[Satellite Today 02-16-09] Sirius XM Radio may be forced to file for bankruptcy protection as early as Feb. 17 if talks to refinance $175 million in company bonds fall through, Sirius XM announced Feb. 13.
    The satellite-radio provider issued the warning as it announced it exchanged $172.5 million in notes that come due in December for new notes that come due in June 2011.
    The Wall Street Journal reported that Sirius XM has been in talks with Dish Network CEO Charles Ergen as well as Liberty Media Corp. over a deal to save itself from bankruptcy. 
    Dish Network and EchoStar Corp. began acquiring Sirius XM debt in October, offering to inject $500 million into Sirius XM and restructure the debt in return for control.