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Would SIRI announce Global (WRSPQ) service with Q4 CC. I am asking because of the new sat they just launched awhile ago, could it be for Europe? Any theories..........just curious.
Malone is true to form and even more brilliant than in 1994.....:o}
Worldspace and SIRIXM
Posted by: WoodyDog (from SIRI board)
Date: Saturday, January 16, 2010 3:11:54 PM
http://www.kingofalltrades.com/2010/01/15/1535.html
by Steve Garcia -
With the recently announced closure of Worldspace Inc, (OTC: WRSPQ) operations in India and Africa, it is increasingly likely that Liberty’s (NASDAQ:LCAPA, NASDAQ:LINTA) intent is to go after the European market, a market with much more disposable income than India or Africa currently possesses. As written about at Rapid TV News by Chris Forrester, as well as “The Daily News Analysis” website – A Mumbai based Company by Praveena Sharma
Liberty Media has apparently done extensive due diligence on the range of possibilities and no doubt came to the same conclusion many have regarding “Worldspace” and its demise. There is not sufficient disposable income or interest in sufficient numbers in those areas of the world currently to sustain a healthy business model. It seems the speculation would lead to Liberty working on some sort of European and possibly South American/Caribbean Satellite Radio launch with help and expertise from Sirius XM Radio. Perhaps returning to India and Africa after the foundation gets stronger.
There have been claims that the deal for Worldspace assets has been finalized by Liberty, but none from US news sources, and to date, no filings from Worldspace or Liberty can be found regarding the alleged finalized transaction. As we await confirmation of the deal, is there even bigger news on the not too distant horizon, from both Liberty and Sirius XM Radio? What would a Sirius XM Radio or Liberty Media equity be worth if you added in European and South American subscribers to the business? Much more than its current value, one would think. There are many rumors circulating about these companies and the financial state of Sirius XM Radio in particular. Recent coverage initiated on Sirius XM Radio debt suggests the company is more than capable of servicing its debt and surviving.
With JP Morgan, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and others initiating that coverage, the company has gained more credibility on the street. A recent article by the street.com was blasted, and put its writer in full retreat. So much so that she updated her story with comments from readers which were mostly supporting Sirius XM Radio. Others such as Zacks have continued to bash Sirius XM Radio and favor the once again media flavor of the month Pandora as the Sirius XM Giant Killer. This time with a 1200 dollar price tag for the supposedly free (only with limited listening is this true, an upgrade to premium costs minimum $3.99 per month) service in your car via what is really an overpriced Navigation system. I beg to differ, but a lifetime sub or two could be had for the price of this latest Pandora enterprise with change left over after equipment purchase. The true reasons behind all this Pandora love in my opinion lay in their looking for a suitor. A company which makes only 40 million dollars a year and pays 30 million of that in royalties is like that ugly dog with fleas you once tried to take home to mom. It was a bad idea then and it’s a bad idea now. I have nothing against Pandora but it lacks the content and special programming I have come to love and count on with Sirius XM. I wish them luck in trying to flea dip that dog, looks like they are not going anywhere for a while; may I suggest a snickers bar?
It’s been a while since I have written an article on SIRUS XM Radio. Since the next big battle over this stock is being waged, with the anticipation of Q4 numbers that will surprise to the positive, I thought I would just give my 2 cents. Best of luck to all shareholders, and I am looking forward to some juicy information soon to share.
Disclosure: Long SIRI
Sirius XM Tops Earnings, Sales Targets
By Robert Holmes 11/05/09 - 12:51 PM EST?
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Sirius XM (SIRI Quote) surprised analysts by breaking even on an adjusted basis in the third quarter, as the company added radio subscribers on a sequential basis.
Sirius XM said it had a net loss of $149.2 million, or 4 cents a share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, shrinking considerably from a year-ago loss of $4.87 billion, or $1.93 a share. Excluding one-time items, the satellite radio provider broke even on a per-share basis.
Revenue rose 3% from a year ago to $630 million, even as Sirius XM's net subscriber total fell 2% from a year ago to 18.5 million. On the positive side, total subscribers increased by 102,295 from the second quarter.
