Some good news for sports fans who have had to choose between Sirius or XM satellite radio service to get some live sports coverage. The US Justice Department has given its blessing to Sirius' proposed buyout of XM.The Justice Department, in a statement explaining its decision, said the combination of the companies won't hurt competition because the companies are not competing today. Customers must buy equipment that is exclusive to either XM or Sirius, and subscribers rarely switch providers.The most intense lobbying effort to block the sale was from land-based radio powers. The Justice Department, though, recognized that the competition by satellite radio wasn't against each other. The competition is with regular radio, the emerging HD Radio and internet/streaming radio.
"People just don't do that," said Assistant Attorney General Thomas Barnett, in a conference call with reporters.
This doesn't end potential government disruption. The Federal Communications Commission still has to grant approval. It does, however, clear a major hurdle and makes it more likely that the two will be merged.
This will be a boon for those who have been torn about which satellite service with which to sign. XM holds the rights to the PGA, MLB, NHL along with deals with the six BCS conferences. Sirius, however, has the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, the NCAA (including the NCAA Basketball Tournament) along with the rights to individual college sports teams like Ohio State, Alabama, UCLA, Pitt and Notre Dame.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Sad day in radio when any of them have to merge because that eliminates competition and competition is THEE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS BROADCASTERS HONEST, OTHERWISE THEY BECOME JUST AS ESPN HAS BECOME; LAZY, UNINTERESTING, NON-FRESH BLOB OF LOW LEVEL SIMULCASTS AND TO THINK MR ESPY, NEVER KNEW THEY WOULD DO "THIS" TO HIS BABY WHICH HE BUILT BY HAND. OH SURE, THERE'S POTENTIAL BUT IF NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE HELL TO DO, IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AND WITH THE MERGER, IT DOESN'T EVER EVER HAVE TO HAPPEN. THE BIG BEAR ATE THE LIL BEAR.....burp
Posted at 1:32PM on Mar 26th 2008 by tooslick
2. Congrats to the merger!! It took long enough for it to go thru, at least for the Justice Dept. that is. Now we have to wait for the FCC, which hopefully, won't take as long. But u have 2 love freedom of speech. As an individual, who has the right to tell u what u can and cannot say. One should feel free to voice there opinion. With radio today, you can only say certain things on the air, before you can possibly get bleeped without even knowing it. Satellite radio will b around for awhile, and I'm proud to be a subscriber to Sirius. Damn the man! Let Satellite Radio Live!!
Posted at 6:29PM on Mar 26th 2008 by TGamutan
3. Tooslick:
I think I told you this on another post page but you missed it, I think I love ya, man! You're very creative and insightful with your comments, not to mention very humerous! Please do stick around. As a regular on these pages, I like having you!
And TGamutan:
I have to agree with Tooslick. I find merges scary as it creates a monoloply and elimates competition like he said. That being said however, I will jump on your bandwagon on the free speech thing. As a Mother to three young children, it is MY JOB and nobody else's to censor what they see and hear. I pay for cable, yet everything is censored. Why? I pay for it. It's not national public television. I have blocked stations I don't want the children watching on their televisions and I supervise them regularly. I don't like that the radio stations I listen to locally censor parts of songs because it just might "offend" someone! If that person is offended so easily, then they should lock themselves up in their home and never leave!
Well, I could go on and on about free speech forever but I am sure I am boring people so that's all for now. :-)
Kim
Posted at 9:44AM on Mar 28th 2008 by Kim
4.
The merger is absolutely pro-consumer.
Satellite radio is a paid-service. You have to choose to subscribe to it; thus, whatever ideas are expressed in sports or other areas can be held accountable with your choice to remain a customer.
Plus, with over 200 channels, you certainly can find dissenting views any time you want.
XM and Sirius never have competed with themselves exclusively. They compete with all entertainment entities, which is so difficult in a tight economy where consumers have limited disposable income.
If a consumer has an abundance of extra income, they can choose an expanded cable channel package, TV on their cell phone, regular purchases on I-tunes, NetFlix and satellite radio in addition to whatever free entertainment is available.
If a consumer has more limited extra income, then they will have to make choices as to what they value and enjoy the most. It is their choice to make, which is how a free economy of sorts is designed to work.
If you have not tried satellite radio and can afford it, I highly recommend it. I also look forward to a better version of satellite radio for the consumer if this merger is approved, and, let there be no doubt, this merger should be approved.
Posted at 11:07AM on Mar 28th 2008 by Dean