Sirius and XM have submitted an enormous 209-page filing with the FCC, outlining the "greatest hits" of broad merger support.
It includes support from current/former elected officials, minority interest groups, former FCC Commissioners and staff, family and religious organizations and many more.
The content of the document isn't necessarily anything we haven't seen over the past year or so. What I think is significant here is the pure size of the document, and the obvious amount of effort it took to put it together. To me, it's an obvious indication that we're nearing the end of this whole ordeal.
[View Filing (PDF - Warning, it's huge), via SiriusBuzz]
Is "Hotel California" in it?? I just love that song...
Fantastic effort; fantastic product; very convincing...
Not to be overlooked by anyone....
Great stuff!
What a pile of horse sh*t!
There is no way that Xm and Sirius should be allowed to merge; I had XM- it was OK. Tried Sirius. Much better programming. People do decide.
If there were only 1, then why make the effort to keep programming fresh?
I wish they'd stop wasting money and just focus on their business.
All they did is refile everything that has already been filed. Like wrapping s&it in a bow and making it appear to be chocolate.
If anything, this filing just highlights all the money that XM and Sirius have laid out in enlinsting support from groups and people who otherwise wouldn't care less about their merger. And to compile all the think tank studies they've paid for is just plain stupid. Do they really think the FCC is gonna say, Wow, we should hurry up and read all this crap again.
DOJ has approved this and the people want this and today's filing is just a little more icing on the cake. Any that don't like it, obviously don't have to subscribe but there is no doubt the NAB is shaking in their shaky boots as they contemplate the 'CHOICE' that will now become available to the public. There's no doubt that this will rock the audio entertainment world with all the positive things that come about when there is good competition. Up til now the NAB has had to contend with no one else other than their own in drive time and that is changing. The pie is about to get quite a bit smaller as a new power house will emerge in Sirius/XM.
This is all about Sirius and xm getting DESPERATE.... The FCC is about to do the right thing and STOP this "merger" MONOPOLY. Higher prices, no choice, no competition will make for shitty satrad. "People" don't want a MONOPOLY and "People" sure don't want shitty satrad, but the fanboys (like mike) sadly don't understand anything but what Sirius/xm BS's in the press, accepting everything like blind sheep. Pitiful!
This reeks of desperation.
I don't understand the posters above who are so against this merger. It makes me wonder if they are paid by the NAB. Have they not heard that both XM & Sirius agreed to a la carte pricing that will actually make it LESS expensive? Oh...and since when is having MORE choice a bad thing? This is NOT a monopoly. XM and Sirius are not competing with each other they are killing each other. Sat Radio should not compete against itself....it should be competing with FREE radio, ipods, etc. The NAB LOVES dragging out this merger(the longest in history so far!) because their end goal is to KILL sat radio. They don't care about YOU the consumer. They only care about themselves! The NAB says that terrestrial radio doesn't compete with Sat radio...but they do everything to stop it? They are so transparent, even a 2 year old could see thru their motives.
Look people...the merger is a GOOD thing. Actually a necessary thing! Without it, XM will probably go bankrupt, and then you're back to one company! Um...HELLO?!!!
Sirius and XM are killing each other...and the NAB is licking its lips. Sat Radio should be competing with FREE radio, not itself! Thats like saying there are TWO FM radios...but you have to choose which one and buy separate radios! Thats RIDICULOUS. People want ONE sat radio company. It's a SEPARATE form of radio. It should compete with different forms like FREE radio and ipods etc.
Anyone who says this will be a monopoly can't see the big picture. They can't grasp the simple truth. Its NOT a monopoly!!! The NAB doesn't even believe that. That is what they are trying to scare people it is. But they know it ain't. When the merger passes, it'll be GREAT for consumers. It'll be less and with more choices. The price will not go up people! Sat Radio is competing with FREE radio remember? If it was a monopoly, you wouldn't have any other choice. But you DO...and its FREE. Hello! If they raise prices, people go bye bye.
Sat Radio is a great product, and one that people want. They are tired of commercials. They want a new choice, and as soon as the merger is done...the sooner XM and Sirius can focus their energy on promoting this great technology as a viable alternative. :-)
If there were only 1, then why make the effort to keep programming fresh?
