Related Sections: Radio
Justice Department approves Sirius-XM merger
XM and Sirius, those two wacky satellite-radio companies, today got the green light to merge into one giant supercompany thanks to a thumbs-up from the Department of Justice. The pair have been talking about a merger for a while now, and today's decision represents an important leap forward, though they still need approval from the FCC before they can go ahead with it. No word on when that's going to happen, but the DoJ's stamp of approval should put some pressure on the FCC to step up to the plate.
While it seems anticompetitive to let the only two satellite-radio companies in the U.S. merge into a single entity, the DoJ found that they didn't really compete with each other in the same way as, say, Pepsi and Coke, since very few people were switching between the services. Not sure if I buy that logic, but I do acknowledge that neither company has shown a profit (don't believe me? Check their books) and they sell basically the same services, so why not let them get married? As my colleague Leslie Shapiro said in her column on the merger, we're all going to be listening to our iPods anyway.
Via CNN
By Bill at 7:09 PM ON 03/24/08
Let's hope the FCC doesn't cause them problems.
By Justin Hart at 10:42 PM ON 03/24/08
You're mistaken if you think that Sirius and XM offer essentially the same services.
XM broadcasts syndicated radio shows using major market DJs. IE, you can listen to your favorite radio show anywhere.
Sirius has their own channels and very little syndicated content. No offense to Sirius, but it also seems that, for the large number of channels, they also have very little content. Over vacation, using a Sirius radio, we kept hearing the same songs and bands over and over again, moreso than on FM radio. Including songs and bands that aren't all that mainstream. For instance, the punk channel played Anti-Flag and Sex Pistols repeatedly. On the drive to the airport, after one week, we were flipping through the channels to see if there was one playing a song that we hadn't already heard on Sirius that week.
I guess it's early adopter syrdrome, but, even so, I'd have to say that the services are quite strikingly different on this front.
By MichaelStreetsboroOH at 1:36 PM ON 03/25/08
I have to say I have the Sirius radio and have been very happy with the service and content. I bought it when Stern announced he was moving to Sirius a year before the actual move. I have enjoyed the programming and have noticed at time some song get a repeat play over other music but I do switch around the stations enough that I get a good taste of everything provided by the service.
I will be excited when (if) the FCC approves the merger so that I can add MLB to the NFL and NASCAR coverage I already receive.
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
MichaelStreetsboroOH:
I have to say I have the Sirius radio and have been very happy with the service and content. I bought it when Stern...More »