What is Digg?109 Comments
- uptown, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25MLB, NHL, NFL, Nascar, O&A, Stern, R&F, Oprah, Nascar, Ellen, Snoop, network news & music .... all on one network? Bring it!
- primehifi, on 10/12/2007, -5/+24As a Sirius user, I would HATE for this to happen. So should anyone who owns XM.
This happening would equal: rising sub fees, rising unit costs, lesser content quality, etc. etc.....
The cons outweigh the pros on this one. Also, the FCC will never allow a true merger....
What we may see down the road: is perhaps a sharing of rights on such things as sports (the same as we see in sat/cable tv today), pooling of resources to broadcast events to the masses (so neither has a monopoly on something everyone should be able to hear) and sharing of music rights to allow Sirius access to XM's vault so to speak, and vice versa. - itsmrdumass, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Oprah AND Martha Stewart...YES!!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16> 1. The FCC.
The FCC has nothing to do with it... this is space baybeee... the last free frontier...
> 2. The Dems.
...aawww, fsck that *****; the democrats are for sale just like the republicans.
> 3. The NAB.
Actually, the NAB would have to keep their mouth shut post merger. Nothing like a post merger monopolistic behavior change to catch the attention of regulators. They lost the first time and that was the only time that they had to win.
> Satellite Radio Technology4. The Technology.
Wrong'o! Yet again.
Actually the technology brings them closer to a one-stop integrated solution... Operationally, everything continues to operate as planned and eventually dual tuners are phased in. Nothing that can't be solved by broadcasting a show twice on what used to be two separate services.
> XM vs Sirius5. Who Buys Who?
Everyone... artists can't divide and conquer (could be this is the *exact* reason that neither are profitable)... the stock value goes up because of this fact.
Stupidest. Arguments. Evar. - griffindj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12The Article is innacurate. It referes to YESTERDAY and obviously, no merger has occured.
- joejoejoejoe, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13hoo hoo I invented mergers, Robin. hoohoohoo
- threemagic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10All of XM rips me off...tell em Fred
- Alphateam, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I'm a Sirius subscriber and I would HATE this.
I've listened to both and XM has some crap stations. If you want to hear KISS or Aerosmith for the millionth time you won't know the difference. Sirius has some really great indie stations that XM can't match. - adgreene, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10dot-dot-dash ME, hoo-hoo.
- inajeep, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Do you realize how much you just don't know?
- shadus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Well that would make it easier for me to decide which to buy :P
- clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I have XM, all I want is less commercials and more channels with uncensored content.
- andreo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"Merger is a bad thing for those of us that listen to opie and anthony.. If there were a merger, there is NO way they would work for the same company as that idiot howard stern."
And do what? Start their own satellite radio company? Decide not to work again? They can do that.
You underestimate the power of a high paycheck and who people will work with when receiving that high paycheck. - uptown, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6You think it's a coincidence that the two services cost the same today? The two services pricing is in parity as it is. I doubt a merger would change much of that. Their service isn't a necessity. Raise their prices too high, and people will just dump it.
- 98acura, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5FFFFFFRRRRRRUUUUNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- superguysteve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4how much stock has Stern dumped? Zero. Check for yourself.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=SIRI
I know its much easier for you to classify the company as garbage because you don't like Howard Stern. That's fine, but He's not dumb and he's well aware that the SEC is aware of his every move and on-air comment. - Tairnyn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I pay for Sirius radio to avoid the mind-numbing music repetition, lack of variety, and 30 minutes/hour of commercials. I can't believe anyone with XM thinks it's fine to have commercials on their music stations that they pay for.
- niardica, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Probably because a majority of their devices are being factory installed in the Big 3 auto makers cars now...
- edoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Have you listened to satellite radio yet? Drastically less commercials and quality talk shows. I think it's worth every penny.
I can't figure out why people still listen to terrestrial radio. With so many commercials, it's unlistenable. - hijinks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3actually the FCC can block a merger.. they blocked a satellite TV merger from like Echostar and direct tv I think many years ago..
I doubt they would do the same for radio since its all generated content not just another way to deliver it like TV - geometry, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@uptown
"Raise their prices too high, and people will just dump it."
Oh, do you mean like cable TV? Once people use it they have a hard time listening to normal radio. I bought my father a Sirius system at the end of 2005 so he could listen to Howard Stern in 06. My father is in no way a technical person, I figured he'd use it to listen to Howard in the morning and that would be it. But he's fallen in love with it and now doesn't even listen to normal radio. He bought himself the accessories so he could use it at home, in the car, and at his office.
I know we live in a capitalist society and he doesn't really need the service, but I'm sure if the two companies merge and raise the price he'll continue to pay. The same way millions of cable subscribers (including myself) continue to pay for the service after constant rises in monthly charges. - Alphateam, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I love Left of Center, Stern and that Canadian Indie station. After a merger I can see Stern staying around, the rest of the good stuff will be watered down. It will be G4 all over again. TechTV and G4 were each great. Afterwards it was the worst of both on one channel.
- bwjacket, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Makes sense for the satellite radio industry. They need to band together to compete with regular radio. I think there is something like a hundred million satellite radio users. You know how many regular radios there are in the world? 1 Billion.
- timbellomo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2you're right about the FCC not being able to touch the content, but the SEC would probably have a problem with the merger.
- crackers8199, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3less commercials? the only music channels that have commercials are the clear-channel ones...
- EmmSee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have XM, if this means more stuff for only a *small* $ more, I'll take it.
