Bloomberg: iHeartMedia Holding Merger Talks With SiriusXM
Bloomberg reports today that iHeartMedia has begun preliminary merger talks with SiriusXM. The deal would see Liberty Media owned SiriusXM
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Bloomberg: iHeartMedia Holding Merger Talks With SiriusXM
- Thread starter Josh Owens
- Start date
radioinsight.com
Does this mean either we're going to get Sirius XM for free on our car radio and online if this goes through
Would be nice!
So when I scroll over to my favorite channel, I'll be greeted with a pre-roll ad, and a VT jock that says "coming up in 6 minutes we'll tell you what (insert temporarily popular 'celebrity') said!"
What A Potential iHeart/SiriusXM Deal Says About Where Audio Is Headed
Friday afternoon's reports of a potential tie-up between iHeartMedia and SiriusXM will create a juggernaut of audio. Not just radio.
radioinsight.com
Lance's analysis of this is excellent. I'm still skeptical that there is value to such a merger, but with ownership limits about to be scrapped, Sirius may see value in a play ahead of that.
I assume if the deal goes through the new combined company could get out of debt faster with SXM requiring people to pay for subscriptions?
I doubt they'd shift iHR to a subscription model. I doubt it would work if tried.
There actually are iHeart subscription plans, but they are hardly ever mentioned these days.
For radio stations broadcasting over the Internet, the basic problem with the subscription model is that the recording industry charges more per song per listener than for stations who don't. The only radio broadcaster I know of who has used (and continues to use) a subscription model for Internet listening for a long time is KPIG licensed to Freedom, CA. And, since others haven't followed their lead in big numbers (the only station I know of that has attempted this is Prescott AZ's KAHM) and that station recently went back to free streaming), I have to assume that the subscription model is not netting much profit for those attempting to use it.
Understood. In these cases, it's the same content, just w/o ads. If they tried to make iHR a pure subscription service, I don't see that working.
Radio-Insight reports merger talks have stalled. The reason is not the least bit surprising to me!
radioinsight.com
iHeartMedia & SiriusXM Merger Talks Reportedly Stall
The New York Times reports that the early merger talks that would have seen SiriusXM acquire iHeartMedia have stalled with
radioinsight.com
Sirius wants to buy iHeart Radio and divest the "radio." That's certainly a pessimistic view of "radio's" future.Radio-Insight reports merger talks have stalled. The reason is not the least bit surprising to me!
iHeartMedia & SiriusXM Merger Talks Reportedly Stall
The New York Times reports that the early merger talks that would have seen SiriusXM acquire iHeartMedia have stalled with
SXM is looking to amass scale to mitigate or mask the slowly melting ice cube predicament of its subscription model satellite radio service. By adding the iHR streaming platform and digital assets, they could more readily sell user data to third parties for targeted marketing and also realize some expense structure synergies.
I am skeptical SXM will succeed in its quest in making a major bolt-on acquisition.
I think a more likely scenario in the next 5 to 10 years is one where a strategic buyer acquires SXM. That may be a video streaming service, a multi dimensional media company (e.g. Disney, Sony or Paramount), or perhaps a music-based company (Universal Music Group). Perhaps a foreign company that is not well known domestically would be interested.
I'll be very surprised if SXM still remains an autonomous company a decade from now.
I am skeptical SXM will succeed in its quest in making a major bolt-on acquisition.
I think a more likely scenario in the next 5 to 10 years is one where a strategic buyer acquires SXM. That may be a video streaming service, a multi dimensional media company (e.g. Disney, Sony or Paramount), or perhaps a music-based company (Universal Music Group). Perhaps a foreign company that is not well known domestically would be interested.
I'll be very surprised if SXM still remains an autonomous company a decade from now.