According to the Wall Street Journal, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has voted against the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.
The Democratic commissioner voted against the deal Monday night, an FCC official told the Journal.
While Copps's decision isn't a surprise, the decision now increases pressure on FCC commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.
Additionally, WSJ reports that "very little haggling has been going on" over Adelstein's offer, one FCC official said.
[Wall Street Journal]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
I bet the NAB paid his ass off not to vote for it , So that means Adelstein and Tate are probably next to get paid not to vote for it. Once again it shows the NAB are a bunch of assholes screwing the public over.
What else is new ? He's a 'CROOK in the NAB's pocket.'
not really news
why would he be a "Crook" ?
Why would he be in the NAB's pocket?
Remember the FCC specifically stated the two licence holders were to remain seperate. This is the biggest hurdle to cross for any "Merger".
Allowing the Merger will open the doors to more consolidation. Copps was and will allways be dead set against this.
This is a "Can of Worms" for the FCC that they would rather not open.
Here, I'll get it out of the way now:
"IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF HOWARD BECAUSE HE'S SO IMPORTANT. 0.0 HAVE TO GO!!!"
"FUCK STERN! O&A"
"ronandfeztwelvetothree"
"THE NAB IS OUR FRIENDS! SAY NO TO MEL ALAN KARMAZIN'S "MERGE" MONOPOLY!"
Why can't they be forced to all vote at the same time? Who gets to decide when to complete something whenever they feel like it... If your required to use tax payer money in a job a decision must be made before the date listed or the deal is automatically approved... Done and done,,,,,
Why can't they be forced to all vote at the same time? Who gets to decide when to complete something whenever they feel like it... If your required to use tax payer money in a job a decision must be made before the date listed or the deal is automatically approved... Done and done.....
What a dick,this is a good merger,can't that old man see that..
Why can't they be forced to all vote at the same time? Who gets to decide when to complete something whenever they feel like it... If your required to use tax payer money a decision must be made before the date agreed upon or the deal is automatically approved... Done and done.....
Smart man. He understands that Sirius needs this merger to bail themselves out of the mess they've got themselves into by haphazzardly throwing money down a bottomless pit for the last few years and that it's not XM's responsibility to save them. I'm an XM subscriber and I applaud his decision and feel no way responsible for Sirius' poor business model and having to bail them out.
Go screw, Melvin.
so this means the 10 day clock has started right? or does it imply that it started already and there is another vote out there that hsa not been announced (hopefully a yes vote)
That Grumpy old man was always expected to vote NO, so this is not any surprise at all. I guess approving the merger was not on his Bucket List.
Now its negotiate with Adelstein and Tate (who should approve with less strenuous concession requirements)
This should be good news because this means the 10 day clock starts and his no was already expected.
Jeff, the other democrat requested deals verbatim from the NAB requests
I think your right about 10 day clock for Tate since Adelston's was not really a vote, just a Yes IF or else NO.
Tate and Adelston must give their answers in 10 days from now so let the final negotiations really begin.
By the way, they just about have Mel by his nuts and I really hope Tate doesn't decide to put on her strapon and bend Melly boy over !
The most disturbing fact is that Commissioner Tate has not said one word one way ot the other. The other four have either voted or made their position clearly known. This pretentious due dilligence on the part of Commissioner Tate has gone way beyond reasonable credibility to being a cruel joke. After all, it's been close to 500 days. She needs to simply do her job that she is being paid for whether the vote is Yes or No. It's that simple.
Why can't they be forced to all vote at the same time? Who gets to decide when to complete something whenever they feel like it... If these 5 people are working on tax payer money, then they should be forced to decide in a certain amount of days. If not the deal is automatically cancelled and the commission forced to return the money spent back to the tax payer from their own salary.....Done and done.....
Why can't they be forced to all vote at the same time? Who gets to decide when to complete something whenever they feel like it... If these 5 people are working on tax payer money, then they should be forced to decide in a certain amount of days. If not the deal is automatically cancelled and the commission forced to return the money spent back to the tax payer from their own salary.....Done and done.....
Why can't they be forced to all vote at the same time? Who gets to decide when to complete something whenever they feel like it... If these 5 people are working on tax payer money, then they should be forced to decide in a certain amount of days. If not the deal is automatically cancelled and the commission forced to return the money spent back to the tax payer from their own salary.....Done and done.....
update the scorecard
I knew Abe Vigoda was going to "Copp" out. Great having a Commissioner who's mind was made up in the first 10 seconds. He's not fit to be a FCC Commissioner; too old, too set in his ways, and too unyielding in his thinking. The fiasco continues!
the 10 day thing wont apply. these people do what they want. tate has known she is going to be the swing vote of this thing for a month now and is still sitting on all of it. i think she is getting off to all of the attention she is getting to be honest. the katherine harris of this merger is deborah tate. shame on her.