Analysts expected a loss of two cents a share on revenue of $608.7 million, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.
Some key metrics for Sirius XM improved from the year ago quarter. Average revenue per subscriber climbed to $10.87 from $10.51, and subscriber acquisition costs fell by 17%. However, the churn rate, which measures the amount of subscribers who left the service, rose to 2% from 1.7% in the year-ago quarter.
Meanwhile, costs related to satellite and transmissions, programming and content, customer service and billing, sales and marketing and equipment decreased across the board.
Looking ahead, Sirius XM affirmed its year 2009 guidance of over $400 million in pro forma full-year adjusted income from operations. It also introduced guidance for 2010, projecting a 20% increase in full-year adjusted income from operations as well as positive full-year subscriber growth in 2010.
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10622349/1/sirius-xm-tops-earnings-sales-targets.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
Patrick Donnelly of SIRI just bought or exersized option to buy:
Option (Right to Buy)
Price $0.6669
A (Aquire)
1/14/2020
Common Stock 13163495
Cheer up...lol We really don't know what is going to happens, this feels like when I am in the casino. Total gamble.
Businesses write off equipments (sats included) and other expenses. They actually need them to keep some money in their own pockets not taxes.
This puppy is going to run soon...;o}eom
I read the WRSP_0710K document. Looks like the Satellites have a lifetime of 15 years tops. the oldest one is 1998 and the others are from 2000 plus one that can be assembled quickly in storage in France. So there is still some life time in them.
Malone must believe in sat technology. Can't believe he would otherwise put 1/2 a billion dollars on the line for Siri. that is a good thing. Guess we have to just take a chance on this stock....;o}
Ahaa. There wasn't any mention about global stuff.
Got a catalog and 2 brochures from SIRI booth. My theory is if there is a receiver that covers global in some way, it could mean that Worldspace is included in their line up. Am I on the right track? What should I look for in the catalog, need help!!!
You are funny kateric10.lol You better make good money here and SIRI.
That is why a bundle of services would make sense, different for different needs. They cover a whole lot of services.
Everybody seems to be talking about bandwidth, wireless, smart phones, global etc.
Now with Apple iPhone it seems to me lots of people are grumbling about the lousy connection they experience with AT&T.
Being that Satellites can access the internet and they cover all the above issues and more, could it be that these guys DirectTV, SiriusXM and Apple and add AT&T also, because (Malone did originally work for them) are huddled somewhere. To me it is very important that Apple's iPhone connection will reach overseas, after all they are being bought globally now.
MGTY1-Here is your post on India what I was referring to
http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Entertainment/20091226_satellite_policy.html
What I read about India previously was that they have no regulations in place. Could be the reason why the India companies haven't been able to get to 2nd base also. This whole restructure in India may have a silver lining to it.
Sure is a mystery, no wonder we all are addicted. It is exciting after all.....lol
A friend of mine works at the CES show, he is checking out the Sirius booth this weekend. He will pick up any kind of brochures or info about new stuff.
I feel it is going to close 0.68. Let's see how close I come....it is doing good feel there is lots of upward pressure now.
I have a friend who works at the CES show and he is going to go and check out the Sirius booth this weekend. Told him to look for anything related to Global integration in their new line up of products. Maybe we can find out indirectly if they are working on that end. That would give an indication they are going global and I am sure WorldSpace is then involved somehow. Hey can't hurt....:o}
Sirius XM info at CES in case anyone needs it. I am going to try to get in somehow, know people who work at the convention center, they will be looking out for me. Otherwise I'll try at least to get a brochure from the booth.
SIRIUS XM Radio, Inc.
Booth: Central 10506,Central 11006
SIRIUS XM is America’s satellite radio company. SIRIUS XM delivers commercial-free music, plus live sports, news, talk and entertainment as well as...
Fund Transactions for Sirius XM Radio Inc. (SIRI)
Date Updated: 12/30/2009 12:00:00 AM (Updated weekly)
http://www.thebuylist.com/Default.aspx?Stock=SIRI
MGTY1-Like your dreaming....lol I live in Vegas, if I can play the machines here, WRSPQ is a cakewalk, when it comes to gambling. At least we have a chance to win here, the slots will for sure take your money.