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Because terrestrial radio is free. Mel wants more ad revenue,content draws subs.
Get it?
exactly! they have the GREATEST incentive to keep things fresh....because their competition is FREE!
why is this so hard for some to understand?
if this merger goes thu....both xm and sirius will be bending over backwards and jumping thru hoops trying to please their customers, and to attract new ones...can't you see that? This is exciting!
argh!
The merger is good if you own stock in either or both companies because then if the merger is allowed to happen there will be a quick payday... plain and simple.. and let's face it, the people who own XM really don't want the company anymore, there really is no money or future in it.. they don't want to try anymore.. they want to flush those of us who like the idea..
regan,
There is a bridge for sale if you believe that too... Call us after your take economics 101 and business 101. If your a fan of satrad, if your a fan of Sirius or xm you better get your heads out of the clouds and hope the FCC STOPS this Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY. No competition = higher prices, less content, and no choice. Sirius and xm are as good as they are due to competition. If you think this Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY is being done for, or in any way to benefit the consumer your dreaming.
Figures you chose "anonymous coward" and not provided your name.
Lecturing me on economics 101?
Boy oh boy have you drunk the NAB cool aid on this issue.
I know what a monopoly is...and if your narrow definition of radio is sat rad...then yeah....but the landscape is much larger than that my poor ignorant friend. If you bothered to even do the simplest of research, you'd realize that sat rad competes with a wide array of competition.
But I guess you don't have the brain power to see this.
lol.
IMHO, the "satrad competes with terrestrial radio/MP3 players/Internet radio" argument is ridiculous. Let's see here...
- MP3 players: No live programming. If you want to hear new music, you need to go to the trouble of finding & downloading podcasts ahead of time. Otherwise, you're limited to hearing the same old music that you already have.
- Internet radio: A viable option for listening at your computer, but home/car units are pretty much nonexistent. Furthermore, many rural areas don't even have cable/DSL service, let alone the widespread wireless coverage that would be necessary for in-car listening.
- Terrestrial radio: Limited coverage, and almost all stations just play commercials with the occasional crappy pop song thrown in.
Right now, XM and Sirius force each other to maintain commercial-free music channels, in-house concerts/interviews, niche music genres, etc. Because they're truly in competition with each other, they have to maintain high standards and find ways to differentiate themselves. If they merge, they won't have nearly as much incentive to be competitive because the bar will be set so much lower. Where else can you get live, nationwide programming?
As for the FCC filing, I agree with the others who said this sounds like an act of desperation. If they're so confident in the merger going through, then what's the point in compiling 209 pages of propaganda?
regan,
I see its really YOU drinking the Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY flavored koolaid.
satrad competes with satrad, the other ways music and talk is brought to us has nothing to do with and DOES NOT compete with satrad. Back to economics 101 and business 101 for you.
the FCC needs to do the right thing and STOP this Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY. No competition = higher prices, less content, and no choice. As a customer of satrad from almost the beginning and also being a smart consumer competition is what has made satrad what it is take that away by a "merge" MONOPOLY and satrad = higher prices, less content, and no choice. Big picture, long term thats not even a good thing for the satrad provider.
Call us after your take economics 101 and business 101, pay special attention when they go over how MONOPOLY's are not about being pro-consumer.
Reeks of desperation? How so? Were they desperate when they submitted all of the other documents? All XM-SIRIUS is trying to do is speed up the approval process, by making all of the major supporters clear. I don;t beleive that this "reeks of desperation", and if you do, you need to look at the facts.
Adam you are SO RIGHT. This "greatest hits" shit shows DESPERATION has set in since many smart consumers are seeing right through Sirius/xm "merger" MONOPOLY pack of lies. The only ones who believe Sirius/xm's BS are blind sheep and consumers like regan above who failed economics 101 and business 101. This 209 page piece of crap isn't worthy to wipe Hugh Panero's ass and that's LOW. The FCC needs to do the right thing and BLOCK the Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY. Just hope with all the BS Sirius and xm have spread doesn't come back to haunt them when this "merge" MONOPOLY is CRUSHED. Smart consumers HATE being played for fools.
