Why did the FCC approve the merger between Sirius and XM?
Isabella Turner
Updated on January 09, 2026
Federal regulators formally approve Sirius Satellite Radio’s $3.3 billion buyout of former competitor XM Satellite Radio with conditions. “The merger is in the public interest and will provide consumers with greater flexibility and choices,” Martin said in a statement. …
Why did the FCC allow competing satellite radio companies Sirius and XM to merge in 2008?
The Justice Department’s antitrust division announced Monday that it approved the merger after determining that prices were not likely to rise, in part because of competition from other program sources, like HD Radio as well as iPods and other MP3 players that can be connected to home or car audio systems.
Are Sirius and XM the same?
The Merger. XM and Sirius have merged and are now one company. Each system uses vastly different hardware, so a technical merger will not happen. At the programming level, both services now carry essentially the same channels.
What happened to the joint SiriusXM channel?
Reggae “The Joint”, which had been on channel 42, will move to streaming only. SiriusXM and the family of Bob Marley announced today an exclusive year-round channel dedicated to the legacy of Bob Marley.
How is Sirius XM not a monopoly?
How is siriusXM not considered a monopoly? When satellite radio first started Sirius and XM were two separate companies competing to offer the same product at the best value. But then Sirius bought out XM. If you want satellite radio there’s only one company you can call.
Who did Sirius merge with?
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. on 29 July 2008, 17 months after the companies first proposed it….Sirius XM.
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Owner | Liberty Media (72%) |
| Number of employees | 4,534 (2019) |
How did Sirius buy XM?
It was formed by the 2008 merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, merging them into SiriusXM Radio. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. on 29 July 2008, 17 months after the companies first proposed it.
Can you negotiate price with SiriusXM?
Yes, you read that right. You can negotiate the price of your satellite radio service. You are not the only person that isn’t willing to spend $15 a month on the service.
Is SiriusXM worth the money?
The Pros Outweigh The Cons Like with Netflix, SiriusXM allows you to choose from a wide variety of quality channels. Some include exclusive content that you can’t get anywhere else. If you ask us, SiriusXM is worth the small monthly subscription fee.
Did XM get rid of The Joint?
“Joint moved to channel 722 which is online streaming only, no Sirius radio can pick it [up]. SiriusXM explained The Joint’s new status in one sentence at the very end of their release. “SiriusXM’s The Joint channel will continue to be available on the SiriusXM app and on siriusxm.com.”
When did Sirius XM and Sirius Satellite Radio merge?
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. on 29 July 2008, 17 months after the companies first proposed it. The merger created a company with 18.5 million subscribers, and the deal was valued at US$3.3 billion, not including debt.
When did Sirius XM decide to merge with Pandora?
Sirius and XM argued that a merger was the only way that satellite radio could survive. In September 2018, the company agreed to purchase the competing streaming music service Pandora, and this transaction was successfully completed on February 1, 2019.
Who is the current CEO of Sirius XM?
Nate Davis was appointed interim CEO until the merger was completed, at which point Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin took over as CEO of the newly merged company, Sirius XM.
What kind of programming does Sirius XM have?
Each share of XM stock was replaced with 4.6 shares of Sirius stock. Each company’s stockholders initially retained approximately 50% of the joined company. At the time of the merger, Sirius’ top programming included channels for Howard Stern, and Martha Stewart; live NBA and NFL games; and live NASCAR races.
