9 posts and columns on SATS

TiVo to DISH: Let's Do the Time Warp Again

in News on September 4, 2009 at 3:00 pm PT

It’s not the $974.5 million TiVo had been looking for, but the $200 million in sanctions against EchoStar’s Dish Network the company has been awarded isn’t exactly petty cash, either. On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Texas ordered the satellite broadcaster to cough up that sum for its continued infringement of TiVo’s “multimedia time warping system” patent.
timewarp

TiVo to DISH: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again

in News on September 4, 2009 at 3:00 pm PT

It’s not the $974.5 million TiVo had been looking for, but the $200 million in sanctions against EchoStar’s Dish Network the company has been awarded isn’t exactly petty cash, either. On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Texas ordered the satellite broadcaster to cough up that sum for its continued infringement of TiVo’s “multimedia time warping system” patent.
timewarp

Voices

Books and Music That Make You Dumb

in News on February 27, 2009 at 8:39 am PT

Anyone who has ever sought to justify their own musical or literary taste may find some solace in the side project of Virgil Griffith, a 25-year-old Caltech graduate student known for embarrassing numerous corporations with his WikiScanner, a database that tracks the sources of anonymous edits to Wikipedia entries.

Call Me Mel "Save-My-Own-Keister" Karmazin

in News on February 13, 2009 at 7:49 am PT

Sirius XM is ready to seek bankruptcy protection. The company has warned investors that it’s prepared to file Chapter 11. It has hired bankruptcy and restructuring advisers. And it has filled out the necessary paperwork. But it may never file it. “People familiar with the situation” tell The Wall Street Journal that Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin and satellite mogul Charlie Ergen are moving closer to an accord that would save the struggling satellite radio outfit from having to file Chapter 11.

Call Me Mel “Save-My-Own-Keister” Karmazin

in News on February 13, 2009 at 7:49 am PT

Sirius XM is ready to seek bankruptcy protection. The company has warned investors that it’s prepared to file Chapter 11. It has hired bankruptcy and restructuring advisers. And it has filled out the necessary paperwork. But it may never file it. “People familiar with the situation” tell The Wall Street Journal that Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin and satellite mogul Charlie Ergen are moving closer to an accord that would save the struggling satellite radio outfit from having to file Chapter 11.

Sirius-EchoStar-Liberty: Ménage-à-Blah

in News on February 12, 2009 at 12:16 pm PT

As entertaining as news of a Sirius XM-EchoStar-Liberty Media three-way might be, research houses don’t appear to be giving it much credence. Already a few have issued notes dubious of the idea of Liberty accepting the white knight role in this debacle.

Sirius: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Ergen

in News on February 12, 2009 at 5:44 am PT

The Sirius XM fiasco is fast becoming high drama. Hoping to avoid bankruptcy and fend off an unsolicited takeover attempt from satellite mogul Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar, which has been acquiring its debt, Sirius has approached Liberty Media about a possible transaction.

Sirius Rolls Out New 24 Hour Investor Keening Channel

in News on February 9, 2009 at 9:50 am PT

Apparently, satellite mogul Charlie Ergen’s run at Sirius XM has been in the works for quite some time. Indeed, “people familiar with the situation” tell The Wall Street Journal that he made an offer late last year to take control of the struggling satellite radio outfit, but was rebuffed.

Sirius Debt Problems? Call EchoStar! No Upfront Fees!

in News on February 6, 2009 at 3:10 pm PT

A quick update on Thursday’s Sirius/EchoStar story. People familiar with the matter tell The Wall Street Journal that the portion of Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s maturing debt that EchoStar now holds is a sizable one. Around $400 million.