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WorldSpace Radio is Back

Timbre Media is re-launching the WorldSpace Radio in association with Saregama

Published: Jul 19, 2011 06:43:22 AM IST
Updated: Oct 31, 2012 06:57:15 PM IST

Update: Timbre Media tied up with Vodafone to stream ten of its channels over mobile phone for Rs.30 a month. More recently, in October, it tied up with Bharti Airtel to stream them on DTH platform. It will offer 12 channels - each devoted to genres such as Ghazals, Hindi Retro, Devotional and so on - for Rs 35 a month.  Internet radio is in the pipeline.  

 

If you missed WorldSpace — satellite radio network that streamed pre-programmed music 24 hours a day through about 40 genre-specific stations — here’s some good news. In September, WorldSpace will be back.

You will have the same old stations that you grew to love — Hindustani music on Gandarv, Carnatic music on Shruti, old Hindi film songs on Farishta and so on — very likely anchored by the same RJs.

In India, WorldSpace had gone on air in 2000 with the subscription-based service gaining a committed fan base slowly and steadily. Towards the end of 2010, when it shut down because of the financial difficulties of its founder, Ethiopia-born lawyer Noah Samara, it had 4.5 lakh customers in India.

Timbre Media, which is re-launching the brand in India in association with Saregama, was started by ex-employees of WorldSpace and has about 80 people from the old set up, says co-founder and CEO M. Sebastian. The re-launch will start with 40 stations and eventually have as many as 120 stations, including sub-categories such as music for cardio-workouts, says Adarsh Gupta, head (music), Saregama.

Great news, but it comes with a catch: You can’t use your old WorldSpace equipment. The new WorldSpace will be streamed through mobile phones, the Internet and direct-to-home television networks.

But it’s time to listen to the radio again.

(This story appears in the 29 July, 2011 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)

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  • Cathrine

    Linking the world space radio through DTH TV or internet will be entertaining only to youngsters. Senior citizens cannot enjoy this privilege. I suggest aloog with DTH TV, internet, also a separate Equipment as you did earlier will be useful. Exclusive radio should be there. Does this support only with mobiles and desktops? Will be good if a separate radio could be introduced enabling us to listen to the music by connecting it to the amplifier. Can we listen to western country, classicals and eastern radio stations?

    on May 16, 2016
  • Cathrine

    Do we get Western and Eastern radio stations in this world space satellite radios? Does this only support mobiles and desk tops? Can we connect it to the music system,amplifier and listen to the music at home?

    on May 16, 2016
  • Raghuram R.

    During 2005 we installed these W/S Satellite receivers at few petrol pumps and soon we had customers asking for the details. But, It abruptly shut down and we had to face the wrath from the same public. Can we use the old receivers and antenna for which we paid long back and now lying idle inside our cupboards?

    on Jan 18, 2015
  • Indhan Chetia

    Can we know the exact date of relaunch.. I was may be one of the earliest subscribers. And miss the radio a lot.

    on Jun 8, 2014
  • B.srikanth

    Let us not waste receivers purchased. Waiting for the days to come

    on Oct 16, 2013
  • Behram R. Rana

    please let me have the detail as from when it will srart, will it have the zazz music as before, suscriptions and contacts. thanks

    on Oct 15, 2013
  • Chandra Mohanan

    With great pleasure to know the relaunching of world space satellite ratio i n India. Please relaunch the same in compatible with the old W/S. receivers.

    on Aug 14, 2013
  • Ashok Koul

    It was apleasure to listen to world space sattelite radio.But unfortunately it stopped streaming programes best known to company. Since there was abood base of commited listeners it would have been proper to start it in the sattelite broad casting mode though with proper pricing.I donot object to their streaming through mobile net work.We would appreciate if they could start sattelite broad caste streaming which has a better audio quality.Please listen to your old commited listeners

    on May 9, 2013
  • Okiring Stephen

    Qtn. How do I get new Set that can pick W/Space? . What will happen to my new old radio if dont use it ? . Im in Uganda (East Africa) how easy can I be connected to new set .Shall I have all African station that existed in the Old W/S

    on Feb 28, 2013
  • Dr Manoj Niranjan

    Thanks for restarting world space; I got connection through airtel digiset; But I feel this time sound quality is not very good or digital...........sizable population who do not use much mobile,T.V. or computer.We would like to listen separately on their old radio set, as we use to do.

    on Nov 3, 2012
  • V.balaraman

    Very happy to know that WORLD SPACE RADIO is being relaunched.What about a sizable population who do not use much mobile,T.V. or computer.We would like to listen separately as we use to do.

