SiriusXM adds, reorders, and combines channels

Some satellite radio subscribers woke up this morning wondering where their favorite stations went. Today, Sirius XM completed its network unification, combining all satellite radio stations into a single channel lineup. All cars equipped with satellite radio now have access to the same stations and in the same order, but it also means that some stations have been combined, renamed, or have changed places on the dial.

For the most part, the station unification involves a simple reordering of channels. For example, in cars equipped with XM satellite radio, listeners will now find Hair Nation on channel 39 instead of 41, and Sirius subscribers will now find NPR Talk on station 23 where the 1980s hair band station used to be.

Sirius Left and XM's America Left have joined forces to become SiriusXM Left, on channel 127. Fans of XM's Willie's Place will get a taste of Sirius' The Roadhouse as the two stations combine to become Willie's Roadhouse on channel 56.

But most stations retain the same programming, and some can still be found in their original place.

Howard Stern fans will still be able to find their favorite talk show host on channels 100 and 101 on all satellite radios. And all subscription plans will get a few new programming additions, like local traffic reports for Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and SiriusXM Limited Engagement on channel 18 for special event programming.

It's a little confusing, and some subscribers were complaining on Twitter about SiriusXM's lack of warning. Saved presets were supposed to change automatically to follow the new lineup, but some users found themselves reprogramming up to 30 saved stations. SiriusXM's FAQ details the way packages and parental blocking have been affected, and offers troubleshooting tips for refreshing and updating satellite radio. To get the lay of the land, listeners can create a customized listening guide or see the changes for all subscription packages online.