The National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO), a coalition of more than 200 women’s groups collectively representing 11 million-plus American women, came out in favor of the proposed merger between Sirius and XM. The national coalition last week issued a statement urging the Federal Communications Commission to approve the merger to create “a more affordable satellite radio market.”

Said Susan Scanlan, NCWO chair, “Satellite radio is a mere 3.4 percent of the overall radio market - a market dominated by men. A more affordable and more diverse satellite radio market would be valuable not only to our members, but also to women across the United States.”

One reason behind the group’s support for the merger is that the NCWO sees satellite radio as a home to a number of influential women. With figures like Judith Warner, Candace Bushnell, Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey, satellite radio offers women a unique perspective absent on terrestrial radio and previously only accessible on TV, the group said.

“Expanding the audience and diversity of satellite radio programming would give women a better opportunity to access new sources of entertainment and enlightenment,” Scanlan said. “Diversity in programming is a critical component of this merger, and should not be overlooked by members of the FCC as they begin their review process.”