"With the prospects of a merger approval between Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio improving stateside, so too are the prospects that Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., the Canadian partner of XM, and Sirius Canada will combine forces."

FINALLY!!!!

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday approved the proposed $4.22 billion purchase of XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) by Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) after concluding a combined XM-Sirius would not harm consumers.

The deal still needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which is expected to follow the Justice Department's lead.

I hope the articles are correct. This is one of the longest merger decisions in HISTORY. Come on Martin, make a damn decision.

Man, It has been awhile since I kept the discussion alive on the Sirius/XM merger. Recently the approval talks have been getting closer to finalization. And the fact that the FCC says they will reach a decision by the first quarter of 2008 makes me even more confident that this merger is going to go through.

The chairman of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Wednesday he remains “hopeful” that the company’s $5 billion acquisition by rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. will close this year, although he acknowledged that time is running short.