 |  | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: FCC leaning against; won't take much opposition to kill deal I have to laugh, because the letter I've already received from XM make it sound like it's already going to complete this year. One of those.. "let's send out the letter than it's a done deal, get them sold on the idea and use them as pawns in the battle ahead" tactics.
On the other side, since there are two...
'The National Association of Broadcasters, NAB, and the Consumers Union"
"The Consumers Union." I love that term on face.. as if they represent the consumer.. who, me?? I hate when these organizations form themselves and come across as MY representation. Seems EVERYONE has something to gain or loose from this, and most all, deals.
I'm a little uneasy about if this will or won't happen.. but my money is on that it won't... there is no compelling reason, as if they really need one, for these two to merge.
--
"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
| | | | | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: FCC leaning against; won't take much opposition to kill deal ...perhaps Sirius can file bankruptcy and end the Howard Stern contract they signed like buffoons and stop playing corporate Russian Roulette. Maybe charge more for the sports subscriptions to cover the cost of them.. you know they aren't charging what they need to in order to support the sheister money they are paying the leagues for them.
There are ways to run their systems smarter.. oh, and to cover a popular sentiment here.. let's make sure no CEO is making a multi million dollar salary either.
Then they could look for buyers.. (get ready to flame..) they could look to companies like comcast to buy one of them out.. value added service to the consumer on the cable network and then sell the service outside the home in the cars as a bundle. Would/could be a smart move..
However, since much of the content between the two of them is the same, yes.. I agree.. there really doesn't need to be two of them.
--
"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs: | FCC?? What does the FCC have to do with this? If the FCC can guarantee a return on investment then they can stick their nose into this. Until thin it is none of their business. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Re: FCC?? It's the FCC's business because it's a licensed service. There is no provision in the license for combining the two, nor was that ever envisioned when the service was created and authorized. Merging these two will require that the service be redefined and re-authorized (re-licensed). Even Kevin Martin isn't going to go that far to make Mel smile.
If two can't survive and one can, then kill one off, sell it at flea market prices and let someone else come in and give it a shot. If expenses are out of control they only have themselves to blame.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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RideRed
Vista needs a popup blocker for Vista
Premium
join:2005-06-18
USA | Re: FCC?? Get the government out of the way and they'll do just fine. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL | Re: FCC?? Without the government in the way they wouldn't exist.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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RideRed
Vista needs a popup blocker for Vista
Premium
join:2005-06-18
USA | Re: FCC?? Of course they would. | |
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rec9140
Provoice just DO it
join:2003-07-29
Mulberry, FL
 ·RoadRunner Cable
·Internet Junction ..
| Re: FCC?? said by RideRed  :
Of course they would.
And just how would they exist????
The radio spectrum is a finite resource (in terms of easily useable frequencies for a given task) and needs to be licensed in a systematic process or problems will arise.
No governmnet aka FCC, no sat radio, no FM, no AM, no OTA TV, no DBS, no C/Ku band sat, and on....
Let the marketplace divy up the spectrum.... Oh that would work well, NOT! The FCC's failure to properly enfocre its own regulations and an industry bully have been polluting the 800MHz band for years and only now being cleaned up via the Rebanding process. Government oversight, regulation and licensing for all things radio is needed now and will be needed even more in the future. If only people with real brain power inhabited the FCC, but thats...... | |
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RideRed
Vista needs a popup blocker for Vista
Premium
join:2005-06-18
USA | Re: FCC?? That's like saying cars wouldn't exist without traffic lights. | |
| | | | | | | laudensa
join:2000-08-31
Reston, VA | You're confusing spectrum management with improper interference with commerce. While the FCC has a legitimate role in spectrum management issues, it should keep its nose out of the business side of this merger. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL | Re: FCC?? Are you a communications law attorney?
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
| Did you think this all just appeared on it's own one night?
It's a licensed service using licensed airwaves which were taken from other licensed users for a specific purpose. If it is not going to be used for what it was designated, it's time to give it to a higher use. Promises were made and certain expectations of performance are required.
