“Now that both Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. have reported earnings, StockRumors revisited the two rumored scenarios involving these two companies. The first option is a merger/takeover bid between Sirius and XM, the second is a takeover of one of them from an outside satellite radio, namely Apple Computer Inc.,” Melly Alazraki writes for BloggingStocks.
Alazraki writes, “Combining satellite radio with Apple’s iTunes and iPod just sounds wonderful. It could change the threat Apple and satellite radio may face from each other to an opportunity. Again, XM, with the smaller market cap and larger subscriber base as well as more channels, has been the named target. With its resources, Apple could take over XM easily. My colleague, Douglas McIntyre, however, favors Sony for such a play. Both companies are big enough to handle the debt these two companies carry.”
Alazraki writes, “With both Sirius and XM having a good quarter, we’re bound to hear more such rumors floating around, and who knows, maybe even an actual official announcement soon. Until then, who do you think could take over SIRI or XMSR?”
Full article here.
If Apple did such a thing, we’d vote for Sirius over XM, but we are biased Howard listeners. We’d like to have access to Stern’s show on our iPods.
Related articles:
Sirius shares spike in volume on ‘chatter of potential Apple partnership’ – October 18, 2006
Apple iPod+Sirius Satellite Radio? – July 06, 2006
Sirius would like to work with Apple; Howard Stern Sirius podcasts for sale via iTunes? – December 09, 2005
Apple iPod combined with Sirius Satellite Radio would be a music revolution – May 27, 2005
Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Karmazin discusses Sirius-enabled Apple iPod – May 25, 2005
Sirius CEO Karmazin looks to add satellite radio to Apple iPod; no deal – yet – February 10, 2005
Sirius has approached Apple on adding service to iPod – February 09, 2005
Analyst throws cold water on Apple iPod – Sirius Satellite radio deal – December 16, 2004
Analysts: Apple iPod + Sirius Satellite Radio ‘technologically unfeasible right now’ – December 15, 2004
RUMOR: Apple to add SIRIUS Satellite Radio (and Howard Stern) to iPod in mid-2005 – December 10, 2004
Stern is a has been. Opie and Anthony and XM are a far superior choice. Just in financials alone.
Howard Stern is a tool.
A satellite radio play is outside the Apple strategic plan.
I’ve already got everyone one of Howard’s Sirius shows on my iPod. Of course, that is thanks to a few buddies over at *********, so to them I say thank you.
And for the record, yes I have a Sirius subscription. The NFL on Sirius is my second favorite part.
Howard Stern is BORING!!!!!!!!
XM? You can’t be Sirius!
Sirius subscriber base will surpass XM in 2007
Sirius has Stern
Sirius has NFL
Sirius has NBA
Sirius has Nascar (starting in ’07)
Sirius has NHL
Sirius has NO COMMERCIALS on their music channels
It’s not a Stern thing. Even without Stern, Sirius has better offerings and is growing at a much faster rate. They have the content and the momentum.
By comparison, XM is looking desperate with some of their recent decisions. The tide has turned. Sirius was the underdog like Apple and I’m rooting for them to win.
Howard Stern is BORING!!!!!!!!
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Then don’t listen to him.
No one in Europe cares about satellite radio. DAB is where it’s at.
Good answer Allen!
Jam On, Sirius users!
(The best station out there – Sirius or XM)
Why either one?
IMO, there is no reason for Apple to buy either one. They are not profitable and add little to Apple strategically.
Howard Stern? You gotta be kidding. No wonder the level of discourse on this site is so poor. I personally like Howard Stern but his show caters to the lowest common denominator like no other. I’d rather listen to somebody that’s 180 degrees from the truth like Limbaugh. At least it holds my attention. Stern’s show is absolute stupidity.
part of the fun of Howard Stern was the dance that he and the FCC were doing. Now he can say anything he wants. It is notan fun anymore.
Yeah, and follow stern into the gutter. Not Stern on purpose.
Howard sucks
O & A are howard rip offs
NHL on radio is pointless (trust me)
iPod G8tor… NHL will be leaving sirius next year. XM got exclusive rights from ’07-17. Unfortunately, they also landed MLB two years ago. That is the one thing I wish I had on my Sirius… I can’t decide whether to switch or not.
Sirius..Stern and Apple…total perfection.
Howard and Apple… That would be the best thing that could happen to either company. I would be soooooo happy.
50 Cent is bad enough – don’t add Stern too.
I don’t know that either one of these companies could not add anything to Apple. I personally am an XM subscriber, and enjoyed listening to my beloved NY Mets while cruising around the Pac NW in a convertible on my vacation. As for the question of adding value to apple, XM already has a portable combination mp3 player/ satellite radio. Imagine this as a fourth version of the ipod family not to mention it would blow the subscription model out of the water. Imagine what 11 million subscribers times $12 per month plus double the library of pod casts plus a new ipod model that add to current sales rather than cannibalizing current models and you can record directly off satellite airwaves limit the off air recors memory to about 200 songs. Apple could easily make such an ipod as small but thinner than the current XM offering and to protect the Itunes franchise songs recorded off the air can be played as many times on the device as you wished but cannot be burned to a CD or transferred to a computer but you could buy the song from Itunes library if available for a 20% discount. XM sells their device for about $350 at Walmart. Apple could probably sell such a device for about $325. Add a Blue tooth antenna so you avoid the line of site problem with satellite (if the radio doesn’t see the sky you get no sound). You place the antenna by your nearest south facing window and you’re good to go. The limiting of the record memory helps to drive traffic to Itunes and gives owners the option to own the song in their personal library and the subscription to satellite radio brings in $132,000,000 per month to Apples corporate coffers. Expand their entertainment libraries and expand their subscription base. Seems to me could buy them out with a stock swap pay off their debt with less than 10% of their cash holdings and expand XM’s business 2 fold over night by offering XM compatible Ipods, make money on the equipment and the subscription model without harming Itunes and put that much more of a strangle hold on the mp3 business. Eventually who knows they might even tie in a combination phone mp3 that uses VOIP via satellite at a much lower price point than the cell phone companies now offer(take that Verizon with your $2.50 per song). If I could get unlimited hemisphere wide service in an adaptable VOIP via satellite system for say $50 per month with all applicable taxes and fees in a unit that plays satellite radio and my personal MP3 collection plus store my contacts and sync with my computers I think I would pay $350 for a unit plus $62 per month for unlimited phone service from the Southern tip of Argentina to the Northern reaches of Canada I would buy 2 such units.
Stern sucks.
On second thought current transmit power requirements on the antenna for bidirectional communication with the satellite probably makes a VOIP satellite phone system impractical. But I still thing either company could add value to Apple in more creative ways than we can imagine. Power requirements can probably be over come with low power data encryption schemes in the not too distant future.
Stern was great when he came back simulcast to D.C in ’87 or ’88 on WBMW.
At the same time, Grease Man was at the top of his form over at WWDC.
Can’t say that Stern holds my attention any more on Sirius, but I do like watching people interview HIM.
Also, I don’t think Apple should get either.
Go XM…and AirAmerica Radio