Sirius/XM Radio to be Passing $1.98 Monthly Royalty Fee Along to Subscribers

Those of you who might know me from online venues or the real world have probably heard me sing the praises of Sirius/XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI). As a sports fan, I figured that it pretty much sold itself- be able to catch radio play-by-play of the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics or BC Eagles from some 2900 miles away.

However, this sort of news makes Sirius/XM something of a tough sell to any fence-sitters out there:


Listeners of Sirius XM Radio Inc. are getting $2 fees added to their monthly satellite radio bills, in what's effectively a price increase for consumers.

Sirius XM, whose talk show celebrities include Howard Stern, is passing along performance royalty fees paid to singers, musicians and recording companies.
In approving the deal, the Federal Communications Commission barred the combined company from raising prices for three years. That means Sirius could only collect the royalty fees through a separate surcharge, which the FCC allowed the company to start charging after a year, or July 29, 2009.

New York-based Sirius began charging customers in August. The company said it started notifying them of the charge by e-mail and postal mail in mid-June.

Truth be told, I only found out about it prior to today because it was mentioned in my renewal notice that was mailed out earlier this month (I tend to pay in 1-year increments). Needless to say, I wasn't happy about it. Unhappy enough to discontinue my subscription? Probably not. But I don't see the need to tell my friends about this service if they're going to get nickeled and dimed right after signing up.

Creepy Adolescent Molesting Director Comes Out in Support of Creepy Adolescent Molesting Director.

Lois: [walking in on Stewie torturing the bully who stole his big wheel] What's going on?
Stewie: We're playing house...
Lois: Why is that boy tied up?
Stewie:.....Roman Polanski's house?

-Family Guy

Woody Allen- the guy who must've thought those Asian adoption agencies were actually some sort of matchmaking service- is protesting Director Roman Polanski's detention by Swiss authorities.

Tip of the cap to French director Luc Besson (Leon/The Professional; The Fifth Element) for not taking part in this crap.

Not Another New England Sports Blog! The Debut-

Welcome to the blog that's exactly what it says it isn't!

Just a little something I cobbled together while celebrating the puck dropping on Bruins' season and the Red Sox triumphantly securing the AL Wild Card by getting swept by the Blue Jays (huh? How does that work?).

I'll be bringing up other topics (such as current events, the economy, travel, etc.) so feel free to stop on by.