This merger reminds me of the proposed merger several years ago between DirecTV and Dish. The FCC blocked that one on the basis of it being anti-competition. In that case the cable industry was the biggest opponent to the merger. I personally believe that had this merger been allowed it would have been good for the consumer. I also suspect that the FCC, primarily Michael Powell, did not make an objective decision but rather was swayed by the powerful influence of the cable industry.
The biggest opponent to this merger has always been the National Association of Broadcasters. You’ve got to wonder, why is this group afraid of the merger? If it really was going to be bad for satellite radio customers you’d think that the NAB would welcome the merger. The fact that they oppose it is an indication that they believe this merged company will be beneficial to satellite radio listeners and will make this medium more competitive. So the arguments that this merger would be anti-competition are totally contrary to reality.
Yes. This will not creat a monopoly of anything as there is still countless other ways to get music. Secondly if the merger is not aproved XM will go out of business and you still end up with just one provider
In the end it doesn’t matter…internet radio will be accessible no matter where you are/go globally in 3-5 years so this is just a short term attempt to stay afloat.
If you have shares in either…get out now! (I’m SIRUS)
I am worried about the merger. There are several stations that I think will be in jepordy if the merger goes through. We will end up with only Howard Stern and Oprah.
I know I know I can cancel my subscription, but you can’t get commercial free anywhere else.
It should be approved. Satellite Radio is not a necessity, if it cost to much don’t buy it. The only problem I have with this whole deal is, what kind of initial business plans did XM and SIRIUS have? They need to merge to survive? The both had losing business plans?
Yes, yes, and yes again. It was the political influence of the National Association of Broadcasters that helped delay this. Terrestrial radio has been producing crap long enough. They are afraid of real competition. They should spend their money on better programming rather than buying politicians.
Yes, The merger should be approved. Many people have to subscribe to both to get the radio content they want. If people don’t like satellite radio let them listen to local programming. Let’s get on with it.
Its a monopoly ! Why should we let the companies merge and stick the customer with a bigger bill to pay for the mistakes of a mis-managed, ill advised business plan. Both companies signed on talent that is overpaid. Now they are cryingpoor, because their projections on growth were wrong. So now the solution is to merge, eliminate compition and charge more for less. Like any business, they need to cut costs to get out of the red ink! People seriously cannot compare an Ipod to satellite radio…come on!
Yes, approve this merger already. The only anti competitive issue in this merger is the 16 month long NAB sponsored foot dragging by the FCC. The NAB has spent millions to kill the satellite radio business model by dragging out the merger process, and they have done an excellent job. Sirius and XM drafted most of these concessions themselves over a year ago—Get this merger approved NOW! Also worth noting, many of the negative comments here show a lack of knowledge regarding Sirius & XM and this merger.
this is not a monopoly. there are many other options available for your listening pleasure. If the merger doesn’t go through, both companies go bankrupt thereby hurting the consumer. If the merger goes through and they raise subscription prices, who cares? cancel your subscription and enjoy one of the other many options you have. let the free market do its job. government intervention has hurt both the consumer and the companies involved. the bureaucrats who are supposedly looking out for your best interests are lining their pockets with lobbying money from terrestrial radio. no market can truly be free as long as we have that criminal gang in Washington.
Someone please let me know how I can get live CNN, CNBC, etc. on my iPod, MP3 player, terrestrial radio, CD’s…they’re the competition, right?
So, how does this affect lifetime subscribers? What are we losing, or gaining, or is there any place thus has been addressed?
Absolutely merge! Why do we sit idly by and watch elitism, money and quid pro quo determine the priorities of this country? Look I’m voting McCain but let’s be honest for once… how’s that McCain- Feingold bill really holding money out of politics? Thank you greedy politicians and the special interests of the NAB for “allowing” what’s in the best interests of this country!!!! We’re $ooooo greatful for valiant leader$hip…. for God’$ $ake ju$t once look at the definition of integrity!
Only the FCC could have trouble figuring out that there is too much competition for there to be a problem with this merger. They can’t afford to raise prices because the cost of getting an iPod installed into the card without subscription fees is low enough already. Most cars already have free radio so there’s no threat there either. If the prices go too high, the subscriptions would drop. PERIOD.
Sure let it go through. If A.) They raise prices I’ll cancel my subscription. B.) They don’t I’ll get more programming (I think).
This won’t affect the price of gas, the cost of my mortgage, the price of food or the war in Iraq so what’s the big deal?
No. There was once something called competition in this country that made companies work harder to be the best and keep prices competative as well. We are seeing less and less of this every year.. Very sad..
I agree with Tim in East Islip… I am going to cancel my XM as soon as I can get through their “Customer service” lines. Some of the stations I listen to have as many ads as commercial radio! Back to my cd’s in the car + local npr broadcasting. If the satellite broadcasters were to go bankrupt it’s due to market forces. As I understood it the two companies had assured the FCC that they would remain separate in order to get permission to broadcast. Frankly I’m sorry I ever subscribed to satellite radio.
The only way I would buy into this is if the abandoned license were sold off to some other entity. I’m thinking we need to think bigger and allow Sat Radio to expand further beyond just our borders.
What Monopoly, you have the choice of HD Radio, MP3 Players/iPod or CD’s.
Two providers almost ensured that one would be out of business. The market cannot justify both XM and Sirius, if it could then the sub base would have been much higher.
The real competition to XM/Sirius is people loading up their iPod’s and bypassing HD Radio, XM/Sirius or whatever.
So people would have been happy with useless dead XM or Sirius radios if one went under. That would have been a defacto Monoply with users holding the short end of the stick.
It’s about time! Some one needs to be fired for this thing taking this long. Clearly whoever it was (Justice/FCC/Congress) didn’t have either the consumers or the shareholders best interest at heart.
