This week XM Satellite took dead aim at shooting down the way we think about "radio" with a national network of over 100 digital satellite radio stations. In post-consolidation broadcast radio, actual content has taken a back seat to commercials with stop sets on traditional FM radio as long as 14 minuets per break. While XM will have some commercials, their spot load is expected to be far lower than FM thanks to a $10 per month service fee. Critics from the radio industry say that no one will pay for radio. We’ll see. 17.5 million people pay for Satellite TV when local stations are free. If the content is better, people will pay.

TERK Technologies has just announced a development agreement with XM Satellite Radio to develop, manufacture and distribute XM’s retail antennas to receive digital satellite radio signals for automobile and home use. XM Satellite radio is developing a new 100-channel band of digital radio stations. With music, news, sports, talk, comedy and children’s programming, this subscription-based service requires specifically designed antennas to receive these signals.