I would bet Tate is a Yes, but wanted to see everyone else's cards first, to see how heavy the concesions she wants to impose to get a Yes or maybe she will just go with Martin's suggestion for the most part.
I'd love to hear her vote Yes for 12% spectrum & 4 years price freeze - If I were Mel I'd hump her leg like a dog in heat and accept.
The most disturbing fact is that Commissioner Tate has not said one word one way ot the other.
By not voting YES, she has voted NO. So Copps is a NO, Adlestien, and Tate want the 25% concessions AND want the enforcement issue resolved BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN VOTE.
So it's 3 NAY's and a couple of token YEA's.
If Mel and Co refuse the concessions. Then it's a NO VOTE.
Even if they agreed to all the concessions. Adlestien wants the Enforcement Action completed before he will vote for the merger.
So first it will be the vote on the NPRM, 'rules change' issue. Which is actually what they are voting on at this juncture. Then Adlestien wants the Enforcement Issues delt with, and then after that. Comes the YEA vote. You looking at another two to four months folks.
I would take the viewpoint that since XM struck out on their own with visibility yesterday. That XM maybe looking at a life without the merger, and said... Let's move on.
And so it goes,
PCSTEL
^ god i hope thats not the case
He's old school.. the mindset that sees this as a "merger to monopoly" which technically it is.. no matter what the pro-merger(ites) say.. but I think it will pass shortly and so whatever my stand is I am starting to think in terms of the day after the merger rather then hoping it won't happen.. live and let live people... let's get on with it then shall we??
jesus christ just end this allready
This old geezer looks like a mummy.
"Additionally, WSJ reports that "very little haggling has been going on" over Adelstein's offer, one FCC official said."
Well, this could be great news, if they aren't haggling over SHITY HD Radio! If the merger gets rejected, or no more haggling, then NO SHITTY HD RADIO!
There's no haggling with Adelstein because if they can't get Tate to offer better, they'll take Adelstein's offer. This isn't difficult math -- Copps has been totally IRRELEVANT since Day 1.
We're down to the wire folks and I don't believe it can go past Aug 2nd unless they are negotiating final detals at midnight on Saturday.
The 10 day rule should have ended in late june or the first week of July. The way the fcc is acting, rules only apply when they seem fit.
That is a vote against XM. The new subs XM got come at to high a price with XM giving half the money to GM and about 2 radios to get one sub.
No merger and Sirius wins anyway.
If the merger gets into the 500 day plus range then the possibility of them going both bust could occur but who knows. The NAB is sure as hell happy stalling this and hoping that both go bust so that there main competition to testicular radio is gone.
NAB= National Association of Bastards.
10 day rule starts after 1st 2 vote other than Chairman Martin, so leads us to Aug 2nd as the end of 10 days.
The question is, why would this rule be enforced when no others are and this is the ironic part about Sirius/XM being criticized for not following rules.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
This old fart is a waste of the taxpayers money- I hope the NAB got there $'s worth- He is such a dickhead.
NAB= National Association of Bullshit.
"This old geezer looks like a mummy." I LMFAO, AC! SHITTY HD Radio....You ain't kidding!
I don't know why the breathless anticipation of a vote that isn't going to matter...the whole thing is going to be fought in court no matter what the decision is. So make a fresh pot of coffee and relax -- it may be a LONG time before there is a final decision that stands.
I wonder how many 'perks' and how much cash these creeps make from the people who are against the merger?
Politicians making money off this and the bullshit coming from terrestrial radio is WHACK!
Let's get this merger completed I want my Siri/XM already!
at least someone has a brain in the fcc!
No to MERGER MONOPOLY!
Lets change Cobbs color from red to black,now that he's voted.Tate ,take notice and vote
Who dug up this corpse? Even though he looks like he just crawled out of a casket, I have to admit; he's showing more life than Tate. Is she in a fucking coma or something?
Yea, anyone who thinks the merger is a bad idea MUST work for the NAB *eyeroll*
Original satrad rules were no merger, so what do the satrad companies do ?? Try to merge .......... genius !!! *not*
How some people are fooled they never look at what it costs and how much XM pays for each sub. It is not the number of subs that tells the story as to the better company.
