U.S. Satellite Radio Receivers won't work in Canada Digital Home Canada Thursday, 10 November 2005
http://digitalhomecanada.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=780&Itemid=51 In a move that is angering many Canadians and current XM and Sirius radio listeners, the Globe and Mail is reporting today that Canadians who purchase satellite radios in the U.S. will not be able to use them to subscribe to Canadian satellite radio services. The newspaper is reporting that U.S. and Canadian models will be "locked" so they will only play signals destined for the country they are sold in. The result is that Canadian consumers will have fewer satellite radio models to choose from than their American counterparts and will be forced to pay more for receivers in Canada. For example, one radio the XM2go is being advertised in Canada for $399 Canadian. The same model on Amazon.com can be purchased for $199 U.S. ($236 CDN) after rebates. In addition, to paying more for satellite radio equipment in Canada, Canadian consumers will also have to pay more for satellite radio in this country. For example, Sirius sells a 120 channel satellite radio in the U.S. for $12.95 U.S. ($15.42 CND) while Sirius Canada sells a 100 channel package for $14.99 Canadian plus taxes. The result is Americans and Gray Market Canadians receive 20 additional channels and pay several dollars a month less after taxes are included in the equation. The higher cost of hardware and the higher cost of service have lead many Digital Home Canada readers to write us and say that they will continue to subscribe to satellite Radio Services through the Gray Market. ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 antunes at uh dot edu Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
