XM and Sirius merge, total viewers still behind podcasting
new media July 30th, 2008
Image via Wikipedia Today, the merger between the two US satellite radio providers, XM and Sirus, went final. The merger created a total combined audience of 18.5 million listeners in the US. Good for them. They need all the help they can get. Satellite radio has been loosing money.
Too bad podcasting in the US was already at 18.5 million unique listeners LAST YEAR . With estimates of an 87% increase in podcast listenership this year, that would put numbers near 35 million by the end of the year. All this without the multi-million dollar deals for distribution in vehicles, free promotions, etc. Podcasting continues to grow by word of mouth. It continues to grow on the strength of the niche, of your choice, and with the opportunity for relationship.
More and more cars continue to come with iPod docks, hard drives, and opportunities for digital media to be utilized. One has to wonder if satellite radio’s one-trick-pony (systems in vehicles) is in jeopardy of getting pushed aside buy the growing digital revolution… one that includes the continued growth of podcasting.
-
PhilosophyGuy
