XM Satellite Says It’ll Meet Estimates

. — XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.’s chief executive said the company made enough sales during the holiday period to meet analysts’ estimates for 20,000 to 30,000 subscribers to the satellite radio service by Monday.

Shares of XM rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. gained 8%, led by expectations the companies’ sales will prove pessimists wrong, analysts said. Both money-losing companies had missed subscriber estimates after delaying the introduction of service. XM Satellite started nationwide broadcasts in November, with radios for vehicles or homes costing several hundred dollars and service offered for $9.99 a month. Sirius is scheduled to begin service Feb.14. Both companies distribute programming with fewer commercials and better sound quality than conventional radio broadcasts. On Nasdaq, New York-based Sirius rose 79 cents to $10.58, and shares of Washington-based XM Satellite fell 70 cents to $18.46.