Number THREE on the "companies who will be gone by 09 list"

[Caseyelan]

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8440/xmcapkn7.jpg

thanks aol for making my holiday bright.

[JerseyRich]

Don't worry Casey!

Everyone involved with the Ron and Fez Show are true talents and will end up somewhere great.
Dave is a talent and will be just fine.

Minus "you know who."

[Gvac]

With the way this economy is going it wouldn't surprise me to see Sirius/XM declare bankruptcy. Whether or not that means liquidating all of its assets and disappearing or just a reorganization, who can say?

I'm hoping for the best for everybody involved, including you and Dave.

[Marc with a c]

what number was aol?

[King Hippos Bandaid]

gotta hope for the best

Sirius XM got to make a deal with Toyota Nissan or Honda

US Cars are cancer

[MisterSmith]

With the way this economy is going it wouldn't surprise me to see Sirius/XM declare bankruptcy. Whether or not that means liquidating all of its assets and disappearing or just a reorganization, who can say?

I'm hoping for the best for everybody involved, including you and Dave.

That's a big reason I am concerned about O&A. They keep acting rather child-like and railing against the bosses and lawyers, while Sirius likely sees them as redundant to Howard Stern. I think they have also annoyed enough of their fan base that there won't be a massive outcry if they are canned. Cutting them might be seen as a money saver.

I am a big fan of O&A, but they need to be at least a little careful about what they are doing and who they are pissing off right now.

[KnoxHarrington]

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy might not be a bad idea for Sirius/XM at this point. The main problem the company has is this crushing debt they're under. It would give them room to maneuver and renegotiate.

Besides, I think that R&F -- and Dave with them -- is in about as safe a position as they can be in this. The ones who really need to worry are the employees you never hear of on the radio. The drones in the corporate offices.

Besides, as Gvac says, R&F are going to get another job even if Sirius/XM folds, and I think that there's a place for Davey Mac in that. Free FM showed that he can work in terrestrial radio without resorting to tossing shit around.

And, besides, I think that internet radio is becoming a real alternative. I know that Pandora, for one, is talking about adding talk content to their service. Who knows, maybe soon ronandfez.com will not just be the name of a show but how we listen to the whole damn thing.

[donnie_darko]

i called this a while ago.

only chance for sirius to make it is to go free service and sell ads.

They can easily replace normal radio, and instead of having to pay for a local station in every market, have everyone in one building broadcasting to the entire country.

only chance satellite radio has.

And i honestly think Ron would do his best to find Dave a new home if anything did happen, most of the producers that i've heard on air have always gone on to work elsewhere.

[lleeder]

Good thing I bought a lifetime subscription yesterday for 500 bucks. :wallbash:

[scottinnj]

This sucks. I hate terrestrial radio, and if Mel uses any model that makes XM resemble it, I'll be very disappointed. It won't save satellite.

Plus, have anyone else noticed the change in how the music stations are broadcasting? Some of the DJs are talking during the intros to songs. God DAMMIT I hate that. We have one douchebag here in south Jersey on WMGM who I swear to God, makes it his mission to "hit the post" every fucking song.

[MacVittie]

thanks aol for making my holiday bright.

Yes, but Handi-Lift was at the top of the list of companies with the greatest potential in 2009.

[KatPw]

I blame the merger. It should have never been allowed. I really think the government wants satellite radio to fail, because the FCC can't control it's content.

[TheMojoPin]

I blame the merger. It should have never been allowed. I really think the government wants satellite radio to fail, because the FCC can't control it's content.

To a degree, though both satellite companies really deserve most of the blame for running their businesses and offering tech like it was 10-15 years ago.

[Puggle_kicker]

I certainly see it happening. Hopefully all will be able to relocate and set up show elsewhere.

But the whole idea of sat radio was pretty ill concieved in my opinion. Why spend all that money putting up satalites when you could just stream on the net? And thats the biggest competition to sat radio, the fact that there are internet services like Pandora, Rhapsody, Live Music Archive and Slacker, ect . . . which are usually free or much cheaper than sat radio.

They also goofed when they insisted on people buying radios. All I ever hear about these radios is how poorly they are constructed and that they break all the time. By design likely, to get you to buy a new radio.

