Sirius

CEA Inducts 12 into Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 23, 2008 - 9:45am.

Las Vegas - Martin Cooper and Donald Linder, developers of the world's first cell phone, were among 12 prominent industry leaders who have been inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced.

Sirius XM Radio Debuts "Best of Both" Service Packages

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 2, 2008 - 12:19pm.

New York - Sirius XM Radio (NASD: SIRI) on Thursday debuted its "Best of Both" programming option, which will allow subscribers to each service to pay extra for programming offered by the other. Available for $16.99 per month, Best of Both will let XM subscribers add Sirius' Howard Stern, NFL, NASCAR and other programming, while Sirius subscribers can access XM's Oprah, Opie and Anthony, NBA, NHL and PGA Tour programming. Sirius XM also introduced the first radio capable of receiving its new A La Carte programming package, the $129 Starmate 5.

tags: Radio | Music | Sirius | XM |

Sirius Adds XM Programming to Channel Lineup

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 30, 2008 - 12:59pm.

Washington - Two months after its merger with XM Satellite Radio, Sirius (NASD: SIRI) has added several of XM's exclusive channels to its radio service, Reuters reported on Tuesday. "Now for the first time, you can add XM channels to your Sirius subscription," Sirius said on its website. Among the available channels is the popular Oprah & Friends, as well as NBA, NHL and PGA Tour programming. To receive the extra channels, current subscribers must upgrade to a plan that costs about $17 a month, up from the basic charge of about $13 a month.

tags: Radio | Music | Sirius | XM |

Analysis: XM-Sirius Merger - Precedent for Broadcast Ownership Not Yet Clear

Authored by David Oxenford on July 29, 2008 - 8:21am.

The FCC has released a Public Notice announcing its approval of the XM and Sirius satellite radio merger. The public notice is only two pages long, with a four page appendix providing very brief summaries of the conditions imposed on the two companies which a majority of the Commissioners found sufficient to protect consumers from harm from the merged entity. The full text of the decision, providing the full reasoning of the Commission on its approval, has not yet been released. Until it is, the impact for broadcast ownership and the treatment of broadcast consolidation set by the precedent of this decision remains unclear.

FCC Approves XM Satellite Radio Merger with Sirius

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 28, 2008 - 7:49am.

Washington - Ending a 16-month regulatory process, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) late Friday approved Sirius Satellite Radio's (NASD: SIRI) $3.3 billion acquisition of XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR), the Associated Press reported. The FCC broke its 2-2 stalemate Friday night when Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate cast the deciding vote in favor of the deal.

tags: Deals | Law | Policy | Radio | Music | Sirius | Acquisitions | FCC | XM |

AP: FCC to Approve XM-Sirius Deal Following Settlement

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 24, 2008 - 7:29am.

Washington - Following more than a year of regulatory scrutiny, XM Satellite Radio's (NASD: XMSR) $3.9 billion merger with rival Sirius (NASD: SIRI) appears on the verge of completion following a deal between the companies and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to settle two-year-old compliance issues related to signal interference. According to the Associated Press, XM will pay the government $17.5 million and Sirius $2.2 million, with both companies taking steps to address any potentially non-compliant radios and fix scores of signal repeaters.

tags: Deals | Radio | Music | Sirius | Acquisitions | FCC | XM |

WSJ: Fate of XM-Sirius Merger Rests on Two More Votes by FCC

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 23, 2008 - 7:43am.

Washington - The fate of XM Satellite Radio's multi-billion merger with rival Sirius has come down to two votes at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Wall Street Journal reported. So far, two Republican FCC commissioners -- chairman Kevin Martin and Robert McDowell -- have voted in favor of the deal, with Democratic commissioner Michael Copps voting against it Monday night.

tags: Deals | Music | Sirius | Acquisitions | FCC | XM |

XM to Raise $400 million Through Debt Offering

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 21, 2008 - 9:04am.

Washington - Looking to reorganize its finances ahead of its pending merger with Sirius (NASD: SIRI), DC-based XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) said on Monday that it plans to raise $400 million through a new debt offering.

