I'm still digesting this. Hopefully, I don't have to buy new gear, but I'm sure that'll be the case.

http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=p...s&item=1423

This only makes sense if they want to survive. When HD radio goes full on, it's going to provide even bigger competition for them. They'll always have free speech advantages over radio, but that's not going to be enough in order to compete.

HD radio did nothing for me. It was still half commericals, the other half was the same crap FM playlists, even if it sounded slightly better.

HD radio could be great if radio would learn people want music. A lot of stations are turning to the "Hank" format. Still the same bands but putting in some not-so-often heard stuff.

But with HD, they could expand in to other genres. Maybe even *gasp* an indie music one!

They are still (and always) going to be a slave to the ad revenue. I can't ever go back to terrestrial radio. I just wish sat radio would improve the sound quality a little.

Sirius > all

word. Sirius r0x0rZ!!!!!1111!!

Bloomberg's take is that Sirius is buying XM. So does that mean Howard won the satellite radio war for Sirius? I'll bet when he's back on tomorrow that's his take on things.

I just want to see what it does for my Sirius stock.

Amen, I don't have much, but any boost will be good. It has been depressed for quite some time.

I bought 1000 shares at $4 I figured I would just hold them and see what happens.

They ran up to $8 then back down to a little under $4 and stayed there, oh well in ten years it will look like a smart move or I'll be out $4000

I'm still trying to figure out how the merger is going to survive the FCC ruling a long time ago that they could never merge.

I would say this is far from being a done deal.

As stockholders, what did you guys think when they gave Stern a 1/2 billion contract?

I didn't like it, just because a lot of people listen to him doesn't mean they would PAY to listen to him. Sirius isn't a real shareholder friendly company, but they need to spend the bucks to get the content if they want the subscribers.

Well the FCC may let it go through as its not truly a monopolization of the market. When the FCC authorized satellite radio, it specifically found that the public would be served best by two competitive nationwide systems, however, both of those companies are losing money so there's a chance. Plus, satellite radio companies compete with broadcast radio and internet radio as well.

For the FCC to say that this would be a monopoly is like saying that Hasbro is a monopoly because they're the only company that makes GI Joe figures. You can't ignore the rest of the market. However, the DirecTV/Echostar (Dish) merger was blocked because it would create a monopoly in areas where there is no terrestrial signal, and this could probably be applied to satellite radio as well, so who knows.

What will happen to your stock is a good question. XM has more subscribers but Sirius' value is higher, and by the end of 2006, Sirius was gaining more subscribers at a pretty rapid rate, probably due to such strong Christmas promotions. Having Opie & Anthony and Stern on the same service would be pretty huge (personally I don't listen to either).

Here's a blurb from the AP:



There is something in the near future that will make all of this a moot point though. As public radio continues its slowly but surely imminent death, and satellite radio is holding steady, wi-fi (which will soon be wi-max) will be available via cell towers and Internet radio will be available via the airwaves via multicasting. At which point, all hell breaks loose and the FCC goes down in flames.

I'll agree with Coma that HD radio won't work. Currently most radio stations only broadcast at 128 bitrate (line from the station to the tower) and I'm unsure what sat uses. Radio is doomed overall though. Too many limitations and no interest in it's audience.

People refer to the HD part as "Hybrid Digital" Radio.

Testicle radio is dead! I love Sirius. I never thought I'd have to or want to pay radio but after getting Sirius I could never listen to 4 songs and 14 minutes of commercials again. I can listen to any type of musical genre, talk radio and with the merger The MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, & NASCAR. To me its $13 a month well spent. I am commuting 2 hours a day and it makes my ride almost bearable

XM recreates D-Day radio coverage



For the first time, I wish I had XM instead of Sirius. I bet this will be interesting.

DoJ ruling on the merger within 30 days and it looks promising. Bring on the tiered, a la carte pricing structure!

http://www.siriusbackstage.com/2007/09/06/...within-30-days/

Good maybe this will get the stock price moving a little bit.

Really does seem the FCC has long outlived its usefulness. I'm sure, being a government organization. That it will be phased out shortly.

Finally! The Justice Dept. gives the OK for the merger.

We just need FCC approval now.

Which is expected, since they were waiting to see which way the DOJ would go.

Spot on, I never would of thought it. But time is marching on. With commutes or family visits I'm in. We got Sirius.