Your Nathan Therm imitation, notwithstanding.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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RideRed
Vista needs a popup blocker for Vista
Premium
join:2005-06-18
USA
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·1and1
 ·Verizon FIOS
edit:
April 1st, @10:08AM
| Re: FCC?? said by RadioDoc :Did you think this all just appeared on it's own one night? It's a licensed service using licensed airwaves which were taken from other licensed users for a specific purpose. If it is not going to be used for what it was designated, it's time to give it to a higher use. Promises were made and certain expectations of performance are required. Your Nathan Therm imitation, notwithstanding. More red herrings. The FCC doesn't regulate the internet yet it seems to be running just fine with self-regulation for 10 years so that argument is moot. Satellite radio would exist just fine without government interference.
Meanwhile none of this 'spectrum' nonsense supports opposition to a merger and neither does the idiotic argument of "well they promised not to merge". So what? The FCC changes it's mind all the time and the merger rule was about preventing a monopoly but anyone with objectivity sees that satellite radio has plenty of competition from terrestrial radio, portable music players and other mobile entertainment devices. If terrestrial radio didn't see satellite as a competitor CBS wouldn't be calling themselves "Free Radio" or lobbying so hard against this merger.
A merger is good for consumers and that is all that matters. There is no point in discussing it any further or entertaining more irrelevant anti-satellite radio rants.
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There's only 10 types of people in this world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: FCC?? re: FCC & Internet. I suppose you're just using that as an example of a red herring because it has absolutely nothing to do with this.
re: Spectrum nonsense. Speaking of red herrings, you say it's idiotic but then attempt to change the subject to some promise someone made not to merge and then do not address the spectrum management aspect at all. The "promise not to merge" is also irrelevant. There were no such promises. What there is, however, is a promise, via claims and proposals made during the Rulemaking which created the service along with claims and promises made at the licensing stage which they are legally obligated to abide and follow through on. If they can't do it, then they need to turn in the license. Very simple stuff.
Claiming that a format calling itself "free radio" is evidence of terrestrial radio's fear of satellite is laughable. There have been similar format names for decades. Maybe you forget "pirate radio" which was around long before the first XM/Sirius satellite was launched, not to mention all of the free-form and progressive stations from the 70's. Or any number of stations worldwide with cutesy names. I find it amusingly ironic that the same person who was responsible for the CBS you obviously blindly hate is the one kiting this merger you blindly love.
There is no consumer upside to this merger. Mel Karmazin is trying to get both at fire sale prices. Consumers are hardly on the radar. You snort and spit and make baseless accusations and claims but don't provide a shred of backup. The only one rating here is you.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
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RadioDoc
Sortofadog
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
edit:
April 1st, @12:28AM
| Re: FCC?? Actually, Radio Free Europe used leased stations from the countries they operated in, or used US-based shortwave transmitters under agreements with the IFRB.
As for the Ruskies, yeah, that's a viable argument.  But even if you are serious, satellite signals are trivial to block by interference. That's why the FCC is involved in the first place...spectrum management.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. | |
| rangerlg
join:2006-05-10
Houston, TX
·Comcast
| My Thoughts... I personally don't think this merger will go through, but if Sat radio is no competition to regular radio, why does the NAB keep opening their mouth? Since when is the NAB a big consumer advocate? I love my XM and as long as it stays the same, I don't care if they merge or not. | |
| 
computerman0
join:2006-07-19
Houston, TX
| I could care less I could care less what happens XM already sent me a letter saying there would be no effect to your service, contracts or need for new hardware. I love sat radio all music no Shit and it works every where. it would be just like if cable companies where to merge you pay for it who cares if they dont have it. | |
| | | axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Cox HSI
| Re: I'm for the merger I agree with what you're saying, but I think its better to have more competition than to guarantee their survivability. The two questions that will have to be answered: Would one company lose all their customers to the other anyways? Are terrestrial broadcasters enough competition to prevent the one company from exploiting consumers? | |
| | Radioman991
join:2001-09-24
Dayton, OH
edit:
March 31st, @04:43PM
| My 0.02 Speaking as an XM sub, and also employed in the broadcast industry...as a talent, Asst Chief Engineer, and now installing automation systems in broadcast facilities.....
Rant ON
1) I could care less if the merger goes through or not. I weighed the 2, and went with XM because they have baseball, and I was more impressed with their channel lineup at the time 2 years ago. I will gladly pay for my 4 subs to XM.
