That's what Reuters contributor Franklin Paul is suggesting might very well be the case. Even though it's just barely spring, the unfinished merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. could hurt not only their holiday sales - but the pain might also extend into 2009."No matter how quickly they get it done, if they miss this fourth quarter, they will miss one year of opportunity," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle Group. "So getting this cooked fast -- at least from the standpoint of the perception to the buyer -- would be critical."
That's absolutely the truth. From a device development standpoint, every minute lost is extremely valuable.
"Unless they do something superhuman, their biggest shot ... is late third quarter 2009 -- the back to school season. That's a long time to wait for ramp," Enderle said.
I'm not sure where Rob's doom-and-gloom estimation of 3Q09 came from... maybe he's talking about the A La Carte radios? To be clear, Sirius and XM have said for many months that it would take about a year for an A La Carte -capable device to become available. Adding to that, the "Back to School" season isn't necessarily a hot one for satellite radio.
Either way, there's definitely no doubt that
[Reuters]
Pictured: Appropriately, that's the waiting area of XM Satellite Radio. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Larry Downing
Sirius and xm's mess has nothing to do with the FCC. Sirius and xm chose to ask for a "merge' MONOPOLY and to stop following the agreements they made to obtain operation licence's. Siuirs and xm's management and business plans are to blame this wanted "merge" MONOPOLY is only adding speed to Sirius and xm's demise.
NO! To "merge" MONOPOLY
This question has been haunting me too. It's not the inter-operable radios which are only at risk, it's the sales of radios period as the consumer is totally confused. If they buy a Sirius or XM radio now, what will they be able to receive? How many stations will Sirius/XM crossfeed before the uplink to the SATS? After that, the question is what to do with the radio you purchased which cannot work with ala-carte? YES, the FCC and DOJ are killing Sirius/XM in retail sales.... I'm convinced of this. If they reject this merger, Mel has said he will sue... and I don't blame him at all. Even the CEA is begging the FCC to complete their review and issue a statement so that they can get on with business. I wonder if the "Rev" Jesse Jackson gives a rip about the employees of Sirius/XM, the installers, the 3rd party hardware vendors, etc. I don't think so. He's such a sham.
Mel can threaten a lawsuit all he wants and it will be the first time Mel will NOT win. Satrad's mess is Mel, his Sirius management and xm and it's management's fault. Those with a brain who use it to think KNOW the truth and say NO to a "merge" MONOPOLY. The satrad industry is not a charity and placing blame on anyone but themselves is nothing but fanboy ignorance.
NO! To "merge" MONOPOLY
No kidding this FCC delay is shameful! It’s almost as if they are trying to hurt sat radio, should have been done within a week or two of DOJ ruling.
I don't know about the holiday sales, but personally I am putting my purchase on hold. I've been close to getting the Sirius converter installed in my XM equipped Honda, but with the merger "any day now" I figure I may as well wait and see if the Sirius Select package includes those channels I am looking for. I waited this long, so what's another week...or month...or...?
You're all kidding yourselves. THe FCC action/inaction has nothing to do with XM's problems. The problem is XM's piss-poor management in the way they've worked for the shareholders.
Stop blaming the FCC. This merger is about financial survival which no one here seems to be willing to acknowledge.
What are talking about it has everything to do with the FCC at this point; the government is interfering with free enterprise. You would have to be stupid to think the FCC is not hurting the bottom line by delaying this decision.
Russ you must forget that the agreements xm and sirius made not too long ago (with the FCC) to operate their satrad business's included agreements that they would remain independent companies aka NO "merge" MONOPOLY was allowed. Sirius and xm have themselves chosen to try to get around that by fighting the FCC and DOJ in the court of public opinion by feeding BS upon BS stories to the press which only blind ignorant fanboy sheep would agree, without thinking, without getting any background of satrad's current operating rules, rules which the FCC and DOJ have to stop "merge" MONOPOLY'S which are bad for consumers and ultimately bad for the industry. Sirius and xm's problems are not the FCC's fault, nor should the FCC be bullied or pushed into allowing Sirius/xm for form a "merge" MONOPOLY. The "hurt" is self inflicted by Sirius and xm.
cowards,
Wheter the merger is a monopoly or not, is not the question anymore. The DOJ already decided that. I will go even further to say it doesn't matter if the FCC rules against or for the single ownership of two licenses.
