SiriusXM plans to roll out its new 2.0 service on some Chrysler vehicle receivers this summer, CEO Mel Karmazin said during the company earnings call yesterday. While some of the 2.0 receivers are available now, these are the first cars to offer the new receivers and expanded satellite radio service.
Chrysler’s Dodge brand 2013-model-year Ram 1500 and SRT Viper will offer the 2.0 radios, SiriusXM previously announced.
With its previously-announced 2.0 service, SiriusXM offers an expanded channel lineup that also includes beefed-up online offerings such as an on-demand personalized Internet radio service.
Think of 2.0 as a way to super-serve subscribers, Karmazin said. “We want them to get the same great product in a mobile environment” like on a smartphone or home computer, as they do now in the car, said the executive.
The satcaster is programming 33 extra channels for the new service so far, as we’ve reported.
Karmazin said the satcaster is investing in providing more online content, especially sports programming. “We are offering play-by-play with no blackouts,” for various professional sports such as the MLB and NHL, he said. “Much of this content is hard to find online.” With the company’s 2.0 service, “it’s all under one app.” For baseball, he said, “The only other option is to go to MLB.com. Even terrestrial radio does not have the content rights to games they broadcast locally.”
The company anticipates rolling out the on-demand service this summer, complete with personalized online commercial-free music channels. All of the offerings should drive adoption of the company’s Internet tier, he predicted, adding: “Free competitors will have a tough time matching what we offer.”
