Related Party Transactions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

(9) Related Party Transactions

          We had the following related party transaction balances at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

	Related party				Related party				Related party				Related party				Related party
	current assets				long-term assets				current liabilities				long-term liabilities				long-term debt
	June 30,		December 31,		June 30,		December 31,		June 30,		December 31,		June 30,		December 31,		June 30,		December 31,
	2011*		2010		2011*		2010		2011*		2010		2011*		2010		2011*		2010
Liberty Media	$	—	$	—	$	1,385	$	1,571	$	9,723	$	9,765	$	—	$	—	$	327,296	$	325,907
Sirius XM Canada		6,264		—		69,938		—		6,079		—		23,129		—		—		—
SIRIUS Canada		—		5,613		—		—		—		1,805		—		—		—		—
XM Canada		—		1,106		—		31,904		—		4,275		—		24,517		—		—
Total	$	6,264	$	6,719	$	71,323	$	33,475	$	15,802	$	15,845	$	23,129	$	24,517	$	327,296	$	325,907

* SIRIUS Canada and XM Canada combined in June 2011. The combined entity now operates as Sirius XM Canada.

     Liberty Media

          In February 2009, we entered into an Investment Agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) with an affiliate of Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Radio, LLC (collectively, “Liberty Media”). Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, in March 2009 we issued to Liberty Radio, LLC 12,500,000 shares of our Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B-1 (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $0.001 per share in partial consideration for certain loan investments. Liberty Media has representatives on our board of directors.

          The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 2,586,976,000 shares of common stock. Liberty Media has agreed not to acquire more than 49.9% of our outstanding common stock prior to March 2012, except that Liberty Media may acquire more than 49.9% of our outstanding common stock at any time pursuant to any cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are not beneficially owned by Liberty Media or its affiliates at a price per share greater than the closing price of the common stock on the trading day preceding the earlier of the public announcement or commencement of such tender offer. The Investment Agreement also provides for certain other standstill provisions ending in March 2012.

          Liberty Media has advised us that as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, it owned the following amounts of our debt securities:

	June 30,		December 31,
	2011		2010
8.75% Senior Notes due 2015	$	150,000	$	150,000
9.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2015		50,000		50,000
13% Senior Notes due 2013		76,000		76,000
7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014		11,000		11,000
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018		50,000		50,000
Total principal debt		337,000		337,000
Less: discounts		9,704		11,093
Total carrying value debt	$	327,296	$	325,907

          As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we recorded $9,723 and $9,765, respectively, related to accrued interest with Liberty Media to Related party current liabilities. We recognized Interest expense associated with debt held by Liberty Media of $8,851 and $10,902 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $17,784 and $19,964 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

     Sirius XM Canada

          In June 2011, Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (“CSR”), the parent company of XM Canada, and SIRIUS Canada completed a transaction to combine their operations (“the Canada Merger”). As a result of the Canada merger, SIRIUS Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSR. The combined company will operate as Sirius XM Canada. In connection with the transaction, we received:

• approximately 46,700,000 Class A shares of CSR, representing a 38.0% equity interest and a 25.0% voting interest;

• $53,781 in cash as repayment of the XM Canada credit facility ($38,815) and consideration for our preferred stock in SIRIUS Canada ($10,117 as a return of capital and $4,849 in dividends); and

• approximately $4,100 in non-interest bearing notes of CSR, which primarily have a two year term.

          Our interest in Sirius XM Canada will be accounted for under the equity method. The transaction was accounted for as a reverse acquisition whereby SIRIUS Canada was deemed to be the acquirer of CSR. As a result of the transaction, we recognized an $83,718 gain in Interest and investment income during the three months ended June 30, 2011.

          The excess of the cost of our ownership interest in the equity of Sirius XM Canada over our share of the net assets is recognized as goodwill and intangible assets and is included in the carrying amount of our investment. Equity method goodwill is not amortized. We will periodically evaluate this investment to determine if there has been an other than temporary decline below carrying value. Equity method intangible assets are amortized over their respective useful lives, which is recorded in Interest and investment income. As of June 30, 2011, our investment balance in Sirius XM Canada was approximately $54,800, $30,000 of which represents equity method goodwill and intangible assets, and was recorded in Related party long-term assets. Sirius XM Canada is still evaluating the fair value allocation between goodwill and intangible assets; the final purchase price allocation is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.

