The 2009 edition of the Radio Listener's Guide reports that WorldSpace Inc, WorldSpace Systems Corp and AfriSpace Inc, filed for Chapter 11 protection from bankruptcy in the Delaware courts, in October 2008.
The RLG also reported that WorldSpace India was to continue trading but it looked (in November) as if Worldspace's UK operation was about to fold. The report includes this quote:
"This will mean an immediate suspension of the Afristar channels that were being transmitted from London by WRN".
Entering 'www.worldspace.com' into my browser's address bar diverts to 'www.1worldspace.com'. That site lists stations currently being broadcast on the AfriStar and AsiaStar satellites but the references to 'Buy' and 'Activate' suggest that the service is only available to subscribers.
The United Arab Emirates website for WorldSpace also lists channels on the AfriStar satellite but, once again, there are reference to subscriptions:
http://www.worldspace.ae/english/channels.asp? pg=03&srtby=satf&grd=g
Putting that lot together, I'm
guessing that WorldSpace's insolvent operations were salvaged but the business model was switched entirely to 'subscription only'.
Chris