SIRIUS merging with XM Radio!

That's fine if you don't mind a lot of dead air.

(too soon?)

 

Not at all . . . well played, well played.

 

The FCC is already on record saying it would not permit such a merger, and I don't know what's happened since (except that both have lost more money) to change that.

 

You're out of your mind. The connection is not fine. The connection is very obviously messed up. If you'd ever heard what I have in my car, you'd happily eat those words.

How is your receiver connected to your audio system? My bet is that you're using a very cheap FM modulator.

 

Got this in my e-mail this morning from XM:

 

The factory-installed radios in theory can access either service anyway (I remember seeing a how-to on one of the fan boards about how to get XM on a car with a factory-installed Sirius radio). But for the rest of us with portables and plug-and-plays, god only knows what this means.

 

Both satellite companies use the same hardware manufacturer for their devices. As such, it is unlikely that anyone will have to purchase new hardware. A simple firmware update is all that would, theoretically, be needed.

Of course, this doesn't take into account the greed associated with companies wanting their customers to purchase new hardware instead of providing a free firmware upgrade.

 

Thus far they've managed not to fall into that trap. I'm still using a dirty old SkyFi I in my car, because I've never seen the need to upgrade. Maybe I'll spring for one of those Inno deals later.

 

Why do I have a feeling subscription rates are going to skyrocket as soon as the merger is approved?

I have mixed feelings about this. I'm a Howard Stern diehard and as long as I can listen to the Howard channels, ESPN Radio and a few music channels, I'm happy...

I just wonder if less competition will mean less quality and higher subscription rates...

 

The biggest impact, I predict, will be a slowdown in new channels and shows, since there won't be as much a need to keep up with the Joneses. I don't think they'll go up on prices, because they're fighting stalling growth in subscriptions, and the last thing they need to do is jack up prices. They could, as another poster mentioned, do a tiered service where you pay extra for sports packages, or something like that.

 

I fully expect a tiered service to come out of this. There's no way that won't happen.

 

XM's and Sirius use different type of technology, their satellites are different and each needs its own type of antenna.
Firmware won't be able to change whether a radio can get XM or Sirius.
What should happen is that they will simulcast programming on each satellite so existing radios don't turn into pricey paperweights.