Channel Offers Freshest Hip Hop and Urban Music from Around the World
SILVER
SPRING, Md., Nov. 15 -- WorldSpace
Satellite Radio, (Nasdaq: WRSP), one of the world leaders in
satellite-based digital radio services, today announced that that it has officially
launched Flava, the first 24-hour, commercial-free channel delivering the hottest
globally focused hip hop and urban music, entertainment and top celebrity news on
the planet.
Available to WorldSpace subscribers at no additional cost,
Flava is the first satellite-radio channel of its kind to celebrate hip hop’s universal
appeal while bringing the latest in U.S. hits to international hip hop and urban music
lovers around the world.
“Flava is a first of its kind,” said Billy Sabatini, vice president
of global content, WorldSpace. “We are not just giving our subscribers premiere access to
international hip hop-flavored music, we are combining it with the freshest and latest in
U.S.-based music of the genre and offering it to the world.”
In addition to hip hop, Flava features other urban international
musical genres such as Bhangra, Reggaetone, Dancehall and Kwaito music, and gives
subscribers exclusive access to live call-in shows and special celebrity appearances from
leading artists, including Kanye West, Juggy D, Rishie Rich, Panjabi MC, Missy Elliot,
Mandoza, Dizzee Rascal, Don Omar, Bow Wow, Daddy Yankee, Daara J, Estelle, M.I.A. and Jay-Z.
“We are extremely excited about Flava and hope it will become a
catalyst for an international hip hop movement, creating a sense of hip hop community
across the globe,” said WorldSpace’s Shawna Odour, Flava’s programming director.
In addition to Flava, WorldSpace’s wide variety of musical channels provide subscribers
with the best of jazz, rock, pop, classical, country, and other genres.
About WorldSpace, Inc.
WorldSpace (Nasdaq: WRSP)
is the world's 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, Virgin Radio, NDTV
and RFI. WorldSpace's satellites cover two-thirds
of the globe 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.
“We are committed to extending the WorldSpace
experience across India and throughout the world,” said Noah Samara,
chairman and CEO, WorldSpace. “We view our new arrangement with Webel
as an investment that will position the company to continue growing our
global subscriber base and potentially accelerate our business roll out.”
Forward-looking Statements
This press release 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. Forward-looking statements contained
herein speak only as of the date of this release. 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.
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