Sirius XM facing bankruptcy

[BDBohnzie]

XM's debt is what's dragging them down. After the FCC fines were levied right before the merger, it was only a matter of time before Chapter 11 was filed.

Read this the other day:
Sirius XM Bankruptcy May Be Good For Shareholders - SiriusBuzz

“What if,” we asked ourselves, Sirius XM now has the technology to broadcast both services over the Sirius network alone. This patent, issued in April 2008 demonstrates that the company has the technology to broadcast dual services. Although the patent addresses commercial vs. non-commercial, the technology could easily be adapted to broadcast separate services over different bandwidths, a technology similar to HD radio technology. This could explain Sirius XM’s recent channel consolidations as well.

All of this means of course, that if in fact Sirius XM can now provide both services over the Sirius network alone, that the XM Satellites and repeater network are now a disposable asset. As most of the companies 2009 debt obligations are backed by these same XM assets, the company would be wise to use these as a means of ridding itself on the huge debt burden placed on it since the merger with XM. By simply putting XM holdings into chapter 11, Sirius will in fact eliminate 2/3 of its outstanding debt. It would accomplish this, and save its investors as well. Sirius XM currently has about $3.2 billion dollars in debt. Out of that debt, Sirius owns about $1.1 billion and XM owns the other $2.1 billion. The only debt that Sirius has due this year is the $174 million payment coming due next week. The rest of the $783 million is all XM’s.

So in essence, if SiriusXM can broadcast both sets of channels over Sirius' satellites, they can sell off XM's assets and that would help them right the ship so to speak.