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WorldSpace Launches Low-Cost Satellite Receivers From BPL
Washington - May 16, 2001 WorldSpace Corporation, pioneers in direct satellite to receiver audio and multimedia broadcasting, today launched a new digital audio satellite receiver through a tie-up with Indian electronics manufacturing giant BPL Ltd. The receivers will be sold under the brand name "Celeste" and will be available in retail outlets soon. "I am pleased that our Indian team has finalized this important strategic alliance with electronics major BPL Ltd.," said Noah A Samara, chairman and the chief executive officer, WorldSpace Corporation. "BPL Ltd. brings to the table an extensive knowledge of the electronics industry, strong brand recognition, and a long history of producing durable, high quality electronic goods. Combined with its distribution strength of more than 6,000 outlets across India, BPL makes a terrific partner in helping WorldSpace bring the radio of tomorrow to the listeners of today in India, the Asian region, and the world." BPL has upgraded its manufacturing capacity to produce units capable of meeting demand from both the Indian and international markets. The sets will be manufactured at its plant at Bangalore and will have an ex-factory cost of less than $100.00 USD. The receivers are FM, AM, MW, SW, cassette, and WorldSpace accessible. BPL plans to introduce new variants of the receiver by the year-end. M. Sebastian, Director Business Development, WorldSpace's Indian affiliate, confirmed that the company would assist BPL in marketing these new WorldSpace-enhanced products. WorldSpace will supplement the BPL distribution pipeline through its arrangement with various marketing partnerships including its exclusive tie-up with 57 Food World outlets across the cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Pune. Consumers can experience WorldSpace music and purchase receivers at each of the kiosks set up at these stores. Currently four of the worlds leading consumer electronics manufacturers -- Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic and Sanyo -- have designed and manufactured the special receivers needed to receive the WorldSpace service. These receivers are being sold through BPL retail outlets, as well as through additional distribution channels arranged by WorldSpace. WorldSpace will also be adding new channels to its 25-strong channel portfolio currently available on the AsiaStar satellite. "We plan to increase the number of channels from 25 at present to around 35 by March 2002 targeting additional channels at our audience in India," Mr. Sebastian added. WorldSpace made its debut in India following the launch of its AsiaStar satellite in March 2000. AsiaStar is the second satellite to be employed by WorldSpace. The first satellite, AfriStar, entered commercial service in October of 1999 covering Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean Basin. Each of three beams on the solar-powered AsiaStar satellite covers an enormous territory -- 14 million square kilometers -- encompassing all of the Asia Pacific region. The WorldSpace multilingual service offers a wide variety of programming with digital-quality sound. Listeners in India can choose news from the best of international broadcasters like BBC, CNN or Bloomberg and global music formats and talk channels from WorldSpace. Currently, the Indian broadcasters on the WorldSpace platform include, Radio Mid-Day, BPL Indigo, R M Radio from Asianet group, VRG Spaceradio and All India Radio. The WorldSpace satellite network will consist of three geostationary satellites. The first two satellites, AfriStar and AsiaStar, were successfully launched on October 28, 1998 and March 21, 2000 respectively. The third satellite, AmeriStar, will follow in 2001. Each satellite has three beams with each beam capable of delivering more than 40 crystal clear audio channels and a variety of web content and data directly to portable receivers. Once completed, this unique global service will transmit quality information, education and entertainment programming to a service area that includes 5.2 billion people. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links WorldSpace Corporation SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry
XM Satellite Radio Closes Public Offering
Washington - Feb 04, 2004XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., reports it has closed the underwritten public offering of 20,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, including 7,000,000 shares offered by the Company representing new financing, and 13,000,000 shares offered by certain selling shareholders. In addition, one of the selling shareholders granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional shares to cover over allotments. The public offering price was $26.50 per share. |
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