AIR Cuttack celebrates diamond Jubilee

Tuesday January 29 2008 11:19 IST Express News Service CUTTACK:

It was an evening of celebration, of commemorating the diamond jubilee of the All India Radio Akashvani Cuttack - that has informed, educated and entertained the populace of the State for over 60 years.Dance and music and fireworks filled the atmosphere at the Akashvani Kendra here on Monday with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in audience. A spectacular dance performance by the artistes of the Odissi Nrutya Mandal ushered in the festivity.Depicting the progress of the Kendra here over the years, they traced the activities of the station from transmitting classical music, to folk to modern music and songs along social programmes like drama, educational, news and even sports commentary.Addressing the gathering, Patnaik said that Akashvani Cuttack had impacted the people in a huge way and has played the pivotal role in promoting and popularising the culture and artistic heritage of the State.It has created many artistes who have carved a niche for themselves in the national and international spheres.Its role in spreading social messages to create awareness and educate people of all sections through programmes like Nari Mahal for women, Krushi Sansar for farmers and Yuva Vani for the youth have been unmatched.During natural calamities, AIR has been in the front taking lead in propagating news and information on the situation.Despite changes in mass media and onslaught of advanced technology in the contemporary times, it has held its sway over the people, the Chief Minister observed.Naveen also felicitated several artistes on the occasion. Septuagenarian thespian, director and radio artiste Hemanta Kumar Das was given the lifetime achievement award.The awards were also given to dramatist Ananda Chandra Padhi, radio artiste Braja Kishore Mohanty, writer and critic Baisnav Charan Samal, newsreader Debendranath Mishra, lyricist Gourahari Dalai, commentator Gopal Choudhury, singer Kalyani Bhattacharya, sound engineer Parsuram Bhuyan, announcer Radharani Sarkar, Daskathia artist Ramahari Padhi and lyricist Snehalata Mohanty.The first Rati Mishra Memorial award was given to radio play Sabujaka Swapna on the occasion. Among others, Station Director Sanjivani Sudha Patnaik and secretary of the Akashvani Recreation Centre Rabi Satpathy were present. The year-long celebration came to a close on Monday.

(Source : newindpress.com)

BBC radio now available on Bangladesh's bdnews24.com

Date: 29.01.2008

The BBC has teamed up with Bangladesh's leading news website bdnews24.com so its users can listen to BBC World Service radio.Thanks to the new partnership, visitors to the 24/7 site across the world can now access BBC radio programmes in English and Bangla.bdnews24.com is the first news site in Bangladesh to carry BBC radio content.Toufique I Khalidi, Chief Editor, bdnews24.com, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be associated with BBC World Service. I'm certain that this partnership will not only be of great convenience to many who'd gotten out of the habit of listening to the radio but also will prove beneficial to BBC and bdnews24.com."Neil Curry, BBC World Service Regional Business Development Manager for Asia, added: "We are committed to working with like-minded organisations across the widest possible range of platforms."Bangladesh is a very important country for the BBC, and this tie-up with bdnews24.com reflects our commitment. Availability of our radio content on this news website means further growth of the BBC's outreach around the world. It's an exciting development for us."BBC Bangla has around 17 million weekly listeners in Bangladesh and over 2.4 million weekly listeners in India. It has bureaux in Dhaka, Delhi and Kolkata, and broadcasts news, current affairs, sports, science and cultural features to the Bangla community worldwide.BBC Bangla broadcasts daily at 06.30-07.00, 07.30-08.00, 19.30-20.00 and 22.30-23.00 (Dhaka Time) via 100 FM in Dhaka, and on shortwave across South Asia. BBC Bangla programmes in audio can also be accessed at bbcbengali.com.bdnews24.com is the first web-based news site and news service, providing news content to newspapers, TV and radio stations, in Bangladesh. A 24/7 operation, it is accessed daily by over 100,000 unique users.It has related sites for children (Kidz), techies (Tech), writers and poets (Arts) and cricket, with the business site (Biz) ready for launch in early February.

(BBC World Service Publicity)

Tiruchi AIR wins `Akashvani' award

Staff ReporterTIRUCHI:

The Regional News Unit of the Tiruchi station of the All India Radio has won the `Akashvani' annual award 2006 for the `Best Regional News Unit in India.'The award will be given away at a function to be held in Jammu next month.The news unit has bagged the award for its special programmes produced during the period, innovation in news bulletins and current affairs programmes, improvement in infrastructure and extension of its existing services.According to a press release issued here on Monday, the performance of 44 regional news units across the country was assessed, and four units in Ranchi, Mumbai, Dibrugarh and Tiruchi were shortlisted in the first round.The Tiruchi unit's special programme `Thaerthal Kalam' broadcasted at the time of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and its steps to improve the quality of news helped it fetch the award.The Tiruchi is one of the first units to adopt computerised techniques.

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/27/stories/2007032705040200.htm

Sun launches its FM channel in Kanpur

28 Jan, 2008, 2139 hrs IST, PTI KANPUR:
Leading South Indian media group, Sun today launched its Hindi FM channel '93.5 SFM' here.In its earlier ventures in Uttar Pradesh, the group had launched similar channels in Lucknow Varanasi.It also announced its plan to start 45 FM stations across the country.The company has already started 21 FM radio stations, said Nisha Narayanan, Head, South Asia FM Ltd.With its slogan 'Jhumo Jamke Jhumo,' the channel will provide wholesome entertainment besides taking up issues related to people, she added.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/

Media__Entertainment/Sun_launches_its_FM_channel_in_Kanpur

_/articleshow/2738661.cms

VOA COVERAGE OF STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

VOA will provide extensive multi-media coverage in 45 languages of President Bush’s State of the Union address and the Democratic response

Washington, D.C., January 28, 2008 – The Voice of America (VOA) will provide extensive multi-media coverage in 45 languages of President Bush’s State of the Union address and the Democratic response.VOA’s in-depth coverage and analysis will include, (all UTC times are for January 29):

Live television broadcast with simultaneous interpretation in Persian in a special broadcast from 0030 to 0230 UTC (5:00 to 7:00 a.m. Tehran time). Setareh Derakhshesh and Vafa Mostaghim will co-anchor the program from VOA’s headquarters.

VOA’s Persian News Network reporter Siamak Deghanpour will report live from Capitol Hill. Shayan Samii and Babak Yektafar, both PNN political contributors, will provide analysis.A special radio/TV simulcast in English starting at 0200 UTC. VOA News Now’s Ira Mellman will host the program and be joined by VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone, VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson and VOA Capitol Hill Correspondent Dan Robinson.

VOA Mandarin will provide live reports of President Bush’s address during its 0000 to 0300 radio broadcast and follow up with an in depth television report at 1400 UTC (9:00 p.m. Beijing time).

Seven VOA European services will broadcast television reports to stations in Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.

Reports in Russian will be available via the Internet.VOA Dari will carry the address live on radio with simultaneous interpretation.

www.VOANews.com, VOA’s Internet site, will provide live audio and video streams of the President’s address and the Democratic response as well as on-demand audio and video streams, an MP3 download, news coverage, and full transcripts.(VOA Press Release)