Overall it was a pie in the sky idea that just doesnt make fiscal sense.

[jonyrotn]

We have one douchebag here in south Jersey I think the number might be even higher than that Scott...

[sailor]

I certainly see it happening. Hopefully all will be able to relocate and set up show elsewhere.

But the whole idea of sat radio was pretty ill concieved in my opinion. Why spend all that money putting up satalites when you could just stream on the net? And thats the biggest competition to sat radio, the fact that there are internet services like Pandora, Rhapsody, Live Music Archive and Slacker, ect . . . which are usually free or much cheaper than sat radio.

They also goofed when they insisted on people buying radios. All I ever hear about these radios is how poorly they are constructed and that they break all the time. By design likely, to get you to buy a new radio.

Overall it was a pie in the sky idea that just doesnt make fiscal sense.

actually, you can get an internet-only subscription. currently, most cars don't get an internet feed. i've also never had a problem with a radio. i had a tao that worked for 3+ years till someone broke into my car and smashed the set-up with as rock in the process.

[west milly Tom]

I blame the merger. It should have never been allowed. I really think the government wants satellite radio to fail, because the FCC can't control it's content.



You're 100% right. This company will be given a free ticket to failure because the FCC has been trying to control their content for years now.


Mabye, just mabye...they'll get a government bail-out. :)

[Syd]

SiriusXM will b fine for awhile. They're not going anywhere; investors had already priced in a considerable streak of being in the red for the company. If they start getting into a bad situation, Honda will pump money into them. GM possibly too.

also, that article is basically BS speculation too. I totally skipped over the DirecTV part -- they already sold their stake in XM a long time ago. They're not going to go buy them back up.

[Puggle_kicker]

actually, you can get an internet-only subscription. currently, most cars don't get an internet feed. i've also never had a problem with a radio. i had a tao that worked for 3+ years till someone broke into my car and smashed the set-up with as rock in the process.

I have an internet subscription and I'm canceling because they WILL NOT allow me to have a best of XM or best of Sirius package without owning a radio.

And the internet stream was an afterthought after they blew tons of loot putting up satellites.

[sailor]

I have an internet subscription and I'm canceling because they WILL NOT allow me to have a best of XM or best of Sirius package without owning a radio.

And the internet stream was an afterthought after they blew tons of loot putting up satellites.

a portion of that has to do with sports licensing. like i don't believe you can get mlb games on internet feed because mlbam (mlb.com) streams the games themselves and part of their deal with xm was not to compete in that medium. and as for the internet, definitely it was an afterthought. i have it set up, but rarely listen online. i just don't have interest in it for whatever reason. again, i'd assume the majority of folk listen while driving or walking about.

i am a bit confused. you have all these channels and you're going to cancel because they won't sell you a few more?

[scottinnj]

I think the number might be even higher than that Scott...

:clap:

Yes, counting me, at least two.

[lleeder]

I'd like to see what the 2008 list was. Any of you smart types able to find that?

[jauble]

what number was aol?

Great post marc.

[scottinnj]

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8440/xmcapkn7.jpg

thanks aol for making my holiday bright.

Did anyone notice at the bottom the next company? Didn't we just give them a few billion taxpayer dollars?

[Thebazile78]

Did anyone notice at the bottom the next company? Didn't we just give them a few billion taxpayer dollars?

Yeah, but didn't they spend that on weeks' long spa stays for their CEO's and top-level execs?

[SP1!]

XM already has a contract with Honda, sat radio isnt going anywhere for a good 3 years at the outset, now they just need to make the transition to streaming over the net and for the receivers in the cars.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Did anyone notice at the bottom the next company? Didn't we just give them a few billion taxpayer dollars?

The idea is that these companies will be gone.


AIG is owned by the government. The other Insurance companies who are in good shape are just waitng to snap up the pieces.

[lleeder]

When will SiriusXm just be one company being two seperate but one company is just retarded. Its like they are WWF keeping WcW around just form one solid shitfest.

[K.C.]

With the way this economy is going it wouldn't surprise me to see Sirius/XM declare bankruptcy.

Surprise? I've been predicting this for the last three years. That company is abysmal. The only somewhat satisfying thing is that this spectacular failure will fall on Mel Karmazin's shoulders.


