WORLDSPACE(R) Satellite Radio Acquires Exclusive Radio Rights for Cricket
Live Cricket Coverage Further Expands Unique Listening Experience for Subscribers in South Asia & the Middle East Including Primary Market of India
SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept 25, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- WORLDSPACE(R) Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: WRSP), one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, today announced it has signed an exclusive broadcast license agreement with ESPN STAR Sports to provide subscribers with live audio coverage of cricket, further enhancing its content offering and providing consumers with a truly unique listening experience. Under terms of the agreement, PLAY, the WORLDSPACE-branded all sports channel for South Asia and the Middle East, will have exclusive broadcasting rights throughout South Asia for 12 tours and over 200 days of cricket comprising both test matches and one-day internationals. Three of the 12 tours include India -- WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio's primary market in the Asia region. Coverage begins November 19, 2006 with India's tour of South Africa, and runs through February 2008, with conclusion of the India-Sri Lanka-Australia Triangular Series in Australia.
"The exclusive acquisition of these premier cricket internationals is another demonstration of WORLDSPACE's continued commitment to providing the best in audio entertainment for our listeners," said Alexander Brown, co-Chief Operating Officer, WORLDSPACE.
"We are very pleased to partner with ESPN STAR Sports, the leading sports broadcaster in Asia, to provide our subscribers with another compelling, personalized content option," Brown continued.
Subscribers will have "ball-by-ball," real-time coverage of all matches as well as a host of ancillary programming surrounding each match. The coverage will feature matches with the national teams from India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, and will also include the biennial Australia-England test series, "The Ashes." Broadcasts can be received in countries covered by the WORLDSPACE AsiaStar(TM) satellite's West Beam and include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE.
About ESPN STAR Sports (ESS)
ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between two of the world's leading cable and satellite broadcasters, ESPN Inc. and STAR. Combining the strengths and resources of its ultimate parent companies, Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.) and News Corporation Limited (STAR), ESS is Asia's definitive and complete sports provider.
ESS has thirteen networks spanning the region -- ESPN Asia, ESPN India, ESPN Taiwan, ESPN Singapore, ESPN Philippines, MBC-ESPN (Korea), ESPN Hong Kong, STAR Sports Hong Kong, Xing Kong Sports, STAR Sports India, STAR Sports Taiwan, STAR Sports S.E.A and STAR Sports Singapore. All eleven feeds are customized to deliver the world's premier sports events which are in line with local audience preferences. ESPN reaches over 110 million households while STAR Sports reaches over 54 million households. For more information, please visit http://www.espnstar.com.
About WORLDSPACE(R) Satellite Radio
Based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, WORLDSPACE, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRSP) is the only global media and entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five billion people, driving 300 million cars. WORLDSPACE delivers the latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and around the corner. WORLDSPACE subscribers benefit from a unique combination of local programming, original WORLDSPACE content and content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN International, Virgin Radio UK, NDTV and RFI. The WORLDSPACE satellites cover two-thirds of the earth's population with six beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to WORLDSPACE Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its coverage area. WORLDSPACE is a pioneer of satellite-based digital radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio.
Forward-looking Statements
This presentation may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs about future events and financial, political and social trends and assumptions it has made based on information currently available to it. The Company cannot assure that any expectations, forecasts or assumptions made by management in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projections will be realized. Such forward-looking statements may be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks or uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. For factors that could cause actual results to vary, perhaps materially, from these forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other subsequent filings. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this presentation. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio
Judith Pryor of WORLDSPACE, +1-301-960-1242, jpryor@WORLDSPACE.com; or Dan Martin of Brodeur, +1-617-585-2780, dmartin@brodeur.com, for WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio
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