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Tag: Worldspace

  • Radio City dominates inaugural edition of 2006 Promax India Radio Awards

    Radio City dominates inaugural edition of 2006 Promax India Radio Awards

    MUMBAI: The first edition of the 2006 Promax India Radio Awards, which reward creative brilliance in radio, unfolded the Indian talent in radio marketing and promotion.

    Radio City stole the limelight by bagging seven awards which included three gold and four silver awards. The radio station pocketed the gold awards for best promotional item for a radio station or programme (Musical-e-Azam), best original music composition for a promo (Namma Naadu Karunaadu) and best promotional campaign by a radio station or programme (Musical-e-Azam).

    The brand took home silver awards for best original music composition for a promo (RC song), best promotional item for a radio station or programme (Musical-e-Azam), best interactive promotion for a radio station (city bajao car le jao) and best use of outdoor advertising (Asha Bhosale live on Musical-e-Azam).

    The newly re-launched Radio One, which was formerly called as Go FM, took home two gold for best print piece for a radio station or programme (Legends) and best interactive promotion for a radio station (The Go FM website). The station picked up one silver award for best promotional campaign by a radio station or programme (Jaggu’s Mission 10k).

    Radio Mirchi pocketed a silver award for best radio promo in-house; music station/programme (Mirchi Delhi Bollywood under arrest) and gold for best use of library music for a promo (Mirchi Delhi cricket India England ’06 series promos).

    Red FM won the gold for best radio promo in-house; music station/programme (Prayas-Breaking News) and silver for best use of library music for a promo (Anda Mix).

    O&M bagged gold for the best use of outdoor advertising for its Worldspace campaign Unwind. The agency also won the best print piece silver for a radio station / programme for its work Genre Based for Worldspace.

    The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Living Legend Award, which has been presented to the eminent radio personality Ameen Sayani. The living legend award has been jointly constituted by the Ficci and the India Radio Forum.

    The awards statuette presented to the award recipients renders a human figure reaching skyward in triumph. The award jury included Abraham Thomas (Red FM), Arun Raman (Media Futures), G Sharath Chandra (Radio Mirchi), Gaurav Narula (Deep Emotion Music), Jaikishin Chhaproo (Hindustan Lever), Kahlid Sayed (IMG), Kartik Mani (Madison Communications), Nirupam Sonu (Adlabs), Vikas Varma (Radio City) and Vishnu Ahtreya (Radio One).

  • Worldspace associates with BBC & TWI for Soccer World Cup programming

    Worldspace associates with BBC & TWI for Soccer World Cup programming

    MUMBAI: Worldspace Satellite Radio has announced that subscribers in India can get the inside track on the world’s most popular sporting event as its channel Play! kicks off its coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2006.

    Play! is partnering with BBC and Trans World International to bring subscribers an exclusive mix of programming that captures the action, news, views and profiles from the World Cup.

    India’s top footballer, Baichung Bhutia, joins the Worldspace team as they decode the strategies, talk you through the day’s highlights from Germany, and rope you into the game with exciting contests and interactive programming initiatives, states an official release. Star profiles, background trivia on the stadiums, coaches and teams, daily previews, comments from fans, and expert analysis will be part of the programme offering.

    Playtime, the morning programming session on Play!, will air an hour and a half of football programming, sharing the previous day’s results, commentary bytes and vox-pops from fans in Germany as well as listeners from around the world. Playtime will also host a special call-in segment with Bhutia between 11:30 am and noon every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday during the World Cup, where subscribers will get to discuss the previous day’s goals, blunders and strategies, the release adds.

    Playground, the afternoon session, kicks off at noon with daily TWI updates and a weekly chat with Bhutia every Friday afternoon. Matthew Kenyon, Worldspace’s lead reporter at the FIFA World Cup, reports live from Germany, wrapping up the show with his predictions for the day’s games.

    Play! Quiz takes on a World Cup theme the entire month. Subscribers get a chance to win exclusive merchandise by answering football trivia on players, teams, coaches, venues and more.

