If this deal goes through (and it looks all but certain), Mel will go down -- for better or worse -- as the best business negotiators and diplomats of our time.

I've always said it -- Mel is the Man!

There's a great youth picture of him I found from CNN that I put on myspace.com/radiomerger -- click on pics.

If you read any business articles from the 80's and 90's, you'll learn a bit about his character. He is relentless and ethical. He strives for perfection. He's a leader. More importantly, he can't be bought.

Those same articles also mention former colleagues of him stating something like...

'If anyone can accomplish the goal, it's Mel.'

Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Mel Karmazin...these are the business leaders MBA students should study.

After 400 days of reading all short interest loser BS comments, finally you can all eat your shorts!
Don't bet against Mel! You bunch of F-kin losers. Time to crawl back under your short rocks.

Thank you Orbicast for always providing the information I needed to stay positive.

Long time SIRI XMSR investor.

I don't like the Mel, but hand it to him; he pulled off this set of shenanigans.

I'll concur, I never doubted him, but I hate him and fear what he'll do to the XM I enjoy.

It's a shame. Mel is gonna destroy satellite just like he killed FM radio....with endless commercials and shallow playlists. Sure, he's a great negotiator and salesman and he knows how to make money...but at the expense of the listener.

I think stopping the clock was premature... I'm still waiting on the FCC...

Great....congrats to Mel....I just want NHL games back on my Sirius reciever again....everything else on XM sucks

Not going to happen Jack - you'll need a new radio and will probably have to wait aother year+ for the content to become available on both sides.

To be honest with you, I DON"T CARE...that is, about the stock-price and DOUBT now; Why? Mel Karmazin has "done-the-impossible"! What's more nay-saying?!? They've been nay-saying since the Kenwood Here-2-Anywhere first hit the shelves in 2003, and here we are 5-years later, almost caught-up with XMSR in total subs, AND we just "bought-the-compitition"!

Short-traders and skeptics will yell tirades all the way into the future and beyond! The David Rher rhetoric will live by Sirius's side all the way to profitabillity and beyond!

I'm use to this now...and I couldn't be prouder of Justice's justice yesterday! Hats off to you Mr. Karmazin for doing the impossible! If you can pull-this-off, then you can turn-a-pretty-dime on this new entity!

Of course, first things first,...and don't under-estimate the NAB's relentless pursuit to influence the democratic members on the FCC's board! They won't stop at anything...but aside from this challenge, the impossible has already been pulled-off in my book!

Still "astonished" (the very words from the NAB yesterday!) by the DOJ un-conditional ruling yesteray! Wow!

XM as we know it is over, say hello to lousy programming and higher prices, don't kid you're self somewhere rates will go up, as they still have huge debt and the money will have to come from somewhere. The consumer dosen't win here. Time to get an I pod.

A big fat MEH

Fuck you Mel

While I have never paid much attention to Mel and his successes, his negotiating skills were evident to me the day the merger announced.

He ran over XM's management getting those idiots to take 4.6:1, effectively getting consideration of Sirius as XM's "equal" when XM was far and away the stronger business.

Mel planned this merger exquisitely in every detail. First, realizing that the key was to convince XM's few major shareholders, then getting Siriots whipped up into a frenzy by getting Cramer to scream about it [literally]. The timing was perfect, as he knew XM management would be scared shitless about what was going on at retail. He did this when Sirius was at its strongest and XM was at its weakest. The man is clearly a first-rate negotiator who knows how to get what he wants (in this case, a monopoly).

There should be no detractors concerning his negotiating ability.

I admire bush more than mel

"when XM was far and away the stronger business." WRONG but nice try xmelot. Sirius under Mel's leadership caught up and was showing xm the curb for years now. Recent history proves TALENT and content will always beat the crap that xm was putting out over it's sat's, Mel understood that. This merger is bad for consumers and for sat. radio, the only good thing is all that crap xm content and talentless morons led by o&a will be pushed out of yet another media. o&a failures on am/fm AND thanks to Mel failures on sat radio too.

poor xmelots

"But it's not over yet. Even after FCC approval, there's still realities that the merged company will need to face. Like turning a profit in a slowing economy."

The hard part hasn't even started yet.

When they start trying to coerce the operations of these two businesses into a common mold, the real challenge starts. These are not banks or hospitals, where everyone does everything in the same way (often using the same systems and software).

Combining the operations of these two companies is going to difficult and expensive, and the end result is likely to be inferior to either standing alone.

Mel Karmazin also announced the role of Opie & Anthony
1)Fetch arties bagels
2)Mop floors
3)Clean Trash
4)Brush Baba Booeys teeth
5)Door Greet howard every morning "Good morning Mr Stern,is there anything we can get fo you today"

ATTACK the DOJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mel Karmazin also announced the role of Opie & Anthony
1)Fetch arties bagels
2)Mop floors
3)Clean Trash
4)Brush Baba Booeys teeth
5)Door Greet howard every morning "Good morning Mr Stern,is there anything we can get fo you today"

1)he's fat enough
2)3) too immature for a reply
4)I miss the 90's
5)maybe In howard's dreamworld Just like his re-sign pay.

Mel is an artist that I take my hat off to.

He just didn't do this deal, he whooped XM's ass before doing it.

Come from behind, kick XM down the street, and then pull off a merger that 90% said was impossible....PS.. Screw you Panero. Loser.

IF I were gay, I'd have a Mel woody.

You're safe Mel.

Now....if only my stock (62,000 shares) were worth more than a hamburger.

LAPTOP GAMER... Was your post intentionally ironic? Your post starts with complaints about lousy programming and higher rates. Then, you conclude with the exact reason that they won't raise rates and will have to maintain quality programming... "Time to get an iPod".

I'm not sure if you meant to be funny, but I found humor in it.

I used to be a long time listner of howard but lets be real his show is awful. Its the same crap everyday. Stripper comes in he says nice body blah blah blah. For those howard fans you need to stop being so close minded, trust me i listened to howards crap for years and finally was introduced to O and A. Why do you think they were suspended for 2 years with pay. Howard was affraid O and A might beat his ratings, now we can see how good howard is with O and A broadcasting with the same company.

and #2 Mel sucks at life but he is damn good for making this happen

it's amazing that one man can ruin one industry twice in one lifetime.

Quote: it's amazing that one man can ruin one industry twice in one lifetime.

HEEEEERRRRREEEEE COOOOOOMEEEEEEEESSSSSS POST OF THE DAYYYYYY POST OF THE DAYYYYYYY