The merger creates a single provider with approximately 14 million subscribers and $1.5 billion worth of revenue from 2006. Together, according to the two companies, the goal is to create a stronger, better placed platform to help Satellite Radio develop over the next several years.

Now not only will customers now have access to many of the best channels from XM and Sirius, but according to preliminary reports, they may also be able to pick and choose them a la carte. Plus, the new company will be able to focus its efforts on further developing real-time traffic, weather, and backseat video products, and will be better positioned to introduce new hardware at lower cost.