ATR and the 60 Plus Association File Comments With the FCC in Support of XM-Sirius Merger

ATR and the 60 Plus Association File Comments With the FCC in Support of XM-Sirius Merger

Merger Will Benefit Consumers and Bring New, Family-Friendly Options to Market

WASHINGTON, June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Americans for Tax Reform, along with the 60 Plus Association, today filed a joint comment with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of the proposed merger of the subscription satellite radio companies XM (NASDAQ:XMSR) and Sirius (NASDAQ:SIRI). The merger will allow the satellite radio segment of the competitive audio business to offer an even more appealing product that consumers, those who choose to subscribe, can cater to their tastes and personal styles.

"This merger would create an appealing product for many consumers interested in multiple audio options," said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. "The companies have broken new ground in offering consumers the ability to block channels and receive a credit for what they have blocked, without being forced by regulation to do so, therefore creating an alternative that will appeal to people of all age groups and sensibilities."

Satellite radio currently makes up only 3 percent of the crowded audio entertainment market, but the combined product of XM and Sirius will, in a free market, offer a more attractive product. Fans of all major professional sports, shock-jocks and family friendly programming will be able to create packages that appeal to their needs. And with the added attraction of being able to block channels they find offensive and receive a credit back on those channels, consumers, particularly those families with young children, will be able to take advantage of the first market-created a la carte system in the entertainment industry.

"The voluntary a la carte system these companies have pledged to implement is a prime example of the market working to attract new, family-oriented audiences," continued Norquist. "This is a testament not only to their commitment to families, but to the free market. No regulations were needed to impose this concept; it came about out of a void in the market they think exists. Kudos to them for this interesting and bold step in a new direction not offered on terrestrial radio."

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all federal, state and local tax increases.

Source: Sirius

CONTACT: John Kartch of ATR, +1-202-785-0266, jkartch@atr.org

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