.

Volkswagen and Sirius Radio have teamed up to provide one of the best deals on used cars sales and satellite radio service yet offered with a brand new deal recently launched by the companies.

VW has announced to press that it is now providing a complementary 3-month trial of the Sirius Everything package with the purchase of any 2007 (or newer), Certified Pre-Loved models.

Most of these models come equipped with a Sirius satellite receiver regardless (although it’s worth checking if your favourite model comes with a standard receiver or not) and it just seems good business sense to provide such a promotion in light of the Acura, Honda and GM partnership with XM Radio.

[Via Orbitcast]

As part of the larger internet business plan previously announced by Sirius XM Radio, some substantial changes have recently occurred at the Sirius Internet Radio and XM Internet Radio sites.

Several new channels have been added to both XM and Sirius Internet Radio sites while others have been made available on both sites in part of a move designed to further amalgamate the two services.

Many industry observers speculate that the changes have something to do with the imminent release of Sirius XM’s official iPhone App but as of writing this point has received no corporate verification. Click below to read further details regarding the changes.

[Via Orbitcast]

XM and Sirius Radio are pulling a few surprise moves in the latter half of May, offering out elements of Sirius’ top (and usually exclusive) programming in an effort to attract more subscribers to the Best of Sirius package.

From May 18th through until the 25th XM subscribers will be able to enjoy a taste of what Sirius has to offer. Broadcasts will include channels and shows from Howard Stern, Bubba the Love Sponge and more.

The decision to essentially “loan out” key programming is another go by Sirius to entice XM listeners through the kind of trial offers that have worked best in the company’s past.

[Via Orbitcast]

In another knock to Sirius’ ability to cover the world of sports properly only XM Radio will be able to broadcast events from the 2009 season of IndyCar racing.

The sport of IndyCar (formerly known as ChampCar) will be featured for XM listeners to tune into throughout the entire length of the season (including the popular Indy 500 event) while Sirius-only listeners will be left out of the fold.

Although Sirius subscribers can tune in to the events if they have access to the “Best of XM” package it’s still disheartening that these type of exclusives are still dividing fans of either company.

[Via Digital Home Forums]

Sirius Radio has announced plans to provide coverage of Jimmy Buffett’s upcoming summer concert series, Summerzcool, for the benefit of his devoted fans.

Buffett followers will be excited to tune in for the exclusive programming as Sirius Radio airs pre-show interviews, parties and backstage interviews with Jimmy and the rest of the Coral Reefer Band.

The satellite coverage kicked off with Buffett’s Thursday, April 16th concert at the Lakewood Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia and will continue to air on Radio Margaritaville (Sirius channel 31 and XM channel 55) throughout the entire summer tour and each of its stops.

[Via Digital Home Forums]

Sirius Radio has announced plans to cover the entirety of the 2009 NFL Draft, providing complete news of each pick for the launch of the upcoming season of sporting.

Football fans will be able to tune in to broadcasts that follow each of the total 256 NFL draft picks across each of the league’s thirty two teams. The live announcements will be accompanied by expert analysis of every pick along with interviews conducted by NFL players, managers, commentators and more.

Coverage begins this Saturday, April 25th on the Sirius NFL Radio channel (Sirius channel 124 and XM channel 124) at 3pm EST.

[Via Orbitcast]

The missing stations are available only through Sirius Internet Radio for the time being due to a lack of space on the channel listing of conventional satellite radio receivers.

Among the channels now slated for release on Sirius’ internet broadcast are Pop2K, The Village, Top 20 on 20, Cinemagic and The Groove.

Listeners can find the stations listed under genre with a label of SIR-# rather than any actual, specific channel number.

[Via Digital Home Forums]

XM Radio Online has been frustrating listeners due to the continually malfunctioning internet broadcast service and poor customer service response.

Even after recent price increases for both Sirius and XM internet radio listeners it seems that browser-based access to satellite broadcasts is still chronically troubled.

Attempts to find further information on the nature of the problem have been met with vague and generally unhelpful responses from XM’s customer service, leaving many subscribers frustrated with the company’s almost total lack of response to the situation.

Perhaps the “exciting new development” promised last month is nothing more than faulty browser access . . . .

[Via Orbitcast]

Sirius Radio Canada fans and FM listeners will be disappointed to hear that popular talk show hosts, Opie and Anthony are now broadcast exclusively via XM Radio.

The duo have now left CBS behind to a now exclusive home at XM Radio, a move that leaves terrestrial and Sirius satellite listeners out in the cold.

CBS has been letting go of more and more of their star announcers (such as Adam Carolla) to make financial room and broadcasting time for a greater emphasis on top 40 music.

The move is effectively immediately although an official press release from XM Radio has not yet surfaced.

[Via Digital Home Forums]