A spokesman for the FCC has confirmed that there is an agreement in principle to approve the merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.
But the exact terms for FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate's approval of the deal were still unknown.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Tate asked for various other conditions on top of the $20 million fine:
- A 3-year price freeze, but one that still allows the companies to pass through programming costs
- A la carte and family-friendly programming offerings
- Commitment to interoperable and open receivers
- The 8% set-aside (24 channels) for noncommercial and commercial independent programmers.
That hardly seems like much of a difference from the companies' proposal, except for two changes, according to Broadcasting & Cable:
- At Tate's urging, the deadline for making the receiver specs available for outside suppliers (i.e., Open Access) has been moved up to "immediately"
- Interoperable radios will be available within nine months rather than a year.
XM and Sirius are said to have agreed with moving up the dates.
[Broadcasting & Cable via Orbitcast Forums]
I like the first line: "A 3-year price freeze, but one that still allows the companies to pass through programming costs".....
Color me skeptical, but that gives Mel the green light to raise prices whenever he wishes, citing them "programming' costs.
If he guts XM (and narrows SIRI playlists down even further), I'm done with satellite altogether.
These companies are not what they were back in '02. Lee's music vision has lost it's grip, and with Mel under the helm, it isn't going to get better. It pains me to say that, but it is true.
Mergers hardly ever make programming better, but I will pass judgement when that time arrives.
So, Debbie, vote already!
WHERE IS THE VOTE???????????????????????
THIS BETTER HAPPEN TODAY OR ELSE-----------------------------
I think Sirius has better ideas than to piss off customers.
COME ON!!
Sat Radio is great. Where else can you be driving along and listen to FOX News, CNBC stock reports and 50s music? Super. And for a very low price. I have had SIRI for over 4 years now and I love the radio. Can't wait for ala carte. Reduced pricing and just the channels I want. Great.
Sirius downgraded----stock is tanking at 9:40 AM---so much for this merger.......................
I can't wait until I can get all of the sports programming on one radio. I will buy an interoperable radio as soon as it is available.
HEY ORBITCAST - RUN THIS STORY!!!
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
HEY ORBITCAST - RUN THIS STORY!!!
anything on O&A...(if you can find one)
Well, I'm sure Stern is helping the merger along there. He should just keep his mouth shut. He may be free to say what he wants, but they are free to fuck him over for saying it. He is a large part of the problem why this thing took so long.
"Ibiquity Fears Open Access Will Not Help Adoption Of HD Radio"
"I have said it before, and I will say it again. HD Radio has a responsibility to market itself. They should not be out looking for business model hand-outs. They should not be trying to circumvent negotiations with OEM’s by getting into car dashboards on the backs of the negotiations that Sirius and XM have made, and by extension, on the backs of shareholders in the SDARS companies."
http://tinyurl.com/6pgnq2
Man, was I worried that that last round of meetings with the HD Radio clowns, to include Diane Warren of the IBLOCK A-LIE-ANCE might have pushed Tate over the edge. At least, Tate was smart enough not to be hussled by these HD gangsters. Hey Bobby Struble, still have that Goddamn smug look on your face? Bob is soliciting comments on his new blog - let's all email him (included in blog) to congratulate another fine effort by the HD hucksters:
http://www.ibiquity.com/about_us/message
Hey Bob - lies, lies, and more lies.
The price freeze is horse crap. That snake oil salesman Karmazin can jack 'em up however much he wants with a lame justification like that. With his quality management, I'd bet the combined company will have fewer subs in three years than XM does right now.
STOP THE CLOCK!
"I think Sirius has better ideas than to piss off customers."
You don't "think" very well then since Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin's greed and arrogance machine has been pushing this "merge" MONOPOLY scheme since 2006. I still pity those that "think" this "merger" is in any way good for subscribers.
"Ibiquity Fears Open Access Will Not Help Adoption Of HD Radio"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nobody gives a RAT's ASS about HD Radio .
I agree with Andrew. Our options other than listening to CDs and MP3s in our cars and homes sucks and even listening to your own collection gets old after a while no matter how big it is.I will gladly except Satrad over Testicular any day and once it becomes the same I have the power to cancel.It's not a cell phone plan people. We aren't tied in for 2 years. Yes , programming will change for both the better and worse but it still beats anything out there right now. Try to be happy with what we are offered now and in the future because they can't please everybody 100%.
Show some respect To Mr. Karmazin.
He can make this company a dream come true for consumers and investors alike.
