Despite Bleak Predictions, Radio Persists

by Thom Callahan

I've been reading about the "death" of radio for far too long, and would find it all most amusing if it were not so misguided and plain wrong. Each commentary is as dire as the next. Each story is the same and all you have to do is change the decade and the latest "threat" to radio and it all goes something like this.

More at : http://www.radioworld.com/article/despite-bleak-predictions-radio-persists/222405

Broadcasting Board welcomes Deutsche Welle structural reforms

At a meeting in Bonn on November 22, the Broadcasting Board has unanimously welcomed the reform plans Deutsche Welle Director General Peter Limbourg outlined, which aim to make DW a leading global information provider.

Chairman of the Broadcasting Board Valentin Schmidt said: "Only seven weeks after taking office, the director general has presented a convincing concept, which will allow Deutsche Welle to continue to successfully carry out its chartered task in the future. He has further developed the course adopted by his predecessor Erik Bettermann and has set new priorities for DW's strategy. The Broadcasting Board unanimously supports the restructuring measures envisaged by Peter Limbourg. We particularly welcome the plan to pool existing resources and to enhance the broadcaster's current affairs expertise. This will enduringly strengthen Deutsche Welle's international competitiveness."

The new Broadcasting Board will continue to accompany DW reform process after its constitution. The supervisory body will be reconstituted after all the representatives from social groups and organizations, as well as representatives from the Bundestag, the federal government and the Bundesrat have been appointed for a new five-year term.

Increased relevance to global decision makers

At the meeting of the Broadcasting Board, Director General Limbourg announced that in the future DW will strive to be a global information provider from Germany. At the same time, DW's journalistic profile will be further strengthened. He said: "Through more dialogue and interactivity, DW aims to increase the relevance of its content to global decision makers and political opinion leaders by 2017. For that segment of the target group in particular, we plan to extend DW's reach on all its platforms, thereby raising the number of regular DW users from the current 101 million to 150 million. In the coming four years, DW aims to position itself as one of the top international broadcasters."

By early February 2014, DW will set regional priorities following clear criteria and will optimize its TV, Internet and radio content accordingly. In this process, DW will strive to consolidate and streamline its work.

English as "flagship" in programming

Since English is the lingua franca of global decision makers, English-language content will be extended and will play a central role as the 'flagship' of all DW offerings. For example, English TV programming is set to significantly expand its news coverage. DW will continue to offer German-language television and online content as well. German-language TV news coverage will also be extended and more clearly structured. Cooperation on news programs with German national broadcasters ARD and ZDF will be strengthened in the coming years. The successful multimedia content available for German learners will be further developed and linked more closely to other content on dw.de.

In order to foster dialogue and interaction with users, DW will create new formats and intensify its connection to bloggers and other online opinion leaders.

Basis for strategy from 2014 to 2017

Following the merger of its two programming departments, DW will continue to streamline its structures and reorganize editorial work in Bonn and Berlin, Limbourg said.

The concept Director General Peter Limbourg has outlined will serve as the basis for DW's strategic plan from 2014 to 2017. The draft will be presented to the German federal government and the German Bundestag in spring 2014. Input from DW's internal "Competition of Ideas" and recommendations from staff representatives will be integrated into the draft.

(Press Release)

RT launches Sochi Today English radio

In the run up to the 2014 Winter Olympics, ABU Member Russia Today has announced the launch of a 24-hour English-language radio station Sochi Today.

 

This will be the first radio station in Sochi to broadcast entirely in English. It is available in Sochi and its metropolitan area, which will host several Olympic events.

 

More at : 

http://www.abu.org.my/Latest_News-@-RT_launches_Sochi_Today_English_radio.aspx

Myanmar radio station goes home after 21 years in Norway

OSLO, Norway, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Radio station-in-exile Democratic Voice of Burma has left Norway after 21 years to broadcast from Myanmar with newly granted legal status, it said Friday.