2) Why did I sub in the first place? Because I was tired of the classic rock station, that I WORKED FOR, relying on a 200 song playlist, and playing the SAME CRAP for 18 MONTHS without any freshening! The consultant-driven, spineless program director-infected broadcast radio we are subjected to today is ruining radio. There is not a PD in all of Cox Radio with any 'nads, or feeling for the business. If the consultant says it, it must be true. "Say the liner this way...it works well in Miami and Atlanta". or "We have to play Mellencamp every hour, because the research says so". Guess what? Research is a TOOL not the BIBLE! At least I can count on XM 46 to rotate music better, and have more than a 200 song playlist.
3) I don't need a "consumers union" to "look out" for me. I speak with my wallet. If the merger destroys what I like about XM, I will leave. Simple as that.
If terrestrial wants to survive, build a better mousetrap. If your business model sucks now, fix it. Don't go crying to the Govt. to stop the evil XM / Sirius from taking money out of your wallet!
Rant OFF
Late | |
| | 
Technogeez
Misanthropic curmudgeon
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Brandon, FL
·Verizon FIOS
| Is it worth all this attention? C'mon, it's not like satellite radio is a vital public utility. Besides, when the Chinese attack, satellites will be the first things to go... Let the market deal with Serious/Exem as it will; FCC, get back on the important issues, like those non-licensed users in allocated bands, and all that frickin' profanity in prime time!
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The hills are alive, with the sound of FiOS! | |
| | 
NJxxxJon
something good. or your mom.
Premium
join:2005-10-22
00000
 ·Skype
·GoDaddy Hosting
| Re: Is it worth all this attention? said by Technogeez :C'mon, it's not like satellite radio is a vital public utility. Besides, when the Chinese attack, satellites will be the first things to go... Let the market deal with Serious/Exem as it will; FCC, get back on the important issues, like those non-licensed users in allocated bands, and all that frickin' profanity in prime time! The China Empire wont attack by then because each satellite will have GPS tracking attached to itself....they will NEVER leave our sight.
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Another merger, another ex-girl, another car insurance payment, another another, another beer, another life, another tag for you! | |
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| I say keep the profanity in prime time. But anyway, you hit the nail on the head.
It's not a utility.. it's not a vital service to the American public.. the radio service actually, for the most part, unplugs people FROM the life line services.. At least if you are listening to an FM/AM station and something bad is about to happen in your area, you can get warning which is part of the responsibility of the public airwaves. (Remember the bay area / comcast FM complaint?)
If XM/Sirius Radio was required (which is shouldn't be) to carry these emergency notices, which is technologically impossible at this point, break in with warnings, etc.. then I'd see it as a utility. To me, satellite is NO different that cable or satellite TV.. it's a luxury service, not a life line. It's a private business, as is not government run, and should really have little impact on the public.
If satellite raises the rates.. so be it. If the market doesn't like it, they can cancel their subscription.
Those, here, that argue against it because it's not in the interest of the public, ie: higher rates, don't get it. What those people are doing is looking for the GIVERnment to control every aspect of life and have the GVMNT ensure that everything can be affordable.
To this, I simply disagree. I don't think it will go through, to be honest, but I could care less if it did, and I could care less if it goes through and they double the price over night. I'd simply cancel my subscription like over half of their subscribers would.
(as a side note: the only way I think a price hike would come is the day they - *and they will* - stop the one price for all service, break them into programming types with ala cart pricing that when you buy them all would give them something like $7 more per month than you pay now.. )
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
| | | 
pianotech
Pianotech
Premium
join:2002-12-30
New Castle, PA
·Vonage
| Re: Is it worth all this attention? said by fiberguy : the radio service actually, for the most part, unplugs people FROM the life line services.. At least if you are listening to an FM/AM station and something bad is about to happen in your area, you can get warning which is part of the responsibility of the public airwaves. (Remember the bay area / comcast FM complaint?) I had to comment on this because where I live we have a horrible, former Clear Channel AM and FM. Back in November I was driving back into my home town and saw smoke billowing over the city and 4 helicopters hovering. Realizing something big was going on, I switched from XM to the local station expecting to hear what was going on. Nothing. That's because the station is pretty much a playlist, right down to the news that they record in the morning and replay every hour.
Finally I switched back to CNN on XM and THEY were the ones doing a live feed on the natural gas explosion in my city that leveled 30 houses!
So that shows you that at least in my case, it was XM and not the local station that brought me up to date on a very significant news story that was happening where I live. And btw, the local station didn't carry anything about it until the next day! | |
| | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Is it worth all this attention? I agree.. believe it or not, there was some tounge in cheek there.. I guess you'd have to know the history behind the people in the SF hills that wanted their radio back on cable because it was a vital part of their community and life. But yea, you are right. Some stations, like in Sacrament, KFBK is good about getting right on the story... SF has a few of them left, on AM,... there are few news stations left like that.
