Posted on 03/01/2007 9:13:38 AM PST by misterrob
The announcement of a proposed merger between Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI, news, msgs) and its archrival XM Satellite Radio (XMSR, news, msgs) was treated by most of the media this week as if were just another financial event to be studied through the prism of balance-sheet analysis and the federal regulatory approval process.
But the merger plan actually amounts to the death of a dream for investors who came to believe that shares of Sirius -- propelled skyward for a short time by the hiring of snarky talk show host Howard Stern -- would make them rich beyond compare.
For while the merger might ultimately save the company from total oblivion, it is unlikely to save investors from billions of dollars in losses incurred over the past several years or, perhaps more importantly, from a loss of faith in stock ownership.
Millions of people bought Sirius shares at $6 to $8 for their retirement accounts, and rode them down to $3.50, never losing faith in Stern. At this point, they need to face up to the fact that they're screwed. Stern made half a billion. They will make nothing. They can file SIRI stock certificates away under "S" for stupid. They blew it.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.moneycentral.msn.com ...
2. Get an ipod if you want to hear music.
I like to listen to the offerings other than music.
3. Satellite radio will be gone in 5 years.
I don't think this will happen. There is a market out there.
I have XM. If the satellite company wants to increase the number of listeners, it could add programming that broadcasts the audio from network tv. There are lots of shows I would listen to, even if I couldn't view them. With many of them the audio will suffice.
Very poorly placed faith. I left Sirius (as a subscriber) right before Stern started in January of 2006. When the sales rep asked me why I was leaving, I said that Stern is best suited for 16 year olds and that I'm not 16, and that his huge money deal would be the end of them. I said I'd wait the sat radio wars out and just back the winner, after enjoying a nice year with Sirius.
I hope at some point it will work in Alaska.
Does anyone know what Stern's listenership was on sattelite? I was a regular listener years ago (his schtick does get a little old after 10 years), but there's no way I'd pay to listen, even if I were still a rabid Stern fan.
Though I wouldn't pay for Stern, my recent move to small town midwest has me aching for quality radio. I am thinking about getting a system for the home just so I can get some decent radio w/o the farm news. (no offense to farmers, I just need my dose of politics.)
They have been around long enough to give an indication. It isn't happening.
I pay for XM because I like to listen to more than just top 40, rap and country. That's about all that comes across the free stuff here.
Granted, I've been a tad miffed that they advertise that XM is commercial free, when in reality it is not...but there are fewer commercials than on the regular AM/FM channels.
I like that we can be anywhere and not have to go channel surfing to find the local classical channel (or lack thereof).
I like that there are news channels.
I have to say that there are no IPods in my house. I honestly don't even know really and truely what one is...they play MP3's from your computer? Or are they radios? *sigh* I'm probably the only American between the ages of 15-30 who is so clueless about the things. But those wittle bittle ones are kinda cute...whatever they are. LOL
I do hope that satellite radio is still around in 5 years. Heaven only knows where the Army will say my home is next...and the radio choices might really really suck! LOL
~Cail, who is not a sport fanatic :P I've never purposefully tuned into the gazillion sports channels we get.
I dont believe Karmazian for a second when he says prices will come down!
I like to listen to Sirius radio while I am driving down the toll road.
I'm still pretty mad at Sirius for dropping C-SPAN radio.
I believe that is still true. And there's that part of NE Arizona on I-40 where the only station you can get broadcasts in Navajo.
Like fine wine, single malt scotch and snails, it's an acquired taste.
If you apply yourself diligently you might come to an appreciation.
The old man is probably paying the bill.
...drinking my $2 cup of Starbucks.
I know GM offers XM. I'm not sure about the other manufacturers. I wonder how those (XM vs. Sirrus) numbers affect the equation?
I have Sirius because I drive a truck for a living. Like the talk, blues, some other music, some sports in season. Aside from limited coverage in west Texas, we have a limited choice when we can get terrestrial radio. Take away tejano and sing-through-your-nose cawntry, a lot more than Van Horn might as well have no signal.
You think NASCAR is strange? Last time I registered a new receiver, the lady on the 800 number inquired if I wanted the Playboy channel, no charge, but I had to authorize it. As I told her, for free, I might get bored enough to find out what it was. Still, as much as I am admittedly fond of nekkid ladies, the concept of nekkid ladies on the radio leaves me scratching my head and saying "Huh?'.
LOL! There's another reason.
In you're in New York City and you like Country music, you are out of luck. Number One market in America, and there are NO country stations.
See?! LOL
And I was definitely not saying that I don't like country...I do...just not all the time. And I don't like rap or 99% of the top 40 at any given time...so if I didn't do XM, I'd be with Country all the time here.
Speaking of country music...I'm not crazy over the new stuff, which is another big plus for satellite radio...there are many different country stations for the many genres of country...there are times when I just want to hear classic country...which I don't think is possible with regular radio...and definitely not possible everywhere!
Well, maybe not everywhere. I've noticed that drive throughs with over hangs (like the bank, or some fast food joints) turn the radio to mush.
Sports programming, for one. On the whole, it's cheaper to get XM (which I have) to listen to Major League Baseball games instead of buying the MLB Extra Innings package.
2. Get an ipod if you want to hear music.
Have one of those, too. Often I'll download a song I hear on XM to my iPod. Neat, huh?
3. Satellite radio will be gone in 5 years.
Then again, the richest man in the world once said "650KB of memory is more than enough for personal computing".
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