WASHINGTON, D.C. — Voice of America is reducing some of its radio
transmissions this weekend and ending shortwave broadcasts to regions
where audiences have alternative ways of receiving VOA news and
information programs.
The transmission reductions allow VOA to comply with budget cuts
required by sequestration and to avoid furloughs of staff members.
When the new broadcast schedule goes into effect on March 31st,
cross-border shortwave and medium wave broadcasts to Albania, Georgia,
Iran and Latin America will be curtailed, along with English language
broadcasts to the Middle East and Afghanistan.
VOA will continue to provide audiences in these regions with
up-to-date news and information through a host of other platforms,
including radio and TV affiliate stations, direct-to-home satellite,
web streaming, mobile sites and social media.
The new broadcast schedule calls for reductions in some shortwave and
medium wave radio broadcasts in Cantonese, Dari/Pashto, English to
Africa, Khmer, Kurdish, Mandarin, Portuguese, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Direct radio broadcasts to all of these regions will continue.
The transmission reductions are expected to have minimal impact on
audience numbers since primary modes of delivery will remain.
Shortwave and medium wave broadcasts will continue to regions where
they draw substantial audiences, and to countries where other signal
delivery is difficult or impossible.
(Press Release)
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