Worldspace India to ‘export’ content
July 25, 2011
By Chris Forrester
India’s reliable Business Standard magazine is reporting that “Worldspace India”, once it has its local output established, has plans “also to tap markets outside India and increase the number of channels on offer to 20”. The report confirms that the proposed DTH and web-based radio service has also “now acquired the licence to use the Worldspace brand” and quotes Seetal R Iyer, head of content “and co-founder of Timbre Media” as the source for the information.
Timbre Media is behind the new venture, and has a 10 per cent investment from music company SaReGaMa, which gives the broadcaster access to one of the largest musical archives in India and “across all languages and genres,” says the report.
There is no mention of Worldspace’s founder Noah Samara in the story, however, it states that ‘new’ Worldspace has resurrected the deal the former bankrupt company has with DTH platform Bharti Airtel to transmit its new channels as part of the pay-TV bouquet, and Timbre Media is in contact with other DTH players, as well as with cellular operators.
The broadcaster is targeting September to start services.