/ 11 October 1999

NEW AFRICAN SATELLITE LAUNCHED

WASHINGTON-based WorldSpace Corporation on Thursday launched a new satellite broadcast system that will bring 25 audio channels of programming to Africa and the Middle East. The “AfriStar” satellite promises a dramatic improvement in broadcast quality to regions that have been poorly served by traditional radio broadcasting. Programming will be in English, Afrikaans, French and Arabic. Broadcasters participating already include CNN International, Bloomberg News, South Africa’s Kosmos Digital, the Kenya Broadcasting Company, Egyptian Radio and Television, Medi 1 of Casablanca and Beirut’s Radio One, the company said.