I hope the FCC says no to the merger. My family has 3 XM radios, and we think that a merger would be bad because of the potential for a monopoly.

Your concern is unnecessary in that area. They wont be allowed to raise prices significantly for a couple reasons...

1) The FCC/DOJ will require fixed prices for a set period of time as part of the requirements if they approve.
2) FCC/DOJ will require them to maintain their legacy broadcast methods for a period of time.
3) A la carte pricing and combined programming will provide more choice to the customer.

The thing is... I really believe this merger is in the best interests of technological advancement and consumers.

The concern of a monopoly is not right because these companies really do compete with much more than just eachother. Everything from free radio and MP3 players to cell phones and internet radio compete with eachother. Satellite radio is just another method for delivering the same content as everyone else.

No, my concern is necessary. While the satellite radio companies are competing against mp3s, etc., my family is paying $12 a month per radio to XM, and if there is a merger there is no guarantee that the price will stay down. Even a minor increase would hit us in the gut.
My family gets XM for a number of reasons, the biggest one being that they air every single MLB game. That really doesn't compete with MP3. I also listen to XM 164, the old-time radio channel, and that has no MP3 competition. The thing that some people don't get is that XM radio is so much more than just radio.

Believe me I understand what XM is... And it's just a radio. It's a radio with national coverage and 170+ channels, but it's just a radio.

Did you not see the part where I told you that the FCC/DOJ will require them to hold their prices for a given period of time?

Then with a la carte pricing you should be able to get your sports programming and some music for LESS than you're currently paying.

Believe me when I tell you that the merger should be in the best interest of the consumer...

Oh, and you definitely should not be paying $12 per radio.

First radio should be $12.95/month and each additional radio on the same account should be $6.99/month (family plan). Call XM to fix it...

short or long

Naah, js, I'm just a little squirt, so I was just guessing at what I thought I remembered. I was wrong. But so were you. It's not just a radio. It helps me get my homework done (164 in background), helps me with the PPX (CNN 122, 123), and provides music during dinner (113, or 5 if mom's not home). I really don't care what the FCC says about the price. The big corporations seem to always find a way around the rules.

And for those of you who think that this won't create a monopoly, here's one definition from dictionary.com.
"Monopoly: the market condition that exists when there is only one seller." If XM and Sirius merge, who else is offering this kind of service?

And I agree with you about the date. This should have been an open ended prop. So, dominator, short this sucker!

Milk, if you think of the marketplace as audio-media delivery devices then Everything from free radio and MP3 players to cell phones and internet radio compete with eachother. And it wouldn't be a monopoly. If you don't define the market that way, then it would be a monopoly. This is the very question the FCC and DOJ are arguing.

Anyway, I think the merger will be approved (well, like 50/50) but the marketplace definitely believes it wont be. So short away.

The question isn't whether or not they will merge, it's whether or not they will merge by May 1st.

You have to consider whether or not you think it will be approved in your decision... Not rocket science...

I definitely think regulators will rule by May 1st. If you think they'll rule for then you have to consider if XM and Sirius will make announcements quickly after that...

If you don't think it'll be approved than it's really a non-issue.

It won't be a long with a date of May first. However, I'm really worried about it happening in the long run.

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/fcc-may-not-decide-on-siriusxm-merger-by-end-of-quarter.html

Justice department OKs the merger........ May 1st looking like a long!!!

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/24/news/companies/xm_sirius/index.htm?postversion=2008032415

Check out the link...

I changed my position to long..

This was the major problem in this IPo and now thats it is cleared, it looks like a definite long!!

Cashed out my short to bank profits and switched to long... Not because I think May 1st will be met but because I believe the perception is that it will be met.

If you're long on this keep an eye on it... It could miss May 1st fairly easily.

Hm.. May 1s should be long enough for an announcement...

I mean common he news has been on the market for a while now and their shares would fall big time if they didn't go ahead with the merger....

they announced the approval tonight lets see when the offer goes.
Cnn.com

Did the terms of this stock change?

Just sold my long shares and am waiting for everyone to realize this isn't going to happen before I go short again.

This isn't going to happen by May 1st.

FCC may respond before then, but if they approve with conditions (which I believe is the expectation) then Sirius and XM will not come to an agreement before the month's end.

guys,

I don't think the FCC is going to let one company control a whole medium.

Think about it,

Terrestrial radio is a competitive marketplace involving multiple hardware and content companies.

Television is a competitive marketplace involving multiple hardware and content companies.

Cable TV/Satellite TV are competitive marketplaces involving multiple hardware and content companies.

Short Wave Radio is a competitive marketplace involving multiple hardware and content companies.

Telephone is a competitive marketplace involving multiple hardware and service provders,

Cellular telephony is a competitive marketplace involving multiple hardware and service providers.

I think the horse is dead now.

I think if the FCC allows xm and sirius to merge into one company it is bucking almost 75 years of regulatory precedent. I don't see this happening even with Dubya in the White House.

You are wrong and here is why...

The FCC has never gone against the DOJ. And they wouldn't agree with the DOJ in this case just to play nice... They will agree because the DOJ has essentially said that the competitive marketplace includes other forms on content delivery, not just satellite radio (e.g. AM/FM/HD radio, MP3, internet radio, etc).

I continue to believe that the FCC will approve, but with conditions.

Also, that even after the FCC approves the companies will not announce the merger before May 1st.

I wish I could bet real money on this...

I wish I wouldn't have to bet money on this. It never should have been considered.
Who is the DOJ kidding?
Cell phones compete against land-lines, but there is more than one company providing each service.

Stop worrying about your damn subscription rates. They are not going to change anytime within the first few years of the merger. Jeez.

Just drink the kool-aid...
Life is good...
I like Xrius...

I'll say this...

The only possible way this gets pulled off is through meetings like this.

If the FCC plays nice and gives the companies insight into what is coming and they are able to plan out their next actions well before the announcement... THEN there could be a bang bang FCC then XM/Sirius announcements. I don't expect that, but I'll throw it out there as an outside possibility.

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/siriusxm-merger-fcc-commissioner-meeting-last-week.html

Why is it going up!!!

Even though Jshariat posted that link, it is still very inlikely this is going to happen.....

We have less than a month a to hammer out a deal will take some time!!!!!

It is going up because... people are covering their shorts and buying it.

(Thanks guys, I lost 3.5k)

why is satrad classified as a web trend ? ? ? ? ?
can i get it on my computer or ipod?
i dunno just asking.

You can get XM on your computer...don't know about Sirius but it wouldn't suprise me.

XM/Sirius, who cares they both have HairNation which is alll i need.

(Hair metal, people, hair metal)

Everyone gearing up for me to be right about this short? :-D

I've got it short, so I'm behind you. All we need is for Novey and Skyler to come in here and set it in stone.

OMG!!!!!!!!!

I am the STONE MASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CANT SET IT IN STONE WIthout me..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Okay.......
OMG!!!!!!!!
WE CAN'T SET IT IN STONE WITHOUT RAHULR!!!!!
EVERYONE TAKE NOTE!!!!!!!
Does anybody have a chisel so we can get to work setting it in stone?

Ill lend you one for 1 million PPX$..................................................................................................................................................LOOL

I'm shorting it.

Novotny?

Oh, and rahulr, if you try to stop us, I'll invoke my water drill.

sounds like a comment for a different kind of forum