TWR INDIA B07 FREQUENCY SCHEDULE

TWR INDIA B07

REVISED SW SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE 6TH JAN,2008

START END LANG FREQ DAYS SITE
--------------------------------------------------
0015 0030 BENGALI 7350,9455* MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
0030 0100 BHOJPURI 7350,9455* MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
0045 0100 DZONKA 7350,9455* SAT NOVOSIBIRSK
0045 0130 HINDI 7350,9455* SUN NOVOSIBIRSK
0100 0115 NEPALI 7350,9455* SAT NOVOSIBIRSK
0100 0130 NEPALI 7350,9455* MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
0115 0130 HINDI 7350,9455* SAT NOVOSIBIRSK
1230 1245 GUJARATI 7320 MON IRKUTSK
1230 1245 DHODIYA 7320 TUES/WED IRKUTSK
1230 1245 MAITHILI 7320 THU/FRI IRKUTSK
1230 1245 SANTHALI 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1230 1300 KOKBOROK 12065 FRI GUAM
1245 1300 KUI 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1245 1300 KOKBOROK 12065 SAT GUAM
1245 1315 URDU 7320 MON-FRI IRKUTSK
1300 1315 GARHWALI 5950 DAILY NOVOSIBIRSK
1300 1315 HO 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1300 1345 SANTHALI 11800 SUN GUAM
1315 1330 DOGRI 5950 MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
1315 1330 MARWARI 7320 SUN IRKUTSK
1315 1330 MEWARI 7320 THU/FRI IRKUTSK
1315 1330 BENGALI 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1315 1345 M.BENGALI 7320 MON/TUES IRKUTSK
1315 1345 PUNJABI 7320 WED IRKUTSK
1315 1430 HINDI 5950 SAT/SUN NOVOSIBIRSK
1330 1345 HINDI 5950 MON NOVOSIBIRSK
1330 1345 BONDO 7320 SUN IRKUTSK
1330 1345 DZONKA 7320 THU-SAT IRKUTSK
1330 1400 HINDI 5950 TUES/WED NOVOSIBIRSK
1330 1400 ASSAMESE 11800 MON-FRI GUAM
1330 1415 HINDI 5950 THU/FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
1345 1400 TIBETAN 5950 MON NOVOSIBIRSK
1345 1400 BUNDELI 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1345 1400 SANTHALI 12065 DAILY GUAM
1345 1415 BUNDELI 7320 SUN IRKUTSK
1345 1415 MAITHILI 7320 MON-FRI IRKUTSK
1400 1415 BRAJ BHASA 5950 MON/TUES NOVOSIBIRSK
1400 1415 KASHMIRI 5950 WED NOVOSIBIRSK
1400 1415 ORIYA 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1400 1415 BORO 12065 WED-SUN GUAM
1400 1415 M.BENGALI 12065 MON/TUES GUAM
1415 1430 BHOJPURI 5950 MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
1415 1430 KUMAONI 7320 SUN IRKUTSK
1415 1430 MAGAHI 7320 MON IRKUTSK
1415 1430 MUNDARI 7320 TUES/WED IRKUTSK
1415 1430 KURUKH 7320 THU-SAT IRKUTSK
1415 1430 MANIPURI 12065 SAT/SUN GUAM
1430 1445 HINDI 5950 MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
1430 1445 SADRI 7320 SAT/SUN IRKUTSK
1430 1500 PUNJABI 5950 SAT/SUN NOVOSIBIRSK
1430 1500 SINDHI 7320 MON-FRI IRKUTSK
1445 1500 CHODRI 7320 SAT/SUN IRKUTSK
1445 1515 PUNJABI 5950 MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
1500 1515 MARWARI 5950 SAT/SUN NOVOSIBIRSK
1500 1515 BHILI 7320 SAT/SUN IRKUTSK
1500 1530 KUTCHI 7320 MON-FRI IRKUTSK
1515 1530 MOUCHA 7320 SAT/SUN IRKUTSK
1515 1545 HINDI 5950 MON-FRI NOVOSIBIRSK
1530 1545 AWADHI 7320 SAT/SUN IRKUTSK
1530 1545 GAMIT 7320 MON-WED IRKUTSK
1530 1545 VASAVI 7320 THU/FRI IRKUTSK
1545 1600 HARYANVI 7320 SUN IRKUTSK
1545 1600 URDU 7320 MON-FRI IRKUTSK
1545 1600 HINDI 7320 SAT IRKUTSK
1600 1615 PASHTO 7315 SAT/SUN SAMARA
1600 1630 PASHTO 7315 MON-FRI SAMARA
1630 1645 DARI 7315 MON SAMARA

* 7350 : TILL 2ND FEB,2008
9455 : WEF 3RD FEB,2008

Reports to :
Trans World Radio,
L-15,Green Park,
New Delhi 110016,India.

AIR launches News-on-Phone service at Guwahati station

Jan 28
All India Radio has made all out efforts to communicate latest developments in form of news to the remotest parts of the North-East. The Director General of News, All India Radio, Dr PK Bandopadhyay said this while inaugurating the News-On-Phone Service at Guwahati Station of AIR Monday afternoon.Dr Bandopadhyay lauded the efforts of the AIR News officials in the North-East for their relentless service at providing information on the national issues, despite plethora of problems and difficulties facing the region. Dr Bandopadhyay emphasized on extension of News-On-Phone Service in all capital stations of All India Radio in the region, including Sikkim. He said All India Radio has become the most popular media despite competitive challenges from private TV channels and other audio-visual media. This has become possible only because of maintaining the traditional trustworthiness, objectivity and authenticity of AIR news, which were its benchmark since inception 71 years ago.Guwahati is the second AIR station in the region to have News-On-Phone service, after Imphal and the 13th in the Country. The function was addressed, among others, by Additional Director General of News, News Services Division, All India Radio, Dr Sadhana Rout, the Engineer-In-Chief HR Singh and the Deputy Director General of AIR and Doordarshan, North- East, Miss V Sekhose.

http://www.newsonair.com/news.asp?cat=national&id=NN636

EMWG 10th anniversary contest

Hi all,

In the coming months the EMWG will celebrate its 10th anniversary. On this occasion a quiz contest will be held, open to everybody, regardless of location or club membership.The quiz, 21 questions, will deal with many radio aspects, and will not solely cover medium wave.The contest dates have been set to 1 March 2008 through 30 April 2008. A special web site has been set up for the contest: www.emwg-contest.org

Please feel free to have a look. So as of 1 March you will be able to see/download the quiz from theweb site. Until then you can see what prizes have been added for theparticipants. There you will find the information on schedule, prizes (for now),sponsors, etc.As participating is (really) more important than winning, some prizes are given randomly to entrants. Finally, I would already like to thank the following sponsors: MediumWave Circle, Danish Shortwave Clubs International, RadioVisie, NASWA.

73- Herman

www.emwg.info

www.emwg-contest.org

Russian Dxer in Delhi

Igor V. Sannikov from Kirov (European part of Russia, 900 km East of Moscow) was in Delhi on 25th & 26th Jan, 2008 during his trip to India. We had a get together of dxers from Delhi on 25th evening at a restaurant "Fast Trax" in New Friends Colony, New Delhi.

About Igor Sannikov :
A DXer since mid-1970s, active participant in Soviet DX clubs movement, author of DX programs for several language sections of Radio Moscow External Services, author of articles about DXing in the USSR in "Monitoring Times" and "Popular Communications", former correspondent of "World Broadcast Engineering". http://sannikovs.tripod.com/

