Comments on: Todays Takeover Rumor Bought to You By Google And Sirius

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By: Ann Griffin

Ann Griffin — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:39:32 +0000

Can Google buy Sirius and xm without permission of the FCC and the DOj.
I THINK THEY ARE CONTROLLED BY POLITICIANS WITH CONNECTIONS TO THE NAB. WHY ARE THEY ALLOWING MORE COMMENTS AFTER THE STOP DATE? THIS IS REDICULOS! I DON’T THINK WE CAN TRUST THEM TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE CONSUMER.

FOR THIS REASON, I WANT TO KNOW IS THERE ANYWAY TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THEIR APPROVAL?

By: » Google Potentially Buying The Radio Service, Sirius Trexic.Net: A Techy Blog

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:10:10 +0000

[...] A few of these ideas came from here. [...]

By: Google intéressé par le rachat de Sirius ? - Google-Stories.com

Google intéressé par le rachat de Sirius ? - Google-Stories.com — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:53:40 +0000

[...] Plusieurs rumeurs sur le net font état de l’intérêt porté par Google à Sirius, entreprise américaine spécialisée dans la diffusion de programmes radio par satellite. [...]

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:30:32 +0000

The major flaw in this analysis is the assumption that all spacecraft (or at least all 1300-series spacecraft) are created equal. In fact, each spacecraft is tailored to to meet the specific requirements of the customer, particularly its communications payload. The number of transponders, their power, their spectrum band, their beam footprint, etc. all vary from spacecraft to spacecraft. Thus, just because other 1300-series spacecraft can perform two-way data services doesn’t mean that the Sirius spacecraft can do so as well. For example, the spacecraft are likely optimized for uplinks from a handful of powerful ground stations, not millions of low-power subscriber terminals. There’s little evidence that FM-5 and FM-6 (the two spacecraft currently under construction for Sirius by SS/Loral) have dramatically different capabilities that would better support two-way data services.

Another major stumbling block is licensing. The Sirius system is licensed by the FCC and its Canadian counterpart for DARS (satellite radio) services. Adding two-way data services would likely require changing their license, a time-consuming process with no guarantee of success.

If Google really wants to get into the satellite broadband game, they certainly have enough resources to develop a customized system that would be better suited for the purpose than re-engineering an existing system — heck, SS/L is just up the street from them. Or Google could simply buy WildBlue, which is satellite broadband but not mobile (although with the use of a phased array antenna that might just be possible…)

By: Ryan Saghir

Ryan Saghir — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:46:03 +0000

The rumor was started by ClickZ’s Zach Rodgers just under a week ago with little to no substance behind it. Sorry, but it doesn’t hold any water.

With the pending merger between Sirius and XM, why would Google act on this now? The street is already assuming an 80% chance that the Sirius-XM merger will be approved, so the price is already baked into the stock. If Google buys Sirius now, they miss out on owning XM’s network and infrastructure as well…. but at no cost benefit.

It even makes less sense when you realize that Google and XM partnered with each other over a year ago. If Google is simply looking for more outlets of its dMarc/Adwords program, then if the Sirius-XM merger is successful Google can simply extend the relationship to go over both platforms.

A little background on advertising on satellite radio: While the music channels are commercial-free, the news/talk/sports channels are not. Sirius and XM are both shooting for 10% of revenue to be driven by ads, but haven’t reached that goal (yet).

For the technology side of things: Sirius and XM both have data services already in place (XM’s is further along with real-time traffic, weather and other prototype data services; Sirius also has some very interesting capabilities as well, but less mature). But remember it’s all one-way. The receivers in cars currently only have downlink capabilities - you can only pull. Yes, the satellites receive and broadcast data, but they’re essentially just a big ol’ bent pipe. In order for Google to setup a “connected car” scenario, they would need to equip the receivers with some sort of uplink capability. Not impossible, but a big stumbling block.

This whole silly rumor would only hold water if the Sirius-XM merger failed. Then you can bet with no uncertainty that either Sirius or XM (or both) will be snatched up at bargain-basement prices.

By: Jimbo Jones

Jimbo Jones — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:41:02 +0000

Couldnt Google just make the radio free or super cheap by subsidizing with ads? Basically customers would only pay for the sat radio just like terrestrial.

By: Marco

Marco — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:07:40 +0000

The back and fourth between ads or no ads seems odd, especially on a site frequented by ‘techies’; I can’t imagine it would be all that difficult difficult to offer both services … one paid and one ad sponsored.