  • Worldspace in deal with Samacom for satellite uplink for Dubai

    Worldspace in deal with Samacom for satellite uplink for Dubai

    MUMBAI: Worldspace Satellite Radio has signed an agreement with Sama Communications Company Limited (Samacom) to commission a new satellite uplink facility in Dubai. Worldspace expects the new facility to enhance its satellite radio content delivery and enable live programming from Dubai.

    Dubai was selected to house the facility based on its central geographic location within the Worldspace service area and the fact it is emerging as a business and technology hub in this region. The station will be positioned to uplink channels to both of Worldspace’s satellites, AsiaStarT and AfriStarT, simultaneously from a single point resulting in streamlined operations and a substantial savings in backhaul and uplink infrastructure, states an official release.

    “Samacom is an ideal partner and Dubai is an ideal location for Worldspace’s satellite uplink facility,” says Worldspace COO Alexander P. Brown. “The visibility from this geography provides nearly global coverage and brings Worldspace’s uplink closer to important content providers and the region’s production facilities. This positions us to deliver live programming and enhance the Worldspace experience for our subscribers in the region.”

    Samacom is a vertically integrated satellite services provider, established in 2001 and acquired by Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company (du) in January 2006. Samacom owns and operates its own communications infrastructure and will also establish, operate, and maintain the Worldspace uplink facility. The uplink station will be part of Samacom’s existing infrastructure in Dubai, adds the release.

    “The launch of Worldspace service in Dubai is exciting for our region,” says Samacom EVP Yatinder Mahajan. “Samacom is pleased that our innovative technology and services will play an integral part in extending the Worldspace experience to subscribers in Dubai and around the globe.”

  • I&B ministry helpless on high music royalty

    I&B ministry helpless on high music royalty

    NEW DELHI: The government has literally washed its hands off radio FM players’ plea on high music royalty fee.

    In the absence of a single collection agency for music rights fee from FM radio stations, mangers of the 287-odd new FM frequencies had asked the government to intervene and help form a single company for music rights collection as this vexed issue was threatening to throw many a business model off gear.

    An official of the information and broadcasting ministry said, “The issue relates to IPR, which is in the domain of the human resources development (HRD) ministry. We cannot intervene on every aspects of a business.”

    The official added that the concerns of the private radio FM operators have been conveyed to the HRD ministry and now it’s up to it to do address the issue.

    Explaining further the I&B ministry’s helplessness in this regard, the official said, “Our business is to frame a regulatory framework. We cannot really help if other aspects of the business (in this case FM radio) fall within the jurisdiction of other government agencies.”

    Why is the music rights issue snowballing into a major controversy? First, multiplicity of organizations that claim to be protecting the rights of performing artistes and their works and second, the absence of a regulator, which could go into such matters in details quickly to come out with feasible solutions.

    For the FM radio companies, the music rights fee could well range between Rs 1.2- Rs. 1.5 billion this year and could touch Rs 7 billion by 2010 as operations expand and new programming lineups are rolled out.

    The new FM operators have also urged the I&B ministry to help rationalise the music right rates for A+, A, B, C and D category cities on the lines of target population as opposed to the fixed fee regime currently practiced.

    According to the Association of Radio Operators of India (AROI), since the levels of operations would differ from city to city, paying a flat fee for music rights for smaller players would not make business sense.

    According to AROI convenor Rajiv Misra, if a FM operator with a licence in Hissar (population approximately 150,000) in Haryana state, for example, pays Rs. 5 million as music royalty for basically film and Indipop songs, the “overheads would increase dramatically.”

    AROI had suggested in a petition to the I&B ministry that music fees should be graded on the lines the cities had been graded for licences, depending on socio-economic factors.

    Presently, to access music, fees have to be paid to the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) for sound recordings, Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) for musical works and T-Series, a music company that has a huge library of film and devotional music.

    Because most FM radio stations depend heavily on film music, T Series, which began as a small company manufacturing cover versions of popular Hindi film songs, commands the leading market share of over 50 per cent.

    The I&B ministry official while expressing helplessness in intervening in such issues, said these are commercial deals that the industry players should try to sort it out themselves instead of approaching the government.

    Meanwhile, the ministry also made light of AROI’s protest against satellite radio operator WorldSpace seeking clearance for technology that would help it to broadcast terrestrially.

