XM Satellite Radio

Though XM and Sirius have merged to form Sirius XM Satellite Radio, each remains a separate service with distinct advantages and disadvantages. On the music front, while both services provide a wealth of channels to appeal to nearly any taste, only XM offers live concerts. For sports fans, XM carries exclusive rights to Major League Baseball, NHL hockey, PGA golf and the Indy Racing League. XM talk radio exclusives include "The Opie and Anthony Show" and "Oprah and Friends." Additionally, XM, like Sirius, has a wide selection of news, weather, politics and other talk radio channels. An online version of the service is free to subscribers, or can be subscribed to separately (*est. $13 per month), but the sound quality isn't terrific. Sirius (*est. $13 per month) is the other satellite radio service. Offerings are similar, except for sports (Sirius carries the NFL, but not baseball or hockey) and the selection of celebrity channels (Howard Stern on Sirius vs. Oprah on XM).

The Wall Street Journal offers the best comparative review of the XM and Sirius satellite radio services. Although some specifics are a little dated, the broad assessments are still valid and provide a useful impression of strengths and weaknesses. Consumer Reports has recently updated its coverage of satellite radio. No judgments are rendered as to which is best, but the overview provided is useful.