Add the Independent Spanish Broadcasters Association to the list of those lining up against the Sirius/XM satellite-radio merger.
The two satellite services are trying to get the federal government to approve the merger, but it’s unlikely to happen, bad news for Sirius, which had operating losses of $1.1 billion last year, and for XM, which reported losses of $719 million.
Senate leaders have spoken against it. The National Association of Broadcasters turned thumbs down, and the ISBA has added its opposition.
Zee Ferrufino, owner of KBNO 1280-AM and a member of the ISBA board, said, “Anything that’s a monopoly will affect everybody. Not only Spanish broadcasters but any radio station.”
The Chicago Tribune last week reported that Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius, told a Senate committee that a combined satellite radio provider would benefit consumers by letting them access both companies’ services for a diminished price.
No sale.
David K. Rehr, NAB president and CEO, in his keynote speech to a meeting of the NAB in Las Vegas last week, said, “No matter how much Mr. Karmazin and everyone else at Sirius and XM use the word, it is not a merger they seek. It is a monopoly. When has a monopoly ever served the interests of the consumer?”
Sirius and XM have a combined 14 million subscribers compared to an estimated 203 million listeners of “terrestrial radio,” the one most of us tune in to every day.
When the two companies were granted franchises by the FCC in 1997, it was with the understanding that they would never merge. The FCC could change the rules, if it chose to. Karmazin told the Senate committee that the combined company might give guarantees not to raise prices.
“They are crazy,” Ferrufino said. “I don’t believe this is going to happen. Most people are against it.”
Familiar face
One-time reporter for KUSA-Channel 9 Kevin Corke getting lots of airtime on the Virginia Tech shootings.
Corke left Channel 9 for ESPN in 1999, then moved to NBC in 2004. Like Arthur “Scud Stud” Kent in Iraq and Ashleigh Banfield in Afghanistan, Corke has risen to prominence covering a major news event for MSNBC.
Around the dial
It’s about being fit: The Hawaiian Tropic International Beauty Pageant and “Bikini Jam” back-to-back Tuesday (7 p.m., KTVD-Channel 20). … KGDQ 101.9-FM (“La Gran D”) holds another of its job fairs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1209 W. 36th Ave. … KBPI 106.7-FM’s Birthday Bash, featuring Static-X, is May 29 at Fillmore Auditorium. … Quotable: “A monopoly is a monopoly is a monopoly.” David K. Rehr
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