Logs for AIR - Republic Day special broadcast

819 All India Radio New Delhi Indraprastha Channel India Hindi Comm of Republic Day Parade OM 0614 UTC
954 All India Radio Najibabad India Hindi Commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0619 UTC
1017 All India Radio New Delhi India English Commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0621 UTC 1/26/2008
1143 All India Radio Rohtak India Hindi Commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0623 UTC 1/26/2008
4760 All India Radio Leh India Hindi Commentary of Republic Day parade by OM 0413 UTC 1/26/2008
5040 All India Radio Jeypore India Hindi commentary of Republic Day parade by OM 0418 UTC 1/26/2008
6000 All India Radio Leh India Hindi Commentary by OM 0445 UTC 1/26/2008
6000 All India Radio Leh India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by YL 0542 UTC 1/26/2008
6020 All India Radio Shimla India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by YL 0529 UTC 1/26/2008
6085 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India English commentary of Republic Day parade by Gauran Lal 0350 UTC
6085 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India English Commentary by OM - Manoj 0450 UTC 1/26/2008
6110 All India Radio Srinagar India Hindi commentary of Republic Day parade by OM Co-ch CRI Tibetan 0422 UTC
6155 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India Hindi commentary of Republic Day parade by OM 0423 UTC 1/26/2008
6155 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM/YL 0544 UTC 1/26/2008
7105 All India Radio Lucknow India Hindi Commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0548 UTC 1/26/2008
7105 All India Radio Lucknow India Hindi Commentary by YL 0456 UTC 1/26/2008
7130 All India Radio Shillong India English Commentary by YL 0458 UTC 1/26/2008
7140 All India Radio Hyderabad India Co-ch qrm by CNR 2 English comm. of Republic Day parade by OM 0426 UTC
7160 All India Radio Chennai India English commentary of Republic Day Parade by Gaura lal & Ranjit Ray 0537 UTC
7160 All India Radio Chennai India English commentary of Republic Day parade by YL 0428 UTC 1/26/2008
7180 All India Radio Bhopal India Hindi commentary of Republic Day parade by OM 0430 UTC 1/26/2008
7180 All India Radio Bhopal India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0539 UTC 1/26/2008
7195 All India Radio Mumbai India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM/YL 0510 UTC 1/26/2008
7230 All India Radio Kurseong India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by YL Chinese Co-ch qrm 0551 UTC
7240 All India Radio Mumbai India Hindi Commentary by OM 0501 UTC 1/26/2008
7240 All India Radio Mumbai India Hindi commentary of Republic Day Parade by YL 0555 UTC 1/26/2008
7280 All India Radio Guwahati India English Commentary by YL 0502 UTC 1/26/2008
7290 All India Radio Thiruvanathapuram India English commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0541 UTC 1/26/2008
7295 All India Radio Aizwal India English commentary of Republic Day Parade by OM 0508 UTC 1/26/2008
9595 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India Hindi comm. of Republic Day parade by OM, Splatter from China Radio Intl - 9600 Mandarin 0402 UTC 1/26/2008
9595 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India Hindi Commentary of Republic Day Parade - OM 0436 UTC 1/26/2008
9950 All India Radio Aligarh India English commentary of Republic Day parade by Ranjit Ray 0356 UTC 1/26/2008
11585 All India Radio Delhi (Khampur) English commentary of Republic Day parade by Om Weak 0442 UTC 1/26/2008
11620 All India Radio Delhi (Khampur) India Hindi commentary of Republic Day parade by OM 0406 UTC 1/26/2008
15020 Only carrier
15050 All India Radio B'lore India English commentary of Republic Day parade by OM 0400 UTC 1/26/2008

Foll channels were noted carrying cricket commentary :
666 All India Radio New Delhi Rajdhani Channel India India Vs Australia Cricket commentary OM 0618 UTC 1/26/2008
4860 All India Radio Delhi (Kingsway) India English India Vs Australia Cricket Commentary (OM) 0416 UTC 1/26/2008 7120 All India Radio Jaipur India English India Vs Australia Test Match Cricket commentary OM 0550 UTC 1/26/2008

Foll channels were noted carrying regular programming :
9870 All India Radio VBS Bangalore India Hindi Patriotic Song OM Ye Bharat Desh Hai Mera 0431 UTC 1/26/2008
15075 All India Radio Bangalore India Hindi Patriotic Song "Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja" 0432 UTC 1/26/2008
15185 All India Radio Aligarh India Hindi Patriotic Song "Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja" 0434 UTC 1/26/2008

Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi

TWR - BENIN TXER WILL START BROADCSATING

PRESS RELEASE: BENIN TRANSMITTER WILL START BROADCASTING

After several years of preparation, Trans World Radio will begin broadcasting programmes from their new transmitting station in Benin on 1 February 2008. Last week saw TWR staff working hard to solve several technical issues with the new equipment before the transmitter could be officially switched on by Nautel’s commissioning engineer, Tim Oaks. TWR-Africa’s Regional Engineer, James Burnett, says, “The testing and commissioning of the transmitter hasn’t gone entirely smoothly. There have been technical challenges, but these have not been of a nature that will prevent us from going on air.” Following the initial switching on of the transmitter, further testing has been carried out. The transmitting station will be used to broadcast programmes that have been produced by pastors, Christian organizations and church leaders in West Africa and has the potential to reach up to 63 million people. Published 14 January 2008
(Source : TWR Africa)

Gambia: Gov't Bans Radio France International

The Gambia Government has resumed its crackdown on the press, as it banned Radio France International relay FM Station, which is aired on state radio, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal.
Full story at :
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801220691.html

Decision Extends Radio Station HCJB’s Shortwave Broadcasts

HCJB Global Voice in Ecuador has been granted an extension to continue using its shortwave radio antennas that are scheduled for dismantling and removal from the mission’s international transmission site near Pifo, a town 18 miles east of Quito.
The extension postpones, for at least six months, removals that the station agreed to two years earlier with the Quito Airport Corporation (CORPAQ) to make way for a new international airport. Once the new facility is completed, some of the shortwave station’s antenna towers could obstruct the approach of landing planes.
“Specifically, this means that we can continue broadcasting on two shortwave frequencies to Brazil,” said Doug Weber, radio director for the Latin America Region. “Two frequencies allows us to better cover Brazil. With two, we can cover both north and south Brazil. This allows us to continue to cover Brazil well.”
The mission agreed that 30 towers would be removed by December 2007. The first phase of dismantling, initiated in early 2006, saw 18 towers lowered. HCJB Global’s engineering staff was poised to remove 12 more towers in the second phase. But Weber was informed that CORPAQ granted the mission’s request for continued use of those 12 towers, along with 18 others that will not impede approaching aircraft.
“It also means we can continue with test transmissions of digital shortwave signals to Europe and other countries while opening the way to digital shortwave broadcasting to Brazil,” Weber said, adding that while European listener replies to the digital broadcasts are few, the listeners report a strong signal. “We’re very thankful to the Lord for letting us continue with these ministries,” he said.
HCJB Global Voice is conducting German-language digital shortwave broadcasts as a member of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), a global consortium of broadcasters, broadcasting associations, network operators, manufacturers, research institutions, regulatory bodies and others.
In addition, on Saturday, Jan. 26, the pioneer missionary broadcaster will inaugurate a daily, one-hour DRM program stream in Portuguese created especially for the digital shortwave format. Weber said the programs will be recorded by staff members at the HCJB Global-Brazil office in Curitiba.

Source: HCJB Global

Alan Johnston to host BBC's From Our Own Correspondent

Date: 21.01.2008

Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter who was kidnapped in Gaza last year, is the new presenter of From Our Own Correspondent for BBC World Service.His first programme airs this weekend on Saturday 26 January at 2.05am, and Sunday 27 January at 12.05am, 11.05am and 3.05pm.During his career, Alan has written a series of dispatches for the long-running BBC Radio programme from the Middle East as well as CentraI Asia and Afghanistan.In one of the pieces he wrote in Gaza before he was kidnapped, he admitted that the possibility of being taken hostage terrified him.During the 114 days he was kept prisoner by the Army of Islam he spent hours working out how, once free, he would tell his story on the programme regular listeners know as FOOC. And in October last year an entire edition of the programme, some 27 minutes, was given over to Alan's story.Commenting on his new job, Alan said: "I hope that the show might benefit from having a regular presenter, and one who has both contributed to it and been a fan for many years. The structure of the programme will stay the same however – the extraordinarily successful FOOC formula would be very hard to improve."In a world where the correspondents' stories must often be condensed into a minute or less, or perhaps confined to a single answer to a programme presenter's question, From Our Own Correspondent gives them an opportunity to say a little more – to provide some of the context to the stories they are covering, to describe some of the characters involved and some of the sights they see as they watch events unfold.Tony Grant, producer of FOOC, said: "I am delighted to be working more closely with Alan. In the past most of our conversations were down crackly phone lines. He may have done loads of pieces for our programme but I never got to meet him until after his kidnap ordeal. It will be great now to work side by side with him, he'll make a really terrific presenter."The author and war reporter Kate Adie will continue to present BBC Radio 4's version of FOOC, which is designed more for British listeners.

