U.S. Justice Department Approves Sirius/XM merger

[rubecube]

Breaking news on www.cnn.com. I'll post a link once I find it. Discuss.

[underGRADFlame]

I still don't know how I feel about this.... I just hope Ethel survives from XM

[Slava]

Already! This didn't take long at all! I hope that this doubles things up for Canadian subscribers as well!

[AaronSJ]

Well... this doesn't mean much until the FCC approves the merger. And it doesn't mean anything in Canada until the CRTC approves it... both companies are joint ventures in Canada with partial Canadian ownership.

However, it's a big step as the JOD found that the merger isn't likely to "harm" consumers (i.e. lead to a monopoly), which was the biggest obstacle IMO.

[Engine09]

From what I've read, the FCC approval won't be an issue.

I'll just be stoked to have the NHL back and have access to Opie and Anthony.

[Slava]

Kryzsky that is exactly what I want back...the NHL! Once that comes back in full effect than I don't know that I'll ever listen to terrestrial again!

[Tron_fdc]

It's about effin time. Quick! everyone buy some sirius stock!!!!

Hopefully I can start using the XM radio in my truck to get all the Sirius channels, so I don't have bloody cords running all over my dash.

[Azure]

Awesome!

That means I get can get listen to MLB games now.

[corporatejay]

This is great news...i was hesitant to buy a Sat. radio because i wanted NHL, NFL, etc.. and it seemed like they were on different networks. Looks like i should have one by the summer.

[BlackArcher101]

I had a link to the new proposed channel and payment structure, but lost it. Anybody have it?

I was under the belief that nothing really will change as this merger is more in the business aspect of things, but for an INCREASE in your fees, you could get some, not all channels from the other provider.

[ricoFlame]

Nice, took long enough.

[TheRedCrush]

Can't wait for MLB, NHL, NFL all to be on one radio. I heard for the premium package its going to be about 16 per month. 12 for basic. 16 will give you all your current programming and the best programs including sports from the other satellite.

Did nice things for the stock too. Great day for satellite radio. Lets just hope the FCC follows suit.

[metallicat]

Interesting...my XM subscription is up later this year. What does that mean for my current subscription and XM radio unit?

[GreenHardHat]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Breaking news on www.cnn.com. I'll post a link once I find it. Discuss.

Link:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/24/news...ion=2008032415

[ricoFlame]

having the MLB is what i'm most interested in. stern and the jays...perfect!

[Engine09]

Some info here;

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/si...till-work.html

Called Sirius last night for an unrelated matter, at the end of the call they asked if I wanted to change my subscription to yearly from monthly. I told them I'll wait to see what programming is like after the merger, the guy on the phone says "Oh, that merger won't effect Sirius Canada".

[arsenal]

I wonder if the merger is basically going to effect only the business side of the 2 companies. ie: shared services (customer, billing, steering committee etc). But leave the actual radio stations (XM , Sirius) alone and what they provide to their customers.
So essentially, XM and Sirius are still around, you can subscribe to either, just your bill comes from the same place.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by arsenal

I wonder if the merger is basically going to effect only the business side of the 2 companies. ie: shared services (customer, billing, steering committee etc). But leave the actual radio stations (XM , Sirius) alone and what they provide to their customers.
So essentially, XM and Sirius are still around, you can subscribe to either, just your bill comes from the same place.

on stern they've discussed this several times over the past year, and that doesn't seem to be the case. sounds like one service, more choice. if anybody would have some of the info regarding this it would popbably be stern.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by arsenal

I wonder if the merger is basically going to effect only the business side of the 2 companies. ie: shared services (customer, billing, steering committee etc). But leave the actual radio stations (XM , Sirius) alone and what they provide to their customers.
So essentially, XM and Sirius are still around, you can subscribe to either, just your bill comes from the same place.

here's a link to the original SIRIUS information release to investors concerning the merger and consequent services. i'm sure some things have changed, but here it is anyways:

http://investor.sirius.com/ReleaseDe...leaseID=230306

[fredr123]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/busi...in&oref=slogin

The proposed merger of the nation's two satellite radio broadcasters, bogged down in the regulatory process for over a year, has cleared a major hurdle with Federal Communications Commission chief recommending approval of the $5 billion deal.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin made his recommendation Sunday in exchange for a number of concessions, including turning 24 channels over to noncommercial and minority programming. That sets the stage for a final vote that could occur any time after Martin's recommendation is circulated among his fellow commissioners.