Charlie Rose on the West Coast time (Los Angeles)
Wednesday December 30, 2009
11:30 P.M. Charlie Rose
http://www.kcet.org/
Sorry about double posts
You might be right, then both stocks will fly....lol
Improving Fundamentals Send Sirius XM Radio Higher 25-Dec-09 11:18 pm
There is a lot of hype building over Sirius XM Radio’s (SIRI) recently leaked new hardware offering that will enable Apple (AAPL) iPhone and iPod Touch devices to be converted into satellite radios which will reportedly receive the XM Satellite Radio service. A lot of people are convinced that this docking station is somehow the reason for the extraordinary gains of Sirius XM common stock this past week.
Don’t be fooled. Although this single new piece of hardware is promising for the future of Satellite Radio, since it takes advantage of the growing popularity of 4G technology as the holiday shopping season begins to loom on the horizon, it has absolutely nothing to do with the rise in Sirius XM share prices.
Will the future offer a portable version? Time will tell. There are no doubt critics waiting in the wings to pounce on the new Sirius XM hardware offering as insignificant.
Let me save them the time.
For those that follow Satwaves, you already know that despite a lot of misinformed media articles from other sources that have made headlines around the world, we have been pounding the table with regards to the improving fundamentals that Sirius XM has been reporting as the reason to own shares of Sirius XM. Those that heeded the advice have seen their investments grow in unimaginable numbers. Those that heeded the recent bullish catapult alert earlier this week have gained nearly 25%. Stay focused.
As the cash for clunkers program winds down it is clear that auto manufacturers are on track to record quarterly sales numbers. The run rate as reported by Edmunds.com had been as high as 19.6 million vehicles in July. At that time, there had been only 1 billion dollars allocated to the CFC program. Funds were quickly exhausted. Sirius XM CEO Mel Karmazin tipped his hand at the Q2 conference call when he announced that Sirius XM had positive subscriber growth in July.
With the arrival of August, we saw an additional 2 billion dollars allocated to CFC. For the mathematically challenged, 2 billion is two times 1 billion and that 2 billion dollars is almost gone. From a satellite radio perspective, it is a complete success. Combined with an improving economic climate, there can be no doubt that subscriber acquisition rate for Sirius XM Radio will be positive again for the month of August, and in more than substantial numbers.
When one considers the company’s operating cost reductions, positive EBITDA and improved guidance, it becomes more likely that Sirius XM Radio is on track to record a quarterly per share profit for the first time. Stocks trade on earnings and, thus far, Sirius XM hasn’t had any on a per share basis. An operating profit is one thing. A net profit is another. And Sirius XM Radio speculators are seeing black.
More MGTY1 - WorldSpace radio to exit India on New Year’s Eve
December 25, 2009 06:10 PM
Amritha Pillay
WorldSpace has declared that it will terminate its radio broadcast services to all Indian subscribers from 31 December 2009. Following its bankruptcy protection filing in October 2008, the satellite radio service provider has had to bid adieu to the subcontinent??On New Year’s Eve, apart from the bygone year, music lovers in India will bid farewell to something they have really cherished—the musical service called WorldSpace satellite radio.
In a statement, WorldSpace Inc, the parent company of WorldSpace India, said,”On December 31, 2009, the WorldSpace satellite radio broadcast service will be terminated for all customers serviced from India.” While this termination is well before the end of its prepaid subscriptions, many subscribers are upset over the fact that they will not receive the service, rather the money that they stand to lose.
WorldSpace is listed on the Nasdaq, and is tottering under a $2.1-billion debt. It is seeking to raise fresh funds to repay its obligations.
In the note posted on its website, the company has said that the main reason for the termination was that the potential buyer of much of WorldSpace’s global assets has decided not to buy the WorldSpace assets relating to—and supporting—its subscription business in India.
When the service was launched in India, the annual subscription offered was around Rs1,800 in 2005. The satellite radio network has around 170,000 subscribers in over 130 countries including India. Moreover, over 95% of the subscribers to the service are from India.
