Justice Dept Approves XM-Sirius Deal

Chadman

Realist
Forum Member
Apr 2, 2000
7,501
42
48
SW Missouri
Presumed good news for those of us who love our Sirius Satellite Radios...looking forward to how they set things up now.

Justice Dept Approves XM-Sirius Deal

Mar 24 03:20 PM US/Eastern
Write a Comment

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department approved Sirius Satellite Radio's $5 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio on Monday, saying the deal was unlikely to hurt competition or consumers.
The deal was approved despite opposition from consumer groups and an intense lobbying campaign by the land-based radio industry.

The buyout received shareholder approval in November. The companies said the merger will save hundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs?savings that will ultimately benefit their customers.

The Justice Department, in a lengthy news release explaining its decision, said the two companies compete not just with each other but also with other forms of radio and entertainment.

"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," the Justice Department said. "Accordingly, the division has closed its investigation of the proposed merger."

XM Satellite shares rose $1.97, or 16.5 percent, to $13.90 in afternoon trading after the government's announcement while Sirius shares rose 28 cents, or almost 10 percent, to $3.18.
 

Dice34

Off parole
Forum Member
Dec 18, 2004
4,731
27
0
D.O.C.
shibby......I feel like dancing.........


323929046_311b32ea71_o.gif
 

Dice34

Off parole
Forum Member
Dec 18, 2004
4,731
27
0
D.O.C.
what does that mean for sirius subscribers?

doesn't mean shat yet....i think it has to go to the fcc

but if this deal is completed.....us sirius folk, will get mlb and more college football games to go along with nfl, nba and nascar......most music channels will i'm sure just merge and i believe opie and anthony will also come......

either way its good news for the subscriber on both sides......prices shouldnt rise any and will have more programming

only setback, could be the purchase of a new unit, not sure how they will work that
 

ferdville

Registered User
Forum Member
Dec 24, 1999
3,165
5
0
78
So Cal
That is great news. After spending more time on this than any of the recent oil mergers, I guess they couldn't stall any longer. It should only give us more options and hopefully all the sports.
 

MadJack

Administrator
Staff member
Forum Admin
Super Moderators
Channel Owner
Jul 13, 1999
106,197
2,412
113
71
home
been xm subscriber for 5 years. i hope i don't get screwed in this deal as i'm happy with xm.
 

Chadman

Realist
Forum Member
Apr 2, 2000
7,501
42
48
SW Missouri
I hope they provide some kind of ala carte options - pick and choose what you want - that would be best for the consumer, but doubt that's cost effective for the companies. I don't know. I think the deal is contingent upon both radios working with the new merged company - that will be important. I would assume they would follow that, or they might lose subscribers, which is the important thing for the company(s).

Guessing it will be an opportunity to come up with new radios with more/different features, and a different package scenario for different subscriber types, probably like cable does it?
 

Dice34

Off parole
Forum Member
Dec 18, 2004
4,731
27
0
D.O.C.
been xm subscriber for 5 years. i hope i don't get screwed in this deal as i'm happy with xm.

don't see how you'd get screwed, if anything you'll get more and better programming

Sirius.......

Sports
NFL all games(normally both home and away announcers)
NBA
NASCAR
College Bball
English Premier Soccer
CFL
NFL Radio
Espn
espn news

Entertainment
100- Howard Stern
101- Howard Stern
103- Blue Collar Comedy radio
104- Raw dog -Uncensored comedy
105- laugh Break- comedy for everyone
106- The Foxxhole- Jamie Foxx's channel
107- E! Entertainment Radio
108- Maxim Radio
112- Martha Stewart
198- Playboy Radio

Music
Rock stations
Pop
Country
Hip Hop
Classic Vinyl
Grunge
Coffee House- acoustic
60's
70's
80's
90's alt
E street- Bruce S. 24/7
Elvis Radio- 24/7
Rolling Stones Radio
Grateful Dead channel
Jazz/Blues
Latin
Classical
even electronic/dance stations for ya jack......


the consumer should benefit from this merger
 

MadJack

Administrator
Staff member
Forum Admin
Super Moderators
Channel Owner
Jul 13, 1999
106,197
2,412
113
71
home
don't see how you'd get screwed
higher charge?

xm has most of what you listed and what they don't have, i don't need anyway. i've lived for 53 years without howard, i imagine i can make it the rest of the way without him too.

i guess i wouldn't mind having the NFL but i wouldn't pay extra for it.

i'm not sure what i pay now. they bill me yearly on my amex card.
 

Dice34

Off parole
Forum Member
Dec 18, 2004
4,731
27
0
D.O.C.
sirius charges I believe $12.95 a month.....i dunno i pay $90 for 3 months and its good for 2 years....

i really dont see the prices going up, call me naive, but the merger would bring 16 million subscribers together....16 million x13 =208 mil a month

instead of all the duplicate channels and paying for the duplicate programming, they will save money, it also takes out the guess work for the consumer which would lead me to believe more consumers would be likely to purchase satellite radio, plus all the car manufacturers and home audio receivers will have their equipment "sirius ready"......opening the door for more and more subscriptions.....

afterall, satellite still has to compete with traditional radio, ipod, mp3 players and cds...and whatever else emerges

and Jack....Howard will hook ya....thats basically all i listen too, that, nfl radio, nfl and the occasional music channels
 
Bet on MyBookie
Top