at least with the Justice Department. Now we just need the FCC approval and we'll never have to hear about this shit again :hhh:

hopefully they don't increase our cost after the merger......

hopefully they don't increase our cost after the merger...... Its probably still months away, but I thought they had to guarantee congress they wouldnt do that.

not 100% sure about that...they were alittle tricky in the wording

I heard

Justice Department Clears Sirius Merger With XM
Satellite Radio Firms Await FCC Decision on Deal
By SARAH MCBRIDE and JOHN R. WILKE
March 24, 2008 4:33 p.m.

The Department of Justice approved the merger of satellite radio companies Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., marking a big step forward for a long-running Wall Street cliffhanger that comes more than a year after the deal was struck.

The merger also requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission. While it is unlikely that the FCC will go against the Justice Department's ruling, it has the power to impose conditions that might make the controversial merger slightly more palatable to the groups lined up against it. A ruling from the FCC is expected in coming weeks.

The companies proposed their merger in February 2007, when it was considered extremely ambitious, largely because it was seen as creating a satellite radio monopoly that regulators would be unlikely to approve. Since then, however, the companies have argued that the satellite radio services compete not just with each other, but with all kinds of audio entertainment, starting with regular radio stations.

Now, Sirius and XM will have to prove that their merger will lead to all the benefits they outlined as they sought approval. Some will be fairly easy to implement. For example, the companies promised tiered pricing, allowing consumers who listen to just a few channels discounted rates. Currently, each service costs $12.99 a month.

But other promised changes might prove trickier. For example, Sirius and XM said their subscribers would be able to receive programming from either service, without having to purchase a new radio receiver. Currently, each service is incompatible with the other company's receivers.

Although a few channels from the other service could be added fairly quickly onto each company's satellites, more than a handful would require some creative engineering solutions. The companies say they have been working on the appropriate technology and expect full a la carte selection within one year.

Shareholders in both companies also expect a combined satellite radio service to deliver savings that would improve each company's financial picture. Both companies lose millions of dollars each year as they struggle to build subscriber growth while meeting extraordinarily high fixed costs, such as launching satellites.

As one company, the satellite radio business could eliminate duplicated channels, such as the similar music channels each offers. It would be rid of the bidding wars that led to extraordinary price tags for talent such as Howard Stern and Major League Baseball. Back-office staffs could be combined and cut, along with marketing budgets, research budgets, and the like.

Write to Sarah McBride at sarah.mcbride@wsj.com and John R. Wilke at john.wilke@wsj.com

now we all get to get ripped off!!!!!

I guess the Government isn't as anti-Howard as HE likes to think they are...or maybe they just realize he is no longer that relevent in today's pop culture...

By the time the merger is official and you can get XM and Sirius on one reciever, it will be the end of Howard's contract

By the time the merger is official and you can get XM and Sirius on one reciever, it will be the end of Howard's contract

O & A it is then...