Federal regulators formally approved the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators Friday.

"I think it's going to be, in the end, a good thing for consumers and be in the public interest," Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told The Associated Press. "Consumers will enjoy a variety of programming at reduced prices and more diversified programming choices."

Subscribers will not have to buy new radios to receive a mix of programming from both services, according to the companies. But if they want to pursue a special pay-per-channel a la carte option, they will need new sets.

The FCC voted 3-2 to approve the buyout, with the tiebreaker coming Friday night from Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.

Tate had insisted that the companies settle charges that they violated FCC rules before she would approve the deal. The companies agreed this week to pay $19.7 million to the U.S. Treasury for violations related to radio receivers and ground-based signal repeaters.

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