RAJAR: BBC Radio listening highest for three years

■Largest listening hours since 2008
■Radio 1 reaches new number one
■Record for 5 Live Sports Extra, buoyed by Test Match Special

BBC Radio has its highest listening hours for three years, according to data published by RAJAR.

The figures show that the British public listened to 586 million hours of BBC Radio every week during the measurement period (27 June – 18 September), the largest total since Quarter 1, 2008. This also means the average BBC radio listener now tunes in for nearly 17 hours per week.

Elsewhere, the new data shows Radio 1 is more popular than ever. The station reached 11.85 million people each week, its biggest audience biggest since new research methodology was introduced in January 1999.

Tim Davie, Director BBC Audio – Music, said: "It is excellent to see people listening to so many hours of BBC Radio. In particular, the record Radio 1 figures reflect both the distinctiveness of its programmes and the strength of an outstanding team.

"I'm also very pleased to see that the combined efforts of the radio industry are resulting in a clear transition of listeners into digital radio. The rise in internet listening is noteworthy and represents encouraging growth in the sector."

All BBC Radio has a weekly reach of 34.86 million, from 34.24m last year and 35.53m last quarter, and a share of 54.5%, from 54.3% last year and 54% last quarter.

Radio 1's record reach of 11.85 million is up from 11.65m last year and 11.69 last quarter, while its share of listening increased to 9.1%, from 8.5% last quarter and level with last year. The Chris Moyles Show attracted 7.16 million listeners every week – from 7.10m last year and 7.44m last quarter – and Radio 1's sister station, Radio 1Xtra, posted a weekly reach of 904, 000 - from 806,000 last year and 992,000 last quarter.

Radio 2 tipped 14 million listeners for the fourth time, registering an audience of 14.31m (13.68m last year and 13.97m last quarter) and a share of 15.9% (15.6% last year and 14.9% last quarter). The Chris Evans Breakfast Show attracted 8.86 million listeners every week, from 8.41m last year and 8.67m last quarter, giving the show its third highest ever reach.

Radio 3 has a weekly audience of 2.05 million listeners – compared to 2.15m last year and 2.17m last quarter. The network's share is 1.1%, from 1.2% last year and last quarter.

Radio 4 reached 10.56 million people each week – up on last year's 10.37m but down from last quarter's record of 10.85m – with a share of 12% (11.8% last year and 12.4% last quarter). The Today programme attracted 6.76 million listeners per week (from 6.51m last year and the previous record of 7.18m last quarter) and Radio 4 Extra maintained its popularity following its rebranding, posting a reach of 1.53 million – from 1.05m last year as Radio 7 and 1.61m last quarter.

Radio 5 Live posted a combined reach with sister station 5 Live Sports Extra of 6.43 million listeners, from 6.44m last year and 6.68m last quarter.

5 Live Sports Extra reached a record average 1.15 million listeners every week during the quarter, boosted by its Test Match Special coverage of England versus India.

Share for Radio 5 Live (including Sports Extra) is 4.6% (4.9% last year and last quarter).

Radio 6 Music attracted 1.23 million listeners per week during the period (1.20m last year and 1.27m last quarter), while the BBC Asian Network's weekly reach was 507,000 – up from 462,000 last year and 471,000 last quarter.

BBC World Service posted a UK reach of 1.50 million, from 1.32m last year, while BBC Local / Regional radio reached 9.50 million listeners per week – from 9.14m last year and 9.65m last quarter.

Weekly reach – BBC Radio Reach in thousands
----- ---Sep 10 Jun 11 Sep 11
All BBC 34,243 35,530 34,863
All BBC Network Radio 31,018 32,108 31,723
Radio 1 11,647 11,692 11,850
Radio 2 13,682 13,966 14,309
Radio 3 2,145 2,174 2,052
Radio 4 10,368 10,854 10,555
Radio 5 Live 6,295 6,542 6,237
Radio 5 Live (inc Sports Extra) 6,439 6,676 6,431
BBC Local/Regional (inc Nations) 9,144 9,645 9,499

Weekly reach – BBC Digital Radio Reach in thousands
---------------Sep 10 Jun 11 Sep 11
5 Live Sports Extra 648 797 1,150
BBC 6 Music 1,196 1,270 1,229
1Xtra 806 992 904
BBC Radio 4 Extra 1,045 1,605 1,526
BBC World Service 1,319 1,720 1,501
BBC Asian Network UK 462 471 507

