Sirius XM plans to raise rates for users who want multiple accounts on the satellite radio service, a company spokesman said. Beginning March 11, the company will also charge for its online streaming feature, which had been previously been free. The reason? To raise cash.
Sirius XM Radio Inc plans to increase prices for subscribers with multiple accounts and begin to charge for its online music feed, moves that may help the pay-radio service meet looming debt payments.
While it is keeping its core rates unchanged—a condition to which Sirius and XM Satellite Radio agreed last year in order to close their merger—the move could also anger subscribers still raw from a series of programing changes enacted in November.
Starting March 11, users with more than one account will pay about $9 for additional accounts, up from about $7, a customer service representative for the New York-based company said Wednesday.
Also, subscribers will have to pay about $3 a month for the online version of the service. Currently, it is free for subscribers.
Users will be able to defer the increases if they sign up for a long-term annual contract extension, or pay up to $500 for a lifetime subscription, representatives said. They added that there is no plan to change the standard monthly subscription price.
An official spokesman for Sirius, one of the largest U.S. subscription services with about 19 million subscribers, did not return calls for comment.
Sirius XM Radio Inc plans to increase prices for subscribers with multiple accounts and begin to charge for its online music feed, moves that may help the pay-radio service meet looming debt payments.
While it is keeping its core rates unchanged—a condition to which Sirius and XM Satellite Radio agreed last year in order to close their merger—the move could also anger subscribers still raw from a series of programing changes enacted in November.
Starting March 11, users with more than one account will pay about $9 for additional accounts, up from about $7, a customer service representative for the New York-based company said Wednesday.
Also, subscribers will have to pay about $3 a month for the online version of the service. Currently, it is free for subscribers.
Users will be able to defer the increases if they sign up for a long-term annual contract extension, or pay up to $500 for a lifetime subscription, representatives said. They added that there is no plan to change the standard monthly subscription price.
An official spokesman for Sirius, one of the largest U.S. subscription services with about 19 million subscribers, did not return calls for comment.
