XM and Sirius Merger

[FRR]

I know we have gone over this ground time and time again, but why in the world is it taking the Feds almost 2 yrs to either approve or disapprove this merger. No wonder the public has little faith in the Federal Gov't to accomplish anything.

 

[PaulO]

I know we have gone over this ground time and time again, but why in the world is it taking the Feds almost 2 yrs to either approve or disapprove this merger. No wonder the public has little faith in the Federal Gov't to accomplish anything.

Actually it has been almost a year and a half.

They could merge as early as the beginning of next week; Or toward the end of the month. Their lawyers have been told not to plan vacations in the next few weeks.

 

[wprt949]

deny the merger please

 

[HenryOchs]

I agree 100%! PLEASE deny this merger!

 

[Walking On]

I agree 110%! PLEASE DENY this merger!

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I'm starting to think that's part of the goverment plan. Delay the decision as long as possible and attach so many conditions to it that it's not in their best interests to merge. Government moves slowly.

Whatever happens if I don't like the result I'll cancel and get rid of the equipment, simple as that.

 

[fussbudget]

FCC Commish Adelstein (the pride and joy of Rapid City) has voted "no." We're down to one vote, that of Deborah Tate to make or break this
merger as we approach day 500.

 

[TheFonz]

I know we have gone over this ground time and time again, but why in the world is it taking the Feds almost 2 yrs to either approve or disapprove this merger. No wonder the public has little faith in the Federal Gov't to accomplish anything.

What's all the concern about a "monolopy". Don't the Feds understand that terrestrial radio is a monolopy? Just ask Clear Channel.

 

[CTListener]

I know we have gone over this ground time and time again, but why in the world is it taking the Feds almost 2 yrs to either approve or disapprove this merger. No wonder the public has little faith in the Federal Gov't to accomplish anything.

What's all the concern about a "monolopy". Don't the Feds understand that terrestrial radio is a monolopy? Just ask Clear Channel.

A "monolopy" (monopoly, actually) that owns about 10 percent of all stations? Yeah, right. Believe it or not, there are radio markets in this country in which Clear Channel either doesn't have a station or is a very minor player. A combined Sirius/XM would indeed be a monopoly; without the set-asides for outside programming, it would determine and control 100 percent of the content on satellite radio in the United States.

 

[fussbudget]

The deal is done. XM and Sirius are one.

 

[SDRadio]

The deal is done. XM and Sirius are one.

Hold your horses. It's not a done deal. There are several layers of the onion to peel back.

It does appear the deal will be approved and the companies will merge late this quarter.

 

[RadioStarOne]

Now Tate wants the two companies to agree to pay a $20 Million Dollar Fine for putting repeaters in the wrong places as a condition of her yes vote. Its on the Radio and Records website. What are these FCC commisioners smoking?

 

[ctkatz]

xm and sirius were competing with the same people to get listeners- terrestrial radio. so while there is a monopoly of satellite providers, xm sirius satelite radio, there is NOT a monopoly on radio. the only way the monopoly arguement holds up is if any of the big major terrestrial companies agrees to buy/merge with the new company. i will listen to that arguement and i hope the fcc does as well. as it stands now, i think that this merger is going to be a good thing for satellite radio. instead of throwing money down the drain trying to beat the other guy, now they can throw money down beating up every corporate terrestrial radio station in the country. i am extremely disapointed in the ground based radio companies. hopefully satellite radio can take away enough of a base for them to do something about it.

 

[arnoldevns]

I've said before that I hope this deal is approved simply because I think there's a good chance both will go out of business without it.
What bothers me now is hearing that congress wants to step in and stick a bunch of conditions on the deal. They want to mandate that the service offer dozens of new public affairs channels. It's an outrageous demand designed to make the deal unfavoreable for both companies.

 

[Bill_W]

I've said before that I hope this deal is approved simply because I think there's a good chance both will go out of business without it.
What bothers me now is hearing that congress wants to step in and stick a bunch of conditions on the deal. They want to mandate that the service offer dozens of new public affairs channels. It's an outrageous demand designed to make the deal unfavoreable for both companies.

Let them give these government mandated channels the sound quality of the traffic channels. They'll be like public radio, paying for channels that I won't listen to.

 

[dxer720]

It would be sad if satellite radio went out of business. Granted, some of the offerings you can find anywhere, but there are those that can be found nowhere else. Terestrial radio's biggest advantage over satellite is localism, but they don't seem to want to use it.

Well...If it does go under, I'll have to put my radios right next to my 8-tracks & my Kodak Disc camera.

 

[Bill_W]

... Terestrial radio's biggest advantage over satellite is localism, but they don't seem to want to use it. ...

The # 1 and #2 talk shows in the country are on 300+ stations each. Clear Channel just cans a local morning show in Philly on Q102 to bring down Z100 in NYC in the morning...

 

[TheBigA]

Terestrial radio's biggest advantage over satellite is localism, but they don't seem to want to use it.

I really wish I knew where this myth got started.

More than half of the radio stations in this country are local all the time. In fact, I'd suggest radio is more local now than in the 70s, when automation was king. Sure the best known personalities are syndicated. But that's just because they happen to be popular. They all have local competition in every city.

 

[CHRles]

as it stands now, i think that this merger is going to be a good thing for satellite radio. instead of throwing money down the drain trying to beat the other guy, now they can throw money down beating up every corporate terrestrial radio station in the country. i am extremely disapointed in the ground based radio companies. hopefully satellite radio can take away enough of a base for them to do something about it.

That's exactly right, I feel the exact same way, and am excited that XM and Sirius are finally merging.

Terrestrial radio had its chance, and I'll definitely still listen to some of my favorite FM stations, but all in all terrestrial radio has no one to blame but itself for its woes. The mega conglomerates/corporate behemoths should have introduced HD radio over a decade now to the benefit of disenfranchised listeners. To those seeking more choices on the dial but wish to listen to more then just their CDs or Ipods, to them satellite radio is a godsend. They're willing to shell out a monthly bill for it b/c they believe in the benefit of satellite radio, just as people once saw the benefit of cable TV. Nowadays you can take it one step further and find some of the best weekly TV shows to come from HBO and Showtime b/c they're not watered down, and tend to be more innovative then ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and the CW.
Now then, HBO and Showtime may be competitors but regardless of whether you subscribe to your local Cable company or to one of the big TV satellite companies, you will always have the option of having HBO and Showtime included in your package. THAT'S the way I see this beautiful merger between XM and Sirius. I'll be able to receive both Howard Stern and BBC Radio 1, and XM's 20 on 20 and The Beat. Meaning, regardless of whether I subscribe to CM or Sirius I'll be able to receive the different channels offered by both companies. Not only that but I can pick and choose which station I want, which will help to ensure my satisfaction.
Perhaps that is what terrestrial radio is afraid of the most - that radio listeners of XM and Sirius will actually be satisfied with their radio options, and this will set new standards for radio satisfaction as a whole.

 

[TheBigA]

Perhaps that is what terrestrial radio is afraid of the most - that radio listeners of XM and Sirius will actually be satisfied with their radio options, and this will set new standards for radio satisfaction as a whole.

Hmmm. How did mergers and consolidation help the standards of terrestrial radio?

Keep in mind that the people running satellite USED to work in terrestrial. They were behind a lot of the consolidation that happened there. You're about to have deja vu, all over again.