By Sanjay Sharma | Published June 12, 2008

Most folks in the A/V industry have been paying more time and attention speculating a potential merger between Satellite Radio giants XM and Sirius for the past two years than the content and features that each company offers. 

Sirius has stepped up by offering a new option for drivers with kids. Backseat TV is specifically marketed toward providing TV-G programming content to any existing headrest or flip-down monitor located behind the driver. Kids can watch one of three kids' channels on headphones while the grown-ups listen to any Sirius Radio channel in the front of the car.

The unit costs $299.99. Service costs an additional $7 per month on your existing Sirius bill, making the total service cost approximately $20 per month. Installation may require some new cables and obviously each vehicle will have specific needs.

Backseat TV currently offers Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network-Mobile.  Nick and Disney look like the actual channels, but it appears the Cartoon Network channel looks like a new content offering which shows two to eight minute cartoons targeted at young children. 

We've offered the very cool KVH TracVision for several years now, and it provides full Direct TV service to any very large vehicle. The quality is awesome and the service is unparalleled, but the costs are very high by comparison, starting at about $3,000 before installation for most vehicles.  In addition, you need a very large truck or SUV for this to even be an option. 

I see Backseat TV as being a very affordable alternative to any size vehicle, provided the display is located somewhere behind the driver's seat.  If you are looking for a way to get some child-friendly content for road trips, the new Backseat expansion from Sirius looks like the way to go.

Please contact any of our stores to find out more.