Weekly share – BBC Radio

---------Sep 10 Jun 11 Sep 11
All BBC 54.3% 54.0% 54.5%
All BBC Network Radio 45.4% 45.4% 46.1%
Radio 1 9.1% 8.5% 9.1%
Radio 2 15.6% 14.9% 15.9%
Radio 3 1.2% 1.2% 1.1%
Radio 4 11.8% 12.4% 12.0%
Radio 5 Live 4.7% 4.6% 4.1%
Radio 5 Live (inc Sports Extra) 4.9% 4.9% 4.6%
BBC Local/Regional (inc Nations) 9.0% 8.6% 8.3%

(BBC Radio Publicity)

Zimbabwe hopes for free airwaves

JASON MOYO Oct 28 2011 15:41
Public hearings for potential new broadcasters are being keenly watched by Zimbabweans desperate to finally be free of decades of the state broadcaster's tedium. Although space has opened up for private newspapers since the formation of the unity government in 2009, broadcasting is still monopolised by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

More at : http://mg.co.za/article/2011-10-28-zimbabwe-hopes-for-free-airwaves/

Changes Continue for Shortwave

by James Careless

Once the primary transmission medium for the BBC World Service, Voice of America and Radio Moscow, the shortwave radio bands — 1,800 to 30,000 kHz — are becoming less important to the foreign policy goals of many governments. At the same time, the millions of listeners who used to tune to shortwave are also abandoning the bands.

Read the "Radio World" story here :
www.rwonline.com/article/changes-continue-for-shortwave/24684

Digital radio: Signs of a tipping point?

With the completion of a full switchover to digital television now imminent, focus is likely to increase on radio and its progress in the digital world. The story of digital radio in the UK is one of slow, steady progress, and lively debate, rather then breakthrough.

More at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio/2011/10/digital_radio_x.html

Still up in the AIR

Gone are the days when entertainment meant Chitrahar — a medley of Bollywood songs — on the telly and an evening blockbuster every Sunday. Gone are those days when ‘fillers’ between programmes meant multi-coloured bars with a strange background score. Gone are the days when Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR)-delivered sanitised news tried to shape our views according to the wishes of the government of the day.

Read the HT story here :

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Editorials/Still-up-in-the-AIR/Article1-760764.aspx

The end of Deutsche Welle Radio: a bad decision

Couple of stories on DW from Elmar Meurer's blog ...

The end of Deutsche Welle Radio: a bad decision
http://externalradio.blogspot.com/2011/10/end-of-deutsche-welle-radio-bad.html

The story of Sines Transmitter Park
http://externalradio.blogspot.com/2011/10/story-of-sines-transmitter-park.html

Sines station will be switched off on October 29/30

Hi all

In the next October 29, 2011 DW Sines will switch off all transmitters definitely. This is the end of an era of broadcasting in short wave from Portugal. from this date, Portugal have no more "short wave voice". DW Sines was the "last short wave voice " from Portugal. This is a "night of nights" for us in Sines. To all my friends, thanks for your help during the goods of DRM tests and transmissions.

Best regards
CT4RK
__________________
73 from: CT4RK
Carlos
Sines - Portugal
Receiver TENTEC RX320 modified, R&S HEO10 active antenna, DREAM software...And...No more PLC/BPL QRM...Thanks ANACOM!
Save the Radio Spectrum! Eliminate Broadband over Power Line.

http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2360

SINES A11 SCHD (BY TIME) :

