XM Satellite Radio, America's leading satellite radio company, today announced that it added more than 285,000 new net subscribers during the third quarter of 2006 and now has a total of more than 7.185 million subscribers.
XM aims to have around 8 million by the end of the year
Starting in the third quarter of 2006, XM no longer includes certain rental car fleets (approximately 20,000 subscriptions) in its subscription total. This change is a result of a new marketing program that XM recently implemented with certain rental fleet partners for 2007 model year vehicles. The goal of this program is to increase the number of rental cars equipped with XM Satellite Radio and expose more potential customers to XM's service.
XM broadcasts live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal. XM's 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels and describes themselves as the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market, and number one for offering choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM has partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota and is available in more than 140 different vehicle models for 2006.
Earlier, competitor SIRIUS announced the addition of 441,101 net subscribers in the third quarter of 2006 giving them a total of just over five million subscribers.