Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB) president Whit Adamson has called on the FCC to reject the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. in a recent op-ed piece.
Adamson called the Dolly Parton bit on Howard Stern as "racist, vulgar and sexually explicit," eluding to it as being evidence as to why the Sirius-XM should be blocked.
But aside from the shock value of the Dolly Parton reference, which is simply meant to frame Sirius-XM in a negative light (as it lacks any other substance), there's something else very revealing about this op-ed piece in The Tennessean.
The targeting of Commissioner Tate.
See, the FCC consists of 3 Republican, and 2 Democrat Commissioners. The two Democrats - Copps and Adelstein - have consistently been opposed to media consolidation issues. So it's not much of an assumption to think that they would vote against the Sirius-XM merger (unless, significant concessions were made - concessions that might make the merger less worthwhile).
So the terrestrial radio industry is focusing on the remaining Commissioners. Indeed, they just need one more to sway the vote in their favor. In this case, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters aims its target at Nashville native Deborah Tate, presumably hoping that local pressure would influence her decision.
The TAB head drives the "local" point home:
"Tennessee's local radio stations do not fear competition," writes Adamson. "No station in Nashville, or anywhere in America for that matter, has the national presence that XM and Sirius enjoy. And so while the satellite radio companies can pipe their programming into every town and city across America, it defies the laws of physics for a local radio station to match that national footprint."Once again, we're back to the 2007 talking points from NAB's president David Rehr, stating that terrestrial radio only compete with satellite... just not the other way around.
The article concludes:
"By approving this government-sanctioned monopoly, the Justice Department disregarded common sense and made a mockery of its alleged antitrust enforcement. Let's hope the FCC and Commissioner Tate heed the advice of numerous consumer groups, minority organizations, antitrust experts, economists and 80-plus members of Congress and summarily reject this monopoly/merger."Conversely, let's hope that Commissioner Tate doesn't succumb to the lobbying efforts and the worthless bromides of terrestrial radio, which hypocritically opposes any merger other than its own.
[The Tennessean]
"No station in Nashville, or anywhere in America for that matter, has the national presence that XM and Sirius enjoy."
Not even WSIX Nashville, simulcast on XM 161? Seems like it would have a "national presence" which it "enjoy[s]" - from what I have read, they now take calls from all over the country thanks to being on XM.
GO TAB GO! FIght satradio's greed, arrogance, and mis-information. Do it for the consumers, because sadly some with satradio's (or at least claim they have satradio's) have the failure to think for themselves and as personal posts on Orbitcast have proven time and time again ignorance, koolaid drinking, and buying the words of sirius and xm's publicity departments hook line and sinker is their passion.
anonymous cowards are exactly that
AC,
YOU have got to be the NAB'S #1 FANBOY. Time and time again you criticize anyone who comes out in favor of the merger, claiming they are misinformed, naive, or "koolaid drinking" (your words).You love to spew your NAB drivel regarding the "merge" monopoly. Personally, YOU talk like you are the one who has a vested interest in the merger NOT going through. You're probably David Rehr or some paid schmoe at the NAB. It is clear the agenda is to stall long enough so that Sirius/ Xm will have to call off the merger. The deal has been hijacked long enough. I say let it go through. As for me, I have a vested interest in Sirius. I have a subscription with three radios and have had for four years. So, yeah, I'm putting MY money where my mouth is. UNLIKE YOU. I wouldn't even be a satellite subscriber if the NAB's product hadn't hit the crapper years ago, with crappy programming and endless commercials. Is the best they can do Jack FM? Sure the NAB'S product is free, but WHO wants it? Even in their hapless HD format?
oh wouldn't it be great if hoo hoo himself doomed the merger.
all the bullshit reasons he sold his fans about how the merger would
benefit them when in reality it would only stand to line his already overflowing pockets.
oh sweet justice
and i know zombie fanboys,its gonna be tierd pricing,at the highest price will be howie and o&a $20 a month for the o&a &ron and fez shows to offset your heros part time salary annoys me.and to all of you with witty coments to follow i bid you good day....i said good day!
ron and fez noon to three
What a bunch of crap-
Just get this merger done once and for all!
Let us see,
POINT # 1
-terrestrial radio is free(except we have to listen to the stupid commercials).
- HD radio is the same as above
- XM and SIRIUS you pay for by choice. If one does not like the fee, then they can cancel service.
POINT # 2
- you are stuck listening to what they want to put on the air.
