There’s a buzz growing today that suggests XM and Sirius in the U.S. will announce a merger shortly. Personally, I don’t understand how the FCC would allow these two companies — the only two in their category — to merge, and thereby eliminate all competition from the market. This would have an impact on the Canadian operations of the same name, as they are partially owned by their American parents.
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| Asides, Sirius Satellite |
Who cares about a monopoly in this buisness?
Both companies air 75% of the same stuff, many subscribers subscribe to both services and those who don’t couldn’t care less about what they are missing. This is such a price sensitive market that if XMSR and SIRI do merge and try to raise prices, many subscribers (me included) will simply say the added content is worth it, or I’ve got better things to do with $150 a year and tell them to stuff it.
The greatest moderator in this buisness is and will be whether what comes down from space is worth that much more than what comes in from the local stations and from my CD/MP3 player. I like my XM, but if I had to go without it, I would not miss it too much.
Chalk me up as one of the disinterested at this point. I have to admit that I’m halfway to seeing the whole satellite radio thing as an expensive gimmick. The “over the air” services already being provided by CBC and assorted private players are largely sufficient to my needs right now. If some of the Ottawa area stations were to retask themselves as drama or comedy - we’ve already got news/shock-talk and sports covered after all - that might change.