Sirius Xm Radio

Sirius XM Radio Inc. filed with regulators to offer as much as $1 billion in new securities. The so-called shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission paves the way for an offering of stock or debt.

DirecTV Group Inc., the largest U.S. satellite-television provider, is in talks with Sirius XM Radio Inc. about a possible deal, according to people close to the situation. An accord may help prevent Sirius XM from seeking bankruptcy protection or agreeing to a deal with satellite company EchoStar Corp. less than a year after Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin completed the merger of the only two U.S. pay-radio providers. Sirius XM has $3.25 billion in total debt and has until Tuesday to repay $175 million in bonds held by EchoStar.

Popular cable TV host Bill O'Reilly will step down as the host of his syndicated talk radio show early next year, saying he can "no longer give both TV and radio the time they deserve." "The Radio Factor" -- which began in 2002 and runs on more than 400 radio stations, as well as satellite operator Sirius XM Radio Inc. -- will end in the first quarter of 2009, Fox News Channel said. Locally, the show airs weekdays 9-11 a.m. on KABC-AM (790). O'Reilly will continue hosting "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel and writing his weekly newspaper column.

For more than six years, satellite radio fans always had to make their choices: XM or Sirius, Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett or Tom Petty. On Wednesday -- four months after XM and Sirius merged -- the combined company consolidated its channel listings, so now Sirius subscribers can hear exclusive shows by Dylan and Petty, previously played only on XM.

Federal regulators formally approved the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators Friday, ending a 16-month-long drama closely watched by Washington and Wall Street. Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s $3.3-billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. means that more than 18 million subscribers will be able to receive programming from both services.

Re "Satellite radio competitors agree to merge," Feb. 20 The government has no right to prohibit such companies as Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. from merging and increasing their market share. Mergers are a legitimate business strategy used to improve productivity, boost profits, gain customers, expand activities, increase sales and achieve other worthy goals. Any limitation on media companies is of particular concern because it violates their free speech rights.