Sirius Xm News

Like we didn’t see this one coming.

XM Satellite
Radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio today announced
that the companies have agreed not to exercise their rights to terminate the
Merger Agreement prior to May 15, 2008. SIRIUS and XM also announced that
they have agreed to further extend the merger agreement, as necessary, for
rolling two week periods unless either side notifies the other of its
intention not to extend.

The closing of the pending merger remains subject to the approval from the
Federal Communications Commission and satisfaction of all other applicable
conditions. On March 24, 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice informed SIRIUS
and XM that it ended its investigation into the pending merger, that it has
concluded that the merger is not anti-competitive, and that it will allow the
transaction to proceed. SIRIUS and XM each obtained stockholder approval for
the pending merger in November 2007.

XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio today announced that they have postponed their 2008 annual meeting
of stockholders. The companies will announce a new date for the meeting when there is further information relating to the timing of the pending merger.

Maybe they know something we don’t? Hopefully this is good news.

[Via:Cnn.com]

The attorneys general of four states have
added their voices to 10 others opposing the merger of XM and Sirius
Satellite Radio. The top public prosecutors from Connecticut, Maryland,
Ohio and Washington sent a three-page letter last week to Kevin Martin,
chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, urging him not to
approve the merger. FCC approval is the last hurdle faced by the
satellite companies, whose proposed merger has already been approved by
the U.S. Department of Justice.

The letter–almost identical to the one sent by 10 other state
attorneys general toward the end of March–argues that the merger would
decrease competition and harm consumers.

If the merger gets a green light, however, the attorneys general added
that the FCC should set aside part of the satellite-accessible spectrum
for a free service to be started by a new third-party company. They
reason that this is a minimum requirement for preserving competition
once the two dominant entities have merged.

The letter from the attorneys general isn’t
the only petition containing a conditional request. While terrestrial
broadcasters have stated their opposition to the merger in no uncertain
terms, the HD Digital Radio Alliance–representing the same
companies–sent the FCC a petition asking that satellite radio sets be
required to include HD receivers, if the satellite merger is approved.

[Via:Mediapost.com]

Arbitron has released ratings for satellite radio for the fall of 2007 and Howard Stern’s Sirius
channels are still the most-listened to stations on either service. The
survey found that over half a million listeners had signed up for
satellite radio since the Spring 2007 survey. As one would expect, the NFL on Sirius and holiday-related stations saw an increase in listenership in the fall as opposed to the spring survey.

[Via:FMQB]

Today Citi listed XM Satellite Radio with a Hold (from Buy). Price target lowered from $17 to $12.25. Citi rates Sirius with a Buy. Price target $9.

Citi analyst says, “Satellite radio should continue to change the audio
entertainment industry and gain share as its proves to be fresh (no
need to create play lists or buy MP3s), original, cost effective, and a
simple way to access premium/long tail content that can not be
supported via radio or MP3 models. Given the highly fixed cost base of
the companies, we view the sub growth as the key driver of the stocks
and we see the industry having up to 55 million subsripts by 2011
(+33.3% CAGR)…70% Merger Probability - We believe that the proposed
merger between SIRI and XMSR will drive significant costs savings (we
forecast ~$500 mil by 2010 or 13% of the expense base) and potential
revenue synergies of another $400 million.”

I’m not going to comment on this story because we have heard things like this in the past and right now it is just another rumor for this ever evolving merger.

Just a short post right now.

Head on over to http://www.satfans.com/

and take the short little questionnaire. Clear Channel wants your opinion of their Satellite Radio channels and commercials that Air on them.

If you are an XM subscriber take a minute to fill it out and let them know what you think.

[Via: Orbitcast.com]

Technorati Tags: xm radio, clear channel

Howard 100 news has confirmed Artie Lange will be back on the show Monday morning.

There is also Audio of Artie at a gig saying the same thing. The question is, will he be back for good or is he just coming back to say goodbye to everyone and finally leave the show?

Guess we will have to tune in Monday to figure everything out. I’m sure this is one of the most anticipated Howard Stern shows in a long time.

Here is the Video to the Artie Audio

Skip to 1:30 to hear it.

Stay Tuned for more info on Monday.

Technorati Tags: artie lange, returns to howard stern show, howard 100 news

WASHINGTON, April 18 (Reuters) - A senior Democratic
senator urged U.S. communications regulators on Friday to block
Sirius Satellite Radio’s purchase of rival XM
Satellite Radio, saying the deal would lead to higher
prices to customers.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, a high-ranking member of the Senate
Commerce Committee, wrote to the chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission saying the agency should not follow
the “illogical” decision of the Justice Department, which last
month granted the deal antitrust approval.

