Sirius and XM plan $13B merger -- does this strike anyone else as a terrible idea?

[Wiglaf]

Can it girlfriend, there's no such thing as Apple marketshare anymore. It could not be more irrelevant if I used rodenator on it. The simple reality is that Microsoft dominates-- you have said so yourself when dismissing apple as a cockroach in your kitchen. Why is a merger of two satellite radio stations, leading to domination such a bad thing? I'm tired of your games, and it's not even bed time.

[Asher]

So long as I can go to the local store and get a competitor's computer, there's no monopoly.

And I will not be your girlfriend.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Please, don't insult us with such claptrap, LS. It's beneath even you.

LS is right here, at least to the extent that the Justice Department agrees with him (as do I). Sirius/XM provide a nearly identical service as terrestrial radio, somewhat better of course (hence paying at all) but ultimately competing with terrestrial radio (more expensive it gets, less people choose it). It also competes with TV to some extent, and increasingly with cellphone-driven media (watch TV-like stations on your cellphone, watch your slingbox on your cellphone, watch flash sites on your cellphone, etc.); honestly it's a service that probably has about a 20 to 30 year timeframe of profitability followed by a long decline in slight unprofitability (when only truckers use it).

[-Jrabbit]

It's comparable to broadcast radio, but has virtually no similarity to the other media you mentioned. Competing for the infotainment dollar is not the test here. I'm not surprised at the DOJ decision; just saying I would have ruled differently. Consumers will ultimately pay more, or at least get less per dollar spent as premium programs get moved to more expensive tiers. But whatever. Like I said, hard to care.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by LordShiva
There is currently only one manufacturer of Ferraris. OMG monopoly! Kille it!!!11

Yep exactly. If you want to cry about the "market" for satellite radio being monopolized, you should yell about Netflix monopolizing the mail based movie rental market after Blockbuster bowed out. Its utterly silly to define the market so damned small.

Satellite radio competes against FM/AM radio (and is just about to make a profit against it), and will have even more problems competing in that market as HD radio becomes more and more prevalent.

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
mail based movie rental market after Blockbuster bowed out.

erm, blockbuster is still in the mail rental business.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Huh... what do you know?

I thought they left that whole thing. Oh well, imagine Netflix buying Blockbuster's mail based movie rental service then and carry on .

[LordShiva]

Indeed. Defining a market based on technology, as opposed to how consumers satisfy their particular wants, is silly.

What are teh various wants, and how big are their respective markets? Portable music is huge - broadcast radio, iPods, walkmen, etc. Satellite radio isn't a monopoly there. High-quality audio played on technologically advanced devices? MP3 players + Rhapsody/iTunes subscriptions count; satellite radio isn't a monopoly. High-quality audio on technologically advanced devices with someone else DJing for consumers who can change stations while paying a monthly fee? 3G-equipped cell phones can do that. No monopoly there.

For satellite radio to be considered a monopoly, you need to define teh market parameters so narrowly that it's so small as to be unrealistic.

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Huh... what do you know?

I thought they left that whole thing. Oh well, imagine Netflix buying Blockbuster's mail based movie rental service then and carry on .

yup. I have it, much prefer it to netflix-I get 3 free instore rentals a month (it was unlimited a year ago ), which is good when I don't want to wait. And the blu-ray movie delivery is decent for me thus far.

[Asher]

Has Canada approved this merger?

[Asher]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel


yup. I have it, much prefer it to netflix-I get 3 free instore rentals a month (it was unlimited a year ago ), which is good when I don't want to wait. And the blu-ray movie delivery is decent for me thus far.

I'm hoping both come to Canada soon to compete with Zip.ca. The other mail-DVD companies have pathetic selection (20,000 movies compared to the 82,000 for zip).

[b etor]

Originally posted by Verto
People actually listen to satellite radio?

chyeaa. my father just got rid of ours though.