According to the Wall Street Journal, the FCC will approve the merger of the two satellite radio companies, Sirius and XM.

FCC Reaches Tentative Deal
To Approve XM-Sirius Merger
By AMY SCHATZ
July 23, 2008 2:34 p.m.

WASHINGTON – A tentative deal has been reached by a majority of commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission to approve the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., a FCC source close to the review said Wednesday.

Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate is the only FCC member left to vote on the deal and she is expected to do so shortly, two FCC officials close to the negotiations said. She is expected to sign off on the deal in exchange for a consent decree that resolves several enforcement issues involving the satellite radio companies and a combined fine of about $20 million, an FCC source close to the deal said.

In Missouri, the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is fighting a ballot initiative that would repeal the Stem Cell Initiative that was narrowly passed by voters in 2006. From an e-mail:

Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures defended the will of voters Wednesday by continuing to challenge a drastic proposal to repeal Missourians' access to medical research, treatments and cures that are available to other Americans.  We maintained before the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District in Kansas City that the Secretary of State got it right when she described the proposed initiative as a repeal of the Missouri Stem Cell Amendment passed by voters in November 2006. Citizens have a right to know what this deceptive proposal would do: Make criminals of doctors, scientists and patients merely for seeking cures and treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's, cancer and muscular dystrophy.  

(Full disclosure:  I've been a Sirius subscriber for about four years now, and have been following this story for some time.)

Today, the Justice Department announced that they have approved the merger between the two satellite radio companies, Sirius and XM.  Although larger media conglomerates such as Clear Channel are screaming bloody murder today, this was the correct decision and will be beneficial to both consumers and to artists.

Now, I understand that there is apprehension from some on the left about whether or not this constitutes a monopoly.  But that is not the case here.

The Justice Department has just announced approval of a deal for the only two satellite radio companies -- Sirius and XM -- to merge.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department approved Sirius Satellite Radio's $5 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio on Monday, saying the deal was unlikely to hurt competition or consumers.

The deal was approved despite opposition from consumer groups and an intense lobbying campaign by the land-based radio industry.

The buyout received shareholder approval in November. The companies said the merger will save hundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs - savings that will ultimately benefit their customers.

The Justice Department, in a lengthy news release explaining its decision, said the two companies compete not just with each other but also with other forms of radio and entertainment.

It is so sad that Rep. Louise Slaughter-- so good on so many issues-- is one of our elected representatives who are beholden to the National Association of Broadcasters and their monopoly on radio.  She is one of the people blocking the Sirius XM merger.  And of course, Clear Channel (and their homeboy Mitt Romney, who is a partner of theirs, I understand from an Air America report) is lovin' this.  

These guys took ONE meeting to approve of Exxon Mobil's disastrous monopoly-- but because they are bought and sold by terrestrial radio-- they are holding up a deal that benefits consumers and employees and stockholders of Sirius/XM??

We need to fire it up.  This talk of a monopoly is b.s.   Progressive voters should demand our progressive leaders do what's best for the economy, for CONSUMERS, and not for their campaign funds.

After the jump, some info from Jim Cramer (who has annoyed me in the past, but he's right about this:

A la carte pricing for cable/satellite TV is an idea that's been around but is kinda stuck. This might get it moving.
Sirius and XM, the nation's two satellite radio services, want to hook up in the worst way. In order to get the FCC's blessing,

[the companies] said they would offer two "à la carte" pricing plans. One would enable consumers to purchase the best of the premium services now offered by each company — like professional football, baseball and basketball — for a monthly fee of $14.99. For $6.99 a month, the other would enable listeners to choose 50 of the nonpremium channels, with each additional channel costing 25 cents.

What this has to do with dkos and kossacks--and Fox News--on the flip.

Well, the RIAA seems to be off to a busy start for this month, what with their latest blitz of lawsuits against college students instead of just allowing judicial affairs to punish them. Oh, and even more significant is their attempt to stifle the proposed FAIR USE Act that was recently introduced in the House by Boucher and Doolittle (yeah I know, but at least he did something decent, instead of just kissing K-Street's ass.) Unfortunately, the RIAA has opened a second front in their War on the Internet: Internet Radio.

