Sirius XM (SIRI) shares are down sharply again this morning, one day after the company provided updated guidance that disappointed the Street.

The company’s new guidance, in case you missed it:

Subscribers: 19.5 million at year-end 2008, 21.5 million at year-end 2009.
Revenue: $2.4 billion in 2008, $2.7 billion in 2009.
Adjusted EBITDA: Loss of $350 million 2008, with positive $300 million in 2009.
Synergies from the merger with XM: $425 million in 2009.

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You know what would be cool? If you could stream Sirius (SIRI) or XM satellite radio
on your Apple (AAPL) iPhone.

As it happens, Citigroup’s Tony Wible this morning writes in a research note that there are “reports” of a new Internet streaming application that would allow SIRI users to listen on portable devices. Wible says the idea highlights that SIRI’s value “lies in its content and not its hardware or infrastructure.”

Wible notes that as the seller of iPods, Apple is often seen as a competitor to satellite radio. But he says the new streaming application suggests the two companies may complement each other.

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The Wall Street Journal whipped up a speculative frenzy yesterday with a story that said Dish Network (DISH) CEO Charlie Ergun was thinking about making a new attempt to merge his company with DirecTV (DTV), potentially creating a monopoly in satellite television services.

This idea has cropped up repeatedly in the last year, on the theory that government approval for the merger of Sirius (SIRI) with XM could signal a new willingness on the part of regulators to re-consider their rejection of a DISH/DTV merger in 2002.

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Sirius (SIRI) and XM (XMSR) this morning completed their merger, at long last. Terms of the deal called for XM holders to get 4.6 SIRI shares for each share of XMSR.

But are investors are celebrating? No, they are not. Instead, they are in a selling frenzy. SIRI shares, in fact, are down 32 cents, or 17 percent, to $1.56, and have now now dropped 42 percent in the last four trading days.

Sirius this morning repeated its previous forecast that the company expects to generate $400 million in synergies in 2009. It expects to post adjusted EBITDA of more than $300 million in 2009, and to reach positive free cash flow–before satellite expenditures–for the full year in 2009.

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As you know by now, the FCC on Friday at long last approved the pending merger of XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI). That should clear the way for the completion of the merger.

There were some other steps related to closing the merger unveiled this morning. XM announced an offering of $550 million of exchangeable senior subordinated notes due 2014; the notes will be exchangeable for Sirius shares. The offering is one in a series of transactions to refinance some XM debt in connection with the pending merger.

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In what could be one of the final steps before the Federal Communications Commission approves their pending merger, XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) announced this morning that they are in talks with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to settle outstanding “enforcement matters.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that Republican FCC member Deborah Taylor Tate has agreed to vote to approve the deal after winning several concessions from the companies involving enforcement issues. She would break a deadlock among the commissioners, who would then have voted to approve the deal by a 3-2 margin. According to the Journal, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin disclosed the news this morning. “I think it’s fair to say an agreement in principle has been reached,” he said. “We’re still trying to work out the language.”

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Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein has voted to oppose the proposed merger of XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI), leaving the current tally tied at 2-2, with only Deborah Taylor Tate yet to decide. If she votes yes, the deal goes through. If she votes no, the deal dies.

According to Bloomberg, Adelstein said in a statement that the combination would create “a monopoly with window dressing.” Adelstein and Michael Copps, both Democrats, have voted no. Chairman Kevin Martin and Robert McDowell, both Republicans, have voted yes. That leaves the decision up to Tate–a Republican.

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The great satellite radio merger inches ever closer.

This morning, XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) announced a $400-million offering of senior notes, which it said is “part of a series of transactions to refinance certain debt,” in connection with its pending merger with Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI). The company said the deal was structured in a way that would allow it to be unwound if the merger is not completed. The deal still awaits final approval from the FCC.

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Howard Stern hit the jackpot when he moved to satellite radio more than three years ago. He’s pocketing $80 million a year and has received Sirius Satellite Radio stock worth roughly $200 million for meeting subscriber growth targets spelled out in his five-year contract. But the shock jock may be in for a shock of his own when his deal expires in 2010. Heavy spending by Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, its chief rival and potential merger partner, on stars like Stern have come at a hefty price: While millions of radio enthusiasts have signed up in recent years, both Sirius and XM are deeply in debt, cash-strapped and suffering an ominous sales slowdown.

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Merrill Lynch’s Glen Campbell this morning raised his rating on Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) to Buy from Hold, while slightly trimming his price target to $2.70 from $2.80. Campbell says he expects “imminent approval” from the FCC for its pending merger with XM Satellite Radio (XMSR). Campbell says the upgrade reflects the recent decline in the stock and the upbeat post-merger guidance the company provided yesterday. The company sees $400 million in merger synergies, positive free cash flow before satellite cap ex and $300 million in EBITDA before stock compensation.

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Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) provided 2009 financial guidance for the company that assumes the company completes its pending merger with XM Sirius Radio (XMSR).

Sirius said total synergies, net of costs, in 2009 should be about $400 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the company is expected to be about $300 million. The combined company is expected to be free cash-flow positive before satellite cap ex for the full year 2009.

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