Anyone who is opposed to this merger needs to head to a doctor to see that you have normal brain activity.
This is positive in EVERY possible way. Most of you people b*tching don't know all the facts and are asking stupid questions:
1. This merger will raise the price of subscriptions: FALSE! Satellite Radio is not a necessity to live, nor is there an inelastic demand for it. Mel Karmazin said it best, "We're struggling right now to attract and keep customers the way things are. Why would we raise our prices and push people away?" This will allow for cheaper prices for the consumers and finally allow a merging of content.
2. You will need a new radio: FALSE! As long as you have a moderately new radio, it will receive content from both services. Mel assured this to Congress, and Mel is a stand-up great guy. Don't forget that if it were not for him that the 2nd biggest radio company (CBS Radio) would likely not even exist today and we'd all be stuck with the piece of junk that is known as Crappy Channel. Oh excuse me, Clear Channel.
3. This is a monopoly: FALSE! Saying that this is a monopoly would be like saying that Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo merging is one. Just because you're a monopoly in one specific niche does not make you a true monopoly. Satellite radio competes with free radio, MP3 players, CD players, Tape players, record players, the internet, streaming medium, television, on demand programming... you get the idea.
I will never understand people who think that the idea of more programming and lower prices for programming is somehow NEGATIVE in any way. If D* and E* had merged, and it gave you more channels and lower prices, you'd be jumping for joy. This is no different. These companies now can quit trying to cut costs and sacrificing good talent and focus on making a better overall medium. The prospect that I can get all these music channels, every sporting event known to man, and all the great comedy and talent on 1 service and one radio is the best news I have heard in a long time.
And F-The NAB for trying to block this deal. They've been more anti-technology and progress than the Bush Administration has been anti-common sense.