- With SATRAD, you have a choice. There are a number of choices of channels per each type of programming you want.
You can tune in local radio (if you know what stations are what) . If you are traveling, it is difficult to know what is what.
- With SATRAD YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE MAJOR SPORTS TEAMS(anywhere). With terrestrial, your are lucky to get anything(with fading in and out).
What is best for the consumers is not wht the NAB wants.
Nothing would make me happier than if it was Sterns fault this merger is denied. That would lead to a huge issue with resigning him. Doesnt matter really because i wont be around to pay for his contract.
"Only working 4 days a week would be a disservice to my listeners". Fuck you.
I hope the merger fails I tell ya, I hope it fails!!!! Hoo Hoo
Just to mention it, 0.0
Adamson called the Dolly Parton bit on Howard Stern as "racist, vulgar and sexually explicit," eluding to it as being evidence as to why the Sirius-XM should be blocked.
===================================================================
And? what the F is the problem? Its a pay service and anyone who listends to Howard knows the material. So.. again.. whats the problem?
I am not a howrad fan.. but come on .. what a lame argument
Dolly Parton remarks; "racist, vulgar and sexually explicit"
Actually, I kind of like her tits.
Will the special interest group with the most cash and political influence, please stand up!
Forget popular opinion, choice, logics and semantics, it's all about money and power.
It's always money and power.
Will the special interest group with the most cash and political influence, please stand up!
Forget popular opinion, choice, logics and semantics, it's all about money and power.
It's always money and power.
"Adamson called the Dolly Parton bit on Howard Stern as "racist, vulgar and sexually explicit," eluding to it as being evidence as to why the Sirius-XM should be blocked."
Well Howard, you ****ed you own merger!
http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdameritrade-com/html-story.asp?guid={8d950dde-dded-47c9-9ab9-974207dcb92d}
Could it be that what the NAB fears more than satrad is ala carte pricing? The FCC might be figuring that if Sirius-XM can deal with it, then why can't the cable companies accept that arrangement too?
IIRC Dolly is an XM subscriber. I wonder what she has to say about the merger?
Told ya.
We subscribe to both XM and Sirius.
I call my poohah Kyle Cantrell
Sirius subscriber are you so ignorant that you think your 3 radio's matter? Are you so out of it to think many a subscriber doesn't want this to go thru? Whats so wrong with your choice of Sirius that your so desperate for a "merge" to happen? Funny I've had multiple radio's on both xm and now Sirius, like where I'm at have no use for a "merge" aka monopoly, have no use for content on xm, but do very much like Sirius is directly competing every day with xm which IS pro-consumer aka keeps prices in check, keeps content and talent in check, and keep quality in check. "merge" takes away all of that. Also if you weren't so ignorant (thanks to your calling others out) you'd know Sirius and xm have not been adhering to fcc mandates, consumers should have already had radio which worked with both systems, AND part of Sirius's and xm's license mandates neither could ever "merge" they both agreed to that not long ago. This "merge" is not being done for consumers and Sirius subscriber because of that IF this "merge" goes thru your 3 radio's and subscription will not hold the value they do now, prices will go up while choice and content will go down. BRAVO Sirius subscriber now wake up and think twice before calling someone else out and thinking you have a clue.
God Damn I love nigger cock! He he.
God Damn I love nigger cock! He he.
Hello AC-
BRAVO !! With one fell swoop, you made me look like an uninformed ass and yourself to be the pillar of educated thought. Desperate? Not even. To be honest, if the "merge" doesn't go through and both companies go under, I'll just use my iPod. I'm not really so much PRO merge, as as I'm ANTI FCC and their obvious pandering to paid off politicians, and special interest groups like Georgetown Partners. And don't tell me the NAB won't benefit if it doesn't go through.If lack of competition is the big concern, then let the FCC take back a third of the spectrum and give it to another competitor who will put up their own satellites. Also, I'm not so naive to believe that my three radios matter to anyone but me.
I just like to believe I have a choice in what I listen to, even if I have to pay for it. (Something that the NAB forgot in their quest for increased profits and market share.) It's always the money.
Thank you for setting me straight.
Sirius Subscriber
Sirius Subscriber:
"I just like to believe I have a choice in what I listen to, even if I have to pay for it."
