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"Stern's biggest crime is that he became too good at what he has done, to the point that he's indispensible," Munarriz writes. "If so, he also has a third option that would shun both terrestrial and satellite radio entirely."
Munarriz writes, "One of the reasons Sirius XM's streaming application through Apple failed to move the needle was the lack of Stern. His contract excludes streaming through wireless devices. How many more people will own smartphones come 2011? Will there be enough for Stern to launch his own premium app? If he can get a million diehard fans to pay $8.33 a month for app access, that's a $100 million gross right there, before we begin to consider sponsorships and other revenue-generating possibilities. He's been given plenty of autonomy at Sirius XM, but this would be his empire entirely, as he once again would ride the hot media trend of the moment." Check out the full article here .
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/11/2009 03:20:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"Beginning tomorrow, the (iPhone) App will be available," a customer service representative for the New York-based company said on Wednesday.
The iPhone service, which can also be used by iPod Touch Wi-Fi users, will be free for Sirius customers who subscribe to its Internet option. Others will have to pay about $3 month, the representative said.
The move is seen an important way for Sirius to gain and retain subscribers, by providing easier access to its news, talk, music and sports programing through means other than its traditional satellite-based platform."
Labels: app store, iphone, iphone 3G, iphone 3GS, satellite radio, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/17/2009 09:08:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: 3G iPhone, app store, iphone, satellite radio, software, touch
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/03/2009 08:53:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"Sirius XM Satellite Radio has been working with advisers to prepare for a possible bankruptcy filing in a move that could put pressure on the satellite company EchoStar, which owns a substantial amount of the company’s debt.
Sirius has been working with the restructuring expert Joseph A. Bondi of Alvarez & Marsal and the bankruptcy lawyer Mark Thompson of Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett to help prepare a Chapter 11 filing, people close to the company said. The documents and analysis are close to being completed and a filing could come within days, according to a person familiar with the matter." Via The New York Times .
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/10/2009 09:10:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Combined Company Has Over 18.5 Million Subscribers, Annualized Second Quarter
Revenue Exceeding $2.4 Billion
Company to Offer Consumers Best of Both Services, While Maximizing Significant Efficiencies
NEW YORK, July 29, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) and XM Satellite Radio today announced that they have completed their merger, resulting in the nation's premier radio company. The new company plans to change its corporate name to SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. The combined company's stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "SIRI."
SIRIUS XM Radio begins day one with over 18.5 million subscribers, making it the second-largest radio company, based upon revenue, in the country; and, based upon subscribers, the second largest subscription media business in the U.S. With under 10% penetration of the home and car market, the opportunity for continued growth is significant.
"I am delighted to announce the completion of this exciting merger between SIRIUS and XM," said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS XM Radio. "We have worked diligently to close this transaction and we look forward to integrating our best-in-class management teams and operations so we can begin delivering on our promise of more choices and lower prices for subscribers."
"Every one of our constituencies is a winner. Combined, SIRIUS XM Radio will deliver superior value to our shareholders. By offering more compelling packages and the best content in audio entertainment, we are well positioned for increased subscriber growth. Our laser focus on subscribers will continue and listeners can be assured that there will be no disruption in service. We also believe that the completion of the merger will eliminate any confusion that has been lingering in the marketplace," added Karmazin.
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/29/2008 06:21:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
2 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio say they have completed their merger.
The new company plans to change its name to Sirius XM Radio Inc. The combined company's stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SIRI.
The company says it now has more than 18.5 million subscribers. It expects cost savings from the deal of about $400 million in 2009.
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/29/2008 10:24:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Washington, D.C. (AP) -- Federal regulators formally approved the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators Friday, ending a 16-month-long drama closely watched by Washington and Wall Street.
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s $3.3 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. will mean 18 million-plus subscribers will be able to receive programming from both services. Executives say it will mean huge cost savings that will lead to a first-ever profit for the relatively nascent industry.
The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to approve the buyout, with the tiebreaker coming Friday night from Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.
Tate had insisted that the companies settle charges that they violated FCC rules before she would approve the deal. The companies agreed this week to pay $19.7 million to the U.S. Treasury for violations related to radio receivers and ground-based signal repeaters.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin confirmed the final vote Friday night. "I think it's going to be, in the end, a good thing for consumers and be in the public interest," he told The Associated Press." Via CNN .
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/26/2008 12:39:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/23/2008 04:12:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. Justice Department approved the merger between satellite radio companies Sirius and XM Monday, more than a year after the two companies first announced their deal.
