WRSPQ Archive

5

Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) Liberty Capital (NASDAQ:LCAPA, LCAPB) and Worldspace Revisited

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In the weeks since the final bankruptcy sale and approval of Worldspace assets to Noah Samara; this time through Yazmi LLC, one thing is abundantly clear.  The plight of all the assets of Worldspace and SATCO is as yet unknown and still awaiting a final outcome.  Court documents prior to final sale stated that the consideration to be received from Yazmi in the sale purchase agreement would not be sufficient to pay Liberty Satellite Radio and Liberty Satellite Radio Holdings in full.  The Debtors estimated that Liberty’s aggregate secured claims were in excess of $116 million dollars.  Under the settlement agreement, the Debtors were released from such claims and the corresponding liens, allowing the Debtors to distribute the proceeds of the sale to other creditors.  In exchange for that, the Debtors and the other Parties to the settlement agreement provided releases to Liberty, and Liberty received other consideration.  That “other consideration” was Liberty obtaining a return of $370,000 in funds which the debtors transferred to Liberty; that Liberty had loaned to support the WorldSpace Italia subsidiary.  When Liberty decided not to pursue a Liberty purchase agreement, the need for those funds evaporated. Liberty also received $250,000 of the Yazmi sale proceeds, which was 5% of the total and significantly less than Liberty would have gotten if its senior secured claims were still in effect.  The Debtors believe that the note from WorldSpace Italia that Liberty received is of little value; the Debtors also believe WorldSpace Italia cannot repay that note, and the Debtors themselves have limited resources with which to possibly pursue collection.  The Debtors were willing to relinquish their right to abandon their responsibilities and their assets to Liberty in exchange for Liberty’s relinquishment of much

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15

The Dawn of a New Media Era as Defined by Liberty’s John Malone and Sirius XM’s Mel Karmazin

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By Rick King -a_sunrise_over_earth

Every few generations our culture finds new ways to define itself. Usually there is no stronger indicator of culture’s shifting winds than the music a generation listens to. The method in which a generation listens to its music defines it as well. Is it possible we are in the midst of exactly that? Another media revolution of transformation in the winds, from terrestrial radio and television broadcasters to satellite media?

The current population wants access to information everywhere and on demand.  Generation “Unlimited” has no concept of limitation.  They live in a world where information of every type is available at the speed of an electron in more forms than they can count.  Information and how it is channeled to a user permeates every aspect of business.  AM and FM Radio don’t work everywhere geographically so it’s fading.  Same thing for television, initially change came in the form of cable and now with continuing dominance by satellite media.

How many people still remember the world of no television?  Black and White television broadcast?  The days when AM radio was the mainstay of the American living room?  In every single instance of such change, critics denied the very possibility it could happen.  Emotions have always  run especially deep in American society when it comes to our music and how we listen to it.

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5

Liberty Pursuing Global Satellite Radio with Sirius XM Radio in the Mix

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As previously speculated in past articles, Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LCAPA, NASDAQ:LINTA) essentially confirmed they have plans in the works to take their satellite radio interests global recently.  Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei answered a question after his company’s 4th Quarter Conference Call regarding Worldspace (OTC: WRSPQ) and Liberty’s acquisition efforts aimed at Worldspace assets through Bankruptcy court.  Among his comments was a statement that Worldspace has L-Band spectrum licensing worldwide, and that they were looking for a creative way to monetize Sirius XM Radio,  converting their  shares in the company  is not an option they are likely to pursue at this time.  As a matter of fact, Mr. Maffei said that Board Chairman John Malone would be firmly against that option.

Looking at the broader picture, Liberty Media has an important connection in Europe through Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA, NASDAQ:LBTYB), which has dealt intensively with licensing and programming transmission regulations with many member countries of the European Union (EU).  With Worldspace having L-Band spectrum licensing globally, and both the XM infrastructure side of Sirius XM Radio and Worldspace having come from the same technologies, it’s not a big leap to speculate that the XM side of Sirius XM is a key part of the globalization planning.  Worldspace broadcasts in the 1467-1492 MHz frequency range of the “L” band, and Worldspace’s proprietary and patented technology is coincidentally used in each XM Radio receiver.  In fact, the Worldspace Global Content and Programming department used to provide approximately 10% of the original content music programming heard in America on XM Satellite Radio.

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26

Liberty Media Could Be Upping Preferred Stake In Sirius XM Radio

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By Relmor Demitrius

Sirius XM Radio may have spilled the beans again in their quarterly filings.  As is often the case with companies, a careful read of their annual report can provide many clues and hints to future plans.  Sirius XM’s annual report filed on February 25th appears to be no exception.  There are some changes from their third quarter report that are definately noteworthy.

Looking over expected cash contractual obligations from this filing, we will see there has been some changes from the November  filed third quarter report.  Here is what Sirius XM defined as their cash contractual obligations for the coming years on this current annual report.  These would be cash expenses that have been well planned for, consistent, and very much a part of their operating structure.  These assessments have proven in the past to be accurate and helpful in projecting their results.  So these figures are definitely to be respected.

From the 2009 Annual Report From February of 2010:

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6

Ramblings of a SIRUS XM Radio Lover

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With the recently announced closure of Worldspace Inc, (OTC: WRSPQ) operations in India and Africa, it is increasingly likely that Liberty’s (NASDAQ:LCAPA, NASDAQ:LINTA) intent is to go after the European market, a market with much more disposable income than India or Africa currently possesses. As written about at Rapid TV News by Chris Forrester, as well as “The Daily News Analysis” website – A Mumbai based Company by Praveena Sharma

Liberty Media has apparently done extensive due diligence on the range of possibilities and no doubt came to the same conclusion many have regarding “Worldspace” and its demise. There is not sufficient disposable income or interest in sufficient numbers in those areas of the world currently to sustain a healthy business model. It seems the speculation would lead to Liberty working on some sort of European and possibly South American/Caribbean Satellite Radio launch with help and expertise from Sirius XM Radio. Perhaps returning to India and Africa after the foundation gets stronger.  

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