The New York Post today featured an op-ed piece by Edward Cardinal Egan, where he throws in a "good word" for the pending Sirius-XM merger.
Cardinal Egan starts off the article by discussing the unexpected benefits and influence that The Catholic Channel on Sirius has brought. From first-time visitors to Saint Patrick's Cathedral inquiring about Monsignor Ritchie (who he heard on the Sirius channel), to a Jewish woman expressing to Cardinal Egan how much common ground our faiths share (because she was listening to the channel).
Then he segways (artfully I should add) to the Sirius-XM merger, and voices his support for the corporate marriage.
"From my perspective, however, [the merger] offers a unique opportunity to extend the reach and breadth of religious programming," wrote Egan. "It is also an unmatched opportunity to strengthen this new medium and position satellite radio to compete with the ever-growing list of audio entertainment providers."
Egan also points that The Catholic Channel isn't the only religious programming on satellite radio.
"Both Sirius and XM offer a range of religious shows and channels - and they've promised to offer consumers more choice at lower prices after the merger," added Cardinal Egan. "Service offerings that let subscribers pay less would permit even more Americans to experience satellite radio."
LOL... now even GOD supports the merger?... well.?.... if its gods will.
AAAAAGH... WTF?
NO MERGER. BAD FOR EVERONE EXCEPT SIRIUS SHAREHOLDERS
Am I a devil worshiper cause I don't support the merger?
Ridiculous.
if the merger goes through, I REALLY hope for an Ala Cart option-
His channel as well as all of the other Religious channels and other such useless things as "Radio Korea" and "Oprah and Friends" will be the first I block (hoping for a rebate).
In fact, if they really DO offer a true Ala Cart option, hopefully I can only sub to the Pop/Rock/Howard channels for a significant discount.......
>>> In fact, if they really DO offer a true Ala Cart option, hopefully I can only sub to the Pop/Rock/Howard channels for a significant discount.......
This is what is wrong with ala carte: It effectively kills the diversity that satellite radio was famous for. They cannot sell you some subset of the channels for less money -- that isn't going to happen. The ARPU and CPGA simply do not allow it -- particularly, in SIRI's case. Whatever you (the average listener) ends up buying has GOT to generate MORE revenue, NOT less.
If they offer a less expensive subset, it will be crap that nobody in their right mind would want used simply as a gimmick to get the FCC onboard.
Anyone who thinks they are going to save money after a monopoly is created isn't thinking at all -- he is merely listening to the sales pitch from Mel who speaks with forked tongue.
Next thing you know they'll be adding a "Music to Molest Alter Boys To" channel.
If they offer a less expensive subset, it will be crap that nobody in their right mind would want used simply as a gimmick to get the FCC onboard.
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Exactly.. anyone who thinks they will be able to "select" specific channels is nuts. This could turn out like Cable... for 20 bucks a month you can get Basic... CBS NBC ABC and a few others... or you can get the Family Package.... A La Cart will never happen the way any consumer wants it to happen. It can happen only in a way where XM, Sirius or the Merged Xirius will make more money. Any that is one of several reasons the merger will never be approved
If the airwaves are such a good conduit for reaching the masses, why isn't the good cardinal knocking on the doors of the FCC demanding time on AM/FM?
Well, the obvious answer is he can't afford to purchase the airtime. And Sirius - in its effort to find the smallest niche audience to cater to - gives him very cheap access.
Man, what XM and Sirius won't do to find a personality who approves of the merger. (Hey guys, why don't you get Mr. Carlson from WKRP to endorse the merger.)
I get bothered by this on several levels. It seems to be a power play so he can keep his channel (which his buddy Mel helped him start) on whatever results if a merger happens.
At the same time, as a Sirius subscriber, it bugs me that there is a right wing religious talk channel and TWO Catholic channels, Cardinal Egan's channel and EWTN, which is even more conservative. That leave out in the cold a whole swath of moderate to progressive people interested in religion who are in mainline protestant churches, progressive catholics, etc. etc.
Of course, I produce a program that would fit on such a channel... but for all the channels available, it doesn't seem very fair or balanced.
NOT ONLY IS SATELLITE RADIO NOT COMPETITIVE, ITS ALSO SUPPORTED BY CHILD MOLESTERS!!!!! IF YOU SUPPORT THIS MERGER, THAN YOU SUPPORT CHILD MOLESTATION!!! SUPPORTING THIS MERGER IS LETTING THE TERRORISTS WIN!!!!
love,
David Rehr
He sure sounds a lot like Mel there. Would it have been possible for Mel to ask for his endorsement?
God will punish the NAB for its defiance.
Pete, I'm wondering if you spend much time on 159. It's hard to believe that you've listened to much of it, and think there's no offering for "progressive Catholics"! The first week it was on the air I heard a priest (!) explain that listeners should "try to go to Mass tomorrow, as it's a Holy Day of Obligation." Excuse me Father, but doesn't the term "obligation" suggest I should do more than "try" to go to Mass?!?
Anyway, I'm sure that Cardinal Egan is a good and holy man, but 159 is not very orthodox. Thank goodness for EWTN.
One thing that always worries me about this whole thing is that when the murger is discussed, who do we here from? Mell! We never, and I mean, NEVER! hear from Garry Parsons when it comes to this, and as an XM subscriber, that concerns me a bit. I'm convinced that this is not a murger of equals. In other words, if you subscribe to Sirius, you are fine, but if you're an xm subscriber, You're fucked.
•Toonhead
I agree with you on the Mel thing. I'm about 80% sure that I'm for this merger (waiting for what's going to happen to my lifetime susbscription with Sirius), but I'd like to hear from the other side to know what's coming or going on. How they're working together even (granted I know they'd say it's all equal say and everyone's been great). Maybe this Mel is 'every voice' thing is just he's the one picked because he can say the same thing over and over and over. Two talking heads could get people more confused if the answers aren't worded the same everytime. A la carte, smaller pricing plans, etc. It's old sounding, but it seems to be the sticking points for the merger. I feel for both sides on this one as when/if it goes through, things could change for the worse both ways. But I'm sticking to the optimistic side. In hopes that it's actually about the consumers and not to fill up the higher ups pockets.
Listen to everyone crying, Mel this Mel that, fucking waaaaah . No one is putting a gun to your fuckin head. If you don't like it.... CANCEL. Then you can listen to Opiate and Acne for free. Hurry BEFORE your money goes back to the MotherShip...... Sirius.
You DO know this is a BUY OUT don't you??? Sirius is BUYING out XM.
XM shareholders will receive SIRIUS Stock.. A "merger of equals" just sounds better and saves face for XM, XM subs, and XM shareholders........
Great, the child molesters are for the merger, it must be a good idea then...