This just in:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8VJVVF01&show_article=1

Apparently, the XM/Sirius merger deal is almost completed, just pending final FCC approval. I think this is one of the worst developments for satellite radio. Why?

Have you ever seen a merger of two large corporations where the combined new corporation does anything better? I haven’t. I like my XM the way it is now–dozens of commercial-free channels and lots of programming variety. Sirius has some decent music channels, but I’ve read user complaints that they’re not as good as what you find on XM. I don’t want to find out the hard way, seeing XM’s specialized channels being replaced by the more homogenized ones from Sirius. And beside that, who needs Stern on talk radio? That’s one reason I like XM.

This can only be a bad thing. One promise (or threat?) is so-called a la carte programming options. I prefer XM’s subscription model: one price, and you get the whole package. What will we get now…tiers? I bet on it. So if I like the Decades channels, and the Soul/R&B channels are part of another tier, then I’d be forced to upgrade to a higher tier just for the additional one or two channels I’d want.

I want to be proven wrong here. But until then, I’m going to be wary of every move. XM was good so far (except for dropping the Luna channel), and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it while it lasts.