Thursday, May 30, 2013

ABU launches new excellence award for broadcast engineers

The ABU is calling for entries for a new award for engineering excellence.

The ABU Developing Broadcasters' Excellence Award recognises innovation and excellence and adds to a stable of engineering awards offered by the Union.

Sponsored by Sony, the new award is open to staff or former staff of ABU's developing broadcaster members within the Asia-Pacific region only and comprises a citation, a commemorative trophy and a fully-paid fellowship to carry out a study tour of Sony's main technology centre in Japan or any of its other prestigious institutions.
 

 

SWR's broadcast schedule for 31st May & 1st June 2013

Scandinavian Weekend Radio's (SWR) next broadcast is scheduled on 31st May & 1st June. Transmitter site is located in the Virrat, Upper Tampere region, broadcasts mainly on the first Saturday of every month for 24 hours of short waves, medium waves and FM starting 00:01 local time. (+3 UTC). Location: (N 62°23' E 23°37')

Schedule for 31st May & 1st April 2013 :  http://www.swradio.net/schedule.htm

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Meloson M7 Rechargeable AM/FM Digital Radio/MP3 Player

Jay Allen reviews the Meloson M7 digital receiver, first product from this new company powered by a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery and recharges via its USB port from a computer or any USB charger......

Read the review here : http://tinyurl.com/qafl72f

Voice of Korea’s shortwave broadcasts now on-demand

The daily English-language broadcast from North Korea's international radio station, Voice of Korea, is now available on the Internet. The programme is being carried by World Radio Network, a London-based organization that rebroadcasts material from international radio stations on its own satellite channels and via FM relays in several countries.

More at :

Friday, May 24, 2013

BMW offers in-car streaming music...beginning of the end for broadcast radio ?

By Andrew Orlowski
Posted in Media, 22nd May 2013 12:58 GMT

BMW is to offer access to Brit streaming music service Rara in its new Series 5 motors. Is this the beginning of the end for broadcast radio?

Read the story at :

NASB 2013 Annual Meeting - WWCR Executive Elected President of NASB

Brady Murray, Operations Manager of WWCR in Nashville, Tennessee, was elected President of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters at the NASB 2013 Annual Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama May 15-17. He replaces former President Glen Tapley of WEWN, whose term ended after two years as the Association's president. Murray had previously been Vice President of the NASB, and Charles Caudill, President of World Christian Broadcasting -- also based in the Nashville area -- was elected the new NASB Vice President. Jeff White and Thais White of WRMI in Miami were re-elected Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, respectively.

Two NASB Board of Directors terms ended this year -- those of Glen Tapley of WEWN and Dr. Adrian Peterson of Adventist World Radio (AWR). Two new directors were elected: Terry Borders of WEWN and Dr. Dowell Chow, President of AWR. Borders is the manager of the WEWN transmitter site in Vandiver, Alabama. Dr. Chow is based at AWR headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, but spends much of his time travelling around the world.

The meeting was hosted by NASB member Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), which operates shortwave station WEWN. A welcome reception took place on the evening of May 15, followed by a barbecue dinner sponsored by EWTN at a renowned Birmingham restaurant called Dreamland Bar-B-Q.

On May 16, the meeting took place at EWTN headquarters in Irondale, a Birmingham suburb. Attendees toured the large state-of-the-art EWTN Television studios, watching part of a live broadcast and observing how a Catholic mass in Latin is translated and close-captioned. They saw the television and radio control rooms and the studios where EWTN Radio and WEWN shortwave programs are produced.

After the tour, there were a series of talks and presentations about shortwave-related subjects for the rest of the day. Dowell Chow of Adventist World Radio gave an overview of AWR's worldwide operations. He said that AWR operates with only 30 employees, but with the help of many more people who work at AWR studios around the world, producing programs in over 80 languages.

The NASB was pleased to welcome back an old member station, KVOH in Simi Valley, California, which has been off the air for some time but has recently been transferred to the Strategic Communications Group headed by Rev. John Tayloe. Tayloe's father-in-law was George Otis, who originally founded the station as part of the Voice of Hope network which included stations in the Middle East. The new owners are refurbishing the station's shortwave transmitter and they hope to have it back on the air within the next 90 days or so with programs in English and Spanish. The antenna is beamed from southern California toward Mexico and Cuba.

NASB meeting delegates had a chance to meet the new Vice President of Continental Electronics, who has recently taken over from Adil Mina -- a regular fixture at NASB meetings for many years. Mina has recently "semi-retired" to spend more time with his family, and more time at his home in Greece. His successor, Mike Rosso, gave a presentation in Birmingham about Continental Electronics and about Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) -- its status and its plans for the near future. He was followed by Mark Allen of the Rohn Tower Company, NASB's newest associate member, who talked about "Considerations for Aging Broadcast Tower Structures." Allen gave a sobering report, complete with photos, of the disasters that can occur when antenna towers are not properly maintained. He explained how faulty lighting, ice, wind and construction errors can easily cause accidents that result in extensive property damage, serious injuries and even death. In these days of financial cutbacks, Allen explained that tower maintenance is not an area that broadcasters should cut back on.

Charles Caudill, President and CEO of NASB member World Christian Broadcasting, gave an update on his organization's struggle to get a new shortwave station on the air from the island of Madagascar, off the southeast coast of Africa. Madagascar World Voice has had its transmitter site ready with antennas erected for a few years now, but is waiting on approval from the Madagascar communications minister to import its transmitters and put the station on the air. The Continental 100-kilowatt transmitters are sitting in crates in Houston waiting for shipment to Madagascar as soon as approval is granted. Caudill explained that elections will be held on the African island in July of this year, after which the government ministers will probably change, and this may give the station a better opportunity to get on the air in the coming months.