History of FOOC

When From Our Own Correspondent started its regular broadcasts, in 1955, the BBC employed only a handful of foreign correspondents – and they didn't get out a great deal. In those days, the Corporation relied on international news agencies for coverage of foreign affairs and the small band of correspondents felt underused. FOOC was created specifically as a forum in which they could provide background to some of the stories in the news.Half a century on, FOOC still aims to help listeners to BBC Radio make more sense of what's going on in other parts of the world. It also offers them a direct personal link to the BBC's army of correspondents and a chance to share the enthusiasm they feel in covering what are often momentous events across the globe.Listen to

From Our Own Correspondent on BBC World Service on Saturday 26 January at 2.05am, Sunday 27 January at 12.05am, 11:05am and 3.05pm.

(BBC World Service Press Release)

Recipients of First-Ever Yasme Excellence Awards Announced

The Yasme Foundation has announced the winners of the first-ever Yasme Excellence Awards. These awards are given for service and dedication to Amateur Radio as recognized by the foundation's Directors, and are in the form of a plaque and a monetary award. The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct scientific and educational projects related to Amateur Radio, including DXing and the introduction and promotion of Amateur Radio in underdeveloped countries.

Full story at :
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/01/21/100/

GEORGIA: OPPOSITION BROADCASTER SHUTS DOWN AS POLITICAL SCANDALS HEAT UP

Before a presidential election, voters in many countries might well expect accusations and counteraccusations to dominate the news. But the nature of a political scandal in Georgia has surprised even jaded observers and led the country's most prominent nonstate broadcaster to take itself off the air.

Full story at :
http://tinyurl.com/27ucck

Radio Mirchi to go on air in Kerala capital

19 Jan, 2008, 2145 hrs IST, PTI
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Radio listeners in the Kerala capital will be treated with chartbuster Malayalam music and wacky RJ talk with the imminent launch of Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM, the first radio station to go on air from here. The programmes on Radio Mirchi include `Morning Raagam,' breakfast show `Hello Thiruvananthapuram,' `Ladies Colony,' filmy gossip `Mollywood Matinee,' evening programme `Bumper 2 Bumper,' `Bellbottoms' for nostalgic music and `Dr Love' for love dedications, a press release here said. The programmes are also packed with news useful to the public on traffic, weather, stocks and updates on local events Rahul Balyan, Cluster Head of Radio Mirchi for Karnataka and Kerala, said that the style of programming of the station would revitalise the city and its listeners just as it could win loyalties in Chennai, Bangalore and other cities. The release did not specify the exact date of the launch, but Mirchi sources said Radio Mirchi would go on air later this month.

http://tinyurl.com/2nmznr

All India Radio Special Broadcasts

"All India Radio" will broadcast following special programmes in connectionwith the Republic Day Celebrations.
25 Jan 2008 (Fri) - 1900 IST (1330 UTC) onwards :
President's Address to theNation. 9835, 9575, 5015, 6030, 6085

26 Jan 2008 (Sat) - 0920 IST (0350 UTC) onwards :
Running commentary on theRepublic Day Parade and Cultural Pageant from Rajpath
Hindi Commentary : 9595, 11620, 15020
English Commentary :6085, 9950, 11585,15050

29 Jan 2008 (Tues) - 2200-2230 IST (1630-1700 UTC)
Radio Report on 'BeatingRetreat' ceremony. 7140, 9835, 9575, 6085

Note : 9950 via Aligarh, 15050 via B'lore, all other freq's via Delhi.
Consequent to the above special broadcasts there will bechanges/cancellation in the schedule of National bulletins in Regionallanguages, Hindi/English News & Current Affairas programmes.
All stations of AIR will relay at least one of theseprograms.

Reception reports to: spectrum-manager@air.org.in
Or can be submitted online at :http://www.allindiaradio.gov.in/recepfdk.html

ABU DIGITAL RADIO CONVENTION

Radio Mirchi launches in Raipur

Indiantelevision.com
(15 January 12:00 pm)
MUMBAI: Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM has launched in Raipur,
taking the total number of stations to 30 all over the country.
Besides Raipur, Radio Mirchi is already operational in places
including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Indore,
Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Pune, Patna,
Jalandhar, Goa, Bhopal, Vadodara, Kanpur, Rajkot,
Varanasi, Nashik, Lucknow, Surat, Aurangabad, Kolhapur,
Madurai, Nagpur, Vishakapatnam, Vijayawada and
Mangalore.
Radio Mirchi will roll out two more radio stations by the
end of the year, to complete the total number of 32
stations in India.

http://www.radioandmusic.com/headlines/y2k8/jan/
15jan/radio_mirchi.php

RNW to tailor radio content for local stations

By ShalabhRadioandmusic.com(17 January 2:00 pm)MUMBAI:
RNW (Radio Netherlands Worldwide), an independent multimedia companybased in Holland, plans to create local content for Indian private FMstations customized to local preferences.RNW's Country Representative Amitabh Srivastava says, "First of all, we wantto get a clear picture of what's needed in the Indian market. We do not wantto impose our existing programming as-is on our potential partners. Insteadwe are looking for ways to come up with hybrid programming, shaped in closecooperation with our partners, containing interesting information from amore global ad Dutch perspective, complemented by material produced locallyin India, thus combining the best of both worlds."RNW is present on shortwave (SW) and Wprldspace, but the response is notencouraging, "Due to the increase in the number of FM stations in India, ourshortwave audience is declining. Instead, we are now seeking partnershipswith Indian radio stations. We think this is the right time since there areso many new radio stations starting up in India. RNW already haspartnerships with 3000+ radio stations worldwide. We have a lot ofexperience in working through this model. We will be distinguishingourselves by thinking globally, but acting locally" expounds Srivastava.It also plans to explore possibilities in other multimedia platforms likeDTH, mobile and cable. http://www.radioandmusic.com/headlines/y2k8/jan/17jan/rnw.php

BBC to get audio, text news to mobiles

By ShalabhRadioandmusic.com(16 January 12:00 pm)MUMBAI:
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is set to bring audio and text mobile news services into India.BBC already provides the news on mobile service in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Talks are on with mobile service providers in India and the deals are likely to be sealed in a few weeks, sources say.While text news alert services are not a new concept for Indian mobile phone users, audio news services would be a novelty in this country.Says BBC India Business Development Manager Vineeta Dwivedi, "In radio, we have always had a good listenership in India which is growing now with the new FM audiences. Our aim is to make it available on all new platforms." Clearly, the BBC is planning to explore options in all existing platforms of communication available, including FM, broadband, DTH channel distribution system, mobile phone and satellite radio. The BBC already has 19 million short wave listeners in India who listen to the BBC World Service regularly. Also, the same service is available on WorldSpace satellite radio."We have a reputation of making programmes of integrity, intelligence and relevance. And we bring the same expertise to the Indian market; combine it with local needs and tastes to deliver new and different programmes," says Dwivedi. http://www.radioandmusic.com/headlines/y2k8/jan/16jan/bbc.php

LOGS - 1/15 & 1/16

Here are some of my logs, mostly on 60 mb.
Logged on 1/15 & 1/16.