Read more at : http://tinyurl.com/kc8t8ym

Report in Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten with photo's : http://tinyurl.com/oh7kpcr

BBC Seychelles relay station to close in March 2014

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced today that the Indian Ocean Relay Station (IORS) transmitter site at Grand Anse, Mahé, will cease all shortwave transmissions on 29 March 2014.

 

The site was established in 1988 and has been in continuous service since then, relaying BBC broadcasts to audiences in East Africa primarily in English and Somali.

 

The closure will not affect the availability of BBC World Service programmes in Seychelles, which are relayed from satellite broadcasts on to local FM frequencies 106.2, 105.6 and 105.2MHz. In areas of East Africa still dependent upon shortwave broadcasts, the signal will be supplied by other relay stations. The announcement follows an earlier decision to stop all shortwave broadcasts from the BBC World Service site in Cyprus for similar commercial, technological and audience reach reasons. These ended in March of this year.

 

The announcement will unfortunately result in 11 staff being put at risk of redundancy. The staff over the last 25 years have operated and maintained this shortwave broadcast facility with passion, expertise and professionalism. The technical ability and commitment of the team at the IORS has been applauded by the BBC World Service.

 

The decision to close the site has been taken due to changing commercial and technological circumstances. As countries develop and their media markets open, listening and viewing habits have changed. New technology has changed the way audiences listen to BBC programmes and reduced the importance of shortwave broadcasts in much of the area currently served by the IORS, making the IORS commercially unviable.

 

The BBC is supporting the development of new delivery platforms such as internet and mobile streaming as well as FM radio and TV broadcasts. Shortwave broadcasts continue to regions and markets where listening remains strong and BBC services can be delivered efficiently to large geographic areas.

 

(Press Release)

25th Anniversary of BCDX Net

Sanil Deep, VU3SIO conducting BCDX Net

 

 

25th Anniversary of BCDX Net

This is to inform with great pleasure that the 25th anniversary of the BC DX Net conducted on Sundays at 8.30 am IST (0300 UTC) on 7085 kHz by Sanil Deep, VU3SIO and friends is to be celebrated on 24th November 2013.

This Net was started on Sunday November 27, 1988 by a small group of Amateurs viz. Shanmughasundaram VU2FOT, Victor Goonetilleke 4S7VK, Jose Jacob VU2JOS and some SWLs to exchange information on broadcasting stations.

All those who check in/send report of the 25th anniversary Net will receive a special QSL. (Sunday 24 Nov 2013, 7085 kHz LSB, 8.30 am IST (0300 UTC)

There will be a feature on BC DX net by Sanil Deep, VU3SIO broadcast in the popular DX program AWR Wavescan through various broadcasting stations in Germany and USA as follows :

Listeners in India can monitor this program as follows:

Sunday 24 Nov 2013

1530-1600 UTC (9.00 to 9.30 pm) 11750 kHz AM Mode via Nauen, Germany
1600-1630 UTC (0.30 to 10.00 pm) 15215 & 15660 kHz via KSDA, Guam

Those in other parts of the world can hear them as follows:

Sunday 24 Nov 2013

 

2230 KSDA 15320 Guam
2330 KSDA 17700 Guam

Monday 25 Nov 2013

 

1100 WRMI 9955 USA

Wednesday 27 Nov 2013

 

MN00 WRMI 9955 USA
1100 WRMI 9955 USA
1900 WINB 13570 USA

Thursday 28 Nov 2013 

0300 WRMI 9955 USA

Friday 29 Nov 2013

0315 WRMI 9955 USA

Saturday 30 Nov 2013

1100 WRMI 9955 USA
1300 WRMI 9955 USA
1530 WWCR 12160 USA
2230 WRMI 9955 USA

Address for reports:

SANIL. M DEEP, VU3SIO
23/1862, "Daylight", Opp. Highway Apts.
Kannanchery Road,
KOZHIKODE 673003 Kerala
India

Here's a recording from the program ...

http://soundcloud.com/alokesh-1/awr-wavescan-11750-khz-1545

 

(Jose Jacob, Hyderabad via DX_India FB group)

First radio transmitter of South India on display at Egmore Museum

By Express News Service - CHENNAI

The latest exhibit of the fortnight at the Government Museum in Egmore is an object that has carved a place for itself in the memories of countless persons and is, by itself, a chapter in the history of communication – The first radio transmitter of south India. Equipped with valves from the first generation of transistors, dial knobs and rheostats, the 200 watt transmitter – which was acquired by the museum in the 1950s – will be on display till December 1.