Let the market decide, if you’re selling ads worth more than $10/month, ditch the subscription model, if the subscription model continues to pull in more money than ads, continue with both.

By: Learn PHP

Learn PHP — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:41:32 +0000

if this goes through Google will have a huge potential in radio ads.

By: Old Dawg

Old Dawg — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:34:57 +0000

Hey !!

This is BS ….

A RUMOR…

Which doesn’t hold water…..

By: Old Dawg

Old Dawg — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:19:09 +0000

If Google acquires Sirius?

I’ll be cancelling my subscription to Sirius. I love the music without any ads being injected into my listing pleasure.

By: Bryan Migliorisi

Bryan Migliorisi — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:11:56 +0000

I used to have XM radio for about 2 or 3 years and at first I was happy with it but I slowly realized that I am only hearing the same music that I could hear over the free airwaves.

Even both XM and Sirius started airing ads on some of their channels anyway, so I decided that it wasnt worth my money anymore. The music clarity was something that I missed (until I got a new car with iPod dock) so I wouldnt mind listening to it again for free if it were ad supported.

Personally, I like the idea.

By: Charlie Park

Charlie Park — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:59:15 +0000

You know, the other day when commenting on the Google-Second-Life-Competitor, I was making up the part about Google offering players their favorite music to listen to (along with ads) while in-game. It just seemed logical. Pretty nutty that this could actually happen, though.

By: Londres

Londres — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:33:39 +0000

And Google moves one step closer to creating BIGBROTHER…

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:35:40 +0000

I don’t subscribe to either Siri or XM but i believe their business model is a monthly subscription, which used to be around $12, in exchange for no adverts. If these stations start google advertising they will have to lose the subscriptions from listeners - are customer listeneing to ads really worth $12 pm?

By: Duncan Riley

Duncan Riley — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:09:35 +0000

Wire
my understanding of the tech involved (and I’m not an expert, so forgive me if this is wrong) is that Sirius’ setup would be better to run data over, because at the higher spectrum they can pre-buffer better to allow for disruptions such as an overpass, that sort of thing. I’d also think alone Sirius is an easier target for Google where as the combined XM-Sirius would be a harder sell in terms of the cost of acquisition, both to the Google board and shareholders.

By: Oren Tirosh

Oren Tirosh — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:02:45 +0000

You shouldn’t think of them as three satellites but as one satellite that is hovering in a position not above the equator. A standard geosynchronous equatorial satellite would be too low in the sky to serve northern lattitudes and let the signal reach down into urban canyons. Instead, the three satellites take turns in the upper loop of their “figure 8″ orbit that is synchronized to remain above the US.

By: harry

harry — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:59:36 +0000

This sounds interesting, really good point on the satellites…looking forward for the next!

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By: Wire

Wire — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:24:47 +0000

Hi Duncan, that’s an interesting thought….Google could be aiming to get to those satellites that sirius owns more than the radio. If the antitrust stuff goes through, they could potentially buy a merged version of XM and Sirius. Then they would have a combined 25 mhz of bandwidth to play with. They could keep one of those services running the normal radio, and use the other for the applications that you mentioned…essentially fast mobile internet (think Google phone also).

However, since Sirius’ (and XM also?) satellites are specifically targeting the united states, when google wants to expand its services to Europe or elsewhere in the world, it will have major issues doing so.

By: Wes

Wes — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:23:50 +0000

Google seems to be spreading its wings everyday. What next I wonder.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:58:05 +0000

This would be great.

By: cybernezumi

cybernezumi — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:53:55 +0000

And Google moves one step closer to creating Skynet…

By: michels24

michels24 — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:38:57 +0000

Sirius is a great product - innovative tail content, without ads!! G would kill it for me if they started to stream Ad Sense type ads along with my Stern or Grateful Dead channel. I don’t care how relevant it is, i’d rather pay $10 a month and enjoy the content.

By: Spandana

Spandana — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:21:08 +0000

next up: printing ads on people’s foreheads. how about that 6 billion inventory or may be on the grocery bags. perhaps on the currency bills. oh how about designer watches? slices of bread? micky’s ears?

i love what google does with search, maps and mail. everything else has a better option out there. their free wifi has no takers (let along san francisco, even in mountain view). i sincerely hope they know what they are doing, and not pull another dell on us.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:10:04 +0000

I can’t wait to see what happens to share price of Sirius tomorrow - a day trader’s dream. Based on the dilution and outstanding shares it would be a heck of takeover

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