Investment analysts and the Street are increasingly optimistic over the probability of the Sirius-XM merger going through. The latest comes from Tom Watts of Cowen & Company who issued a client note this morning stating that approval could come as early as October.
Watts also placed the likelihood of approval is being the "best ever."
Citing a strong precedent from the Whole Foods merger, along with the FCC’s rebuttal period being closed, Cowen & Co said that they "expect FCC approval before Dec. 4." In fact, Cowen & Co expects approval of the deal in October is possible.
Watts noted that the arb spread has narrowed to 11.8% from over 20% in only a few weeks, adding that it could be even lower.
I wonder how long it will be from merger approval to the implementation of ala carte plans?
You'll need to wait until new radio's are designed, manufactured and in stores. Then you need to find one you like, spend more money, then you have bought the opportunity to pay more per month for a la carte programming..
Guy,
I think they said it's going to be 6-12 months before the a la carte starts up. I'd hope the sooner to really give the merger a real boost. But, it'll take a little time for the dual recievers to come out.
My question is, has anyone gotten any info on the lifetime subscriptions (both existing and new) and what's being done with them? I've looked around and found nothing. And I'm left with my assumption of current lifers will keep the same programming they have now, and then just add new programming as they want it like new subscribers. Just curious.
Lifetime Subs will be treated the same as "Sirius Everything" subs... it's a similar offering to what you're getting today. Not sure how the extra packages would work into what you've already paid.
As for timing...
A la carte programming will be available starting within one year following the merger, and the other programming options will be available beginning within six months after the merger.
Thanks Ryan.
I hope so. I am getting a new MDX and I want to be able to listen to H100 and H101 in it without having to buy an extra receiever. By the way...will I be able to do that is the merger goes through?
My question is similar to AIR's. Will I be able to listen to H100 and H101 on my current factory XM receiver in my Honda Accord? I gave O&A a shot, but it's pretty pathetic.
No you will not. You will need a new radio. See how the merger's good for the consumer.
AIR and Jerry -
Yes, you will be able to get at least one Howard channel after the merger. It will be part of the "XM + best of Sirius package", and it will cost a few bucks extra. It will be one of the 10 or so channels that gets simulcast to both services, so a new radio will not be necessary.
So let me get this straight. The stripped down 50 channel package will cost $6.99, but they will charge $6/month more for Howard Stern. But the 100 XM channels + 11 Sirius channels will cost $14.99, or ONLY $2 more a month than the current package, and STILL include Howard Stern. That makes no sense whatsoever, and if you think that the $14.99 package will include Stern (or the NFL or MLB) you are dreaming. Jeez, why do you think XM's descriptions of the new packages so carefully describe the additional 11 channels as "some of the best of" XM or Sirius' programming, instead of just listing the programming that will be included? Wake up people, and stop believing the paid-for propaganda on SiriusBuzz and Orbitcast and read the fine print yourselves,
Why wouldn't they include Stern in the XM + best of Sirius programming? It's $4 extra for the 10 premium Sirius channels, and Stern could be a major draw to the XM OEM subs. They're just throwing away money if they don't simulcast Stern to XM.
And no, they're not just trying to force subscribers to buy new radios - they LOSE MONEY on every radio they sell in an attempt to make it back through subscription revenue. It is in their best interest to simulcast the most appealing channels from XM and Sirius so they get more subscription revenue without having to subsidize new radios.
Keep up with the conspiracy issues George. I just don't understand some of these opinions on the merger - these are not greedy companies trying to squeeze more profit out of people - they are 2 companies fighting for subscribers and losing money in a generally apathetic market. Satellite radio is a great product, but as long as people can copy friend's music to each other's iPod, free music will reign supreme. Satellite radio will still be forced to reach out to the terrestrial raido base and the iPod base if they're ever going to make a profit, and the merger does not change that factl
NEWSFLASH! BREAKING! THIS JUST IN!!
....not everyone listens to Howard Stern.
(developing)
Again,
Read the release from XM/Sirius. To take advantage of a la carte programming, a new reciever will be needed. Sorry, I'm not a liar, just informed.
pfreak:
Yeah, we get your point. The ala carte option needs a new radio. The question is, will Stern be offered as part of the "Best of Sirius" package that will available through existing XM radios? Understand the question now? Is this pure speculation, or does someone really know the answer? Ryan? Mel? Buddha?
Read my friend. Literally. Best of Sirius/XM does not include premium content. For that you will need a new receiver. You can add, say, Octane to XM or Boneyard to Sirius, not Howard, not O&A, not MLB, not NFL etc. You can keep asking if you want because you don't like the answer. Maybe you should have paid more attention while you were blindly supporting a merger.
Here pfreak
http://www.siriusmerger.com/uploads/Sirius_Channel_Lineup.pdf
Pay attention.
Here you go PFreak: http://www.xmmerger.com/uploads/XM_Channel_Lineup.pdf
You don't choose which channel to "add" for the best of package. They will simulcast 10 or so channels from Sirius to XM, and vice versa. If they want to get XM subscribers to pay $4 extra for the "best of" package, then you can be pretty damn sure they will include Stern as one of those channels. And if you listen to Stern's comments on the merger on his show, you can be damn sure that he wants to be on that "best of Sirius" package for XM subscribers.
They want more subscribers to fork over an extra $4, so they will simulcast the 10 biggest draws from each service to the other service. Howard will be one of those channels. It's common sense.
But if you want to keep lying to yourself Pfreak, go ahead and entertain us some more.