More at :

http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/First-radio-transmitter-of-South-India-on-display-at-Egmore-Museum/2013/11/19/article1897969.ece

Bhutan back on 6035 kHz breaking the silence !

On November 20th, heard Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) in english on 6035 kHz from 0847 UTC onwards with good reception with slight noise and  hum. Was surprised when I heard BBS in english on 6035 kHz after a long break and thought that BBS might have discontinued shortwave transmission and there is no possiblity of resumption of its shortwave analog transmission in future. Anyway, let me monitor in coming days whether it is a regular comeback or something else. The English Transmission was noted on air well beyond 1000 UTC (1028 UTC infact my last checked time). In the transmission there was discussion on "Salt Business", announcements etc, english songs aired, listeners calls with music requests, dedications and music mostly english songs aired as per my monitoring .

Please check my blog for more detail report plus links to audio files ....
www.gkcalling.blogspot.com

Today i.e. on November 21st, also heard BBS-Nepali Service with songs in Nepali at 0603 UTC on 6035 kHz, english programs with listeners calling show, music requests etc during afternoon 0830 UTC upto 0950 UTC upto my latest monitoring period.

(Gautam Kumar Sharma, Abhayapuri, Assam)

Radio NZ's way forward

KARL DU FRESNE

There's an "under new management" sign, figuratively speaking, outside Radio New Zealand's head office in Wellington. Paul Thompson, former editorial chief of the Fairfax media group which publishes the paper you're reading, recently took over as RNZ's chief executive.

 

More at .....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/9420466/Radio-NZs-way-forward

DRM Consortium to demonstrate DRM’s Emergency Warning Feature for India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

The DRM Consortium is to demonstrate the Emergency Warning Feature (EWF) of the ITU recommended international Digital Radio Mondiale standard at a special event hosted by NDMA on November 22nd 2013.

The special session DRM – Disaster and Emergency Warning is scheduled for the final day of a four-day event to be held at the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management, Gandhinagar (Gujarat).  Presentations will made by Alexander Zink, Fraunhofer IIS, Vice-Chairman DRM Technical Committee, Radu Obreja, DRM Marketing Director and the Hon Chair of the DRM India Chapter, Yogendra Pal.

Those present will include senior officers of NDMA from nine coastal states and officials from the state broadcaster, All India Radio and Doordarshan, Ahmedabad.  The session will also include a technical demonstration of how emergency alerts and information can be signalled and managed using DRM in the country in general and the coastal states in particular. This standard is currently being rolled-out all over India by All India Radio.

Yogendra Pal adds: "The inbuilt Emergency Warning Feature in DRM is an excellent way to inform the public immediately about possible disasters and other emergencies. All the digital receivers get automatically tuned to audio and or data emergency warning signals in multiple languages, even if they are tuned to another station. India has nine coastal states, so this feature is of utmost importance to give emergency messages to fishermen and all those on ships. All India Radio is already in the process of installing 72 DRM transmitters, which will eventually cover about 70% of the population of the country. The Emergency Warning Feature is freely available in these transmitters. If the Government decides to use this feature, the only actions required would be to send the emergency signals to the transmitters. In parallel the Government would need to inform receiver manufacturers to incorporate this feature in digital receivers."  

Alexander Zink adds: "The DRM Emergency Warning Feature is a highly beneficial component of the digital transition, as it combines the natural benefits of digital radio in terms of content options and coverage for the benefit of the society as a whole – enhancing and going far beyond the pleasures of radio as an entertainment medium."

