The 2008 merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio created Sirius XM.
Sirius and XM were the two major U.S. satellite-radio providers. Their merger closed in July 2008 after a lengthy regulatory review, creating a single subscription audio company with the Sirius XM name.
The combined business offered music, sports, news, talk, and entertainment channels delivered primarily through satellite signals to vehicle and portable receivers. It later expanded its internet-streaming services, but its origin was the combination of the two satellite-radio networks.
The transaction was unusual because regulators had previously treated Sirius and XM as direct competitors. The merger therefore required approval from the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Sirius XM is a company name, not a radio format or an alliance.