Worldspace Debuts in Asia

Contact:

Nicholas Braden

WorldSpace Headquarters

+1-202-969-6161

nbraden@worldspace.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 12, 2000) – WorldSpace executives announced
that beginning today the company’s premier direct-to-person satellite
audio and multimedia broadcasting service began transmitting a wide
array of multilingual audio programming across the continent of Asia.

Today, news, music, entertainment and educational programs began
flowing from the three broadcast beams of the WorldSpace AsiaStar
satellite launched into orbit on March 21, 2000. The AsiaStar
satellite will soon supply more than 40 channels of crystal clear
digital quality audio programming and multimedia content to the people
of Asia through each of the three beams on the solar-powered satellite.
Each beam covers an enormous territory – 14 million square kilometers –
and together will cover nearly all of Asia, including China, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and many ASEAN
islands. Listeners will use special WorldSpace-branded satellite
receivers manufactured by Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic, and Sanyo to receive
broadcasts directly from AsiaStar.

“What began over 10 years ago as an idea scribbled on a paper napkin is
now closer than ever to becoming a reality,” said WorldSpace Chairman
and CEO Noah A. Samara. ìOn September 12, 2000 we will have completed
the first two stages of our mission to provide an unprecedented variety
of world-class news, information and entertainment to people of the
world who until now have been under served by traditional radio
sources.î

AsiaStar is the second of three satellites to be employed by
WorldSpace. The first, AfriStar entered commercial service in October
of 1999 covering Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean Basin.
Each satellite is capable of broadcasting over 40 local and
international audio and multimedia programs of multilingual news,
music, entertainment, and educational content to audiences over the
unique WorldSpace digital satellite receivers.

Multilingual Service Offers Wide Array of Programming

The WorldSpace multilingual service offers a wide variety of audio
programming with digital-quality sound. Listeners can choose news from
the BBC, CNN, or Bloomberg, or the best of regional radio from MBC, MTV
Asia, BNT, RCS, Radio Mid Day and others. Programming is broadcast in
several languages, including Mandarin, Malay, Thai, Hindi, Tamil, and
English.

Using its state-of-the-art studios in London and Washington, DC,
WorldSpace has also created its own original programming, from modern
rock, contemporary pop hits and global dance, as well as spoken word
programming for both children and adults.

“Our vision has always been to bring an excellent broadcast service to
a huge audience,” said Mr. Samara. “So, we’re overjoyed to be
launching our business in Asia, the largest and most highly populated
continent on Earth. We are highly confident WorldSpace will create vast
new opportunities for broadcasters, advertisers and listeners across
this remarkable region.”

State-of-the-Art Receivers Manufactured by Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic, &
Sanyo

Four of the world’s leading consumer electronics manufacturers —
Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic and Sanyo – have designed and manufactured the
special receivers needed to receive the WorldSpace service. More than
100,000 receivers have been manufactured and are being sold through the
manufacturers’ retail outlets, as well as through additional
distribution channels arranged by WorldSpace. To support receiver
sales, an extensive advertising campaign will begin today and an array
of sales training materials, point of purchase materials and working
receiver display models have been developed and distributed to
retailers in our service launch countries.

New, powerful satellites and digital technology built into the special
receivers make this service possible. The receivers feature flat
antennas and use tiny chipsets that consists of two micro-integrated
circuits that process the satellite transmissions. The receivers can
be powered by a direct electrical connection or by battery.

WorldSpace also holds a ten percent stake in the Freeplay Energy
Holdings Limited of South Africa – makers of the wind-up radio
technology – where research is ongoing for using this feature with some
WorldSpace radios manufactured in the future.

Singapore, India, Indonesia Among First Countries For Service Launch

While the WorldSpace signal can be received anywhere in Asia, the
company will concentrate its sales and distribution efforts first in
Singapore, India, and Indonesia. Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines
and other ASEAN countries will follow in 2001.

WorldSpace Corporation

Headquartered in Washington, DC, WorldSpace was founded in 1990 to
provide direct satellite delivery of digital audio and multimedia
services to the emerging markets of the world, including Africa, the
Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The WorldSpace
satellite network will consist of three geostationary satellites. The
first two satellites, AfriStar and AsiaStar, were successfully launched
October 28, 1998 and March 21, 2000 respectively. The third satellite,
AmeriStar, will follow in 2001. Each satellite has three beams with
each beam capable of delivering more than 40 channels of crystal clear
audio and multimedia programming directly to portable receivers. Once
completed, this unique global service will transmit quality
information, education and entertainment programming to a service area
that includes 4.6 billion people. For more information, visit our web
site at www.worldspace.com.