The problem is that the FCC is taking too long to decide. a bad decesion is better than no decesion, no matter what view point you hold. It should have made it decesion for or against the merger long ago. It's lack of a decesion is what is hurting the companies, not the lack of the merger.
All those that own stock, I am one of them that have held stock long before an announcement of a merger, just want an answer so that business can continue. I could not care less about those who bought into the stock for the quick buck on a merger. I want Sirius to succeed either way and the FCC's delay is harming progress.
That is what this article is saying. and I agee. Make a decesion and move on!
Yes, cook this puppy.. I love dog... eat more beef...
The money right now "post" merger isnt in the "A La Carte" radios and their time frame. It's in how quickly both companies can get the "Best of Both" programming going. No new radios needed. How many from either company will upgrade their subscriptions is the question? Will it bring in "new" subs waiting for football and baseball on one radio? The A La carte radio could have a small negative effect from existing subs investing in the new radio to downgrade. ( kind of a bust for the existing sub)
Anonymous Coward it is shameful that you waste everyone's time with your horrible posts. Do you think blind Wes wants to listen to his computer reading your drivel?
Say "yes" to monopoly, and buy the orange properties and build three houses on them. The Hotels don't make as much money as you think.
"it doesn't matter if the FCC rules against or for the single ownership of two licenses."
"a bad decesion is better than no decesion, no matter what view point you hold."
" just want an answer so that business can continue."
Posted by: thinking clearly | April 17, 2008 6:27 PM
Yet again you are HARDLY "thinking clearly". It was Sirius and xm who ASKED for permission to further ignore agreements it made to obtain licence's to operate it's business's. Just because the answer has yet to be given to them does NOT make the FCC at fault. Business continues it's NOT like Sirius and xm have stopped doing business, but it's their actions and only their actions which might hurt holiday sales. The FCC is not at all at fault and cannot be blamed for any of Sirius and xm's self made management mess. Now Mel thinks the threat of a lawsuit will push the FCC, yeah bet that makes the FCC hop too. NOT!
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY, NO to Sirius and xm ignoring it's agreements of operation. If anything the FCC should FORCE Sirius and xm to honor it's prior commitments.
NorCalMurph "it is shameful that you waste everyone's time with your horrible posts. Do you think blind Wes wants to listen to his computer reading your drivel?"
NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY.
NorCalMurph "it is shameful that you waste everyone's time with your horrible posts. Do you think blind Wes wants to listen to his computer reading your drivel?"
NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY.
Ya know ...There are so many different opinions put forth. Most don't mean squat...including mine...but certainly those that carry the "coward" moniker mean even less.
How can someone think they will be taken seriously if they themselves are too ashamed to put a name to their post? THat's confidence in your opinion...LMAO!!!
Flood the FCC with calls and emails and let those bastards know that what they are doing is unacceptable!
Mortgage problems, banking problems, air industry solvency issues, and ... satellite radio??!!
I think the FCC has more important concerns than xm/sirius.
LET THEM MERGE ALREADY!!!
Coward,
You are rediculous, Iven you are saying in your statements to make an action. I don't ever recall the FCC taking this long to make any decesion. And neither should any sane human being. If the FCC said "No" a long time ago. I don't think Mel would have thretened to sue. The issue is not that complicated, either hold to the to two companies or let the merger through. I would have said that it is Sirius and XM's fault six months ago, but rehashing old information over and over again just hurts everyone.
We understand your view point "say no the the merger". I say fine say no to the merger.
JUST SAY NO! ...
Sorry. had to do it.
However, your point is mute, because the merger was already declared not a monopoly, so you lost on that one. The FCC has nothing to do with deciding whether it is a monopoly or not.. or whether the merger happens or not... Get that through your thick head. They only have to decide whether one company can hold two licenses. which, yes, would probably stop the merger. but it is not a monopoly.
And the chairman himself said that the original agreement could be changed.