    on Oct 31, 2012
  • Sanjay Narayan Bhosale

    We are awaiting for this music service at the earliest. Kindly inform us on mail or cell. Thanks

    on Sep 23, 2012
  • Rohidas Gavde

    A good news-and we are waiting for the launching of worldspace once again in India. Thank you once again. I am having BPL sets.

    on Sep 4, 2012
  • Ravikumardandu

    That's real bull. I just renewed my subscription for a year as WS was going to wind up. Till date, I have not received any compensation nor the hardware is useful for anything. May God console the owners of WS sets (especially BPL sets)....

    on Aug 10, 2012
  • Mukul

    which date again start world space radio

    on Jul 22, 2012
  • Unni K Unni

    Thanks, It is a good news-and we are waiting for the launching of owrdspace once again in India. Thank you once again

    on Jul 10, 2012
  • Daniel Soko

    What a loss on WorldSpace Radio! Looked and looked on my Hitachi and couldnt find Orbit Rock, Jacaranda, Virgin Radio, etc! Now the BAD news that this old receiver will not be used when \'Space comes back to earth\'! How sad

    on Jun 20, 2012
  • Sudhi

    Thats a great news, but will it be sept 2012 ? I also learnt about the relaunch on vodafone network, is it ?

    on May 17, 2012
  • Annalakshmi Rajan

    Happy to hear the relaunch .but the old receivers will be idle for ever that is not good .Any way please make a link with us, the old customers whom you deserted.

    on May 9, 2012
    • Sudhi

      Yes true our receivers will go waste, it would be good to put them to use. mobile phones , DTH etc may receive it but why not our receivers? Pls relaunch it the way it was.

      on May 17, 2012
  • Thajudeen.p

    WORLDSPACE disappeared with customers ADVANCE payment. WHAT AN HONEST COMPANY !!!!

    on May 5, 2012
  • Prof.lucas.m.

    I simply like this worldspace Radio stations. As a musician, it is a great entertainment for me. My BPL reciever is taking rest and it is lying down. Pls satrt the world space soon. I want to recieve the Music only through my old reciever. Please respect the old customers in India and make sure that all the old customers in India will listen to WS satelite radio stations only through theor old recievers. Please start the Music. Rambaraba... rambarabba.. ramba ramba ree ree. I am awaiting for the relaunch of the satellite radio.

    on Apr 21, 2012
  • Swapan Bandyopadhyay

    I am the fan of music and in particular the eorld space radio. the change in obsolating the old waorld space equipment like receivers, it hearts me a lot. when customers are ready to pay then why such a change is done. I want my old set to work, can you satisfy your customer???????????????????/ if not then please stop the radio for ever.

    on Mar 22, 2012
  • M.p.sankaranarayanan

    This is a very heartening news. When it went off the air we felt very much. Please revive it soon. Great Music Thanks.

    on Mar 21, 2012
  • Elvis Franco

    It is good news that World Space would be back in India, but the sad part is we will have to go in for a new Receiver, what do we do with the old Set ?. Anyway awaiting for the launching of the satellite Radio.

    on Mar 20, 2012
  • Santosh Sharma

    It is disapponting to note that erstwhile world space radio users will not be able to access the same through equipment already available with them. The organisation should reconsider to rope in old subsribers with subscriptions as before.

    on Mar 20, 2012
  • Guenther Schmitt Dsouza

    IAM AN A LOVER OF WSR AND LIVIN IN GOA WITH NO 24H RADIO MUSIC STREAMS ITS HARD TO BEAR. HOPE WE GET ALL TYPES OF CHANNELS INDIAN FOREIGN NATIONAL AND INTER.HOPE U PEOPLE GETTIN ALL THINGS DONE TO RUN IT SUCCESSFULY WITH PROPPER CONTRACTS I AM SURE WITH KINDA AD CAMPAIN URE ABLE TO TRIPPLE CUSTOMER BASE. SURELY U CAN COUNT ON ME GOOD LUCK.

    on Mar 3, 2012
  • Vaibhav Gupta

    I am holding the old world space equipment what can i do to this equipment now since it will not work now. Also my subscription payment will be refunded or not?

    on Feb 16, 2012
  • Hannulal Tiwari

    what happens to the old customers greviences regarding the subscription payments, is the new group will refund it? or will give the new subscription free of cost?

    on Feb 11, 2012
  • Dattatraya Bhatt

    How the old subscriber will be benefitted of relaunching, particularly in case where subscription was not fully consumed/ utilized?