(Smart man. He understands that Sirius needs this merger to bail themselves out of the mess they've got themselves into by haphazzardly throwing money down a bottomless pit for the last few years and that it's not XM's responsibility to save them.)
Just look at what a bad deal XM made with GM That is why Sirius is buying XM.
Ill, what is sticking off his bottom lip (look close)
And I just realized he looks like one of those slow moving Sloths that are up in the trees.
"Who dug up this corpse? Even though he looks like he just crawled out of a casket, I have to admit; he's showing more life than Tate. Is she in a fucking coma or something?"
LMFAO!
I wonder, how long since he's been laid, if ever.
I believe that the 10 day rule starts now. However I believe it is ten days from the following Monday after receiving 3 votes. Which would actually put a decision on August 6th at the latest. Of course a decision could come at anytime.
Here's what these dingbats should be worrying about, Feb 2009 when millions of peeps lose their tv signals. These boneheads think they have it covered? Ha, think again!
Now approve the damn merger so you can go try to clean up the other mess you've made.
TATE HAS VOTED! She agrees with Adelstein's proposal for the most part with the exception of the set-aside fractions. She has proposed 20% for minority programming and 5% for non-commercial programming. HD Radios - yes. 6 year price freeze - yes. plus she wants to stop the fcc clock until the companies remedy the outstanding complaints against them. YEAH, we're almost there
AC,
I don't know how long it's been since this fossil has scored a piece of ass, but I will guarantee you one thing - He gets more pussy than that lady killer Adelstein ever will!
This is awesome, the merger is finaly going to die!
where did u get info on tate's vote?
Hey LAPDICK GUMMER,
Die, my ass. Copps was an automatic no vote all along, so go back to your playstation and fondle your joy stick!
Don't listen to Named Coward, Tate has not voted.
I say we give Adelstein the old soap in a rag like the scene from Full Metal Jacket. Copps voted already & would die after a few shots, so we'll leave the living dead alone.
Today we have some serious comedians on this blog .. ya'll are a true HOOT .I needed this. I have been so stressed out over the losses I've incurred until I read this THREAD .I about died today and sold off on the horrific dip that occured this afternoon and although I took a SMALL loss, I still have plenty left for another day .........LIKE TOMORROW. So lets hope that what occured doesnt happen again. ....and by the way some body bought some serious call options at 5 smackers for sept . >>.>>>JUST BEFORE THEY SOLD OFF....HUMMMMMMM>>>>>> COULD THIS BE A CLUE ABOUT WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN??????
Today we have some serious comedians on this blog .. ya'll are a true HOOT .I needed this. I have been so stressed out over the losses I've incurred until I read this THREAD .I about died today and sold off on the horrific dip that occured this afternoon and although I took a SMALL loss, I still have plenty left for another day .........LIKE TOMORROW. So lets hope that what occured doesnt happen again. ....and by the way some body bought some serious call options at 5 smackers for sept . >>.>>>JUST BEFORE THEY SOLD OFF....HUMMMMMMM>>>>>> COULD THIS BE A CLUE ABOUT WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN??????
Today we have some serious comedians on this blog .. ya'll are a true HOOT .I needed this. I have been so stressed out over the losses I've incurred until I read this THREAD .I about died today and sold off on the horrific dip that occured this afternoon and although I took a SMALL loss, I still have plenty left for another day .........LIKE TOMORROW. So lets hope that what occured doesnt happen again. ....and by the way some body bought some serious call options at 5 smackers for sept . >>.>>>JUST BEFORE THEY SOLD OFF....HUMMMMMMM>>>>>> COULD THIS BE A CLUE ABOUT WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN??????
Don't listen to Named Coward at your own peril. Tate has voted. Adelstein's proposal is a given at this point. The only major hurdle is deciding how to penalize the companies for outstanding infractions. That might take another month or three.
This old fart is being paid off by the NAB.... if this merger does not go through, I will never listen to terrestrial radio again( I actually haven't since Jan 9 2005). Why is this the ONLY merger that has received such scrutiny? Exxon & Mobil merged practically overnight and nobody blinked! Did they make any concessions like giving away 25% of their gas stations to minorities??? Microsoft is a total monopoly, but they are free to buy up as many companies as they want!! This is total and complete bullshit!! Thank you.