This is a tiny merger that is long overdue. The FCC should have only allowed one Satelite radio system, but allowed multiple companies to do content. Sirius Rocks! It is at the stage cable TV was in in 1980. In a few years, every car will have Sirius and you can chose AM, FM, Satelite, or IPOD, in your car.
I’ll only approve of the merger if they modify the satelite and receivers so as to improve the sound quality.
Absolutely. The time it took to review this deal was ridiculous. It just goes to show you how much the supposed “neutral” FCC is in the hip pocket of the terrestrial radio companies and the religious right. Amazing that terrestrial radio would argue that this is bad for consumers. Please, that should be a red flag right there. If it were bad for consumers people would just stop paying for the service and switch back to regular radio. The fact that the radio companies argued against the merger says it’s a good deal for consumers.
Thank You FCC, as some as said it’s about time you approved this merger. Both companies have a lot to offer the consumer. Buying a satellite is a choice made by a consumer and this consumer is happy the FCC Approved this merger.
If they raise prices, people will cancel their subscriptions and listen to some combination of terrestrial radio/iPod/CD/Cassette/podcast/etc. It’s that simple. There is no monopoly here. I will actually save money, since I have a Sirius subscription and my wife has an XM subscription (her car is XM only)and now it will be two subscriptions on the same plan, which is for a reduced rate.
No. As an XM sub for 4 plus years, there’s no upside to this. Once the mandated 3 years are up, prices will increase. I have zero interest in paying Howard Sterns overinflated salary for a show that he does 4 days a week while taking ridiculous amounts of vacation from a show that should have stopped 10 years ago.
And the way Mel K. ran FM radio in a direction that MADE satellite radio desirable, he’s going to ultimately screw over this audience too.
Count on it.
I’m out. Long live the iPod.
most people I know just don’t care. the idea that we need a specialized device to play music someone else chooses for us is old school. and then pay a subscription on top of that?
free streaming radio with song selection and no advertising for the home stereo and office computer, mp3s for the car.
who cares what satellite or traditional radio are doing?
Yes, otherwise one would go bankrupt and 5 million plus radios would be useless. merger is much less complicated and much better for consumers. CC and other radio bigwigs spent a lot of $$$ bribing their friends to try and kill the merger, it almost worked, and now they get what they deserve….less listeners!
I am probably one of the few that are skeptical on this merger. I think that the monthly rates are where they’re at because of competition between the two companies. If they merge, and have the luxury to start charging up to double what they are now, I would probably pay it. Because I love my XM Radio. I get my news, Baseball, music, and talk entertainment, Opie and Anthony, all from one place.
I think the competition has been good for innovation and competitive pricing. Now the companies should work on making a profit. If they can’t make a profit apart, merging is not the magic answer. They need to have a team with a strategic plan for profitability. What’s the plan now? Merge and cut overlap? That is your magic answer for making a profit? Both companies have been at a stand still for the last year waiting on this, both racking up more debt instead of developing a plan.
And don’t give me the line that satellite radio has to compete with Ipods, the internet, and terrestrial radio, those sources don’t offer the combination of unique programming in a portable unit, and are not good examples of competition.
NO,NO,NO – this will be a monopoly! One company providing one service. Prices will go up without a doubt. Add to that, more commercials. Why, there will be no competition in the satellite broadcast arena. Satellite broadcasting is unique and uncensored, there is no other service available to match this service. So one service provider equals a monopoly.
This merger should of past regulations a week after it was offered. The special intrest groups that put millions of dollars into the coffers of the Congressmen that delayed the merger should be ashamed of there selfs! Exxon Mobil past in record time.
Of all the things happening in the world today, this seems so silly. Who cares? I have Sirius in one vehicle and can hardly listen to all the choices as is. I couldn’t care less if they combined or stay the way they are.
Yes!!! For crying out loud! To say this will create a ‘monopoly’ is rediculous! Satellite radio competes with terresterial radio, CDs, MP3 players, etc. Of course, it would be nice if my existing Sirius radio would work with BOTH Sirius AND XM signals; the FCC should mandate, as part of their approval, that ALL current Sirius and XM radio owners be given FREE replacement units!!
Absolutely. Why is this taking so long? They can approve the merger of Exxon Mobil in a matter of months and they take more than 16 months to approve the merger of some goofy radio service? I am sure some politician is getting big money from regular radio to get in the way of this merger.
Yes, it’s a shame that Kevin Martin put his political ambitions before his duty. He should be terminated.
Isn’t it about time that Clear Channel and the nab start paying royalties just as satrad does.
Satrad is fantastic. The thinking mind loves it!
Of course. My issue at this point is that after all this time, if either of the two Democratic FCC commissioners do anything but speed Martin’s recommendation along, I will be going with McCann in November in spite of my total and absolute disgust with the Republicans.
It is about time. I am a Sirius fan over XM, but have both because one of the care we own came with XM. The other car we own has Sirius. Unfortunately, I am stuck with the car with XM, so please let’s get this over with and combine the programming…
Yes, I have been waiting forever to lower my rates. Like most radio listerners we only play a few stations but want them everywhere.
Ditto to everything the writer said – between the competition that’s out there and the fact that consumers want it – it’s long overdue.
The fact that a subscription-based service had the NAB scared just shows how weak the ‘free radio’ business looks these days. They can’t even beat a pay service!
Let’s get this thing wrapped up ASAP so I can enjoy the NFL/MLB/Stern all in 1 place. Can’t wait!
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I’m completely against this merger because those of us who love XM will watch this combined service lean more towards a Sirius-like service, which is to say more and more channels that sound like mainstream terrestrial stations (albiet without the commercials) and less niche programming.