    on Feb 6, 2012
  • Dr. Dhananjay Rau

    Great to know WorldSpace radio is going to be revived. I really missed it when it was shut down two years ago. My house has been "silent" since then. Too much bother playing CDs and cassettes on the music system. Any idea what it is going to cost? Will we have to pay all the set-up costs all over again? I paid just Rs. 2000 for one year's subscription and the receiver (plus something for installation) when I subscribed in 2005.

    on Feb 2, 2012
  • Kunhiraman Velangodathil

    I want to hear more about WORLD SPACE RADIO and to subscribe to it

    on Jan 31, 2012
  • Pran Chhiber

    what happens to all the old equipment one had invested in, before the shut down. Had gifted quite a few sets to friends and relatives.

    on Jan 19, 2012
  • K. Sridhar

    status of world space in India. In one of the articles, you mentioned that it will be back n September

    on Dec 28, 2011
  • P V Jayarajan

    we need world space only at the old patern of stations and old stations

    on Dec 21, 2011
    • Dr B K Cladius

      i always miss high tuned music in my hospital .i wish i will get it soon

      on Jan 9, 2012
  • P V Jayarajan, kechery

    We missed a member from my home.We need world space very soon.

    on Dec 21, 2011
  • V.m.ravichandran

    Eagerly waiting

    on Dec 12, 2011
  • Manoj Asrani

    We are eagerly waiting for Worldspace to relaunch. who cares about the old units....what we really care for is the music that played on WS. mobile, DTH, internet....whatever be the medium we need WS back in our lives.

    on Dec 7, 2011
  • Jaimin Patel

    today it is november we are very eagerly waiting for relaunching of world space

    on Dec 3, 2011
  • Namrapal

    I purchased the very first piece inpune the day world space started their services.my entire family misses their services.hats off to Sarehgama for restarting their services again.looks like happy days are here again.would really to know how I can avail their services ASAP !!!!!

    on Nov 21, 2011
  • Prasad D Vaishnav, Indore

    When the world will be back as space is empty at home and hearts? please guide us how to fill thae space as we are existing world inhabitants since its origin in India. one more request do not force us to inhabitate it thorugh TV set or Mobile sets. Its Radioset which is its charm and it disassociates us from Idiot box and second wife (moile phone)

    on Nov 7, 2011
  • Chandra

    We are residing at Tamilnadu, Chennai. Please tell us how can we associate with Saregama and get the subscription details for availing the worldspace radio facility in my mobile.

    on Oct 20, 2011
  • Dr. Supriya Paithankar

    I m keenly awaiting the coming back of worldsapce radio. it was just like a singing heartbeat. how can we subscribe for it. plz rply

    on Oct 19, 2011
  • Dr P H C Murthy

    im excited how long more it keeps us in darkness

    on Oct 13, 2011
  • Jayesh Kumar Patel

    i am so happy that the world space radio is coming back.i was always use to listen music on it when ever i was having time.plz advice me how to get it again.

    on Oct 12, 2011
  • Sneh Mehta

    we are very happy to know about this news eagerly waiting for its relaunching hope it wont be the same abrupt end now kindly consider the previous subscribers and i hope the same equipment is used

    on Oct 11, 2011
  • Jyoti Rao From Baroda

    i too was a great lover of ws . my life will be full of pleasure if it starts, whom should we contact. Atleast old customers should be considered and old receivers should be in use. Its a great news.

    on Oct 2, 2011
  • Jyoti Rao

    i had also paid the subscribtion. whats to be done with the old receiver and whom to be contacted for further details.world space did not bother to inform before discontinuing . when its being relaunched atleast the old customers should be informed. pl any contact no to whom should we contact jyoti rao baroda

    on Oct 2, 2011
  • Samir Kumar Saha

    I couldn't understand this type of irresponsible and unethical business. I was a regular subscriber since 2000; I renewed it in 2009 for two years through online and suddenly it went off without even informing the customers. Worldspace didn't think about responding my querry what I sent thro' e-mail. Now it is learnt that the old equipment is no more valid. Do you think the customers like me will go again for your new modalities? what'll happen with old equipment that I purchased in Rs. 2500/-; now as per your new system (not clear in your mail) I don't know its future???. Regards, SK saha

    on Oct 1, 2011
  • Gurpreet

    I was a world space customer , its a no doubt a great news that it will be. What is the date and the forward path for the earlier customers and what to do with the world space equipment. thnks. Rgds

    on Sep 30, 2011
    • Ma Chandrasekharan Nair

      Can you tell me when the worldspace radio is going to introduce. Iam a worldspace customer.

      on Sep 30, 2011
  • Dr.Vivek P. Joshi

    I am very happy because of news about relanching of world space redio. I m interested to rejoin with world space radio as early as possible.

