Imagine hearing CD-quality music beaming into your car radio from space. It’s possible with satellite radio, a popular audio option that offers an extensive range of programming and requires a monthly subscription. Whether you’re looking for the latest hits or an hour of talk shows, satellite radio delivers uninterrupted entertainment in stunning clarity.
While AM and FM radio is confined to a geographical region, a satellite’s signal can reach an entire continent. This is made possible by a network of satellites that broadcast digital radio signals to receivers attached to specialized antennae. Depending on the service you choose, your subscription can provide you with access to hundreds of channels of music and talk that aren’t available on terrestrial radio.
In the United States, there are currently three satellite radio services: XM Satellite Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio and WorldSpace. All three services utilize a satellite network to transmit the audio signals that their customers receive after purchasing a subscription. What differentiates each of the three satellite radio providers is how they use their satellite networks to broadcast the content they offer.
WorldSpace and XM use two satellites in highly elliptical geostationary orbits that cover the continental United States and Canada. The satellites are spaced apart so that the overlapping coverage areas do not interfere with each other. Sirius, on the other hand, uses three satellites in geostationary orbits and broadcasts from higher altitudes than XM’s satellites. This allows Sirius to more easily maintain a strong signal in urban areas where tall buildings block the signal. In 2008, Sirius and XM merged into one company that now goes by the name of SiriusXM. While the merger saved both companies from bankruptcy, some consumers worry that a single satellite radio company would limit competition and raise prices for subscribers.
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