News Archive
Decision Soon on XM/Sirius Merger? -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, December 29 2007
Could there be a decision soon on the XM/Sirius merger?
During an interview earlier this week on NPR, Jonathan Adelstein of the Federal Communications Commission hinted that the Justice Department's antitrust staff may soon conclude its review of the proposed satellite radio combination. The commissioner also said an FCC decision on the deal may come in the first quarter of next year.
That may be a longer process than executives at XM and Sirius had hoped for, given that they first proposed to merge operations in February. The FCC has been reviewing the deal for more than 180 days.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the companies outlined additional support for the pending combination. Those backers of the satellite radio merger include Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Citizens for Community Values and Americans for Prosperity.
BSkyB Asked to Cut ITV Stake -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, December 29 2007
Fearing a reduction of competition in the British television marketplace, the U.K. Competition Commission recommended Thursday that British Sky Broadcasting, the satellite TV and entertainment outlet controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., should reduce its stake in broadcaster ITV.
In November 2006, BSkyB bought a 17.9 percent stake in ITV for $1.89 billion. The ruling from the competition regulator could compel Sky to drop its interest in the independent broadcaster to less than 7.5 percent.
"We concluded that, as a result of the acquisition, there was likely to be a substantial lessening of competition arising from a loss of rivalry between ITV and BSkyB in the all-TV market," the commission said in a statement. "This may be expected to result in a reduction in the quality of the offer, a reduction in innovation, or an increase in the price of audiovisual services in the all-TV market."
Specifically, the commission said BSkyB could influence ITV's investment in high-def TV as well as the broadcaster's strategy in relation to content production and commissioning.
BSkyB's move to take a stake in ITV was controversial, not only for its impact on the competitive state of British television but also because a rival was considering a similar deal.
Virgin Media, the struggling U.K. cable operation, had revealed shortly before BSkyB's transaction that it was in talks with ITV about a similar deal.
What happens next is unclear. In a statement, BSkyB said it was carefully considering the contents of the commission report.
"The next phase of this process lies with the Secretary of State," the company said. "We will be making representations to him in due course."
News reports said John Hutton, the U.K. secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, is bound by the commission's finding that BSkyB's stake is not in the public interest. But he could change the recommended remedy.
Decision Soon on XM/Sirius Merger? -- Posted by soullezz
on Sunday, December 23 2007
Could there be a decision soon on the XM/Sirius merger?
During an interview earlier this week on NPR, Jonathan Adelstein of the Federal Communications Commission hinted that the Justice Department's antitrust staff may soon conclude its review of the proposed satellite radio combination. The commissioner also said an FCC decision on the deal may come in the first quarter of next year.
That may be a longer process than executives at XM and Sirius had hoped for, given that they first proposed to merge operations in February. The FCC has been reviewing the deal for more than 180 days.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the companies outlined additional support for the pending combination. Those backers of the satellite radio merger include Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Citizens for Community Values and Americans for Prosperity.
BSkyB Asked to Cut ITV Stake -- Posted by soullezz
on Sunday, December 23 2007
Fearing a reduction of competition in the British television marketplace, the U.K. Competition Commission recommended Thursday that British Sky Broadcasting, the satellite TV and entertainment outlet controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., should reduce its stake in broadcaster ITV.
In November 2006, BSkyB bought a 17.9 percent stake in ITV for $1.89 billion. The ruling from the competition regulator could compel Sky to drop its interest in the independent broadcaster to less than 7.5 percent.
"We concluded that, as a result of the acquisition, there was likely to be a substantial lessening of competition arising from a loss of rivalry between ITV and BSkyB in the all-TV market," the commission said in a statement. "This may be expected to result in a reduction in the quality of the offer, a reduction in innovation, or an increase in the price of audiovisual services in the all-TV market."
Specifically, the commission said BSkyB could influence ITV's investment in high-def TV as well as the broadcaster's strategy in relation to content production and commissioning.
BSkyB's move to take a stake in ITV was controversial, not only for its impact on the competitive state of British television but also because a rival was considering a similar deal.
Virgin Media, the struggling U.K. cable operation, had revealed shortly before BSkyB's transaction that it was in talks with ITV about a similar deal.
What happens next is unclear. In a statement, BSkyB said it was carefully considering the contents of the commission report.
"The next phase of this process lies with the Secretary of State," the company said. "We will be making representations to him in due course."
News reports said John Hutton, the U.K. secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, is bound by the commission's finding that BSkyB's stake is not in the public interest. But he could change the recommended remedy.
DBS, Broadcasters Collaborate on DTV Transition -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, December 8 2007
At the Federal Communications Commission this week, both EchoStar and DIRECTV told agency staff that they're working to ensure a smooth transition to digital TV for customers, an endeavor that the companies said involves broadcasters.
As part of their efforts to ensure customers have access to local TV signals after the February 2009 DTV switch, DIRECTV and EchoStar said they have met with the National Association of Broadcasters about coordinating resources to ensure access to local digital TV signals. The DBS companies said they are developing a schedule with the NAB to visit local stations in order to prepare and test reception facilities located in individual markets.
In their joint FCC filing, DIRECTV and EchoStar told the agency they want to get started with the city-by-city visits in March.
The small dish platforms combined offer local stations in 180 markets. In each of those cities, a local receive facility has been established by one or both companies, and those facilities are automated and operated remotely from uplink facilities.
The companies said prior to the February 2009 transition they will send engineers to each market to replace analog equipment with digital reception technology. DIRECTV said it would need to switch out equipment for up to 1,139 broadcast stations, and EchoStar said it would do the same for 1,361 broadcast stations.
"Given the magnitude of this undertaking, it is clear that a smooth digital transition will require advanced coordination between DBS providers and all local broadcasters," the companies told the FCC.
GM Supports Sat Radio Merger, But Has Concerns -- Posted by soullezz
on Saturday, December 8 2007
As Sirius and XM continue to wait for regulatory approval for their pending merger, the companies won backing for the transaction from a key Detroit player, but with one caveat.
Automotive giant General Motors told the Federal Communications Commission in a filing this week that it supports the combination of satellite radio companies. "The proposed merger is and will be in the public interest because the merged company will be able to offer consumers expanded programming choices and a broad range of service packages, including packages at lower prices," the company told the agency in a filing.
However, GM said it has concerns about possible conditions from the FCC that could "materially compromise" programming content available through single mode receivers.
At issue for the vehicle manufacturer are some 6.5 million cars and trucks that it produced with factory installed XM hardware. Those vehicles use single mode receiver technology, thus receiving only one satellite radio service.
The number of GM vehicles using single mode receiver technology could grow at a rate of about 3 million units per year for the next several years. The hardware installed may be on the road for a minimum of 10 to 15 years, GM said.
"It is critical to recognize that single mode receivers will 'see' only one half of the combined (satellite radio) spectrum and there will be millions of these receivers on the road for well beyond 2020," GM said in its FCC filing. The company added that it opposes merger conditions from the agency "that would materially compromise the performance or programming content available for single mode receivers."
GM added, "The imposition of such conditions would dramatically and adversely impact the usefulness of existing radios and the content currently enjoyed by subscribers. It would be patently unfair by way of any such conditions to end or limit the usefulness and enjoyment of the vehicle's satellite radio system."
In addition to receiving FCC approval, XM and Sirius are waiting for an OK from the Justice Department's antitrust division.
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