House Judiciary Panel to Examine XM-Sirius Merger

The House Judiciary Committee announced that its newly formed Antitrust Task Force will hold a hearing titled, "Competition and the future of Digital Music," which will focus on the proposed XM-Sirius Satellite Radio merger. The hearing will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 3 pm. Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio, will testify. Additional witnesses are to be determined.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers observed, “Digital music is at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. We are holding this hearing to allow Members to probe whether this merger will enhance or diminish competition in the digital music distribution industry. Our Members will explore how to define this new marketplace, and whether this merger will lead to increased choices and lower prices for consumers.”

Ranking Member Lamar Smith said of the hearing, “XM and Sirius provide unique programming options for millions of customers nationwide. Consumer’s interests should remain our priority. This hearing will help determine whether customers will get higher or lower prices and more or fewer programming options with the proposed merger. In particular, the Committee will examine whether satellite radio competes against terrestrial radio, the Internet, or other emerging technologies.”

Conyers is creating an Antitrust Task Force in the Committee to focus on antitrust and competition policy issues. Conyers will chair the Task force and it will include both Democratic and Republican Members, still to be determined. It will have a limited term, extending to the end of August. The Committee is expected to approve a resolution to create the Task Force Wednesday morning. This hearing will be the first item on the panel's agenda.

http://judiciary.house.gov/newscenter.aspx?A=769