WorldSpace Inc fka WRSPQ

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Info from the web: Liberty Media, via its subsidiary Liberty Satellite Radio,

Liberty Media, via its subsidiary Liberty Satellite Radio,

Worldspace has confirmed that it is seeking to sell itself to Liberty Satellite Radio. Worldspace said that such a deal would ensure it is able to carry out a debt repayment plan.

Liberty Media, via its subsidiary Liberty Satellite Radio, is now in control at Worldspace, the struggling European and Asian pay-radio broadcaster. Executives from Liberty and Worldspace are visiting Europe this week.However, also understand that Liberty staffers are also in Europe to examine prospects for pay-radio in Europe and elsewhere internationally. Liberty has a significant stake in SiriusSatellite Radio in the US.

Cantarano: I’m now committed to the development of a digital radio service, dedicated and tailored to the French market (only), for which I’m just finalising a market survey that was required to test some of its specificities,” he said. “Although I intend to first deploy this service terrestrially (i.e. targeting L-band), I remain a great supporter of DARS in Europe and look forward to – maybe - also contributing to its success, and have now indeed finalised the acquisition of a couple of assets in this regard

Europe already has at least two potential pay-radio broadcasters in the shape of Ondas Media and new rival ‘Onde Numérique’, formally registered in July, and initiated by Franz Cantarano, formerly VP/Strategy & Development Europe, for Worldspace (and who previously worked at Thales).

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Sirius, Liberty Interested in WorldSpace Partnership
12.2.2009

Sirius XM, combined with Liberty Media Corp., could take its satellite radio service global through a partnership with financially struggling WorldSpace, the Maryland-based overseas satellite radio company that operates the Afristar and AsiaStar satellites.

That's according to Sirius XM President/CEO Mel Karmazin. He told the Reuters Global Media Summit in New York that Liberty "expressed an interest" in the global satcaster.

Sirius would lend only its expertise — such as building satellite radios or its relationships with automakers — towards the effort, and not money, according to Karmazin, who says Liberty would contribute funds towards any WorldSpace deal.

Through its subsidiary Liberty Satellite Radio, Liberty Media has purchased all of WorldSpace debt recently, leading to speculation that Liberty Chairman John Malone intends to combine the two satcasters.

Liberty Media rescued Sirius from a possible bankruptcy filing earlier this year with a loan of $520 million. In return, Liberty secured a 40 percent equity stake in Sirius XM.