Monday's talks continued with Brady Murray of WWCR on the use of shortwave radio as an educational broadcasting tool. A discussion afterwards also dealt with subjects such as the potential for DRM and domestic shortwave broadcasting. Jerome Hirigoyen of NASB associate member Telediffusion de France (TDF) gave a presentation about his company's large shortwave transmission facility in Issoudun, France. Seventeen 500-kilowatt transmitters and dozens of antennas -- including a rotatable version -- provide strong coverage of Africa, the Middle East, parts of the Americas and other regions of the world. Their main client used to be Radio France International, but TDF now sells airtime to a variety of public and private broadcasters from many countries. Finally, Dr, Jerry Plummer, WWCR's Frequency Manager, spoke about the transition of international broadcasting to the for-profit sector. Plummer explained that while many European public broadcasters have been reducing or eliminating their shortwave transmissions in recent years, many of their facilities are now owned or being used by privately-owned and often commercial enterprises. As Plummer proclaimed, "shortwave is definitely not dying."

On May 17, the NASB annual meeting took place at the transmitter site of WEWN on a rural mountaintop about 40 minutes' drive from Irondale. Once delegates reached the top of the mountain, they were treated to some spectacular views of the surrounding Alabama mountains and the nine large antennas that WEWN uses to reach the Americas, Europe, Africa and other parts of the world. Inside the transmitter building are four 500-kilowatt Continental transmitters which beam 24 hours per day of programming in English and Spanish.

WEWN originally broadcast programs in 22 languages, and when it first went on the air, some of its super-power transmissions -- particularly on the higher frequencies -- made their way into the homes of local residents. As Glen Tapley explained, "We had calls from people who were hearing voices in Chinese coming from their knives and forks!" Station personnel visited peoples' homes to install filters, and some of the highest frequencies were avoided in an attempt to cause less local interference.

About 11 employees operate the WEWN transmitter site, managed by Terry Borders. On this occasion, some of them were performing double duty as they prepared an excellent barbecue of hamburgers and hot dogs for the NASB attendees. After lunch, Jerry Plummer of WWCR explained why it is still difficult to find in-band HF frequencies, even with some of the large European broadcasters leaving long-used channels.

At the NASB business and Board meetings, the new board members and officers were elected. The members also agreed to assist NASB associate member Galcom International in its efforts to obtain some special concessions that could permit the company to produce simple, ultra-low-cost DRM receivers in the $20 range that could finally make DRM affordable for listeners in large parts of the world and viable for international broadcasters.

The date and place of the NASB 2014 Annual Meeting was announced. It will be held at the Voice of America/International Broadcasting Bureau relay station in Greenville, North Carolina. Initial information is already available on the NASB website, www.shortwave.org. Click on "Annual Meeting."

A selection of photos from the 2013 meeting in Birmingham will be available within the next few days on the NASB Facebook page, www.facebook.com/nasbshortwave.


For more information, contact:
Jeff White, NASB Secretary-Treasurer
c/o WRMI Radio Miami International
175 Fontainebleau Blvd., Suite 1N4
Miami, Florida 33172 USA
Tel +1-305-559-9764
Fax +1-305-559-8186

(NASB News Release - May 22, 2013)

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Why radio refuses to die

In fact, a new study says it's thriving -- even among teens and 20-somethings. 'Hyper-locality' and community connections are among the reasons.

Remember that song "Video Killed the Radio Star," the first tune aired on MTV in the 1980s? It seems media experts have been predicting radio's demise ever since the first sound movies came out in the 1920s. But in an age of online streaming and digital media, radio not only endures but appears to be thriving, including among a surprising demographic: teens to mid-20-year-olds.

More at :

CRI to add Gujarati, Punjabi & Malayalam ?

The external service of China Radio International (CRI) beams content in Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil and other Indian languages and is believed to be beefing up the portfolio. The station is planning to add Gujarati, Punjabi and Malayalam to its external service menu soon, official sources told FE. CRI is also believed to be planning to set up a local office, subject to government approval, to meet its expansion plans.

Read the FE story at :

Monday, May 20, 2013

AIR Tiruchi poised for digitisation by August-September

All India Radio Tiruchirapalli, credited by Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) as a vital link with farmers in central districts of Tamil Nadu for their socio-economic progress through its primary channel, is poised to deliver improved audio quality through a digitisation initiative. The technology upgrade would open up possibilities for launching two additional channels. A high-power DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) transmitter would be installed .

More at :

KTWR Guam DRM Test - 24/25 May

KTWR, Guam is planning a DRM test to Japan for May 24th and 25th. It will be on 15570 at 1230-1300 UT. The language will be Japanese. While we are really hoping that Japanese SWLs and radio clubs get involved in this test, reports on the side and back lobes would also be appreciated. We will be beaming at a heading of 335 degrees. We will be running 75 kW, so that Japanese listeners in Russia and the EU can tune in as well. We should have good side lobes into Southeast Asia and possibly India. The main beam should be quite strong in Europe. The main back lobe will be toward NZ .

(Mike Sabin, KTWR, May NZ DX Times via DXLD)

KTWR Guam's new SW transmitter successfully tested

KTWR's (Trans World Radio) new shortwave transmitter (Transmitter 7) was successfully tested on 15th May 2013. It will be broadcasting on regular basis by July 2013.