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has included the DRM Emergency Warning Functionality paper and recommendation in a recent document.   Click here for the ITU document in full.

http://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ITU-Emergency-broadcasting-R12-SG06-C-0156MSW-E1.pdf

For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org.  Click here for the Newsletter with all the latest DRM news from around the world.

--

DRM Consortium

Postal Box 360

1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva

Switzerland

E-Mail: projectoffice@drm.org

Site for DRM: www.drm.org

(Press Release)

AIR's SW txers on its way out ?

Quoting ET ....

In case of AIR, short wave transmitters were on its way out due to its crackling sound and ''where it is of no use it might as well be closed'', he said.

'Our focus was now on increasing the reach of FM radio as it had the added advantage of being received on telephones which ensures that it will reach a wider audience'', the CEO said.

Read more at : http://tinyurl.com/o5jmcoq

 

Copyright © Economic Times

Thomson Broadcast signs agreement on technical and industrial partnership in Moscow

Official visit from Jean-Marc Ayrault in Russia- Thomson Broadcast who was part of the French delegation, has signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Trade House Sviaz Engineering.

 

In the presence of prime Ministers Dimitri Medvedev and Jean-Marc Ayrault Thomson Broadcast has signed in Moscow on November 1, 2013 an agreement with Trade House Sviaz Engineering on technical and industrial partnership for the supply of transmitters for digital Television and Radio broadcasting in Russia. Russia and France on Friday signed several agreements on investment cooperation and collaboration in the energy sector, the nuclear power as part of a visit by French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

 

(Press Release)

BBC publishes report entitled 'The economic return to the UK of the BBC’s global footprint'

BBC has published a report entitled 'The economic return to the UK of the BBC's global footprint'.

The research was carried out by Terrington and Company and Research Now to assess the indirect economic return to the UK from the BBC's international operations, BBC World Service, BBC Worldwide, BBC Global News Ltd, by surveying international business leaders in three key territories: USA, India and Australia.

The key findings of the research are:

Cultural factors such as language, creativity and values contribute to the UK's attractiveness as a source of overseas trade and investment. Almost two-thirds of the sample said the BBC was the main way they found out about the UK.

People who consume BBC services more frequently have more favourable perceptions of the UK. People who consume BBC services less frequently have less favourable perceptions of the UK. For example, around half of business leaders who consume the BBC on a monthly basis or less scored the UK 8-10 out of 10 as a good place to do business, but this figure rises to three quarters amongst daily BBC consumers.

A similar pattern is seen with the propensity to do business with the UK. The more business leaders know and consume the BBC, the more likely they are to trade with the UK. 66 per cent of people who consume the BBC on a monthly basis or less say that they are currently or very likely to do business with the UK over the next 12 months.

Amongst those who consume the BBC on a daily basis, this figure is 84 per cent.

The study goes on to indicate causality in the relationship. Over half (56 per cent) of respondents agree that the BBC plays a direct role in influencing their business decisions in favour of the UK (compared to only 12 per cent who disagree).

James Heath, the BBC's Director of Policy, said: "This report shows the enormous value of the BBC brand around the world. These research findings confirm the powerful role that institutions like the BBC play in enhancing Britain's global reputation and show how this can deliver an economic return to the UK.''

He added: "It is particularly encouraging that the BBC World Service has a strong position amongst audiences in some of the fastest-developing economies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As their GDP rises, their trade with the rest of the world is also expected to grow. The UK is well placed to benefit from this trend, in part due to the role of institutions such as the BBC in shaping perceptions of the UK and enhancing its international reputation."

The full report can be read here.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/howwework/reports/pdf/bbc_report_economic_return_global_footprint_2013.pdf

(BBC Press Release)

Life-saving radio begins broadcasting in typhoon-hit Tacloban

BANGKOK, 15 November 2013 (IRIN) - As distraught families in central and eastern Philippines struggle to access supplies in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, an emergency radio station broadcasting critical life-saving information has gone live in badly-affected Tacloban city.