Craskill,
If you could look at the FACTS instead of BS, lies and fanboy fantasy you too would understand why the Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY needs to be BLOCKED by the FCC for both the consumer and the satrad industry. A 209 page "greatest hits" booklet is DESPERATION of a soon to be failed try at a "merge" MONOPOLY.
You NAB fanboys could always cancel the subscription to satellite radio should you find it not worth the money compared to free commercial radio. Of course, you need a subscription in the first place before you canceled. Idiots.
Rehr's Rear Army, "Idiot", "fanboy"
Better to learn the truth then show your complete ignorance......
If a company does not make money they go away. If the consumer does not like what they hear they will not buy!!! It's a ctach 22! SIRIUS-XM will not go stale for this reason.
The NAB are on here posing as subscribers. They have been sneaky and underhanded all along. They tried to pay off politicians, but the DOJ still approved the merger.
Did you know that Clear Channel buys up radio stations constantly and you will end up with formatted music with music you don't like stuck in?! At least with satellite radio you have a choice. THIS MERGER IS FOR THE CONSUMER NOT THE NAB.
THE_NAB_POST_ON_HERE,
The same could be said about all the satrad "merger" MONOPOLY blind sheep fanboys. Competition has made satrad what it is today. Today we have choice with Sirius or xm. Today Sirius and xm keep on doing their best to gain and keep consumers ears. Perhaps those claiming others are NAB are those really from the NAB. Most of those here, smart consumers, who understand this Sirius/xm "merger" MONOPOLY don't want a "merger" MONOPOLY to destroy satrad as we know it and enjoy it now. Better to keep silent on who is "paying off politicians" aka the reason why the DOJ made the wrong choice.
YOU THE_NAB_POST_ON_HERE are VERY CONFUSED and naive if you think for a second that the Sirius/xm "merger" MONOPOLY is for the consumer or will in any way be pro-consumer. Better join regan in economics 101 and business 101 before spreading your ignorance here. MONOPOLY's are NOT pro-consumer. Prices will go up, choice and competition will be taken away.
Sorry fanboy, most not accepting the Sirius/xm "merger" MONOPOLY are not NAB but customers of Sirius and/or xm.
Hate to break it to those of you who think that the FCC is making their decision based on whether or not this would be a monopoly....That was the DOJ's job and they have determined that it is not.
Scott
You NAB fanboys need to get a grip. Rather than trying to fight this merger which does not in any way represent a monopoly, why don't you take a look in-house? The reason that SiriusXM are gaining market share at such a fast pace is because terrestrial radio is CRAP. Most people do not like to listen to commercials, especially not 22 minutes in the hour. Maybe if terrestrial radio offered a more compelling choice, people might actually listen more. It is called competition, perhaps you have heard of it?? Also, the medium in which the service is delivered is not of consequence. Being able to offer the same program anywhere is a COMPETITVE ADVANTAGE, not a different business. Terrestrial radio syndicates programs in this same manner. You NAB funkies will be out of a job soon enough.
The merger is not only great news for investors, but for customers too. What the opponents above fail to realize is that as great as Sat Rad is...it will die if it continues to canabalize itself. Yes, its an amazing product. But its a product that needs to compete with FREE radio, ipods, cell phone and future wifi radio/computers in cars....and not with itself. It boggles my mind how people classify this as a monopoly in the bad sense. No...it's making a good product better and giving it the ability to survive in this crowded market with alternatives that are FREE.
If the above idiots took the time to actually READ the a la carte proposals, they'd realize that the merger will give them MUCH lower options. It'll cost them $6.99 for what used to cost them $12.99. And for those that wanted BOTH full services with all the sports and music, what would have cost $25 and having to buy TWO separate radios and service plans...will now only cost $14.
Any fanboys of either Sirius or XM who oppose this merger...should be EXCITED by this merger. I am. And millions of others agree too. Not only will it be cheaper and with more choices and control over what you want....but it will enable these two companies who are bleeding cash fighting each other, to save BILLIONS in synergies and FINALLY be able to shift their focus onto things that will make sat rad even BETTER for consumers.
