ASIA'S first satellite radio service, The Wave, with a 24-hour music format, was launched by STAR TV yesterday.
It is the first of STAR Radio's seven satellite channels through AsiaSat-1, serving 35 countries from Egypt to Japan and south to Indonesia in two broadcast footprints.
Access to music service is through existing STAR TV equipment or cable services.
The northern footprint covers Afghanistan to Japan and will focus on China and Taiwan with Mandarin programmes; the southern footprint spans from Egypt to Indonesia and will mainly serve the Middle East and Indian markets with English programmes.
STAR Radio general manager Mike Mackay said the service would be funded by advertising.
He said he believed the new service would gain quick acceptance because no regional channel provided more music than talk.
