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

[<jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Aside to Curt:  I think it would be fine to subscribe.  Just do it month to month.  Don't go for the long term subscriptions.  :-))

---- Rob de Santos <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> OK, not off-topic but off-frequency?
> 
> 
> I can see Ergen's interest.  If I could raise the money, it would be mine, too.
> What is the only asset they have that is really worth much?  The satellites.  
> 
> The problem with every satellite delivered service (think Iridium satellite
> phones) over the past 30 years is the huge up front capital (cost) to get
> satellites designed and launched.  The cost per pound to orbit is so high that
> it burdens the original owners with so much debt they never make a profit.  A
> bankruptcy that wipes most of that debt and the remaining stockholder's equity
> out puts the "new" owner in charge of a viable business.  Ergen is well
> positioned to profit if he can get the company cheaply enough.
> 
> The FCC dithering over the merger didn't help Sirius XM.  It probably cost them
> several billion in costs that might have delayed this longer but in the end the
> two companies were right about one thing:  neither would have survived without
> the merger since the merged entity won't either; at least in its current form.
> For all those broadcast opponents to the merger the arguments about how they
> were unfair competition seem pretty silly now.   
> 
> --
> -Rob de Santos
> Columbus, OH
> 
> 
> From: Curt Phillips W4CP [mailto:robocurt@xxxxxxxxx] 
> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:57 AM
> To: 'Shortwave programming discussion'; rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Swprograms] Slightly OT: For whom the bell tolls
> 
> This isn't really off-topic.  Listening to XM is listening to really, REALLY
> short waves. :-)
>  
> >From the article:
> Mr. Karmazin bought two million shares of Sirius XM at $1.37 a share in August.
> Before that, he had bought 20 million shares at an average price of $5 each. On
> Tuesday, Sirius closed at 11.4 cents a share.
>  
> Hey, somebody whose stocks did worse that MINE did!  :-)
>  
> I just got a car with the built-in XM capability and was wondering whether to
> subscribe.  I wonder how this will affect subscription rates.  Raise rates, get
> more money but you might lose customers.  Lower rates, get more subscribers?? 
> Since many (most, I'd think) of their costs are fixed, that might be a smarter
> move.
>  
> 73,
> Curt W4CP
> Raleigh, NC USA
> 
> 
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