Sirius XM Radio Inc. is reportedly in preliminary talks with Liberty Media, a media conglomerate that owns DirecTV among several other properties, reports the New York Times' DealBook Blog and the New York Post.
An agreement between Sirius XM and Liberty would create a wrinkle in the takeover plans by rival EchoStar, and could save Karmazin from having to file for bankruptcy.
Citing "people briefed on the negotiations," DealBook points out that is not clear how advanced the talks between Sirius XM and Liberty are.
But any potential deal between the two could spark a bidding war with EchoStar.
Liberty Media owns a 48 percent interest in The DirecTV Group, and is controlled by John C. Malone. While Mel Karmazin and Charlie Ergen have been locked in negotiations, these people said, the two are said to not get along very well.
In 2004, after talks broke down between Dish (run by Ergen) and Viacom (run by Karmazin) over channel rate negotiations, Dish published Karmazin's home number and told subscribers to call him.
"I can't imagine Ergen and Mel Karmazin working that well together," Matthew Harrigan, an analyst at Wunderlich Securities, told the AP.
If he manages to strike a deal with Malone, Mel Karmazin would stand a good chance of staying on - in some capacity - at Sirius XM Radio as John Malone is said to have a more hands-off approach.
[New York Times DealBook & New York Post]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
But any potential deal between the two could spark a bidding war with EchoStar.
Liberty Media owns a 48 percent interest in The DirecTV Group, and is controlled by John C. Malone. While Mel Karmazin and Charlie Ergen have been locked in negotiations, these people said, the two are said to not get along very well.
In 2004, after talks broke down between Dish (run by Ergen) and Viacom (run by Karmazin) over channel rate negotiations, Dish published Karmazin's home number and told subscribers to call him.
"I can't imagine Ergen and Mel Karmazin working that well together," Matthew Harrigan, an analyst at Wunderlich Securities, told the AP.
If he manages to strike a deal with Malone, Mel Karmazin would stand a good chance of staying on - in some capacity - at Sirius XM Radio as John Malone is said to have a more hands-off approach.
[New York Times DealBook & New York Post]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
i had dish network back in 04 and i don't remember them putting his number out there.
i could see them not getting along. one want to take over and has the cash to do it. and the other would like to control it.
liberty media owns the encore channels. they made me happy this past weekend with the bond movies. they have great channels. they could be a great company.
This is really getting crazy. Markets are closed on Monday, so come Tuesday...when debt is due...Gonna be a real shit show over. Do or Die for Sirius.
If you think about the future with the automobile industry down and out. They are forced to create new cars, designs, and give consumers a reason to buy again...This could be huge for whoever owns the innovation of in-car television.....
Things maybe looking up here's hoping that everything works out and that none of the sports channels get dropped!!!!! :) hope and pray!
The plot thickens. This is getting juicy.
we have directv. so for purely selfish reasons i would prefer the echo* people get sirixm than the dish* people.
shit
Debt is a check. Ergen goes away until December if Malone lends $175 million. Never bet against King Malone. He got AT&T to pay too much for his Cable and sold it all to Comcast. He took DTV away from News Corp. Ergen can't even get away from Tivo.
Mel, if u a fragile bone in ur frickin body:
PLEASE GO WITH LIBERTY SO U CAN KEEP UR JOB!!!
Any potential deal between the two could spark a bidding war with EchoStar and things maybe looking up here's hoping that everything works out .
Debt is a check. Ergen goes away until December if Malone lends $175 million. Never bet against King Malone. He got AT&T to pay too much for his Cable and sold it all to Comcast. He took DTV away from News Corp.
I'd say bring Echostar in and shitcan the Clown.
"we have directv. so for purely selfish reasons i would prefer the echo* people get sirixm than the dish* people."
Echostar IS "the dish* people". Liberty controls DirecTV.
"here's hoping that everything works out and that none of the sports channels get dropped"
Liberty's programming arm experienced its greatest period of growth when it jumped into the RSN market in a huge way under the Fox Sports Net name. Malone is fully aware of the drawing power of sports programming.
as long as mel is out i am happy (i know no one cares if i am happy).
I think it would make sense for Liberty/DirecTV to buy SiriusXM they already use SiriusXM for their music channels (WHY OH WHY did they let "The System" die last week?).
They used to use "MusicChoice" but that was years ago. Some channels were pretty good but others (like their version of "Classic Country") were all over the place,again dumbassed programming was the reason. Basically they must of had a bunch of "Skippies" trying to figure out what to play.
Honestly I had a feeling that DirecTV might make a play all along.
I've been a DirecTV subscriber since 1983 and I've installed a few satellite systems for myself and family/friends over the years and customer service/support has always been good. Haven't had to call them much but when I did they made it right.
Personally DirecTV is the only pay TV service I would use. They all feature the same programming anyway (cable & satellite). The unique/good thing about SatRad (as it stands now) is that most programming is tailored to the subscribers individual tastes.
I hope it stays that way.
That being said.............................
BRING BACK "THE SYSTEM" & UNCENSORED COMEDY WORTH A SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(PROUD XM subscriber since Feb 2002)