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Stern on XM/Sirius Merger: 'I Will Never Vote For a Democrat Again'
Satellite radio talk show star cites 'gangsterism,' 'communism' for holding up deal.
By Jeff Poor
Business & Media Institute
7/24/2008 3:27:46 PM
Sirius Satellite Radio host Howard Stern supports the merger of his network with XM Satelitte Radio and is fuming at Democratic opposition on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) panel.
After FCC commissioners announced they have reached a deal to approve the merger of Sirius (NASDAQ:SIRI) and XM (NASDAQ:XMSR), Stern ranted about Democrats’ ‘gangsterism’ and ‘communism’ and the obstacles to the merger.
Stern described a phone conversation he had with his agent, who he described as a “liberal Democrat kind of guy.”
“I go, ‘That’s it!’” Stern said. “[i] go, ‘You know what Don, I’ve voted Republican and I’ve voted Democrat. I have vowed I will never vote for a Democrat again. I don’t give a [expletive] – no matter who they are. I don’t care if God becomes a Democrat.’ I said, ‘I backed Hillary Clinton, I backed Al Gore, I backed John Kerry. I am done with them.’”
Stern took it a step even further and called Democrats on the FCC “communists” and referred to their tactics as “gangsterism.”
“The fact that these Democrats on the FCC are communists,” Stern said. “They’re for communism. They don’t want to see companies – this is gangsterism. I said, ‘This is crazy.’”
The FCC commission is a five-member panel made up of three Republicans and two Democrats. The Democrats include Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps. The Republicans include FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Robert McDowell and Deborah Taylor Tate. Tate had been the swing vote on the proposed merger and on July 24 The Wall Street Journal reported she would vote in favor of the merger.
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Stern is entitled to his opinion...but considering he hosted a pay-per-view titled "Butt Bongo Fiesta" I'm not sure how much weight I would put behind his comments.
Besides, there's only one celebrity whose opinion I respect anymore...and that's Alec Baldwin!
...and once again, if they ain't pulling for the left it's ok for a celeb to speak out politically. Shouldn't he just shut up and talk about farts and boobs 40? Of course not, he's speaking against the left so you post his BS here... typical. Where's the shut up and fart comments from the right?
He backed three really crappy democrats. I mean, come on.
I'll give you Kerry as he is a walking corpse (but not quite as rigormortised as McCain). However, one of those democrats was actually elected president but denied by shenanigans. Hillary would have been OK.
...and once again, if they ain't pulling for the left it's ok for a celeb to speak out politically. Shouldn't he just shut up and talk about farts and boobs 40? Of course not, he's speaking against the left so you post his BS here... typical. Where's the shut up and fart comments from the right?
Man you've been crabby lately. Go see Mama Mia. You need some fun in the sun.
Man you've been crabby lately. Go see Mama Mia. You need some fun in the sun.
Sorry, I didn't mean to come across crabby. I'm just looking for consistancy from the "shut up and..." crowd.
I personally believe Stern to be an over inflated wind bag no matter what he's saying, but being that i don't mind anyone talking politics on the stage the public has granted them, he's more than welcome to spew his nonsense.
Good, I've had enough with Media Consolidation and the anti-competitive nature it has cast forth. Too few bastards controling the message if you ask me. Screw Deregulation!
Sorry, I didn't mean to come across crabby. I'm just looking for consistancy from the "shut up and..." crowd.
I personally believe Stern to be an over inflated wind bag no matter what he's saying, but being that i don't mind anyone talking politics on the stage the public has granted them, he's more than welcome to spew his nonsense.
Truthfully, I can't stand the guy. Just another example of how people's politics change when there is money involved an a perceived injury.
Seems that Howard has a whole bunch of " self interest " imbedded in his wrath. If Sirius and XM merged his audience would double ( along with his compensation ). Good for Howard, not so good for the concept of competition and diversity. BTW Howard, if consolidation went through and there was only one outlet left, how long would it be before your contract leverage plummets. Bit short sighted, Howard.
