And beyond free. By summer, the satellites are expected to beam 100 channels of music, talk, news and specialty programming, competing with a similar service from Sirius Satellite Radio. No longer will people have to endure fading stations and static when they drive long distances, the companies say. Now they can have a favorite channel wherever they go. But each company thinks people will be willing to spend the money.
Radio is to the car what TV is to the home.
He and others likened the situation to the start of cable TV, when skeptics predicted people wouldn't pay for something they could get for free. Both XM and Sirius have well-known corporate partners betting billions of dollars that the concept of pay radio works. Sirius' partners include Ford, Volvo and DaimlerChrysler. It has three satellites in orbit and is testing its system, said Joe Capobianco, senior vice president of content. Rock will follow in April.