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"Complaining is the least path of resistance for the self-reitchous and lazy ... those who also never take the time to point out a good fortune when the opportunity presents itself. It says a lot about one's moral character." - Unknown | |
| 
Middieman
Eschew Obfuscation
join:2001-02-05
Elkins Park, PA
| Dropped XM Not that it's quite on topic but...
XM practically begged me not to cancel my subscription. (Calling them, I took the opportunity to complain about their rate hike of quite a while ago.)
Included in their begging was the offer to reduce my payments to the original cost per month, $10, forever.
And then I canceled anyway.
But possibly someone might be interested in what you might be able to get out of XM should the company have a reason to beg. 
(I am not endorsing making XM beg, of course.)
-=[Middie]=-
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All your base are belong to DSL Reports! | |
| gh4456
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-07
Beverly Hills, CA
| I don't get it? Its not as if every household uses satellite radio. I use an MP3 player, which I would say is competition. Others listen to CD's, and AM/FM radio. What if there was only one satellite radio company, would you then say that the operation couldn't exist as there is no competitor. No... Let them merge, and people will judge with their wallets. | |
| Asmodeus1
join:2004-05-26
Spring Valley, CA
| ask yourselves this... if there was only one satellite radio provider that started this industry and no other group tried to start a second, would this then be an issue of a monopoly? Say, you have a company that has a product only it can make and sell... it's a monopoly, but should it be excluded simply because it's the only one...? if that's the case then which singular producers of anything should get anti-trust thrown at them simply because they are the only one...?
the whole notion that merging xm with sirius creates a monopoly is correct, but the implication that they will violate anti-trust laws is preposterous... satellite radio is a commodity, a luxury, not a necessity and to throw accusations of anti-trust towards it pending a merger is stupid and ignorant of what monopolies and anti-trust are...
what happens if satellite radio ceased to be, then what would the shouting become like...? would people say that the government should have saved it...? how about waiting for someone to come in and buy it...? folks, this is the free market... the fact that satellite radio requires fcc approval for merger is necessary, but for it to entertain arguments pro and con for that merger is ridiculous... it's a new industry, it has barely been around, people have to pay to get it (the operative phrase here), and anyone in here decrying it as a monopoly that will see rates raised is a moron... even if they do raise rates to use it, it's a free-market choice on the premium price of a commodity... get a grip folks... you are expressing wishes and desires that are false if not faulty... | |
| | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: ask yourselves this... Sat radio have competition. It's called terrestrial radio.
Just like cable TV has to compete with cable, the same hold true for pay vs. free radio. Cable TV programs can do different things BUT people have to pay for them. HBO used to show only movies. Now, they have series, documentaries and other shows that let it compete with free TV. Sat radio can get rid of the massive amount of commercials and offer programming you will not hear in many places. If i want to listen to all 80's, there are no stations in my area that play them. If i want to listen to nothing but Elvis, I would probably have to go to Memphis if there is a station down there that plays all Elvis.
I like my Sirius and will continue to keep it as long as the prices don't go skyrocketing. | |
| | | 
Steve Mehs
Go Sabres
join:2005-07-16
| Re: ask yourselves this... For all of those that say of a merger goes through and people don’t like what they have they will leave like it’s no big deal. Well it is, you people have no clue. Satellite Radio is a passion of mine. I’ve been an XM Subscriber for 4 years (3 subscriptions) and a Sirius Subscriber for 3 years (2 subscriptions) and love them both. A merger will do absolutely NOTHING for me except limit my choices, I could careless about the pricing, I already pay almost $47/month for radio and would pay a hell of a lot more. I have over $1K invested in plug and play receivers, plus a home theater receiver with XM built in. The money is irrelevant, it’s the potential loss in programming.
I’m not a fanboy of either service, I am a fanboy of the industry. Despite what the XM kool-aid drinkers think, XM is not better then Sirius and despite what the Sirius fanboys think Sirius is not better then XM. They both have very many positives, and where one has a weakness, the other makes up. XM fanboys bash Sirius for playing the same hits, Sirius fanboys bash XM for playing too much obscure stuff. Well as a living, breathing person, I want that. Sometimes I want nothing but familiar favorites, sometimes I want to be exposed to something new. It depends on how I feel.
