Satellite Monopoly?

[Davie123]

So the breaking news is that Sirius XM is likely to be swallowed up by one of the satellite TV
companies, either Echostar or DirecTV. Will the FTC and FCC allow this consolidation of media?
Did these agencies ever foresee such a merger when they approved the buyout of XM by Sirius?
And yet, because of the "dire economic circumstances" I am betting the Obama administration will
allow this consolidation to happen. Satellite broadcasters will again receive favored treatment over
terrestrial broadcasters. Can you imagine if Clear Channel and Cumulus merged, and then NBC sought
to buy them? There would be a public outcry from coast-to-coast with congressional hearings and townhall meetings to protest this media concentration. But in order to "save" satellite radio, we will likely see a shotgun marriage with one of the satellite TV companies rammed through with nary a whimper
from the government or the public.

 

[max88]

dont blame obama for mel's mistakes! sirius xm bet that people would pay for radio like cable tv and they lost

 

[strangelove]

dont blame obama for mel's mistakes! sirius xm bet that people would pay for radio like cable tv and they lost

It was almost worth it for me. $9.95 seemed a reasonable fee for the amazing music I used to hear on channels like XMU and Fred, plus the niche channels like Deep Tracks and talk radio without AM fuzz. After the merger all of my favorite channels went to crap in very short order and I canceled my subscription within 3 weeks. I know my music tastes don't represent the majority but if I could get a wide variety of music and knowledgeable jocks with actual personality and all the other things South Florida radio so desperately lacks I was willing to fork over a few bucks a month for it.

 

[top4odj]

I have no problem with DirecTV buying Sirius/XM. Terrestrial radio is garbage in todays day and age. The Live and Local aspect of what is radio today is almost nowhere to be found. Voice tracking has taken over. When the FCC deregulated ownership rules and companies like Clear Channel and Cox started buying up properties, they sent radio listeners a message "WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY". Radio is no longer fun nor enjoyable to listen to...it hasn't been for years.

I don't feel bad for terrestrial radio and what happens to it because of how it's being run. As long radio continues in its current state, I will not think twice and continue to pay for Satellite radio.

 

[max88]

radio is dead!

 

[Don62]

I have no problem with DirecTV buying Sirius/XM. Terrestrial radio is garbage in todays day and age. The Live and Local aspect of what is radio today is almost nowhere to be found. Voice tracking has taken over. When the FCC deregulated ownership rules and companies like Clear Channel and Cox started buying up properties, they sent radio listeners a message "WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY". Radio is no longer fun nor enjoyable to listen to...it hasn't been for years.

I don't feel bad for terrestrial radio and what happens to it because of how it's being run. As long radio continues in its current state, I will not think twice and continue to pay for Satellite radio.

Well-stated. You could also say Radio's mgt. gave the finger to its workers. "We don't need you. You cost too much. We can have a computer do your work."

Some of CC's stations sound like a machine programmed them.

 

[Davie123]

Now that the dust has settled, it appears that Mel Karmazin has kept Sirius/XM out of bankruptcy for now by selling 40% to Liberty Media/Direct TV. Will be interesting to see how this business relationship plays out. But Mel keeps his job and finds a way to cover his debt payments for a while. This is a stop-gap solution for a longterm problem, and depending how long this economic downturn lasts, there are surely more financial challenges ahead for satellite radio.

 

[Ai4i]

I hope that the satellite radio entity will eventually be allowed to provide local service with the terrestrial repeaters. How did the NAB ever get the ability to dictate restrictions another class of service would be subject to. I have always said that if Sirius XM can not provide local service, then terrestrial stations should not be allowed to air national programs.

 

[landtuna]

I hope that the satellite radio entity will eventually be allowed to provide local service with the terrestrial repeaters. How did the NAB ever get the ability to dictate restrictions another class of service would be subject to. I have always said that if Sirius XM can not provide local service, then terrestrial stations should not be allowed to air national programs.

Sat TV began to carry local stations for no other reason than ease of reception for its customers. Different antennas, couplers/switches would be needed when switching from sat to OTA and that was seen, correctly, by the sat providers as an impediment to their service. It made sense for them to carry the locals so their customers could have seamless reception.

Sat radio has no such potential glitch as virtually every sat radio is either capable of receiving OTA stations or has a companion radio which can.

As for your last point regarding terrestrial stations carrying national programs.....this was true virtually from the beginning of OTA radio. National and regional programs have always been a large part of radio. To now, 90 years later, put a restriction on this common practice makes no sense.

 

[Ai4i]

To...put a restriction on this common practice makes no sense.

My point exactly, to restrict local stations from carrying national content (or national stations from carrying local content) makes no sense!