- osiris123d, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5I am a Sirius user. I can see that if they merged the price would probably go down not up. Their resources would be pulled together. I would want it to be a hostile takeover though with Sirius being the hostile company. As long as the merge doesn't F with Stern and "Left of Center channel 26" its all good.
- Jrr6415sun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2the amount of commercials on the satellite radios are ridiculous for something you're paying for. I think a merger would be a good thing.. XM and Sirius pay out of their ass to have exclusive rights to broadcasting sports and other special features when that money could be spent better else where.
- MeatBiProduct, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I hate to say it but XM is the chocolate to Sirius's milk. This will be awesome and if any of their executives read this - you'll be filthy rich from it. lol.
- Perno, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This could be great. They could sell the dual-technology capable receivers, and it would be like flipping between AM and FM...except it will be XM and Sirius. They can drop all the repeat channels and just concentrate on giving users more content. Hopefully at the same price.
- junkyblake, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3There is no way they'd ***** with stern...I'll be pissed if the mess with my favorite station, Boombox 34....all breaks all the time!!!!!
- jimmy8501, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Anonymoustroll obviously doesn't get the concept that even though it's "space" it's still regulated. The FCC granted both XM and Sirius licenses to broadcast in the U.S.
- pjpete, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Allow me to chime in on some of these comments...
I've been hearing about this rumor for months, and just because it hasn't happened yet, or because this is 'yesterdays news' doesn't mean that it won't or couldn't happen. Companies don't just 'do it' over night - there's a lot of little details that need to be worked out for such a major transaction.
And as someone else pointed out, the FCC has NOTHING to do with Sattelite radio. That's why Howard Stern moved to Sirius in the first place -- because sattelite signal, like LiDar signal is not goverened by the FCC.
OT: Lasers are governed by the FDA, and therefore it IS legal to jam a laser signal, but not a radar signal as radar is governed by the FCC. - johnnyrocket, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That would be AWESOME! Howard on XM! Sweeet.
- superguysteve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1true this is a rumor, but Howard and the gang were discussing it this week as if it had merit. All regular Howard listeners will recognize that 'tone' he takes when he is trying to thinly veil something he is trying to promote. In this case, he came out and said that IF these companies merge, it would be a good thing to have all sports available from one service, and that some marketing expenses would be saved since there would be no competing service. Sounds to me that if he is making these comments, the rumor might have some legs. Stay tuned...(to Sirius of course).
- howsmusic4u, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1In Mel I trust.
P.S. - This was rumored to happen yesterday. It didn't. - roadkillrampage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was to lazy to read all the comments to see if this was said, but I would be surprised if this really happened today. Why? Well Mel Karmazan said publicly that he would like this to happen and that it would be a good thing to happen. I think he said this a month or so. I can't imagine that he would say something like that and risk some kind of SEC investigation.
Also, would the shareholders of both companies agree to the merger? - tmcdigg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Can't be a good thing for PRICES though... :-(
and.. as I have long predicted.. terrestrial radio corporation may end up owning it anyway..twas good while it lasted.. now Howard can retire... - hbusa2003, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i love the fact that you can add a question mark to a headline and make it sound true. thanks for pointing this out daily show!
lol xm bow down to sirius - papereira, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You are right, it wouldn't be the FCC, it would be the FTC to take any action first.
- protogenxl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I Call Shenanigans
Why announce at the Detroit Motor Show and Not CES? - metall1c1ne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wouldn't this create a monopoly of sorts?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Are you sirius??
- wrestlingnrj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I would HATE to see this happen. I personally have a Sirius subscription, while my dad used to have an XM subscription, since converted to Sirius. All I have to say about XM is that their music selection is complete crap (on their classic rock and hard rock stations, the ones I listen too). I would bet that there are also those on the other side of the fence saying the same thing about Sirius. I would not want one of these providers taking over the other one making it either all XM or all Sirius because this would be bad for both sides.
- SmokeN-DC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you lived In Washington DC where local RADIO sucks and you spend 2 hours a day in your car you would understand
Also can some one please give me a no BS description of the differences in the quality of music on both services and not the same BS XM has commercials because I have found the stations I listen to do not ( The System XM Chill Fungus ....) not trying to start a flame war I realy want an educated opinion
Thanks - felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't have either right now, though I used to be a Sirius subscriber.
The good news in a merger would be that we might see more convergence devices come out, as companies don't have to decide whether to bet on XM or Sirius.
The bad news would be that many people have favorite channels on one of the systems, and no matter what the companies might try to promise, some of them will be lost for sure. - thund3rstruck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@rholloway
"as a subscriber of both services, IF I were dumb enough to purchase stock, it wouldn't be in the company that makes the decision to pay $500 million to a has been."
... you're obviously the only one because Stern has single handedly made Sirius radio the success it is and if you ever listened to the show you'd be praising it. There is NOTHING on anywhere that even comes close to the quality of the Sirius stern show! - niardica, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I will be interesting to see if the FCC approves this merger. Fortunately the difference between the satellite TV companies and the satellite radio companies is that the satellite radio companies are content creators and offer something unique where the TV companies were just providing the same content through different delivery methods. I think if they do a good job of making that distinction then the FCC is likely to approve the merger.
- ToddFFW, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1$100 million a year to a man that delivered at least 4 million new listeners, and therefore over $400 million per year? Sounds like a good investment to me.
oh yeah, how many people signed up because of Oprah? how many millions did SHE get? - ToddFFW, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1ECO-101... competition helps the consumer.
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