XM and Sirius offer reassurance regarding existing radios

Whilst raising the prospect of having Howard and Oprah on the same set, the announcement of a merger between Sirius and XM may also have presented the unappealing possibility that radio sets bought before the merger would become obsolete and stop functioning after the two companies joined. Not so: the two companies have made a statement to current XM and Sirius subscribers to say that current radios will work just fine after the two companies become one. This pledge comes after the companies asserted that owners of old kit wouldn't be left out in the cold in a recent conference call with analysts. As well as reassuring stock price influencing analysts -- both XM and Sirius's stock prices dropped recently due to concern regarding backwards compatibility and potential monopoly issues -- the soon-to-be-merged companies are carrying out ad campaigns (including a full page open letter in USA Today) to let current customers know that they will be able to tap into new programming once it becomes available. Now that that's out of the way, let the speculation about the name of the system after "merger day" begin: we think "Xirium" has got a certain ring to it.

[M Peterson @ Mar 3rd 2007 3:38PM]

Sirius XM Radio

-Rumor: From a reliable inside source. The new iPod widescreen will be delayed due to the fact that in June, it was going to have a Sirius Receiver installed. - Just a rumor.

[Ryan @ Mar 3rd 2007 3:40PM]

You know what, Xirium is not bad...sounds like one of those isotopes made to fill in a hole on the periodic table...or a new model of car, which the maker spends tens of thousands of dollars to develop a name...

If nobody's copyrighted that thing yet...

[smith @ Mar 3rd 2007 3:41PM]

Honestly, i dont know how i should feel about this merger. I have sirius in my beemer and a older xm2go unit both of which i love. Hopefully when alls set and done the monthly price will become somewhat of an average of the current monthly rates for both companies and I'll get to bring Howard Stern with me!!

www.lost.eu/21d59

[Jeff @ Mar 3rd 2007 3:46PM]

Wouldn't Howard and Opie & Anthony be a better comparison than Howard and Oprah?

[Dustin Leiblein @ Mar 3rd 2007 4:26PM]

I'm really tired of people saying Howard and Oprah.

It should be Opie & Anthony and Howard. Oprah does 1 show a week and it's only 1 hour long. And Howard only does one show a week too.

Opie and Anthony work their asses off putting out five 5 hour shows a week and get NO credit! I'm emailing XM right now. This is some BS.

[Jamie @ Mar 4th 2007 7:51AM]

welcome to the real world pal, O&A are small time.

[Jonhimslf @ Mar 3rd 2007 4:17PM]

I think Howard and Oprah are always used because they're the two biggest names in their respective fields and have completely opposite audiences. Though, having Howard and O&A on the same service AND at the same time is interesting.. could create some good radio

[Jonhimslf @ Mar 3rd 2007 7:29PM]

Why are you going to email XM? So they can give O&A more credit?

As for the name, though Xirium has actually grown on me (Assuming it's pronounced zeer-e-um) I still think I prefer Sirius XM.

[Aaron @ Mar 3rd 2007 5:09PM]

I like the name "Jennifer" for the merger.

[tyler @ Mar 3rd 2007 5:18PM]

Xirius ?

[Joe @ Mar 3rd 2007 5:44PM]

If anyone heard any of the hearings about the merger where the panel could not pronounce the word Sirius, it would be smart to just use the XM name since it's easier to remember, easier to pronounce, and doesn't have a lame dog as its logo. Hopefully Mel Karmazin took notice, and maybe he'll change his name while he's at it since they couldn't pronounce that either.

[TNP @ Mar 3rd 2007 6:16PM]

I have a name to offer: Standard Oil. Catchy, huh?

[KMFurDM @ Mar 3rd 2007 7:00PM]

Dustin...

Howard does 4, 5 to 5.5 hour shows a week and Friday is usually something pulled from the archives and uncensored. So...come again?

[strider_mt2k @ Mar 3rd 2007 7:08PM]

Howard doesn't do one show a week.
He does the same show four days a week.

That's why I stopped listening to him six months ago and started listening to more of the great music and other content on Sirius.

-but that's me.

[LongshotX @ Mar 3rd 2007 7:19PM]

Shade45!

[john @ Mar 3rd 2007 7:43PM]

I think it will be called "Sirius XM"

That way, when they get into trouble for corporate malfeasance, they can just default to one or the other - a la "MCI Worldcom"

[Rick @ Mar 3rd 2007 8:26PM]

This was so expected. I remember back in 2000 (?) when they issued a joint press release, saying that they had finalized talks so that every 2nd gen xm/sirius unit forward would be made using 'dual' technology so that it could work with each other's satellites and technologies in case of a 'potential' future merger.

[bobby d @ Mar 3rd 2007 8:46PM]

I think they should named the new company Ramon and Frankus

[Keith S. @ Mar 3rd 2007 9:07PM]

S&M ?

I just hope the merger means consolidation and higher bandwidth for the music channels. I think the quality is currently similar to that of a 45 record that's been in a jukebox for 20 years.

[mvdude @ Mar 4th 2007 10:07AM]

I am still waiting hear a technical explanation of how existing Sirius and XM gear will not become obsolete. How are they planning to do this? I could makes guesses about a bunch of different scenarios, but I'd like to know what the approach is going to be.

[BAMF @ Mar 5th 2007 12:33AM]

I read an interview with Mel Karzamin (sp?), the CEO of Sirius about a week ago. I think it was in USA Today. He said that (if the merger is approved) they will both continue broadcasting their separate line-ups on existing frequencies so that all hardware that is out now will work and you'll get the same channels you've been getting. Shortly after the deal is done, they'll start introducing dual tuner receivers that will pick up the combined line-up. I imagine they will gradually transition all of their subscribers to the dual tuner models via subsidized hardware and then after a couple years make the old receivers obsolete so they can start using the combined bandwidth for new channels and more services (i.e. video). Look at the Sprint-Nextel merger: they are on two different technologies (CDMA and iDEN) and they JUST came out with their first dual mode handset! The merger was official at least two years ago! But as for Sirius and XM, Mel also said in the interview that he already has a prototype dual tuner model in his office. Hopefully they won't drag their feet getting them out.

[mvdude @ Mar 4th 2007 10:14AM]

My local Best Buy pulled this tactic on me once. I told the saleskid the price I saw on the web. He says: "Oh, that's not right. Here, I'll show you the price from the web right here on my screen." From my perspective, it was a deliberate lie. Shame on you Best Buy.

[mvdude @ Mar 4th 2007 10:16AM]

Oops. Posted my comment (above) to wrong story. Sorry.

[bobby d @ Mar 4th 2007 12:56PM]

Hey Jamie, click here:

http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=44

Then scroll down and look who's number 6 and who's number 12.

[Terry @ Mar 4th 2007 1:31PM]

I much prefer the XM LOGO over that lame dog.

I also like the XIRIUM name for it, but can't stand Howard Stern. It's no wonder he got kicked off Terrestial Radio with his foul mouth.

[Theo @ Mar 4th 2007 4:05PM]

To the posters complaining about the dog logo for Sirius.

You do know that Sirius is the Dog Star, right? Remember those astronomy lectures you dozed through? They mentioned it then.

[Jonathan Marks @ Mar 5th 2007 4:34AM]

One of the technologies is going to be obsolete on the day of the merger - and I bet its going to be Sirius. How long will they simulcast on both systems? Experience in Europe with failed satellite projects like Astra Digital Radio is that you can expect about 3 years before your set goes dark.