To help put this issue into perspective, about a year and a half ago my Yamaha RX-V3900 home theater receiver stopped receiving Sirius Internet Radio. I was a paying subscriber at the time. I called Sirius. They assured me that there was nothing wrong and that they were broadcasting on the Internet (the problem was all in my head.) I simultaneously called Yamaha in California over the same four day period. They determined, with the help of a Japanese engineer who just happened to be visiting, that there was indeed a problem that affected a limited number of Yamaha units. After four days Sirius was back on the air for Yamaha customers. But I was pissed for the following reasons:
1) Being jerked around by customer service and having them try to convince me that there was not a problem;
2) Mel Karmizen testifying before Congress asserting that if Sirius and XM were allowed to merge combined rates would in fact come down for the average subscriber and he promised that rates would remain steady for three years hence;
The result: Rates immediately went up by about fifty percent. Sirius began charging for Internet access, something that had previously been free for subscribers and Sirius began tacking on an RIAA music licensing charge onto each bill. Regular radio stations pay this charge through advertising which Sirius certainly has enough of. In the end, my bill went from around $119 to $200 per year. Keep in mind also that the RIAA has no jurisdiction over Sirius produced shows like Howard Stern, pretty much all I listen to anyway. With Howard Stern knowing full well that he would be decreasing his work schedule but keeping it secret until after a massive subscriber drive, I felt massively ripped off and manipulated.
Now, I put my Yamaha receiver in Trial Mode and I can listen to Sirius for 30 days. When the 30 days expires, I change the unit's MAC address (explained in the service manual) and I'm good to go for another 30 days. I barely listen to Sirius Internet Radio anymore now that Howard is down to two days a week with more than half a year of vacation. So I feel quite justified not paying $200 a month. (The $120 a month was worth it when Stern was on five days a week and you could get, as a subscriber, free Internet access.)
Finally, I believe that Mel Karmizen should be brought up on perjury or contempt of Congress charges for knowingly and deliberately lying to Congress. Think about it. Either he knew and he lied, or he didn't know and he's the world's worst CEO.
Wayne