3945 AIR Gorakhpur India 45444 Urdu Talk on revo.of 1857 by OM 1531 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
3945 All India Radio Gorakhpur India 33443 Nepali Talk by OM in Nepali - Co-ch qrm by VOIROI in Urdu 0142 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
3975 Pakistan B.C. Rawalpindi Pakistan 45444 Urdu 1520 UTC Financial/sports news by OM, 1520 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
3985 CNR 2 Geermu 916 China 45444 Mandarin 1554 : Song by YL 1554 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
3990 PBS Xinjiang (CNR8) Urumqui China 44444 Mandarin Song YL 1555 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4010 KYRGYZ RADIO 1 Bishkek Kyrgyzistan 35333 Kyrgyz Talk by OM 1556 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4050 Radio Rossii Bishkek Kyrgyzistan 35333 Russian Talk by OM 1559 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4330 PBS Xinjiang Urumqui China 45444 Kazakh Talk by YL 1612 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4330 PBS Xinjiang Urumqui China 45444 Kazakh Music 1645 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4460 CRI Beijing China 35333 Chinese-Mandarin Talk by OM/YL 1646 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4500 China Radio International Urumqui China 45544 Mongolian Music 1647 UTC 1/15/2008
4635 Radio Tajikistan Dushanbe Tajikistan 35333 Tajik Talk by OM 1648 UTC 1/15/2008 A
4760 Trans World Radio Manzini Swaziland 44444 Ndebele Talk by OM 1649 UTC 1/15/2008
4775 All India Radio Imphal India 35433 Manipuri Song, foll by stn id/freq anncts by YL 1658 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4775 AIR Imphal India 35333 Vernacular Discussion 0113 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4810 AIR Bhopal India 45544 Hindi Classical Song - OM Singer 1703 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4820 AIR Kolkata India 32432 Hindi Classical Song OM Singer,Severe Co-ch QRM CNR 1704UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4820 AIR Kolkata India 22532 Hindi Severe co-ch qrm PBS Xizang 100 kW,Lhasa, China 0117 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4820 PBS Xizang Lhasa China 45544 Chinese-Mandarin song, foll by id by YL 1759 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4828 Voice of Zimbabwe Gweru Zimbabwe 35333 Vernacular Vernacular Music 1801 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4835 All India Radio Gangtok India 45444 Nepali Talk by OM/YL in Nepali 0118 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4840 AIR Mumbai India 45544 Hindi Classical Song - YL Singer 1706 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4860 AIR Delhi (Kingsway) India 45444 Hindi Talk by OM 0119 UTC 1/16/2008
4880 AIR Lucknow India 23432 Hindi Classical Music - Severe co-channel qrm SW Radio Africa 1707 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4895 AIR Kurseong India 45544 Nepali Devotional Talk by OM in Nepali 0120 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4920 AIR Chennai Chennai (Madras) India 44544 Hindi News YL Co-ch qrm by PBS Xizang 50 Kw 1732 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4920 AIR Chennai India 43543 Hindi Talk by YL Co-ch PBS Xizang, Lhasa, China 100 kW 0122 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4930 VOA Selebi-Phikwe Botswana 45444 English News by YL news reader 1738 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4940 AIR Guwahati India 45544 Assamese Public service annct 0124 UTC STn ID YL 0123 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4965 Christian Voice Lusaka Zambia 35333 English Song by YL 1807 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
4970 AIR Shillong India 45544 English song - YL 0125 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
4975 Voice of Russia Dushanbe-Yanivul Tajikistan 45444 English News - OM 1807 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
5010 AIR Thiruvananthapuram India 45544 News in Sanskrit - OM 0126 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
5015 AIR New Delhi Delhi (Kingsway) India 45544 Hindi Classical Music 1809 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
5040 AIR Jeypore India 55544 Sanskrit News - Male News Reader 0127 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
5920 Radio Japan (NHK) Skelton United Kingdom 45444 English Talk by YL on Tsunami 0013 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
5955 Dem. Voice of Burma Wertachtal Germany 45444 Burmese Talk by OM/YL 0014 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
5965 AWR Moosbrunn Austria 45544 Urdu Devotional Talk by OM 0218 UTC 1/16/2008
5990 AIR Aligarh India 45444 Sindhi Song by OM 0127 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
6010 Radio Bahrain Abu Hayan Bahrain 35333 English English Pop songs 0016 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
6045 IBC TAMIL Wertachtal Germany 45544 Tamil 00129 ID & Talk by YL 0028 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
6175 Voice of Vietnam Sackville Canada 45544 English News - Om (Indian PM's visit to China) 0109 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
6260 CVC International Tashkent Uzbekistan 45544 Hindi Devotional Talk by YL 1804 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
6260 CVC International Tashkent Uzbekistan 45544 Hindi OM Presenter 0020 UTC This months quiz 1/16/2008 AG
6260 CVC International Tashkent Uzbekistan 45544 Hindi Hindi Song 0133 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
6260 CVC International Tashkent Uzbekistan 45444 Hindi 0235 UTC : Punjabi Song - OM Singer 0235 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
7180 All India Radio Bhopal India 00000 Hindi Not heard - severe co-ch qrm China Radio Intl in English 0129 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
7180 All India Radio Bhopal India 00000 Hindi Severe co-channel qrm by China Radio Intl in english 0131 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
7270 Radio Cairo Abu Zaabal Egypt 35333 English Talk by OM 0222 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
7440 Radio Ukraine International Lviv Ukraine 45444 Ukrainian Talk by OM 0032 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9440 Radio Slovakia International Rimavska Sobota Slovak Republic 35433 English News YL 0106 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9480 CVC International Tashkent Uzbekistan 45544 English News YL 0102 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9510 Radio Veritas Asia Palauig Philippines 25332 Bengali Weak - Talk by YL 0034 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9670 Radio Veritas Asia Palauig Philippines 25332 Hindi Weak - Talk by OM 0038 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9785 Radio Taiwan International Issoudun France 43533 Eng News by YL, U've got mail Eli+Natalie 1600 UTC 1/15/2008 AG
9850 Deutsche Welle Unknown Unknown 00000 Bengali Not heard 0104 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9850 Deutsche Welle Trincomalee Sri Lanka 45544 Urdu Talk by OM 0220 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9870 All India Radio VBS Bangalore India 45544 Hindi 0025 UTC : Prog anncts (OM) 0021 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
9875 Radio Vilnius Sitkunai Lithuania 35333 Weak - Talk by OM 0031 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
11550 Radio Taiwan International Tainan Taiwan 25333 English Music 1643 UTC 1/15/2008
11820 Deutsche Welle Kranji Singapore 45544 Bengali News - Male News Reader 0102 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
11820 Deutsche Welle Kranji Singapore 45544 Hindi Report on Indian PM's tour to Australia - OM 0138 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
12025 Radio PILIPINAS Tinang Philippines 45444 English Dateline Philipines - News report by YL 0226 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
15285 Radio PILIPINAS Tinang Philippines 45444 English News report by YL presenter. 0224 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
15575 Radio Korea International (KBS) Kimjae Korea, South 35433 English 0230 UTC Song by YL 0230 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
15620 Deutsche Welle Kranji Singapore 45544 Urdu Talk by M 0221 UTC 1/16/2008 AG
17770 Radio PILIPINAS Tinang Philippines 45544 English News report by YL 0222 UTC 1/16/2008 AG

This report was generated by Shortwave Log.


Rx : ICOM R71
Ant : 30 Ft Longwire

AMU to launch community radio and television soon

New Delhi Monday, Jan 14 2008 IST
The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) would soon launch community radio followed by community television in an attempt to bridge the communication gap with students. AMU Vice Chancellor Prof Abdul Aziz stated this inaugurating 3-Camera Production Studio at the Department of Mass Communication on the varsity campus today. Interacting with post-graduate students of Mass Communication, he said the University was planning to launch the community radio to bridge the communication gap with the students. Prof Aziz said this would be proposed by community television. The University would provide all necessary infrastructure staff and facilities to the Department of Mass Communication to launch the radio, he added. The Vice Chancellor said the students would get the much required practical training with the launch of the community radio. In reply to a question, Prof Aziz said the University would start some new job oriented courses such as graduate courses in bio-informatics, disaster management, agriculture and retail marketing. In a statement here, AMU spokesperson Dr Rahat Abrar said the Department of Mass Communication has set up the 3-Camera Studio at a cost of more than Rs one crore. ''We give hands-on training to students in news and current affairs programmes besides studio interview and talk shows,'' said Department chairman Dr M Shafey Kidwai. -- (UNI)