More info at :

Friday, May 17, 2013

Radio Australia facing cuts ?

Television, radio divisions tipped to face the funding pain at the ABC

THE ABC'S television and radio divisions are facing cuts under funding projections published up to 2016-17, budget papers show.

ABC TV would suffer a $10 million cut to $664m in 2016-17 and ABC Radio a $5m cut to $358m in the same period, the budget says. If this were to evolve, it could lead to significant cuts at the public broadcaster in the medium term.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Microsoft confirms Windows Phone 8 update to bring FM radio

Microsoft has announced a new Windows Phone 8 update that will bring features like FM radio and add CalDAV and CardDav support, which will extend support for Gmail and other Google services. The announcement came following the launch of the Nokia Lumia 925, which would be the first phone to ship with the update pre-installed.

Family Radio Suffering Economic Woes?

Recent reports indicate that the California-based Christian radio network Family Radio, run by evangelist Harold Camping, may be facing dire economic straits, as seen by public tax documents and alleged interviews with former Family Radio employees.

Read more at :

Related :

Christian radio group faces financial hard times

ASBU invited two TRANSRADIO specialists to conduct a DRM training course in Kuwait

DRM Consortium Vice-Chair and TRANSRADIO CEO, Jochen Huber and his DRM specialist Christian Hoerlle, recently travelled to Kuwait to deliver a DRM system and integration training course to key staff from ASBU countries.

Full story at :  http://tinyurl.com/asksgcd



Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Radio Station in Central Africa Republic Back on the Air 6 Weeks After Coup

(May 10, 2013 - by Ralph Kurtenbach)
Arriving in the Bangui airport laden with luggage last week, Jim Hocking set his sights on checking in with his staff at Integrated Community Development International (ICDI) and helping get the office up and running again ....

Read the story at :

New Comprehensive Research Confirms Power Of Radio

According to the research, 92 percent of Americans regularly tune in to AM/FM radio and much of this listening happens at or near a place of purchase – radio's significant and "unique selling proposition."  
 
Additionally, 85 percent of listeners feel radio is more accessible than ever, which demonstrates that digital media has fueled category growth and expanded radio's accessibility and relevancy.

The Disco Palace DRM Log - 15th May 2013


2013-05-15 1621 Z 0h13m 28N/77E 15775 kHz 18.2 dB avg SNR 99.2 % audio

Vatican Radio DRM Log 15th May 2013


Reception Summary :
"Label: ....................... "
"Date: ........................ 2013-05-15"
"Frequency: ................... 17500 kHz"
"TX Location: ................. Santa Maria (VAT)"
"Log start time: .............. 15:33"
"Log end time: ................ Protection Level:"
"Runtime: ..................... 17 min. "
"RX; Longitude: ............... 28°27'N"
"RX Latitude: ................. 77°19'E"
"Distance to TX: .............. 5951 km"
"Azimuth to TX: ............... 303 deg."
"Azimuth from TX: ............. 83  deg."
"RX Configuration: ............ Newstar DR111 + 60 Ft Longwire, New Delhi India "
"DRM Software and S/W Version:  DR111 790"
"Bitrate at start: ............ "
"Mode / Bandwidth: ............   / "
"DRM Mode: .................... B3010 from 15:35"
"Decoded Audio: ............... 99.83 %"
"FAC: ......................... 100.00 %"
"Main Service Channel: ........ 16  QAM"
"Protection Level: ............ 1 / 0"
"Max. SNR: .................... 25.00 dB at 15:48 UTC"
"Min. SNR: .................... 15.00 dB at 15:46 UTC"
"Average SNR: ................. 20.21 dB"
"Max. Delay: .................. 3.08 ms at 15:36 UTC"
"Min. Delay: .................. 2.15 ms at 15:42 UTC"
"Average Delay: ............... 2.56 ms"
"Max. Doppler: ................ 1.22 Hz at 15:40 UTC"
"Max. Doppler: ................ 0.72 Hz at 15:35 UTC"
"Average Doppler: ............. 1.09 Hz"
"Frame Sync. Ch. Errors: ...... 0"
"Fast Access Sync. Ch. Errors:  0"
"Main Service Ch. Errors: ..... 12"

DRM+ trial in Norway

Digital Radio Mondiale is pleased to announce that the media company 21st Venture AS is embarking on a full DRM+ trial in Trondheim during May and June 2013. The company runs Radio Metro and several other local radio stations in Norway and has secured government funding for the project.
 
The trial will coincide with the Annual Conference of the Norwegian Local Radio Association which will take place from May 24th-26th. Participants at the conference will receive information on the DRM standard and will be able to experience the superior quality of DRM+ at the DRM booth. Key members of the DRM Consortium from Fraunhofer IIS, Digidia, RFmondial and Nautel have offered their knowledge, expertise and support. Following the recent successful trials in New Delhi, Edinburgh, the Vatican City State and Brazil, the DRM Consortium are pleased to endorse the first DRM+ trial involving a commercial radio network and testing out several receiver solutions.

DRM Consortium Chair, Ruxandra Obreja, said: "In Trondheim we hope to demonstrate that there is a cheap and effective solution for digitising small radio stations (commercial and community) which can run on their own or compliment other standards".

Eivind Engberg, Technical Manager of Radio Metro is enthusiastic about the project: "One of the key benefits of DRM+ is that you are using existing infrastructure and thus get digital radio almost free of charge. DRM+ also uses so little capacity that you can feed the transmission site via ICE (Net1), 3G or ADSL".

