Interesting comments by Mr. K. at the Citigroup Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications conference in Phoenix on Tuesday.  Here are some highlight from Silicon Alley’s coverage.

“I can tell you there is no decision at the Department of Justice. Timing: I have no idea. I’m not going to give it a guess. This is a deal is ripe to be granted and we should be able to close. We will probably close the evening we get FCC approval. We have been waiting so long we are ready to close.”

On post-merger synergies: “I can tell you that it is in the hundreds of millions of dollars; the value of the efficiencies are greater than the market cap of one of the two companies,” Karmazin said.

“What is going to make us a winner is that we have the best radio on radio. I am betting that radio is going to continue to be a business. We are going to be a successful radio company and our content is going to drive it. The Howard Stern deal–and I didn’t do it, I walked into the company after it was done–I will tell you it more than pays for itself.”

He says don’t expect Congress to support royalties for terrestrial radio (as the music labels and the RIAA want) because it would be terribly unpopular in an election year.

OK, the headline is a little cheeky, but it is of interest to Backstagers that the topic of the merger came up at CES today as part of Chairman Martin’s address to CES attendees.  This report from the NYT, summarizes the discussion this way

XM-Sirius (NSDQ: SIRI) and Echostar-DirecTV: Shapiro attempted to draw Martin on whether approval of the XM-Sirius merger would bode well for a merger between Echostar (NSDQ: DISH) and DirecTV (NYSE: DTV). Martin wouldn’t talk about the pending approval of the satellite radio merger, but spoke about how XM (NSDQ: XMSR) and Sirius said they’d offer different subscription and content plans to consumers, allowing them more choice over the content they receive at a variety of price points. The implication was that this was an important declaration by the radio companies in terms of their chances of regulatory approval, and Martin said that it would be important for satellite TV companies to offer consumers more control and choice as part of any future merger plans.

TWICE is reporting that Directed Electronic has debuted 3 new products for Sirius fans at CES.  The first 2 are the HON-SC1 for Honda and Acura, and TOY-SC1 for Toyota, Lexus and Scion.  These work with Sirius Connect tuners to allow XM-rady OEM readios in these makes to play Sirius.  The other is the long-rumored aftermarket kit for Backseat TV.

Sirius is sharing DEI’s booth, so one would expect them to make the biggest splash with Sirius.

Elvis Radio, SIRIUS’ channel dedicated to the music and legacy of Elvis Presley, will celebrate the 73rd anniversary of Elvis’ birthday with exclusive live broadcasts from SIRIUS’ studios located at Graceland. The channel will feature live coverage from the steps of Graceland for the traditional birthday ceremony. This year’s celebration will include Priscilla Presley sharing her personal thoughts and memories of Graceland and Elvis.

Elvis Radio will also have special programming leading up to Elvis’ birthday celebration with special guest hosts, interviews, and exclusive live coverage from various events throughout Memphis honoring Elvis Presley.

For a complete schedule, please visit www.sirius.com/elvisradio

Listen from January 5 through January 8.

Political talk programming from all corners can be found on SIRIUS Satellite Radio.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio delivers in-depth and diverse coverage 24/7 of all the action in Iowa and New Hampshire with political talk, analysis and opinion spanning liberal, conservative, African-American and GLBT perspectives.

Highlights include:

• SIRIUS Left’s Alex Bennett reporting live from Iowa and New Hampshire. Bennett goes “inside” two actual Iowa Caucuses for a firsthand account of the debate, discussion, and procedure. In Manchester, Alex Bennett broadcasts live inside the legendary Red Arrow Diner to speak with “everyday Americans” to gauge their interest, passion, and opinions. [SIRIUS Left channel 146, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm]

• Also on SIRIUS Left, Mark Thompson hosts Make it Plain, a political, human rights, and current events based program focusing on issues from an African-American point of view. [SIRIUS Left channel 146, 5:00 – 8:00 pm ET].