Hopefully everyone on the Ron & Fez show ends up ok. It's a great show, and I'm sure there will be a lot of interest to bringing them somewhere.

[JimBeam]

I didn't read this particular article but they had a similar one a few months ago listing companies that would be gone by the end of 2008.

I guess they're just gonna keep extending the " end date " until they get it right.

They had the usual suspects on the previous list ( Linens & Things, Circuit City, Old Navy, etc ... ) but of the ones that they listed I believe only Linens went tits up.

Circuit City's gonna do just what Eddie Bauer did a few years ago.

They'll close under performing stores and probably open smaller ( meaning not the " we offer everything in the store " type ) ones in areas where they can be successful.

[Puggle_kicker]

i am a bit confused. you have all these channels and you're going to cancel because they won't sell you a few more?

I feel like I was sold a false bill of goods. On the website they make no mention that you can not get the best of package unless you buy a radio. Instead they lead you to believe that it is something that you can have. The only reason that I wanted to get it is for the talk channels, specifically OandA, RandF, and Howard. Now I only have Howard and this is not what I want.

The music channels are nothing special and nothing that I cant get for free using my Squeezebox and the music on my wireless network and my internet radio subscriptions.

[NewYorkDragons80]

I don't think they're gonna go belly up. Worst-case is they get bought out by a major media company and *maybe* get watered down. Even if that happens, I don't see that hurting R&F since they've shown they can work clean.

[Puggle_kicker]

What company would want to swallow that debt in the current financial environment? I say thats very unlikely.

[K.C.]

What company would want to swallow that debt in the current financial environment? I say thats very unlikely.

Agreed. Plus there's no benefit to it.

ClearChannel or Viacom can scoop up any of the talent at their leisure afterwards. SiriusXM has no attractive assets outside of talent.

And no media company, that might be able to utilize some of the technology, like Apple would take on the kind of debt they have, like you said.



And one of the most telltale signs this company is almost done is that there's absolutely no buzz for it this holiday season. No ads, no hot commodities, no heat. Combine that with crippling debt...it's over, johnny.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Agreed. Plus there's no benefit to it.

ClearChannel or Viacom can scoop up any of the talent at their leisure afterwards. SiriusXM has no attractive assets outside of talent.

And no media company, that might be able to utilize some of the technology, like Apple would take on the kind of debt they have, like you said.



And one of the most telltale signs this company is almost done is that there's absolutely no buzz for it this holiday season. No ads, no hot commodities, no heat. Combine that with crippling debt...it's over, johnny.

The biggest assets that Sirius XM has is five satellites that are already in orbit, and I'm sure they've got backups ready to go. Communication companies would be VERY interested in that, debt or no debt.

[NewYorkDragons80]

ClearChannel or Viacom can scoop up any of the talent at their leisure afterwards. SiriusXM has no attractive assets outside of talent.

I hope you're wrong and they see the potential for truckers, uncensored content, and guys who regularly travel between states. Ugh... will Ron and Fez ever win?

[NewYorkDragons80]

The biggest assets that Sirius XM has is five satellites that are already in orbit, and I'm sure they've got backups ready to go. Communication companies would be VERY interested in that, debt or no debt.

Thanks for some glimmer of hope. Anybody know any estimates on the debt?

[K.C.]

The biggest assets that Sirius XM has is five satellites that are already in orbit, and I'm sure they've got backups ready to go. Communication companies would be VERY interested in that, debt or no debt.

Let me put it this way. No radio company can afford it in these times, and especially with radio in decline in general.

So if someone purchases the technological infrastructure, it's still most likely going to mean the end of satellite radio from a entertainment perspective.

[SatCam]

Thanks for some glimmer of hope. Anybody know any estimates on the debt?

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/specialevents/blog/Dr.%20Evil.jpg


One hundred billion trillion dollars

[patsopinion]

dave will have a job no problem
if nothing else maybe he could be jay mohr's personal assistant

[Puggle_kicker]

Let me put it this way. No radio company can afford it in these times, and especially with radio in decline in general.

So if someone purchases the technological infrastructure, it's still most likely going to mean the end of satellite radio from a entertainment perspective.