I don't know what you fear about the merger, but what ever it is please get some therapy.
ashamed to put a name to their post? NOT at al but it serves no purpose does a name or handle make one elite? IN YOUR DREAMS Merci
NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY.
As far as retail goes , most of the Best Buys and Circuit City's I've been into lately , the satellite radio section is about non - existent .
I went to a Radio Shack today looking for the Zenith HD TV Convertor they said they will have them but no ida when. I asked how Sirius sales were doing and he said good but many people do not want to buy because of the merger.
This HD TV $40 Coupon is just one more Gov screw up. You have to wait a long time to get them and have 90 days to use them from the day they put them in the slowest mail.
I want the Zenith because i understand it works better than others.
So will i be able to find what i want before the Coupon expires?
TO ALL POSTERS:
As a blog community, just ignore anything that Anonymous Coward has to say if you find it repetitious, uninformative, annoying, short-sighted, incorrect, etc. A.C. is prone to use over and over and over again the terms "merge" in quotes and MONOPOLY in all caps, and erroneously the tagline: NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY, (which the DOJ has already ruled upon), so A.C. is both uninformed and ignorant. Just ignore him while he has nothing insightful to offer and bashes Sirius-XM with nothing substantive to say. A.C. is not yet aware that he sits in the dumbass section.
The media consensus is that the merge will happen. Isn't it logical to assume that all this time being spent is the FCC cooperating with the companies to find a way to merge legally?
Know what would be really cool? Satellite radio headphones with voice command tuning.
thinking UNclearly
Maybe if you keep posting your BS your dreams will come true. HOWEVER
Thinking and knowledge are better than ignorant fanboy dreams.... SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, read and learn something.
"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. (The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States) The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions."
The FCC is directly responsible to Congress so they DO very much have the POWER to both watch over the consumers best interests and to direct Sirius and xm how they will operate. Reguardless if the DOJ makes a mistake in judgement.
The FCC controls the licensing which Sirius and xm need to operate, Sirius and xm have not followed their agreements to those licenses. You don't have to like it but the FCC has control over some aspects of the way Sirius, xm any other company, or individual use the public's radio spectrum. The FCC provides the law, the over site, the guidance, which ALSO includes taking steps to increase competition to broadcasters.
"Chairman Kevin Martin (R-NC), Commissioner Michael Copps (D-WI), Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein (D-SD), Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate (R-TN), Commissioner Robert M. McDowell (R-VA).[citation needed] Three of them are Republicans and two are Democrats. All are appointed by the President."
"Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told reporters after an FCC meeting that the Commission would not approve a merger between satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM Radio... When the FCC initially licensed the two satellite radio companies in 1997, there was language in the licensing barring one from acquiring control of the other"
"competition is a good thing for consumers, and monopolies are only good for companies"
Both Sirius and xm were told to make radio's which interoperate, that was also ignored and now is being used as an excuse.
NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY.
TO ALL POSTERS,
Your post not only shows how ignorant YOU are but also shows how desperate YOU are to try to keep the truth from others. If you think you have the right to post what you feel so do others. You don't have to like it, you dont have to read it, but doing neither just makes you more uniformed and ignorant too the truth. Stay on topic, say what you wan to say, but you have no control or voice over what others chose to post. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, try thinking.
NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY.
To all the Anonymous Coward NAB idiots:
Follow the money, it is a happy trail for some and explains your presence:
April 17, 2008, 4:18PM
Market spotlight: Radio woes worsen as economy slows
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5710077.html
D.O.J. and FCC say... "YES to MERGER" NO MORE "monopoly" BULLSHIT. al la carte Satellite radio for everybody! Sorry, you NAB loving "anonymous" coward.
Rich
No "Anonymous Coward NAB" here but thanks to your post we see the "idiots" have arrived.
This article you posted not only calls it a "MONOPOLY" it also points out terrestrial advertising revenue is in a decline, yet the wanted "satellite radio monopoly" is crying poor so it seems they are not getting a advertising bump. Did you read the article? Not sure it has any point other than economy down = advertising revenue down. WOW call the "NAB"
NO to Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY.
Wilber Sanders
Keep dreaming... Do you think al la carte satrad is going to be cheaper? you too must be posting words yet have not read the posted plans? You do know how to read and understand what your reading?
