WAPO is Right… The XM-Sirius Merger Would Suck

For those who don’t know, Sirius is trying to buy XM, calling it a merger, which, of course, needs the blessing of the Department of Justice and the FCC (whom I detest). The merger, in my opinion, is a bad idea.

You see, Sirius is now run by Mel Karmazin, an ego maniac who cares nothing of the customer and gobbles up radio firms to only break them up and sell them. Do you hate the fact that terrestrial radio has over 22 minutes of commercials per hour and play the same 10 songs? Thank Mel… Think he won’t bring that to his new satellite radio monopoly? Oh, and he is Howard Stern’s bitch, and I hate that old lady.

Others, who are obviously a lot smarter and more mature than I seem to agree, albeit for other reasons.

From WaPo
Think about it: Can you name one example of a new consumer technology that was guaranteed to a single provider and still served customers well? (Don't everyone say "cable TV" at once.)

And of course, there is this other nasty little fact Mel forgets...

The merger decision turns on this question of competition: When the feds approved satellite radio, they banned XM and Sirius from ever merging, because competition would protect the public from high prices and assure that the companies seek top-quality programming.

So I say, please don’t merge. Plus do not force me to pipe in crap from Sirius. I CHOSE XM. Let me have me choice. My friend has Sirius. Let him have what he has chosen.