Analyst is hearing "increasing chatter" over DOJ ruling - Orbitcast

Analyst is hearing "increasing chatter" over DOJ ruling

February 13, 2008 4:50 PM | 130 Comments

Mel Karmazin

Here we go again. Stifel Nicolaus analyst Blair Levin today wrote that he is hearing "increasing chatter" that the DOJ is about to announce its decision on the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.

Levin noted that this isn't the first time he heard chatter about a decision - but that "the volume of the chatter" suggests that "the likelihood of a decision being close" is higher than in the past.

He also continues to believe that the DOJ is more likely than not to approve the merger. If the DOJ decides not to block the deal then the next step will be FCC approval.

Levin thinks the FCC would place some conditions on approval, including making interoperable satellite raido receivers, making the radios compatible with HD Radio, providing a minimum amount of public interest programming, prices freezes, and tiered/a la carte programming packages at lower prices.

[Barrons]

130 Comments

xmguy | February 13, 2008 5:29 PM

We've all heard this before. I'm for the merger ONLY if what they say will occur REALLY happen. I want to see this
"...........including making interoperable satellite radio receivers, making the radios compatible with HD Radio, providing a minimum amount of public interest programming, prices freezes, and tiered/a la carte programming packages at lower prices."

Happening! Price freezing, Allowing FM receiving Like what was available with the Roady2 PAS. HD does not really matter. XM&Sirius combined radios. There SHOULD be stipulations on this merger or Mel can do what ever he wants to do with no repercussions for higher up.

xmguy | February 13, 2008 5:30 PM

We've all heard this before. I'm for the merger ONLY if what they say will occur REALLY happen. I want to see this
"...........including making interoperable satellite radio receivers, making the radios compatible with HD Radio, providing a minimum amount of public interest programming, prices freezes, and tiered/a la carte programming packages at lower prices."

Happening! Price freezing, Allowing FM receiving Like what was available with the Roady2 PAS. HD does not really matter. XM&Sirius combined radios. There SHOULD be stipulations on this merger or Mel can do what ever he wants to do with no repercussions for higher up.

dave | February 13, 2008 5:30 PM

seems fair to me...hope its for real this time. I give it till month end, maaaaaybe first week march.

LAPTOP GAMER | February 13, 2008 5:37 PM

it must be a slow news week as this story is getting recycled over and over again, I'm bored.

Mat | February 13, 2008 5:39 PM

Feb 19. Mark it down.

Rmb74 | February 13, 2008 5:50 PM

If a stipulation is that they must incorporate HD chip sets, then require HD radio to help subsidize the costs of satellite radios and only allow the hd receivers to work when a valid sat rad subscription is activated.

Boardroom Jimmy | February 13, 2008 5:53 PM

Why those anal-lyst boys are worst than Grandma and her friends on the old partyline....hearing this and hearing that about Mildred and Jake, having a threesome with Betty the town whore, then chatter and gossip!

Hate to break this to you, but there's only a 33% chance that Mel saves Sirius aka as, the merger passing.

Boardroom Jimmy

Anonymous | February 13, 2008 5:57 PM

Ohhhhhh Jimmy! I accept your statements as fact. You post are so enlighteming...LMAO...Anyone who believes for a minute that this merger will not be approved has had their head stuck in the sand .

Get back to the party line Jimmy...more your spped I think...LOL

Anonymous | February 13, 2008 6:00 PM

Boardroom Jimmy...what turnip truck did you get off of?

Wow!

Paul | February 13, 2008 6:10 PM

Why have HD capability in a satrad receiver? Why not force Comcast to have satellite TV capability built into their cable boxes. BTW, I saw a a HD table top radio at BestBuy last weekend. I really wanted to hear how much better HD was over regular FM. At $250 each it better be good. So I turn the unit on and have it do a search for any HD stations in town (Tallahassee, FL). There was not one HD station in town. Sort of like having a hydrogen cell car with no hydrogen filling stations in town.

