CEO Mel Karmazin is being "conservative" with his estimates, because of the January 1 price hike from $12.99 to $14.49 a month. Nonetheless, the satellite radio operator expects 1.3 million additions this year, on top of 1.7 million in 2011. Robust car sales are helping to drive the optimism, spurred on by solid numbers for January. Sirius XM expects the "conversion rate" to be in the 44% to 46% range, of those who continue the satellite service after their short-term free subscription ends. Karmazin says Sirius XM programming costs are going down, as revenue is rising. Sirius XM hit $3.01 billion in revenue for 2011, up 7%. It expects to do 10% better this year, partly due to the subscription hike. Also giving rise to optimism: the new "2.0" generation of receivers, with more capabilities, and special events such as the March 19 10th anniversary event at New York's Apollo theater, featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Tickets are only available by winning them through Sirius XM. Read the fourth quarter/full-year 2011 report from Sirius XM here.