Arlandastad hotelesSatellite Radio News (2.26.04)

The following is a summary of today's satellite radio headlines:

FCC's Martin ponders indecency on pay TV, radio (Reuters, 2.26.04) News article notes that U.S. regulators should consider whether radio and television services carried by cable and satellite must adhere to indecency standards, Federal Communications Commissioner Kevin Martin said on Wednesday. Satellite radio and television providers are licensed by the FCC, which could potentially hold them accountable, he said. But he conceded that companies like Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. could argue that since consumers pay for their products, they would not have to comply. FCC officials have said court decisions have given cable and satellite companies free-speech protections much like newspapers. Congress so far has only authorized the FCC to go after the over-the-air broadcasters, since they hold licenses to use the public airwaves, but lawmakers have questioned whether the agency should also be looking at channels higher on the dial. (Read more)

Stifel Nicolaus upgrade boosts Sirius Satellite (CBS MarketWatch, 2.25.04) News article notes that an upgrade of Sirius Satellite sent shares sky high Wednesday as Stifel Nicolaus predicted a number of "significant" upside catalysts over the next six months. With shares of the satellite radio operator down about 36 percent from their January high, analyst Kit Spring told clients it was "time to jump back in," and upgraded the stock to "market outperform" from "market perform." The stock rose 28 cents, or 10 percent, to close at $2.98. (Read more)

SIRIUS Satellite Radio Makes Million Dollar Dreams Come True (Sirius Satellite Radio, 2.25.04)five star hotel in Alicante Press release notes that Sirius Satellite Radio announced the Big Choice Sweepstakes in September 2003, which promised a million dollar prize to a lucky entrant and a million to another person the winner chose, and word of the opportunity spread rapidly among friends in the Joneses close-knit Knoxville community. The Joneses had recently retired -- he from the construction business and she from accounting -- and they returned to their home in Arkansas to be closer to friends and family. Each winner will receive an annuity of $1 million to be paid as $50,000 a year for 20 years. (Read more)