The FCC did NOT say: "yes to merge" MONOPOLY
BUT the FCC DID say: "Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told reporters after an FCC meeting that the Commission would not approve a merger between satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM Radio... When the FCC initially licensed the two satellite radio companies in 1997, there was language in the licensing barring one from acquiring control of the other"
Ryan, again lets drop the Anonymous Cowards and as I suggested before, IP addresses be visible with working e-mails to post here. Just say the word..... These posters need to be exposed for who they REALLY are.. I believe these are radio and/or NAB proponents posting here. They are stalling the FCC and a decision is hurting the industry. There are many people that read this site and may be confused by blatant propaganda by the NAB and their advocates.
PLEASE.... lets drop the Anonymous Cowards and as I suggested before, IP addresses be visible with working e-mails to post here. Just say the word..... These posters need to be exposed for who they REALLY are.. I believe these are radio and/or NAB proponents posting here. They are stalling the FCC and a NO-decision is hurting the industry. There are many people that read this site and may be confused by blatant propaganda by the NAB and their advocates.
200 million cars have free AM/FM radios in them. Satellite radio needs to compete with the entire digital landscape - people aren't forced to buy satellite radio, it's not a necessity. I don't think Sirus/XM would raise prices since HD and terestrial radio will be free also. In order to survive, satellite radio will have to build a paying consumer base, offer more choices in programming, better technology and more consumer services than competitors.
The whole monopoly idea goes down in a ball of flames when you consider that free radio offers talk, sports, weather, etc... nothing is monopolized in satellite radio - just another spectrum to the FCC. And its the spectrum that the FCC is concerned about.
Nobody needs to have a satellite radio, anybody can download whatever they want with a standard computer.
In such tough economic times why stop an growing industry? Some mergers are good.
YES! to Sirius/xm "merge"
Joe Workman, Mrwirez
"I believe these are radio and/or NAB proponents posting here."
Thats your schizophrenia again. Orbitcast is Ryan's and is no witch hunt. NAB wouldn't waste time posting the truth to a bunch a ignorant satrad fanboys such as yourselves. What is being posted here by SMART, THINKING consumers is not stalling the FCC, nor is the truth being posted "blatant propaganda" Post what you feel, others have the same right to post without being labeled, without blaming the FCC or NAB, without exposing the posters names and email address's on a public forum.
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY
Free market capitalism is still the best path to prosperity in this country. With the U.S. seemingly at a political turning point, the next few years are very important. At a similar juncture in 1929, and again in 1965, the U.S. moved toward bigger government. After World War II, and again in the early 1980s, Washington chose less intrusive government. The results speak for themselves. Good times or scary times: It's our choice.
Please do not refer to the NAB guy as the "Anonymous Coward". It is most insulting to the rest of us anonymous cowards. Don't throw us in with his like. I therefore coin the new moniker: satsad nab boy. Thankyou for your attention.
(nab boy) Anonymous Coward-
BIG YAWN.... what was that you said? YAWN.... by the way, who said you could come out of the dumbass section? your dumbspeak doesn't translate in the rest of the forum. GET BACK IN YOUR ROOM!
To the blog community:
For all you legitimate Anonymous Cowards, i.e. the non-NAB Cowards, please try not to post as Anonymous Coward or you may be mistaken for the likes of the wrong Anonymous Coward which is the NAB model. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
As typical the ignorant have fouled up this thread. Why can't even the ignorant get that the majority satrad subscribers out there who like what we've currently got and don't want a merge, and that does not make someone a slave to the NAB, nor are they posting or preaching for the NAB. Like the AC said above if you don't have to like what others post, but I will add even though you might not like it labelling it as NAB and ignoring what might be true is your own loss. Why wish away want wee already have? There is nothing to say what is on the table to be offered is better.
somebody needs a hug, or a fuckin punch to the nuts.
anyways, Satrad does depend on retail. its all about OEM INSTALLS, thats the line of crap i've been fed for months.
It's why my wife is a Sirius "subsrcriber" because she bought a Nissan a year ago and got 3 months free service. The fucker (satrad radio, not my wife) still works.
thj
Once again Coward feels the need to insult in order to try get his point across. And is so hell bent on stopping what he feels is a Monopoly because "there was language in the licensing barring one from acquiring control of the other".