Shares of XM, Sirius Plunge After Negative Analyst Report

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 19, 2008 - 7:42am.

Washington - As momentum builds toward the completion of their multi-billion dollar merger, shares of DC-based XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) and New York-based Sirius (NASD: SIRI) tumbled on Thursday following an analyst report that questioned the very future of satellite radio. Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Wienkes cited a dramatic slowdown in subscriber growth, with younger consumers buying alternatives such as MP3 players and iPhones.

Is The Future Bright For Sirius/XM?

Authored by Jay Baage on June 16, 2008 - 8:53am.
tags: Deals | Radio | Music | Sirius | XM |

FCC Chairman to Back Merger of XM and Sirius

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 16, 2008 - 7:16am.

Washington - Shares of XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) rose 6% by midday Monday after FCC chairman Kevin Martin said that he will recommend the approval of the company's merger with New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio (NASD: SIRI). The move could clear the way for the companies to complete the multi-billion-dollar deal, which has been in regulatory limbo for more than a year.

XM Seeking $120 Million to Support Deal with MLB

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 27, 2008 - 8:33am.

Washington - XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR), the satellite radio provider awaiting government approval to merge with rival Sirius, disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it must come up with $120 million in financial commitments to avoid an "adverse effect" on its financial position.

XM Satellite Radio Posts Wider First-Quarter Loss

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 8:33am.

Washington - As it continues to await the approval of the Federal Communications Commission to complete its multi-billion-dollar merger with Sirius (NASD: SIRI), XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) on Monday reported a higher first-quarter loss, despite a healthy gain in subscribers.

XM, Sirius Extend Merger Deadline As FCC Decision Looms

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 1, 2008 - 7:30am.

Washington - Still awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio (NASD: SIRI) have agreed to extend their merger deadline, which otherwise would have expired on May 15.

tags: Deals | Radio | Music | Sirius | Acquisitions | FCC | XM |

Sirius Now Available on Squeezebox Network Music Players

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 29, 2008 - 11:27am.

New York - Sirius Satellite Radio (NASD: SIRI) said on Tuesday it has signed a deal with Logitech, to make over 80 Sirius channels available for streaming on the company's Squeezebox line of network music players. The offering includes music channels plus programs featuring Howard Stern, Martha Stewart and NFL Radio.

XM, Sirius Delay Annual Meetings Pending Merger

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 29, 2008 - 7:13am.

Washington - With their merger possibly on the brink of completion, XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio (NASD: SIRI) both announced on Tuesday that they would both postpone their annual meetings. The two companies continue to await a decision on the deal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

tags: Deals | Radio | Music | Sirius | Acquisitions | FCC | DOJ | XM |

Senator Petitions FCC to Reject XM-Sirius Merger

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2008 - 10:16am.

Washington - Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), a high-ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, on Friday wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking the agency to block the $5 billion merger of satellite radio firms XM (NASD: XMSR) and Sirius (NASD: SIRI), Reuters reported.

Justice Dept. Approves XM-Sirius Merger; Still Needs FCC Nod

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 24, 2008 - 8:54am.

Washington - The U.S. Justice Department on Monday approved Sirius Satellite Radio's (NASD: SIRI) $5 billion purchase of rival XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR), a deal announced more than a year ago that has been held up by regulators who said today that the combined company is not likely to harm competition or consumers. The proposed transaction still needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); shareholders of both companies approved the deal in November.

tags: Deals | Radio | Music | Sirius | Mergers | FCC | DOJ | XM |

Sirius CEO Optimistic XM Deal Could be Approved This Month

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 12, 2008 - 8:04am.

Washington - The head of Sirius Satellite Radio (NASD: SIRI) said on Wednesday that he is hopeful the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will rule on his company's proposed $4.2 billion merger with XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) by the end of this month, Reuters reported.

tags: Deals | Radio | Music | Sirius | FCC | XM | Mel Karmazin | Merers |