XM and SIRIUS merger!

[audio_dude]

well, hell has frozen over once again...
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/xm/xm-and-sirius-officially-merge-237923.php

so what do you guys think of this? :skep:
I personally don't use sattelite radio, but what impact would this have on the market?

let the debate begin!

[markw]

"I've got a bad feeling about this"

When the only two leaders combine their forces, rarely do the peons benefit. Usually, it's to find more efficient ways to take more of their chickens.

[audio_dude]

Yeh, i wonder what they're gonna do with the customers of the separate services??

something to ponder...

[Woochifer]

"I've got a bad feeling about this"

When the only two leaders combine their forces, rarely do the peons benefit. Usually, it's to find more efficient ways to take more of their chickens.

Yup, I think you got it right. Less incentive to improve the product, and quite a mess to untangle for existing customers.

[Woochifer]

I can see this turning into a huge mess for existing customers. You have two companies operating completely different programming slates, using incompatible hardware, separate satellites with limited bandwidth on both. As it stands right now, the XM and Sirius subscriptions are tied to a specific receiver unit. Can someone with an XM receiver link to Sirius programming without having to buy all-new hardware?

And how will the two companies integrate their programming slates? The companies operate separate satellites running incompatible signals. Will the music programs on Sirius be forced to shut down in favor of XM, or vice versa?

There's also the issue of exclusive programming. Does everything get combined, or will some programming get tossed aside?

A lot of unanswered questions, not the least of which is whether this merger even gets approved in the first place. From what I've read, the FCC is already getting lobbied hard by the NAB (which represents radio stations) to reject the merger.

[bubbagump]

Hopefully the FTC is on the job.

[audio_dude]

yeh, right now the FTC is saying no, but sirius and XM will try as hard as they can to convince them its a good thing... oh well, hopefully this isn't going to end with lots of dissapointed customers.

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

My wife and I are planning for her job to be outsourced to India any day now (shes a manager at one of Sirius' clinet centers). Too bad, I wanted that new motorbike :(

[topspeed]

I sincerely doubt this is going to happen. The head of the FTC has gone on record stating that XM/Sirius would have to show a substantial benefit to the consumer in the form of better services and lower rates for them (FTC) to even consider the merger. The FTC is already taking a very hard line on the proposal so I wouldn't worry about this.

Interestingly enough, while XM's client base was up only 12% or so last year, Sirius' was up 83%. Whereas XM previously enjoyed a sizeable advantage in the installed base, Sirius is now right there with them and clearly has all the momentum.

Hmmm...maybe Howard was worth that $500mil after all.

[nightflier]

Speaking of Howard, what does he think of the merger?

[westcott]

Even if it did happen, how could there service do anything BUT get better.

To me, it is just waste of bandwidth. With all those stations, you would think they could have at least 9 or 10 stations broadcast in CD quality.

I was really hoping for big things for both of them because FM radio has already deteriorated to the point where I no longer even listen. Lack of stations and audio quality presented an opportunity for satellite to dominate but that has not happened.

I would be the first to upgrade if CD quality audio was available, even if limited.