'News: Satellite Radio Broadcaster "Worldspace" Scraps European Subscriptions, Ends Services' by Grant Goddard
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News story about US satellite radio broadcaster 'Worldspace' ending its European subscription offering and switching off radio stations serving Europe, written by Grant Goddard in February 2007 for The Radio Magazine.
![News: Satellite Radio Broadcaster 'Worldspace' Scraps European Subscriptions, Ends Services page 2
©2007 Grant Goddard
US satellite broadcaster 'WorldSpace' is to scrap the subscription service it has
offered to European listeners of its encrypted radio channels, including 'Radio
Caroline', 'TalkSport' and 'Virgin Radio'.
Until now, owners of WorldSpace receivers in the UK could pay a monthly
charge to hear stations transmitted from the Northwest beam of WorldSpace’s
African satellite, but the service will end on 1 December 2007. Between now
and then, existing subscribers will be offered listening for free. WorldSpace
says the policy change is necessary because it “is modifying and upgrading its
current satellite technology, as well as content programming, in preparation for
mobile services.”
Last month, the company announced a deal with Telecom Italia to build a
terrestrial repeater network throughout Italy in preparation for the launch of a
subscription-based satellite radio service using 12.5 MHz of L-Band spectrum.
Listeners using portable and in-car devices will be able to hear the stations via
repeaters in built-up areas, or directly by satellite in open areas where line-of-
sight reception is possible. Luca Paneri, CEO of WorldSpace Italia,
commented: “We are pleased that Italy will be the first country in Europe to
receive satellite radio services.”
A third WorldSpace satellite, intended to add to the broadcaster’s existing
coverage of Africa and Asia, is presently in storage in Toulouse, awaiting
regulatory approval to roll out a European radio service on a country-by-
country basis.
[First published in 'The Radio Magazine' as 'Worldspace Scraps UK Subs', #776, 21 February 2007]
Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of
experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy
roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at
http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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'News: Satellite Radio Broadcaster "Worldspace" Scraps European Subscriptions, Ends Services' by Grant Goddard
- 1. NEWS: SATELLITE RADIO BROADCASTER 'WORLDSPACE' SCRAPS EUROPEAN SUBSCRIPTIONS, ENDS SERVICES by GRANT GODDARD www.grantgoddard.co.uk February 2007
- 2. News: Satellite Radio Broadcaster 'Worldspace' Scraps European Subscriptions, Ends Services page 2 ©2007 Grant Goddard US satellite broadcaster 'WorldSpace' is to scrap the subscription service it has offered to European listeners of its encrypted radio channels, including 'Radio Caroline', 'TalkSport' and 'Virgin Radio'. Until now, owners of WorldSpace receivers in the UK could pay a monthly charge to hear stations transmitted from the Northwest beam of WorldSpace’s African satellite, but the service will end on 1 December 2007. Between now and then, existing subscribers will be offered listening for free. WorldSpace says the policy change is necessary because it “is modifying and upgrading its current satellite technology, as well as content programming, in preparation for mobile services.” Last month, the company announced a deal with Telecom Italia to build a terrestrial repeater network throughout Italy in preparation for the launch of a subscription-based satellite radio service using 12.5 MHz of L-Band spectrum. Listeners using portable and in-car devices will be able to hear the stations via repeaters in built-up areas, or directly by satellite in open areas where line-of- sight reception is possible. Luca Paneri, CEO of WorldSpace Italia, commented: “We are pleased that Italy will be the first country in Europe to receive satellite radio services.” A third WorldSpace satellite, intended to add to the broadcaster’s existing coverage of Africa and Asia, is presently in storage in Toulouse, awaiting regulatory approval to roll out a European radio service on a country-by- country basis. [First published in 'The Radio Magazine' as 'Worldspace Scraps UK Subs', #776, 21 February 2007] Grant Goddard is a media analyst / radio specialist / radio consultant with thirty years of experience in the broadcasting industry, having held senior management and consultancy roles within the commercial media sector in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Details at http://www.grantgoddard.co.uk