NAB Ramps Up Anti-XM/Sirius Merger Efforts
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/13/2007 3:26:00 AM
The National Association of Broadcastsers has taken to the streets and to the information superhighway to protest the proposed merger of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio. Actually, the "street" part is the outside of its Washington headquarters, where it has hung a banner reading "Do the Math: XM + Sirius = Monopoly."
NAB has also launched a smart-looking Web site that proclaims that same message and is filled with clips of Hill testimony, links to media coverage of the issue and pdf's of print ads it has published taking aim at XM and Sirius.
Broadcasters say the merger would be a government bailout for bad decisionmaking, like the huge sums paid to Howard Stern, and would create a monopoly in nationally-delivered radio. It also points out that the FCC, in creating the two national satellite licenses, prohibited one company from owning both, a hurdle FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has pointed to as well.
XM and Sirius argue the merger will allow them to provide better service more economically, and would simply strengthen one competitor in an audio market crowded with terrestrial audio and cable audio and online audio and music downloads on portable devices.
For their part, XM and sirius have campaigned in the press, too, and have also launched two sites,
www.xmmerger.com and www.siriusmerger.com, to promote its arguments for more choice.
The NAB and XM/Sirius ramnped up efforts come as
the FCC this week officially agreed to consider the merger
.
-
what an absolute joke. everyone knows the NAB is just a shill for the whiny radio conglomerates that want to crush all competition. they want complete control of the market and they know that because their product sucks and is dying out, free speech and commercial free music will wipe out their tired, outdated models. so, they do what all big lobbying organizations do...they manipulate facts, curry favor with politicians who they''''ll reward with good coverage when they''''re up for election next time, and they selectively choose stories that seem to favor their argument...all the while completely ignoring their sketchy history of doing everything they can to screw the consumer, control what they can hear, screw over new artists, screw over all smaller firms that might pose a threat to their ever increasing profits...all, obviously, in the name of free markets and all the usual garbage.
and yet, they will still probably win, because
a) people are easily manipulated idiots
b) all politicians care about is money and winning elections, not sticking to the rule of law
c) the NAB and the companies they represent have all the money
they will win, and it will be another disgraceful day in america
furious - 6/15/2007 11:09:00 AM EDT -
you suck! the merger is GOOD! what is wrong with you.
it's simple - if i liked the fm station 95.5, but i couldn't get it with my
panasonic radio, only my sony radio-that's wrong.
so know, if i want to listen to martha stewart on sirius, i have to get a new
sirius radio to replace my xm radio. not to mention I'M PAYING FOR IT!!!!
PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE ME FROM YOUR EMAIL LIST!!!
sean - 6/14/2007 10:52:00 PM EDT
No related content found.
-
No Top Articles
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
