XM finally gets Sirius in Canada

TORONTO — Attention XM Satellite radio customers.

Pretty soon you’ll be able to welcome Howard Stern into the cabs of your trucks. And Sirius subscribers will get NHL games.

Beyond that, customers at Canada’s two satellite radio companies won’t feel much change in their services after XM and SIRIUS officially merge, sometime during the first quarter of 2011.

The marrying companies are Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., parent company of XM Canada (XM Canada) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio Canada (SIRIUS Canada).

According to a statement from XM, current customers won’t notice much difference. At first..

“However,” the statement says, “the newly formed company will provide greater content choice and greater programming opportunities. Over time, we will offer listeners access to the best of both companies programming, including a wider range of commercial-free music channels, exclusive and non-exclusive sports coverage, news, talk and entertainment programming. The future is exciting.”

It has been two years since two distinct but similarly named companies in the United States merged.

In a statement from Sirius CEO Mark Redmond, who is also the CEO of the new company, ”the merger is subject to regulatory review and approvals including the Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)and CSR (parent company of XM) shareholders.

The new name of the company hasn’t been determined yet. 

“The companies will continue to operate independently until the merger is complete and regulatory approvals are received. As we go through this regulatory process, we plan to provide additional updates as they become available.”

The CRTC hearings are scheduled to begin March 7.
 


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