The chair of US media regulator the FCC, Kevin Martin, told a press conference last week that a decision on the merger between US satellite firms Sirius and XM could come by the end of June. As much previously reported, Sirius and XM have been wanting to merge for ages, but are awaiting regulator approval. Whether they get the go ahead depends on whether the regulator agrees with them that, although a combined Sirius XM would have a monopoly in the US satellite radio market, they face such strong competition from the terrestrial radio industry and new online radio services, their merger would not be anti-competitive. The FCC have not been keen on the merger since the word go, and some reckon they will give the go ahead but with strict conditions neither Sirius or XM will want to fulfil.
May 27, 2008
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1 min read
FCC ruling on XM Sirius merger could come soon
FCC chair Kevin Martin says a decision on the Sirius and XM merger could come by the end of June, though the regulator is reportedly unlikely to approve it without strict conditions.