Sirius trying to convince FCC of merger

NEW YORK, June 13 (UPI) -- The head of Sirius Satellite Radio is talking with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission about its proposed merger with XM Radio.

Variety reported Wednesday that Sirius President Mel Karmazin recently suggested several new pricing structures to FCC officials in an attempt to gain support of the radio merger.

"We've had a number of meetings since we announced the deal," Karmazin said. "We hope we can draft an offering that will be something the commissioners will see is in the public interest."

The FCC recently opened the public comment period regarding the proposed merger in an effort to determine the level of support the business deal has nationwide.

Karmazin has been attempting to convince opponents of the measure that combining the two radio networks would not create a monopoly in the industry, Variety said.

As part of the government's analysis of the merger, the Justice Department will investigate the move during the next few weeks to determine what would be included in the merger.