    Pointing out that the government is looking into the issue of WorldSpace, the ministry official said, “Private FM radio operators had existed earlier also and had competed well against satellite radio service. Why is this hue and cry now suddenly when the government hasn’t given any clearance to WorldSpace (to broadcast in the terrestrial mode)?”

  • WorldSpace names Gregory B. Armstrong and Alexander P. ‘Sandy’ Brown as Co-COO

    WorldSpace names Gregory B. Armstrong and Alexander P. ‘Sandy’ Brown as Co-COO

    MUMBAI: The satellite-based digital radio services, WorldSapce Satellite Radio has announced that Gregory B. Armstrong and Alexander P. ‘Sandy’ Brown have been appointed co-chief operating officers for the company.

    Armstrong and Brown will be dividing the company’s six core operational functions along the lines of their professional expertise. Armstrong will oversee WorldSpace ‘s sales, customer care, technology and distribution functions, while Brown will guide the company’s marketing and content departments, and will drive market development activities in Europe, China and other new markets.

    WorldSpace chairman and CEO Noah Samara said, “The appointment of Greg and Sandy represents an important next step in that process. Sharing operational responsibility between two co-COOs will contribute to the management capacity to provide deep focus across our complex business. With two new senior leaders, I believe WorldSpace can achieve the level of detailed focus required to step up our implementation, while maintaining the rapid pace required for execution of our strategy.”

    In June, Armstrong will join WorldSpace following his tenure as Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd executive VP and COO.

    Brown will join WorldSpace early next week. Previously, he has held international leadership roles with a variety of major content companies in the media industry, most recently serving as president and CEO of CNBC Asia Pacific.

    At ESPN, he launched the company’s first operations in Asia and grew the business to over 50 million subscribers with a large presence in India and China. Brown was instrumental in securing key content rights for ESPN (including cricket in India) as well as operating ESPN’s joint venture with NewsCorp’s StarTV.

    Prior to his Asia-focused roles at ESPN and CNBC, Brown oversaw all international television sales at the National Basketball Association (NBA) International Ltd.

    Armstrong and Brown will take over the duties previously held by Andy Ras-Work who will provide transition support to the incoming executives before pursuing other interests.

    Noah Samara further said, “We appreciate Andy’s contribution to our development over the past four years and his willingness to aid in an efficient transfer of responsibility. We collectively wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.”

  • Worldspace Q12006 revenues up 35% to $3.5 million

    Worldspace Q12006 revenues up 35% to $3.5 million

    MUMBAI: For the first quarter of 2006, satellite radio player Worldspace reported revenues of approximately $3.5 million, representing a 35 per cent increase compared with revenues of approximately $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2005.

    Subscription revenue doubled to approximately $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2006 compared with subscription revenue of approximately $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2005, the company said in an official release.

    Worldspace recorded a net loss for the first quarter of 2006 of $29.2 million, or $0.79 per share, compared with a net loss of $9.2 million, or $0.40 per share for the first quarter of 2005. Sequentially, the net loss improved from the fourth quarter 2005 results of $33.2 million, or $0.90 per share. Worldspace had an EBITDA (earnings before interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) loss of $31.2 million for the first quarter of 2006, compared with EBITDA of $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2005, and an EBITDA loss of $44.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2005, the release adds.

    The company said it finished the first quarter of 2006 with 153,437 subscribers. The Company added 38,131 subscribers in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 109 per cent over the 18,233 subscribers added in same quarter of 2005. In India, the Company had 111,723 subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2006, up 50 per cent from 74,574 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2005 and a five-fold increase from 21,730 at the end of the first quarter of 2005, it said in a release.

    At the end of the first quarter of 2006, Worldspace had rolled out its satellite radio services in ten cities in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Kolkata. It also signed Indian music impresario AR Rahman as a brand ambassador in India.

    Globally, Worldspace introduced three new programming channels, including Fox Sports Radio, and Ranin and Min Zaman, the latter two targeted to listeners in the Middle East, bringing the total number of channels broadcast on Worldspace’s global system to 223 by the end of the first quarter of 2006.