• SIRIUS Patriot channel 144 features the conservative voices of Bill Bennett, Andrew Wilkow, Sean Hannity, Mike Church, Mark Levin, and more. [SIRIUS Patriot channel 144, see below for full programming schedule].

• On SIRIUS OutQ, America’s first and only 24/7 radio channel for the GLBT community, Michelangelo Signorile fearlessly takes on the right wing, the media and the homophobes with hard-hitting and humorous talk. [SIRIUS OutQ channel 109, 2:00 – 6:00 pm ET]

Visit www.sirius.com/politicaltalk for the latest headlines and a daily lineup of guests for all SIRIUS political talk shows. Online media listening passcode available, please let us know if you are interested.

Complete programming lineup for SIRUS Left channel 146:

The Alex Bennett Program

∙Weekdays 9 am - Noon ET
∙”If I wanted a president who spits, wears cowboy boots, and can’t pronounce words correctly, I would have voted for a guest on Springer!” Alex Bennett is a self-proclaimed radio gadfly who brings unmistakable opinions, celebrity interviews, and great entertainment to SIRIUS Left.

The Bill Press Show

∙Weekdays 6 am - 9 am ET
∙Bill Press - former co-host of CNN’s “Crossfire” and MSNBC’s “Buchanan and Press” - brings his liberal agenda to SIRIUS for a brand new “liberal way” to start every weekday. Bill keeps the right wing in check, tells it like it is, and tackles all the hot issues with prominent and powerful guests from Capitol Hill and beyond.

The Thom Hartmann Show

∙Weekdays Noon - 1 pm & 1 am - 3 am ET
∙Thom Hartmann’s progressive approach uncovers corporate lies, rampant confusion in the offices of politicians, and exposes the “con” in conservative. Thom takes on pop culture, enthusiastically promotes democracy, and helps listeners make sense of the news.

Lynn Samuels

∙Weekdays 1 pm - 3 pm ET
∙Lynn Samuels, the fiercely liberal NYC talk radio legend, now speaks her mind five days a week…exclusively on SIRIUS Left. Lynn’s loyal audience knows her as a neighbor, the one who spouted liberal, smart opinions — with her signature Queens accent — as passionately to customers at her job at a Greenwich Village laundromat as she does to listeners on the radio.

The Ed Schultz Show

∙Weekdays 3 pm - 5 pm ET; Sundays 5 pm - 7 pm ET
∙Ed Schultz goes toe-to-toe with conservatives while injecting common sense, intelligence, and humor. Ed energizes the debate with razor-sharp views on life, politics, and people in America.

Mark Thompson’s Make It Plain

∙Weekdays 5 pm - 8 pm ET
∙Make It Plain, hosted by Mark Thompson (Matsimela Mapfumo) is a political, human rights, and current events based program focusing on issues from an African American point-of-view. Thompson passionately and provocatively moderates discussion with well-informed listeners and nationally known leaders and celebrities on pressing political, social, economic, cultural and spiritual issues.

The Stephanie Miller Show

∙Weekdays 8pm – 9 pm ET
∙Forty years after her father accepted the nomination to run alongside GOP Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater (and lost) Stephanie Miller embarks on her own crusade. With her background in stand-up comedy, political satire, even late night TV, Stephanie Miller proudly accepts the duty of balancing out the “right-wing wackos” by joining the ranks of the “left-wing wackos.”

The Mike Malloy Show

∙Weekdays 9 pm - Midnight ET; Sundays 10 pm – Midnight ET
∙Mike Malloy is a traditional Democrat – working to return the party to its historic liberal roots.

Mike Feder

∙Saturdays 5 pm – 8 pm ET
∙For Mike Feder, freedom of speech is a religious principle. In more than 25 years on the air, he has tackled everything from politics to culture to religion from a liberal-left point of view. His interviews, critiques, rants and sermons on the state of the world are personal, compelling and transforming.

