SpaceGhost Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 As long as the FCC doesn't fuck it up. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583982/20080324/id_0.jhtml Howard Stern Meets Oprah? Sirius, XM Merger Approved By Justice Department Deal must be approved by Federal Communications Commission. By Chris Harris The U.S. Justice Department on Monday (March 24) approved the merger between satellite radio companies Sirius and XM more than a year after the two companies first announced the initial deal. According to its Web site, the Justice Department's Antitrust Division cleared the merger after determining that Sirius' takeover of XM would not harm competition or consumers. "After a careful and thorough review of the proposed transaction, the Division concluded that the evidence does not demonstrate that the proposed merger of XM and Sirius is likely to substantially lessen competition, and that the transaction therefore is not likely to harm consumers," reads a statement on the approval. "The Division reached this conclusion because the evidence did not show that the merger would enable the parties to profitably increase prices to satellite radio customers for several reasons." Those reasons, according to the statement, included "a lack of competition between the parties in important segments even without the merger; the competitive alternative services available to consumers; technological change that is expected to make those alternatives increasingly attractive over time; and efficiencies likely to flow from the transaction that could benefit consumers." The merger was first proposed in February of 2007 as a way of stemming billions in losses incurred in attracting on-air talent, sports deals and subscribers. Sirius, home to Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and NASCAR, claims 7.67 million subscribers, while XM, which broadcasts all Major League Baseball games has such headline talent as Oprah Winfrey and Opie and Anthony, has 8.57 million, according to Bloomberg.com. Next, the merger must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission; a ruling is expected in the coming weeks. Both companies, in an effort to gain FCC support, derived various pricing packages, including an a la carte pricing system. As a result of the merger, Sirius and XM subscribers — who are now asked to pay $12.95 a month — could end up paying substantially less (as little as $6.99, with the proposed tiered pricing). In addition, the combined company plans to eliminate duplicative programming, including a number of music channels. The deal's main opposition came from the National Association of Broadcasters, the trade group that represents free radio stations, which waged a lobbying campaign in Congress and at the FCC to stop the merger, arguing that it would create a pay-radio monopoly. Shareholders of the two companies approved the combination in separate special meetings on November 13. More than 96 percent of those who voted approved the transaction, according to The Washington Post. "The likely evolution of technology in the future, including the expected introduction in the next several years of mobile broadband Internet devices, made it even more unlikely that the transaction would harm consumers in the longer term," reads the Justice Department decision. "Accordingly, the division has closed its investigation of the proposed merger." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTaylor751647545500 Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 As long as the FCC doesn't fuck it up. I lol'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Yeah, here's the info from XM I got yesterday. Sirius/XM MERGER UPDATE On March 24, XM announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had approved the proposed merger with SIRIUS. XM is pleased that after a thorough review, the DOJ agrees that the entertainment marketplace will remain highly competitive and robust after our merger. With the DOJ's decision behind us, our next and final regulatory step will be a decision from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Soon after FCC approval is obtained, XM and Sirius would complete the merger. The combination of our companies will lead to more choices and better pricing for our subscribers, and result in a stronger competitor in the rapidly evolving audio entertainment market. As we have said, no XM radio will become obsolete as a result of the merger. We have millions of radios in use, including many that are factory-installed in automobiles. After the merger, our subscribers will not need another radio to continue to receive programming like they now enjoy. The XM platform will continue to offer a full complement of programming to our millions of subscribers. We'll communicate directly to our subscribers once the FCC has rendered its decision. http://www.xmradio.com/announcement/index.xmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Out of curiousity, were any Sirius or XM users asked by their respective companies how they felt about the merger? I would think that would be one of the priorities. Personally, as long as pricing doesn't go up, I'm all for it, for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted March 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Well to get any service from the other provider it is rumored that you would have to have new equipment. Like I have Sirius and I want baseball, my current radio will not support it. Although all the Sirius stuff I will still get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1647545496 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 i can't stand the guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rally Pat Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 i can't stand the guy I am SO glad it is not just me. I find the guy kind of annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted March 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 I am SO glad it is not just me. I find the guy kind of annoying. I find you annoying at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Stern fucking rules. And so does Bubba. Guess what, Sirius was right; they paid him 1/2 BILLION dollars + stock options, and saved the company. Had XM gotten him (and not made some of their other STUPID mistakes), Sirius would be dead and gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 i can't stand the guy yea, not that funny...he does have his moments though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhatch Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 +1 for Bubba I would much rather listen to him than Howard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted March 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Bubba sucks as of late. IMO He and others on the show are talking about politics too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted March 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Oh and the interview Howard had with Tracy Morgan the other day was the funniest interview I have ever heard. Counting Crows today was good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhatch Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 I enjoy the politics talk and love when Tucker calls in. I'd much rather listen to political talk than about who's going to be at the local Playboy house since I'm not a guy. I also love when Ned makes prank phone calls, the one where he called the arch dioses (sp, I'm not catholic) in Boston was awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 I have not found a morning show I like, since he left the Blitz...I tried Grego, but he that show was barely above water. I had XM the whole time I had the Impala, now I don't, here he comes....DAMN!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 love Bubba and the boys.... in a non faggo way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl1647545488 Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Some possible future pricing and packages: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/sirius-xm-reps-chat-up-fcc-post-merger-pricing-detailed/ http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6519869225 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 I got asked, but I'm not a subscriber. Just a share trader. Its been a very nice company to ride the movements this past year. Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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