EXACTLY right! And the xm subscriber deserves a choice in what he/she listens to as well. Sirius Subscriber do you really think sat radio would be as good as it currently is with choices if not for 2 sat radio companies? It's the direct competition which pushed both sirius and xm to what we currently have. Take away the direct competition and we have a monopoly. You say the FCC should take back a third of the bandwidth in order to approve a "merge"? I agree. IF the "merge" doesn't happen and one or both sat radio companies go under GOOD RIDDANCE, there will be other companies behind them to buy up what's left and hopefully have better business plans and management structures. Giving us consumers the choices we deserve. Sure other party's want to influence the FCC, but thats the name of the game these days, it'll all part of competition. IF Sirius and xm thought about "merge" and the problems it has and will continue to cause, what they might have to give up from a Sirius subscriber standpoint giving up anything to "merge" with xm is too much. Even being in the public eye and DOJ/FCC scrutiny too much has not done either Sirius or xm any favors.
You are welcome
AC-
I would have to agree with you that the reason for the merge is more a case of mis-management and over priced bidding wars for talent than helping the consumer. THEY got themselves into this mess, and are hoping by merging, it will work out. I guess we'll see if it does. If not, hopefully, someone as you say, will come along to pick up the pieces and give us the choices we all want. With the advent of internet radio in vehicles (SYNC) Sat radio is now in danger of losing the business they have.On the other hand... I do like the ala carte pricing. I would STILL have to pick a merged Sirius/XM over terrestrial. With a portion of the spectrum given back, the FCC could then grant approval to a new player willing to put up the money to get in the game. I think the FCC has shown poor leadership in this matter. Approve or Disapprove- Let's get on with it!
AC, I think you're an idiot. First of all Sirius and XM did callaborate on the creation of an interoperable reciever. If you want to pretend like you're informed I think you should read a little more before getting on here sounding like an ignorant fool. Mel Karmazin has repeatedly stated that he has an interoperable reciever in his office. The reason they were never brought to the market is because neither company was obligated to subsidize the cost of them. They were only obligated to develop them. As far as content is concerned, the money has to come from somewhere. If the merger doesn't go through the price will immediately rise, ala carte will dissappear, and you will get less content than a merged entity will provide. How is that good? Exactly you moron! According to the DOJ (the people that get paid to regulate this and not some nut job who probably can't even do his own job competently much less some one elses) there is still adequate competition out there. Oh, and if another company comes out with a "better" business plan it will be some combination of more commercials (which we don't want) and higher prices (which we don't want) and your argument is going to be some idiotic statement like well then don't get it. Wow! You're definitely the stupidest person I've heard from in at least a month!
ABSOLUTELY! Sirius subscriber
"I would STILL have to pick a merged Sirius/XM over terrestrial"
Guess my view is; over the years had xm think it sucked and took our radio's to ebay and bought Sirius radios and have been happy ever since. Sirius has been doing well and bet you might agree as a Sirius sub. we get a pretty good value with all the radio Sirius provides us it's customers. There is nothing a Sirius sub will gain with "merge" and Sirius with these "merge" game plans have put the company in a pickle, not at all as healthy as Sirius has been, and a "merge" IF approved will not make Sirius stronger. Worse all the blind, ignorant sat radio fanboys making things worse with moronic posts here at Orbitcast. Much like....
Terell glad you could prove the blind, ignorant sat radio fanboy claim true. interoperable reciever? really? where? I must have missed all the consumers who would buy one of these. Thats right Terell a interoperable reciever might exist but as far as consumers are concerned it's vaporware, not at all what the FCC mandate asked for. Oh and you try to backup your blind, ignorance by saying "Mel claimed"... hmmmmm Perhaps you Terell better start thinking for yourself "fool". Then you think Sirius and xm are going to make massive price hikes while removing content and talent if a "merge" doesn't happen... again if you believe that you are a "moron" "adequate competition out there"? really? So you think the direct competition between xm and sirius didn't play a part in the quality and growth of both companies? Business 101 Terell post again after you learn something. So to blind ignorant satradio fanboy Terell the only way for a satradio company to be solvent is more commercials and higher prices? hmmmm again your blind ignorant ways have shown themselves loud and clear especially since "you want to pretend like you're informed" and call others out. Terell you've posted nothing but "idiotic statements" showing everyone your "You're definitely" in a small group of "stupidest person"s here.
it still amazes me that mel karmazin will ruin two forms of radio in one lifetime.
commercials on pay radio watered down playlists and half a billion for a part time employee
ooooh merger ,sign me up
ron and fez noon to three
democrat is not an adjective