  • WorldSpace launches in Goa, Jaipur, Nagpur, Trivandrum

    WorldSpace launches in Goa, Jaipur, Nagpur, Trivandrum

    MUMBAI: Satellite radio firm WorldSpace has launched its subscription service in four more Indian markets- Goa, Jaipur, Nagpur, and Trivandrum.

    Collectively representing a population of over 6.2 million, including approximately 2.6 million consumers who fall into WorldSpace’s targetted listener base, the new market launches expand the company’s target market penetration to nearly 38 million consumers nationwide.

    To ensure ready access for subscribers in the new service areas, WorldSpace satellite radios are already available in nearly 100 retail outlets across the markets, with more expected in the near term.

    WorldSpace COO Andy Ras-Work said, “WorldSpace continues to gain traction across India, and service availability in these burgeoning markets enables us to reach more Indian residents than ever before. These new members of the WorldSpace community will undoubtedly be pleased with the network’s expansive content diversity, including national, international and local music, news and entertainment, whenever and virtually wherever they want it.”

    WorldSpace provides more than 40 channels of digital quality programming to the subcontinent of India, spanning a wide range of musical genres, news, sports and information. Its Indian programming includes two Indian classical channels — Shruti (Carnatic) and Gandharv (Hindustani), as well as regional Indian channels — Tara (Bengali), KL Radio (Tamil), Sparsha (Kannada), RM Radio (Malayalam) Spandana (Telugu) and Tunak Punjabi (Punjabi).

    These commercial-free services and more are now available to subscribers in more than 14 markets throughout the country.

  • Catch all the Grammy buzz on WorldSpace

    Tune in to catch the pre-event favorites, trivia, pick your Grammy Whammy and win exciting prizes on an exclusive contest.

    The definite music accolade – The Grammy Awards are around the corner and Spin, the 24-hour International hits station that gets you the best music from around the globe on the WorldSpace Satellite Radio network, counts-down the excitement to the grand show, bringing the fever right into your home. Tune in to “The Shack” from February 1st to 7th on Spin between 8 pm and 9 pm to catch the all the nominees interspersed with interesting trivia about the awards, singers and songs as well as voice your opinion on who you think deserves The Grammy! What’s more guess the winner of the most Grammies in 2006 and you could win an exciting hamper of CDs on an exclusive contest only on the WorldSpace website -http://www.worldspace.in.

    “The Shack” on Spin transforms into a Grammy Award Gala where you can listen to a ‘category special’ each day. The show will feature all nominated songs within a featured category everyday in an exciting format that features you – the listener – as you give us your opinions and choose your winners. RJ Mili steps in with a treasure trove of mind-boggling facts ranging from information on the nomination-leading Mariah Carey to stats on the top-selling albums and interesting tidbits on the Grammy Awards too. Tune in to a special edition on Sunday evening as Spin Gold showcases the winners from the Grammy past.

    While you are at it, log on to http://www.worldspace.in/ and participate in the ‘The Most Whammies This Grammies Contest’. Pick the singer who will walk away with the most Grammies this year and if you guess it right you may get lucky and win all 5 CDs which are nominated in the ‘Album of the year’ category – ‘The Emancipation Of Mimi’ by Mariah Carey, Paul McCartney’s ‘Chaos And Creation In The Backyard’, ‘Love. Angel. Music. Baby.’ by Gwen Stefani, ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ by http://music.aol.com/artist/main.adp?artistid=5723> U2 and Kanye West’s ‘Late Registration’.

    WorldSpace Satellite Radio also brings a unique opportunity to its listeners, to air their opinion on Spin or convey their wishes to their favorite star. The opportunity can be availed by writing in to WorldSpace at spin@worldspace.com.

    Program Schedule- “The Shack” 8 pm to 9 pm

    Feb 1st
    Best pop vocal performance – duo or group
    Best pop vocal performance – female

    Feb 2nd
    Record of the year
    Best new artist

    Feb 3rd
    Best Rock album
    Best alternative rock album

    Feb 4th
    Best rap performance by duo or group
    Best electronic and dance album

    Feb 5th
    Spin Gold
    Grammy winners from the past – an hour

    Feb 6th
    Best rap album
    Best rock vocal performance by duo or group

    Feb 7th
    Best pop vocal album
    Album of the year

    About Spin
    Spin, the 24-hour International Radio Station on WorldSpace Satellite Radio showcases the most popular English tunes from around the world. Tune in to a foot tapping play list that reverberates with the best international hits ranging from Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Madonna to 50 Cent, Ronan Keating and Bryan Adams! Catch the hits as they roll off the global hit-lists and spot the next chart topper first – only on India’s definitive international hits station – Spin!

