Statement before the Senate Committee On Commerce, Science And Transportation Re: XM-Sirius And The Public Interest

The XM-Sirius Radio merger exacerbates longstanding concerns regarding excessive concentration in the media market and the effects of concentration on programmer access and consumer choice. But concerns regarding this merger extend beyond general media consolidation: based on the evidence available today, the proposed transaction is a merger to monopoly in a distinct product market that threatens to increase consumer costs, reduce consumer choice and impede competition. Simply put, this merger is not in the public interest.