FCC Nixes Satellite Radio Merger

a_nonamiss writes "Doesn't look like Sirius and XM are going to merge any time soon. I'm not sure how I feel about this one. Logically, I know that competition is a good thing for consumers, and monopolies are generally only good for companies. Still, I don't like having to choose a car based on which satellite radio service comes pre-installed, or considering whether I'd rather have Howard Stern or Oprah, because there is no practical way to get both. Frankly, it's probably all this exclusivity that has caused me not to purchase either system." From the article: "Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told reporters after an FCC meeting that the Commission would not approve a merger between satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM Radio... When the FCC initially licensed the two satellite radio companies in 1997, there was language in the licensing barring one from acquiring control of the other... Even if the FCC were to have a change of heart..., it would still have to pass antitrust scrutiny by the Department of Justice."

Re:Go with logic

[twostar]

No no no, you got it all wrong. You're suppose to say "FP!"

Re:Stern or Oprah?

[Chris Burke]

Is there anyone on the planet who wants to listen to BOTH Howard Stern AND Oprah?

No, but you could have two people, each who want to listen to one of the two, but who would also like to share a sattelite radio service.

How could such a mysterious circumstance come about? How should I know; I'm a slashdotter too.

Yech!

[MoxFulder]

... or considering whether I'd rather have Howard Stern or Oprah, because there is no practical way to get both. Frankly, it's probably all this exclusivity that has caused me not to purchase either system."

Frankly, it's the idea of giving any of my money to either Howard Stern or Oprah that has held me back from getting satellite radio service.

Re:Science?

[eln]

It's a Science article because they won't let kdawson use the Enlightenment icon anymore.

Solved problem.

[eddy]

Break out common functionality and put it in a superclass which both children inherit.

Re:Go with logic

[nizo]

Yeah but what if instead of looking at reliability, gas mileage, or overall customer satisfaction I would prefer to make my next $30,000+ auto purchase based on which satellite radio comes with the car?

Re:Go with logic

[rdoger6424]

It makes a decent tiebreaker.