In this edition: Why can’t the media just quit whining and do their jobs?; Dana Priest and Anne Hull show how it’s done; a lot of the MSM owe Dems apologies; credit where it’s due section is beefier than usual; Bob Woodruff’s amazing recovery; Lou Dobbs still being dishonest; polling problems; double standards; bad news for those sick of Anna Nicole; ratings; and so much more...

Thoughts, and Then, the News
Dear Media: It’s time to take a look at what the GOP really believes about funding wars. XOXO, Newsie8200

Now for the news:

Wow. Out of words an thoughts, I have XM radio.

NEW YORK - XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. have agreed to merge, the two companies said Monday.

The two companies said in a statement that Mel Karmazin, the CEO of Sirius, would become chief executive of the new company while Gary Parsons, the chairman of XM, would remain in that role. XM's CEO Hugh Panero will remain to oversee closing the of the deal, they said.

The deal would face significant regulatory hurdles in Washington, including a Federal Communications Commission rule that clearly states that one satellite radio provider cannot buy the other one. However, that rule could be waived.

A combination would also have to meet antitrust approval from the
Department of Justice. The companies are expected to argue that they compete not only with each other but also with a growing base of digital audio sources such as iPods, mobile phones, and non-satellite digital radio.

Read Rest of Story Here

For some stupid (I can't think of a nicer word, sorry) reason, when Al Franken goes off Air America, XM has chosen to replace his slot on the Air American channel with Ed Schultz, who is already on channel 165, rather than carrying the excellent Thom Hartmann program. This is especially grating to me, since XM's headquarters are in DC, and the DC "Air America" affiliate already carries Schultz.

On the recording on their complaint line, they even justify this by saying "Ed was part of the original Air America when it started five years ago", which is both chronologically inaccurate and just a flat-out lie.

Thom Hartmann is probably the smartest voice in progressive broadcasting, and he actually devotes large parts of his program to informing people how they can actually do something to promote positive change rather than just complaining and waiting for the government to do it for us.

Call XM and demand they put on Thom Hartmann in Al's slot!
202.380.4400
or email
donwicklin@xmradio.com

I'm moving to Los Angeles soon, and will be spending a lot more time in my car.  As such, I was thinking about a satellite radio.

The question is XM vs. Sirius.

Considerations:

1. Which provides a better spectrum of talk, hopefully including some progressive talk and general news and information? (I know Sirius has NPR, which is a plus but hardly progressive.)
2. Are there any political considerations I should be aware of?  (e.g., are either of them owned by Disney, Rupert Murdoch, or heavy Republican donors?)
3. Any technical differences between the two, or satellite coverage issues?

As you might have read earlier in the day, Susan S has called attention to XM dropping MSNBC, and has provided valuable information and resources from Robin Diane Goldstein, an activist with a petition to get MSNBC back on XM.

Susan S just alerted me of a recent collaboration between MSNBC and the National Journal that warrants attention for more reasons than just XM's unhappy divorce from MSNBC. Put on your paranoia cap and follow me at the jump.

As some of you know, XM radio dropped MSNBC this week.  Robin Diane Goldstein has made a tremendous effort to prevent this from happening.  She set up a website and has done an online petition.  So far, the efforts haven't been successful.  Below the fold is an email she sent out tonight.

One of the reason I signed up for XM service was so I could get Olberman, Matthews, etc.  while in my car or traveling.  Now XM plans to drop the MSNBC channel 130 by September 4. So unless this changes I'm  dropping the service - a bummer since Sirius doesn't carry MSNBC either.

  Please help protest this change by signing this petition  -http://www.petitionspot.com/... AND calling & leaving a message at (202) 380 4094 .

I may have already touched on this subject lightly.  But I'd like to go a little more in-depth if I may.  This diary will be left wanting for research, data, and breaking news.  Mostly anecdote and opinion.  But actually I'm more interested in what you think.  I already know what I think, and frankly I'm tired of hearing myself say it.  We are about to witness the beginning of an enormous shift in how consumers come to expect to receive their news.  Oh, I know there have already been glimpses of it.  But I'll tell you what led me to this divine revelation after the flip.