"[The station] aims to be the voice from the government and the relief community to the affected [people] and also to provide two-way communication [with] the community," Mike Adams, the international coordinator for First Response Radio (FRR), an international non-profit network of radio technicians who have had a team on standby in the Philippines since 2007 and are a partner of the Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) network, told IRIN.

 

More at :

http://www.irinnews.org/report/99132/life-saving-radio-begins-broadcasting-in-typhoon-hit-tacloban

 

Related links :

 

Typhoon Haiyan: Solar-powered radio helps survivors in Philippines

 

A temporary radio station operating out of a suitcase is helping survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, providing both critical information and a dose of normalcy.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-16/solar-powered-radio-a-lifeline-in-philippines/5096630

Nautel to Deploy 31 Transmitters Throughout Australia

Southern Cross Austereo orders VS, XR and NVLT transmitters ranging from 2.5 kW to 10 kW

 

Hackett's Cove, Nova Scotia — Australia's Southern Cross Austereo has placed an order for 31 Nautel VS, XR, and NVLT transmitters, which will be used throughout the country to replace aging equipment. The order includes (1) NV10LT, (3) NV7.5LT, (11) NV5LT, (4) NV3.5LT, (1) XR6, (3) VS1, (5) VS300 and (3) VS2.5 Radio transmitters.

 

National Radio Engineering Manager Steve Adler said "Southern Cross Austereo is delighted to be partnering with Nautel to replace our existing broadcast transmitter fleet. From 300 Watts to 20 kilowatts, Nautel has a solution to cover all our AM and FM transmission needs."

 

Nautel's representative in Australia is Innes Corporation. Innes General Manager Karen Olliver said "SCA is one of Australia's leading and innovative group broadcasters. Their engineering always represents cutting edge technology." Final deliveries, installation and commissioning will be coordinated and implemented by broadcast engineering consultant Trevor Harwood of TJH Systems, Adelaide.

 

"We're very pleased to work with Southern Cross Austereo and our partner in Australia on this project," said John Abdnour, Regional Manager/ Asia-Pacific for Nautel. "SCA is joining hundreds of broadcasters around the world who rely on feature rich and efficient Nautel transmitters." 

For more information on Nautel in Australia, visit www.innescorp.com.au

 

Learn more about Nautel VS Series transmitters
Learn more about Nautel XR Series transmitters
Learn more about Nautel NVLT Series transmitters

 

About Nautel

Nautel has emerged as one of the world's largest manufacturers of broadcast transmitters. With more than 12,000 transmitters deployed in over 177 countries since 1970, Nautel continues to lead the way in providing valuable new solutions for digital broadcasting and other applications.

 

(Nautel Press Release)

Transradio & Ampegon to replace 1.5 MW longwave transmitter at Algeria

Télédiffusion d’Algérie awarded AM Radio Project to TRANSRADIO and Ampegon

 

Berlin, Germany and Turgi, Switzerland; November 5, 2013. Télédiffusion d’Algérie (TDA), the national broadcaster of Algeria, selected TRANSRADIO and Ampegon to replace the 1.5 MW longwave transmission system located close to the city of Tipaza in July this year. Meanwhile all administrative matters were settled and the contract is put into force. The project was offered in cooperation between Transradio and Ampegon.

 

The Tipaza longwave transmitter is operated on 252 kHz broadcasting with 1500 kW on day and 750 kW on night time and is receivable in French all over the western Mediterranean area.

 

More at :

 

http://www.ampegon.com/news/?id=12

AIR Kohima celebrates 50 years

All India Radio (AIR), Kohima, today celebrated 50 years of public service broadcasting in Nagaland. The celebration was marked by unveiling of monolith at the AIR Kohima station by state Governor Ashwani Kumar in presence of Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar and other officials.