As a dual subscriber if this merger takes place (which I hope it doesn’t) I will get screwed, to ‘vote with my wallet’ will not get me back programming I lost. You can bet redundant programming will be removed, you can bet the styles and attitudes will change and I don’t want that. I don’t care what the letters say what Mel says, things will change. There are some channels on XM I prefer to those on Sirius, there are some channels on Sirius I prefer over XMs. I like Big Tracks on XM better then Classic Rewind on Sirius I’m sure that there’s people who agree with me and some who don’t, I don’t want to lose my Big Tracks and I don’t want someone else to lose their Classic Rewind and either have to settle with one of those channels or some half assed hybrid.
I HATE terrestrial radio with a passion. I have no way of listening to it. I removed the antenna from my SUV, disconnected the antenna lead from the Ford factory head unit. At home, my home theater receiver do not have the FM and AM loop antennas connected, I threw them right in the garbage and I clipped the wire on my clock radio. At home I have plug and play receivers with the FM modulators enabled so I can listen to XM and Sirius on my alarm clock. Antique Radio and their latest gimmick, HD Radio is not an option for me. Commercials, Stupid DJs with lame banter, censorship, same songs over and over and over, limited styles of music I can’t listen to that garbage known as AM/FM Radio.
While I agree satellite radio competes with testicle radio, the fierce competition between XM and Sirius is what drives XM and Sirius to be as good as they are. I mean let’s face it, any moron with a half a brain could create a better listening experience then that of dinosaur radio. It doesn’t take much. And no, satellite radio doesn’t directly compete with an iPod. FM Radio and CD Players/Cassette Players/8 Track Players have been in homes and cars forever. Live versus Prerecorded, satellite radio and iPods while are in the same category (audio entertainment mediums) they serve two different purposes.
I want to unplug myself for this so called lifeline. Terrestrial radio is not a life line, it’s shit. I do not want to be interrupted by the National Weather Service to hear that we may get a half an inch of snow. This is Buffalo, NY it snows, we can deal with it. Thunder storms, big deal. I was an idiot and in the midst of our October storm that left the area a complete disaster area, I made a trip to Best Buy after work. 60 mile round trip in the worst snow storm we had in years, power lines down everywhere, tree limbs everywhere, near zero visibility, no traffic lights, in short it was hell. I left work to go to BB at 7:30PM and didn’t get home until after 1AM. I had no urge to turn on AM Radio to tell me how bad it was and that I’m going to be alright. Local news is bullshit and overrated. Bunch of hype, no real information. Use key buzzwords like *EXTREMELY DANGEROUS*, *HAZORDOUS*, *ZERO VISABILITY* then in a few days run promos about how when ‘the storm broke, you heard about it here first’. Yeah I don’t need that garbage. I was overjoyed that the HD feeds of my local TV channels wern't bombarded with that stupid closing and emergency information like the standard def feeds had. I trust in the event of a real emergency, God forbid another event like 9/11 or what have you XM and Sirius would switch all feeds to a simulcast of CNN or Fox News or something like that. Unless we are getting attacked, I don’t want to hear about.
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Time Warner Cable Subscriber
Digital Cable & Road Runner Premium
252 Channels, HD DVR & 15/1 Broadband | |
| 
chotty
join:2004-07-12
Birmingham, AL | LOL Terrestrisl radio is a dinosaur with a big lobby in D.C.
That being said, BABA BOOEY TO ALL OF THEM!! | |
| 
Dominokat
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME
clubs:
edit:
March 31st, @10:22PM
| What if If XM and Sirius want to merge. I am (assuming) that one or both are in financial trouble and feel that consolidating resources will help.
My question is, what if this doesn't go through?
Do one of both of these companies both go belly up? | |
| | Hexonx
join:2006-10-11
00000 | Re: What if Most likely if one goes BK, the other will have to follow and do the same, to stay competative. | |
| fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
·Comcast
| follow the money... The only "consumer groups" complaining about the merger are those funded by the NAB. The NAB shoots themself in the foot by complaining because they only prove that satellite radio DOES have competition with terrestrial radio, else why would it matter to the NAB? Hypocrites. | |
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Consumer Groups Speak Out Against Sirius / XM Merger
FCC leaning against; won't take much opposition to kill deal
