Sirius XM Price Hike

Sirius XM today confirmed rumored price increases with notices for subscribers to the individual Sirius and XM networks. Either satellite radio station will no longer offer its Internet streaming component for free and will instead charge $3 per month extra for individuals listening to the stations. Sirius XM justifies the move by noting that the audio quality will go up by March 11th and is giving existing users a chance to "lock in" free listening before that date.

Sirius is also known to be raising the cost of its Everything plan from $7 to $9 per month. A multi-radio subscription will also cost $9 while a Mostly Music pack will cost $13 per month. Details for increases for XM satellite plans aren't known but should be similar.

The changes are potentially controversial as they may break an FCC price freeze agreement established with last year's merger of Sirius and XM. Both are restricted from increasing the price of their main service until 2011 and haven't explained how the new increases might be excepted from the rules. [via Orbitcast]

By Electronista Staff