Re: [Swprograms] Slightly OT: For whom the bell tolls

[<jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

All true.  But to be completely fair, the clueless FCC of Kevin Martin took almost two years to approve this merger--mostly due to the FCC's thrall-like posture toward the broadcast industry.  Maybe in the end it wouldn't have made any difference.  But the "audio services" market had already changed considerably by the time Sirius and XM proposed their merger and the speed of that change only picked up while Martin dithered.  The unconscionalbe delay certainly didn't help matters.

But I agree that most of the blame goes to gross mismanagement. 

John Figliozzi


---- Joe Buch <josephbuch@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> I remember when Sirius and XM were trying to convince the FCC to allow them to "merge".  Karmizan promised the moon like 30 ala carte channels of your choosing for $6.95 per month by the end of 2008.  
> 
> As far as I know, programable receivers which could take advantage of the ala carte offering never happened.  Now they announce their intent to raise the price for a second receiver on an account from $6.99 to $8.99 and start charging for their on-line service, which was free to subscribers, on March 11.
> 
> Karmizan now has a huge loss in his equity position and Howard Stern's stock is also near worthless (down 45% today at $.06 per share).  Couldn't happen to nicer guys.  Good riddance.
> 
> I hear Echostar's Charlie Ergen is wading into the sludge looking for that buried pony in there somewhere.  I hope he finds it.
> 
> Joe Buch  
> 
> 
> --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > From: Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: [Swprograms] Slightly OT: For whom the bell tolls
> > To: rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx, "Shortwave programming discussion" <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:15 AM
> > At a market price of 11.4 cents/share, I'd agree.  Seems
> > to me that
> > prospective users don't see enough value in the
> > programming diversity
> > -- as offered -- to pay for it.  Those who want diversity
> > get it via
> > their MP3 players and iPods, or accept the alternatives via
> > terrestrial radio.
> > 
> > Then there's the overpriced talent, including its
> > management (Mr.
> > Karmizan) and its on-air talent (Howard Stern).  Neither
> > appear to be
> > worth what they've been paid.
> > 
> > Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA
> > 
> > On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 10:16 PM, Rob de Santos
> > <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > Sirius XM close to filing bankruptcy:
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> 
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