This old fart is being paid off by the NAB.... if this merger does not go through, I will never listen to terrestrial radio again( I actually haven't since Jan 9 2005). Why is this the ONLY merger that has received such scrutiny? Exxon & Mobil merged practically overnight and nobody blinked! Did they make any concessions like giving away 25% of their gas stations to minorities??? Microsoft is a total monopoly, but they are free to buy up as many companies as they want!! This is total and complete bullshit!! Thank you.
YES! Thank you FCC Commissioner Michael Copps for voting for the MAJORITY and not for
Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin "merge" MONOPOLY scheme. 2 more NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY scheme votes to go.
Paul in Fl. wins my vote for the best post....
No one should make fun of Copps. He didn't seek attention, play politics, or make a mockery out of his job. Neither to McDowell. As for Adlestein, those appraised of the situation, that have studied this, realize that there is absolutely nothing in it for him to support this merger with ANY concessions whatsoever. In fact, he would probably be much better off had he simply voted "No" , as he could have easily done.
Now Tate and Martin ..that's a different story. Both have played this for all the possible personal gain and attention. Martin is the guy who let this lay for 17 months remember? ... And Tate's the photo-op twit that loves perks of the office but remains "undecided" after 500 days and having 3/4 of the population of Washington, DC parade past her office for meetings that have now gone on more than 1 year? Want attention Deb? .. Get a dog. She's a useless, needy, do nothing that has lost my respect if she casts 10 yes votes. She's got the job for HER best interest, not yours or the country's.
But don't blast Copps for doing his job, even if you disagree.
Copps reminds me of my scrotum - they could be distant relatives
"I would take the viewpoint that since XM struck out on their own with visibility yesterday. That XM maybe looking at a life without the merger, and said... Let's move on.
And so it goes,
PCSTEL"
If this is true some one please first let Nate know we thank him, the business XM wil see from this move will be mind blowing, the churn from Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin's sirius alone will again crown XM the leader in satellite radio.
2/19/ 09 black tuseday many people will loose any way of getting free TV and many will have no way to get ANY TV even if they want to pay for it.
That is because of so many stations going UHF.
The FCC does not know what they are doing and i juess we all can see that.
Another of Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin's favorite type of customer.... uneducated.
I wonder how many 'perks' and how much cash these creeps make from the people who are against the merger?
Politicians making money off this and the bullshit coming from terrestrial radio is WHACK!
Let's get this merger completed I want my Siri/XM already!
Posted by: vBoogieMan | July 22, 2008 4:07 PM
Plowboy's hate posts of Tate are equal to his desperation of risky, ignorant satradio investment loss which has failed him and the money is GONE just the like chance of Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin "merge" MONOPOLY scheme being approved.
NO! to "merge" MONOPOLY scheme.
Ok, I really don't understand why some of you guys have a dislike for Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin, but it seems to me that you are blamming him for terrestrial radios down fall, and that is so far from the truth. The reason Terrestrial radio sucks in my opinion is because the only way a company will make money is by bringing in money, and the only way your going to do that is by charging money for you service. By giving it away for free, to the public, you need to sell airtime for commercials. Right? So, terrestrial radio sucks because of its business model not because "Mel's" legacy at Viacom.
why are people on this site giving props to the commisioners for "voting" or "voicing their restrictions". they have been sitting on this for 500 days. 500 days says that they have failed the system and the american people, and for that they deserve absolutely no commendation. end of story.
I've got four words for commisioner Copps. EAT SHIT AND DIE!!!!!!!!!
The old fuck should just resign. You now your old when you can't even negotiate. Mr Copps you are and old fucking jerkoff that should just fade into the sunset. Resign and go buy a fucking house in florida!
Mister ,I hope this merger goes thru for you.I would hate to see the results of your corncob and the track marks you left in Washington d.c. after the crap is cleared.You deserve to blow your load as many times as they will allow you to. Only now it seems Ms.Tate is left to conquer. I am fairly certain that your wishes to see this merger consumated will prevail., but I'm not for certain exactly on which date she will announce her LOVE for YOU. It is a Yes vote but without her desires being satsfied first ,she will not scream with delight. I am certain that when she does yours will definitly be louder... In the MEANTIME.... you will have to remain calm and wait for her until she blurts out her loyalty to you. HOPEFULLY you have a few more years left in you...... just in case she's a deaf mute nun. In the event she votes in her heart NO you may have to be Gay ....GooD Day.
