New developments in satellite radio
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2003-10-13 •
Satellite radio or digital radio service is still at a nascent stage in the country with only a single player the US-based WorldSpace operating in the space. According to Bharath Chari, head of the consumer audio business of WorldSpace in India, We have 14 subscription channels. Of these, 11 are international and three Indian, split into two bouquets. The current estimate of WorldSpace receivers in India is around 51,000.
Recently there have been some developments that make satellite radio an interesting market to watch out for. While AIR is in talks with the Indian Railways to introduce satellite radio in select trains, reputed media house Sahara has already sealed deals for digital radio in Mumbai for local trains.
At this point, the digital receiver cost is a problem that every country is struggling with. Whether it is DRM, DAB or IBOC, you need separate receivers for each one, and nothing comes cheap. As estimated, a DRM receiver would come for around $500, DAB could cost you in the region of $150-200, and IBOC around $500. The price of WorldSpace receivers that are available in India begin at Rs 5,000.
Indicating that cost is a major issue in the way of a smooth run for digital radio, a senior official at AIR says that BBC introduced DAB seven years ago, but the receiver cost has not come down yet. Although there are claims of DAB receivers covering 85 per cent of Europe, nobody is forthcoming on the receiver numbers.
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