XM Canada and Sirius Canada each issued called the satellite radio merger both "exciting" and "great" news in statements issued today, though in separate interviews they indicated that it was too soon to know what would happen next.
Sirius Canada's official statement:
"With the exciting news coming from SIRIUS and XM in the U.S. today, SIRIUS Canada’s 300,000 subscribers will continue to receive the best news, talk, sports, entertainment and commercial-free music programming available,” said Mark Redmond, President and CEO, SIRIUS Canada Inc. “SIRIUS Canada’s board of directors and senior leadership team is working closely with SIRIUS Satellite Radio in the U.S., CBC and Standard Radio Inc. here in Canada to ensure the Canadian operation continues to deliver the best entertainment available."
XM Canada's official statement:
“This is great news for the satellite radio industry in North America and could offer further benefits to consumers, retailers, partners and shareholders,” said John I. Bitove, Chairman of Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. “As Sirius and XM seek U.S. government approval, we will diligently review the possible alternatives available to Canadian Satellite Radio to benefit our customers and shareholders.”
In separate interviews, Sirius Canada president Mark Redmond and chairman of Canadian Satellite Radio, John Bitove, both said this of the possible merger of the two Canadian companies:
"Obviously the U.S. companies have had numerous talks as it relates to this, so we're going to have to wait and see how that plays out and what kind of talks, if any, we need to have with Canadian Satellite Radio," Redmond said.
Bitove said XM had kept CSR "apprised" of the discussions they've had with Sirius but "obviously there was a limit to how much detail they could tell us."
"There's lots of options for Canada," Bitove said. "We have to wait to get more details from the States before we can decide what is the next step."
[CBC News]
"Exciting" and "great"??? That's not how I would describe this. I love how they keep saying this will "benefit the consumers." I'm a consumer. Tell me how I will benefit. They never explain the benefits and all I can see are detriments and serious setbacks. This merger is "terrifying" and "awful."