XM-Sirius merger approved by DOJ - GoFuckYourself.com

Pete-KT · 03-24-2008, 01:06 PM

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/24/news...ion=2008032415

Quote:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. Justice Department approved the merger between satellite radio companies Sirius and XM Monday, more than a year after the two companies first announced their deal.

In its decision, the Department of Justice had to determine whether an XM-Sirius merger was anti-competitive, or if other media companies such as Clear Channel (CCU, Fortune 500), CBS (CBS, Fortune 500), or even Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) with its iTunes software and iPod music player served as alternate options for music and media customers.

The Federal Communications Commission must also approve the deal before it can officially be completed. The FCC has yet to make a decision on the deal.

The merger would combine the nation's only two satellite radio companies and create a company with about 14 million subscribers. It would bring together Sirius' most well-known content, including Howard Stern and National Football League games with XM's Major League Baseball as well programming from Oprah Winfrey.

Shares of XM (XMSR) and Sirius (SIRI) both rose after the announcement.

XM-Sirius hopes rise

Static in the satellite radio market

Vegas Ken · 03-24-2008, 01:30 PM

About freaking time!

PR_Sebas · 03-24-2008, 01:30 PM

yah, that did take awhile... both their stocks are up a bit...

duff · 03-24-2008, 01:31 PM

I've been hanging on for 2 years, this should make it all worth it.

Chris · 03-24-2008, 01:32 PM

saw that this afternoon
hopefully this means cheaper units
i want my howard stern but im not paying out the ass for a home unit

LauraLee · 03-24-2008, 01:33 PM

Me so happy. Now I need it to rise like a balloon

Ninja_Pete · 03-24-2008, 01:58 PM

Awesome friggen news! Hopefully my stocks make some $ now

tranza · 03-24-2008, 02:06 PM

I guess that's good news...

Sosa · 03-24-2008, 02:11 PM

Hopefully they won't jack up the price

munki · 03-24-2008, 02:13 PM

I want that fucking satellite network...

Honez · 03-24-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sosa

Hopefully they won't jack up the price

That's what I am worried about. There won't be a competitor to turn to.

Burnt Bacon · 03-24-2008, 02:25 PM

Howard Stern was using this merger as one of the selling points to switch over while he was still on terrestrial radio.

CyberHustler · 03-24-2008, 03:03 PM

sirius > xm

WiredGuy · 03-24-2008, 04:07 PM

Without any competition left, whats to stop them from raising the prices?
WG

GatorB · 03-24-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honez

That's what I am worried about. There won't be a competitor to turn to.

Sure there is. There are plenty of options for one to listen to music if satellite radio price is too high. One would be regular radio which is already free. A duopoly does not competition make anyways. I have 2 ISPs that provide broadband in my area. Both have said they won't compete on price. Isn't that something competition is supposed to do, lower prices? And both have been true to their word.

GatorB · 03-24-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiredGuy

Without any competition left, whats to stop them from raising the prices?
WG

You need to understand without the merger, within 3 years one or both would be out of busniess.

RevSand · 03-24-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatorB

You need to understand without the merger, within 3 years one or both would be out of busniess.

Yep.. That's the way I see it also.. Neither one has been profitable on their own..

snaker · 03-24-2008, 04:31 PM

Nice - Siruius is bleeding!

Jim_Gunn · 03-24-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiredGuy

Without any competition left, whats to stop them from raising the prices?
WG

Unlike cable tv/satellite tv, the two satellite radio companies have completely different content from each other so there was no direct competition anyway. But both companies promised the DoJ that they wouldn't raise prices for consumers and also made some other promises regarding how they will do business if the merger were to go through.

kane · 03-24-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiredGuy

Without any competition left, whats to stop them from raising the prices?
WG

There is a ton of competition. Ipods, free radio and internet radio to name a few and you can get most of the competition for free. The CEO of Sirius, Mel Karmazen, has said that the merger will let them lower the price and they will offer different packages and even an ala carte style system where for around $6 a month you can pick the 20 channels you want (or something of that nature).