FREQ - STATION------------ - UTC -------- DAYS - LANG - PWR - AZI
12070 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0000-0100 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 275
9440 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0200-0300 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 75
6180 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0400-0500 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 150
6075 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0400-0557 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 40
6180 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0500-0530 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 150
5955 - R.NEDERLAND----- 0500-0558 - 1234567 - Dutch - 250 - 40
11830 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0530-0557 - 1234567 - Portuguese - 250 - 150
9545 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0600-0630 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 170
15650 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0600-0657 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 140
9885 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 0630-0700 - 1234567 - Hausa - 250 - 150
11850 - R.PORTUGAL INT. - 0645-0800 - .23456. - Portuguese - 250 - 55
11925 - BBC(DRM) - 0700-0800 - 1234567 - English(Digital) - 90 - 40
11995 - R.PORTUGAL INT.(DRM) - 0830-1000 - 1.....7 - Portuguese(Digital) - 90 - 45
17585 - BBC - 1200-1230 - 1234567 - French - 250 - 170
13730 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1200-1300 - 1234567 - French - 250 - 110
21840 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1200-1300 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 80
17820 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1300-1400 - 1234567 - Hausa - 250 - 150
21840 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1400-1457 - 1234567 - Amharic - 250 - 110
21630 - BBC - 1400-1500 - 1234567 - Hausa - 250 - 145
17840 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1400-1600 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 80
17745 - Sudan Radio Service - 1500-1530 - 1234567 - English/Sudanese/ - 250 - 114
17745 - Sudan Radio Service - 1530-1700 - 1234567 - Arabic/Sudanese/ - 250 - 114
17780 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1600-1700 - 1234567 - Amharic - 250 - 110
17840 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1700-1800 - 1234567 - French - 250 - 150
21780 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1700-1800 - 1234567 - French - 250 - 140
15410 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1730-1830 - 1234567 - Persian - 250 - 80
9545 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1800-1857 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 40
13780 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1800-1900 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 40
17610 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1900-1930 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 140
17610 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 1930-1957 - 1234567 - Portuguese - 250 - 140
9545 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 2000-2100 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 40
9620 - KBS WORLD RADIO - 2000-2100 - 1234567 - Arabic - 250 - 105
11865 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 2000-2100 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 160
9735 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 2100-2157 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 120
15275 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 2100-2200 - 1234567 - English - 250 - 120
11865 - DEUTSCHE WELLE - 2200-2355 - 1234567 - German - 250 - 235

‘Hello! Are you listening in?’

Imelda Dias e Tavora was a witness to two eras of Goa’s radio history, pre and post Portuguese. History will always remember Goa’s first lady Radio Jockey, the late Imelda Dias e Tavora ......

More at :
http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/hello-are-you-listening

Report on review of Digital radio in Australia released

Review of technologies for digital radio in regional Australia - Final report by Australian Government, Department of Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy can be downloaded using using this link ....

http://tinyurl.com/3u98t5r

Shortwave Still Works, Part I

The other day I came across my old copy of The Complete Shortwave Listener's Handbook by Hank Bennett, long out of print, and spent a few minutes leafing through its pages. Once upon a time shortwave radio really was the information superhighway, and if you followed it, you were very much in the know on world events, a bit ahead of everyone.....

More at :
http://radioenthusiast.blogspot.com/2011/10/shortwave-still-works-part-i.html

UNICEF Announces Regional ICDB Awards and Nominees

By kcirillo
UNICEF is proud to announce the nominees for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Awards. The awards are given by UNICEF for outstanding commitment to the ICDB by television and radio broadcasters.

This year’s nominees come from Andorra, Bangladesh, Benin, China, India, Iran, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Togo and Uganda and represent the best work produced in 2011 for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting. The nominees each won a regional competition and now go on to compete for global honours.

The winner of the 2011 ICDB Awards will be announced by UNICEF Headquarters in New York on 5 December 2011.

The ICDB Regional Prizes for television went to ATN Bangla (Bangladesh, “Dismantling Discrimination”), C7 Sistema Jalisciense de Radio y TV (Mexico, “Rosa o Azul”), Télévision Togolaise (TVT) (Togo, “A Nous la Planete”) and Step Television (Uganda, “Cool Kids (Boys Are Girls Are).

The ICDB Regional Prizes for radio went to Ràdio SER Principat D’Andorra (“Hora L / IK+”), Office de Radiodiffusion et television du Bénin (ORTB) (“Quand les enfants prennent la parole…”), Radio Beijing Corporation (China, “We are Different, We are the Best”), All India Radio (“Joy-Live”), Salamat Radio (Iran, “My Child”), C7 Sistema Jalisciense de Radio y TV (Mexico, “La Barra Infantil”)“, National Radio (Nepal, “Saathi Sang Manka Kura,” produced by Equal Access Nepal) and Maputaland Community Radio Station (South Africa, “Boys Are Girls Are”).

The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting is a day set aside each year to celebrate children’s broadcasting and encourages young people to get involved in television and radio broadcasting. The 2011 ICDB theme, “Girls Are… Boys Are…,” and asked children to talk about children’s rights and their importance.

Regional judging took place between June and August and entries were evaluated by teams of broadcasters, radio and television experts and communications specialists. The judges looked at content, execution and year-round youth participation.

