Re: [Swprograms] Sirius / XM Combo -- effect on listeners -- article in WSJ
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [Swprograms] Sirius / XM Combo -- effect on listeners -- article in WSJ



I would also recommend listening to the first part of the above show. The
participants offer additional info, including a little tidbit from the
original charter granted by the FCC.

-----Original Message-----
From: swprograms-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:swprograms-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Richard Cuff
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:51 PM
To: Shortwave programming discussion; odxa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Swprograms] Sirius / XM Combo -- effect on listeners -- article in
WSJ

See http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117202490243714421.html?mod=djemTECH;
alas, one must be subscriber to view.

A couple key points:

"A big concern is pricing. "A monopoly satellite radio provider would
be able to raise prices and cut programming to a growing number of
consumers that have come to rely on satellite radio for news and
entertainment," fumed Chris Reale, founder of the Washington-based
Consumer Coalition for Competition in Satellite Radio."

The companies counter that the availability of free-to-air radio
limits their ability to jack up fees willy-nilly.

"Modifying existing satellites to serve all of the radios out there
would be an unlikely solution, engineers say."

"The merger "is not going to help their subscribership," says Jimmy
Schaeffler, senior analyst at consultancy the Carmel Group. "They
should be doing whatever they can to clarify consumer confusion." He
says the companies should consider promising a free upgraded
dual-format radio to anyone who joins either service this year,
subject to merger approval."

"Gary Bradt, a psychologist in Summerfield, N.C., and an XM
subscriber, says he hopes the deal goes through so he can get NFL
games that are currently available only on Sirius. "I'm not worried
about them jacking the prices too much, at least right away," he says.
"If they were stupid enough to do that, they would fail -- and good
riddance.""

Richard

-- 
Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA

International broadcasting / shortwave blog:
http://www.intlradio.blogspot.com
_______________________________________________
Swprograms mailing list
Swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms

To unsubscribe:  Send an E-mail to
swprograms-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL
shown above.

Attachment: PCMag Radio_ Get More from Technology Feb 16, 2007.url
Description: Binary data

_______________________________________________
Swprograms mailing list
Swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms

To unsubscribe:  Send an E-mail to  swprograms-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL shown above.