How long till O&A are kissing Howard ass?

[Birkoff]

<h1 style="margin: 0px" class="articleTitle">If XM, Sirius Pursue Merger,<br />Hurdles at FCC, Justice Loom</h1><div style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font: bold 12px times new roman, times, serif; padding-top: 12px"><span style="font: bold 12px times new roman, times, serif">By <strong>SARAH MCBRIDE</strong> and <strong>AMY SCHATZ</strong><br /><span class="aTime">January 17, 2007;&nbsp;Page&nbsp;A3</span></span><br /></div><p class="times">With speculation on the upswing about a possible merger between satellite-radio rivals <a href="http://online.wsj.com/quotes/main.html?type=djn&amp;symbol=siri">Sirius Satellite Radio</a> Inc. and <a href="http://online.wsj.com/quotes/main.html?type=djn&amp;symbol=xmsr">XM Satellite Radio Holdings</a> Inc., the companies face a serious obstacle: Federal Communications Commission regulations that appear to specifically forbid a merger.</p><p class="times">Winning approval for any deal, from both the FCC and the Justice Department, may rest in persuading regulators that the two companies face many more competitors than just each other. Competing technologies that have helped damp satellite radio's growth -- like iPods, podcasts and Internet radio -- may give the companies ammunition to persuade regulators that a merger of the only two satellite-radio players isn't a threat to competition.</p><p class="times">Merger rumors involving the companies have surfaced periodically over the last year, stoked by Sirius officials like Chief Executive Mel Karmazin, who has said he would be interested in buying XM. Officials at XM typically dismissed the possibility.</p>

[Marc with a c]

haha amy schatz.

[Wallower]

We have bigger things to worry about. That article is from the future!! Get Hawking on the line, STAT!

[Snacks]

I hope they merge and howard goes back to his old ways and has o&amp;a kicked off the air!!! Maybe this will help Dopie come back to earth

[MikeB]

Yea I hate everything too.

[Don Stugots]

i hope it never happens but if so, they would once again be working for the same company and would continue with what was the best radio war ever from the old days.

[cupcakelove]

I know Howard is the big thing at Sirius, and he still gets mentions in the news for just being Howard, but he is planning on retiring in a few years, and OnA really seem like the hot thing right now as far as radio goes.&nbsp; I don't think they will be fired or kissing anyones ass if there is a merger.

[Dash77]

<p><strong><em><font size="2">Howards an ASS I hope he sucks</font></em></strong></p>

[EliSnow]

<strong>Birkoff</strong> wrote:<br /><p class="times">Competing technologies that have helped damp satellite radio's growth -- like iPods, podcasts and Internet radio -- may give the companies ammunition to persuade regulators that a merger of the only two satellite-radio players isn't a threat to competition.</p><p class="times">&nbsp;</p><p><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="3">I don't buy this argument at all.&nbsp; Under this argument,&nbsp;one company could own all broadcast television networks due to the competition from cable, video games and movies.&nbsp;&nbsp; But this would still create a monopoly in the broadcast television industry.&nbsp; </font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I'm not saying there aren't other arguments, but the argument above is a loser I think.</font></p>

[LOAF]

<p>What if they did the wwe thing, like when they first merged with wcw. They could have one set of owners but kept the companies as seperate entities??</p><p>It could work</p>

[EliSnow]

<strong>THE_LOAF</strong> wrote:<br /><p>What if they did the wwe thing, like when they first merged with wcw. They could have one set of owners but kept the companies as seperate entities??</p><p><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="3">I'm fairly certain that was the storyline.&nbsp; WWE bought and owned WCW.&nbsp; I think the difference (at least for now - this may change) is that WCW would have gone under if not bought by WWE.&nbsp; I think this excuses any combination of the companies.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Now this could occur with Sirius and XM, so this would be the better argument as opposed to competition from iPods.</font></p>

[JimBeam]

<p>I think somebody had mentioned in a previous thread the fact that there are still thousands of terrestrial radio stations and that alone is competition.</p><p>What about when a company is the first to do something arent they the monopoly ?</p><p>If Sirius had never come along and no other company was around would XM have to shut down because they owned the market ?</p><p>What if Sirius went bankrupt would the FCC and Justice Department fund them just to prevent XM from becoming a monopoly ?</p>