This overwhelming bias coming from these comments make me sick. I understand that some have a pro-merger plug and some don't but when it comes down to attacking a person him or herself for not siding they way you want, that's just low. I'm now to the point that I really don't care about if they merge or not or satellite radio in general if people are just like this.
Dear tk, the above comments are a satire of the FCC 's complete disreguard for the shareholder Plowboy's obvious desire for this merger to be over, so that he may regain some of the wealth he has lost due to the dragging of the FCC's feet for so long. It is directed at him and others who post such comments requesting the final votes to be cast in favor. Plowboy has alot of serious investments riding on this or so it seems.While it appears to be mean 'they',we are all just frustrated at the system for it's slooowwww movements and lack of concern for we the LI TTLE shareholders really have no way to voice our obvious approval over theirs for this merger to have already occcured based on the DOJ having signed off on the deal.I myself laugh at the notion that in this country,in this day and time, after so so so many months of feet dragging in Washington am, just disgusted with the whole parade of people who because of their "crying out "it's not FAIR after the DOJ says YEAH ITS NOT A MONOPLY,that the absurd come out of the closets,from under the beds, out of their terresterial world of HAPPY RADIO and whine about two LITTLE companies trying to stay afloat in RADIO WORLD. We call it free enterprise yet we the shareholders are paying for it thru the deflation of our investments, not to forget we subscribe to it,and ITS A PRIVATE company and should remain FREE of any restrictions,but look at cable, that's satrad's fate and eventually all radio will no longer be FREE FROM THE FCC...The HOWARD STERN SHOW we all know today will be MONITORED just as Cable shows are being done ...... NOW!!!!!ALL that is happening is they are justgetting their fot in the door and in the near future satrad will be just like CABLE .IF you want to listen to radio you will have to pay for it ....DEARLY.. TERRESTRIAL RAdio will be a thing of the past ... virtually obsolete. with FEW choices . AND satrad will no longer be commercial free and you will pay to have to listen to them as well. It's going to be no different than CABLE. I hate it ,but that's the way it's going and get your checkbooks out too.EVENTULLY That will also be gone as well .YOU just sit and watch as the days of history unfold before our eyes ...MONEY PAPER MONEY also be a thing of the past .YOU'll reeceive points in your BANK ACCOUNT and that my friend is too scary.. I,ve watched my points dissappear right before my eyes in my brokerage account and I am dismayed at the thought of the many tomorrows that are coming to this country and others in the wake of the FRAUD that is happening in the stock markets.... the future looks bleak for the poor in this country.When we all thought every thing was just hunky dory our world is crashing .DOOM AND GLOOM is what WALLSTREET is pushing .ITS ALL A BUNCH OF LIES.......
I think Martin was delaying the merger in hopes that copps would kick the bucket. He looks like he is one scotch away from a heart attack.
Excellent POST!
This overwhelming bias coming from these comments make me sick. I understand that some have a pro-merger plug and some don't but when it comes down to attacking a person him or herself for not siding they way you want, that's just low. I'm now to the point that I really don't care about if they merge or not or satellite radio in general if people are just like this.
Posted by: TK | July 23, 2008 5:35 AM
PLOWBOY SUPPORTER, and Plowboy,
Your both blind, ignorant, YOU idiots made risky choices to invest in a industry which has never made a dime and are upset YOUR INVESTMENTS HAVE FAILED. There is NO excuse for degrading and attacking those doing their JOBS. NONE! Your desperate cheer of the DOJ says it's not a MONOPOLY doesn't hold any water since the FCC says it is, and any educated consumer knows the "merge" scheme is all about making the satradio industry a MONOPOLY. The rest of your posts is blind, ignorant, arrogant, greedy, delusions of grandeur.
You and the clown you support have both proven you both have alot to learn. Making stupid, investments on risky industries and then whining about your personal FAILURE and then attack others for them doing the right thing and doing their JOBS is complete BS and you should be ashamed. Your in part whats wrong with the entire satradio industry, sure it's about making a buck HOWEVER it's a service industry, management must make a buck by doing the right thing by consumers, management must do the right thing when it comes to following FCC rules and regulations. Sirius and XM have not, and this "merge" MONOPOLY is proof arrogance and greed have no bounds, even when it means shafting consumers, subscribers, and the citizens of the US. This wrong mess is complete BS thank you idiots like yourselves and Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin. Funny though terrestrial seems to be able to follow FCC rules, keep the listeners #1, AND make money too.
You two with your desperate risky failed investments are 0.0
From a gay American viewpoint, I support the merger-Its good for "us"