content distribution
has died, so our discussions with them have
ended but we are still looking [for bandwidth
What future for Worldspace?
in the UK]."
Ondas Media has a predecessor in the shape of WorldSpace. WorldSpace, based in
"We have done a deal for some satellite
Washington, has two satellites in operation, one looking at Europe and Africa
capacity in various bands on a GEO craft in
(AfriStar), and the other over Asia (AsiaStar). It has struggled for the past 10 years
order to carry out some tests,” said Charman.
to establish a business, and on 17 October it applied for Chapter 11 protection, with
“We intend to launch on a GEO some of these
debts of $1.8 billion, having spent more than $2.2 billion over the years to reach its
test services in 2010. Our full pan-European
current position.
service will launch at the back end of 2011, The company owes 50 ‘critical’ employees $1.35 million in back-pay. More pressing
so watch this space." It is understood that debt is owed to chip-set suppliers Micronas ($18.2 million) and technology
Ondas is also looking for terrestrial capacity developers Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, (owed $4.4 million). Founder
especially in Spain, the Netherlands, UK, Italy
Noah Samara’s own company, Yenura Pte, a Singaporean entity, is WorldSpace’s
and Germany.
largest unsecured creditor, owed $55 million.
"Our programming strategy has capacity
The Court filing states Samara owns 47.15% of the firm. Aletheia Research &
for more than 150 channels and new
Management own 37% and Natixis Asset Management Advisor LP, own 5.25%.
technology gives us plenty of space,”
continued Charman. “I have been travelling to chase advertising. He said the challenge of business, but CEO Steve Maine admits that
around Europe talking to media providers, selling advertising alongside niche radio Solaris exists to sell capacity and he’s just as
and am confident that we’ll have the most stations was a major problem as anyone who happy supplying bandwidth to a sat-radio
popular stations and programmes on our had ever operated such a station knew. "Jazz operator as to a mobile TV player!
service. If you want to listen to cricket but fans who like John Coltrane don’t even think In other words we’ll have to wait and see.
live in Spain, then you’ll want a subscription Glenn Miller is music! But run 3 or 4 jazz But the prize - says Ondas Media’s CEO Dave
to Ondas. We have a lot of capacity for data, stations and you can satisfy both ends of the Krueger is "enormous". Krueger said the
which will include travel, weather and other spectrum. Our speech output will be tailored prospects for satellite radio have never been
similar services. We have planned for TPEG for language and cultural diversity." better over Europe, arguing that value in the
(see panel) so that if you are Polish, yet Charman said 20% of Ondas overall capacity American market extends far beyond the $15
sitting in a traffic jam in London, you will was being reserved for data and images - and billion market capitalisation already visible
hear that local traffic news in your own perhaps video. with XM and Sirius. "It extends to the auto
language.” He said Ondas had had fruitful There is another transmission option sector, to the radio supply sector, and adds
and enthusiastic conversations with people coming forward for a client like Ondas. In value to the content sector,” he said. “This is
like Apple and in-car traffic system suppliers February 2009 a satellite is due to be often not reported, but the enterprise value
like Tom-Tom. launched in the shape of Solaris Mobile within the sector is measured in billions.
He said that because Ondas was a which will use S-Band frequencies. The Europe wants satellite radio, and we are
subscription-based service there was no need primary target for Solaris is Europe’s DVB-H going to make it happen."
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