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." --Voltaire
Now satellite radio is a "Monopoly". Happy Howard? Anything good ever come from a monopoly? The " soft machine " is working overtime.
Quote:
FCC approves XM-Sirius satellite radio merger
Jul 26, 6:38 AM (ET)
By JOHN DUNBAR
(AP) In this March 20, 2008 file photo, a sign for XM Satellite Radio hangs over its exhibit space at...
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI)'s $3.3 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (XMSR) will mean millions of subscribers will be able to receive programming from both services, while executives say it will create huge cost savings for the industry.
Federal regulators formally approved the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators Friday.
"I think it's going to be, in the end, a good thing for consumers and be in the public interest," Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told The Associated Press. "Consumers will enjoy a variety of programming at reduced prices and more diversified programming choices."
Subscribers will not have to buy new radios to receive a mix of programming from both services, according to the companies. But if they want to pursue a special pay-per-channel a la carte option, they will need new sets.
The FCC voted 3-2 to approve the buyout, with the tiebreaker coming Friday night from Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.
Tate had insisted that the companies settle charges that they violated FCC rules before she would approve the deal. The companies agreed this week to pay $19.7 million to the U.S. Treasury for violations related to radio receivers and ground-based signal repeaters.
The long-running regulatory review was watched closely by exasperated investors anxious for a resolution as well as 18 million-plus satellite radio customers with questions about what impact the merger would have on their service.
The approval was a major blow for the land-based radio industry, which lobbied hard against the buyout. It was also opposed by consumer groups, various members of Congress and state attorneys general, all of whom argued a satellite radio merger would hurt consumers and was not in the public interest.
"They kept each other on their toes," Democratic commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said of the two companies. "I hope they keep their edge and don't become a fat and happy monopoly."
(AP) In this March 24, 2008 file photo, a Sirius satellite radio player plays Howard Stern's radio talk...
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Adelstein voted against the buyout as did fellow Democrat Michael Copps. Joining Martin and Tate in approving the deal was Republican commissioner Robert McDowell.
The companies said the combination would create hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings and lead to greater choice in programming for subscribers and flexible pricing options.
Tate released a statement Friday night praising the commission's decision to punish the companies for rules violations before acting on the merger and supporting pro-consumer conditions imposed on the deal.
Under the terms of the consent decree, XM will pay $17.5 million and Sirius will pay $2.2 million to resolve interference complaints and violations related to land-based signal repeaters the companies operate to deliver programming.
The final merger agreement did not require the combined company to include a chip in its radios that will allow customers to receive digital signals from land-based radio stations, which would have helped the land-based radio industry.
Tate, who was lobbied intensely by the industry in the final weeks, said she "could not in good conscience support a government-mandated requirement on the backs of American consumers at this time."
Martin said the agreement is nearly identical to what he circulated among other commissioners when he first recommended approval for the deal more than a month ago.
The companies first applied for permission to combine in March 2007. The Justice Department approved the deal in March of this year without conditions, saying the companies don't really compete because customers must buy equipment that is exclusive to either XM or Sirius, and subscribers rarely switch providers.
DOJ also agreed with the companies' argument that they compete with other forms of audio entertainment, including digital radio, Internet-based radio stations and even devices like Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s iPod.
FCC approval faced a steeper climb because the companies were prohibited from combining under terms of their licenses. The agency struggled to come up with a way to show that allowing a satellite radio monopoly was in the public interest.
The companies voluntarily agreed to a set of conditions, including a three-year price cap and an 8 percent set-aside of "full-time audio channels" for public interest and minority programming. They will also adopt an "open radio" standard that may lead to a greater variety of features in radios and greater competition among manufacturers.
Sirius and XM also have promised to include a limited "a la carte" offering that would be available within three months of the close of the deal and allow listeners to pay only for the channels they want to receive.
__________________
In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." --Voltaire
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