WorldSpace Launches New Internet Radio Service

WorldSpace, the satellite radio operator, is launching a new Internet radio service in collaboration with MSN India, the company announced August 13. It announced the launch of a pilot Internet radio service, available through MSN India at www.in.msn.com/worldspace, for $9.99 per month, and is targeting Indian expatriates living in places such as the Unites States, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. It will provide Indians with 24-hour access to five genres of Indian programming: Farishta (Hindi film classics), Sparsha (Kannada), Spandana (Telugu), Gandharv (Hindustani classical) and Shruti (Carnatic music).

WorldSpace is already no stranger to the Indian market. In its results issued last week, the company said despite reduced marketing in India, it added 3,261 net subscribers during the second quarter of 2007, ending the period with 173,615 subscribers in India, 45 percent higher than at the end of the second quarter of 2006.