Xm price increase seems certain

[thegreatgazoo]

This doesn't look good. Whenever they start it off by saying it won't be a certain price, you can bet it will be very close. I can see it being over $20.00 a month. At 5 radio's, that's going to put me over $100.00 a month. Don't know if it is worth it.




Sirius to charge less than $26/month post merger

By Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. Wednesday tried to clear up confusion over the cost of its service after buying rival XM Satellite Radio Inc. by telling lawmakers that it would be less than $25.90, the price of two services combined.

"If our merger is approved, we will offer consumers a much more attractive choice -- the best of each service on one radio at a price well below the cost of the two services today," Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin told a House telecommunications subcommittee hearing.

Karmazin did not say specifically what the new price would be, except that there will be a "significant discount." XM and Sirius each charge subscribers $12.95 monthly.

When asked if the discount would be around $10 or $2, Karmazin said it "looks closer to 10 than to two."

Last week, Karmazin told a House Judiciary antitrust committee hearing that Sirius was ready to make concessions in order to get the deal approved, such as capping prices.

During the hearing Wednesday, Karmazin tried to clarify what the price of the combined services would be over what the price of the separate services would be after the merger.

"There was some confusion on what we said about pricing," he said, pointing out that an XM or Sirius subscriber paying the $12.95 fee per month would not pay more for the same service after the merger.

"There is an opportunity to pay less" than $12.95, Karmazin said. "If you like the idea of having some content from Sirius and some content from XM, where today you have to buy (both services) and pay $12.95 each ... we will make an offering for less than the combined cost."

Sirius offers channels that include shock jock Howard Stern and Nascar auto racing while XM has programming like Major League Baseball and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

The proposed deal needs to be approved by the Justice Department's antitrust office as well as the Federal Communications Commission, which issued the satellite radio licenses in 1997 on the condition that the two companies would never merge.

The FCC has said it would consider waiving that rule if asked. The deal does not need approval from lawmakers, but they could pressure the regulators.

Consumer groups have criticized the proposed deal, saying it could mean higher prices and obsolete equipment for some subscribers.

However, the companies say the merger will not hurt consumers because satellite radio faces competition from other forms of audio like traditional AM/FM radio and personal audio players -- an assertion the Consumers Union derides.

"While AM/FM radio, iPods and other music recording and listening devices can offer similar prepackaged music or local signals similar to what satellite radio offers, none of them can offer immediate national programming, including live professional sports games from across the country to listeners across the nation," Consumers Union Vice President Gene Kimmelman said.

(c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world

[Polack]

I'm in the same boat. I've got the five units and this is gonna kill me. I know I will keep my units in my truck and my machine but the rest of the units will probably be turned off unless the employees want to pay for them themselves.

[UCFGavin]

i won't pay too much more....maybe $15. I've got two subs and I'm a broke college student.

[Death Metal Moe]

I have 3 subs and I've already warned my mother and father that we might not be keeping satellite radio if it means getting all new radios and/or the price of getting what we want goes up.

Dont' shoot yourselves in the foot XM/Sirius. I didn't ask for more content. If you jack the price up too much I'm out.

[flyerfan116]

i just got a re-newal thing for my main sub i think it was like $10 a month if i lock in for 2 or 3 years or something definitely have to make sure i get that b/c i would think they'd have to honor it

[Borderline]

They jacked up the price just after I bought my first radio. I'm not paying twice what I am now just so they can consolidate their programming and trim channels. If it goes up at all (if I'm force to pay for Sirius programming I don't want) I'm out.

How many people out there really pay for both services now?

[FakeName]

If it goes up I will be hoping that Ron & Fez are also available on Audibile.com. $20 seems a lot for one channel (all I listen to).

[deadfruitvirus]

They're claiming that no one will be forced to subscribe to both services, because they fear people will drop their subs. The plan is to continue to run XM and Sirius satellite radios separately and just start making dual service units for those who do wish to subscribe to both.

[Fruit Monkey]

So I need to pay more for 2 70's channels? 2 Comedys channels? 2 NYC traffic stations? etc etc,,, bull shit I hate nascar nba hockey country blues hip hop, and just about every thing else. fuck em all!

[TeenBungle]

i won't pay too much more....maybe $15. I've got two subs and I'm a broke college student.

HERE HERE!

