Charlie Rose Science Series
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Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
by Thomas L. Friedman
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by Thomas L. Friedman
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10/11/2007
Mel Karmazin
An hour with Mel Karmazin
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An hour with Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio. Karmazin discusses the merger of Sirius and XM satellite radio, his time as Chief Operating Officer at Viacom, CBS and radio personality Howard Stern.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
I have both Sirius and XM (don't ask, long story) and I can definitively say that Sirius has much better programming. I say merge the two, take the best from both and let the consumer dictate what they want - free or pay. I, too, listen to both satellite and terrestrial radio and believe there is plenty of room for both.
Wow. Impressive. This guy is sharp! What a great success story he has. It is inspiring to me as a small business owner. Speaking of which if you ever read this Mel, call me about NicheClassifieds.com :)
Mel K is dead on! Satelitte radio is the future of consumer content.
Opinion from a present satellite subscriber: Since there are too many with their own personal agendas here, I say let current subscriber's choose what is best for themselves. A ballot should be sent to the homes of all XM and Sirius subscribers for a vote on the topic. I really do not like the idea of someone making the decision for me. Let's take the decision out of the hands of those who could possibly have personal gains here, and put it in the hands of us actual subscribers. We're the ones who count. New subscriber's could just pass on a subscription, we're the one's who will feel the impact of an increase, so we should make the call. If we like the idea, why should someone else tell us no, especially if it would be coming out of our own pockets. Plus, if our rates are raised after promised that it will not happen, we can just cancel our service and go back to free FM, etc. There is no issue here. It's a big waste of everyone's time. Just a bunch of political garbage.
I just want to ask Jared Polonowski why he thinks his "local privately owned stations in Michigan" will somehow be hurt by satelitie radio? Your locale stations will still exist dude. Those locale radio sations that you 'love' so much will only get better because of satelite radio. They will have to "COMPETE" with satelite and every other kind of mobile media system. Don't you think it's time to crawl out of your shell and experience the rest of the planet; even if it's just around the corner? Your arguments are false and misleading. HMMMMMM I wonder what your motives are? I love satelite radio. Only place I can hear adult content without being monitored by "daddy".
There is no justification for not allowing this merger. Satellite radio competes with all different kinds of media. To compare this merger to Clear Channel or News Corp. and their monoploization of America is foolish. Satellite radio is pure a paid service; they are not inundating specific cities with newspapers, television stations, and radio stations like News corp. and Clear Channel.
Great interview with Mel Karmazin!
All I can say is that I like this guy - I like the kind of sales guy who says - forget the base baby - just pay me top commissions and let me go! Too bad most sales managers typically get jealous of their best rep rather than just taking pride that they were smart enough to hire them. I think the merger will fail becuase it clearly is a monopoly that doesn't serve the public and the GOP ain't in charge anymore, but have fun anyway!
Remember folks, this is a paid subscription service. In my view Negative comments just don't hold any weight about satelite radio verses terestial radio. I as a consumer think they are competitors. I have Sirius, and like everyone else terestial radio. I still listen to both of them. If you don't agree with it just don't buy it. After all we are living in a free society. I must say though I really love my sirus because it opens my listening pleasure to new music and a score of other enternaining I never knew existed before. With my Sirus I can select the type of music I like without being forced to listen to a mix of songs. With terestial I may only like one or two out of ten or so songs played. I also believe it's about time NAB (the terestial radio industry) has a competitor like satelite radio. When you really look at it the terestial radio industry as a whole they are a monopoly. It's about time they have some good competition. They have had a free ride as the only big kid on the block long enough. Lets face it it is all about the money. One makes money with selling advertising and the other makes it from selling subscriptions.... Just my opinion Gene Bergeron
One very important question not discussed. How many people will lose their jobs as a result of this merger? Why do "we" praise and admire these CEO types and others like them when all they do is consume and acquire more and more and more at the expense of their empoyees who can least afford the disruption of income and health benefits?
FROM an avid Charlie Rose groupie: Within the last few months, I have become concerned that your show's revealing commentaries and news are not available to my friends and associates who live in Georgia, North Carolina, etc. WHY? Because they have paid for certain cable that does not make CHARLIE ROSE available to them. I even called SCETV programming because my friends WANT to receive the CHARLIE ROSE broadcast. SCETV representative responded: "ROSE can 'bleed over' into Georgia from Beaufort, SC I then called COMCAST rep who said: "IMPOSSIBLE." THIS concerns me. AS an advocate of the Charlie Rose Show for over eight years. . .I WILL GO so far as to say, "C. ROSE'S SHOW should be a 'MUST SEE' for all persons seriously concerned about the future of our country." Can we come up with an evaluation and a plan to see that the Charlie Rose Show is readily available to all the public? This is a ground-breaking issue. I hope you agree. IN THE MEANTIME: Congratulations to Charlie for the upcoming SCAD FILM FESTIVAL award to be given to Charlie in Savannah, November 3. BUT how can we help Savannahians and Georgians who are not privy to these courageous and unique shows? What a dilemma! THANKS, SANDRA, Sullivan's Island, SC. . .The same island where John Huey spends his weekends and happiest days! (EDITOR IN CHIEF, TIME) Magazine)
Both Mel Karmazin and Sumner Redstone have a great deal of 'business acumen.' They both make capitalism work -- especially for them. They treat it as a child treats a game with toys. Maybe, they are also fulfilled -- few people are. Who knows? Karmazin praised Ted Turner (a good choice), the pioneer of CNN. But, he also expressed admiration for Rupert Murdoch -- a malevolent man who owns media outlets worldwide to make lots of money (no matter the lack of quality) and to promote his crypto-facist political views. So, it seems that the game is all about the stream of revenue, the stock price and in Mr. Murdoch's case -- to transfer wealth and democratic principles from the poor and middle-class to the super wealthy. Viable values? But, I have neglected the main point of the discussion: the merger of Sirius and XM satellite radio. AM and FM radio have so deteriorated during the past decades that when I drive around America, I find that I must look for a local NPR outlet. Sirius and XM have (combined) offer hundreds of programming choices. Karmazin claims that both operations can survive alone. I doubt it. But, he has to say that! No,only the merger will permit satellite radio to survive. Great pressure is being put on the FCC by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Why? They will lose listeners and revenue. The NAB over the years has decimated radio. A broadcasting company used to abide by the 7-7-7 rule in the U. S.: they could own seven AM, seven FM and seven TV staions. Now a company like Clear Channel can own over 1,000 radio stations! Good for Clear Channel -- they can syndicate or stream one program/air talent using one person. Bad for the consumer -- little choice and low quality and little local content! So now, it seems to me, that satellite radio is needed and a merger is necessary. Who will run the potential Sirius/XM? The wonderful captains of industry with great business acumen and few morals -- like Mel Karmazin. And, what will happen next? It's just a game to them!
I am currently watching your interview with Mel Karmazin. I just wanted to let you know that I do not agree with him. Even his relation to your show only being watched on a cable channel is ridiculous. What he doesn't understand is that people want to hear their local radio stations. The same reason I want to watch my local news TV station, I also refuse to pay the outrageous amount to the cable network. Once you go to satellite radio you loose the local connection that makes every area of the country different. In addition you loose air play for local talents and issues. Believe it or not but we have local privately owned stations here in Michigan which I listen to everyday. If anything, HD will take over well before satellite because this will allow 20 times the number of stations similar to satellite and can be produced a hundred times cheaper than maintaining a satellite network, not to mention tuning in to HD AM and FM is free and the stereos cost the same as the rest. If I were you I would ignore this guy and talk to the guys developing the HD stations. Thanks