This is a huge blow to free radio though because now satellite has all the major sports, over 100 channels of commercial free music and guys like Stern, playboy radio and Martha Stewart. I can see why free radio put up such a huge fight to keep this merger from happening.

TCSMatt · 03-24-2008, 06:52 PM

Sirius is the best thing to happen to radio ever. I have it in my car, and also pay a paltry 2.99 extra to get streaming content to my desktop. CD quality, diverse seletion of genres/music, uncensored Stern, and limited commercials.
When I try to listen to terrestrial stations I get pissed due to all the shitty commercials and jerk off announcers. At that point I go college radio if I have to...

tony286 · 03-24-2008, 06:53 PM

I wonder what the monthly price will be?

Furious_Male · 03-24-2008, 07:25 PM

Still waiting on FCC approval but it should go through. Its about time I have been holding shares of both of these POS companies for years now. I hope as one they can at least start to break even by 2009.

03-24-2008, 01:30 PM	#2
Vegas Ken Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4,151	About freaking time! __________________ Skype: vegas_ken

03-24-2008, 01:30 PM	#3
PR_Sebas Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,825	yah, that did take awhile... both their stocks are up a bit... __________________

03-24-2008, 01:32 PM	#5
Chris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Location: icq: 71462500 Skype: Jupzchris Posts: 27,880	saw that this afternoon hopefully this means cheaper units i want my howard stern but im not paying out the ass for a home unit __________________ [email protected]

03-24-2008, 01:33 PM	#6
LauraLee Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: (Still) One Touch Cockie Posts: 3,821	Me so happy. Now I need it to rise like a balloon __________________ Priority Payout skype lauralee.bunker LL's Email

03-24-2008, 01:58 PM	#7
Ninja_Pete Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 585	Awesome friggen news! Hopefully my stocks make some $ now __________________ The Wet Peach \| Melissa Matters \| Wet Peach Cash \| Porns Best Girls \| Corin Riggs Online

03-24-2008, 01:31 PM	#4
duff Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 248	I've been hanging on for 2 years, this should make it all worth it.

03-24-2008, 02:06 PM	#8
tranza ICQ: 197-556-237 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: BRASIL !!! Posts: 57,559	I guess that's good news... __________________ I'm just a newbie.

03-24-2008, 02:11 PM	#9
Sosa In Tushy Land Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 40,149	Hopefully they won't jack up the price

03-24-2008, 02:13 PM	#10
munki Do Fun Shit. Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OC Posts: 13,393	I want that fucking satellite network... __________________ “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” -Oscar Wilde

03-24-2008, 02:25 PM	#12
Burnt Bacon Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 211	Howard Stern was using this merger as one of the selling points to switch over while he was still on terrestrial radio.

03-24-2008, 03:03 PM	#13
CyberHustler So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 26,062	sirius > xm

03-24-2008, 04:07 PM	#14
WiredGuy Pounding Googlebot Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 34,476	Without any competition left, whats to stop them from raising the prices? WG __________________ I play with Google.

03-24-2008, 04:31 PM	#18
snaker Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,281	Nice - Siruius is bleeding! __________________ My Best Sponsors: Naughty Revenue \| Get Score Cash \| Thick Cash

03-24-2008, 06:52 PM	#21
TCSMatt Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 126	Sirius is the best thing to happen to radio ever. I have it in my car, and also pay a paltry 2.99 extra to get streaming content to my desktop. CD quality, diverse seletion of genres/music, uncensored Stern, and limited commercials. When I try to listen to terrestrial stations I get pissed due to all the shitty commercials and jerk off announcers. At that point I go college radio if I have to... __________________ >>>>>> Killer DVD Content!

03-24-2008, 06:53 PM	#22
tony286 lurker Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: atlanta Posts: 57,021	I wonder what the monthly price will be?

03-24-2008, 07:25 PM	#23
Furious_Male Doing the grind since 99 Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 16,881	Still waiting on FCC approval but it should go through. Its about time I have been holding shares of both of these POS companies for years now. I hope as one they can at least start to break even by 2009. __________________ Living in Virtual Reality Contact: Email (preferred): furiousmale .at. gmail - Skype: live:shanedws