While it’s interesting than anyone would care what Clear Channel thinks of the prospective XM/Sirius satellite radio merger, Mel Karmazin and his posse have weighed in with the FCC with their take on the whole matter. As experts on radio monopolies, it makes sense to consult Clear Channel, a company deeply concerned that any satellite radio consolidation might harm “preservation of a viable, locally-oriented, free, over-the-air radio broadcast system” full of morning zoos, a KISS-FM in every market, and the most limited playlists imaginable.

Among their requests from the FCC: the other half of the satellite spectrum being made available for a competitor, that the merged company be banned from broadcasting local material or receiving local ad money, and that decency standards be extended to the satellite realm. The decency standards requirement seems to be the most offensive request, since one would imagine that paying for content would eliminate any sort of obscenity clause. Clear Channel contends that “One of the primary potential dangers to free, over-the-air radio posed by this merger is siphoning popular, including ‘edgy’ content, with consequent loss of advertising revenue.” I start to see their point now, because if satellite radio takes away the bit on the KISS morning show here where they pretend to offer roses for cheating spouses to send to their lovers, the media world as a whole would fall apart. You can’t pull that sort of stuff off via satellite.

Clear Channel Lists Satellite Merger Demands [HITS Daily Double]