Congressman Bob Goodlatte is urging the House Judiciary Committee to examine the previously reported proposed merger of the US's two satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius. Goodlatte thinks the country's politicians need guidance on the merger, which in theory violates the two companies' existing broadcast licences.
In a letter to House Judiciary chairman John Conyers, Goodlatte wrote: "A hearing on this matter would help Members ascertain important information about the potential positive and negative commercial consequences resulting from a merger between these two companies. One particular area that the Judiciary Committee should explore is whether other music delivery methods, such as terrestrial radio services, internet radio services, and portable downloading services, should be considered part of the 'relevant market' for purposes of the antitrust analysis or whether those services are distinct".
That latter point is key because XM and Sirius will be keen to show that, while they may become the sole business trading in US satellite radio, they will still face competition from other music and audio based media.