As Sirius, XM signals merge, customers are confused

— -- The XM-Sirius satellite radio merger is shifting the lineups — and in some cases the sentiments — of subscribers.

When Rick Munarriz got into his car Wednesday, he found that, though the XM radio had been tuned to alternative rock channel Fred, the readout said "First Wave," a similar channel from Sirius' network. The 41-year-old Motley Fool senior analyst, who subscribes to both, says, "I thought I was in this bizarro world where everything was switched around. They sort of surprised people. No one asked me what station to keep or what I preferred."

Sirius XM Radio, the company created by the merger approved in July, began broadcasting its new lineup last week on both networks. XM lost channels including Soul Street and alt-rockers Fred, Ethel and Lucy, and got Sirius' counterparts. Likewise, decades-themed channels on Sirius were replaced by XM counterparts.

Leading up to the changes, DJs talked on air about them, emails were sent and new lineups were posted online Wednesday.

Subscriptions to XM and Sirius are still sold separately (each $12.95 monthly). But XM subscribers now get more than a dozen offerings previously only on Sirius, including channels devoted to Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett. Sirius adds Deep Tracks, which carries Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour and Tom Petty's Buried Treasure shows, as well as country stations Willie's Place and The Roadhouse.

These additions and changes work on all current radios and require no additional fees. XM subscribers also can buy a "Best of Sirius" package for $4 a month that includes two channels featuring Howard Stern — signed by Sirius through 2010 — and a Martha Stewart channel, plus NASCAR and NFL channels. Similarly, Sirius subscribers can pay $4 for a "Best of XM" package with Oprah & Friends, talk channel The Virus with The Opie & Anthony Show, and NHL and NBA channels.

"We feel pretty confident we have a fairly unique lineup now of breadth and depth," says Scott Greenstein, chief content officer for Sirius XM.