Nearly two weeks after XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio announced their plans for a merger, XM sought to assure existing subscribers and future consumers that its service would not suffer if the planned merger takes place.

In a March 2 letter in USA Today and signed by XM Chairman Gary Parsons, CEO Hugh Panero, and President and COO Nate Davis, the broadcaster said its existing radios will continue to provide XM’s programming before and after the merger.

The pledge was made to more than 7.6 million existing XM subscribers plus consumers putatively looking to purchase the service: "As long as you are an XM subscriber, your XM radio will continue to receive XM’s great programming. Following the merger, XM expects that the existing radios will be able to receive a mix of programming from both services."

Pending uncertain approval from federal regulators, a merger would be completed in late 2007.