He misses the point.
1) The FCC cannot stop the two companies from merging. and they cannot claim that the two merging is a monopoly. They only have control over the radio spectrium. The government already decided that it is not a monopoly (ie. DOJ which is headed by the Attorney General). The two companies can give up one license, move all the talent and technologies to one company and merge. The only thing the FCC can do is limit the license to the company.
2) He keeps reffering the the merger as my dream, clearly showing his ignorance in reading my comments. and reading only what he wants in order to further his cause. I beleve that I clearly stated that I do not care whether the merger goes through or not. My investment was made into Sirius long before there was a merger plan. I beleved then in Sirius being the superior radio company and I beleve them to be the superior, with or without XM. And that all I want is the FCC to make a decision either way so the two companies can move forward.
Going back to the main point of the article (barring any opinion for or against the merger), The FCC, by taking too long to make a decesion, has hurt the sat rad business and the advances in technologies that could benefit the consumer.
Ron and Fez noon to three xm 202
Perhaps the real reason the FCC is procrastinating on the merger is because they have seen the ominous future of UNREGULATED SATRAD.
If terrestrial radio diminished significantly, its not just the terrestrial radio investors that would lose out ... The FCC could lose their choke-hold grip as well!!
Unregulated radio, means the FCC can't sit there like they have in the past and assess fines, give out licenses, assign spectrums ...
Once this goes through ... Just what exactly will we need the FCC for ? To watch TV ?
Maybe this whole situation is about them figuring out what they will do to justify their own existence afterwards ...
Ya think ??
i just think its sad that the NAB had to hire a numbskull to invade a sat-rad site!....why cant ignorant FM stations/ corp.( like clearchannel NAB etc.) realize that "to be the man you got to beat the man"! if TERRESTRIAL RADIO played the songs SAT-RADIO does AND USED HD-RADIO IN THE SAME VEIN AS SAT RADIO AND MULTICASTED STATIONS WITH PLAYLISTS SIMILAR TO SAT-RAD AND LESS REPEATS TERRESTRIAL RADIO WOULDNT BE STRUGGLING LIKE THEY ARE AGAINST OTHER COMPETITION! I JOINED SIRIUS CAUSE I KNOW FM WILL NEVER GET IT RIGHT AND I HAVE BEEN CORRECT EVER SINCE!
its the BLIND AND IGNORANT program directors at FM radio that dont see why they are all struggling to get better ratings!
====but annonymous coward i cant wait to see what bone head plan you have up your sleeve to get our attention! YOUR IGNORANT LIES HAVE NO EFFECT IN HERE!
NAB GUY WRITES:
===================================================================
Thats your schizophrenia again. Orbitcast is Ryan's and is no witch hunt. NAB wouldn't waste time posting the truth to a bunch a ignorant satrad fanboys such as yourselves. What is being posted here by SMART, THINKING consumers is not stalling the FCC, nor is the truth being posted "blatant propaganda" Post what you feel, others have the same right to post without being labeled, without blaming the FCC or NAB, without exposing the posters names and email address's on a public forum.
================================================================
IF YOU CLAIM THAT THE NAB DOESNT WAST TIME ON SITES LIKE ORBITCAST...THEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHEN THE NAB USED POP UPS ON INTERNET USERS STATING TO "SAY NO"TO THE MERGER!, AND GENERATED NAMES OF PEOPLE AND FAKE EMAILS OPPOSING THE MERGER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON?
AND IM NOT SURPRISED A LOSER LIKE YOU WOULD GO SO LOW AS DOING THIS NON SENSE!
GOOD JOB NAB BOY! LIE TO THE PUBLIC LIKE YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT DOES!
ITS IGNORANT, BLIND & INCOMPETENT, NAB BOYS LIKE YOU WHO WASTE PEOPLES TIME!
"Perhaps the real reason the FCC is procrastinating on the merger is because they have seen the ominous future of UNREGULATED SATRAD. "
I don't think that is it. The FCC has stated that they don't see their role as dealing with what the industry will be like in the future; only with the current state of affairs. Of course, that was stated in the context of them explaining why satellite radio didn't have an argument with the intense competition that is to come over the airwaves.