[Ballbuster1]

They're claiming that no one will be forced to subscribe to both services, because they fear people will drop their subs. The plan is to continue to run XM and Sirius satellite radios separately and just start making dual service units for those who do wish to subscribe to both.
That's the way it sounded to me. I have no desire to hear what Sirius offers
so if that's the case, it's no biggie to me. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
If there are forced major price changes, then I may bail.

[Arc Lite]

I really doubt the the merger will take place, and nobody know how things will work if it does happen. But just in case, my 2 year renewal in drawing near. Thinking of going 3 years and (hopefully) locking in that lower rate.

BUT if the service does reach $25 / month, I will be canceling.

[Turtle]

The last time they had a price increase; XM gave the option of purchasing years worth of service at the old price. I think it was $9.00 a month. I went and bought five years on two units.

[BOUGHTONII]

opie AND anthony are worth 13 a month. i have 4 units and do support them.
i won't support howard., ., ., .

[funnybonez]

You guys are reading it wrong....
If you have XM and only want XM contents and not Sirius your sub stays the same price. If you want both contents SIRIUS and XM, you will pay over $20.

But you know everything is going up no matter what. They can't afford to keep both system running. It's Karmizee way of making the merger sound good to the GOVT.

[N.Y. Johnny]

You guys are reading it wrong....
If you have XM and only want XM contents and not Sirius your sub stays the same price. If you want both contents SIRIUS and XM, you will pay over $20.

But you know everything is going up no matter what. They can't afford to keep both system running. It's Karmizee way of making the merger sound good to the GOVT.



I can live with that. The minute they force Stern and NFL on me and make me pay anymore than what I do now they can fuck themselves. I will sacrifice Yanks baseball, but so be it.

I can live with a nominal increase for just what I have now, the XM content thats great. Forcing packages or stripping packages and increasing prices will piss off alot of people.

[Bill]

It might even be good for some of us. I only listen to 202 (as I'm sure that many others do too). If they are going to offer a la carte pricing, it's possible that we might be able to pay less.

Also, for those who are doing math, don't forget that you don't pay full price for additional receivers. IIRC, the price for an additional receiver is currently $6.99 per month.

[smurfett79]

I refuse to drop down more money we have 2 units that we use.. better still have multi unit discount per user account.

i just got mine, hubby had his for 2 yrs now.
oie..
oh well wouldnt be first time i started likeing something for them to crap all over it.

[Vyce]

However, the companies say the merger will not hurt consumers because satellite radio faces competition from other forms of audio like traditional AM/FM radio and personal audio players -- an assertion the Consumers Union derides.


So that was the reason behind Opie's little rant from the other week.

Sorry, Op. I don't fucking care.

[boardsofcanada]

every company jacks the prices up.....such bullshit

[South Jersey]

I hope Howard and Mel die of leprosy.

[jimmyjimjimz]

This doesn't look good. Whenever they start it off by saying it won't be a certain price, you can bet it will be very close. I can see it being over $20.00 a month. At 5 radio's, that's going to put me over $100.00 a month. Don't know if it is worth it.




Sirius to charge less than $26/month post merger

By Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. Wednesday tried to clear up confusion over the cost of its service after buying rival XM Satellite Radio Inc. by telling lawmakers that it would be less than $25.90, the price of two services combined.

"If our merger is approved, we will offer consumers a much more attractive choice -- the best of each service on one radio at a price well below the cost of the two services today," Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin told a House telecommunications subcommittee hearing.

Karmazin did not say specifically what the new price would be, except that there will be a "significant discount." XM and Sirius each charge subscribers $12.95 monthly.

When asked if the discount would be around $10 or $2, Karmazin said it "looks closer to 10 than to two."

Last week, Karmazin told a House Judiciary antitrust committee hearing that Sirius was ready to make concessions in order to get the deal approved, such as capping prices.

During the hearing Wednesday, Karmazin tried to clarify what the price of the combined services would be over what the price of the separate services would be after the merger.

"There was some confusion on what we said about pricing," he said, pointing out that an XM or Sirius subscriber paying the $12.95 fee per month would not pay more for the same service after the merger.

"There is an opportunity to pay less" than $12.95, Karmazin said. "If you like the idea of having some content from Sirius and some content from XM, where today you have to buy (both services) and pay $12.95 each ... we will make an offering for less than the combined cost."