The DRM+ trial will broadcast 50 W DRM+ on 94.0 MHz in Trondheim during late May and June 2013.

(DRM Consortium Press Release)

Related :

21st Venture Experiments with DRM+
http://www.radioworld.com/article/st-venture-experiments-with-drm-/219432

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

AIR Shimla website renovated

The website of AIR Shimla www.airshimla.com has been renovated and you may listen live programs of AIR Shimla. Feedback on the website to :  shimla@air.org.in|
 
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio , Hyderabad, India )
 

WRTH Summer shedules file now available for free download

The WRTH editorial team are pleased to announce that the Summer (A) Season broadcast schedules file is now available to download for free from http://www.wrth.com just follow the link on the front page (updates).

Included in this file are: Broadcast schedules for international and clandestine/target broadcasters, international broadcasts in DRM, International frequency listing, and selected language broadcasts. Also included is a decode table for site and target area codes.

The 80 page file is just over 2MB in size and in PDF format (with bookmarks to assist in navigating between sections) and unique section page numbering to assist with printing. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat reader in order to open this file. The Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com

We hope you find this file a useful accompaniment to the printed WRTH. Please feel free to pass this information on to others, post on your Facebook groups and walls, by Twitter, email etc.

On behalf of the WRTH editorial team,

Regards and happy listening,

Sean D. Gilbert
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Editor - WRTH (World Radio TV Handbook)
Facebook:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@WRTHinfo Hashtag: #WRTH
RX (HF) : Icom IC-756pro; RF Space SDR-IQ; Racal RA1792; Roberts R861; Degen
DE1103.
RX (VHF): FunCube Dongle Pro+; Yupiteru MVT-7100; RTL E4000/R820T; Sony
ST-S311 (mod)
ANT (HF): 40-10m OCF dipole @ 10m agl; Wellbrook ALA1530+ at ground level;
ANT (VHF): Sloper for 6m @ 9m agl; 6/2/70 vertical @ 3m agl; 5 ele Band 2
yagi (attic); 1.09GHz ¼ wl GP (attic).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vatican Radio DRM.....excellent reception today !!



Date : 2013-05-13
Time :  1542 - 1551 UTC 0h10m
28N/77E
Frequency : 17500 kHz
 
Avg SNR :  22.7 dB
Audio :  100.0 %


Comments at alokeshgupta@gmail.com

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Special Anniversary edition of RADIO NEWS

 
You can dip into 40-page special Anniversary edition of RADIO NEWS.....packed with nostalgia - 60s presenter Jean Wright recalls our origins in Ardrossan; former presenter The Reverand Rabbit and regular listener Peter Kinnison share their verdicts on the station; Colin Dalziel recalls flirtation with TV in the '70s; Jack Carr lends an ear to our singing DJs; David Belcher recalls his first soulful awakenings; Tony Currie takes right back to Day One; plus a gallery of past covers, a full chronology of the station's history, news of exclusive prizes to be won on Anniversary day, photos and articles from past anniversaries, special features on three big anniversary specials, news of worldwide affiliates and a big 7-page guide to a very special week of programmes. If you're not on the mailing list for RADIO NEWS, don't miss out - drop a note to letters@radiosix.com and Radio Six will make sure this bumper souvenir special drops into your Inbox on May 22nd !

(Source : Radio Six)

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Radio Prague celebrates 90th anniversary of Czech Radio with special txn & QSL

Radio Prague to air special broadcast on shortwave on May 18, 2013

Czech Radio is celebrating its 90th birthday on May 18th. Radio Prague will air a special broadcast on that day and there is a special commemorative QSL card for all of those who listen to Radio Prague on that day and send us a reception report – no matter how you listen to the broadcast.

Radio Prague 90 years special QSL card

Also, on the occasion of Czech Radio's 90th birthday on May 18, 2013, Radio Prague will air a special one-off broadcast on shortwave in cooperation with Radio 700.

To find us on shortwave check out the table below:

TIME (UTC) PROGRAM FREQUENCY AREA

14:00 - 14:30 (12:00 - 12:30) broadcast in German 7310 kHz Europe
14:30 - 15:00 (12:30 - 13:00) broadcast in Czech 7310 kHz Europe
15:00 - 15:30 (13:00 - 13:30) broadcast in English 7310 kHz Europe
15:30 - 16:00 (13:30 - 14:00) broadcast in French 7310 kHz Europe
16:00 - 16:30 (14:00 - 14:30) broadcast in Spanish 7310 kHz Europe
16:30 - 17:00 (14:30 - 15:00) broadcast in Russian 7310 kHz Europe
16:00 - 16:30 (14:00 - 14:30) broadcast in Spanish 6005 kHz Europe
16:30 - 17:00 (14:30 - 15:00) broadcast in Russian 6005 kHz Europe
17:00 - 17:30 (15:00 - 15:30) broadcast in German 6005 kHz Europe
17:30 - 18:00 (15:30 - 16:00) broadcast in Czech 6005 kHz Europe
18:00 - 18:30 (16:00 - 16:30) broadcast in English 6005 kHz Europe
18:30 - 19:00 (16:30 - 17:00) broadcast in French 6005 kHz Europe
21:00 - 21:30 (19:00 - 19:30) broadcast in English 3985 kHz Europe, Asia
21:30 - 22:00 (19:30 - 20:00) broadcast in French 3985 kHz Europe, Asia
22:00 - 22:30 (20:00 - 20:30) broadcast in Spanish 3985 kHz Europe, Asia
22:30 - 23:00 (20:30 - 21:00) broadcast in Russian 3985 kHz Europe, Asia
23:00 - 23:30 (21:00 - 21:30) broadcast in German 3985 kHz Europe, Asia
23:30 - 24:00 (21:30 - 22:00) broadcast in Czech 3985 kHz Europe, Asia

The broadcast will be aired via the 1 kW Kall-Krekel transmitter in western Germany.

