XM / Sirius Merger

mjeischen · Post by **mjeischen** » November 2, 2007 4:34 pm

Do we know any more about WHEN. I was at a Golf outing this summer and I got XM stuff. Well I'm not going to pay for XM because I want Sirius and RM. I just want to know how much longer I have to wait . . .

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » November 2, 2007 5:23 pm

Is it possible that Jesse Jackson doesn't speak for all black people?!?!?

http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_ge. ... e=20071010

New Supporters of SIRIUS/XM Merger Urge FCC Approval

Wednesday October 10, 12:01 PM EDT

WASHINGTON, and NEW YORK, Oct 10, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (SIRI) and XM Satellite Radio (XMSR)today highlighted additional support they have received for their merger in recent weeks from Members of Congress, consumer advocates, automaker Kia Motors and diverse on-air talent, including Charlie Daniels and Deepak Chopra. These recent filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urge approval of the merger, noting the many benefits the merger of XM and SIRIUS will offer consumers. The latest comments were added to the thousands of favorable comments from individuals, as well as from organizations such as the NAACP, the Latino Coalition, the League of Rural Voters and the Parents Television Council.

Members of Congress
Comments supporting the merger were filed by Rep. Eliot Engel (D - NY), Rep. Rick Boucher (D - VA), Rep. Anthony Weiner (D - NY) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R - TX). Their supportive comments focused on the merger's consumer benefits:

a1aara · Post by **a1aara** » November 4, 2007 8:43 am

Analyst: DOJ Will Clear Satcaster Merger

By Jeffrey Yorke

Shares of Sirius and XM jumped 5% apiece Friday (Nov. 2) after Cowen & Co. analyst Tom Watts sent a morning note to his clients that Thomas Barnett, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, “will approve” the proposed $13.6 billion merger between the two satellite radio companies.

In his “Quick Take” note, Watts said that “the approval would come despite a staff recommendation against the deal, which could be heard as early as next week.” Watts said the assistant AG's ”acting contrary to the recommendations of his staff would be similar to the DOJ’s approval of Whirlpool’s acquisition of Maytag.” Last year, Whirlpool bid to acquire Maytag, consolidating the U.S. dishwasher market to a 50% share and the washer/dryer market to a 70% share. While the DOJ staff was positioning to block the deal -- and had even taken sworn testimony from competitors and suppliers to prepare a court challenge to the deal -- it was approved by Barnett.

“We continue to expect both DOJ and FCC approval of the deal,” Watts wrote. “Denying the deal would have to be based on the ludicrous position that satellite radio does not compete with terrestrial radio and any other form of mobile communications.”

Watts added that he believes a decision could be “as soon as next week.”

Nearly 60 million shares of SIRI traded hands Friday as the stock price increased 16 cents to close at $3.28, while 6.7 million shares of XMSR were sold, ending the day with a gain of 67 cents to $13.12 a share.

Meanwhile, ISS, the independent proxy advisory firm, on Friday recommended that Sirius and XM shareholders vote in favor of the proposed merger. The recommendation comes on the heels of same recommendation from Glass, Lewis & Co. earlier in the week.

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/

zydecoldsmobile · Post by **zydecoldsmobile** » November 8, 2007 2:05 pm

sonofabeach wrote:
Dezdmona wrote:
spartan1979 wrote:It's not like satellite radio is a necessity.
No. Especially if you live in a larger metropolitan area, with a varitety of stations.
or if you have enough cds or downloads that you can play what you want to hear.

For me, satellite radio is a necessity, an alternative to my own cd mixes. Like most who read this, I've got every album JB has released (and then some) but I really enjoy Radio Margaritaville on, what else, satellite! How much JB is on milk-dud commercial radio? Nada, save for "Margaritaville"...Jesse Jackson claiming comm radio preserves diversity? What??

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » November 8, 2007 2:20 pm

A related note, you can get 20 XM stations for free at AOL Radio, another 60 or so if you're an AOL member.

http://music.aol.com/radioguide/bb

free XM station listing: http://music.aol.com/radioguide/xm_radio_guide

SuperTrooper · Post by **SuperTrooper** » November 8, 2007 3:45 pm

chippewa wrote:A related note, you can get 20 XM stations for free at AOL Radio, another 60 or so if you're an AOL member.

http://music.aol.com/radioguide/bb

I found "Surf" and "Hawaiian" but not the XM "tropical" station.

MyElement · Post by **MyElement** » November 12, 2007 2:43 pm

Wish this would hurry up and happen.....

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » November 12, 2007 2:53 pm

I have xm and the so called tropical station is latin music, so not really tropical. I like 101 which is reggae, the closest thing I can find. I am waiting for this merger, so I can have sirius added to my programming. I have had XM for about 4 years and I would never go back to regular old radio, can't stand the commercials. I got this with my Honda, but probably wouldn't have gone out and purchased it on my own.

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » November 12, 2007 3:03 pm

I'm not so sure all the programming is just going to be combined, is it? This could still be two separate systems, requiring two different receivers as it is now. The merger might just be on the business end, transparent to listeners. They'd save money on duplicate adminstration that would be downsized.

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » November 12, 2007 5:18 pm

Don't know for sure, either. They indicated in their first letter telling us about the merger that this could be happening, now nothing further mentioned, so I am not so sure....

TheSecretsInTheCrust · November 12, 2007 6:19 pm

There have been ads running on Sirius to urge share holders to vote yes next week and a none vote is a no vote.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » November 12, 2007 11:25 pm

TheSecretsInTheCrust wrote:There have been ads running on Sirius to urge share holders to vote yes next week and a none vote is a no vote.

Got my vote in.

Today was the deadline. The shareholders meeting is tomorrow.

mjeischen · Post by **mjeischen** » November 13, 2007 10:17 am

I just need a date. I won XM equipment at a golf outing and frankly see no value in it until I can access RM. Once the merger happens and I have access to RM I will sign up. Until then I can deal with commercials.

I listen to sports radio now and the reason I like the station I listen to so much is because its local vs ESPn which is national. Does XM or Sirirus over me a local outlet?

Post by **SMLCHNG** » November 14, 2007 10:25 am

Satellite Radio Shareholders Approve Merger
Shareholders from both Sirius and XM voted Tuesday to approve the pending satellite radio merger between the competitors at separate company meetings.

Preliminary voting numbers at both satellite radio companies indicate the merger was approved with an overwhelmingly majority of stockholders. XM said upwards of 98 percent of voters approved the company's plans to merge, while Sirius said about 96 percent agreed to go forward with the union.

"The approval by Sirius stockholders of our merger with XM represents a significant step in the approval process," said Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin. "We look forward to completing the merger by the end of the year, and together with XM, becoming an even stronger competitor in the ever expanding audio entertainment marketplace."

Gary Parsons, XM's chairman agreed saying, "Today's vote is the latest demonstration of the strong support for our merger from a wide range of individuals and prestigious organizations who recognize the benefits that a merger will bring to consumers."

The merger remains subject to regulatory approval by the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Under terms of the deal, XM stockholders would receive 4.6 Sirius shares for each XM share they hold, XM said.

barefoothawk · Post by **barefoothawk** » November 15, 2007 8:32 pm

They merger from the customer standards is a go. Now it just has to get through the fcc regulations

BuffettNews.com

XM / Sirius Merger

merger XM/sirus