Well, they would still have competition, but no direct competition. They will still have to make the price affordable or people will just stay with traditional FM (or listen to CD's/ipod/mp3 player).
Does your Sirius run through an FM frequency? There may be another FM frequency that is too close and so you're picking up backup from the other frequency. Try changing the frequency to a different number and see if you still have the same problem.
Commentary from music industry expert Bob Lefsetz: 9. XM and Sirius A merger would be terrible. For you’ve got two completely different cultures and Mel Karmazin would be in control when the deal was done, and all Mel knows is advertising, and that’s the one ace in the hole satellite has, its LACK of advertising. XM was caught with its pants down by Scott Greenstein and Mel’s star strategy. Actually, the worst mistake the Washington, D.C. company ever made was NOT doing a deal with Howard Stern, that would have killed Sirius once and for all and XM would have emerged triumphant. Instead, XM has now overspent trying to compete with Sirius and its financials suck and there is PRESSURE to merge with Sirius. Sirius has got the image and the mo. XM has the better service, both musically and technologically. The way this ****ed up world works expect the two companies to get together and for the resulting company to be like Sirius. And, to paraphrase John Lennon, then the dream would be over. Two different cultures. Two different incompatible technologies. Does this sound like fertile ground for getting together? But don’t ever forget, Wall Street is in control here, and what the Street wants will happen. And just like with Live Nation, the Street is ignorant. XM should stay the course. Improve its image. Play the underdog, even though it still leads in subs. I believe it can emerge triumphant. As for Sirius… I don’t know one person who doesn’t complain of dropouts, no matter WHAT they’re airing. http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2007/01/01/2007-predictions/ Obviously, he's a music guy and is most concerned with the quality of XM programming which is just much bbetter than Sirius overall.
Sirius, XM Satellite in Merger Talks XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR) and rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI) are expected to announce their long-awaited merger Monday, the New York Post reported in its online edition, citing a source familiar with the deal. The two sides were locked in negotiations over the weekend trying to hammer out a final agreement, the newspaper reported, citing the same, unnamed source. Talks were still going on and the deal could fall apart at any time, the New York Post said. With antitrust issues of paramount importance, the newspaper cited its source as saying lawyers for both companies were working overtime to fine-tune the language of the agreement and frame the discussion around the deal itself and not regulatory concerns. According to the New York Post's source, XM Chairman Gary Parsons would retain his title in the combined entity, with Sirius' Mel Karmazin likely taking the chief executive role, the newspaper said. It is unclear what role, if any, XM CEO Hugh Panero would play, according to the report. Washington-based XM ended the third quarter with 7.19 million subscribers, while New York-based Sirius ended with 5.1 million. A merger would join Sirius content, such as Howard Stern, Frank Sinatra and Nascar, with XM's Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan and Major League Baseball. http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/smw/index.cfm?story=20070219110623
Sorry I didn't see this thread when it was first posted - man, there was something interesting posted in the BBS Forum? The original rumors of merger earlier this year caused a spike in both stocks, but the gains were scrapped thanks to an FCC official (chairman?) stating there would be no way they'd approve a merger between XM and Sirius. I wonder what changed? Hmm....
I got a lifetime membership 3 years ago for $400. I'm a few months from free satellite radio from here on out, and a merger with XM means I get Astros games to go along with my NFL, Rockets/Vandy hoops, and NCAA football.
Can you guys say monopoly? There is no way this deal will happen because it will monopolize the market and the FTC and FCC ain't having it.
Looks like they announced a merger for now...well see if it passes FCC regulators http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070219/ap_on_bi_ge/xm_radio_sirius
Monopolies don't exist? Multiple factors are considered such as competition, capital requirements... I think they'll have a good argument.
I'd love to be able to get MLB, NFL, and NBA all on the same radio. I think this could be a good deal for consumers in this situation and bad for the Howard Sterns of the world that would get overpaid because one competitor is trying to get that edge on the other.
I think it could go through. Neither company is close to profitable and the industry is still too weak to support two companies considering the huge costs to set up a satellite network and to develop all of the shows. Remember, these companies are creating and paying for entire spectrums of music and shows unlike contemporary radio where ownership is on an individual level. Right now, monopoly status might be the only way to save the industry and give the company the funds to refine technology to drive down costs. Right now they're hemorrhaging money so fast, there's no money for R&D and development of their infrastructure which is key in an industry like this.
