XM/Sirius to get FCC approval? Yes, Maybe!

So what gives? I just read, that I will NOT be able to chose sirius stations with my existing xm radio. So the close to 20million subscribers will not be able to utilize ala-carte. A very fake and lame concession here. In the meantime, I may lose stations I enjoy for the sake of consolidation.
 
The title is a bit premature. the full commission need to approve mot just the Cahirman martin.
 
While this is NOT an official approval it does bode well. There's still the commission vote to get through.
 
I agree it bodes well. but it is also misleading. The cahirman is leaving the country. it would be hard t get a full vote of the commission till next month. This title (though not the article) makes it look like approval has already occurred.
 
I agree it bodes well. but it is also misleading. The cahirman is leaving the country. it would be hard t get a full vote of the commission till next month. This title (though not the article) makes it look like approval has already occurred.
The chairman was the swingvote
 
All of this is true but there has been no vote and one is not scheduled. At this point it certainly looks good but the title is misleading since the FCC has not approved it.
 
Funny, the story I read earlier had more details , and stated all the concessions, Al a carte, price freeze, crossover packages and allowing recievers to "open" up for other companies to make them. The story I just read left most of that out. It also talked about 24 stations put aside for some programming. I read in another story if you want crossover programming will need a "next generation" reciever. I was also surprised out the sub numbers 9 mill for XM and 8.3 for siruis. I had Siruis for over 3 years and hardly know anyone who has it. Of course now new Autos have them buit in with a few months to a year for free, which could inflate the numbers a bit. Great news when aproved, My Wife is has been wanting to switch to XM, But I like the siruis stations a bit more. I have held off because of the merger.This will solve our problem.
 
Changed title to reflect that it hasnt happened yet. This is very good news. I wonder how much stock prices will go up once this news hits wall street.

It went up...... a little.....

Not the big bounce that would come one a formal approval comes through.

It seems like there is still too much investor pessimism here, but we'll see in about a month..... whenever they officially approve the thing....
 
Funny, the story I read earlier had more details , and stated all the concessions, Al a carte, price freeze, crossover packages and allowing recievers to "open" up for other companies to make them. The story I just read left most of that out. It also talked about 24 stations put aside for some programming. I read in another story if you want crossover programming will need a "next generation" reciever. I was also surprised out the sub numbers 9 mill for XM and 8.3 for siruis. I had Siruis for over 3 years and hardly know anyone who has it. Of course now new Autos have them buit in with a few months to a year for free, which could inflate the numbers a bit. Great news when aproved, My Wife is has been wanting to switch to XM, But I like the siruis stations a bit more. I have held off because of the merger.This will solve our problem.

Howard Stern fans
 
I'm convinced the consumer will be screwed by this in the logn run.

If the FCC scotched the deal, in all probability, Xm would have run out of cash by 2009 or 2010 and gone belly up, leaving the market with only one service anyway, and 9 million disgruntled consumers. This was they offer up a few pro consumer incentives (as well as this 24 minority and public interest channel freebies..... (AACK! How much Al Sharpton do we NEED?).

Once it goes through, they can stop overbidding for program content and can focus on what they've already got and becoming profitable. I'll be happy to eventually have aradio that receive both the MLB and the NFL.....
 
Deal will not go through congress will stop it. NAB is to big and powerful. If congress does not stop it then the NAB will no longer give money to their favorite or barbed congressman
 
I actually think it will...... This huge delay was the payoff to the NAB. Both got weaker in the process and have lost some of their "IT" status during this 18 month window.....

During that time, retail sales dried up as people didn't know if the new units would work after the merger...

But 2-3 times the normal review period was the most they could pull off as Jim Cramer and the rest of the TV pundits have been slamming the FCC for dragging things out this long.
 
I'm convinced the consumer will be screwed by this in the logn run.
how so?
I see nothng but positives here. First, the exclusivity goes out the window. I have been waiting for the this merger to go thru because each service has stuff I want. In orrder to get all that I want, I would have to sub to both services.
So now the stage is set for a merger, I can go ahead an become a subscribe.
The FCC has already set parameters to protect consumers and maintain choice.. Before we jump to all these negatiove conclusions, just wait and see.
 
No way he has 8 million listeners. Most radio subscriptions I think are probably with new car purchases. So say I buy I car and it comes with XM... I decided to subscribe and keep it.
do you have documented statistics indicating the number of Sirius subs that listen to Howrad Stern? If not, then you can't say with any certainty how many listeners he has.
Lets be frank, Howard stern is Sirius' most valued and popular property
This is in no way an endorsement of his show. It's a fact.
 
Deal will not go through congress will stop it. NAB is to big and powerful. If congress does not stop it then the NAB will no longer give money to their favorite or barbed congressman
The NAB has to have a legal reason to stop this. This is not similar to the passage of a Bill on congrerss where lobbying efforts can scuttle said Bills.
BTW, the merger decision is not up to Congress. To my knowledge, The FCC has sole discretion on this matter. The US house could in it's next session write legisaltion to outlaw the merger , but that would have to apply to all telecommunications companies. Not just satellite radio. In that instance there could be lobbying efforts to see that happen.
This is how I understand the process.
Anyone with better info , please chime in and correct.
 
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