All reception reports received will be acknowledged with a special QSL card issued on the occasion of Czech Radio's 90th birthday.


We wish you happy listening!

(With additional inputs from playdx2003 list)

Friday, May 10, 2013

DRM India gathers pace as AIR announces roll-out time line

The AIR roll out is gathering speed and this message was conveyed last week loud and clear to Indian receiver manufacturers gathered at the AIR headquarters. Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)representatives also attended the meeting in New Delhi where All India Radio presented their roll-out plan for DRM broadcasts to receiver manufacturers. The Director General and Engineer-in-Chief of All India Radio and the Joint Secretary of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting addressed the participants and outlined the progress of installation of the digital (DRM) transmitters. This important meeting was to assist the market in planning the production and distribution of digital radio receivers as part of the AIR roll-out plan. Mr. Yogendra Pal, Chairman of the DRM India Chapter attended the meeting and reports.

 
Related :
 
All India Radio DRM implementation on track

China Radio to start Tamil FM channel in India

Beijing: China Radio International's Tamil service is all set to launch its FM station in India as part of its 50th anniversary this year.

CRI Tamil, which broadcasts on shortwave in Tamil Nadu, is in talks with some FM stations in Chennai, said Cai Jun aka Vani, deputy director of the Tamil department of CRI in Beijing.

 
 

Radio Australia to drop shortwave to China & Indonesia

The ABC could soon abandon international shortwave radio broadcasts to China and Indonesia, ending more than 70 years of beaming news and current affairs on high frequency into Asia. But the public broadcaster's management insist it will not flick the switch on shortwave services of Radio Australia to Papua New Guinea and tiny Pacific nations for now.
 
Read more at :

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

BBC to drop Hindi & Urdu on shortwave ?

Going by the indication BBC is surely going to drop Hindi & Urdu shortwave transmissions by the end of October'13 (or end of March 2014 ?).

Here's an informative article by Manu Moudgil which talks about major policy shift by BBC, few other articles appeared earlier also in the regional press. As per sources same situation pertains with Urdu service.

VOA Albanian Service Marks 70th Anniversary

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Presidents, diplomats, Balkan officials and members of the U.S. Congress paid an emotional tribute to the Voice of America's Albanian Service Tuesday, as the service marked the 70th anniversary of its first broadcast in 1943.

Speaking at VOA headquarters in Washington, New York Congressman Eliot Engel (D) joked that he had been interviewed by VOA so many times that when he visited Albania or Kosovo he was widely recognized.

Engel, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, congratulated the service (watch here) for its work providing information to Albanians. "I think that we in the United States need VOA to show to the peoples of different oppressed countries what America is all about...Every dollar that we give to VOA comes back to us with hundreds of dollars of goodwill for America, hundreds of dollars of good faith for what America is and what it stands for," Engel said.

In a videotaped message, Albanian President Bujar Nishani described the service's influence, saying it "gave us hope during a dark time in our history. It had the power to help our people forget their starvation."

Albanian envoys also presented a presidential award to VOA, and an individual award to former Albanian Service broadcaster Elez Biberaj, who is now Director of the VOA Eurasian Division.

In a separate message, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said, "VOA was the only voice reporting during the war [in Kosovo] and the refugee crisis that our people could listen to...may the Voice of America never go silent."

Former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini (D-Arizona) said the Voice of America remains critical, to report the news and "relate to the people of the region, that Americans care."

In a lighthearted moment, former U.S. Ambassador to Albania William Ryerson recounted preparations for then U.S. Secretary of State James Baker's 1991 visit to Albania after the two countries established diplomatic ties.

Ryerson said the first question he was asked after learning of the visit was whether Elez Biberaj, then Director of the Albanian Service, would be coming. "Baker schmaker, the important person was the Voice of America person," Ryerson recalled to loud applause from the audience.

Zamira Edwards, who began working at the Albanian Service with her sister after fleeing the communist regime in the 1980s, recalled the night the two dove into the Adriatic and swam toward Greece with their younger brother who disappeared before they were rescued by a passing ship. She said she never could have imagined that she would someday work for Voice of America, which she described as a "noble mission."

Today the service remains one of the most popular multimedia outlets in Albania with a weekly audience of 48% and in Kosovo where 57% of adults get their news from VOA.

VOA broadcasts around the world in 45 languages on radio, television, the Internet, and increasingly on mobile.

(BBG Press Release)

BBG Reports 26 million VOA Listeners in Latin America

According to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, expanding affiliate stations from Mexico to Chile may have helped grow Voice of America's audience to more than 26 million adults across Latin America.

These numbers resulted from questions placed on Gallup World Poll, surveying samples in 16 Latin American countries, from September through December, 2012. The figure included a weekly audience of 18.7 million on television, 16.2 million on radio, and 8.3 million on Internet (including use of syndicated or reproduced content).

 
 

First DRM+ broadcast in Norway

First digital broadcast on FM in Norway

Preparations are now on its way for the first test broadcasts with the digital technology DRM+ on a FM frequency in Norway. With some state funding the commercial local station Radio Metro in Trondheim will broadcast on 94,0 MHz.