2012 Annual Radio Buyer's Guide

Subscribe to MT Express here ....
http://www.grove-ent.com/page81.html

Slovak Radio and TV Gets Temporary Authorization to Test DRM+

The Slovak government regulator TUSR has granted temporary authority to Slovak Radio and TV to test DRM+ (essentially DRM on the FM band)

More at :
http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/slovak_radio_and_tv_test_drm_1014/

BBC to Fund Further Expansion of DAB Across UK

London - Oct 18, 2011 - The BBC will pay for the rollout of DAB for more than 97 percent of the nation, and every town with a population greater than 5,000 in the UK will have DAB coverage indoors. This is according to the Guardian UK.

Full story at : http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/bbc_fund_expansion_dab_UK_1019/

AFRS India-Burma Memories Honored

US Armed Forces Radio 70th Anniversary 1941-2011
Six New Features Released India-Burma WWII

The Radio Heritage Foundation releases six new features celebrating AFRS radio stations in India and Burma during the 1940's at its global website www.radioheritage.com

2011 is the 70th anniversary of American Armed Forces Radio broadcasts, and the six new features look at AFRS radio in a part of the world that few people today know once had these temporary radio stations.

AFRS India-Burma looks at the network of 16 stations set up in what are now India, Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka to entertain and inform US forces during WWII and the campaigns to both protect India and help the Chinese war effort.

AFRS The Ledo Road visits the network of AFRS stations along the famous Ledo Road built to bring supplies by road from Northern India to China via Burma. This feature was written as the stations were closing down.

AFRS WOTO Bhamo is a contemporary look at the 'Wings Over The Orient' radio station in northern Burma, one of the stations along The Ledo Road. This is a fascinating visit inside the operations of one of the most isolated AFRS stations in the region.

AFRS VU2ZP Bangalore introduces the personnel and programs that made this local AFRS station one of the most popular in India during its short time on the air. Rare photos from the private collection of one of the original VU2ZP broadcasters bring extra meaning to the written words.

AFRS VU2ZP Signs-Off is a retrospective of the Bangalore station, including its sleepless monitoring that helped it be the first station in India to report the end of the war in Europe. Again, rare photos of staff and VU2ZP studios make this a special feature.

AFRS VU2ZS Misamari is another contemporary indepth look at the people and programs of the small AFRS station at Misamari.

These six new items are in addition to the introductory feature AFRS China-Burma-India already at www.radioheritage.com. This also covers stations in China and remains the only comprehensive listing of the stations involved.

The features have been made possible by CBI veterans and their families preserving a variety of original resources such as magazines and photos and we encourage support for their projects. We're pleased to help bring them to a broader audience.

Many other AFRS radio features at www.radioheritage.com include rare photos and personal memories and stories from the past 70 years of AFRS operations.

The Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit organization connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage at its global website www.radioheritage.com.

Sponsors now get a free World Radio TV Handbook 2012 shipped worldwide for their support of this international project. You can also choose your personal favorite feature to sponsor - included in your sponsorship - for even greater public acknowledgement. Full details are at www.radioheritage.com.

Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
October 18 2011

Engineers Help Train Ecuadorian Telecommunications Staff in Digital Technology

By Ralph Kurtenbach

Ecuador’s telecommunications authorities have agreed to explore and test the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) international digital radio standard with help from two organizations based in the small South American country.

Radio Station HCJB and the Unión Nacional de Periodistas (UNP or National Journalists’ Union) representatives agreed with the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SUPERTEL) to offer training and assist in testing the DRM standard that Ecuador is considering. SUPERTEL will also evaluate other digital radio standards.

After a short signing ceremony in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito on Friday, Oct. 7, training sessions with SUPERTEL technicians began four days later on the campus of Radio Station HCJB.

DRM is an open global standard with intellectual property contributions shared by the consortium members. As an associate member of the consortium, the mission has conducted periodic shortwave DRM tests since 2000. Engineers at the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind., have also helped develop DRM transmission equipment.

In recent years the governments of India and Russia have selected DRM as the standard for broadcasting bands in those countries. In Latin America, the DRM standard is under consideration by Brazil where the Ministry of Communication held a seminar on digital radio standards in September. DRM consortium members participated in the high-level seminar in the capital, Brasilia.