          We provide Sirius XM Canada with chipsets and other services and we are reimbursed for these costs. As of June 30, 2011, amounts due for these costs totaled $6,264 and is reported as Related party current assets.

          As of June 30, 2011, amounts due from Sirius XM Canada also included $7,576 attributable to deferred programming costs and accrued interest, all of which is reported as Related party long-term assets.

          We hold an investment in Cdn$4,000 face value of 8% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures issued by XM Canada and assumed by Sirius XM Canada, for which the embedded conversion feature is bifurcated from the host contract. The host contract is accounted for at fair value as an available-for-sale security with changes in fair value recorded to Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. The embedded conversion feature is accounted for at fair value as a derivative with changes in fair value recorded in earnings as Interest and investment income (loss). As of June 30, 2011, the carrying values of the host contract and embedded derivative related to our investment in the debentures was $3,537 and $4, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, the carrying values of the host contract and embedded derivative related to our investment in the debentures was $3,302 and $11, respectively. The carrying values of the host contract and embedded derivative are recorded in Related party long-term assets.

          Our share of net earnings or losses of Sirius XM Canada will be recorded to Interest and investment income (loss) in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations on a one month lag.

     SIRIUS Canada

          We had an equity interest of 49.9% in SIRIUS Canada until June 21, 2011 when the transaction between XM Canada and SIRIUS Canada closed. Our investment balance was zero as of December 31, 2010 as our investment balance was absorbed by our share of net losses generated by SIRIUS Canada.

          In 2005, we entered into a license and services agreement with SIRIUS Canada. Pursuant to such agreement, we are reimbursed for certain costs incurred to provide SIRIUS Canada service, including certain costs incurred for the production and distribution of radios, as well as information technology support costs. In consideration for the rights granted pursuant to this license and services agreement, we have the right to receive a royalty equal to a percentage of SIRIUS Canada’s gross revenues based on subscriber levels (ranging between 5% to 15%) and the number of Canadian-specific channels made available to SIRIUS Canada.

          We recorded the following revenue from SIRIUS Canada. Royalty income is included in other revenue and dividend income is included in Interest and investment income (loss) in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations:

	For the Three Months				For the Six Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
	2011*		2010		2011*		2010
Royalty income	$	5,475	$	1,765	$	9,945	$	3,440
Dividend income		222		231		460		457
Total revenue from SIRIUS Canada	$	5,697	$	1,996	$	10,405	$	3,897

* SIRIUS Canada combined with XM Canada in June 2011.

          Receivables from royalty and dividend income were utilized to absorb a portion of our share of net losses generated by SIRIUS Canada during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. Total costs that have been or will be reimbursed by SIRIUS Canada for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $2,763 and $2,393, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $5,253 and $4,835, respectively.

          Our share of net earnings or losses of SIRIUS Canada is recorded to Interest and investment income (loss) in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations on a one month lag. Our share of SIRIUS Canada’s net loss was $5,259 and $1,316 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $9,717 and $3,218 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The payments received from SIRIUS Canada in excess of carrying value was $3,868 and $3,710 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $6,748 and $3,710 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

     XM Canada

          We had an equity interest of 21.5% in XM Canada until June 21, 2011 when transaction between XM Canada and SIRIUS Canada closed. Our investment balance was zero as of December 31, 2010 as our investment balance was absorbed by our share of net losses generated by XM Canada.

          In 2005, XM entered into agreements to provide XM Canada with the right to offer XM satellite radio service in Canada. The agreements have an initial ten year term and XM Canada has the unilateral option to extend the agreements for an additional five year term. We receive a 15% royalty for all subscriber fees earned by XM Canada each month for its basic service and an activation fee for each gross activation of an XM Canada subscriber on XM’s system. Sirius XM Canada is obligated to pay us a total of $70,300 for the rights to broadcast and market National Hockey League (“NHL”) games for a ten year term. We recognize these payments on a gross basis as a principal obligor pursuant to the provisions of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. The estimated fair value of deferred revenue from XM Canada as of the Merger date was approximately $34,000, which is amortized on a straight-line basis through 2020, the end of the expected term of the agreements. As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the carrying value of deferred revenue related to this agreement was $27,405 and $28,792, respectively.