More at :

 
Related :
 
Radio Metro, Norway       http://radiometro.no/

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

NASB & DRM USA 2013 ANNUAL MEETING

The 2013 NASB & DRM USA Annual Meeting will take place May 15-17, 2013 at EWTN Television in Birmingham, Alabama

As usual, the NASB Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the DRM-USA annual meeting on May 15-17, 2013, at the headquarters of NASB member EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) in Birmingham, Alabama.
NASB President Glen Tapley, Terry Borders and other EWTN staff members will welcome shortwave broadcasters, listeners and anyone with an interest in shortwave radio to the Birmingham venue

Details at :

NASA to study atmospheric storms that disrupt radio waves

A NASA-funded sounding rocket mission will help better understand and predict the electrical storms in Earth's upper atmosphere, which can interfere with satellite communication and global positioning signals.

The mission, called Equatorial Vortex Experiment (EVEX) will launch two rockets for a twelve-minute journey through the equatorial ionosphere from an atoll in the Pacific in the next few weeks.

More at :

China Radio International launches new radio service branches

English.news.cn | 2013-05-05 18:16:59 | Editor: Hou Qiang

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China Radio International (CRI) on Sunday launched three new radio service branches in Georgia, Jordan and Albania.

CRI said its radio service branch in Georgia's capital of Tbilisi will broadcast around the clock in English and Georgian, focusing on news and music. The broadcasts will reach more than 2 million people. The branch in Jordan's capital of Amman will provide daily news and music around the clock as well. A third branch in Albania's capital of Tirana will broadcast for ten hours daily in Albanian. CRI has 90 overseas radio service branches and broadcasts in 64 languages.

Russia celebrates Radio Day

The 7th of May is Radio Day in Russia. On that day in 1895 Russian physicist Alexander Popov held a radio communication session which initiated the rapid development of wireless technologies. Mass radio broadcasting developed in the 1920s and TV evolved about 30 years later. As a result, Radio Day is not only celebrated by people employed in all communication branches or creators of on-air programmes but also by millions of radio listeners and TV viewers.

Dedication of New Shortwave Radio Site in Australia Fulfills 24-Year Vision

May 3, 2013 - by Harold Goerzen

David Maindonald seemed incredulous as he reflected on his 24-year vision to air the gospel via shortwave radio from Australia to the Asia Pacific Region.

"Yes, the story of HCJB Global-Australia is truly a story of what God has done," he told a crowd at the dedication of the ministry's new international broadcast site in Kununurra, adjacent to the original
site that had been used to broadcast since 2003.

"The curtain antenna came from Croatia. It was brand new but it was intended by the communists to send propaganda all across the former Soviet Union. The towers were bought from the Australian Army for 5 cents on the dollar. Those are scrap metal prices! The transmitters are the refurbished transmitters from Radio Station HCJB in Ecuador, now being repurposed to reach this part of the world."

Also attending the ceremony were HCJB Global Asia Pacific Executive Director Ty Stakes, Australian Member of Parliament Barry Haase and Meg Shedley, who turns 90 this year. Back in 1997 when the Australian government still wasn't issuing international broadcast licenses, she and her husband, Don, donated a 200-acre farm in Kununurra in faith that it could serve as an international shortwave site.


excerpt from the report....

"A third HC100 coming in a few months will be digital, enabling us to reach a whole new audience with the clear, digital sounds of shortwave," added Pederson. "[Our Australian partners] are dedicated
people, and they've done a great job. You should see this impressive facility."

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Africa: Digital Did Not Kill the Radio Star

By David Smith, 1 May 2013
Radio threatens many of Africa's big men.

Thugs working for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe have recently been confiscating and destroying receivers. Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki stopped issuing import licenses. Other iron-fisted rulers such as Swaziland's King Mswati III and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir rarely hand out frequencies, thus reducing the range of independent radio.

The actions taken by these big men merely confirm radio's supremacy in Africa. It may be old technology, but it is still relevant and appropriate. While not everybody owns a radio, most people have access to one.

Bangladesh Betar test transmission using new BE 10 kW FM transmitters

Bangladesh Betar has installed new 10 kW FM transmitters (BE FM 10S) at cities mentioned below & currently test transmissions being carried on following frequencies :
 
Dhaka..........102.0 MHz
Dhaka..........104.0 MHz
Dhaka..........106.0 MHz
Sylhet..........88.8 MHz 
Rangpur........88.8 MHz
Comilla.........103.6 MHz
Coxesbazar.....100.8 MHz
Khulna..........88.8 MHz
Noapara, Jessore 100.8 MHz
Rajshahi.......88.8 MHz
Chittagong...88.8 MHz
Barisal........105.0 MHz
 
Broadcast Electronics FM 10S transmitter product info :
 
 
Related :
Bangladesh Betar to modernise/expand its FM services
 
Summary of a news report (in bengali) published in banglanews24.com ....
 
Here's what Director General of Bangladesh Betar, Kazi Akhtar Uddin Ahmed said while responding to reporter's queries at a cultural program organised by Radio Colony Model School, Savar, Dhaka on 26th Jan 2013 :
 
- At present Bangladesh Betar has 13 FM transmitters of 1, 2 & 5 kW
 
- By next month 12 FM transmitters of 10 kW (BE FM 10S 10 kW solid-state) will be started/replaced at different places.
 
- During next 2 months 6 more FM transmitters of 10 kW will be on air.
 
- Bangladesh Betar transmissions will be gradually converted from analog to digital in the coming years.
 