Many in the broadcasting industry agree that the success of DRM hinges on the availability of low-cost receivers. Manufacturers displayed the receivers (including a USB receiver, stand-alone and car receivers, and one with a GPS system) at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam in September.

HCJB Global Voice’s roots run deep in Ecuador’s broadcasting history, beginning regular radio broadcasts in 1931.Then three decades later the station, established by evangelical missionaries, launched regular television broadcasts. Staff engineers have also developed technologies in the vanguard of the broadcasting industry.

Sources: HCJB Global, DRM

Note: This story appears with a short DRM digital radio promotional video at the Call of the Andes blog site, http://calloftheandes.wordpress.com/

(Harold Goerzen, senior editor, HCJB Global)

Berfi Afari Apenteng is new Director General of Ghana Broadcasting Corp.

The National Media Commission (NMC) has appointed Mr. Berfi Afari Apenteng as the New Director - General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). According to a statement issued by Mr. Alexander Bannerman, Deputy Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr. Berfi Afari Apenteng's appointment would take effect from Tuesday, November 1, 2011 and will last for one year.

More at : http://gbcghana.com/index.php?id=1.358607.1.612909

Radio service tunes in to serve local community needs

Salaam Namaste​ was launched in 2009 with a focus on programmes on themes ranging from healthcare to education

Salaam Namaste, a budding community radio channel that plays in the tea stalls, housing complexes, offices and colleges of Noida and Ghaziabad, the satellite towns of New Delhi..

Read the 'livemint' story here :
http://www.livemint.com/2011/10/16235325/Radio-service-tunes-in-to-serv.html

Digital Radio and the Future of Shortwave

Digital shortwave radio is no dream: It exists today. Right now, foreign-service broadcasters in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceana and the Americas are providing regular digital radio broadcasts over shortwave, using the DRM30 transmission standard.

Full story at :
http://www.rwonline.com/article/digital-radio-and-the-future-of-shortwave/24599

drmna.info: First ever DRM broadcasts to Southern Africa

drmna.info: First ever DRM broadcasts to Southern Africa: These kids just might be in the beam of the first ever DRM broadcast for Southern Africa [they are in Iringa, Tanzania]. With the recent im...

FRS test next Sunday/ full broadcast Oct. 23rd

Dear FRS Friends,

Test next Sunday
Summer has gone and autumn is ruling. Propagation conditions have improved during day time. Time to expand some activity. We have planned a full 6 hour broadcast on Sunday October 23rd. In preparation to that, we have planned a test on 7600 kHz next Sunday. In case 7600 is not being used,we will move to 7685 kHz/ 39 metres. The test will commence at 08:00 UTC.

Sunday October 23rd
Sunday October 23rd FRS-Holland will be on air between 07:52- 14:00 UTC. Important: the broadcast is on 5800//7600 kHz but there's a chance that we will be using 7685 instead of 7600 kHz. So keep an eye on 7600 and 7685. Of course we do hope propagation will be
satisfactory that day.
Programme line-up includes all FRS presenters and consists of FRS Magazine, the German Service, FRS Goes DX , Radio Waves and the FRS Golden Show. Ingredients....great music, DX News, letters, the day calendar and a number of radio related items.
Radio entertainment on a Sunday. Tune in....

Internet Stream
That same day between 13:52- 20:00 UTC/15:52- 22.00 CEST will see a full repeat on the internet. Check on your computer http://nednl.net:8000/frsh.m3u

A week later, on Sunday October 30th, once again a full repeat on the internet. At this date winter time will be introduced and tas a result FRSH can be heard between 14:52- 19:00 UTC/15:52- 22.00 CET.

FRS News #36: special 30th Anniversary edition
The latest edition of FRS News #36 is out for some time now. In this 24 page edition (in colour!). In the past months FRS-Holland has been working
very hard to produce this booklet covering 30 Years of FRS-Holland. It contains several photos and of course much information:

Memories on 30 Years of FRS-Holland from both former presenters and listeners;
a Number of Fact Files (Special moments to Remember, FRS Presenters 1980-2010, The Beginning);
Reflections on 30 Years of FRS-Holland;
The 1983 Raid;
Mailbox 2702 including the Anniversary mail;
How the 30th Anniversary broadcasts came about;
Last but not least a potted history 1980- 2010 !!