Sirius offers channels that include shock jock Howard Stern and Nascar auto racing while XM has programming like Major League Baseball and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

The proposed deal needs to be approved by the Justice Department's antitrust office as well as the Federal Communications Commission, which issued the satellite radio licenses in 1997 on the condition that the two companies would never merge.

The FCC has said it would consider waiving that rule if asked. The deal does not need approval from lawmakers, but they could pressure the regulators.

Consumer groups have criticized the proposed deal, saying it could mean higher prices and obsolete equipment for some subscribers.

However, the companies say the merger will not hurt consumers because satellite radio faces competition from other forms of audio like traditional AM/FM radio and personal audio players -- an assertion the Consumers Union derides.

"While AM/FM radio, iPods and other music recording and listening devices can offer similar prepackaged music or local signals similar to what satellite radio offers, none of them can offer immediate national programming, including live professional sports games from across the country to listeners across the nation," Consumers Union Vice President Gene Kimmelman said.

(c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world

Am I missing something? I'm confused.
When did Sirius buy XM? I thought both companies just aggreed to merge.

[Frunkus]

I just took a three year sub. Will not have to worry about this shit till 2010.

[tripwire519]

i was one of the "smart" more lucky ones.. I got in while they were still offering lifetime memberships. I have 5 radios and 4 paid yearly 1 lifetime.

Im curious to see how the merger affects my "lifetime" subscription.

[Jerry1]

You guys are reading it wrong....
If you have XM and only want XM contents and not Sirius your sub stays the same price. If you want both contents SIRIUS and XM, you will pay over $20.

But you know everything is going up no matter what. They can't afford to keep both system running. It's Karmizee way of making the merger sound good to the GOVT.

Hope you're right. I just wanna keep my XM and don't need Sirius.

As for a price increase, if it's not a huge increase I got no problem with it. If they keep it under $20 still have no problem with it. I got 3 subs and if it goes to $25 one of my subs may have to go.

[weeniewawa]

i just got a re-newal thing for my main sub i think it was like $10 a month if i lock in for 2 or 3 years or something definitely have to make sure i get that b/c i would think they'd have to honor it

I just did the same thing on 3-13-07 . they should have to honor the deal.

[BrianFromIowa]

Maybe someone could start a poll on where the price "cut off" would be?

It might be interesting.

fyi- I'd pay up to $17 or 18 a month for combined xm/sirius. No more.

[Truckers_hell]

Sirius offers channels that include shock jock Howard Stern and Nascar auto racing while XM has programming like Major League Baseball and talk show host Oprah Winfrey

Notice they mentioned HOO HOO in the story But nothing about O&A I guess that means the boys are getting fired again:mad4:

I hate the doggy company to me I think that XM has the better programing

[NoSurviivors]

I'm not paying a cent more due to this merger. I'll hold an online account as best.

[SwimConnerSwim]

Notice they mentioned HOO HOO in the story But nothing about O&A I guess that means the boys are getting fired again:mad4:

I hate the doggy company to me I think that XM has the better programing

Specutlation # 45,545,425,252,525,252 on O&A's fate. Notice how Martha Stewart wasn't mentioned? I guess that means she is getting fired. Hockey wasn't mentioned either, guess the NHL will be dropped too. I am a big fan of O&A, but I realize that HOO HOO has bigger name recognition then them. It just the way it is. Until something happens, don't get all worked up.

Getting angry over speculation is for queers.

[smurfett79]

Specutlation # 45,545,425,252,525,252 on O&A's fate. Notice how Martha Stewart wasn't mentioned? I guess that means she is getting fired. Hockey wasn't mentioned either, guess the NHL will be dropped too. I am a big fan of O&A, but I realize that HOO HOO has bigger name recognition then them. It just the way it is. Until something happens, don't get all worked up.

Getting angry over speculation is for queers.

I'm thinking O &A need to do a movie. Beacuse well.. that got Howards name out. If someone hadn't heard of him they did after that movie. WOOPTIE DOO DAAA...

if they are big enough to make a radio station that i can listen to in BFE then they are growing more each day. Stern died along time ago.

[Wick]

every three months i pay 38 bucks

[pike]

i was one of the "smart" more lucky ones.. I got in while they were still offering lifetime memberships. I have 5 radios and 4 paid yearly 1 lifetime.

Im curious to see how the merger affects my "lifetime" subscription.When did XM offer lifetime subscriptions? I've been a sub since Dec 2001 and I don't recall this being an option because I would have most definitely opted in.