 

More at :

 

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/air-kohima-celebrates-50-years-113110700924_1.html

 

 

Pics :

 

AIR Kohima`s Golden Jubilee Monolith

http://airddfamily.blogspot.in/2013/11/air-kohimas-golden-jubilee-monolith.html

AIR Kohima Golden Jubilee function 7 Nov. Eve

http://airddfamily.blogspot.in/2013/11/air-kohima-golden-jublee-function-7-nov.html

EMR Schedule from December 2013 to March 2014

8th December 2013, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Gohren / 6190 KHz Repeat from October

15th December 2013, 08.00 - 09.00 UTC Gohren / 7265 KHz All New programmes

15th December 2013, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Gohren / 9480 KHz

15th December 2013, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Nauen / 6045 KHz

27th December 2013, 19.00 - 19.45 UTC IRRS / 7290 kHz (New) Programme

28th December 2013, 09.00 - 09.45 UTC IRRS / 9510 KHz Repeat programme

 

19th January 2014, 08.00 - 09.00 UTC Gohren / 7265 KHz All New programmes

19th January 2014, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Gohren / 9480 KHz

19th January 2014, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Nauen / 6045 KHz

16th February 2014, 08.00 - 09.00 UTC Gohren / 7265 KHz All New programmes

16th February 2014, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Gohren / 9480 KHz

16th February 2014, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Nauen / 6045 KHz

16th March 2014, 08.00 - 09.00 UTC Gohren / 7265 KHz All New programmes

16th March 2014, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Gohren / 9480 KHz

16th March 2014, 09.00 - 10.00 UTC Nauen / 6045 KHz

(Tom Taylor)

 

DRM FREE WEBINAR– 18th November 2013

The DRM Consortium is holding a free webinar aimed largely at India with the participation of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

 

"DRM – Extra Features and Benefits – A Better Choice for Listeners" will be presented by experts from India and senior members of the DRM Consortium from around the world. A short presentation will be followed by questions and answers on the exciting aspects of DRM and the practical ways of making them available in receivers.

 

The webinar will be held on 18th November 1530-1700 India time (1000-1130 GMT/ UTC). Although the event is primarily aimed at the Indian market worldwide participants will be very welcome.

The webinar will tackle issues of interest in India and the current debate on radio digitisation for example: why is DRM superior to analogue, the implementation of the roll out plan in India and why get involved in receiver manufacturing now.

Ruxandra Obreja, Chair of the DRM Consortium, says: "All India Radio recently published a call for a tender for DRM 800 consumer receivers - alongside a tender for professional ones - demonstrating the will to take their digital roll out plan to the next level. This is an excellent sign for all manufacturers as multi-standard chipsets including DRM are already available. This makes the integration of the DRM standard into receivers an easier and more cost-effective process."

To register for this free webinar and view the list of topics please visit our website. All confirmed registrants will receive an e-mail before the webinar with the joining details. Please direct any questions or feedback to projectoffice@drm.org

About DRM

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) is the universal, openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies.

The DRM standard comprises of two major configurations: 'DRM30' intended for broadcasts on short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz and providing large coverage areas and low power consumption. The configuration for the VHF bands above 30 MHz is called 'DRM+', tailored for local and regional coverage with broadcaster-controlled transmissions.

All DRM configurations share the same audio coding, data and multimedia services, service linking, multiplexing and signalling schemes. DRM provides high quality sound combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services.

For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org. Click here for the Newsletter with all the latest DRM news from around the world.

About the ABU

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a non-profit, non-government, professional association of broadcasting organisations, formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to organise co-operative activities amongst its members. It currently has over 250 members in 60 countries, representing the who's who of the broadcasting industry and reaching a potential audience of more than 3.5 billion people.

www.abu.org.my

--

DRM Consortium

Postal Box 360

1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva

Switzerland

E-Mail: pressoffice@drm.org

Site for DRM: www.drm.org

 

(Press Release)

AWR Wavescan QSL: Last week & first week

International news media are carrying the news regarding the transfer of WYFR, the large shortwave station in lower central Florida, to WRMI Radio Miami International in Miami in the United States, at the end of this month. Due to this remarkable radio development, the international DX program, "Wavescan", will interrupt the flow of its regular programming to honor the occasion. The final broadcasts of "Wavescan" over WRMI Miami will be on the air during the last complete week in the month of November, and during the first complete week in December, "Wavescan" will be aired for the first occasion over the large new WRMI which is located a little north of Lake Okeechobee in lower central Florida.