This is a true collector's item and no doubt it makes an interesting read! We never produced something similar in the past. In case you are interested …you can obtain a hard-copy of our specially produced 30Years of FRS-Holland booklet for 5 euro/ 7 US dollars in cash.
Send your order to FRSH, POBox 2702, 6049 BE Herten, the Netherlands.

In the mean time FRS-Holland has become 31 years....


73s, Peter Verbruggen on behalf of the FRS Team


a Balance between Music & Information joint to one Format....

FRS-Holland
POBox 2702
6049 ZG Herten
The Netherlands

e-mail: < frs.holland@hccnet.nl>
e-mail: < frs@frsholland.nl>

RNZI Airs New Radio Heritage Documentary Marianas Radio Now

Join us from Monday, October 17 2011 as we bring you an exclusive review of radio roadcasting in today's Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the new Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International.

The program includes reviews of todays radio scene on Saipan and Tinian, how changing economic conditions have impacted on local radio and the shortwave radio broadcaster that closed down this year after 27 years on the air.

You can listen directly via shortwave radio from RNZI in New Zealand, or audio on demand [for the following month] with full details of current broadcast frequencies [both DRM and analog] and times possible for your area as well as audio downloads at www.rnzi.com.

CNMI developed its first local radio station [WSZE] during the period of US Trust Territory of the Pacific status, after first being home to several AFRS stations during WWII including the famous KSAI Saipan.

Today, several commercial clusters have successful FM operations and a new commercial AM station KKMP recently began broadcasting nationwide.

International religious station KFBS recently shut down on the island, but the Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Australia continue.

You'll also hear a recent air check from KWAW Magic 100 FM and a taste of contemporary Micronesian music.

So join us from Monday, October 17 2011 as we explore the contemporary radio scene in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International [www.rnzi.com].

You can also use our fully up to date guides to contemporary AM and shortwave radio stations in the CNMI with free access to our PAL Radio Guides at our global website www.radioheritage.com.

Use our Google Search to find more features about broadcasting in the North Pacific including KYOI Saipan, KRHO Honolulu and others.

(Media Release,Radio Heritage Foundation, www.radioheritage.com)

VOA Launches Citizen Journalism Project in Congo

One hundred VOA-trained citizen journalists will fan out across the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming weeks in a pioneering social media project that will enhance news coverage of the November presidential election and provide a grassroots forum for key issues facing the country.

The citizen journalists, who are being trained by VOA project coordinators working throughout the French-speaking country, will use inexpensive mobile phones to post photos, videos and stories directly to special Facebook and Twitter pages set up for the project.

The Chief of VOA’s French to Africa Service, Idrissa S. Dia, says the contributions of the citizen journalists, which are already being posted on the social media sites, will supplement the work of
professional reporters to create a vibrant news-gathering and news-sharing community.

Dia says, “These reports and observations from around Congo’s 11 provinces will create a true national conversation about topics that matter most to people, their families and their country, including the electoral campaign, the presidential election on November 28 and the issue of gender violence.”

In addition to providing training and technical assistance to the citizen journalists, VOA’s French to Africa Service will provide professional and editorial guidance and curate the social media sites. The 100 Citizen Journalists project is a partnership between VOA and the U.S. State Department, which funded the program.

VOA French to Africa can be heard on AM and FM affiliate stations around the Democratic Republic of Congo, on shortwave and on the Internet.

For more information contact Kyle King in Washington at kking@voanews.com, or visit our website at www.voanews.com.

(VOA Press Release)

Cabinet approves ordinance on digitisation

As per the ordinance, March 31, 2012 has been set as the sunset date to abandon analog in the four metros, while cities with a population of one million will be covered by March 31, 2013. Overall, December 31, 2014 has been set as the sunset date for transferring the analog system to digital for the entire country.

More at :
http://www.afaqs.com/news/story.html?sid=31911_Cabinet+approves+ordinance+on+digitisation

Brave New World Service

On the evening of 14th September, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association held an evening at London's Marlborough House to launch a new publication, Brave New World Service. The report by author, broadcaster and former hostage John McCarthy and CBA researcher, Charlotte Jenner, highlights the ways in which the integration of the BBC World Service could provide a unique opportunity for the BBC to improve international coverage for UK audiences.