“This merger is contrary to the public interest. I hope
that the FCC will stand up for competition in the public
interest and deny this merger,” Dorgan, of North Dakota, said
in the letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

The merger would bring entertainers such as Oprah Winfrey
and shock-jock Howard Stern under the same banner. It has been
criticized as anti-competitive by the traditional radio
industry, and by some U.S. lawmakers including Dorgan.

However, antitrust authorities at the Justice Department
approved the combination after concluding it would not harm
consumers. The department said satellite radio companies face
stiff competition from traditional AM/FM radio, high-definition
radio, MP3 players and audio delivered by mobile phones.

With the Justice Department’s approval in hand, analysts
have said XM and Sirius are unlikely to face outright
opposition from the FCC, although the agency could impose
conditions on the deal designed to protect consumers and
preserve competition.

Under U.S. law, the FCC is tasked with looking beyond
competition issues and determining whether a communications
deal is in the overall public interest.

Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin has promised that the
combined company would let customers buy channels individually
as well as let them block adult channels and get a refund for
those channels. Sirius has also said all existing XM and Sirius
satellite radios will continue to work after the merger.
(Reporting by Peter Kaplan; editing by Tim Dobbyn)

[Via: Reuters.com]

Sen. Byron Dorgan is obviously getting money from Terrestrial/HD radio companies. Why else would this guy care about this merger so much. I think someone should look into this guys finances and see who is feeding his pockets.

Like Sen. Dorgan is really concerned with the publics interest and the price of Satellite Radio going up. It has already been stated and filed with the FCC that the price will remain the same.

Sen. Dorgan go worry about something else…like the war or the current state of our economy.

http://dorgan.senate.gov/contact/

Technorati Tags: fcc, sirius xm news, sirius xm merger news

It has been 14 months since the merger was announced and now 4 weeks since the DOJ decision.

Sirius and XM stocks continue to fall. There is no word from the FCC and no one seems to be putting pressure on them
to do anything about it.

I’m starting to wonder if Sirius and XM are going to need to extend the partnership again?

This is getting ridiculous and we need to start taking action again if we want to see results.

It would be interesting to see how many mergers the FCC approved in the time that we have been waiting for the Sirius Xm merger.
It continues to amaze me that something so simple can drag on for so long.

Really what is the problem? Cant these companies just grow up and stop trying to get a piece of everything Sirius and Xm are trying to accomplish?

If they are that worried that this merger will hurt them, why not take the time to better your service and attract new listeners instead of putting all of your
resources into fighting this merger?

I guess this is just one big rant, but I’m getting sick of this dragging on and I would like to see the merger happen before we see a new president in office.

I wonder if things would be different under a new administration?

Come on Kevin…make a decision please!!!!!!!!!

In the mean time please take a few minutes of your time and send a message to the FCC.

Stand Up and Be Counted

XM Listeners Click Here

Sirius Listeners Here

Please fill out the form and let the FCC know you will not tolerate this kind of behavior anymore.

Technorati Tags: sirius xm news, merger news, fcc, kevin martin

‘Tony Stewart Live’ will broadcast live from Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, TN

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will host a
special broadcast of his weekly SIRIUS NASCAR Radio show Tony Stewart
Live from Graceland, the Memphis home of Elvis Presley.

Tony Stewart Live from Graceland will air Monday, May 12 (8:00-10:00
pm ET/7:00-9:00 pm CT) exclusively on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, channel 128.
Stewart and co-host Matt Yocum will host the show in front of a live
audience, giving SIRIUS listeners from coast to coast a glimpse into
the personal life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Before going on
his SIRIUS NASCAR Radio show, Stewart will also perform as a guest DJ
live on SIRIUS’ Elvis Radio, where he will play a selection of his
favorite Elvis songs. Elvis Radio, channel 13, is the world’s first and
only officially authorized, commercial-free, Elvis all-the-time radio
station. Elvis Radio broadcasts live from Graceland, airing music from
the early years, the classics, the comebacks, rarities, live tracks and
basically everything Elvis ever recorded — exclusively on SIRIUS.

For more information on this event, visit www.sirius.com/nascar. For more information on booking a tour of Graceland visit www.elvis.com.

Technorati Tags: nascar, tony stewart, sirius