Sirius and XM merger

[TheAxeman]

SIRIUS AND XM MERGE

This should put an end to the great "which is better" debate.

 

[Randy]

Thinking about getting the one-time charge lifetime contract before subscription rates zoom up due to no competition. Don't know if the justice department and the FCC can create some stipulations (i.e. no price gouging) since they have the ability to not allow the merger.

 

[PapaUtah]

Nice to see Mel will be running the show. XM shareholders will now get a little back rather than letting Panero run the thing into the ground. If it weren't for OE installs XM would be in really bad trouble already.

When the new receivers come out we should see just about perfect coverage nationwide. Between the Sirius birds overhead and XM's huge array of ground based repeaters(XM is the largest terrestrial broadcaster) coverage should be about as good as it gets.

I don't see pricing going through the roof. As noted in their filing they have alot of competition in iPods, HD radio, terrestrial radio, etc. I just don't want Mel to go down the XM road and start pumping commericals out through the music channels. At that point is begins to lose its main drawing card. The draw of all of that advertising money has got to be hard to resist though.

 

[05fjrman]

i don't see how the FTC can possibly let this go through. they are the only 2 satellite radio providers, at least the only 2 major ones, and that would be a definate monopoly. but they probably have buddies on the FTC board, and it will go through, and the customer will suffer because of it.

 

[twowheelnut]

Dissimilar equipment, long term contracts with their separate vendors, etc. Makes no sense to compete against yourself, so I say they'll let the merger fly.

 

[Randy]

i don't see how the FTC can possibly let this go through. they are the only 2 satellite radio providers, at least the only 2 major ones, and that would be a definate monopoly. but they probably have buddies on the FTC board, and it will go through, and the customer will suffer because of it.

Perhaps it's because they've both beaten themselves so far into the ground laying out cash for infrastructure and talent, without the merger, one of them will **** the bed and then we'll only be left with 1 and the other won't have enough cash to buy them out of bankruptcy. This way, the authorities can put some stipulations on the deal.

Then again, I might just be talking out of my ass......again

 

[twowheelnut]

Perhaps it's because they've both beaten themselves so far into the ground laying out cash for infrastructure and talent, without the merger, one of them will **** the bed and then we'll only be left with 1 and the other won't have enough cash to buy them out of bankruptcy. This way, the authorities can put some stipulations on the deal.Then again, I might just be talking out of my ass......again

Actually, that makes a lot of sense. :good:

 

[PapaUtah]

FYI, it's the FCC who will approve or deny the marger, not the FTC...

 

[radman]

I heard the FAA might get involved, as well as the FFA, the NAACP, and the GLBT. Room for everyone.

 

[05fjrman]

well, the FCC gives them their broadcast licenses, but the Federal Trade Commission gives or denies the actual business transaction, as far as anti-trust violations.

 

[Randy]

well, the FCC gives them their broadcast licenses, but the Federal Trade Commission gives or denies the actual business transaction, as far as anti-trust violations.

How do they determine if the FTC or the Department of Justice will be regulators that has to OK it? Or, do both, along with the FCC?

 

[05fjrman]

who knows it is govt :dribble: i believe mnfjr05 is right, the fcc has control over whether they can broadcast or not, and i don't know why the DOJ has anything to do with looking after prices. i believe almost, if not all, mergers especially at this level, have to go through the FTC as well, since they have a say in monopoly cases.

 

[Randy]

and i don't know why the DOJ has anything to do with looking after prices.

I don't think they have anything to do with looking after prices. They do, however, have a say in anti-trust regulations.

 

[05fjrman]

the article i was reading said that the DOJ has an interest because they are looking to make sure that susbscription prices don't go through the roof.

 

[trinibob]

Thinking about getting the one-time charge lifetime contract before subscription rates zoom up due to no competition. Don't know if the justice department and the FCC can create some stipulations (i.e. no price gouging) since they have the ability to not allow the merger.

DONT DO IT sirius life time contract is only good using that unit you contracted with when it wears your life time subsciription is over

 

[OhioFJR1300]

DONT DO IT sirius life time contract is only good using that unit you contracted with when it wears your life time subsciription is over

Not true, I have a lifetime subscription to Sirius. If the unit craps out, I can transfer my lifetime to another unit for a one time fee of $75.00. I can do that 4 times total. :yahoo: So it really is a good deal, since I've had my unit since 2003 and at that time the lifetime contract was $299.00.

 

[Bounce]

Thinking about getting the one-time charge lifetime contract before subscription rates zoom up due to no competition. Don't know if the justice department and the FCC can create some stipulations (i.e. no price gouging) since they have the ability to not allow the merger.

DONT DO IT sirius life time contract is only good using that unit you contracted with when it wears your life time subsciription is over

incorrect. the lifetime contract can be transferred 4 times (5 receivers). if a transfer is due to a unit failure while it's under warranty they do the xfer and don't charge it against your 4.

my current unit is nearling 3 years old. at this rate i'll break even in may and everything else is gravy. even if it died this year, that's a 15 year subscription for the single payment. seems reasonable to me.

 

[timk]

I'm glad about the merger, and also about the new receiver. I threw my Roady 2 away last month. I hope the new receiver is set up like the Roady.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

My only concern is will Sirius,XM broadcast the same programming on the older (new to me 2730) ?