XM-Sirius Merger - What It Should Do
Posted July 29th, 2008 by George Thomas
Here's a plea to the powers that be over at the new SiriusXM company, that newly minted company created by the merger of two struggling satellite radio providers. Do. NOT. I REPEAT. DO.NOT. MAKE. SPORTS.FANS.HAVE.TO.SWITCH.SERVICES.
Like approximately 18.5 million folks out there joined with moi over the years and chucked terrestrial radio for the commercial-free comfort of satellite radio. Trust me, many people I know asked if I was crazy to be paying for radio.
But with the evil Clear Channel empire laying its insidious plot to stamp out originality in local radio broadcasting for the past decade, it was a no brainer for me. Commercial free music, most cable news networks (although I'm still pissed that XM ditched MSNBC from its lineup), and sports, sports and more sports. I was in my version of Nirvana. I could listen to any baseball game I wanted or most any major college football game that I wanted. All I needed was the NFL. Unfortunately, I backed the wrong horse in that race. I had XM and Sirius lured the nation's No. 1 sport to its satellite waves.
But I never wavered, primarily because I'm normally working Sundays during football season anway, but now, I'm hoping that this new behemoth will see the light. How so?
The deal is too complex for my brain at this hour of the night, but here's the gist of their new packages. You can find XM's here.
The plan that most sports fans will likely be interested? the XM and Select Sirius and Sirius and Select XM plans for one simple reason - SPORTS.
With XM having the MLB package and Sirius the NFL and NBA, this is a marriage made in sports heaven. And personally I have little doubt that those packages are among the most popular for each service.
So here's a tip should muckety mucks for either company should be reading (yeah, right), do the right thing and make sure sports fans are taken care of in this deal.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:32 am
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July 31st, 2008 at 12:05 am
It's now a Sports Mix instead of a Sports Blitz? Honestly, I don't get it. I thought WMMS's change of format once through me for a helluva loop, but that was nothing compared to this. Although, I must admit the new Mix's accompanying photos are a nice touch.
With that being said, we're all still waiting for a plausible explanation for Big George's Salman Rushdie-like disappearance.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:06 am
Oops. I meant it once threw me for a helluva loop, not through me. Oh, who cares.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Gee, Alan I wondered when you'd creep back in. When does the heckling begin?
July 31st, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Where have I been? I was secretly subverting the primary election process by any means necessary to ensure that Barack Obama would secure the Democratic nomination for president.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Nah, George, larry is the heckler. I'm just tagging along for the ride. Be that as it may, we're still waiting for the reason you'd mysteriously disappeared from the blogosphere since your last post in the late 50's. Was there another FEMA incident?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4×0MbVYVE2A
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I just hope they keep the Sirius dog as logo.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Me, I will never pay for a service which carries Howard Stern. No way I want to contribute to his revenue streams. I have a TV. I can do without radio. If I'm out and about, it means I have something to do and that I'm not at home watching the game. If I care enough about the game, I'll be at home watching it.
August 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Julio, here's the problem with your argument: TV is already in cahoots with that very same radio. Check your cable or satellite provider, more than likely, they presently carry XM or Sirius. And once the merger is complete, I presume that a good number of providers that don't already carry one or the other are going to make the switch. So unless you're going to get rid of your cable and/or your satellite, and simply just stick with local over-the-air programming, that's an empty argument.
By the way, it's no longer the Sports "Blitz," but George is still rumbling awfully slowly to tackle the Internet commentary quarterback. How many months before your next blog entry, Big George?
August 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Just cut and paste a picture of something George–to keep the ball rolling.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
http://web.mit.edu/clublatino/www/under%20construction.bmp
August 13th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
The promptly cancelled 1975 TV series based upon George and his Sports Blitz and Sports Mix blogs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3pZR9JEFs8
August 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I believe George has been thrown into that Gitmo on the Platte facility out in Denver.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I saw a video of that facility on one of the Denver TV stations. I'm not certain, but I could have sworn I saw a big, bear-like guy trapped inside one of those holding cells like a caged animal. I don't know who it was, but he was holding a protest sign saying "THE BIG TEN NETWORK OR DIE!!!"
August 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Was he wearing a raggedy old Hooters t-shirt, two sizes too small?
August 19th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Sorry, guys, but they also have me posting over on the Cleveland Browns blog. We've only now come to a solution as to how I am supposed to do both. You know I can actually be in two places at the same time in cyberspace.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Actually, Alan. I have the Big Ten Network. I have had it since they launched. I don't need to scream Big Ten Network or die.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
George, I realize you have the Big Ten Network. But that hasn't stopped you from being local cable's Jesse Jackson, spreading the gospel, spreading the word. Big Guy, you can't convince me otherwise, I still think that was you holding that sign. Either that, or Tractor Traylor got busted again.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Think what you will. But someone's not playing fair in that deal. Just call 'em as I see 'em.