XM-Sirius Merger Final

July 27, 2008 By 2 Comments

Well, the death toll for diversity has already been sounding for some time, but it still didn’t make it great news to hear that the XM and Sirius merger has been approved. I can’t applaud either company for making an exceptional effort at redefining the radio medium, but given that satellite seems destined to be “FM without commercials” I suppose the way things have gone is the only inevitable path.

Let’s just hope that Sonic Theater makes the transition and that there remains a place for full-cast audio production… but I’m not holding my breath.

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  • http://wanderradio.com WNDRWolf

    Hopefully it (Sonic Theater) will – but forgive me if I don’t hold my breathe.
    I agree with you assessment that XM is just FM without commercials. It is a national format that could go global but from a producer’s point of view it could go global but so is podcasting and podcasting is cheaper to maintain and most subscriptions are free. I suppose that is an entirely different discussion.

  • http://www.radiodramarevival.com Fred

    Jack,

    Exactly — what’s XM got that Podcasting doesn’t?

    Portability? Check.

    Music, talk, and other misc. programming? Check.

    Audience share? Hm… debatable.

    What XM DOESN’T have is a multitude of voices — mostly just the same broadcasters, genres, and general junk you’re already used to hearing, albeit zapping down on you from on-high rather than pumping across the local airwaves.

    Just don’t anyone find a way to make podcasting commercially viable, or else we’ll suddenly find ourselves forced to pay extravagant fees in order to get licenses, pay royalties, censor our material, play stars and stripes promotional material, etc… ;-)

    Fred