    on Sep 28, 2011
  • Joseph Sekiku

    I am an old user of worldspace radio receiver and adpter cards since 2000. A few years ago, the worldspace radio signals died. Now I have 10 worldspace radio receivers and all cannot be used. Any advice is welcome. I am from Tanzania.

    on Sep 24, 2011
  • Pratyush

    I read this some time back in the Hindu and was overjoyed. I still have my old WS Receiver. However as Mr, Ramnath says, the broadcast would be on Mobile

    on Sep 21, 2011
  • Arun Nair

    Thank u Mr. Ramnath for the wonderful news, i ve gone through ur article and several comments. A valid point raised is, what about old subscribers and their systems, a new lease of life without addressing that group is incomplete. Surely worldspace should think of something for them. And do provide the new website of Worldpsace so tat we can keep track!

    on Sep 15, 2011
  • Clive Fletcher

    Can you tell me where I can buy a World Space Radio, preferaby over the Internet? Many thanks.

    on Sep 11, 2011
  • Ashok Kumar Joshi

    pl let me know more about it. Has the broadcast started? if yes how can i join it.

    on Sep 8, 2011
  • Jaidip Shankar

    Was one of the earliest subscribers with a Hitachi set. WS was an integral part of our life. We went to the hills, to the beach with our WS set. Actually it was a relationship between me, her and WS which grew, culminating to marrige. It was a pity when WS left us. WS, do come back we long for your embrace.

    on Sep 5, 2011
  • B.ganesh

    I very happy to here the news. Please give more detail. I listened from Srilanka.

    on Aug 31, 2011
  • Sachindevrukhakar

    Good news for me. Please Let us use our old world space set which will be of great help. Do inform me for the subscription.

    on Aug 31, 2011
  • Leslie Fernandes.

    same sentiments as mr. shridhar bhat. keep me posted on how to suscribe !

    on Aug 27, 2011
  • B.srikanth

    Good news for music lovers. Please Let us use our old world space set which will be of great help. Do inform me for the subscription.

    on Aug 27, 2011
  • Hs

    its a good news to know that wsr coming back, but if we can use our old sets it will be more beneficial for the old customers too. we are ready to pay the subscription for the same.

    on Aug 27, 2011
  • Shridhar Bhat

    I too agree with others... Eagerly waiting for the launch and our kind request to broadcast through the old radio as well. Really appreciate your initiative to bring it back.

    on Aug 26, 2011
  • Dr Sunil Kumar

    It will be a big favour to us if old sets can be revived. We will not mind paying the new subscription. They should inform their old fans.

    on Aug 18, 2011
  • S G Siddesh

    The news brought silver lining to our lives which suddenly became gloomy and void when world space went off air abruptly. Waiting eagerly to listen to it again. I congratulate the team for this initiative. Please make efforts to stream it in such way that we can listen through our old equipments also. What about the pricing?

    on Aug 18, 2011
  • Ramnath

    Thanks a lot for taking time to comment. I spoke yet again to Timbre Media CEO Sebastian, who is in the process of bringing Worldspace back. He is busy with its revival right now, and the deadline mentioned in the story holds good. I also passed on what seems to be the uniform wish among all Worldspace customers - bring the old set back to life. I am disappointed to report that it might not happen in the foreseeable future. As someone who has not discarded my own set yet with the very same hope, I know what it meant to music lovers. Still, I am keen to know what replaced Worldpace in your living rooms? iPod? CDs? Websites? Any recommendations?

    on Aug 17, 2011
    • Magesh Krishnamurthy

      Quoting Mr Ramnath " Still, I am keen to know what replaced Worldpace in your living rooms? iPod? CDs? Websites? Any recommendations?" - Sir, nothing ever did, till now. No amount of downloads, live concerts, tv channel radios, nothing. Nothing ever gave us the satisfaction of listening our favorite Carnatic music throughout the day whenever we desired. We miss the anchors and the overall presence of WS in our lives. Life goes on, yes, but that part of our heart and mind, still years for Worldspace. Its a sincere request to the team, please to bring back WS, in any form.

      on Oct 15, 2011
  • Akasam Sudhir

    Will the old subscription be valid? And will the company inform the old customers about the comeback, When ?

    on Aug 16, 2011
  • M.r.venkataraman

    Sometime back news appeared in The Hindu and that the old receiver can be used. Kindly clarify.

    on Aug 16, 2011
  • Ashok Kumar Joshi

    Its good 2 hear that radio world space is coming back, a gift 4 the music lovers. Please try 2 bring it on the older system, so the old sets can be reused. Thank u.

