XM and SIRIUS Confirm Discussions to Settle FCC Enforcement Matters

WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, July 24  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:XMSR) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) today confirmed that the companies are in discussions with the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission to settle outstanding enforcement matters.

As previously disclosed by the companies, in 2006, the FCC commenced investigations regarding the compliance of certain radios that include FM transmitters with the Commission's rules, and the compliance of certain terrestrial repeaters with the special temporary authority granted by the Commission.  The companies hope to enter into a Consent Decree with the Federal Communications Commission terminating these inquiries.

As part of a possible Consent Decree, the companies expect to agree, among other things, to:

--  adopt comprehensive compliance plans, and take steps to address any potentially non-compliant radios remaining in the hands of consumers;

--  in the case of XM, within 60 days of the order adopting the Consent Decree, shut down 50 variant terrestrial repeaters, and shut down or bring into compliance an additional 50 variant terrestrial repeaters;

--  in the case of SIRIUS, bring into compliance or shut down up to 11 variant terrestrial repeaters within 60 days of the order adopting the Consent Decree.  These terrestrial repeaters were shut off by SIRIUS in October 2006; and

--  make a voluntary contributions to the United States Treasury of approximately $17 million in the case of XM, and approximately $2 million in the case of SIRIUS.

There can be no assurances regarding the ultimate outcome of these enforcement proceedings, including whether the FCC will approve Consent Decrees under discussion with the companies.

About SIRIUS

SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio.  SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels.  SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data.  SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NASCAR, and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, as well as live NASCAR races.  All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95.

SIRIUS Internet Radio (SIR) is an Internet-only version of the SIRIUS radio service, without the use of a radio, for the monthly subscription fee of $12.95. SIR delivers more than 80 channels of talk, entertainment, sports, and 100% commercial free music.

SIRIUS Backseat TV (TM) is the first ever live in-vehicle rear seat entertainment featuring three channels of children's programming, including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network, for the subscription fee of $6.99 plus applicable audio subscription fee.

SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available at shop.sirius.com and in more than 20,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and RadioShack.

As of December 31, 2007, SIRIUS radios were available as a factory and dealer-installed option in 116 vehicle models and as a dealer only-installed option in 37 vehicle models.

SIRIUS has agreements with Aston Martin, Audi, Automobili Lamborghini, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lincoln, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, MINI, Mitsubishi, Rolls-Royce, Volvo, and Volkswagen to offer SIRIUS radios as factory or dealer-installed equipment in their vehicles.  SIRIUS has relationships with Toyota and Scion to offer SIRIUS radios as dealer-installed equipment, and a relationship with Subaru to offer SIRIUS radios as factory or dealer-installed equipment.  SIRIUS radios are also offered to renters of Hertz vehicles at airport locations nationwide.

Click on http://www.sirius.com/ to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.

About XM

XM (NASDAQ:XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 9.6 million subscribers.  Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2008 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2008.  XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide.  XM programming is also available through XM Radio Online; as downloads of original XM shows via podcasts from XM's Web site or the Apple's iTunes Store; and as streams of commercial-free XM music channels to AT&T and Alltel wireless customers through XM Radio Mobile.  For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., including potential synergies and cost savings and the timing thereof, future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "may," or words of similar meaning.  Such forward- looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of SIRIUS' and XM's management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of SIRIUS and XM.  Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statement: general business and economic conditions; the performance of financial markets and interest rates; the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on a timely basis; the failure to realize synergies and cost-savings from the transaction or delay in realization thereof; the businesses of SIRIUS and XM may not be combined successfully, or such combination may take longer, be more difficult, time- consuming or costly to accomplish than expected; and operating costs and business disruption following the merger, including adverse effects on employee retention and on our business relationships with third parties, including manufacturers of radios, retailers, automakers and programming providers.  Additional factors that could cause SIRIUS' and XM's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in SIRIUS' and XM's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov/). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and SIRIUS and XM disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

G-SIRI 

DATASOURCE: XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.; SIRIUS Satellite Radio



CONTACT:  Media Relations for SIRIUS, Patrick Reilly, [phone], or

, or Kelly Sullivan of Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer

Katcher, [phone], or ; Investor Relations for

SIRIUS, Paul Blalock, [phone], or , or Hooper

Stevens, [phone], or ; Media Relations for XM,

Nathaniel Brown, [phone], or , or Chance

Patterson, [phone], or ; Investor

Relations for XM, Joe Wilkinson, [phone], or

, or Richard Sloane, [phone], or

 



Web site: http://www.xmradio.com/

http://www.sirius.com/ 

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