Complete programming lineup on SIRIUS Patriot channel 144:

Bill Bennett’s Morning in America

∙Weekdays 6 am - 10 am ET
∙Former Secretary of Education, best selling author, and respected commentator Bill Bennett hosts a fast-paced, issue-oriented talk show that tackles news, politics, culture, sports, media, and more. From influential guests to everyday citizens, Bill Bennett is having a conversation with America.

The Mike Church Show

∙Weekdays 9 am ET; Weekends 5 pm ET
∙Mike Church fearlessly skewers liberalism and the people that practice it. Its conservative analysis of today’s top issues with a biting, satirical wit… peppered with Mike’s original parody creations.

Andrew Wilkow

∙Weekdays Noon - 3 pm ET; Weekends 9 am - Noon ET
∙Raised during Reagan – suffered through Clinton… Andrew Wilkow - the next generation of conservative talk and undisputed leader of the “new school.”

The Sean Hannity Show

∙Weekdays 3 am & 3 pm ET; Weekends 3 am & 2 pm ET
∙There’s a new generation on the right side of the political spectrum. Every day, they exert more influence on American political, fiscal and social policy.

The Mark Levin Show

∙Weekdays 6 pm ET; Weekends 8 pm ET
∙Mark Levin is one of America’s preeminent conservative commentators and constitutional lawyers. He’s in great demand as a political and legal commentator, and has appeared on hundreds of television and radio programs. Levin is also a contributing editor for National Review Online, and writes frequently for other publications. Levin has served as a top advisor to several members of President Ronald Reagan’s Cabinet - including as Chief of Staff to the Attorney General of the United States. In 2001, the American Conservative Union named Levin the recipient of the Ronald Reagan Award. He currently practices law in the private sector, heading up the Landmark Legal Foundation in Washington DC.

The Michael Reagan Show

∙Weekdays 8 pm ET; Weekends 10 pm ET
∙Michael Reagan aggressively confronts issues affecting the nation with his sharp, unyielding opinions. The eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan, Michael cuts through the spin and brings perspective to everything from news to cultural matters.

Cam Edwards’ Cam & Company from NRANEWS.com

∙Weekdays 9 pm ET
∙ Cam Edwards covers breaking stories and current events as well as lively debate and discussion with lawmakers and newsmakers engaged in the battle to preserve American freedoms.

The G. Gordon Liddy Show

∙Weekends 6 am ET
∙While others may talk about the military, the FBI, the White House, and topics ranging from government to guns — G. Gordon Liddy has been there. Hear Gordon’s smart perspectives on the world today and the fascinating stories of his life experiences.

Cigar Dave

∙Weekends 12 pm ET
∙Often referred to as the Sultan of Smoke, the Professor of Puff, the Cigar Sommelier, and the Connoisseur-in-Chief. Cigar Dave caters to cigar lovers far and wide. Loyal followers known as “Cigar Lieutenants” tune in for news and information about cigars, spirits, and other lifestyle diversions.

Political programming on SIRIUS OutQ channel 109:

Michelangelo Signorile Show

∙Weekdays 2 pm - 6 pm ET
∙Columnist and rabble-rouser Michelangelo Signorile fearlessly takes on the right wing, the media and the homophobes with hard-hitting and humorous talk. Michelangelo sits down with all the big names — authors, newsmakers, and icons from pop culture to politics — while breaking down all the stories of the day.

NEW YORK, Jan 03, 2008 — SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today announced that it ended 2007 with 8,321,785 subscribers, up from the company’s 2006 ending subscriber base of 6,024,555. During 2007, SIRIUS added approximately 2.3 million net subscriber additions.

“SIRIUS’ subscriber base increased 38% in 2007, and our gross subscriber additions in 2007 were the highest in the history of satellite radio,” said Mel Karmazin, CEO for SIRIUS. “Our full year monthly subscriber self-pay churn rate was 1.6% and all-in churn was 2.2%, consistent with the low end of our guidance. Based upon preliminary financial data, we expect to report significantly greater positive free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2007 than the company reported in the fourth quarter of 2006.”

SIRIUS plans to release full year 2007 financial results and 2008 guidance in February 2008.

/PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/