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080114/868957.html

Trichy says Hello to radio with Hello FM

From correspondents in Tamil Nadu, India, 04:25 PM IST
Hello 106.4FM, has recently launched its radio station on 14th January 2008. The launch of this station has closely followed the radio station’s launch in other centers in Tamil Nadu like Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Coimbatore and more recently Puduchery. Trichy is considered a strategically important market as the city is growing phenomenally and is likely to be the next retail capital. The radio station is looking at Trichy as a very important hub as it is one of the largest radio markets in Tamil nadu. Hello FM is all set to replicate their success formula of programming and marketing activities which has made them the market leaders in all other towns of their operation. Hello FM has been giving away gold coins to all its listeners on the first day of launch. This promo had received unprecedented success and support from the listeners. The launch in Trichy too is filled with lots of fun filled activities in addition to the 1064 gold coins which will be given to the listeners on the inaugural day. The launch of the Trichy radio station would make Hello FM as the largest network of private FM stations in Tamil nadu. They are also planning to roll out a few mega promotional activities in the coming few months for their listeners across Tamilnadu, to reiterate the fact that Hello FM is the life line and voice Tamilnadu.Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Rajeev Nambiar, Chief Operating Officer, Hello FM said, “We are very excited, completely geared and are eagerly looking forward to entertaining Trichy with the best of our programs. We are highly enthused to conquest the air space considering the fact that the city has had an early exposure to faint signals of FM stations from the SriLanka. Our understanding is that the listeners here are very radio friendly and familiar with the radio unlike the Chennaites who woke up to private FM revolution way back in 2003. The market here is ready to grab every opportunity that Hello FM has to offer. We would be focused to serve as the choicest platform to the local and national advertisers, thus giving Trichy the much needed fill up in the media entertainment space.”Powered by extensive research and understanding of the market gap and backed by vibrant local talent, Hello FM is very upbeat of emerging as an early leader in private FM space. With an aim to touch maximum listener base in pan Tamil Nadu, with stations operating in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Pondicherry, Hello 106.4FM is on its way to grab the pulse of the entire Tamil Nadu populace.

http://www.indiaenews.com/pressrelease/20080115/91720.htm

VOA LAUNCHES NEWS BLOG

This month the Voice of America (VOA) enters into a dialogue with its Internet audience about its journalistic standards and editorial decisions through the just-launched VOA News Blog Washington, D.C., January 15, 2008 - This month the Voice of America (VOA) enters into a dialogue with its Internet audience about its journalistic standards and editorial decisions through the just-launched VOA News Blog. "We want to shed more light on the journalistic standards that guide VOA," said Alex Belida, Senior Advisor for News and the chief writer of the VOA News Blog. "This is a valuable avenue for engaging our audience, taking them behind the scenes and explaining how we cover the news."The first installments are now online at http://voanewsblog.blogspot.com/. One talks about the new VOA handbook and the principles of credibility, independence, and respect that every VOA journalist must uphold. Another VOA News Blog posting focuses on how VOA decides to use the term "rebel" instead of "terrorist." Future postings will look at core editorial guidelines such as the VOA Charter, which requires programming to be accurate, objective, comprehensive, and balanced. As the dialogue expands, VOA will draw on the knowledge and expertise of editors and writers from throughout its newsroom and 45 languages services.Alex Belida has been VOA's Senior Advisor for News since March 2007. From 2004 to 2007, he was VOA's Managing Editor for News. He has served at VOA's Senior White House Correspondent and Pentagon Correspondent, and he has also done stints as a correspondent in Africa and Europe. In 2006, he received the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award in journalism from Columbia University. Last week, VOA debuted an African music blog African Music Treasures and other specialized blogs will be available in the future.(VOA Press release)

BBC Bengali Addtl txns & VOA Urdu freq changes

Additional BBC Bengali coverage

Sat, 12 Jan 2008
Additional transmission noted from BBC Bengali Service :
0330-0430 13770 15225 17485 every Mo,Tu
1330-1500 9435 11655 every Su
(1330-1400 hrs regular channels are 7225 7430 11835 kHz).
-----------------------------------------
Further changes to VOA Urdu Service

Thu, 10 Jan 2008
Starting 14th January VOA Urdu service moved its 11705 kHz
frequency to 7495 kHz at 1400-1500 hrs. The revised schedule
is as follows :
1400-1800 7495 9370 kHz
1800-1900 7425 7495 kHz

(Alok Dasgupta, http://www.dxasia.info/)

BBC launches two new shows for FM

Indiantelevision.com Team(11 January 2008 5:00 pm)MUMBAI: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), that providescontent to a clutch of private FM stations in India, is launching twonew radio programmes, BBC- Take One and BBC Fun n Games this week.According to BBC's India Development Manager Vineeta Dwivedi, both shows are cast in the 'radio magazine' format, the first such in the country. Both shows will be made available to FM stations subscribing to its current content, according to the BBC.Take One will focus on the Indian entertainment industry and will have snippets of film stars sharing their views on air in the 15 minute segments. One of the initial episodes will have actor Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan talking about their latest flick Halla Bol.Unlike BBC's one minute news capsules, Take One will be a 15 minute long programme which will have celebrities and Bollywood talking on the show. It will also have reviews, critics and analyses of films, music and other aspects of entertainment. "This is the first time that audiences would hear regular radio magazines.The quality of content in 'BBC Take One' and 'BBC Fun n Games' would definitely entertain the listeners immensely. Therefore, our plan is to continue to make new programmes for our partner radio stations and provide variety to the FM listeners. BBC programmes are already on air in about 10 cities in India and we are planning to launch in other cities as well," says Dwivedi.The BBC's special output for India's FM market includes infotainment updates, BBC Ek Minute, and the Sunday chat show, Ek Mulaqat, available via partner stations - Radio One in Delhi, Chennail and Mumbai, Radio Choklate in Bhubanswar and Cuttack, Radio Tarang in Hissar and Radio Tomato in Kolhapur. Ek Mulaqat is hosted by BBC World Service India editor Sanjeev Srivastava.Radio Choklate director Monica Nayyar Patnaik says the station has received the content for the new shows, but the station will put them on air only after a couple of weeks, when the Rourkela station of Radio Choklate goes live.
http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/
com/headlines/y2k8/jan/jan101.php

LU to get its own community radio centre

Express news servicePosted online: Tuesday , January 15, 2008 at 10:04:05Updated: Monday , January 14, 2008 at 10:19:22Lucknow, January 14 Lucknow University (LU) will soon set up a communityradio centre, which will primarily broadcast programmes on health,education, sanitation and environment."Despite the fact that the reach of media has expanded considerably, thereare several issues that are overlooked by the media. For example, unlikeother broadcasting agencies, we will focus on programmes like nurturingnewborns, mother and child nutrition, water purification, safe waterstorage, recognising dehydration, etc," said Prof Ramesh Chandra Tripathi,head of the Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) department.The upcoming radio centre will function under the varsity's JMC department.Regular information on competitive examinations, submission of admissionforms, job vacancies will be the other important highlights of the radiocentre.According to varsity officials, LU has already received the nod from theHuman Resource and Development Ministry in this connection.A proposal to set up its own community radio centre was sent by LU to theHRD ministry in May 2007."Our proposal is in the last stages of clearance. We are only waiting forconfirmation from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry," said Tripathi.He added, "If all goes well, we will start our community radio in the nextacademic session."The broadcast range of the community radio will initially be restricted to aradius of 10 km.Students of the varsity have already started making documentaries."The documentaries intend to spread the level of awareness among the commonpeople," said a faculty member, who is assisting the students in preparingprogrammes.To have an impact and attract audience, we are using local dialects andsongs based on tunes of popular Hindi movies, he added.http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/LU-to-get-its-own-community-radio-centre/261382/

Entertainment Network starts broadcast from Raipur radio station

Entertainment Network India (ENIL), the largest private FM radio

broadcaster in India, announced today the commencement of

broadcast from its radio station at Raipur with effect from 7.00

a.m. on Jan. 11, 2008. Incorporated in 1999, ENIL is owned by

Times Infotainment India (TIML), a 100% owned subsidiary

of Bennett Coleman, the flagship company of the Times group.

ENIL is the largest private FM radio broadcaster in India, based on
the number of operating stations and listeners. It operates FM radio
broadcasting stations through the brand `Radio Mirchi` in seven

Indian cities. It is the only company with private FM radio stations

in all 4 metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatta.

