• by Tanya Gazdik , August 29, 2011

Remember when anti-drug advocates would warn against the drug dealers who would give the first hit for free in order to reel in new users? SiriusXM is taking that approach with an offer to lure back former subscribers.

In a mailing that went out late last week, the New York-based satellite radio company is offering two free weeks (Aug. 30 - Sept. 12) of access to 60 channels. The promotion, with the theme: "Bringing Your Radio Back To Life," includes a laminated card featuring the free stations.

After the two weeks is up, former subscribers are offered the change to re-sign for five months of programming for $25, which is more than a 60% savings off the regular subscription price. The deal includes the waiving of the activation fee and ends Sept. 30. A dedicated website is also promoting the offer.

SiriusXM did not respond by post time to several requests for details on the promotion, including how many former subscribers were receiving the mailings.

The timing on the deal appears to be aimed at football fans, as the letter begins: "Just in time for the fall season kickoff, we are turning your XM radio back on." Included in the free channels are College Sports Nation, SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and SiriusXM NFL Radio.

On college football's opening week, Sep. 1 - 5, SiriusXM will air 59 college football games, featuring every team in the current Associated Press Top 25 poll.

In other SiriusXM news, the broadcaster claims it will offer more live college play-by-play than any other broadcaster due to a multi-year broadcasting agreement with IMG College and Learfield Sports. It will give listeners college football, basketball, baseball and hockey from 11 conferences.

SiriusXM programming also is available on more than 800 devices, including pre-installed and after-market radios in cars, trucks, boats and aircraft, smartphones and mobile devices, and consumer electronics products for homes and offices. SiriusXM programming is also available at siriusxm.com, and on Apple, BlackBerry and Android-powered mobile devices.