Washington - Sirius XM Radio (NASD: SIRI), the satellite radio provider created by the recent $3.3 billion merger of XM with Sirius, has laid off at least 50 on- and off-air employees, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed source with direct knowledge of the cuts.

Analysts said that staff consolidation had been expected since completion of the deal last summer.

CEO Mel Karmazin recently said that the combined company expects to post a loss of about $350 million this year.

"This is part of the overall cost synergy that Mel has talked about," April Horace, a radio industry analyst with Janco Partners, told The Post.

Silicon Alley Insider reported that, "all of the cuts so-far reported, including a pair of alt-rock DJs, happen to be from the XM side of things."

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/4f8f6 (Washington Post)

http://snipurl.com/4f8et (Silicon Alley Insider)