Why can't the government let Sirius Satellite and XM Satellite Radio figure out what their customers want

This is something that occurred during a Republican administration? Why does the government have to force Sirius Satellite and XM Satellite Radio to offer noncommercial channels as a condition of their merger? Why can't consumers decide what they want? The story is here:

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is recommending approval of the $5 billion merger between the nation's two satellite radio broadcasters in exchange for concessions that include turning over 24 channels to noncommercial and minority programming. . . .