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Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

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Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

What will this merger do to an already bleak radio landscape? What about us?
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

Who cares? Corporations have ruined radio by giving us a mediocre product that only benefits their bottom line. Now they will continue to pay a price as their listeners leave and find other forms of media that fits their needs.
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

First... I assume... they need to resolve technical issues like the two sytems being incompatible. That means developing a two-system reciever. Then some serious marketing, including re-visits to both companies' car deals. The fastest way to synergy is to get two-system radios into new cars asap.

Assuming that: a whole bunch of satellite radio real estate is going to open up, i.e., just one 60's channel, just one feed of CNN, FNC, FNT, etc.

Now the dilema: What will go on those new channels? The return of some old XM and Sirius rejects? Channels given over to creative minds to come up with innovated and even narrower nitch music formats? More original sports, news and talk?

It could be a bright new future we we satellite junkies. Except for two words: Mel Karmazin. Yeah, he paid for Howard - a known star. Is he going to invest the time and money in developing a stable of satellite stars (On MX, there are actual popular DJ's? Anybody like Terry Young over at Sirius?). History says no. History says forget about anything that involves patience. History says make this quarter's numbers or get out.

So.. get out
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

it seems that there is no future for jocks anymore, unless you can get syndicated. And that happens few and far between. Not like this industry is doing much good for anybody right now, this is just another thorn in the side.
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

This merger had to happen, with both XM and Sirius bleeding financially. I doubt it will save satellite radio as web radio begins to take a bigger share of the advertising pie. Those who have paid for satellite have made the switch and it isn't enough money to keep both XM or Sirius or the combination operating for long. Ad revenue is pacing downward and the new ad revenue of satellite is being replaced by web radio or web advertising products. This is a non-event. Satellite radio is a minor player and combined they are still a minor player, losing money quickly.
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

When you folks are in between other chores/commitments ... check out Discovery Channel & the show: Download: The Real (or true?) story of the Internet. It covers all kinds of revelations and hiccups due to people making bets on various technologies. My own rule of thumb is the technology MUST solve a problem in order to get serious traction. Satellite radio didn't really solve a problem, it provided an alternative to an existing problem (namely, our industry). As pointed here...with the internet quickly becoming a transport vehicle of choice and with bandwidth and media distribution setbacks CONSTANTLY improving (think Moore's law for those familiar with Intel history), then satellite had no future as soon as it was laid out on the white board.
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for

djdan said:
This merger had to happen, with both XM and Sirius bleeding financially. I doubt it will save satellite radio as web radio begins to take a bigger share of the advertising pie. Those who have paid for satellite have made the switch and it isn't enough money to keep both XM or Sirius or the combination operating for long. Ad revenue is pacing downward and the new ad revenue of satellite is being replaced by web radio or web advertising products. This is a non-event. Satellite radio is a minor player and combined they are still a minor player, losing money quickly.
Click to expand...

Exactly right.

Both Sirius and XM got way higher operating costs than they originally expected. You think the rent for Sirius' studios in New York City are cheap? Not to mention the shorter than expected lifespan of their satellites.

Howard Stern cashing in his Sirius stock six seconds after he was eligible to do so was all you needed to know about its long-term viability.

Is the merger enough? Rising gas and food prices and house foreclosures skyrocketing shuts off the consumer's discretionary income real quick. I wouldn't be surprised to see satellite radio fold in the next five years, or just as soon as internet radio is available in vehicles.
 
Re: Justice says "Okay" to the XM+Sirius merger....what will the future hold for us?

Yes, even though the DOJ has approved this merger, the FCC hasnt. But, we all know that they are bought and paid for, so they too will approve it.

But remember, neither company has gotten out of the red. Im sure Uncle Mel is assuming when you combine, both talent and operating costs, you can make some cash. The total between the two will be 17 million listeners. (Which if memory serves me correct still isnt the 20 million listeners Howard had JUST FOR HIM at his peak on the FM dial).

The biggest problem I see is the hardware issue. Not so much with the factory installed units, but the units that current subscribers paid for. What do you tell them? Hey, sorry you spent 100 bucks on that, but its not gonna work now. They could send out new units (17 million X eh...lets say 25 bucks = BROKE).

Its funny because my Sirius subscription ran up this month, and my unit had been on the fritz for a few weeks. I didnt miss it much, so I let it go. Sirius has been calling me more than a bill collector. I finally took the call and they offered to send me a new free unit just for signing back up. Im tempted to call back now and see what they will offer up.
 
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