XM

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.

XM Settles Suit With EMI Music Publishing Over Pioneer Inno

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 26, 2008 - 12:08pm.

New York - XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) announced on Thursday that it has settled a lawsuit brought by EMI Music Publishing over the Pioneer Inno, a portable satellite radio with advanced recording features.

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.

AOL Launches Retooled Radio Service Powered by CBS

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 10, 2008 - 12:17pm.

New York - AOL (NYSE: TWX) on Tuesday launched its new AOL Radio service, which is now powered by CBS (NYSE: CBS) and will feature 150 local CBS Radio stations alongside more than 200 AOL Radio channels. CBS Radio will also sell advertising across the entire service, which will let users skip songs, and share streams with AIM users. The deal with CBS replaces AOL's previous partner, XM Satellite Radio. AOL also plans to release downloadable versions of AOL Radio for Winamp and the Mac in the coming weeks, and is working on widgets that will let users access stations directly third-party applications.

tags: Advertising | Radio | Music | AOL | CBS | XM |

XM Settles Suit with EMI Over Radio with Recording Features

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 10, 2008 - 8:27am.

Washington - XM Satellite Radio (NASD: XMSR) said on Tuesday that it has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against the company by major record label EMI Music over its portable satellite radio with advanced recording features.

tags: Law | Lawsuits | Music | Copyright | Inno | EMI | XM |

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, 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 |

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 |