| Although the National Association of Broadcasters | | | | merger, as neither XM nor Sirius will have the |
| opposed the Sirius and XM radio merger, it has | | | | motivation to create, newer, smaller receivers |
| cleared the Justice Department's antitrust | | | | with the latest features. However, it is also |
| investigation, which did not find any evidence that | | | | argued that the new company can devote more |
| the merger between Sirius Satellite and XM Radio | | | | effort and money on the production of new |
| Satellite will hurt competition. | | | | products. |
| In fact, recent reports show that two companies | | | | Since the two companies plan to maintain |
| continue to lose money. As a way to cut the | | | | different services, the fact that they use |
| amounts lost by both companies, as well as one | | | | different access systems, which makes the two |
| source of competition, the merger will allow them | | | | receivers incompatible, does not pose a problem. |
| to streamline operations, and combine their | | | | Although a person must now buy a new receiver, |
| customer base. To date, there are more than | | | | there is hope that in the future a unified receiver |
| 17.3 million customers between both companies. | | | | will allow programs from both companies to be |
| There are several stars, both musical and not, | | | | received. This would allow for a person to listen to |
| that can be heard on Sirius and XM radio channels. | | | | all available channels from bot XM and Sirius radio. |
| Among the more popular are Howard Stern, | | | | Currently, there are seven satellites that serve |
| Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan, and | | | | XM and Sirius radio services. Three of the |
| Opie and Anthony. All of these stars have a | | | | satellites belong to Sirius and four of them belong |
| signed contract with one of the two companies. | | | | to XM. Additionally, Sirius plans to launch a new |
| In addition to talk shows, there are also sports | | | | satellite, increasing the count to eight. In the |
| programs available. With the Sirius and XM radio | | | | future, the combined construction of satellites by |
| merger, customers can access the National | | | | the two companies will save the networks millions |
| Football League, Major League Baseball, National | | | | of dollars a year. |
| Hockey League, Canadian Football League, AMA | | | | The merger, which has been approved by the |
| Supercross, and NASCAR. With the merger, the | | | | United States Department of Justice, still requires |
| two companies hope to reduce the costs | | | | the approval of the FCC. However, given the |
| associated with sports programming. | | | | approval of the shareholders in November 2007, |
| While the merger has been approved, there are | | | | the Department of Justice's approval in March |
| still some points that must still be covered. | | | | 2008, and the overall interest of the public, it does |
| However, it seems that both XM and Sirius will | | | | not seem like the FCC will oppose this merger. It |
| continue to operate separately even after the | | | | has been reported that the FCC will make their |
| merger. Opposition to the merger also includes | | | | decision by the end of the first quarter in 2008. |
| the idea that progress will be halted by the | | | | |