    About WorldSpace, Inc.

    WorldSpaceR (NASDAQ: WRSP) is the world’s only global media and entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five billion people, driving 300 million cars. WorldSpace delivers the latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and around the corner. WorldSpace subscribers benefit from a unique combination of local programming, original WorldSpace content and content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN, Virgin Radio UK, NDTV and RFI. WorldSpace’s satellites cover two-thirds of the globe with six beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to WorldSpace Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its coverage area. WorldSpace is a pioneer of satellite-based digital radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio. For more information, visit www.worldspace.com.

    About WorldSpace India

    WorldSpace boasts a range of over 40 radio stations across genres – from Jazz to Classical, to Old Hindi Film Music and Rock. Its Indian programming includes two Indian classical stations – Shruti (Carnatic) and Gandharv (Hindustani), as well as regional Indian stations, viz. Tara (Bengali), KL Radio (Tamil), Sparsha (Kannada), RM Radio (Malayalam), Spandana (Telugu) and Tunak Punjabi (Punjabi) and a Spiritual and Wellness station, Moksha, among others.

    Ira Arora
    Torque Communications Pvt. Ltd.
    C 1/ 40 A, Safdarjung Development Area
    New Delhi – 16
    Hand Phone: 98112 88862
    Direct Line – 51756158
    Ph: 51756156-57
    Fax: 51756150

  • Worldspace unveils new satellite radio receiver Diva II

    Worldspace unveils new satellite radio receiver Diva II

    BANGALORE: Worldspace Satellite Radio has launched a new satellite radio receiver – the Diva II. The company promises enhanced sound quality and features to ensure a truly enriched satellite radio experience to the listeners with the launch.

    The Diva II is available in Elegant Black or Chic Silver and has a suggested retail price at Rs. 4,790 with a special introductory offer price of Rs. 2,499 only. Subscription packages are available in three options – Rs. 1000 for six months, Rs. 1800 for 12 months, and Rs. 3250 for 24 months, said an official release.

    The new satellite radio receiver is a stand-alone system that is also compatible with most music systems, presenting listeners an opportunity to tune in to over 40 radio channels playing the widest range of music, entertainment and news in uncluttered and distinctive programming formats, the release adds.

  • WorldSpace Noah Samara to deliver key note at International Radio Conference Dubai

    WorldSpace Noah Samara to deliver key note at International Radio Conference Dubai

    MUMBAI: International Radio Conference (IRC) is scheduled to be held from 22 May to 24 May in Dubai. The key note will be delivered by WorldSpace Corporation chairman and CEO Noah A. Samara.

    The conference is aimed at a global audience of radio professionals and contemporaries from associated industries, including advertising and media.
    It will also examine the future of radio in the Middle East. The sessions are; Shifting Stands, Breakfast Confidential, Smarter Music Scheduling, Bumpers ‘n Stabs, Doughnuts ‘n Stings, They’re not all Mad, Only the Good Ones!, Print vs Radio, 10 Great Ways to Make People Listen Longer, News You Can Use, New Frontier, Kill or Cure? Can Radio Survive the Ipod Era? and Paying the Piper! to name a few.
    Arabian Radio Network Join Abdullatif Al Sayegh will speak on Shifting Sands and other major players in the region as they give an upfront assessment of the future of radio in the Middle East.

    Emap UK expert Mark Story and Capital 98.5 UK expert Keith Pringle will provide top tips and closely guarded secrets to building the best breakfast show.

    European award winning Imager EMap UK Andy Roberts, Soniic Design Jean Michel Meschin, BBC World Service on air editor Steve Martin, Radio Advertising Bureaux UK Douglas McArthur, BBC World Service business development head Simon Kendall and Virgin Radio James Cridland will provide a low-down at the sessions.

    The sessions organised will also cover the pertinent issues facing radio professionals today including programming, technology and production.