Big news on XM-Sirius

[FlabLoser]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121683130281477651.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news
FCC to approve merger. Existing radios will work. New plans available, including $6.99 50-channel plan. New upcoming radios will allow ala-carte programming.

I look forward to seeing more details. I don't have sat radio. I'm only interested in 10-20 channels at most. I might pay $6.99 for that. Not $13-15 though. Alas, I suspect they'll pull a DirecTV type scheme where the good channels are only available in the upper tier.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Finally I will be able to get all sports on a single package. This deal has taken over 16 months. It is a crock of **** if you ask me. Oil companies merge faster. I thought we were at some level capitalists. Those voting against the merger want 20% of the channels to go to minority ownership, without investing 17in penny into either company. Sorry to go off on a rant but I was really excited last Feb when this was announced. Anyways, Sirius has been great for sports. I am able to listen to any NFL game as I drive back from wherever the Dawgs just played.

 

[FlabLoser]

970 The Fan in Brandon is our new Dallas Cowboy affiliate. I'm pumped about that - especially since I'm not bending over for NFL Sunday Ticket this year.

 

[AssEndDawg]

Finally I will be able to get all sports on a single package. This deal has taken over 16 months. It is a crock of **** if you ask me. Oil companies merge faster. I thought we were at some level capitalists. Those voting against the merger want 20% of the channels to go to minority ownership, without investing 17in penny into either company. Sorry to go off on a rant but I was really excited last Feb when this was announced. Anyways, Sirius has been great for sports. I am able to listen to any NFL game as I drive back from wherever the Dawgs just played.

You pretty much have an entire industry defined by two companies who want to merge. Now, I am all for this, but it is a stretch to think this should be allowed. The SEC (not the Southeastern Conference) is going to frame this as a "all of radio" deal and treat it like two of the thousands of stations merging which I think is a stretch. But, I think it saves satellite radio (I've had one since they first came out and I'm a big fan) and it's a great deal for us customers. To say it's a crock of **** that it took so long is kinda off though, if they did it by the book they wouldn't have allowed it at all so let's just be glad they let this slip through.
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[Roy Munson.sixpack]

terrestrial radio, audio streaming on the net etc....not to mention those things are free for the most part. they compete directly with competition that offers a free product that anyone can have...

 

[AssEndDawg]

terrestrial radio, audio streaming on the net etc....not to mention those things are free for the most part. they compete directly with competition that offers a free product that anyone can have...

stretch it to include that, and I think the SEC is, but as a matter of law that just doesn't jive. Do you remember Microsoft getting hit with a anti-trust suit? That is because the law makes a distinction between the manner of delivery and the content. They went after Microsoft based on a legally limited view of just the Intel based computer market (in the computer market as a whole Microsoft still has a majority, but just barely).</p>

I'm not arguing against merging, I'm just saying it's not surprising that it took that long to get done because ultimately it shouldn't have been allowed at all. The market these guys compete in is the satellite delivery of an entire package of content. Can you really compare XM to Rock 103 in Memphis? XM has hundreds of channels of content that can only be picked up by proprietary devices that require a subscription to service. Versus a single channel broadcasting on public airwaves that relies on advertising dollars... it's not the same market.</p>

I'm happy as can be about the merger. I have XM built into my car so I will welcome the merger. But looking at it legally it probably should not have been allowed. Everyone I've talked to that understand the SEC issues involved said it was unlikely to happen unless they adopted a very liberal view of the market in which they compete.
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[saltybulldog]

If you dont like the price, content, etc you simply keep listening to free radio. The goal is to protect companies and consumers. Consumers benefit because they get to choose between free service or a paid service if they like it enough. Hell they let oil companies consolidate and we are being bent over partly because of it.

This deal comes down to lobbyist and the fact that satellite radio has few or none.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

I think the NAB (national association of broadcasters) spent over 1 million in lobbying last quarter.