Why would this put the merger in danger?

[mills]

Here's the quote you've probably read in article after article.
The remarks could become an issue as XM seeks approval from the Federal Communications Commission to merge with New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade magazine Inside Radio.

"XM and Sirius don't want any regulation," he said in Friday's New York Daily News. "But it's come up in four congressional hearings -- and at this point, the merger is such a close call, any issue could become important."

It's so vague and it just sounds like bullshit. What exactly does the approval from the FCC consist of? I can't see how it could have anything to do with indecent content. It's almost like this guy is saying "they insulted a member of the government, so a government commission might deny them the ability to make more money, just out of spite".

[WhateverMJ]

If they're already iffy on the subject, some White House people imploring them to nix it but be quiet about it, may be something to consider. That's just it, you don't know what could affect it.

Also even if it goes through, imagine what Mel Karmizen is thinking right now, about how O&A wake up and think of ways to fuck him over, even now, as he tries to sell this merger to the government. They might get the backlash from within the company after all is settled from the merger.

[madbam]

Merger Shmerger....

[thrawn42]

Logically it should have nothing to do with the viability of a merger.

However there are those at the FCC that feel that satellite radio's content should be regulated and they may try to throw that onto the table as a requirement for the acceptance of the merger.

I'd say that possibility is unlikely, but leave it up to that idiot that posted the Wired blog on this incident to make up his own news and rumors.

If I've learned one thing this week it's that most news people and especially these new bloggers are incredibly shoddy journalists. They make up facts when they have none in order to fill holes in their stories and they spread rumor without a second thought.

[Rackrunner]

If they're already iffy on the subject, some White House people imploring them to nix it but be quiet about it, may be something to consider. That's just it, you don't know what could affect it.I would suspect this would be something people from the NAB would want to use against the merger.

[TELL'UMFRED]

Also even if it goes through, imagine what Mel Karmizen is thinking right now, about how O&A wake up and think of ways to fuck him over, even now, as he tries to sell this merger to the government. They might get the backlash from within the company after all is settled from the merger.

Mel loves this. He and Hoo Hoo want O & A gone if the merger takes place. With things being as they are now, Mel is praying for XM to fire O & A so if the merger takes place, Mel does not have to face the pest attack that would await him when if he fired the boyz. I would bet Mel has people writing XM sponsors urging them to pull advertising if O & A remian on the air.

[SOS]

No way.

[mascan42]

It won't affect the merger. The merger was never going to happen in the first place.

[LiddyRules]

If they're willing to accept government regulations for this stupid merger to go through, I would be even happier to dump my subscription.

[VirusCarrier]

I believe those comments is the opinion of the reporter. It seems typical of the media to sensationalize every story and this is no different. And we can't forget that the boys haven't exactly been kind to reporters. There might be a vengeful element to those comments, as well.

[Debbie1125]

This is just a theory and my thoughts, but the government could use this as a condition for the merger.

They could approve XM/Sirius to merge, but only if FCC regulation is part of the package, which is absolutely ridiculous. The #1 reason I have a subscription is uncensored material. There is channel blocking but people seem to be too lazy to activate the feature, just like they are with the V chip for TV content.

FCC regulation of XM will cause me and many others I am sure, to cancel. Afterwards I'll toss the damned thing into the garbage.

[d0uche_n0zzle]

Fuck Melvin, Howie and their shitty sub-par satellite radio service.

[VirusCarrier]

Sorry for the poor grammar. I wish I could edit that sentence...