Thsi merger has got to be either approved or turned down soon. There is simply too much BS going on and it's just pissing everybody off.

Anonymous | February 13, 2008 7:14 PM

I hear chatter.. I hear chatter... I hear chatter... I see dead people... I see dead people.. I hear chatter..

Cautiously Optimistic | February 13, 2008 8:25 PM

The merger will pass .... but say bye bye to some bandwidth somewhere (meaning neither company will take) Hoo hoo and 0.0 the satrad consumer will loose in the end .....

0.0 | February 13, 2008 8:37 PM

Why those anal-lyst boys are worst than Grandma and her friends on the old partyline....hearing this and hearing that about Mildred and Jake, having a threesome with Betty the town whore, then chatter and gossip!

Hate to break this to you, but there's only a 33% chance that Mel saves Sirius aka as, the merger passing.

Boardroom Jimmy

Posted by: Boardroom Jimmy | February 13, 2008 5:53 PM


cheer up little pests,you'll always have FM..eh wait...nevermind..podcast willy perhaps?oh who are we kidding they'll fail at that too

0.0=everything we touch turns to instant shit

B
A
W
O
O
H

Ranger | February 13, 2008 11:42 PM

Yawn. Next.

Anonymous | February 14, 2008 6:41 AM

"Regarding the Technical Aspects of the SDARS Providers XM and Sirius"

"There are significant differences in certain technical aspects of the two SDARS systems as deployed by XM and Sirius. The systems as currently deployed are not interoperable. That is to say, an XM receiver cannot receive the Sirius signal and vice versa. Thus, as is true today, if the proposed merger of XM and Sirius were consummated, consumers would still need to purchase a new interoperable receiver in order to receive the signals of both providers. These differences in system operation, function, and structure make the design and implementation of a single unified and interoperable receiver both complex and expensive. In fact, both XM and Sirius have been working in a joint venture to develop an interoperable radio since 2000. At this time, no interoperable radios have been introduced into commercial production."

http://tinyurl.com/2kek8t

Seems as if this might be a small problem - satrad is already dying, and requiring the purchase of new, more expensive replacement receivers, will just hasten the death of Satellite Radio. Doesn't sound like interoperable satrad receivers is even practical/feasible.

Serious Investor | February 14, 2008 7:29 AM

I saw some of the XM flunkies at the Grammy's the other night (you know who you are). I can't wait for the merger to go thru so Mel can take charge and stop the plundering at XM. These bunch of yo-yos are starting to make XM look like Tyco.
Bring on the merger!!

Marcus | February 14, 2008 10:24 AM

OMG!!!!

Does anyone else feel like kicking 0.0 right in the cunt?

0.0 | February 14, 2008 1:01 PM

"omg"...let me guess,you like cock?

Marcus | February 14, 2008 2:25 PM

0.0

No...I dont listen to Howard Stern....Thanks!

0.0 | February 14, 2008 4:45 PM

with a scathing witty reply like that,its obvious you listen to hack morning zoo o&a

"omg"
"lol"
"lmfao:

right "BFF"?

clemenstookhgh | February 14, 2008 8:25 PM

Years ago Direct TV & DishNetwork tried to merge but Congress wouldn't let them. So why should Sirius & XM be allowed to do so?

mike | February 14, 2008 8:43 PM

How can they not approve this. They approveed Exxon/Mobil merger faster and gas is more important than radio. Jerks!!!

Patty Ewing | February 15, 2008 2:27 AM

I am sure the majority of you don't have Sirius or XM. (XM sucks compared to Siri btw) Anyway though, the merging between Directv & Dish didn't pass because they are both dominant within their industry and would have been too much for cable companies to deal with. XMSR and Siri have a very small market share. If they merge, please tell me how it will effect a person listening to their local classic rock station? It won't. If they do merge and prices go up, cancel your subscription and put back on the radio. Simple.

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