The DX program, "Wavescan" is written in Indianapolis by Dr. Adrian Peterson, DX editor for Adventist World Radio, and it has been produced over the past several years by Jeff White at WRMI Radio Miami International in Miami. This program is on the air from WRMI in Florida, KSDA on the island of Guam, and seasonally by several of the shortwave relay stations in the AWR network, and also over WWCR and WINB in the United States.

All reception reports to "Wavescan" for the last week in November will be QSLed with a special "Last Week" endorsement for WRMI Miami, and all reception reports to "Wavescan" during the first week in December will be QSLed with a "First Week" endorsement for the new WRMI at Okeechobee. These special endorsements will be applied to all QSL cards issued for these special editions of "Wavescan" as heard on any of these stations that carry the program, though, where possible direct broadcast from the old and the new WRMI would also be appreciated. "Wavescan" may also be heard via numerous electronic deliveries, including station websites and iPod deliveries.

Listeners are encouraged to send their reception reports for these broadcasts to the Wavescan address in Indianapolis with address label and return postage, and also to the station that is carrying the programming, and also to the address for the new WRMI. The last edition of "Wavescan" via the old WRMI will be a special tribute to this station, and the first broadcast from the new WRMI will honor this new development.

Dr. Adrian M. Peterson

Co-ordinator - International Relations & DX Editor

Adventist World Radio

N9GWY - Ex KA9YPQ

Board of Directors

Radio Heritage New Zealand

Adventist Radio Stations in Indiana

Board of Directors Emeritus

Adventist World Radio

NASB National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters USA

wavescan@awr.org

adrian.m.peterson@gmail.com

Adventist World Radio

Box 29235

Indianapolis

Indiana 46229

USA

317 891 8540

 

(News Release)

WYFR Facility to Return to Shortwave as WRMI

Legendary shortwave station WYFR in Okeechobee, Florida, which ceased transmissions on June 30, 2013, will resume broadcasting in December as a result of an agreement between Family Stations, Inc, and Radio Miami International, Inc.

According to the agreement, Family Radio will sell the WYFR facility t...o Radio Miami International. Family Radio programming for the Caribbean and South America will return to shortwave via the Okeechobee site, and Radio Miami's programming currently aired on WRMI in Miami will switch over to the Okeechobee facility. The station will also carry programs for other international broadcasters, including Pan American Broadcasting's Radio Africa network. A target date of December 1, 2013 has been set for the resumption of broadcasts. The current WRMI transmission site in Miami will be closed, and the WRMI call letters will be transferred to Okeechobee.

"We are very grateful to Family Radio for entrusting us with this magnificent station," said Jeff White, WRMI General Manager. "WYFR is an important part of the heritage of shortwave broadcasting, and we are very happy that it will continue to serve shortwave listeners around the world." The station first went on the air from Okeechobee in 1977, although the origins of the station and its predecessors go back to 1927. WYFR/WRMI is the largest shortwave station in the United States in number of transmitters and antennas. The facility is comprised of 13 transmitters -- twelve 100-kilowatt and one 50-kilowatt -- and 23 antennas beamed to all of the Americas, Europe and Africa.

White, who is also Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB), said that "many people made this transition a reality, not the least of whom was our former

Secretary-Treasurer and current board member, Dan Elyea, who had been the WYFR Station Manager from the time it was built in the late 1970's until his recent retirement. Dan presented us to Family Radio Vice President Tom Evans. Tom and the Family Radio Board have given us their confidence, and we will do our best to keep this station going for many years to come."

For more information, contact: Jeff White

E-mail: radiomiami9@cs.com

Tel: +1-305-559-9764

(News Release, Nov. 6, 2013)