Mr. Karmazin is a pro. A true American that worked hard against communists for these companies to become one and benefit everyone involved including the consumer.
Mel Karmazin and his team are the top in this area. If this company is going to make it. it will be because of them.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
But that was hilarous when he said,
My daughters don't have sex.
Not sure why it was cut off. It was funny.
Stock market is up++
Sirius is down--
Where's the vote?
Why does everyone think this is a done deal?
Everyone has reported like this has already happened. It hasn't. I want to see Mel shake hands with Martin--last page of the book--
Tate is hot
hey, that Bobby Struble at Ibiquity looks like a clone of Rehr at the NAB...funny.
hey, that Bobby Struble at Ibiquity looks like a clone of Rehr at the NAB...funny.
hey, that Bobby Struble at Ibiquity looks like a clone of Rehr at the NAB...funny.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
Why worry about what Howard says. Anybody with half a brain in their head does not form decisions from what they are fed from Howard, Imus, O'Reilly, or Rush. If they do hopefully it has no effect on anything and they are lost causes.
Tigerman: "Show some respect To Mr. Karmazin.
He can make this company a dream come true for consumers and investors alike.
Mr. Karmazin is a pro. A true American that worked hard against communists for these companies to become one and benefit everyone involved including the consumer.
Mel Karmazin and his team are the top in this area. If this company is going to make it. it will be because of them."
.......................................................
Puuleeeze! Are you that naive to think Mel is interested in customer satisfaction? Mel is a brilliant businessman, I'll give him that, but did you not know that he was reason #2 for the destruction of what was once terrestrial?
Mel almost singelhandedly destroyed terrestrial with a mass influx of commercials, stale repetitive playlists and mindless on-air talent.
Things tell me that it will be the same with SATRAD in a few short years.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
Where is the damn vote already !!
Take that green light off and make it yellow until its official. I've never been so friggin frustrated.
Sign the fuckin papers and end this nightmare already.
I thought the whole reason for this merger was not only to BENEFIT consumers BUT ALSO shareholders....WTF. Aaaahhhhhhhh. im pissed.
I thought the whole reason for this merger was not only to BENEFIT consumers BUT ALSO shareholders....WTF. Aaaahhhhhhhh. im pissed.
The sad part is that to this point it has benefited shareholders since Sirius would be at $ 1.00 & XM $ 5.00 without it.
Have patience & Sirius will likely get to $5 by end of next year.
(Yellow Sticky) Sign here >> X______________________________________
Deborah Taylor Tate
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
Get set...
where's the vote?
I agree to comments above---RYAN---MOVE THE GREEN BUTTON TO YELLOW until it is REALLY official. You also need to delete your post ("FCC--Done Deal).....It is not a done deal!
This could stretch over the weekend....
Siri shares are going negative fast----the price is down .15
RYAN-GREEN BUTTON NEEDS TO BE YELLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get set...
This should be getting more press... but OBAMA owns the Media.
Watch him come out and say that he supports the merger or better yet, he is now a republican!
HA HA HA HA
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
OR, Obama could say,"It's Jesse Jackson's fault - now go cut his NUTS off"
Whoa, before blaming Mel totally for the destruction of some terrestial, I believe Mr. Abrams himself was partly to blame in the earlier days for radio's demise as well.
Might as well figure they're going to raise prices within that 3-year "price freeze"....otherwise there's no reason to include "but they can, if"....so it's basically a price freeze that isn't a price freeze.
Its a great product...most who have it want to keep it...I may be wrong but I feel like 5 years from now we will have a powerhouse company. Who would have thought that the NFL would capitulate to ESPN on programing. ( NFL channel games will soon move to ESPN classic ) Why did it happen....? ESPN has the distribution and eyes...in the future SAT radio will have the distribution and the ears...unfortunately the stock is in soft hands right now...that will change. Frankly a steep fall in price should clear these people out. Remember free cash flow...it will be big starting late 2009...Mel K. is in the classic position of feeling he has to prove everyone wrong...do not bet against him..
boo hoo: "Whoa, before blaming Mel totally for the destruction of some terrestial, I believe Mr. Abrams himself was partly to blame in the earlier days for radio's demise as well.:
...................
Is that a joke? Lee was harnessed by his old boss, he had NOTHING to do with the demise of terrestrial, that prize goes to CC/Citadel/Mel Karmazin. Try reading Abrams blog, it'll open your eyes.
This took 18 months?
7/23/08
FCC Commissioner McDowell Announces Staff Change.
News Release: Word | Acrobat
WOW! Headline news yesterday on FCC site?!