The company`s brand, `Radio Mirchi` has won 4 awards received

by radio broadcasters from the Radio and Television Advertising

Practitioner`s Association of India in 2004.

http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=2008

0114200240121&dir =2008/01/14&secID=livenews

REDISCH JOINS VOA AS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Redisch joins VOA after a 20-year career with CNN,
where he earned two Emmy Awards and a National
Headliner Award Washington, D.C., January 9,
2008 - Veteran television news executive Steve
Redisch joined the Voice of America (VOA) this
week as Executive Editor. He supervises the
daily operations and activities of VOA's news,
programs, language services, broadcast operations,
and Internet departments.
Redisch joins VOA after a 20-year career with
CNN, where he earned two Emmy Awards and a
National Headliner Award. "Steve's record of
strong news judgment, keen competitive instincts,
experience working in audio, video, and Internet
media, and his reputation as a team builder and
leader, make him the ideal individual to help VOA
continue to grow as an international multi-media
provider of exclusive, trustworthy news and
information," said VOA Director Danforth W. Austin.
Redisch began his broadcasting career in 1979 at
WTOP all-news radio in Washington, D.C. after
attending American University. In 1987 he moved to
CNN's Washington bureau as a television writer
and producer, and in 1992 he relocated to Atlanta
as a producer for the growing CNN International
network.
Some of the many highlights of his CNN career
include launching the network's flagship primetime
news show, The World Today, as executive producer
in 1998; serving as executive producer of such
special events as political conventions, State
of the Union addresses, and the 2001 Presidential
Inauguration; and managing the news gathering staff
and directing editorial content as Deputy Bureau
Chief and Executive Editor in Washington, D.C from
2002 until 2005. Most recently, he oversaw the bureau's
multi-million dollar budget while coordinating White
House coverage with other networks and media outlets,
and adapted the bureau's reporting to meet the
different demands and requirements of CNN's many
distinct shows, networks, and Internet platforms.
The Voice of America, which first went on the air
in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting
service funded by the U.S. government through the
Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts
more than 1,000 hours of news, information,
educational, and cultural programming every week
to an estimated worldwide audience of more than
115 million people. Programs are produced in 45
languages
(VOA Press Release)

Harris Corporation Awarded Contract to Help Modernize International Broadcasting Bureau's Voice of America Facility

Broadcast Systems Integrator CEI Chosen to Design
and Install VOA Broadcast System

CINCINNATI and NEWINGTON, Va., Jan. 9 -- Harris
Corporation (NYSE: HRS),an international communications
and information technology company, has been awarded a
contract from broadcast systems integrator Communications
Engineering Inc. to help modernize the International
Broadcasting Bureau's Voice of America (VOA) facility
in Washington, D.C.Communications Engineering Inc.
(CEI) is designing the facility's new broadcast system.
Under the contract, Harris Broadcast Communications
will provide master control, routing and quality control
systems -- including 12 channels of master control playback
controlled by a Harris automation system, extensive ingest
and record list control, NEO(R) and 6800+(TM) modular
series frame synchronizers and converters, and Videotek(R)
VTM-3100 test monitors.
CEI chose the Harris automation solution because VOA
demanded high reliability and a proven system widely used
in the industry in order to broadcast information," said
Lawrence Brody, president and CEO of CEI.
The VOA broadcasts news and information to more than 115
million people weekly through television, radio and the
Internet, as well as to a growing worldwide network of
more than 1,200 local affiliate stations. The International
Broadcasting Bureau provides administrative and engineering
support for U.S. government-funded, nonmilitary,international
broadcast services, such as the VOA. Harris Broadcast
Communications offers products, systems and services that
provide interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire
broadcast delivery chain. The Harris ONE approach brings
together highly integrated and cost-effective products that
are ideal for emerging media business models and for
customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-
definition services.

About CEI
CEI, located in Newington, Va., is a leading, award-
winning broadcast and multimedia systems integrator.
The company also offers complete equipment service,
support and training, and supplies products and
services to federal agencies and organizations
through GSA. CEI has helped to define the leading
edge of systems engineering and implementation for
the communications industry since mid-1980s.

About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and
information technology company serving government
and commercial markets in more than 150 countries.
Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company
has annual revenue of over $4 billion and 16,000
employees -- including nearly7,000 engineers and
scientists. Harris is dedicated to eveloping
best-in-class assured communications(TM) products,
systems, and services. Additional information about
Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.

(Press Release)

BES EXPO 2008

BES EXPO 2008 is the Conference and Exhibition on Terrestrial
& SatelliteBroadcasting. It will be held from 23rd to 25th Feb
2008 in Delhi.
It is the 14th in the series of expos being organised by the
Broadcast Engineering Society (India).
This event follows BES EXPO 2007, which was appreciated, by
exhibitors,delegates as well as visitors. Nearly 300 companies
from 25 countries displayed their products in BES EXPO 2007
directly or through their dealers in India. Exhibiting companies
included those from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel,Italy, Japan,
Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland,
Taiwan, U.K. and U.S.A.

Date And Venue
Dates: 23rd to 25th Feb 2008.
Venue: Pragati Maidan , New Delhi in Halls 12 & 12A.
Pragati Maidan is India's biggest exhibition centre and is located
in the heart of Delhi.

Exhibition
The exhibition will be held in Halls 12A. Entry to the exhibition
is free.

Visitors' Profile
BES EXPO 2008 is expected to be visited by nearly 6,000 engineers,
managers,cinematographers, consultants, entrepreneurs and policy &
decision- makers from Radio and TV broadcasting organisations as
well as studio and post-production units in the private, public
and Government sectors in India.

Conference
The conference will be held in Hall 12.

Theme
The theme of the BES EXPO 2008 is:
Multi-faceted Broadcasting -- Present and Future

Sessions
The three-day conference will be held concurrently with the exhibition in
Hall 12. Besides keynote addresses, the conference will have the following
sessions:
-DTT in the age of Cable and DTH
-HDTV: Implementation and Strategies
-Content Creation and Management
-Diverse Delivery Platform
-Evolving Technologies - The Journey Ahead
-Digital Radio - New Experience
-Stress Management
-Regulatory & Policy Issues

BES EXPO 2008 is approved by:
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India
It is endorsed by:
International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers.
It is supported by:
Prasar Bharati (All India Radio & Doordarshan India)
Society of Broadcast Engineers, USA
Several other national and International bodies

Indian Broadcast And Scenario
The broadcasting sector in India has grown rapidly over the
last few yearsand the trend is expected to continue. In a
study conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers, the film and
entertainment industry in India is expected to grow from
Rs 43,700 crores (US$ 9.9 billion) in 2006 to Rs 1,00,000
crores (US$ 22.7 billion) in 2011. More specifically, TV
industry in India is expected to grow from Rs 19,100
crores (US$ 4.3 billion) to Rs 51,900 crores (US$ 11.8
billion), Radio industry from Rs 500 crores (US$ 0.1
billion) to Rs 1,700 crores (US$ 0.4 billion) and film
industry from Rs 8,500 crores (US$ 1.9 billion) to Rs
23,000 crores (US$ 5.3 billion). The positive mood
expressed in PWC's report is further emphasized by the
following facts and figures:
TV households in India are expected to reach 111 million
in 2007 TV penetration in urban areas is expected to
reach 723 per '000 population in 2007 TV penetration
in rural areas is expected to reach 185 per '000 population
in 2007
Terrestrial transmission covers nearly 92% of India's
population for TV and 100% for Radio
Nearly 300 TV channels are beaming signals over the
Indian sub-continent through 7,500 cable networks
DTH is set to sweep the Indian market with Doordarshan's
DTH, Zee's Dish TV, Tata-Sky and the proposed ventures
of Sun TV and Bharati
More than 160 FM transmitters have been installed by
Prasar Bharati, the national broadcaster for Radio
and TV in India, in important cities and another 120
are in different stages of implementation. Currently,
Prasar Bharati has 361 transmitters in service including
146 medium wave, 54 short wave and 161 FM In Private FM,
21 stations have been made operational in Phase I and
another 245 stations spread over 91 cities are proposed
to be set up in Phase II The present primary coverage
of FM is approx 24% by area and 35% population. The
primary coverage of FM and medium wave is approx 92%
by area and 99% by population In DRM, an existing 250
kW short wave transmitter has been upgraded to DRM
mode and experimental service in DRM taken up on SW
and MW. In the 11th Plan, regional short wave
transmitters are proposed to be replaced by DRM
transmitters
DVB-H service on mobile handheld devices with
DVB-H compatibility has been started by Doordarshan
with a bouquet of 8 channels Nearly 4,000 community
radio stations are likely to come up within the next
three years

Brochure for BES EXPO 2008
http://www.besindia.com/Brochure%20BES%20EXPO%202008.pdf

Radio Duniya 2008 Conference

Radio duniya 2008 conference is here to enliven
the radio revolution !!!

