http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 6:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 6:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 6:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
BUT - What sort of competition does a PAY service need to offer? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Screw the FCC.]]>Jun 16th 2008 6:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 7:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 7:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
Digitally, speaking, there is a lot more competition in the video arena than in the audio so who bought bought in the FCC?]]>Jun 16th 2008 7:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 8:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
Because we know that DVD's you buy, DVD's you rent, VCR's, over the air TV and movie theaters don't compete with TV at all, right? I see no difference between the two. If the satellite TV companies are a monopoly, so is XM-Sirius.]]>Jun 16th 2008 8:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
When Echostar and Direct tried to merge, the only competition they had in rural areas (like where I live) was each other. When I moved in the country I had no option except an antenna that would get ONE CBS affiliate. The nearest movie store was a 30+ mile drive, so renting movies was out of the question. And with some trees in my area blocking satellite signals from both satellite TV companies I was stuck with that one shitty CBS station. There was no other option for me. Eventually I signed up for NetFlix and have had it for years. I since moved to another house that has a clear line of sight and have DISH. But in very rural locations there is literally NO alternative to Dish/Direct.

In comparison on my commute to work, I have competition from multiple AM/FM stations, my iPod, my satellite radio, and more. I can even get online and stream Pandora through my aircard in my laptop. So thats 5 choices for just myself in a rural area. I think that should help you understand the difference John.]]>Jun 16th 2008 8:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
While an iPod does give me the ability to hear all the music I've gone through the trouble of ripping from CD or purchasing online and then transferring to it (and, remember, some people may not be so savvy), it fails to expose me to new artists, comedians, or talk shows not available in the area through which I am traveling.

So, is there really anything out there like SDARS, which can give me consistent programming from coast to coast and expose me either to new stuff or stuff I've heard before but don't have on my iPod?

The answer is 'no' and if the merger goes through I will have 1/2 the choices I had before and, yet, will be subject to the pricing whims of the SDARS monopoly in the face of no competition.]]>Jun 16th 2008 9:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 7:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 10:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
Thir money and subscriber problems will get much better once the FCC hurries up and approves the merger, many of us are waiting for it before spending money on a receiver for it]]>Jun 16th 2008 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
At this point, the SDARS license stays in use, the service continues uninterrupted, and a profit is made. Lather, rinse repeat.

The market was not given a chance to work the way it's supposed to, and legal actions such as this lead to violations of the Law of Unintended Consequences.]]>Jun 16th 2008 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 10:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
I also oppose the forceful addition of the 24 "public service" channels -- it's effectively cutting off 8% of their body because of Jesse Jackson's lobbying a few months ago.

I hope Mr. Jackson launches his own satellite, so the FCC can force him to set aside 8% of his channels for "XM/Sirius related programming." Surrre.]]>Jun 16th 2008 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/
Sirius already carries NPR and the BBC and has channels predominantly aimed at African American and Latino audiences. Do these count?]]>Jun 16th 2008 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 16th 2008 5:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/16/fcc-chairmans-support-for-xm-sirius-deal-leaked/Jun 17th 2008 7:21AM