OFFICIAL VOTE IS AT THE NEXT FCC MEETING, WHICH IS 8/1
WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!
OFFICIAL VOTE IS AT THE NEXT FCC MEETING, WHICH IS 8/1
WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!
"A 3-year price freeze, but one that still allows the companies to pass through programming costs"
Uh, doesn't sound like a price freeze to me.
XM-Sirius: Enforcement Action Is Apparent Hold-Up
XM Satellite Radio-Sirius Satellite Radio still not voted on Friday morning.
By John Eggerton
The XM Satellite Radio-Sirius Satellite Radio merger had still not been voted on Friday morning, apparently over a hold-up in a vote by the commissioners on a consent decree settling a rules-violation complaint against the two companies, with Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin's the missing vote.
Still, the chairman was expected to sign off and the merger to go through, so the hold-up could be administrative or strategic.
A source said commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate was not planning to vote on the merger until that enforcement action was taken, and she already cast her vote for it. Commissioner Robert McDowell also voted to approve it.
That leaves Martin's vote, ironically, as the key missing ingredient to issuing the consent decree and paving the way for the merger review he has been trying to wrap up.
The two commission Democrats haven't voted on the enforcement action, according to a source, and they are already on record opposing the merger, so they are unlikely to tip the balance even if they agree that the companies should have to pay a combined $20 million for the violations related to the placement and power levels of equipment.
Thursday morning, XM and Sirius announced that they were in discussions with the FCC and outlined the terms of the settlement, including the price they would be paying.
It is unclear what the hold-up is, but it would certainly not be the first time last-minute negotiations put a crimp in the chairman's plans.
No one was available in the chairman's office to respond.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
WRSP?
I am sorry to inform everyone that orbitcast is behaving like the DEMOCRATS!
Can't put this one under the rug!
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
Poor Mel has been praying for 18 months and he has it almost in his grasp and Martin is teasing him.
I agree with Sirius Buzz article that once approved we need a new symbol because the market manipulation of these stocks is just rediculous.
I say SXM
Got a question:
If this was an IPO and you knew that subscriptions were going to increase (in the next 3 months) why would you not get in now?
You mean like, sic'em fido?
RUN DOG RUN!
SIXM
I'd want to see an SIXM as the new symbol.
SICK EM!!
SIXM is available...
Makes me think of the "Sixth Man" in basketball, but in this case...
it's more like the consumers are the sixth man.
GO SIRI~
"HD Issue To be addressed FOLLOWING merger"
"It looks as though the HD mandate is NOT off the table. However it does appear based a new filing that the commission will take it up as a seperate issue following the merger approval..."
http://tinyurl.com/6nb4ge
Fuck it - this still is not over!
Someone tell me why SIXM would not shoot to 30 bucks monday? Please give examples of other stocks that show that this does not happen.
I mean really? Isn't this like an IPO?
LAST CALL... AAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ABOARD!
slow day huh? no news? really?
I THINK this is news in the satellite world, right? Stern is on Satellite, right?
PIGS. ORBITCAST PIGS.
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080724152511.aspx
DOES ANYONE ELSE JUST FEEL AS BEATEN DOWN AS I DO, REALLY FEELING NAUSEOUS FROM ALL THE MANIPULATION OF MARKET FROM YESTERDAY'S PREOPEN THROUGH TODAY SO FAR.
WHERE IS THE FUCKING VOTE AND PRESS RELEASE ALREADY !!! MY GOD THIS IS SUCH SUCH BULLSHIT I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE.
WHO GIVES A FUCK ABOUT WHAT LEE ABRAMS THINKS.
GIVE US SOME NEWS ON THE PRECEDINGS TODAY, MARTINS VOTE ON ENFORCEMENT AND TATES VOTE FOR MERGER DAMMIT !!!
Mel "Now I lay me down to sleep.. the merger complete, I begin the screwing over of XM"....
You idiot who said above - XM was out of business without this merger. Nobody would have refinanced the debt without seeing this merger was going through.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A GREEN LIGHT AND SAY "ESSENTIALLY THE MERGER IS APPROVED"
IT IS OR IT ISN'T.
I GUESS WE WAIT TILL MONDAY...AGAIN............................
According to a leading publication (B & C) Tate won't yes till the Chair (Martin) votes on the enforcement decree. Martin won't approve the enforcement decree because he is afraid
Tate will then vote "no" leaving XM and Sirius with a huge fine and no merger. In other words,
this is turning into a soap opera.