Again...the combined company will be bending over backwards and jumping thru hoops to not only please you, but to get more customers to move from FREE radio over to Sat Rad. All the doom and gloomers saying how this will be bad for consumers are either totally stupid...or being paid by NAB in my opinion. Because if you think...actually use common sense, anyone can see that this is a GOOD thing that will benefit consumers.
You'll have more control, you'll be able to listen to both Football AND baseball(if thats your thang)...and you will enjoy the new combined company going out of their way to make this an even better product.
Anyone who thinks the combined company will turn around after the merger and then SHOOT themselves in the foot by screwing the consumers is a fool, or like I said on the NAB payroll.
Lastly, the poster above who said the merger would kill inovation, and that the combined company would stop improving the product without competition is missing the simple fact...that Sirius and XM weren't competing with each other, they were killing each other(exactly what the NAB wanted, and why they dragged out this merger so long). I'll say it again reeeeeeeeal slow....THE MERGER WILL CREATE HEALTHY COMPETITION. Finally sat rad will stop canabalizing itself and be able to focus all their energy on making sat rad even MORE enticing for radio listeners. This is a great thing for people who are already subscribers. You should rally around this merger if you love sat rad. Not only will it be good for you, but it will ensure the survival of the product you love.
Because without this merger...Sat Rad is doomed. XM will go out of biz, and Sirius will be left bleeding and battered from fighting to get this merger done. And the NAB will have won by dragging this out(the longest merger in history) and those that love sat rad but for some insane reason opposed the merger...will have no one else to blame but yourselves when you're forced to go back to listening to FREE radio and being bombarded with commercials from corporate america. Nice.
Also for shareholders....don't panic...but realize that even tho Sirius is the faster growing company, it's pps is lower because it has an insane amount of outstanding shares. So even tho XMs price has been much higher, it doesn't mean the merged companies stock price will reach XMs previous level. You have to understand that with the 4.6 to 1 stock swap, that there will be even MORE outstanding shares than sirius had before for the combined company.
That being said, the combined company will save BILLIONS in synergies by not having to fight each other, and will FINALLY be able to turn all their focus and energy on competing with their TRUE competition, FREE radio and ipods etc.
This is a great product and service that will be made so much better when Sirius and XM join forces. They HAVE to. Fighting each other is just canabalizing each other. Just what the NAB wants. They are afraid of this merger, because they know that terrestrial radio is an inferior product. Their plan was to have xm and sirius go on fighting and killing each other, because they know as long as they were, they wouldn't be fighting terrestrial radio effectively.
Once the merger is done, and the smoke settles, Mel will get to work. It will take time, but it will be great for customers and shareholders alike.
I know those that got in at $6 are impatient. Some may get out at the earliest pop. But for those that just got in, you are in a good position. With the merger done, sat radio will become a force of one....able to grow even faster than it did when it was fighting with itself.
Good times. :-)
Sat Radio should not compete against itself...
What? How can anyone say this with a straight face or with any intellectual honesty? In place of Sirius, drop in any large company - i.e., Comcast, Direct TV, Dist TV, RCN, Verizon FIOS..
Competition is the engine that improves all services and drives lower prices.
Look at the flat TV market. If there were no competition for these devices I'd be stuck with my old CRT becasue the prices would be so high. But, due solely to competition, I've been able to pay under $1K and get a full 42" 1080 HD set, which several years ago would have cost me at least twice that amount.
Comepition is what makes neighboring gas stations from gouging the consumer by letting market forces set the price. It's the same thing as McDonalds with its $1 dbl cheeseburger or BK with its own.
SatRad is not a world onto itself with its own unique laws of economics. Why do you think XM has touted its multi-year plans or Sirius with its lifetime plan or its own MYP? Competition.
These companies should compete with each other - there should be choice. I promise you that if the choice is removed from this non-necessity, quality will go down, prices will go up and it will be too late for anyone to complain.
The refiling by Sirius/XM of the document highlighted in this post topic shows how desperate these companies are. Finacially XM is on its last legs having borrowed heavily against its GM credit facility. Plans are laid for the layoff of the vast majority of the sales and marketing department. They are waiting on pins and needles for an approval so they can avoid the imminient bkcy. Sirius cannot be that different at this point.
This is a hail Mary move.
