SATWAVES

Ford Introduces Best-in-Industry Plan to Improve Consumer Confidence, Jump-Start Vehicle Sales

DEARBORN, Mich., March 31, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- -- Ford will cover payments for up to 12 months on any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle if customers lose their jobs -- 0 percent financing is also offered through Ford Motor Credit on select Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles -- Ford also is working with its dealers to introduce a local charity support program Ford Motor Company (F) is introducing the most comprehensive program available to boost consumers' buying confiden...

Sirius XM Apply To Combine Services

From Satellite Radio Techworld: XM, the wholly owned subsidiary of Sirius XM Radio, has filed an application to expand it range of frequencies to include the Sirius Satellite Radio band of frequencies. Previously, XM operated in the 2332.5-2345 MHz band, while Sirius operated in the 2320-2332.5. XM now seeks permission to operate over the entire satellite radion band from 2320 MHz to 2345 MHz. The stated purpose is to allow Sirius XM to design, test, and demonstate its terrestrial repeater netwo...

Obama Plan May Add 3 Million To New Vehicle Sales

Big news: a scrappage program is coming. Lost in all this bankruptcy talk is President Obama's endorsement today of a scrappage program aimed to boost auto sales, which will likely be funded from the stimulus program and made retroactive. These programs give consumers a rebate on the purchase of a new car when they trade in or "scrap" their old car. Would this make a difference in sales? In Germany, where a program is now in place, the program has experienced a 2.4 percent "take" rate, according...

Can free music and profits coexist?

As sales decline, industry explores ways to reach fans Sarah Sidwell, a 19-year-old freshman at Belmont University, loves listening to music but doesn't buy it that often. Instead, she listens to top artists on Pandora, a free online radio station that she customizes to play her favorite songs. It's a phenomenon adding to the overall decline in music buying and even the legal and illegal downloading of tunes, according to New York-based NPD Group, a research firm. Instead of buying music, many c...

Autos task force readies aid announcement

WASHINGTON/DETROIT (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will announce the next steps to help General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC on Monday, the White House said, amid signs of progress for GM in talks aimed at slashing its debt and cutting costs in response to slack demand. GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner was in Washington on Friday to meet with the autos task force, led by former investment banker Steve Rattner, which Obama has charged with overseeing emergency lending to the automakers and thei...