    on Aug 14, 2011
  • R.srinivasan

    Great News indeed!!Would appreciate more details-if available, especially on the hard-ware front, since the old /earlier ones are not compatible??

    on Aug 14, 2011
  • Geetha

    Welcome news. Request Timbre Media to make available the music through stand alone receiver sets like earlier in addition to the proposed DTH, Internet, mobile phones etc. Looking forward to the launch at an early date.

    on Aug 14, 2011
  • Shailesh Singh

    If world space radio is coming back it is great news. Thanks to SAREGAMA. Please try to bring it on older system.

    on Aug 13, 2011
  • Dr.H.honnappa

    Its great news that World space radio is coming back. But the old clients a lot of us have invested good sum of money to buy these Radios to receive the broadcast which are lying redundant at present, and would appreciate it if you old employees are kind enough to bring the services to the radio also, that would be well appreciated by a lot of us who are at present disappointed.

    on Aug 13, 2011
  • Harish Kumar Sharma

    Its a great news for me because i like this system very much. i used to listen it daily when i did my work. please try to bring this on older systems too.

    on Aug 10, 2011
  • Chandrasekhar Samuel

    Good news that worldspace is coming back. I am an ardent listner of up country for almost 4 hours per day. Pl try to bring it on old system too.

    on Aug 8, 2011
  • Dr.s.krishna

    happy news I am fond lover of world space radio music .I was missing listenning to songs from radio farista radio spadana Kl radioradio etc I am still keeping the tabletop radio on my desk with lot of hopes to get back for listening.

    on Aug 7, 2011
  • B.krishnamurthy

    Welcome news. Sad it iwill not be available on the table top radio receivers. Pl. try to bring it on old system too.

    on Jul 31, 2011
  • Sreekanta Nundy

    I was an ardent listner of Worldspace Satellite Radio. It would be very nice if we could use the old equipment for listening to the radio stations as we did previously. It may be broadcasted through the DTH services but it should also be aired through radio sets as before as its very awkward if we have to switch on TV sets to listen to radio.

    on Jul 29, 2011
  • VNnatarajan

    Pl. do not link the world space radio through DTH TV or internet.. A separate Equipment as you did earlier will be useful. Exclusive radio should be there so that senior citizens like me can have good opportunity to listen the performance. Otherwise the TV viewers will get affected. Pl. ensure a separate radio is introduced or the old equipment may be used for which necessary arrangement may be made. V.Natarajan, Secunderabad

    on Jul 27, 2011
  • V.Natarajan

    I am very much happy to hear the news of restarting the world space radio.We are all anxious to hear the same very. soon Pl. inform the date of commencement of the radio programme.

    on Jul 27, 2011
  • Lakshman.p

    At last we have some good news for those who were addicted to world space programmes. But it would be nice to have programmes on our old world space sets.

    on Jul 26, 2011
  • Ananth

    great news ! the zing is back in life.Hope to hear the same uncluttered format and prisitine quality soon without any more vanishing tricks overnight. all the very best to the spirit of the ex employees of worldspace. ananth

    on Jul 26, 2011
  • Gururaj P

    It's good news. Thanks to the dedicated employees. I guess you can penetrate rural and wider market, car radios more through satelite radio.

    on Jul 25, 2011
  • K.vijaya

    I am very hapy to hear the news of relaunching of world space. It is my best best best companian. Today I am litarally feel so HAPPY.

    on Jul 22, 2011
  • Praful.nathwani

    Delighted to hear about Worldspace. I would be able to my favourite old English songs.

    on Jul 21, 2011
  • Apurva Gandhi

    It's really a great news, my mom used to enjoy listening to it... I have got ample of unused subscription before it got bust.. but i am still happy and will go once again with WS.. Thanks

    on Jul 21, 2011
  • K P Mohan

    The news about a possible re-appearance of satellite radio broadcast is indeed, heartening. However, the news write up about this does not give details or information on the run-up to the relaunch. Secondly, while it speaks about the Worldspace equipment, I would like to know what can be done to the listening device. There should be some method by which it should be made reusable. Also subscription with worldspace was an issue and I hope this is dealt with.

    on Jul 21, 2011
  • V Subramanian

    It is a great news. I was an ardent listener of Shruti. Since an Indian company, Saregama, is involved, I hope it will not shut down again.

    on Jul 19, 2011
  • Pankaj bhiwaji

    I am interested in workspace radio .. how to i gate this ?

    on Mar 21, 2019
  • Hiren

    Whats the use of internet radio while travelling.. You should need to bring back satellite radio... for car on india....

    on Oct 16, 2019
  • Rajinder Singh

    Required new

    on Nov 8, 2020