News Siriusly.

"Bob" Dobbs · 07-25-2008, 09:14 PM

The FCC has just now apparently approved the XM-Sirius merger. This despite the rules the FCC had saying, in effect, "XM & Sirius can't merge". Is this a good thing or a bad thing, as far as you're concerned?

From radioink.com:
WASHINGTON -- July 25, 2008: The FCC has made its long-awaited decision on the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, and the deal has been approved.

"The merger is in the public interest and will provide consumers with greater flexibility and choices," said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin in a statement on the decision. "Consumers will enjoy a variety of programming at reduced prices and more diversified programming choices. It will also spur innovation and advance the development and use of interoperable radios, bringing more flexible programming options to all subscribers."

A last-minute dispute over merger conditions between Martin and FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate had led many to think approval would be further delayed, but on Friday night Tate cast the deciding vote.

The NAB had lobbied fiercely against the merger, and NAB EVP Dennis Wharton released a brief statement that read, "Today's vote certainly comes as a disappointment to NAB. We continue to believe that consumers are best served by competition rather than monopolies."

XM and Sirius earlier confirmed that they expected to agree to pay $19 million in combined Treasury contributions to settle outstanding enforcement issues involving terrestrial repeaters. Other conditions expected by the companies include XM's shutting down or bringing into compliance 100 terrestrial repeaters while Sirius does the same for 11 repeaters, and the adoption of comprehensive compliance plans by both companies.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Robert McDowell were already on record as favoring the merger when Commissioner Michael Copps on Monday cast his vote against it. Copps' fellow Democratic Commissioner, Jonathan Adelstein, voted no on Wednesday after a slate of tougher conditions he'd proposed in return for a yes vote didn't generate interest from his fellow commissioners. Tate's conditions were the last points to be negotiated, and, after a delay while Tate reportedly refused to sign the merger approval until Martin had signed the consent degree settling the enforcement matters, the deal is now done.

XM and Sirius announced plans to merge back in February of 2007, despite an FCC rule prohibiting the combining of the only two satellite digital radio services. Since the merger's proposal -- and particularly since the Department of Justice granted its unconditional approval in March of this year -- many parties have weighed in on the deal, with members of both the House and Senate, public interest groups, and a number of state attorneys general urging either denial or heavy conditions on a merged XM-Sirius. Clear Channel, while opposing the merger, also stepped up with its own slate of conditions.

Among the proposals: the divestiture of up to 50 percent of XM's and Sirius' spectrum for a competing service, much larger set-asides of spectrum for noncommercial and minority programming than were ultimately agreed to, and a requirement that HD Radio be part of all new satellite receivers.

http://radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.as...&pt=todaysnews

**Smed1065** · 07-25-2008, 09:34 PM

Probably good for the users short term and bad long term?

Friendo · 07-25-2008, 09:38 PM

net-streaming will eventually kill em all imo.

"Bob" Dobbs · 07-25-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Friendo

net-streaming will eventually kill em all imo.

As a radio guy, much as I'd like to disagree with you, I can't. Terrestrial radio's only real hope is to localize quite a bit more.

Friendo · 07-25-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEKChiefsFan

As a radio guy, much as I'd like to disagree with you, I can't. Terrestrial radio's only real hope is to localize quite a bit more.

which is exactly what we're trying to do, but it will hurt music based stations more than sports/sports-talk imho.

"Bob" Dobbs · 07-25-2008, 09:48 PM

A well-executed News station should do OK as well. Hopefully, it will help if, as the article hints, they are forced to include terrestrial HD decoders to the satellite receivers.

Friendo · 07-25-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEKChiefsFan

A well-executed News station should do OK as well. Hopefully, it will help if, as the article hints, they are forced to include terrestrial HD decoders to the satellite receivers.

lol, it's a crazy time right now for sure--ironically it will likely open the door for smaller, more creative folks--the bigs are gonna be the ones hurt. anyone working for a publicly traded group had better start looking for the life-rafts.

