Break out the party hats, even if that means dusting off the cobwebs. A resolution in the painstakingly long merger approval process between XM Satellite Radio
Speaking on CNBC yesterday, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said of the satellite-radio hookup that his regulatory agency "will hopefully be able to do something on it soon.”
Soon? Really? I'll believe it when I see it. The cynic in me is skeptical, especially when it comes to the relative usage of "soon" by someone who has taken nearly 16 months to drum up a decision. Yes, it really has been that long since the two deficit-saddled radio providers originally agreed to join forces.
How soon is now?
I opened up the floor yesterday, asking readers to submit their calls for when the FCC will hand down a decision. The responses were all over the map, with some readers offering up a few humorous zingers.
"My FCC prediction date is July 24th," BeagleBrigade offered up. "I am not sure if I want to say 2008 or 2009 yet."
"It seems the FCC has more important things to do like fight the war on terror or figure a solution to world hunger," batg20 serves up, waist-deep in sarcasm. "Oh wait, I forgot. The FCC doesn't do any of that stuff. Their job is to regulate Communication. So why are they wasting tax payers time and money with a lengthy process of a simple decision? Yes or NO."
However, a few of you seem to think that Martin means it this time. Why would he be on CNBC -- the same network where TheStreet.com's
That is gtw1077's logic in expecting the FCC to hand down a decision as early as this afternoon. Morey08 also suggests that the announcement will come after the market closes today.
That may be a bit ambitious, but fans of the merger may warm up to the FCC's ultimate decision.
Martin didn't reveal which way his agency is leaning, but he did point out how XM and Sirius have already agreed to concessions that include capping subscriber prices "for an extended period" of time and allowing listeners to subscribe to individual channels.
Why is that a good sign that the FCC will sign off on the deal? Well, you don't brag about the fact that the subjects of your inquiry are bending over backwards in agreeing to concessions, only to pull the rug out from under them. That isn't a negotiation. That's a snuff film.
Be careful what you wish for
The amusing side note in all of this is that the concessions being raised may work against the thinning pool of objectors to the deal. Beyond select lawmakers and terrestrial-radio lobbyists, few people are still speaking out against the proposed merger.
What does FM and AM radio have against the deal? Well, XM and Sirius are reporting mounting losses as they try to turn their growing subscriber counts into profits. At least one Wall Street model-cruncher -- Citi analyst Eileen Furukawa -- has noted that the merger could bring about cost savings of $7.2 billion. The synergy should transform two money-losing businesses into a larger, profitable entity. Terrestrial and satellite radio compete for commuter eardrums.
Conventional radio operators like Clear Channel
The concessions are still important. They show that the merger will benefit consumers' wallets, even if that comes at the expense of satrad's competitors.
An FCC decision; concessions that terrestrial radio will regret; and the backlash over a regulatory body taking so long to pass or nix a planned merger. What do these things have in common? If we're to believe Martin this time, they're all coming soon.
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