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XM conversion at 50% is bad news?!

From Inside Radio:

…Yet XM says it converted just 53% of new car buyers into XM subscribers. That means owners of half the cars equipped with XM included aren’t even bothering to subscribe once the trial offer expires.

Are you serious?

Help me understand this spin-city logic: One out of every two people who try something decide to subscribe at $13/month – and this is viewed as bad news by the radio trades?

I doubt very much this is viewed as bad news by XM!

Have you ever grabbed a free food sample in a supermarket? Have you purchased the product you sampled 50% of the time? Has it even been 25% of the time? 10%?

Was this editorial comment written with any knowledge of what consumer sample rates are like for a wide range of products, let alone a subscription-priced technology product?

I doubt it.

Let me assure you in no uncertain terms that when one of every two samplers purchases the product they are sampling that is an outstanding conversion rate.

Any other conclusion is just de Nile.

6 Comments;
  • Andy Graham

    Mark – do you happen to know the conversion rate for OnStar after the 12 month, new car trial period?

  • http://profile.typekey.com/mramsey1/ Mark Ramsey

    No, but I’ll bet it’s less than this, Andy.

  • http://hdradiofarce.blogspot.com/ Greg

    Good news for Satellite Radio, since more and more automakers are offering it as standard/optional equipment:
    “Merger or Not, Carmakers are Attuned to Satellite Radio”
    “One of four vehicles sold equipped with XM, Sirius”
    http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/FREE/70626010/1528/newsletter01
    Even Hyundai is going with Satellite Radio, not HD Radio:
    “Hyundai to fit XM Satellite in all models”
    http://news.com.com/Hyundai+to+fit+XM+Satellite+in+all+models/2100-1041_3-5631470.html
    Bad news for HD, but great news for DX’ers !

  • http://profile.typekey.com/mramsey1/ Mark Ramsey

    HD, like satellite, will be aiming to likewise be provided “standard.”
    In fact, I’m guessing that’s their PRIMARY thrust right now.

  • http://hdradiofarce.blogspot.com/ Greg

    “HD, like satellite, will be aiming to likewise be provided “standard. In fact, I’m guessing that’s their PRIMARY thrust right now.”
    It won’t be happening with the Big Three (besides, HD reception is even more problematic on-the-move):
    “U.S. automakers not jumping into HD Radio”
    http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2632750220070427?pageNumber=1

  • http://www.jonrobbinsvoice.com Jon Robbins

    Hey…Agreed! Absolutely a great conversion rate, but, the real interesting data is one year later…how many continue the subscription?

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MRM President Mark Ramsey has worked with innumerable television and radio broadcasters over his career, including all the biggest names, from Clear Channel, CBS, Bonneville, Sirius XM...

Mark Ramsey