"Bob" Dobbs · 07-25-2008, 10:10 PM

Exactly. I think I'm well positioned in a 15 station privately held group. CC folks will be nervous.

07-25-2008, 09:14 PM
"Bob" Dobbs Kickin' it in Dobbstown. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southeast Kansas Casino cash: $9824317	Siriusly. The FCC has just now apparently approved the XM-Sirius merger. This despite the rules the FCC had saying, in effect, "XM & Sirius can't merge". Is this a good thing or a bad thing, as far as you're concerned? From radioink.com: WASHINGTON -- July 25, 2008: The FCC has made its long-awaited decision on the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, and the deal has been approved. "The merger is in the public interest and will provide consumers with greater flexibility and choices," said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin in a statement on the decision. "Consumers will enjoy a variety of programming at reduced prices and more diversified programming choices. It will also spur innovation and advance the development and use of interoperable radios, bringing more flexible programming options to all subscribers." A last-minute dispute over merger conditions between Martin and FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate had led many to think approval would be further delayed, but on Friday night Tate cast the deciding vote. The NAB had lobbied fiercely against the merger, and NAB EVP Dennis Wharton released a brief statement that read, "Today's vote certainly comes as a disappointment to NAB. We continue to believe that consumers are best served by competition rather than monopolies." XM and Sirius earlier confirmed that they expected to agree to pay $19 million in combined Treasury contributions to settle outstanding enforcement issues involving terrestrial repeaters. Other conditions expected by the companies include XM's shutting down or bringing into compliance 100 terrestrial repeaters while Sirius does the same for 11 repeaters, and the adoption of comprehensive compliance plans by both companies. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Robert McDowell were already on record as favoring the merger when Commissioner Michael Copps on Monday cast his vote against it. Copps' fellow Democratic Commissioner, Jonathan Adelstein, voted no on Wednesday after a slate of tougher conditions he'd proposed in return for a yes vote didn't generate interest from his fellow commissioners. Tate's conditions were the last points to be negotiated, and, after a delay while Tate reportedly refused to sign the merger approval until Martin had signed the consent degree settling the enforcement matters, the deal is now done. XM and Sirius announced plans to merge back in February of 2007, despite an FCC rule prohibiting the combining of the only two satellite digital radio services. Since the merger's proposal -- and particularly since the Department of Justice granted its unconditional approval in March of this year -- many parties have weighed in on the deal, with members of both the House and Senate, public interest groups, and a number of state attorneys general urging either denial or heavy conditions on a merged XM-Sirius. Clear Channel, while opposing the merger, also stepped up with its own slate of conditions. Among the proposals: the divestiture of up to 50 percent of XM's and Sirius' spectrum for a competing service, much larger set-asides of spectrum for noncommercial and minority programming than were ultimately agreed to, and a requirement that HD Radio be part of all new satellite receivers. http://radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.as...&pt=todaysnews
Posts: 3,315

07-25-2008, 09:34 PM	#2
Smed1065 Supporter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Returning From Hell Casino cash: $8023673	Probably good for the users short term and bad long term?
Posts: 9,779

07-25-2008, 09:38 PM	#3
Friendo cigarette? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: n.c. Casino cash: $10004945	net-streaming will eventually kill em all imo.
Posts: 1,787

07-25-2008, 09:48 PM	#6
"Bob" Dobbs Kickin' it in Dobbstown. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southeast Kansas Casino cash: $9824317	A well-executed News station should do OK as well. Hopefully, it will help if, as the article hints, they are forced to include terrestrial HD decoders to the satellite receivers.
Posts: 3,315

07-25-2008, 10:10 PM	#8
"Bob" Dobbs Kickin' it in Dobbstown. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southeast Kansas Casino cash: $9824317	Exactly. I think I'm well positioned in a 15 station privately held group. CC folks will be nervous.
Posts: 3,315