US FCC chief says hurdle high for XM-Sirius deal

WASHINGTON Feb 19 (Reuters) - U.S. satellite radio providers Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI.O) and XM Satellite Radio XMSR.O would have a high hurdle to overcome to win Federal Communications Commission approval, the agency's chairman Kevin Martin said on Monday.

"The hurdle here, however, would be high as the commission originally prohibited one company from holding the only two satellite radio licenses," Martin said in a statement.

The satellite radio licenses awarded a decade ago prevented one company from owning them, however Martin said last month that the limitation was open to change if requested.

"The companies would need to demonstrate that consumers would clearly be better off with both more choice and affordable prices," Martin said.