Information AboutWorldspace |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT WORLDSPACE | |
| satellite radio | |
| telecommunications companies | |
| digital radio | |
WorldSpace is a digital Satellite Radio network based in Africa . 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 , "WorldZone" and "Ngoma" are 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. 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 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 – or reading those numbers differently, perhaps just 57 listeners per radio – 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 – 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.” 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. EXTERNAL LINKS
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