 
Thanks to Nazmus Sadat via IDXCI Facebook group for sharing this link.
 
Locations :
 
Barishal (Planned)
Chittagong ( Existing 2 kW)
Comilla (existing 2 kW)
Cox's Bazar (Planned)
Dhaka (Planned)
Jessore (Planned)
Khulna ( existing 1 kW)
Rajshahi (existing 1/5 kW)
Rangpur (existing 1 kW)
Sylhet (existing 1 kW)
 
Excerpt from Bangladesh Betar website :
 
Introduction of Country wide FM Broadcast Network in Bangladesh Betar (1st Phase)
 
Objectives of the project:
 
- To establish countrywide FM Broadcasting Network throughout the whole country for high quality and noise free reception on cheap radio receivers satisfying the listener's needs.
- In order to transmit attractive and harmonious program to the remote corner of Bangladesh
- In order to motivate and inspire mass people to take part in present day nation building activities, such as Poverty alleviation/ Poverty reduction, Population Control, Farm Broadcast, adult Education, Promotion of Cultural Heritage and other development activities.
- With the advancement of modern technology, FM becomes increasingly popular because of high quality, less cost and easy in handing.
- Using modern digital studio equipment and proposed FM network. Bangladesh Betar will be able to radiate noise interference free, clear high fidelity, CD quality program, thereby satisfying the audience needs.
 
Location : Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Jessore, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet and Barishal .
Project Cost (in lakh) : GOB TK. 2356.25 including foreign expenditure TK 1724.45
Expected date of completion : December, 2012
 
Related Link :
 
Broadcast Electronics (BE) awarded large transmitter contract by Bangladesh Government Radio
 
 
---
Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi
 

Saturday, May 04, 2013

BBC to launch new apprenticeship for Radio trainees

BBC Radio is launching a new apprenticeship scheme aimed at giving people without a university degree a break into radio.

The two-year scheme, believed to be the first of its kind, will focus on speech radio and will concentrate primarily on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. It will offer six placements.

The BBC Radio Journalism Apprenticeship will combine study at Lambeth College in London with work placements with the London programme teams of the BBC's Radio Production department. Apprentices will be trained in every aspect of radio journalism, from how to create accurate and balanced reports, to how to write for radio, the web, and social media.

The aim is to appeal to people from a wide range of backgrounds who can demonstrate passion and potential rather than academic qualifications.

Ruth Gardiner, acting Controller of Radio and Music Production, says: "We want to give people who do not have graduate experience, but who listen to some of our programmes and who have a genuine interest in how such programmes are made, the opportunity to join the department.

"Apprenticeships are important because they help attract recruits from a wide range of backgrounds by offering the opportunity to earn while learning."

BBC Radio Production makes magazine and conversation programmes as well as drama and documentaries for BBC Radio 4, Radio 3, Radio 2 and the World Service.

They range from magazine programmes such as Woman's Hour and Outlook to weekly interview programmes like Midweek and Desert Island Discs. The department is also responsible for arts programmes like Front Row on Radio 4, Night Waves on Radio 3 and science programmes like Material World on Radio 4.

The documentaries unit has produced a string of award-winning series, including the acclaimed History of The World In 100 Objects.

The apprenticeship scheme and work placements will start in September 2013. At the end of the two-year period, the apprentices will have all the skills and knowledge needed to gain an Advanced Apprenticeship in Journalism, developed in conjunction with the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Joanne Butcher, Chief Executive of the NCTJ, says: "The Advanced Apprenticeship in Journalism is a brand-new qualification developed by the NCTJ in partnership with leading employers.

"It provides a new pathway into journalism careers, combining learning on the job and at college, and to the same exacting standards we expect from all NCTJ trainees."

Mark Silverman, Principal of Lambeth College, says: "We are delighted that we have the opportunity to launch the new Apprenticeship in Radio Journalism in partnership with the BBC Radio production department."

The application process will open via the BBC Careers site on 6 May.

(BBC Press Release)

Friday, May 03, 2013

BBG Expands Its Reach With SoundCloud

WASHINGTON - The Broadcasting Board of Governors today announced a new strategic partnership with leading audio platform SoundCloud, adding hundreds of hours of audio programming weekly for users to access worldwide. The move is expected to expand the BBG's online audience by introducing its radio broadcasts to a new, widely-available mobile platform and to
content-sharing through social media.

"Audio programming is the lifeblood of our broadcasters' connection to much of their worldwide audiences," said Syndication Product Lead Addie Nascimento with the BBG's Office of Digital and Design Innovation. "Reinventing that experience through the SoundCloud platform and allowing for audio to become a social experience will revitalize our audio content in a powerful way."

From Khmer to Kurdish, content in more than 40 languages from all five broadcasters of the BBG will be made available through the platform. Each of the broadcasters has multiple accounts based on the language services it provides, and there is flexibility to add more accounts based on user demand.

Users will be able to find BBG content by searching SoundCloud for either their favorite program or a broadcaster's name. Listeners will also be able to connect directly on SoundCloud's waveform with other users who share similar interests.
 
SoundCloud provides an easy way to share audio programming on the web, as it lets users distribute content seamlessly across numerous social channels. BBG content uploaded to SoundCloud may be posted to Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler and Pinterest, appearing on the user's profiles via SoundCloud's HTML5 widget, thereby increasing audience reach for the BBG.
 
"SoundCloud is thrilled to be working with BBG to share their expansive, multi-lingual content across the web," said SoundCloud Head of Audio Manolo Espinosa. "Collaborating with the BBG enriches our community with their global audio programming and offers an opportunity for the BBG to expand their online growth and secure new listeners."

