Got an e-mail yesterday that announced XM and Sirius are merging. I have loved XM (albeit a bit worried because channels changed or left entirely) and know nothing whatsoever about Sirius other than the fact that both MLB and Stern are there....and I don't care about either one. Merger of services supposed to be late this year or sometime next.

Any thoughts?

---- Mark

Got an e-mail yesterday that announced XM and Sirius are merging. I have loved XM (albeit a bit worried because channels changed or left entirely) and know nothing whatsoever about Sirius other than the fact that both MLB and Stern are there....and I don't care about either one. Merger of services supposed to be late this year or sometime next.

Any thoughts?

---- Mark


Im not to concerned about it right now.....when the merger is complete depending on how things go equipment wise it may be time for me to upgrade to a better unit.We dont even know yet if this means some recievers will become obsolete...

I wonder if it will even be approved by the FCC. They did kill the satellite tv merger a few years ago... time will tell I guess.

There is a rediculously long thread going about this already.

I will not pay for radio that airs commercials.

To me it seems that the only constant is change. I am nearing the double-nickel in age and have seen, like many here, many changes in radio and audio, including but not limited to:


AM-mono
FM
Quad-FM
AM Stereo
SatRad
HD Rad
78s/33s/45s Records (bakelite and vinyl as well as mono/stereo)
8-Tracks
Casettes
CDs
MP3-type devices


Some have lived, some have died out.

I will use a real example based on my experience with cars.
In 1968, I got my first car, a 1962 Volvo with AM radio. BTW, the only radios in my home and parent's car at the time were AM radio. I purchased a FM adapter from the Shack and installed it. It was mono only.

In college, 1970-74, I continued with Volvos (used PV544 and 122s could be had for $100-$200 back then) and I purchased and installed an 8-track player. Later, removed the 8-track and installed a cassette player. All my cars after this had AM/FM stereo and cassette players.

Fast Forward to the 90s when I installed a CD changer into my 1996 Windstar van. In 2004, I installed a MyFi into this van. I also purchased a FM transmitter for MP3 audio.

In 2006, I purchased a Honda Element with AM/FM Stereo/CD/AUX/XM installed. I fully expect there to be new technology that I will add to this car, be it receiver for Sirius frequency or some new whiz bang technology. Well actually I already have added a Magellan GPS.

IMHO, we need to realize that in the technology game, there are some winners and losers (FM-Quad and AM Stereo for example), but overall, there is improvement.

Am I concerned that a particular station will change or not be part of the combined service? Why, of course; but I am also looking forward to receiving services that I cannot currently receive under one SatRad provider.

I will now step off my soapbox before someone knocks me off.

Bob

hey, how about reel to reel and DAT!

The big difference between the failed Sat TV merger and this is that Sat TV is just rebroadcasting existing channels where Satalite radio produces much of it's own content. I hope this merger does work, being a subscriber for about a year and a half now with Sirius(tried both XM and Sirius). I cannot listen to regular radio anymore because after you have listened to music on Sat, you get sick at listening to all the comercials on T radio. There is mention that the merger may spring a more ala carte subscription program which would be nice. I wish Sat TV would do that! Imagine what would happen to a lot of the junk channels if they had to rely on people chosing them? They might actually have to start producing something worthwhile!

After reading most of what people have said in the other thread. Nobody has said this and this is what I believe.

There is NO Guarantee that either or both companies will stay in business for the short/long term. They have been bleeding money every year and sooner or later it will have to stop.
I love my Sat Radio and don't want to lose it. (I have Sirius because XM is partially owned by Clear Channel).

If this merger allows us (the consumers) to have sat radio vs. no sat radio or very weak sat radio company/ies than I am all for it. I hate the regular radio and the lack of programming choices (thanks Clear Channel you ba$tards). I like being able to hear the local announcers call Steelers football games.

Got an e-mail yesterday that announced XM and Sirius are merging. I have loved XM (albeit a bit worried because channels changed or left entirely) and know nothing whatsoever about Sirius other than the fact that both MLB and Stern are there....and I don't care about either one. Merger of services supposed to be late this year or sometime next.

Any thoughts?

---- Mark

XM has MLB, Sirius has the NFL.

It should be interesting how this all shapes up. But everyone needs to stop reading the articles that are calling this a merger, it is a buyout of XM by Sirius. My guess is if this gets approved then the new company will continue to be called Sirius. Both companies put too many millions into branding and the brand that won in the marketplace was Sirius so that name will remain. The offices will move to NYC and close up the DC offices. They will go through the lineup and eliminate/combine the similar channels. Once that is done they will figure out what is left and trim channels from there.

Once they combine the land based repeaters then everyone's signal will be much improved. Then when they combined radios come out it will be even better with being able to receive a signal from 5 sats vs 2 or 3 now.

Personally I don't want an a la carte choice. I prefer to continue spending $12.95/mo and getting everything. Unless they cut the price in half and I can get rid of the cr@p I don't even listen to then that would be fine. But I won't pay extra to listen to the NFL, NASCAR, Howard, etc. I am already paying to listen to all of that.

They also better not bring over the idiotic commercial bs on the music channels that clear channel insisted on doing at XM. Clear Channel needs to be 100% out of the mix or this can never work.

Well said Larry....they've been talking about this merger possible happening for awhile now on sirius.....I for one am glad and agree....they were spending too much $$ competing with each other and the bleeding had to stop sometime.

Long life commercial free un-fcc'd radio!!

Yep. If Clear Channel is at all involved in this than the new company will be doomed.

No way Clear Channel will be involved, and as far as the commercials on the music channels, i think satellite knows where its bread is buttered, i would highly doubt that as well.