Pandora and SiriusXM are hooking up, with a $480m investment into the streaming music business that will see it ramp up its defense against Spotify, Apple Music, and other rivals. Tipped to be in the works for some weeks now, the deal sees SiriusXM pump almost half a billion dollars into Pandora. That will allow it to adopt "a hybrid advertising/subscription model" that it claims will be more sustainable than others.
Pandora is on the hunt for a buyer and now sources say that SiriusXM may be the one to acquire it. The music streaming service is said to be in talks with SiriusXM, which is tipped to be in 'active discussions' with the company. This won't be the first time SiriusXM has expressed interest in Pandora; whether an acquisition will come from these latest reported talks is anyone's guess. The sources go on to indicate that some analysts' estimated acquisition prices are too high.
SiriusXM has acquired Automatic, makers of a wireless adapter that plugs in under your dashboard and pipes car information directly to your smartphone. The news, announced today, sees SiriusXM extend its reach from the infotainment system, where it has built a reputation for satellite radio and connected services. With the addition of Automatic, it'll be able to pull even greater information from vehicles than currently.
During CES, Pure introduced its Evoke F4 "Ultimate Radio", something promised to have support for SiriusXM Radio, among other things. Today the company has announced the availability of that service on its radio, as well as its One Flow and Sensia 200D Connect devices. Other Pure platforms are set to get SiriusXM later on this year.
Back in October, we mentioned that SiriusXM satellite radio had launched a new satellite into orbit around the Earth. The satellite is called Sirius FM-6 and was launched by Space Systems/Loral known as SSL. In October, SSL reported that the satellite had deployed its solar arrays after a successful launch from Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.
SiriusXM satellite radio has a number of hardware options to allow you to get satellite radio into your car or home. The company has announced its latest portable satellite radio receiver and several accessories to go along with it. The SiriusXM Onyx Plus Dock and Play Radio is now available to purchase.
Sirius XM radio has been around for a long time and like many services that rely on satellites, the more satellites the more service can be offered. Sirius XM and Space Systems/Loral (SSL) have announced that the Sirius FM-6 satellite launch is going according to plan so far. The satellite has reportedly performed post-launch maneuvers as planned.
A lawsuit has been filed against Sirius XM Radio in the U.S. District Court of Washington DC by SoundExchange, a non-profit organization that works with artists to collect royalties on digital works and has its establishment roots in the Recording Industry Association of America. According to the lawsuit, Sirius XM has underpaid the organization for a statutory license by quite a hefty sum, and it wants millions in return.
Technology in the car is becoming more and more ubiquitous, thanks to car makers putting in touchscreen controls, navigation systems, and mobile internet to provide real-time information to drivers. Nissan wants to get in on the fun and has put SiriusXM to the task of implementing a telematics system inside Nissan vehicles, and the company has partnered up with AT&T to make that happen.
It's safe to say that many of you out there for fans of the Star Wars franchise, no matter how you feel about the newer film trilogy. Star Wars Celebration has been held eight times around the country with some international events since the very first one in 1999 to celebrate the pending launch of Star Wars Episode I. Star Wars Celebration is a fan gathering where insiders from the films and fans come together to talk about the franchise and dress up.
It looks like SiriusXM is ready to start providing its content in a way people will be more receptive to, today announcing the launch of SiriusXM On Demand. The company says that over 200 shows and 2,000 hours of content will be available from its network on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Better yet, the app will be available at no extra cost to existing SiriusXM subscribers, so if you happen to miss your favourite show while on the road, you can fire up the app and listen later without worrying about the costs.