The partnership between the BBG and SoundCloud provides more comprehensive access than an individual membership would in order for BBG to centrally manage multiple language profiles, through automated feeds or manual uploads.

SoundCloud is available as an app for both iOS and Android, and is available online at www.soundcloud.com.
 
(BBG Press Release)

The Mighty KBC is moving frequency!

Our Sunday broadcast to Canada, USA and South America is moving frequency. On May 5 2013 we are moving to 9925 kHz. Same time 00.00 - 02.00 UTC. Listen to The Giant Jukebox with Eric van Willegen on our new frequency!!
 
Please spread the word !!

Media Freedom Faces 'Greatest Challenge Since the Cold War'

Media freedom faces its greatest challenge since the Cold War with Internet blocking, satellite jamming and the return of shortwave jamming said a group of leading international broadcasters today.

The statement issued on behalf of the representatives of Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [Australia], British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) [United Kingdom], the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) [US], Deutsche Welle (DW) [Germany], Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) [Japan] and Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), said:

"The jamming of satellite broadcasts has become a regular occurrence as regimes seek to block certain services from the being received. This jamming affects area stretching from Northern Europe to Afghanistan and as far south as Northern Africa. We have also seen Internet blocking of services and cyber-attacks on media organisations all over the world, shortwave jamming and disruption and interference with FM broadcasts. Media freedom has not faced such a concerted campaign of disruption since the end of the Cold War."

Marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the broadcasters called on all nations to recognize the legitimate role played by international broadcasts in offering free access to global media and coverage of events.

During the Cold War the jamming of radio broadcasts to east of the Iron Curtain was commonplace. European and U.S. broadcasters worked hard to overcome this in a game of cat and mouse. From the late 1990s digital satellite broadcasting has flourished delivering a wide range of programs in many languages to communities across the globe. Audiences have been able to benefit from international broadcasts that provide a different perspective on news and cultures.

The Washington D.C.-based BBG, with audiences in more than 100 countries, faces many obstacles imposed by governments around the globe -- including jamming of broadcasts to China, Iran and Cuba, in violation of international communications regulations. In response to their reporting, individual journalists working with BBG's five broadcasters, in Zimbabwe, Tibet, Mali, Belarus, and Azerbaijan, among other places, have been subject to harassment, detention and threats.

Alhurra TV's correspondent Bashar Fahmi remains missing in Syria since he was caught up in a cross-fire while on assignment on August 20, 2012.

At a recent meeting BBG Governor Michael Meehan recounted details of other threats to BBG journalists and commended their work. "I'd like to make special mention of the people behind the scenes who work, sometimes at risk to their lives, to help bring the light of truth to people living under repressive regimes and in conflict zones," he said.

The BBG has been working hard with fellow broadcasters and the satellite industry to counter jamming and secure media freedom. This involves seeking long term technical solutions and short term 'fixes' so that services can continue to be received during major political events and times of tension.
 
All of the leading international broadcasters are working with the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and other United Nations bodies to recognize the profound affects that jamming is having on audiences and the industry.

(BBG Press Release)

Radio Nepal re-launches its website

 
 
 
 
Radio Nepal has re-launched its website, with new design and features, including a widget for online listening and access to archived radio programmes.
 
Revamped radionepal.gov.np has a wider format, featuring more convenient and detailed content categorisation.

The old url radionepal.org is no longer working.

Did the Internet kill the radio?

Radio made its debut in cars in 1930, but automakers may soon be phasing the iconic feature out of newer models. According to Detroit News, the radio may soon be replaced by radio stations streamed through cellphones or web-based dashboards. Detroit Electric, which will debut its first model in August, is the first automaker to yank the feature from its cars.

More at :

Thursday, May 02, 2013

60 Years of DW Radio: From shortwave to audio-on-demand

Three hours in German on shortwave: DW first went on air with this radio format in 1953. Sixty years later DW has become a multimedia organization, providing information in 30 languages to people on all continents.


More DW 60 stories ...



North Koreans tune in for a glimpse of the outside world

News outlets run by defectors and sympathetic South Koreans are keeping people in the loop
 
Lee Seok-young can still remember the first tune he heard crouched beneath the blankets late one night, twisting the dial of his radio until he caught a station across the border. Crackling through, at the lowest volume, was the South Korean love song Ten Thousand Roses.

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Amendments in the Policy Guidelines for expansion of FM Radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-III)

The Union Cabinet today approved the decisions of Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM)'s meeting held on 6.3.2013 regarding amendments in the Policy Guidelines for expansion of FM Radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-III), which are as follows :-

i. The proposed specific departures from the Requests for Proposals (RFP) followed in DoT for auction of 3G and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Spectrum circulated as annexure to the agenda note were approved with some amendments.

ii. It was decided to charge migration fee from the existing operators on their migration from Phase-ll to Phase-Ill and the amount of migration fee would be decided after consultation with TRAI.

iii. EGoM approved the conduct the auction of 839 channels in 294 cities to be awarded through ascending e-auction as was approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 7.7.2011. The additional channels that may become available due to reduced channels spacing to 400 KHz. could be considered subsequently after feasibility studies are completed.

iv. EGoM also decided that the authority to make any other minor changes in RFP would be delegated to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

(Press Information Bureau , Government of India , Ministry of Information & Broadcasting )
01-May-2013 15:10 IST

Related :

FM radio to spread services to 294 cities