Satellite radio is going to be huge. Maybe not today or in the near future; but, you can't beat mobile, broadband, live, streaming content from a satellite.
Ignorant Lou returns, guess his mom gave him back the computer after his week long punishment for his last round of ignorant posting.
Where is the proof of your fantasy of the big bad NAB's actions?
satrad is going, going GONE and poor ignorant Lou is getting more and more desperate knowing he's going to have to eat his obsolete $49 dollar satrad receiver, but at least he can listen to his hero's o&a on FM and on his HD Radio. (untill they are removed completely from radio for the talentless mess they are)
Thanks again for proving yet again your complete ignorance and desperate blind fanboy ways.
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY
NO! to ignorant Lou's ignorant dreams of the NAB boogiemen.
i laugh at how you continuously post my name up there like im some kind of anti-Christ for approving the merger! do you want the world to know who i am???? good
so when i become a house hold name because of you advertising my name so much,
and i run for the presidential election of 2012 and clean house!
ill make sure your kindergarten teacher holds you back a lifetime because your anti-merger report fails miserably!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i give you an F!!!
say no! to the war in Iraq
say no! to rising oil prices!
say no! to upgrading HD radio
and say NO! to frauds like A.C. who lie miserably like his employers at the NAB!
Don't flatter yourself ignorant Lou.
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY
NO! to ignorant Lou's ignorant dreams of the NAB boogiemen.
Don't flatter yourself ignorant Lou.
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY
NO! to ignorant Lou's ignorant dreams of the NAB boogiemen.
Don't flatter yourself IGNORANT FM RADIO BOY!
YES! to "merge"
NO! to FM RADIO BOY AND HIS ABSOLUTE INCOMPETENCE
I CANT WAIT FOR THE MERGER GOES THROUGH SO THAT CLOWN WILL FEEL LIKE A DUMBASS! ALL THE WASTED TIME IN HERE AND EVERYONE THINKS YOUR A CHUMP!
HONESTLYYOU NEED ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES...YOU SEEM SO MAD!...CALM DOWN!
BLOW TREES! DRINK BEER!..THERES MORE TO THIS WORLD THEN A MERGER~!
ITS OK IF YOUR "THE BUD BUNDY OF THE NAB " LIFE CAN BE ROUGH WHEN YOU GET REJECTED SO MANY TIMES!
ALL THE COMMENTS YOU POSTED IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS LED ME 2 BELIEVE YOU REALLY HAVE NO LIFE!!!!
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY
NO! to ignorant Lou's ignorant dreams of the NAB boogiemen.
http://japan.xmradio.com/
LOL
While traditional terrestrial radio broadcasters are trying to "go digital", most major US automobile manufacturers are promoting digital satellite radio. Satellite radio is distinguished by its freedom from FCC censorship in the United States, its relative lack of advertising, and its ability to allow people on the road to listen to the same stations at any location in the country.
The perceived wisdom of the radio industry is that the terrestrial medium has two great strengths: it is free and it is local.[citation needed] Satellite radio is neither of these things; however, in recent years, it has grown to make a name for itself by providing uncensored content
MERGER UPDATE
On March 24, XM announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had approved the proposed merger with SIRIUS. XM is pleased that after a thorough review, the DOJ agrees that the entertainment marketplace will remain highly competitive and robust after our merger.
With the DOJ's decision behind us, our next and final regulatory step will be a decision from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Soon after FCC approval is obtained, XM and Sirius would complete the merger.
The combination of our companies will lead to more choices and better pricing for our subscribers, and result in a stronger competitor in the rapidly evolving audio entertainment market.
As we have said, no XM radio will become obsolete as a result of the merger. We have millions of radios in use, including many that are factory-installed in automobiles. After the merger, our subscribers will not need another radio to continue to receive programming like they now enjoy. The XM platform will continue to offer a full complement of programming to our millions of subscribers.
We'll communicate directly to our subscribers once the FCC has rendered its decision.
http://investor.sirius.com/downloads/InvestorPresentation022007.pdf