WorldSpace
WorldSpace is a digital
satellite radio network based in
Washington DC. It covers most of
Asia and
Europe plus all of
Africa by satellite. The company is also licensed to serve
South America and
Central America, but services for those regions have not been launched yet. In the
United States, some WorldSpace channels, such as "The System" and "U-Pop" are carried on
XM Satellite Radio, "Ngoma" is no longer available on XM's satellites. Major content partners include
BBC,
NPR,
CNN,
Virgin Radio,
Fox News and
Bloomberg. Many channels are free of
advertising, and they are known for high quality programs with "near
CD quality" audio.
JVC,
XM Radio,
Hitachi, and
Panasonic are manufacturers selling WorldSpace digital satellite radios. A consumer's radio consists of a satellite receiver plus an
antenna that has to be placed in clear view of the relevant satellite (so-called "line of sight"), oriented in a certain
azimuth and elevation (depending upon the geographic location). Most of the channels are available only by subscription, but a few are free: the BBC's African channels and RFI, for example.
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Coverage. |
There are currently two satellites in use,
AfriStar and
AsiaStar. AfriStar serves Africa, Europe, and the
Middle East, while AsiaStar serves most of South Asia and overlaps in the Mideast. Plans to launch a third satellite, Ameristar, to serve South America were not carried out as the frequencies used by WorldSpace (L band) are commandeered by the
United States Air Force. Each satellite provides three transmission beams that can support 50 channels each, carrying news, music, entertainment, and education, and including a computer multimedia service.
WorldSpace has worked with Thomson Broadcast to introduce a village communications center known as a
Telekiosk to bring communications services to rural areas. The Telekiosks are self-contained and are available as fixed or mobile units.
WorldSpace Foundation started off with the aim of improving literacy in Africa, and is providing content through satellite to smaller community radio stations in the continent. WorldSpace Foundation has changed its name to
First Voice International.
On August 4, 2005 WorldSpace offered its IPO on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. It closed at the end of the first day of trading at $22.36 a share.
Just four days later,
The Wall Street Journal published "WorldSpace Risk: Disputed Terror Ties Follow Key Backers." The reference alludes to WorldSpace Corporation's financial underwriters among the
Saudi royal family, which reportedly has invested more than $2.5 billion in the start-up stages alone. The following day, August 9, online investment news site
The Motley Fool ran the first of several articles ("Terrorist In Your Portfolio?") critical of WorldSpace's corporate practices and out-of-this-world claims. In "A Stellar Way to Lose Money," after looking at the dismal performance after five years to establish an audience for AsiaStar broadcasting in
India, the article concludes:
"If you enjoy companies that pay management at a rate of 2.5 times your company's entire revenue, burn cash like crazy, but have a story that sounds good until you listen closely, this may be the stock for you. Knock yourself out. If you're looking for a good investment, look elsewhere." Just four months after its IPO, establishing a share value of $22.36, WorldSpace was trading at $12.28; after seven months, $11.62 (
NASDAQ:
WRSP).
WorldSpace Corporation's first satellite, AfriStar, fares far better with African audiences, due in large part to the effectiveness of WorldSpace Foundation in promoting the "information empowerment" potential of satellite radio broadcasting in
developing nations. Of AfriStar's "80+" channels, WorldSpace dedicates four to programming on fundamental themes of
development, broadcast with "near FM quality" in
colonial languages to rural emerging cultures across the continent (the African continent has 1,350 indigenous languages). The
Digital Divide Network reports, "Currently, the ALC (Africa Learning Channel) has an estimated audience of 1.2 million based on reports from partners in 21 African countries in which close to 1000 receivers have been placed." At 1,200 listeners per radio unit â€" or reading those numbers differently, perhaps just 57 listeners per radio â€" the Foundation's efforts are making terrific inroads into not just "improving literacy in Africa," but also health, education and peace.
Credit for the success of WorldSpace Foundation's efforts lies squarely with its oft-called "visionary" founder and corporate CEO,
Noah Samara. Renowned as a man of profound conviction and humility, Mr. Samara throughout the 1990s was ever on-the-wing promoting his bold double-pronged concept for global broadcasting. "In
Africa, information is scarce. So our project makes great business sense. I can make a lot of money and do a lot of good," he told
Reuters in October, 1998 â€" a theme echoed in virtually all Mr. Samara's many media encounters in the Corporation's start-up era.
WorldSpace's strategies for receiver distribution include enlisting the assistance of governments, UN agencies,
non-governmental organizations and private donors. WorldSpace's development
partners are the bedrock of the Corporation's efforts to build a commercial audience and "information affluence" in Africa. An early and ardent promoter for WorldSpace in development circles, the UN
Economic Commission for Africa invited the WorldSpace chief executive to address the
Africa Development Forum (ADF), in October 1999. Tackling the theme of "The Challenge to Africa of
Globalization in the
Information Age," the ECA reported Mr. Samara's address alongside the remarks of top UN officials, writing "Mr. Samara explained that it was in part the desire to stem
HIV/AIDS that motivated him to start WorldSpace."
Recently, WorldSpace named noted Indian composer A.R.Rahman as its brand ambassador in India where 90% of its customers are located, and unveiled an integrated marketing communication campaign across print and visual media featuring an exclusive signature tune composed by Mr. Rahman.
For further reference on WorldSpace Foundation's successes read the "award winning" article, The Bankilare Project, by WorldSpace vice-president Rose Tchwenko, at the
First Voice International website.
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WorldSpace Inc*
First Voice International (formerly WorldSpace Foundation)*
Orbitcast.com - All Things Satellite Radio*
Mr. Samara's address to the Africa Development Forum*
The Motley Fool*
Wired News