You can download the publication in PDF format here ......

http://www.cba.org.uk/Resources/publications/documents/Brave%20New%20World%20Service.pdf

DRM Newsletter 10/2011

Here's DRM Newsletter for Oct 2011 ....

http://tinyurl.com/3ee3b55

Main stories :

- EBU Digital Radio Conference, 11-12 Oct, European Parliament, Brussels
- DRM’s first ever transmission to Southern Africa
- Authorities in Ecuador sign agreement to test DRM Standards
- Introducing digital broadcasting DRM in Russia, 4-6 October
- Hong Kong Electronics Fair

Peculiar Russian shortwave numbers station is an unlikely internet star

Anyone who has spent some quality time scanning the shortwave radio bands has likely come upon what are known as numbers stations.

More at :
http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/10/12/peculiar-russian-shortwave-numbers-station-is-an-unlikely-internet-star/

Live coverage of Royal Wedding by Bhutan Broadcasting Service

Listen to live coverage of Royal Wedding by BBS on 6035 kHz tomorrow, 13th Oct 2011 0200 UTC onwards.They are still using old SW txer at 30 kW.

Also BBS TV & radio live at www.bbs.com.bt

Related Links :

Bhutan's King to tie the knot tomorrow
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/bhutans-king-to-tie-the-knot-tomorrow/854524.html

Royal Wedding Fever Hits Bhutan
http://abcnews.go.com/International/royal-wedding-king-bhutan-makes-plans-marry/story?id=14707772

(Alokesh Gupta)

Voice of Nigeria testing in DRM mode ?

Probably Voice of Nigeria testing in DRM mode ?

http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2359

Radio Free Sarawak : Airing woes

Airing woes in defiance of S’wak authorities

Lone wolf broadcaster 'Radio Free Sarawak' is offering native listeners a chance to air their grievances.

The team from Radio Free Sarawak have had their first week back on air after their break from broadcasting and the general feedback is that although it has been exhausting the comeback was also fun. RFS is a small outfit, broadcasting out of the United Kingdom in defiance of Sarawak’s licencing authorities. The station aims to pack a big punch.

Full story at :
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/10/airing-woes-in-defiance-of-swak-authorities/

Radio Free Sarawak shortwave schedule :

1000-1200 UTC on 17560 kHz

ESAT launches shortwave broadcast to Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Satellite Television is pleased to announce the launch of a daily shortwave radio broadcast to Ethiopia. In the past few weeks, ESAT has successfully transmitted test broadcasts.
With a view to overcoming the illegal jamming and airwaves piracy that the Meles regime has continued with utmost intensity, ESAT’s management made a decision to transmit ESAT’s programs on multiple platforms. ESAT’s shortwave radio, which will have a significant reach to the people of Ethiopia, will be another addition to ESAT’s unwavering efforts to reverse the information blackout deliberately created by the Meles Zenawi regime.
ESAT firmly believes that freedom of expression is a powerful means of ultimately defeating tyranny, corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations, inequality and bad governance. With a conviction to reach the people of Ethiopia with quality content, ESAT’s shortwave broadcast will be on air daily on 15370 kHz, 19 Meter Band, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm (Ethiopian local time). Additional frequencies will be available subject to the effect of signal interference.
ESAT is also finalizing preparations to launch multiple broadcasting platforms. ESAT will be available soon on IPTV, a system that will deliver our broadcast on TV sets around the world. Our viewers will also be able to watch our broadcasts on smart phones.
ESAT’s online transmissions will soon be upgraded with a new user-friendly website that will not only webcast our live broadcasts 24/7 but will also have video-on-demand with our huge collection of archives. Our online transmissions via ESAT’s website will also be available in Flash Player, which is compatible with all the major web browsers.
Most importantly, ESAT is making unrelenting efforts to resume its satellite TV broadcast to Ethiopia. ESAT is committed to delivering its promise to serve as a conduit for citizens to express their opinion freely, to access reliable information and to play its part in the struggle to build a democratic country with Ethiopia’s first independent satellite television service. As Al Jazeera has changed the media and socio-political landscape in the Arab world, ESAT will also be opening new avenues for Ethiopia with the power of 21st media technology.
With the continued support of our people in and outside of Ethiopia, ESAT will fulfill its missions.

We shall prevail!

