I subscribe to XM and I'm against the merger. There should be a choice to choose from with the satelite radio, not just "take it or leave it" that you'll have if it goes through.

As far as terrestrial radio being competition - how are they? Can I listen to the Weather Channel to see what's going on across the country on terrestrial? Nope - they'll only tell me what's going on locally. How about trucking news - can you get that on the local stations? How about when you're halfway between nowhere and there's no cities around with a local station that you can pick up?

Terrestrial isn't competition with satelite. That's exactly the same as saying that broadcast tv that you pick up off an antenna is the competition for satelite tv or even cable tv. They're completely different beasts.

 

it's not even close to the same thing, but anyway, regardless of how you feel about the merger, what really irks me is that the government has had 23 meetings with Jesse Jackson about it, why should he have any say in it? he has nothing to do with radio except to elect himself the moral police. his latest "offer" is to allow the merger as long as 20 percent of the channels are devoted to racial issues, these channels would be made available for free to the broadcasters. well, then if that's how it is, since so many subscribers are truckers. I think truckers should also be given free channels. How many channels does terrestrial radio give for free to deal with racial issues? let me add it up................ NONE

 

I take it you've never listened to Pacifica radio?

It does sound more than a bit absurd that J. Jackson has been even consulted on the project.

 

 

I have 2 subscriptions to XM one in the car at home that the wife drives and one in my truck. I am happy with my XM, had Sirius at one time but now enjoy my XM much Better. I have had both so my opinion is based on that fact. I just prefer the overall programming on XM. It sucks not having Nascar on there but I can deal with it. I just feel like there are things i will gain that I dont want through the merger and lose some stuff I do want. I like having the choice to pick one service over the other. I dont want to pay for one big blanket service that i didnt choose. After using both i chose to go with XM now the other service that I used and did not like as much will be given to me whether I want it or not if i decide to keep satelite radio. i dont like that choice.

 

they have said you can keep what you have with no change, you will not be forced to pay for a blanket service
another of the things they have offered is an ala cart menu where you can choose what channels you want from each service. you would not have to pay full price for both like you do now if you want channels from both providers.. . they even offered to let the government set the maximum price..
anyway, it looks like they cant both survive , one will go broke and be bought by the other one and then there will be only one

 

here's what sirius says will happen with a merger
http://www.siriusmerger.com/

 

If it weren't for truck drivers, I'm pretty sure they would both be broke by now. We spend a lot more time listening to the radio than any other segment of society. People who listen to the talk shows at work can get a terrestrial signal in any metropolitan area, and most people don't spend a ton of time in their cars listening to music. We, in contrast, go from one broadcast area to the next and we have long periods of time in which to use the services that satellite radio can offer.

 

You are 100 percent right about that.

 

Dang...I still listen to cd's.