[EliSnow]

<strong>JimBeam</strong> wrote:<br /><p>I think somebody had mentioned in a previous thread the fact that there are still thousands of terrestrial radio stations and that alone is competition.</p><p>What about when a company is the first to do something arent they the monopoly ?</p><p>If Sirius had never come along and no other company was around would XM have to shut down because they owned the market ?</p><p>What if Sirius went bankrupt would the FCC and Justice Department fund them just to prevent XM from becoming a monopoly ?</p><p><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="3">There's no problem if only one company is providing a service or product that no one else tries to provide.&nbsp;&nbsp; However, that company can't buy every competitor that comes around to rid themselves of competitors.&nbsp; </font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Now if one of the companies was going bankrupt, I think that the merger would be permitted, because the government doesn't want a situation where no company is able to provide a service that is valuable to America's citizens.&nbsp; </font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">This is very simplistic, and it's not really my specialty so I could be wrong about some of these things.</font></p>

[ralphbxny]

<p>If this means my XM bill goes down im happy. If not I can care less. I wish howard well but i will never listen to him!!! Long live O&amp;A and R&amp;F.</p>

[Team_Ramrod]

<p>The short answer to your question....Never.</p><p>They made too much money and probably have enough opportunity to make money outside of radio to kiss his ass. They said this is their final contract, they are set for the rest of their lives why would they compromise their dignity and self respect to buy a few more years on radio?</p><p>If they merge and I have access to the Stern show I'll listen when porn stars are on riding the sybian so&nbsp; I can jack it to their moans...... Nah, I've never been into Stern but I won't bash him either.</p>

[brainwart]

<p>If they merge, maybe O&amp;A can start&nbsp;having&nbsp;Jim Breuer on their show again.</p>

[Team_Ramrod]

Good point brainwart

[Snacks]

<strong>THE_LOAF</strong> wrote:<br /><p>What if they did the wwe thing, like when they first merged with wcw. They could have one set of owners but kept the companies as seperate entities??</p><p>It could work</p><p>I think wrestling may be a little different. I think when it comes to wrestling they may have looked at it as a tv show or something like that. There are hundreds of other shows to watch on tv and every state probly has local wrestling shows. I dont know, but I think a merger makes business sense. I own siri stock and think this would be good for the business #'s and for customers. Everyone would be able to listen to everyone they want to hear. I for one like Howard, bubba and ron and fez. I'm not going to pay for both but if they merge I can listen to both. </p>

[TheGameHHH]

<strong>Team_Ramrod</strong> wrote:<br /><p>The short answer to your question....Never.</p><p>They made too much money and probably have enough opportunity to make money outside of radio to kiss his ass. <strong>They said this is their final contract</strong>, they are set for the rest of their lives why would they compromise their dignity and self respect to buy a few more years on radio?</p><p>If they merge and I have access to the Stern show I'll listen when porn stars are on riding the sybian so I can jack it to their moans...... Nah, I've never been into Stern but I won't bash him either.</p><p>&nbsp;they said that at WNEW too, if thats what you believe than youre insane.&nbsp; </p>

[Doctor Manhattan]

<a href="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/viewmessages.cfm/forum/52/topic/55782">How long till O&amp;A are kissing Howard ass?</a> <p><font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="2" color="#000080">Do you&nbsp;think the Pests would let O&amp;A get away with that?</font></p>

[spadanko]

<p><font size="7">DIVIDE AND CONQUER!!!!</font></p><p><img src="/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/thumbdown.gif" border="0" width="29" height="20" /></p>

[cougarjake13]

<p>if they were owned by the same company wouldnt that have o and a vs stern in the same timeslot ???</p><p>i guess it could go both ways</p><p>bad b/c they in the same timeslot splitting the viewers</p><p>good b/c like the wwe vs wcw there'd be competition and mat=y make better radio </p>

[Turtle]

i like toast

[Bossanova]

If they merged it would just mean that there would be two virus type channels that barely play the buddays

[TinyInfantJesus]

<p>Wait this is based off Mel saying he would be interested.&nbsp; This is not going to happen. I'm sure Bill Gates would be interested in buying Apple, but logistically it just isn't going to happen.</p>