Sirius XM plans facelift

NEW YORK, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Sirius XM Radio intends to unveil new pricing plans and technology to attract more U.S. subscribers to its satellite radio service this coming holiday season.

The New York company has already announced eight new programming packages that will allow listeners to sign up at rates starting at $6.99 a month, The Kansas City (Mo.) Star reported Sunday.

The new plans follow the Sirius-XM merger, which was one of the most protracted mergers in U.S. history, the newspaper reported.

Sirius XM cannot, under FCC mandate, raise its prices for three years.

Industry analyst Thilo Koslowski of Gartner Consulting told the newspaper the merger was good for listeners.

"I don't think there will be any downside for consumers," Koslowski said.

Still, Bob Williams of Consumers Union is skeptical of the merger.

"The (satellite radio) industry has a history of promising things and then letting it go by the wayside," Williams was quoted as saying.