I sure am excited at the prospect of spending a few hundred bucks on a new radio so I can save a few bucks each month on these new a la carte packages. What a great deal!
Perhaps I can even take advantage of the "increased customer choices" by getting both Deep Tracks and The Vault. What's that you say, they're now the same?
Question for the NAB idiots posting here:
Has Apple stopped innovating new products and services? They have a company that could be arguably similar to the new XM/SIRIUS versus commercial radio (MAC versus Windows). Apple has made Microsoft a better company for the consumer while coming out with new products with a very minority market share in operating systems, but has now become the largest distributor of music sales.
The membership of the NAB needs to learn; build a better product and the consumer will knock down your door to buy it. Or just whine to Congress and eventually fade away.
While I am pretty sure that this will not happen (at least not immediately) the one thing I fear is that after the merger goes through, Mel will decide to play one or maybe two commercials on the highest rated music channels per hour. I mean, come on, nobody is going to cancel a sub for 30 seconds total of commercials and 59:30 of music an hour right? and with that short of a commercial, listeners arent going to switch the channel to avoid it so its an almost guaranteed listen for the companies which means Mel can charge more for the ad.
Then perhaps after a little while you exapnd it to all music channels and add a few more, still not a big deal right? I mean 1 minute out of 60 for ads? Thats worth $13/mo. in subscription fees. 99.7% of people still keep their units.
there is a point at which the amount of commercials and the amount of revenue generated by those commercials is offset by the cancelled subscriptions. All they have to do is stay above that point and they continue to make money from ad revenue. By this point there will be so few people left who remember the service without commercials that it will likely not impact new sales. I mean, where else can you get 70 music channels in your car, even if they all have 15 min of commercials per hour?
Anybody here who gets the MHD channel (Mtv, cmt, vh1 concerts in HD) can see how this will play out. Right now there is only one commercial every half hour or so that says "this is brought to you by mitsubishi..." As the audience grows that will die down and more will be played.
The same thing happened with that channel The Tube that came out a while back (now defunct). All they did was play music videos. Good ones too, nothing too new, nothing R&B no teen sensations etc. After a while they added commercials once the audience built.
Unfortunately, this is the way that media is today. You cant run a newspaper without ad revenue and you sure cant run a radio company without it either.
i have gone back and forth on whether or not i think the merger is good.
but in the end, i will speak with my wallet. if there is changes to the music programming on the XM stations i listen to with commercials and shallow playlists (it seems like the playlists have gotten less deep from when i first subscribed as it is), i will cancel. i chose xm partially because when i tried the online free trials for both, at the time Sirius seemed to have more repititve playlist than XM. in a shift at work, i would hear the same songs mulitple times on Sirius. On XM, i may have heard the same artists, but it seemed that i never heard the same song.
now if i get to pick and choose some stuff via a-la cart to get what i would like from both services at a reasonable price, i will likely be willing to spend more.
or i will be happy just paying what i do now, with the programming i currently have.
Is that Regan as in Ronald Regan?? well that blows it for me.. I have a standard tradition of writing in dead presidents every election when I vote and if this is how you are, forget it.... I'm voting Nixon this year...
Regan, have you actuallly read what will be in the a la carte packages that xm and sirius have proposed? Please take a minute to do so before accusing others of having not reach them. If you do, you'll see very quickly that the packages are nothing like what you seem to believe. It will not cost $6.99 to get what you have now. For $6.99 you will get 50 channels that XM or Sirius select, not you. To get what you get now, it will cost the same $12.99 you pay now. And for the $14.99 you mention, you will not get everything from both services, but only either XM or Sirius, plus 11 channels from the other service - again, chosen by them not the customer, and you can be that Stern, baseball, nfl or anything highly popular (or expensive to Xm or Sirius) will not be included among those 11 channels. XM and Sirius have designed the a la carte packages so almost all customers will just stick with what they currently have because post-merger they can't afford to replace a big bunch of $12.99 customers with a big bunch of $6.99 customers. Granted, this could change if the FCC is smart enough to recognize that the a la carte packages are just red herrings. So please, if you're gonna write so frequently and strenuously about the merger, take a minute and look at the facts first. Also, please realize that whether or not NAB pays attention to boards like this, it is a definite certainty that people who work for the FOUR public relations firms currently on the dole of XM and Sirius do, so pardon us if sat rad subscribers like me take what the pro merger crowd says here with a grain of salt.
someone should really block lowry mays' ip address.
