kfsutops
Premium
join:2002-08-19
Brandon, FL
clubs: 
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to stickfigure
Re: No brainer - merger should be allowed
said by stickfigure  :What then would your solution be to keep these companies in business? » finance.google.com/finance?fstype=ii&q=SIRI» finance.google.com/finance?fstyp···DAQ:XMSRAgain, with the obvious fact that satelitte radio competes with other media mentioned above this is NOT a monopoly. Should prices go up (doubtful since the government is requiring Sirius/XM to create a business plan that they approve prior to allowing the merger) choose one of the other forms of media to listen to. 1. Get the both out of the hardware business. The fact that radios are not inner-changeable leaves people to be stuck (for the most part) with one or the other. If there was no hardware lock in, people could leave. This would make both products better since there will be "true" competition.
2. There business model should change to something every other company in the world has to do. You can't spend money if you don't have it. Stop paying Oprah for a channel that she never is on. Same thing for Martha. At least Howard and Opie&Anthony actually broadcast on their channels daily.
And you can say what you want about prices not going up. They will. Make no mistake. People are nuts to think that they really compete with the iPod and other gadgets in the the car. This is ridiculous. Look around (I mean not at your little group of techies) and tell me how many people really have iPod connectors in their car?
The problem with both services is that the pricing has still not hit the sweet spot. It's like all other technologies out there. The early adopters will pay for it no matter. People that drive a lot have satellite. The average person is not going to spend $40+(for the first radio) a quarter to listen to it for there less than 30 minute commute. I spend close to $100 per quarter for satellite radio. I keep thinking "WTF am I doing?".
The value is still not there for mass consumption.
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"There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots" |
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MattE
Obama '08
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
 ·North State Commun..
 ·Corporate Colocation
edit:
March 2nd, @05:04PM
| said by kfsutops : Look around (I mean not at your little group of techies) and tell me how many people really have iPod connectors in their car? I know lots of people who work for a local stereo shop and every single teenage girl and teenage guy comes in to add an iPod connection to their car if the factory didn't offer the option. So, LOTS of people have them or the cheapie FM radio iPod tuners.
MP3 players absolutely do compete with XM Radio.
Also, how in the hell do you spend $100/quarter for Satellite radio? How many do you have? I have two XM radios and I spend about $40/quarter. |
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kfsutops
Premium
join:2002-08-19
Brandon, FL
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by MattE :Also, how in the hell do you spend $100/quarter for Satellite radio? How many do you have? I have two XM radios and I spend about $40/quarter. No you don't. It's $12.95 for the first radio which equates to approximately $39 per quarter. Now add on the taxes and you are already over $40.00. Now add on the cost of the additional radio per quarter at $6.99 (I think) you are already at $60.00/quarter plus the taxes. Now add that up for the four that I have.
I used to pay DirecTV an additional $5.99 (less than additional satellite radios). I don't know what the cost is now. But at the time it was cheaper than what I was paying for the radios.
And just because the teenage kids that are able to have a car add it on. Doesn't mean it's competition. That's a very low percentage of the overall driving population.
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"There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots" |
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stickfigure
join:2002-06-11
El Cajon, CA
| 1. I don't quite understand what you're trying to say here. If you think that by dropping any hardware it would make a big enough difference to turn them around to a positive operating expense, show me some numbers to back it up. I'm not sure why I can't leave Sirius right now just because I have a Sirius receiver... Having a hardware product that allows you to receive either signal is great but how the hell does that equate to giving a user the freedom of being able to leave a company???
2. Quit focusing only on IPOD connections as being the only "competition" to Satelitte. As mentioned above, there is still free radio, which is available in just about any car on the road today. As well as more cars coming with an on-board hard drive to store music. My wife has an IPOD connection in her car and as the majority of new cars are coming equipped with them it's still viable competition.
3. As I stated below, I believe Mel Karmazin makes a very good point for keeping prices either where they're at or lower with their a la carte offerings:
"Q: If you're allowed to merge, will you use the monopoly power to raise monthly fees above the current $12.95?
A: If we want to get more than the 10% of the population currently subscribing, we have to make it financially attractive, and there are still so many people that haven't been convinced that it's worth their while to pay for radio. If we can't get more subscribers at $12.95, what would make us think that we can get more at $15.95? "
Lastly, you contradict yourself. You said, "The average person is not going to spend $40+(for the first radio) a quarter to listen to it for there less than 30 minute commute." but yet you still think prices will rise? If they do, DON'T buy the service. You again can either turn your radio to an AM/FM station, plug in your IPOD, play your mp3/wma files on your cars' hard drive or if you listen at home, go to www.yourinternetradiochannel.com. However based on your posts, I would expect you to keep the service since, "I spend close to $100 per quarter for satellite radio. I keep thinking "WTF am I doing?" and then bitch about it. |
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dksoundman38
@crainent.com | reply to kfsutops
I am Sirius Sat. subscriber. Absolutely love it!!! I have four receivers on my account and only pay about $35.00/month. Not sure where some people are getting their pricing from. |
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