NATIONAL

Satellite radio merger could lower prices

Satellite radio customers will get the option to pay a lower price for just the channels they want if the industry's two big providers are allowed to merge, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said Wednesday in a securities filing of its bid to buy XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.

The statement comes as Sirius with XM seek to assuage regulatory concerns that their deal, to be paid for with stock valued at $4.7 billion when it was announced Feb. 19, would create a monopoly that would harm consumers.

APPLE SHIPS TV After a slight delay, Apple Inc. said Wednesday it is now shipping Apple TV, a set-top box that can wirelessly stream or download iTunes videos, podcasts and music from a computer to a television.

The slim, square gadget was previously promised to arrive by the end of February. Apple would not explain the uncharacteristic delay and said only that the launch took a few weeks longer than expected.

WELLS FARGO BUYBACK Wells Fargo & Co., whose stock has languished amid investor concern about rising defaults at U.S. mortgage lenders, may buy back up to 2.2 percent of its shares.

The company's board authorized a buyback of 75 million shares, which will be used to pay for benefits, conversion of convertible securities, acquisitions and other corporate purposes. The lender, the biggest bank on the West Coast, has about 3.4 billion shares outstanding.

LOCAL

MicroSat awarded NASA contract

NASA awarded Jefferson County-based MicroSat Systems Inc. a contract to build a satellite for the agency.

NASA said the deal is worth from $50,000 to $1.5 billion, depending on how many satellites the agency ultimately orders. NASA didn't provide details about the satellite. It was ordered under a program intended to provide "extremely fast procurement of spacecraft" for future missions.

MINE INSPECTORS The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday said it is looking to hire additional coal mine inspectors in Craig, Delta and Denver. For information and to apply, go to msha.gov.

UQM GETS CONTRACT Frederick-based UQM Technologies on Wednesday announced it has been awarded an additional $1 million contract to supplement an existing Air Force contract to convert a conventional half-ton pickup truck to all-electric operation.

XCEL WEB SITE Xcel Energy has uploaded on its Web site, at xcel-energy.com, eight educational videos on how to use air conditioners more efficiently, or install new windows in a home, to save on energy costs.

Xcel customers also can get free copies of "60 Simple Ways," a brochure that gives energy-saving tips, by calling the company's toll-free customer service number at 1-800-895-4999. Tips on how customers can save energy and reduce their heating and cooling bills can be viewed online.

QWEST RANKS FIRST Qwest Communication's Internet- based phone service for business ranked first in customer satisfaction and market presence, according to a report by research firm Forrester.

The Denver-based telco offers voice over Internet protocol services in more than 1,000 cities nationwide and was the first major telecom company to offer the service.

DEADLINE EXTENDED Whole Foods Markets Inc. and Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc. have extended the expiration date of their planned acquisition agreement from March 27 to April 24, Whole Foods said in an SEC filing.

Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission requested more details from both companies on the $700 million deal, which calls for the larger Austin, Texas-based chain to acquire Wild Oats for $18.50 a share. The timing of that request pushed back the earliest possible closing date for the sale.

ECONOMY

Crude oil prices rise as gas inventories fall

Crude oil prices edged higher Wednesday after the U.S. government said gasoline inventories dropped for the sixth straight week, keeping worries alive that supplies will be tight going into the peak driving season.

Gasoline prices slipped, though, as the government report showed that U.S. refineries ramped up production last week and that crude imports rose - indicating that it's possible for supplies to catch up before summer demand is in full swing.

Light, sweet crude for May delivery gained 36 cents to settle at $59.61 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, even though U.S. crude inventories rose by 4 million barrels.

Though crude prices have been fairly stable in recent months, gasoline prices have been surging amid low inventories and refinery outages.

At the retail level, U.S. gasoline pump prices have risen about 19 percent over the past two months.

"We've gone awfully far awfully fast, and it does look like refineries are coming back," said Peter Beutel of Cameron Hanover.

"I don't think that strength in gasoline (prices) is over, but the reasons for it are showing a glimmer of hope that they're dissipating."

THIS JUST IN...

• Comcast named Jim Erickson vice president of business services for the west division headquartered in Denver.

• JM Family Enterprises Inc., a diversified automotive corporation, has implemented Denver-based Cadre Technologies' Cadence Mobile Logistics speech-enabled warehouse management software.

• Golden-based GTC Nutrition will provide Horizon Organic with its Nutraflora prebiotic fiber for Horizon's fruit- on-the-bottom yogurt. The fiber is designed to help absorb more of the calcium in the yogurt.

• Westminster-based Allos Therapeutics Inc. appointed Pablo J. Cagnoni as senior vice president, chief medical officer.

• LiYing Li, chairwoman and professor of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Metropolitan State College, has been appointed by Mayor John Hickenlooper to the Denver Community Corrections Board.

• Denver-based Spicy Pickle has opened a restaurant at Southwest Plaza in Littleton.

• Metrolist Inc., the real estate multiple listing service serving the Denver area, has named Rory Bonnet as training lead.

• U S Bank has opened full-service branches inside Safeway stores at 707 South Boulder Road in Louisville and at 22675 E. Aurora Parkway in Aurora.

• Boulder-based Umbria Inc., a market intelligence company that specializes in blog research and consumer-generated media for market insight, has added Christer Samuelsson to its science team.

• Stonebridge Cos. has opened a Courtyard by Marriott, Denver Cherry Creek, at 1475 S. Colorado Blvd.

• Denver-based PG Exhibits, a provider of three-dimensional exhibit design and logistics management, has added Greg Miller as senior account executive.

• Gov. Bill Ritter will present a "New Energy Economy" at AutoVenture 2007, the fourth annual South Metro Denver Chamber luncheon, taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 29 at the Colorado Convention Center during the Denver International Auto Show. For more information, see bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.

Rocky staff and wire reports

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