Yes. The satellites may be valuable to a communications company, like maybe a cell phone or sat tv, but they will not be used for radio any longer.

[cogsdoc]

All of this doomsday talk is scaring me :down:

oh wait, this is all nonsense speculation :clap:

[K.C.]

oh wait, this is all nonsense speculation :clap:

Uh...no.

[scottinnj]

Yes. The satellites may be valuable to a communications company, like maybe a cell phone or sat tv, but they will not be used for radio any longer.

Where will we all be when the lights go out?

This kind of stuff really makes me mad. You pay for equipment, and the service, but then it goes away, and you're left with a pair of worthless Innos.

[NickyL0885]

isn't the gov't repaying SiriusXM's debt in 09? 1 billion dollars i think.

[Freitag]

They had the usual suspects on the previous list ( Linens & Things, Circuit City, Old Navy, etc ... ) but of the ones that they listed I believe only Linens went tits up.



Old Navy's in trouble? This is the first I've heard of it.

[Freitag]

Without knowing how the SiriusXM tech works, I'm wondering if they need all five satellites to broadcast. Sirius got by with two, XM got by with three... maybe it's a bandwidth thing? But they don't need to sell off all five sats.

[Don Stugots]

Old Navy's in trouble? This is the first I've heard of it.

Old navy stores have been rumored to be closing for the last two years. GAP was supposed to have OLD NAVY sections added to them but it hasn't happened yet.

[lleeder]

Old navy stores have been rumored to be closing for the last two years. GAP was supposed to have OLD NAVY sections added to them but it hasn't happened yet.

Thats like finding shit inside of shit.

[Freitag]

Old navy stores have been rumored to be closing for the last two years. GAP was supposed to have OLD NAVY sections added to them but it hasn't happened yet.

Old Navy had sales os 6.2 BILLION in 2007.

I can see them being part of the Gap conglomerate, but I can't see them going out of business.

They aren't even on the AOL list.

Old Navy closes stores all the time - it's the nature of the business. They're literally an old navy store every where you turn. But as a student of consumer news, I haven't heard a PEEP about Old navy going out of business or even being in trouble.

[Don Stugots]

Old Navy had sales os 6.2 BILLION in 2007.

I can see them being part of the Gap conglomerate, but I can't see them going out of business.

They aren't even on the AOL list.

Old Navy closes stores all the time - it's the nature of the business. They're literally an old navy store every where you turn. But as a student of consumer news, I haven't heard a PEEP about Old navy going out of business or even being in trouble.

they are part of the GAP conglomerate. I used to work at a company that did the build outs for them and while sales are good they DO NOT meet their projections. the stores would be combined as a cost cutting means, with the GAP name. like i said, word of that has been going around for a while now but it has never happened.

[Zorro]

Old Navy had sales os 6.2 BILLION in 2007.

I can see them being part of the Gap conglomerate, but I can't see them going out of business.

They aren't even on the AOL list.

Old Navy closes stores all the time - it's the nature of the business. They're literally an old navy store every where you turn. But as a student of consumer news, I haven't heard a PEEP about Old navy going out of business or even being in trouble.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/Chas4604/oldnavy.jpg

[boosterp]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n67/Chas4604/oldnavy.jpg

Creepy :blink:

[K.C.]

Without knowing how the SiriusXM tech works, I'm wondering if they need all five satellites to broadcast. Sirius got by with two, XM got by with three... maybe it's a bandwidth thing? But they don't need to sell off all five sats.

It's about bandwidth and coverage.

I don't know if all the satellites have been calibrated to where they're on the same page yet. It sounds to me like they just loaded XM programming into the Sirius satellites and Sirius programming into the XM satellites.

So essentially, you're wasting a lot of bandwidth, because you're duplicating programming to accommodate both subscriber bases.

I'm not sure if that's a problem that's easily fixed.

If it could be fixed, I would think they'd then be able to dump a couple satellites to cut their losses.

[scottinnj]

If it could be fixed, I would think they'd then be able to dump a couple satellites to cut their losses.


They could donate a couple to the military for I'm sure will be a very generous tax deduction!

http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/080221/nc_satelliteshootdown_080221.300w.jpg

And boom goes the dynamite.