Are you talking about SIRI? I know they offer a "lifetime" sub but that actually means lifetime of the receiver, not the subscriber. And they charge a $75 fee if you want to change radios. And you can't get the Family Plan discount on additional receivers either..

-Mike

[DREW]

and I dont give a flyin whatever about price - I just drink 1 day less (hoohoo I invented saving on drinking)

[ezstevey]

Maybe theyll have an option of keeping whatever half service we originally signed up for at the same price

[Stewed Tomato]

Siri-X will fall flat if they raise prices. The merger was supposed to save them money but it seems they aren't going to save money just try make more with a price increase. Down with the merger.

[FedExRob]

XM family plan additional radios are 6.95 each per month up to 5 I think. So even if they jack the main radio to 20.00 per month I bet each additional will be about 10 dollars.

[FedExRob]

I'm thinking O &A need to do a movie. Beacuse well.. that got Howards name out. If someone hadn't heard of him they did after that movie. WOOPTIE DOO DAAA...

if they are big enough to make a radio station that i can listen to in BFE then they are growing more each day. Stern died along time ago.



Are you completly mental? A O&A movie would be a train wreck - Stern made his movie at the peak of his popularity and it made about 40 million in theatres. Thats non stop daily promotion on the #1 radio show in the country. O&A have maybe at best 1/10th of the listeners stern had back then.
Now is not the time to talk movie now is the time to circle the wagons and rebuild. Stern took a month off and promoted the hell out of his move to sirius during his last year. O&A did not have this luxury nor did they have the legacy Stern had. When the show can climb to the top in the ratings pre sex for sam in places like NY,Philly,and Boston then you can maybe talk about a book but a movie??? Negroe please crawl before you can walk

[Hydrosludge]

I believe the merger isn’t happening. Both services will raise prices though. If they do not merge I will stomach a moderate price increase. If they do merge I will cancel subs at the same rate prices go up. The idea of subsidizing “the Jews” makes my mother look very sexy.

[lil'beaver]

how many fucking people have both services, maybe 1 out of 10 if that. Why doesnt someone ask him "Mr Karmeeezan what % of people actually subscribe to both services to get what they want?."

This whole thing is going to turn into a big cluster fuck.

[ih8Uboo-boo]

I think that your all over reacting, its waaayy too early to get your panties in a bunch over of any of this. From what i heard, they are looking to drop the price.

A friend of mine is an analyst and Sat Radio happens to fall under his coverage. They got some info regarding the merger in the last week or so, specifically regarding pricing. Basically, the plan is to charge $9.99 for one of the services (XM or Sirius) and something like $24.99 for both services. I am not 100% sure of the price for both but definitely know that $9.99 is what they are planning to charge for one.

Worst case scenario, nothing changes and we continue to pay $12.95/mo

[RMM46]

My fear is the tiered pricing. I'll drop like an extra $5/month for O&A without thinking twice, but you know they would put O&A on the same package as Stern, and the thought of any of my extra $ going to Stern makes me sick to my stomach. Especially when you know Stern would take all the credit.

[Dr. Hoffman]

Are you completly mental? A O&A movie would be a train wreck - Stern made his movie at the peak of his popularity and it made about 40 million in theatres. Thats non stop daily promotion on the #1 radio show in the country. O&A have maybe at best 1/10th of the listeners stern had back then.
Now is not the time to talk movie now is the time to circle the wagons and rebuild. Stern took a month off and promoted the hell out of his move to sirius during his last year. O&A did not have this luxury nor did they have the legacy Stern had. When the show can climb to the top in the ratings pre sex for sam in places like NY,Philly,and Boston then you can maybe talk about a book but a movie??? Negroe please crawl before you can walk

Hey look, it's doesn't get sarcasm guy. Everybody say hello. :action-sm

[jack torrance]

Am I missing something? I'm confused.
When did Sirius buy XM? I thought both companies just aggreed to merge.

thats what I don't get. Why does this feel like Sirius is buying XM ??
This is not a Proposed "Merger of Equals" that was announced last month.

It's nothing but a takeover on the Jews part to save his cash hemorrhaging Jew company. I really don't want to pay anymore than I am now per month(year).

[lepercron]

I won't pay a dollar more! I'm pissed I'm paying for 3 subs and still have to listen too COMMERCIALS!!!!

[GlamSlam]

I just want to repeat for those that do not know, Mel Karmazin is a Jew.