On the refund involved in the services which would be terminated well before the subscription expiry date, WorldSpace stated, “The company recognises that you may have paid for services to be rendered beyond the termination date, but is not in a position to offer a refund for any unused portion of your subscription.”
According to reports, US-based media company Liberty Media has already bought out WorldSpace’s liabilities from its creditors. Interestingly, Liberty Media holds 40% stake in Sirius XM Radio and as per reports, chief executives of both the companies had said that there is a possibility of a joint Sirius XM/Liberty Media global satellite radio venture between the two.
WorldSpace has offered a claim procedure to be undertaken next year under US bankruptcy law. However, more than the claims, what bothers Indian subscribers most is the discontinuation of a quality music service, which Indian FM channels have failed to provide.
“I just wanted to hold my head and start crying for the sake of classical music. They did not even inform us,” said Vitthal Nadkarni, a senior journalist, who was caught unawares about the notice even as classic music from WorldSpace continued to play in his father’s room.
“I was completely surprised that they could do such a thing. The issue is not the subscription paid. It was doing so well, it was part of our life. It was money well spent anyway,” said Anand Desai, another WorldSpace subscriber from India.
“I thought it was a very good service. The music was available whenever you wanted. It is a pity. We tend to use the classical channel more, but they offered a lot of variety. It is indeed a sorry thing. I think more than the money (lost), the quality would be missed,” added Vimla Nadkarni, another ardent fan of classical music offered by WorldSpace.
Subscribers are divided over whether subscribers should file for a claim. “We will check out, but I think we will file for the claim if we get a chance,” said Ms Nadkarni.
Mr Desai, however, had a different opinion. “Whatever they have delivered has been so good, that you don’t want to file a claim. Anyway, filing a claim is useless,” he said.
He ended on an optimistic note, wishing revival for the radio channel in India. “I wish somebody saves it, at least the Indian part. I was looking for some local FM channels buying out the rights. Playing the service on your car radio would be fantastic.”
http://moneylife.in/article/8/2958.html
Satellite technology is amazing. Copied this from Worldspace website:
Satellite services
In addition to the best in music, news, sports and talk & entertainment 1worldspace
transforms satellite technology into information solutions for governments,
businesses and individuals. We deliver innovative services to places
where no other communication solutions can go including:
* Alert Delivery
* Data Delivery
* Digital Weather
* Distance Learning
* Navigation Overlay
* Push & Store Content
* Webcasting
They just cover every part of Media technology (which is the future). Both WRSPQ and SIRI are going to go places. They just have to. IMHO
Relating to Worldspace/SIRI/Malone this summer
Gathered some info from my SIRI posts (not knowing at the time anything about WRSPQ):
Wonder who the Non-US resident is and if they did it. Can't tell from the writing. Lots of rumblings about Media from India and Arab countries. Whoops second thought the Arab culture wouldn't be able to stomach Stearn...lol
Filed August 25 2009
A mystery foreign investor is involved with Liberty Media when SIRI got out of debt with Liberty.
http://investor.sirius.com/secfiling.cfm?filingid=1193125-09-181143
=========================================
Posted by: bepop12345
Date: Monday, August 31, 2009 1:23:38 PM
In reply to: None
Post # of 14414
Seems to me Worldspace and SIRI are together here. Click both links you'll see, at least my impression:
WorldSpace Lays Foundation for Satellite Radio in China and India (WRSP 2Q05 Conf Call Quotes)
by: Ezra Marbach September 12, 2005
about: SIRI
Despite concerns over both the company's business model and management integrity (see here) satellite radio provider WorldSpace Corporation (ticker: WRSP) is moving forward with expansion plans in China and India. The latest on China from Chairman and CEO Noah A. Samara:
....WorldSpace is the only broadcaster, foreign or domestic, with the complete national coverage ability to broadcast directly to consumers in the PRC. China is a very attractive market opportunity. There is a large demand for subscription services, with over 330 million wireless mobile phone subscribers, over 100 million cable subscribers and approximately 72 million Internet subscribers.
We have an established partner on the ground, namely, ChinaSat, which has received a license from the Ministry of Information and Industries to use the WorldSpace frequency and satellite. The next step we are working on is to get the approval of the government to put up content on the satellite that can be broadcast to consumers in China.