          The Cdn$45,000 standby credit facility we extended to XM Canada was paid and terminated as a result of the Canada Merger. We received $38,815 in cash upon payment of the standby credit facility. As a result of the repayment of the credit facility and completion of the Canada Merger, we released a $15,649 valuation allowance related to the absorption of our share of the net loss from our investment in XM Canada as of June 21, 2011.

          As of December 31, 2010, amounts due from XM Canada also included $7,201 attributable to deferred programming costs and accrued interest, all of which is reported as Related party long-term assets.

          We recorded the following revenue from XM Canada as Other revenue in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations:

	For the Three Months				For the Six Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
	2011*		2010		2011*		2010
Amortization of XM Canada deferred income	$	694	$	694	$	1,388	$	1,388
Subscriber and activation fee royalties		2,860		2,658		5,483		5,005
Licensing fee revenue		1,500		750		3,000		2,250
Advertising reimbursements		416		333		833		667
Total revenue from XM Canada	$	5,470	$	4,435	$	10,704	$	9,310

* XM Canada combined with SIRIUS Canada in June 2011.

          Our share of net earnings or losses of XM Canada is recorded to Interest and investment income (loss) in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations on a one month lag. Our share of XM Canada’s net loss was $3,992 and $3,339 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $6,045 and $6,490 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

     General Motors and American Honda

          We have a long-term distribution agreement with General Motors Company (“GM”). GM had a representative on our board of directors and was considered a related party through May 27, 2010. During the term of the agreement, GM has agreed to distribute the XM service. We subsidize a portion of the cost of satellite radios and make incentive payments to GM when the owners of GM vehicles with factory- or dealer- installed satellite radios become self-paying subscribers. We also share with GM a percentage of the subscriber revenue attributable to GM vehicles with factory- or dealer- installed satellite radios. As part of the agreement, GM provides certain call-center related services directly to subscribers who are also GM customers for which we reimburse GM.

          We make bandwidth available to OnStar LLC for audio and data transmissions to owners of enabled GM vehicles, regardless of whether the owner is a subscriber. OnStar’s use of our bandwidth must be in compliance with applicable laws, must not compete or adversely interfere with our business, and must meet our quality standards. We also granted to OnStar a certain amount of time to use our studios on an annual basis and agreed to provide certain audio content for distribution on OnStar’s services.

          We have a long-term distribution agreement with American Honda. American Honda had a representative on our board of directors and was considered a related party through May 27, 2010. We have an agreement to make a certain amount of our bandwidth available to American Honda. American Honda’s use of our bandwidth must be in compliance with applicable laws, must not compete or adversely interfere with our business, and must meet our quality standards. This agreement remains in effect so long as American Honda holds a certain amount of its investment in us. We make incentive payments to American Honda for each purchaser of a Honda or Acura vehicle that becomes a self-paying subscriber and we share with American Honda a portion of the subscriber revenue attributable to Honda and Acura vehicles with installed satellite radios.

          We recorded the following total related party revenue from GM and American Honda, primarily consisting of subscriber revenue, in connection with the agreements above:

	For the Three Months		For the Six Months
	Ended June 30,		Ended June 30,
	2010*		2010*
GM	$	4,995	$	12,759
American Honda		2,103		4,990
Total	$	7,098	$	17,749

* GM and American Honda were considered related parties through May 27, 2010.

          We have incurred the following related party expenses with GM and American Honda:

	For the Three Months Ended June 30,				For the Six Months Ended June 30,
	2010*				2010*
			American				American
	GM		Honda		GM		Honda
Sales and marketing	$	5,575	$	—	$	13,374	$	—
Revenue share and royalties		6,756		1,337		15,823		3,167
Subscriber acquisition costs		7,027		742		17,514		1,969
Customer service and billing		50		—		125		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		—		—		1,421		—
Total	$	19,408	$	2,079	$	48,257	$	5,136

* GM and American Honda were considered related parties through May 27, 2010.