Posted on 04/08/2008 7:11:05 AM PDT by paltz
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) is urging FCC Chairman Kevin Martin not to follow the DOJ's lead and "rubber-stamp" the approval of the proposed Sirius-XM Satellite Radio merger. In a letter to Martin last week, Kerry said that, if approved, the merger must contain conditions to prohibit the partnership of "exercising monopolistic powers" that could result in "diminished service at increased rates."
"While the Department of Justice has found that 'the evidence does not demonstrate that the proposed merger of XM and Sirius is likely to substantially lessen competition,' serious concerns remain as to how this merger will impact consumers if it is permitted to go forward," Kerry wrote.
He also noted that the Commission's 1997 order establishing the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) prohibits a merger of the two satcasters. And to move forward,he wrote, would seem to "directly contradict the intent of the Commission in establishing this service." (04-03-08)
This is a bad deal. This merger should be approved, and NOW! It is nothing more than the Old MSM on death-watch, trying to stop the future. APPROVE THIS MERGER NOW!!!
I agree with Kerry on this one. The proverbial stopped clock.
Absolutely not. As a subscriber to XM, I want the content increase. If their prices go up, I’ll switch back to free radio medium.
You agree that the merger between SIRI and XM should not be approved? Why?
Not having satellite radio what happens after the merger? Will one receiver work with the others signal? Or is one person just s.o.l. (like having an AM radio in an old car).
I have subs for both XM and SIRI. It is the future of radio, and the NAB, who is spending tons of money to politicians, wants the deal dead. This is the old media death watch it its worse.
No, to receive the combined content, you would need to buy a new, interoperable receiver and pay for the additional content.
both receivers will continue to work. those ‘duplicate’ programming types that exist now between the to sat companies will be eliminated and one signal broadcast to both systems until new radios are built.
completely false!
Gee, sounds so familiar...just can't place the name.
Said Kerry as Clear Channel and NAB money spills out of his pockets.
Short of coming into my house and stealing my iPods, terrestrial radio will never get me back. Never. Even shows nominally on terrestrial radio, I download for enjoyment “on demand.”
This is about terrestrial radio trying to put the genie back in the bottle. Clear Channel’s “more commericals, smaller playlists” formula has been revealed by Satrad as the disaster that it is and now they are running to the government for protection from their own poor decision.
Just another variation of private profits, public losses.
I subscribe to both XM and Sirius and will save money with the merger. Being able to get Howard, the NFL, MLB and NASCAR in one place is just a bonus...
No. If you have a radio now, it will continue to work exactly as it does. If you want the blended content, you have to get a new radio that will work with both.
I've had XM for a few years now and not entirely sure I'd care about the extra sirius content but when my current radio quits or gets stolen again(dummies) I'll get a dual receiver. Assume the merger goes through and I think it will...too much money greasing palms.
Competitive Enterprise Institute supports xm/sirius merger http://cei.org/gencon/003%2C05877.cfm
PTC Applauds Justice Department Approval of XM/Sirius Merger
http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2008/0324.asp
ATR Praises Justice Department Approval of XM/Sirius Merger
http://www.atr.org/content/html/2008/march/032508pr-xmsirius.html
Kerry you idiot go work on something worthwhile.
Like polishing your war medals or something.....
I sure hope you are right...we really like our xm, espcially when traveling from state to state.
Auntie, XM, and or SIRI will both go bankrupt if this deal is not approved. It is that simple. The NAB and main stream old radio media CCU etc., made very bad decisions and are now paying. SatRad is the future and the NAB knows. They have NO hand in SatRad, but they still have very deep pockets that extends to politicians. Check the NAB donor list. Consumers have NO idea how bad this deal has been for them and invesators. Our politicians at thier worse.
Amen. They should not let them merge, if htey don’t, those companies will probably go out of business. NASCAR and other sports would go back on the normal radio. Potty mouthed entertainers like Howard Stern would end up in oblivion. And who cares if there’s not a place to listen to some obscure song from from Foghat or some eyeliner wearing punk rocker from Seattle that no one’s ever heard of?
It appears XM was in service for a while before Sirius started up.
Nobody told the XM folks “You can’t launch service unless a competitor starts up also”.
How, then, does a merger create any worse situation than that which existed prior to the launch of Sirius?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.