It's funny that everyone oppossed to this merger will not face the facts. The DOJ has already decided that this is benficial to consumers. After the FCC approves it? what will you complain about then?
How many FCC Commissioners does it take to screw the satellite company. Geez decide already you had a year to think about this decision.
Laughing @ Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY, blind sheep Idiots,
Apple and Microsoft have NOTHING to do with a satrad "merge" MONOPOLY. Keep on coming up with the DESPERATE excuses (all of which so far have been idiotic and wrong all at the same time)
Grow up and learn fanboys. Competition has made satrad what it is, price, choice, content. Satrad competes only with other satrad companies and we only have two of those and they want to "merge" MONOPOLY which will raise prices, take away choice, content, and worse competition. 8-Track, cassetes, mp3's, iPods, internet, iTunes, Apple, Microsoft, cell phone providers, TV, AM, FM, PMS, none of them compete with satrad. We listen to other people talking too does that make them also "alleged" competition for satrad? We listen and talk on the phone does that make them also "alleged" competition for satrad? NO sadly there are more than a few Sirius/xm "merge" MONOPOLY, blind sheep Idiots among us who will believe and follow everything they hear but are too lazy or stupid to think before blindly following. Back to economics 101 and business 101 girls....
The FCC needs to do the right thing CRUSH this "merge" MONOPOLY, and show the DOJ they made a bad choice, perhaps the payoffs were too much?
When is the RIAA going to start charging Clear Channel for the rights to play the artists' music. I want to sell my stock in CCU before it really tanks and satellite radio finally kills the share price. I don't know if Congress will bail me out of my poor choice of investment. It is not fair trying to compete with satellite radio. Someone should do something before I lose my job and go broke.
Anonymous Coward,
Your name really says it all. I honestly don't care if the merger goes through or not. I subscribe to Sirius because of Howard Stern and if he retires in two and a half years like he says he's going to i'll cancel two of my subs and maybe keep the third for the NFL Games as long as SIRIUS can last without Stern. Not sure if it can survive considering that they will probably lose 2 ro 3 million subs when/if Stern leaves.
As far as XM is concerned, it's only hope of surviving without the merger is to outlast Stern. So far the O&A Army hasn't shown up with the subs. I get the XM music channels with my DirecTV and i listen maybe 20 minutes a month. Can't really say if they are any better or worse than SIRIUS--just different.
It doesn't matter whether you call it a monopoly or not, the two companies are still competing with Ipods/mp3 players, Terestrial Radio, Internet Radio, eventually WiFi & Cell Phone media and things we haven't dreamed of yet. I doubt if there are that many people who are so addicted to it that they will remain subscribers if they have massive rate increases or start playing commercials on their much hyped commercial free music channels.
FUCK Clear Channel and FUCK the NAB!
QuacknOff,
Your are WRONG
" the two companies (Sirius/xm) DON'T competing with Ipods/mp3 players, Terestrial Radio, Internet Radio, eventually WiFi & Cell Phone media and things we haven't dreamed of yet." But it's a good sounding excuse for non-thinkers.
I have both Xm and Sirus and I can say that one is better than the other. With combined programming they will beat the hell out of the free stuff that is out there. Did you read that FREE!!!!
There may be only one sat-rad company after the merger, but if the programming goes to shit or they start to raise prices, the subs are just going to cancel. Sat-rad is not the telephones of the 70's & 80's where Ma Bell was bending us over. that was a monopoly and we as the comsumer had no choices. They pretty much let Ma Bell get back together since there are so many other options to choose from. I can think of 4 phone companies, 1 digital phone (cable), and 5 cell providers in my area.
With the merger I only have one Sat-rad, BFD, I don't like it I can play a CD, listen to FM/AM, hook up my iPod, take to my passenger... Saying they will raise prices because there is no competition is the assinine NAB and those who never took Econ 101 or people who love the live with their heads up their asses!!!!