The conference will address the following issues:
- Vision for the Future
- Creative Marketing for Brand Building
- Role of Radio programming
- The issue of audience measurement
- What advertisers seek from Radio
- Growth of Community Radio
- Policy initiatives for growth of radio industry
in India.

The conference will also bring to limelight the
pioneers of the radio industry through 'Radio
Duniya 2008 Awards' . The conference will connect
the key players, including:
- CEO/ COO/ Bussiness Heads/ Promoters of radio stations
- Policymakers and Planners
- Media Professionals, Consultants & Specialists
- Professionals from advertising agencies and PR agencies
- Engineers and Broadcasting specialists
- Technicians and Technologists
- Content Producers
- Academicians and Researchers
- Civil Society Organisations
- International Development Agencies

For further information/enquiry contact:
Bharti Malthotra; Mobile: +91 - 9818300368
mail: bharti@radioduniya.in
Radio Duniya, G - 4, Sector - 39, Noida - 201301
Phones: +91 - 120 - 2502180 - 85, Fax: +91 - 120 - 2500060
mail at: talk2us@radioduniya.in ; Visit: www.radioduniya.in

5th Global Shortwave Coordination Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Press Release
The High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC),
the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and the
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU-HFC) will hold
a global shortwave co-ordination conference at the
Hilton Petaling Jaya Hotel, Kuala Lumpur from 4th
to 8th February 2008. The conference is hosted by
VT Communications from the United Kingdom, on
behalf of the HFCC, with assistance from the Asia-
Pacific Broadcasting Union.
Shortwave broadcasting has a unique position in that
the radio channels used by international stations are
not assigned, but regularly co-ordinated for two
seasons each year. All attempts to plan frequencies
for broadcasting since the discovery of the shortwave
spectrum in the 1920s failed and conditions for
reception were near chaotic almost throughout the
entire twentieth century. This has changed in the
last decade and a system is now in place designed
for an efficient and economical use of the spectrum
and the improvement of reception of shortwave
broadcasting world-wide.
Co-ordination methods were started by broadcasters
with support from the broadcasting unions. The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). set
up a special task group that studied the emerging
co-ordination procedures in the 1990s and concluded
that the system should become an integral part of
shortwave spectrum management. The principles were
incorporated in Article 12 of the International
Radio Regulations in 1997.
At present a single global seasonal database of
frequency requirements is kept by the secretariat
of the High Frequency Co-ordination Conference for
each of the two seasons of the year. There is an
on-line upload application available and all
participants are requested to update any frequency
changes between seasonal conferences. The
application and automatic processing software
notifies all participants, not only on the
entered changes, but also on the possible collisions
or incompatibilities that may have resulted from the
submissions.
A completely new database of frequency requirements
for the broadcasting season from March 30th to
October 26th 2008 will be on the agenda of the
Kuala Lumpur Conference. During that week, the
delegates will try to resolve many of the potential
interference problems likely to affect shortwave
transmissions in the "A08" joint global broadcasting
schedule. This means that listeners will be able to
tune into their favourite shortwave radio station
with a substantially reduced number of cases of
mutual interference.

Community Radio : A user's guide to technology

UNESCO, New Delhi announces the release of the publication "Community
Radio: A user's guide to the technology"
This technical manual is produced for potential CR operators in
keeping with the Government of India's intention to establish 4000
community radio stations by 2008.
The technical manual aims to accompany interested organizations in the
demystification of each piece of equipment usually found in community
radio stations; its role and function within a wider social context;
advantages and disadvantages of its usage. For others who dare to be
technically more adventurous detailed notes on equipment are also
provided.
In November 2006, the Government of India notified a new Community
Radio Policy which permits NGOs and other civil society organizations
to own and operate community radio stations. The new policy has
brought a flood of questions from prospective Community Radio
applicants/operators and in particular: what equipment do you need to
set up a community radio, and how much would it cost? While there are
many solutions that are available off the shelf, the main line of
advice that this manual provides is "Costs depend on the context of
the Community Radio Station you are trying to build".
The technical manual has been designed keeping the knowledge levels of
the end user in mind and is packed with illustrations, photographs,
cross references and a list of organizations who can further assist in
technical and social aspects of CR.
The manual was reviewed online by members of the Solution Exchange -
ICT for Development Community in India
Community Radio": A user's guide to the technology is authored by N
Ramakrishnan and is available online at

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001561/156197E.pdf

Seema Nair via cr-india e-group

Radio Taiwan Intl. Listeners Meet

Announcement

Radio Taiwan International will hold Listeners' Club Meetings
in India in February 2008.

Scheduled meeting dates:
1. February 23, 2008 (Saturday) –limited to 35 listeners
Time: 11:00 AM-14:30, Chennai (Madras)
2. February 24, 2008 (Sunday)-limited to 70 listeners
Time: 11:00 AM-14:30, Kolkata (Calcutta)
3. March 1, 2008 (Saturday)-limited to 35 listeners
Time: 11:00 AM-14:30, New Delhi

Venues will be announced later
Qualifications:
1. Please write an email and state which meeting you would
like to attend by writing "Chennai", "Kolkata" or "New
Delhi" in the email "subject".
2. In the email, please state your name, address, telephone
number, your ID number and how many years you have listened
to RTI.
3. Only listeners with passes will be allowed entry.
4. Attire: casual, but proper as requested by the management of the venue.
5. Please send your email to rti@rti.org.tw by January 25, 2008

Radio New Zealand B07 Updated Schedule

Radio New Zealand International B07
01 Jan 2008 - 30 Mar 2008

UTC kHz Target Azimuth Days
-------------------------------------------------
0459-0658 15720 AM 9870 DRM Pacific 0°Daily
0659-1058 9765 AM 9870 DRM Pacific 0°Daily
1059-1258 13840 AM 9870 DRM NW Pacific,Bougainville,PNG,Asia 325° Daily
1259-1650 5950 AM Pacific 0°Daily
1651-1935 9615 AM 9890 DRM NE Pacific,Fiji,Samoa,Cook Islands 35°Daily
1936-1950 9615 AM 11675 DRM 11675 NE Pacific,Tonga,Fiji,Samoa,Cook Islands 35° Daily
1951-2235 17675 AM 15720 DRM NW Pacific,Vanuatu,Solomon Islands 325° Daily
2236-0458 15720 AM 17675 DRM Pacific 0° Daily

Workshop On Software Defined Radio & Signal Processing at Kolkata

CQ CQ DE sandeep Lohia (vU3SXT) general call to all stations.
Government College of Engineering & Ceramic Technology is
organising a two-day National Workshop on Signal Processing
& its Application to Software Defined Radio on january 11-12,2008.
An important technology in the area of Wireless Communication is to
design and implement an Universal Communication Device in which
all of the Signal Processing be done in Software and whose
architecture & system parameters can be reconfigured by software
updation instead of hardware replacement to enable different
modulation, coding and access protocols.
Prof Asoke K Nandi (David jardine chair of Signal Processing)
of university of Liverpool,UK and Prof S B Bilen Of Penn
State University,USA will give special lectures.
In Association with:
School of IT, West Bengal University of Technology,Kolkata
Defence Electronics Application Lab(DEAL),DRDO,Dehradun
And Network Partners:
University College of Technology, Kolkata
Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia Under
Technical Education Quality Improvement Program(TEQIP)
For more information,Contact programme coordinator
Bimal Pal On pal_bimal@yahoo.com or call on 9231556479.
73's VU3SXT (9432315805)

(Via Sandeep Lohia - scrapped on my orkut profile)