CNN.com is conducting a survey soliciting your thoughts on satellite radio and the merger.
They specifically want to know whether you're satisfied with the choices in regular terrestrial radio, and - if you listen to satellite radio - what you think is good/bad about it. Of course, CNN also wants to know your opinion on the merger of Sirius and XM.
"And who do you agree with -- the satellite companies or the traditional radio companies?"(Now that's a dangerous question!)
To participate, all you need to do is follow this link, and fill out the form. If you want to upload a photo and/or video (I'm submitting this one), you can do that as well.
I think that the biggest fans and most knowledgeable listeners of "radio" are each and everyone of you - so it's really important to have our voices be heard. If you have a few minutes, please take the time and let CNN know what you think (regardless of what side of the merger fence you're on).
We've collectively made a difference before, and we can do it again.
Why is that a dangerous question?, haha
I sent my 'Pro Merger' comment. Basic run down of what I said; Terrestrial radio is too full of commercials and censorship. They've lost me as listener all together. I'm a Sirius subscriber and do love it. I do see the benefits from the merger as I can get the same things I have now plus some XM stuff without having to buy a new reciever. It has many valued pricing deals with the 'a la carte' offerings. I am in full support of this merger...I forget the rest of what I put and how I worded it.
And I mentioned about how can it be a monopoly if the NAB acknowlodges in statements that it's competition is with iPod, CDs, SATELLITE RADIO, etc?
and isnt HD radio also in competition(you have to buy the receiver)
I also left my pro-merger comment. In case it doesn't make it to CNN.com, I've left it here as well since I know a lot of influentials visit this site. Here it is:
I think the trouble this merger is having is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country. Special interests groups and dirty money now make the decisions that should be in the hands of the American people. Other mergers that have had much more drastic effects to consumers (i.e. the Exxon-Mobil merger, AT&T resurgence, etc) have gone through quickly and painlessly. Why? Because these companies pay off the officials that we voted into office. These past mergers have increased costs and narrowed choices for the American public, and solely benefited the bottom line of huge corporations and their investors. The XM-Sirius merger is a perfect example. Traditional radio, and the NAB, are scared of this merger. And they should be. Satellite radio is a fresh alternative to a dying medium. The FCC and commercial spots have made traditional radio practically unbearable to listen to, especially when you've experienced satellite radio. I wish the NAB would just come out and admit this instead of hiding behind the lie that they're worried about consumer choices. This is the same group that allowed corporations like Clear Channel to buy a majority of terrestrial radio stations and they're going to use the word "monopoly" with the XM-Sirius merger?
I see no downside to the proposed merger. As a Sirius subscriber I'm in favor of it. I want all the sports. I want XM listeners to be able to hear Howard Stern. I want to know when I buy my next new car that I won't have to worry about which company has a contract with which automaker.
Finally, let's look at the worst possible outcome. They merge and prices go through the roof. Highly unlikely of course, since a majority of company revenue comes from monthly subscription prices, not advertising, but lets pretend. You know what I'd do? CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION. Problem solved. I still have my iPod, my AM/FM, and soon streaming internet radio through made possible through proposed mass WI-FI (Google and others are working on it as I type this).
It'll be okay because I have choices. This is something the NAB doesn't want to acknowledge. When our government let gas companies merge, I was affected. Since my car doesn't take anything besides gas, I'm forced to deal with the sky-rocketing prices that the merger allowed to happen. In the 80's, when AT&T were making record profits off of overpriced phone service, there was no other way to talk to my family in other states so once again as a consumer I lost.
That's what makes this different. Satellite radio isn't a commodity in our society, it's an entertainment option. One of many in a growing list that always is evolving in our fast paced technological society. It's time for America to stop being tricked by big business and interest groups, and realize that the bottom line to our government isn't the safety of consumers but rather the money corporate America puts in their pockets.
I also submitted... never doubt the Orbitcast-effect!
Done...Hope they write up a good piece.
Done!
Yes, I wrote them and said the mine caved in, the walls came a tumblin' down.. they're all dead.. all of them.. and then I plugged in the microwave oven and opened the door and stuck my head in there and started to breathe deep and heavy and hard and started to get a buzz from the fumes... man that microwave gas is soo... WOW!!!
"....I want XM listeners to be able to hear Howard Stern....."
Yeah.
Except that most XM listeners wouldn't give a shit for that old hack.
I voted against the merger. I've been against it from the beginning and still am. (regardless of the endless lovefest and biased opinion that this site has for it). Why should I want XM and Sirius to merge? Right now I subscribe to both and LOVE having 2 or more choices of every format. If they merge, this will no longer be the case. They would most certainly combine many of the music formats (that means fewer choices period, anyway you look at it.) I'm sorry but the whole financial side of it and whether they will survive seperately in the future is of no interest to me. I simply am voting based on what I, MYSELF, like, and that is the most choices that I can have. Besides if they do remain seperate and one company fails, then someone else will almost certainly come in and buy the bandwidth and start another competing company (even if it is a simulcast of FM's from Clear Channel, CBS, or Citadel). I still wouldn't care as long as I had more choices. That's my take and reasoning on it, and I love Orbitcast for all the info it provides, but I am 100 percent against it's stance on this merger issue.
I really don't want the merger to go through but, I have started to realize that whatever or whichever way this load of toads goes I'll still have "bird" delivered radio...