‘Worldspace India’ to re-launch
July 6, 2011
By Chris Forrester
An Indian radio broadcaster, Timbre Media, has linked with music label Saregama in an attempt to relaunch a Worldspace-type satellite radio service over India. It has hired ex-Worldspace staff and will launch, according to The Hindu Business Line, “within 8 weeks”.
Precise financial details have not been revealed but Timbre is taking a 10 per cent stake in the new business, which says it is in discussion with various cellular mobile operators in India about the shape and pricing models for the proposed service.
Local reports state that the service is looking to be available on the Web, on mobile devices and DTH satellite. There are a number of cellular operators in India who could supply capacity across all these methods.
Worldspace, at its peak in 2008, served 160,000+ subscribers in India prior to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Worldspace India closed for good at the end of 2009.
Timbre Media Pvt Ltd is a Bangalore-based broadcaster and content producer already tapping into Web-based and customised radio services for transmission to India and beyond.