Hartono, WorldSpace tie up

JAKARTA (JP): Local electronics manufacturer PT Hartono Istana Teknologi (HIT) signed an agreement with satellite broadcast provider WorldSpace Corporation on Thursday to manufacture and distribute satellite receivers designed for satellite programs.

HIT -- the producer of electronic goods under the brand names of Polytron, Digitec, and Okei -- would join Hitachi, Sanyo, JVC, and Panasonic to produce low-cost satellite receivers, it said in a statement.

"To speed up the manufacturing process, HIT plans to use its existing manufacturing platform so that WorldSpace satellite technology can be added to its popular products such as the Bazooke PSC 722 DC multi-band radio, tape and cassette combo," it said.

Based in Washington DC, WorldSpace provides more than 21 channels on its AsiaStar satellite which was launched in March 2000. Besides AsiaStar, the company also provides satellite broadcast services to Africa on its AfriStar satellite.

The special satellite receivers will enable customers to hear audio programs broadcasted from four different countries, as well as programs like audio CNN International, BBC Asia, and MTV Asia.

HIT plans to produce up to 500,000 units of satellite receivers annually for the Indonesian and international market. (tnt)