ESAT Management

(ESAT Press Release )

Pictures of DRM Receivers at IBC Amsterdam

Pictures from IBC 2011 showing DRM's successful Receiver showcase can now be seen on flickr..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drmorg/

Radio 4's long wave goodbye

Last pair of valve transmitters signal end of 198kHz, home of BBC's Test Match Special and Today in Parliament

Full story at :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/09/bbc-radio4-long-wave-goodbye?INTCMP=SRCH

Radio Joystick on SW & MW

Radio Joystick continues on 1st Saturday of November and December, 2011 on 9510 kHz (09:00 hours UTC via IRRS) and EVERY 1st Sunday of EACH month on 6005 kHz (10:00 hours UTC via Radio 700).

We have further news for Medium Wave Fans also:
R. Joystick will be repeated on the 1st Saturday in Nov. and December from 21:30-22:30 CET on the following frequencies:

1368 kHz (20 kW) from Padova to Italy, Austria, Coratia, Slovenia, Switrland and Southern Germany
1566 kHz in the city of Rome
1575 kHz outside Rome

Best regards,
DJ Charlie Prince
RADIO JOYSTICK
Postfach 23 31
55512 Bad Kreuznach
ALLEMAGNE
Fon: +49 671 9 708 118
Cell.: +49 179 3 615 394
Fax: +49 32 121 154 964

http://www.radiojoystick.de

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Joystick/253994694629905

http://www.twitter.com/jhofstadt

http://www.radioszene.de/author/jhofstadt

DRM: First Transmission for Southern Africa

The DRM Consortium will make its first ever DRM transmissions for Southern Africa in French and English on October 11th on the occasion of the Digital Radio Conference organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels.
The two day conference will include two live studio discussions on the possibilities and future of digital radio from the multimedia radio studio of the European Parliament. The programmes aim to showcase multiplatform and distribution techniques in front of a studio audience of Digital Radio Conference delegates.
The live show in French from 1200-1300 GMT will be followed two hours later (1400-1500 GMT) by a Digital Radio Show in English with international participation including the chairpersons of the DRM and WorldDMB Consortia.
Both the French and English programmes will be carried live on DRM SW 21800 from Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean and should be heard in countries like South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique. The English programme will also be carried at 1800 GMT into Southern Asia on DRM SW 12085, at the end of the daily regular BBC/DW transmission.
Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairperson, says: “This is an exciting and imaginative undertaking that will demonstrate practically, even if for a short while, to European MPs and radio enthusiasts at thousands of kilometres apart the capacity of DRM to cover huge areas with excellent audio quality programmes. We are grateful to the EBU for the opportunity to showcase, alongside other platforms, that part of DRM, the only standard for all bands below and above 30 MHz, that could offer so much to the radio lovers in Africa.”

(DRM Consortium Press Release)

Nautel Enhances DRM Offerings

Hackett's Cove, NS - Sep 27, 2011 - Nautel has introduced "DRM Inside," an integrated approach to DRM broadcasting using a DRM modulator and content server for its NX Series. According to Nautel, this integration results in a cost-effective and simplified DRM deployment.

More at :

http://radiomagonline.com/digital_radio/nautel_enhaces_drm_offerings_0827/

AIR VBS

Radio And Vividh Bharati - blog entry by Arvind K.Pandey ...

http://tinyurl.com/6kq6gtw

HFCC Is About More Than Shortwave Now

The High Frequency Coordination Conference is expanding its scope.
According to a summary of the conference, membership voted to expand the scope of the HFCC.

Full story at :

http://www.rwonline.com/article/hfcc-is-about-more-than-shortwave-now/24492

Radio Padma 99.2, first community radio station in Bangladesh launched

Bangladesh formally entered the era of community radio with the launch of Radio Padma FM 99.2, a community radio station initiated by the Centre for Communication and Development (CCD), a local NGO, on 7th Oct 2011 (Friday). Radio Padma began broadcasting after an after an inaugural ceremony organised by CCD in collaboration with Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), UNESCO and World Association of Christian Communication (WACC) at the Dr Kaiser Memorial Auditorium of Rajshahi Medical College in the afternoon.

Information Minister Abul Kalam inaugurated the broadcasting program of community radio `Radio Padma' in Rajshahi Medical College auditorium as the chief guest. He said Radio Padma, the first community radio station among the 14 allocated so far in the country, started its broadcasting in Rajshahi from today. He said the rest 13 stations will go for airing very soon.

More at :
http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-60783

Related news :

Bangladesh formally entered the era of community radio with the launch of Radio Padma FM 99.2, a community radio station
http://zunia.org/post/bangladesh-formally-entered-the-era-of-community-radio-with-the-launch-of-radio-padma-fm-992-a-com/