Our strategy on this front has been to assist the government in developing content that is both compelling and acceptable for broadcast in China. To this end we have signed MOUs in April of ’05 with China National Radio and China Radio International, the two national radio operators….
Additionally, we have started providing a very limited subscription stock data service….
Once the decision happens (Editor: Chinese government approval)…..this is something would normally take something in the 24 month-plus type of timeframe to make that happen.
(Quotes are from the CCBN StreetEvents transcript.)
Related: Articles on satellite radio providers XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/2587-worldspace-lays-foundation-for-satellite-radio-in-china-and-india-wrsp-2q05-conf-call-quotes
http://www.sirius.com/worldradionetwork
========================================
Posted by: bepop12345
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:19:11 AM
In reply to: None
Post # of 14414
Malone....This is the day and the article that prompted me to buy SIRI this time.
Digital Entertainment February 17, 2009, 6:25PM EST
John Malone: King of Satellite?
Liberty Media's John Malone may widen his empire again through an 11th-hour rescue of Sirius XM (SIRI).
In his 1990s heyday at the helm of cable TV behemoth Tele Communications, John Malone was routinely labeled "The King of Cable." He was lauded for his leadership of a then-struggling industry. Today, the 67-year-old Malone may have just become the Satellite King.
By injecting as much as $530 million into ailing satellite radio company Sirius XM (SIRI), Malone's Liberty Media (LMDIB) is poised to hold sway over a stable of companies that use satellite technology to deliver TV, radio, and broadband to more than 37 million subscribers. "We have been impressed with the company, its operations and management team," Liberty CEO Greg Maffei said in a statement. "Sirius XM's ability to grow subscribers and revenue in a difficult financial and auto market is indicative of how listeners view this as a 'must have' service." Sirius XM has 18.9 million subscribers after the merger last year of two wobbly competitors, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio.
Malone's Master Plan
People with knowledge of Liberty Media say Malone and Maffei believe they're investing in a vastly undervalued asset. Malone, a billionaire media maven, for years has been enamored with satellite, which he considers a cheaper alternative to cable TV and phone service. Under his agreement with Sirius, Malone's company will invest up to $530 million and could take a 40% stake in the company, though it is blocked for three years from taking a stake larger than 49.9%. That could give Malone, who joins the Sirius board along with Maffei, the time he needs to make Sirius a working part of larger satellite ambitions.
Malone, a Yale-educated engineering PhD, hasn't said what those ambitions are, but he has a reputation for thinking several steps ahead of his peers. "If there is something to make out of all of this, John Malone probably has it figured out already," says Jimmy Schaeffler, chief executive officer of the digital consulting firm Carmel Group. For starters, Malone's Liberty Entertainment unit owns a 48% stake in DirecTV (DTV), the nation's largest satellite TV operator, with 17.6 million subscribers. DirectTV already offers music from the Sirius XM service, but it could market the products to customers for use in their cars at a fraction of the current $12.95 monthly subscription fee for Sirius XM. Liberty could also harness unused satellite spectrum controlled by Sirius XM to offer more channels of video.
An equally intriguing prospect is how Sirius might fit with Liberty's 37% stake in WildBlue Communications, which offers wireless broadband for $49.95 a month to mostly rural customers who can't get high-speed Internet access from a local phone company. The service currently has 380,000 subscribers, a 10% increase in the last six months, but could likely do much better if it was marketed alongside Sirius radio.
Down the road, Liberty and Sirius XM are likely to weigh combining operations, says Larry Rosin, president of Edison Media Research . "I assume that they are going to eventually talk about a merger," Rosin says.
Malone by no means has Sirius in his hip pocket. CEO Mel Karmazin is a tough infighter, who has put into the agreement measures that could allow him to end the deal with Malone later this year, though refinancing in the current environment could be tough.
And while the investment helps Sirius XM avoid filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company still faces some tough challenges. It's had $653.8ýmillion in losses in the past nine months, and needs to repay $3ýbillion in debt in the coming five years. And one of the main sources of new customers for Sirius XM, sales of autos that come with the radio service installed, has hit a wall. "Sirius's troubles are in no way over," says Frost & Sullivan consultant Ron Gherman. The company "seriously needs to find a new business model away from the Detroit Big Three."