In its decision, the Department of Justice had to determine whether an XM-Sirius merger was anti-competitive, or if other media companies such as Clear Channel (CCU, Fortune 500), CBS (CBS, Fortune 500), or even Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) with its iTunes software and iPod music player served as alternate options for music and media customers.
The Federal Communications Commission must also approve the deal before it can officially be completed. The FCC has yet to make a decision on the deal.
The merger would combine the nation's only two satellite radio companies and create a company with about 14 million subscribers. It would bring together Sirius' most well-known content, including Howard Stern and National Football League games with XM's Major League Baseball as well programming from Oprah Winfrey."
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/24/2008 03:19:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Shareholders of Sirius and XM had been widely expected to approve the deal, which would allow the companies to save costs on programming, acquiring subscribers and broadcasting. Shareholder advisory firms had already endorsed the deal.
More difficult will be getting the deal approved in Washington, where the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission must both give their blessing. Several consumer groups have opposed the combination, saying it would create a monopoly that could hurt consumers.
Sirius said in a statement that more than 96 percent of the shareholder votes cast approved the acquisition, while XM said 99.8 percent of its shareholders were in favor. The companies said they still hoped to complete the deal by the end of the year.
The FCC had originally said the two satellite radio companies couldn't combine, but that rule can be changed. Sirius and XM have argued that satellite radio now faces more competition for listeners since the boom in digital listening devices like Apple Inc.'s iPod, Internet radio and cell phones that can play music.
Sirius and XM have said that a combined company would offer listeners more pricing options and greater choice and flexibility in the channel lineups they receive.
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/13/2007 06:45:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI.O: Quote, Profile , Research) and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR.O: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Monday they would offer a subscription package priced 46 percent below current levels, and would also let customers buy packages of their favorite channels, after their proposed merger.
The planned "a la carte" programming would be available beginning within one year following the merger, which the companies hope to complete later this year.
The deal, which faces strong opposition from traditional radio and some lawmakers, musty still past regulatory hurdles."
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/23/2007 01:49:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/23/2007 03:55:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
As many of you know, XM customers have experienced service outages or significantly degraded service since Monday mid-morning, May 21.
We quickly identified the problem and are working hard to return to our normal levels of service. The problem occurred during the loading of software to a critical component of our satellite broadcast system, which resulted in a loss of one of our satellites. We expect normal service to resume midday today (eastern daylight time).
XM apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused. For updates, please go to www.xmradio.com In the meantime, you can enjoy many of our music channels on XM Radio Online (xmro.xmradio.com) if you are close to computer.
Again, we regret any inconvenience for not having your XM Radio service fully available.
***UPDATE*** XM is currently up and running in NJ.
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/22/2007 10:08:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
XM Sirius. Not yet.
The New York Times is reporting that Kevin J. Martin, FCC Chairman, has raised questions regarding the subscription fee and programming that will be available after the two satellite radio companies merge.
Developing...
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Rocco Mandaglio, Staff Writer @ 3/07/2007 09:57:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"So it looks like controversial former Attorney General John Ashcroft is using his remaining influence in the Justice Department to lobby on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters against the proposed satellite radio merger -- though it seems that he's acting more out of self-interest than anti-trust ideology in this debate, as the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Ashcroft's consulting firm initially approached XM before eventually being hired by NAB. As you might imagine, then, Ashcroft's letter the House and Senate Judiciary Committees was decidedly anti-amalgamation, concluding that "the proposed Sirius/XM merger, which reduces the number of competitors from two to one, raises most serious competition concerns." Of course, now that everyone knows Ashcroft originally intended to shill for XM before NAB "opted to pay him to parrot their views" (according to an XM spokesperson), his "professional opinion" on the matter will probably hold decidedly less weight."
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/05/2007 10:40:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/01/2007 05:51:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
The big news is that neither service will be shut down; you're not going to subscribe to a combined XMSIRIUS any time soon. They went out of their way to say that, for example, if you want to listen to both Howard Stern and Opie & Anthony, the two biggest "gets" for satellite radio, you'll need to subscribe to both services." Check out Gizmodo for additional details.
This "merger" hasn't even been approved yet, so take the details with a grain of salt. Stay tuned.
Labels: satellite radio
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/20/2007 11:55:00 AM 1 comments links to this post
Contact Jimmie Geddes here: gadgetsonthego at gmail dot com.
