Sirius -XM Merger Stuff

Copied over from Orbitcast which is a great blog for satellite radio stuff.
* A La Carte packages - made available 3-months after merger is consummated.
o 50 channels, for $6.99/month (add channels for $0.25/each)
o "However, in no event will a customer subscribing to this a la carte option pay more than $12.95 per month for this programming."
o 100 channels for $14.99/month.
* Other programming packages ("Best of Both," Discounted Family Friendly, Music or News or Talk) - also made available 3-months after merger goes through.
* Broadcast infrastructure set-aside:
o 4% from Sirius, and 4% from XM - approximately 6 channels each, or 12 channels in total.
o Set-aside for noncommercial, educational and informational programming within the meaning of 47 C.F.R § 25.701(f)(2) of the DBS set aside rules.
* Additionally, within four months of the merger, MergeCo will enter into long-term agreements (leases) for 8% of Sirius-XM broadcast infrastructure to a "Qualified Entity or Entities."
o "As digital compression technology enables the company to broadcast additional full-time audio channels, the combined company will ensure that four percent of full-time audio channels on the Sirius platform and the XM platform are reserved for a Qualified Entity or Entities; provided that in no event will the combined company reserve fewer than six channels on the Sirius platform and six channels on the XM platform."
* Open Device Access
o Licenses made available within one-year of merger.
o "Each licensee shall be responsible for, and bear all costs associated with, the design, development, manufacturing, including parts procurement, logistics, warranty, sales, marketing, and distribution of such satellite radios."
* Service to Puerto Rico
o Available within 3-months after merger
* Interoperable Receivers
o Available within 1-year after merger
* Price Freeze
o Sirius-XM will lock in all the packages, including base and A La Carte packages, and will not raise prices for 36-months after the merger.


So at the very least I can get a best of both package by September. That works for me.