As grand as Malone's ambitions may be, he won't suffer a loss-making business forever, says Tuna Amobi, an analyst at Standard & Poor's. "At some point, strategic motives kick in," Amobi says. "Knowing John Malone, there's only that much tolerance [for losses]. Does he continue to operate a money-losing proposition? Quick arrangements like this can quickly turn sour."
A Win-Win for Malone
At very least, Malone can rest in the satisfaction of having kept Sirius XM out of the hands of DirectTV rival Dish Network (DISH) and its CEO, Charles W. Ergen, who has recently purchased Sirius debt on the cheap and was pressuring Karmazin to sell. And even if he doesn't end up owning Sirius XM, Malone walks away with a wad of cash. The Liberty-Sirius deal gives Sirius until Apr. 15 to find a better deal, at which point Malone walks away with a $30 million fee for the bridge loan plus a $7ýmillion termination fee. Karmazin can also end the deal by Dec. 31 if he finds other financing, but would then owe Malone a 5% premium on the money he has offered up, which could be as much as $12.5ýmillion on the $250 million credit. In the meantime, Malone is collecting a whopping 15% annual rate for the money he lent Karmazin.
That's vintage John Malone: swooping in and helping to prop up a weakened competitor. He did it years back with a then flat-broke Ted Turner, giving him money to help him create an empire. Malone did it with Barry Diller years back when Diller, bounced by the owners of shopping channel QVC, needed help creating another shopping empire that has since become IAC Interactive (IACI). None of those deals came without strings, and Malone always took a stake. That sounds a lot like the current Sirius deal, and with Malone wielding a wad of cash, just about anything is possible.
With Olga Kharif in Portland, Ore.
Waaa that was interesting article. It almost feels like all the failed radio people have banded together to destroy SIRI. Awfully odd stuff happening. IMHO
Got some hope this works,,,,,,,,:o}
(guess I am the 13000)
I have a buy in for more shares first thing in the morning.....averaging from 0.07......:o}
It was ad about CNBC coverage of the latest in business on SiriusXM......I'll pay closer attention next time it comes on.
"First in business worldwide"..... was the last sentence in the SiriusXM commercial on CNBC (just 5 min. ago). Sirius is not yet worldwide, why would they say that? Has anyone else noticed if they have said it all along?
5 Stocks Under $10
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz ?December 22, 2009
• 5-Star Stocks on the Upswing
David Gardner called it. He’s up 1,334%! See what David’s recommending that you buy NEXT.
It's still OK to think big, even when you're small.
The market's been rolling since mid-March, and low-priced stocks have been some of the rally's biggest beneficiaries. I have been singling out attractive opportunities since my original "5 Stocks Under $10" eight years ago. The past few months have been wildly gratifying.
Let's go over the five picks from March to prove my point.
Stock
12/21/09
3/13/09
Gain
Sirius XM Radio
$0.5747
$0.198
190%
Bare Escentuals
$12.39
$3.66
239%
Focus Media
$15.98
$5.74
178%
Geron
$5.68
$4.36
30%
Ford
$9.67
$2.19
342%
The average gain of 196% in just nine months is remarkable. Sirius XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) and Ford (NYSE: F) were on the brink of going under before battling back, and have seen some amazing gains.
The next few months may get tricky. Will the Federal Reserve begin raising rates in 2010? Will the rally come undone? Stocks trading in the single digits are risky and are bound to be more volatile than the general market.
http://www.fool.com/investing/high-growth/2009/12/22/5-stocks-under-10.aspx
Waaa exactly my first thought also....:o}
Your theory makes good sense...;o}
Also at least 3 Siri commercials on "American Greed".....:o}
If a company's bottom line has good earnings a R/S is a positive.
I have to say I agree with the board that all through SIRI's history the press has been awful, never positive on the stock (even when it was high). I am surprised CNBC who is very involved with SiriusXM, doesn't even mention it.
All of those people on CNBC have admitted they subscribe to the sat. service and say they like it. Go figure???