Radio Africa Network Update - Frequency Changes A14

The new Radio Africa Network broadcasting from Okeechobee, Florida is proving to be an exceptional Outreach for our ministries, and the broadcasts continue to be a blessing to all people that are listening to the station…Praise God!  

 

Since the first day we began broadcasting from the Florida site, December 1, 2013, we continue to monitor the effectiveness of the station, as well as fine tune the transmission in order to ensure that we receive optimum coverage and maximize the transmission quality of the signal.  During our three months of broadcasting, we have received numerous reception reports, and we look forward to receiving more reports from listeners around the world!  If you have sent us a reception report in the past couple of months, we thank you!  It is amazing to receive your letters and reports, and they inspire us and the ministries to continue with the broadcast service. 

 

We are excited to announce that effective March 30^th, 2014 The Radio Africa Network is adjusting its frequencies in order to provide optimum coverage to its targeted areas.  The new schedule will be as follows:

 

17790 kHz = 0800 – 2100 UTC

15190 kHz = 2100 - 0800 UTC

 

Your reception reports are very important to us, and we look forward to receiving each and every one of them.  We are excited to announce that we have 3 different QSL cards as noted below: 

 

 

Additionally, we continue to track where in the world the Radio Africa Network is being heard and you can see the results at  http://www.radiopanam.com/QSLmap.html

Have a wonderful day!

  

Jeff Bernald and The Pan American Broadcasting Team

 

       

 

Radio Caroline (1964-2014) 50th anniversary on IRRS-Shortwave

It's with great pleasure that we announce a special program on IRRS-Shortwave and Medium Wave produced by NEXUS International Public Access (IPAR) member "16 Gwendoline Street" on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Radio Caroline.
This is the schedule of 16 Gwendoline Street and its special sixty minute program on Radio Caroline's on the air on March 28-29, 2014 on IRRS-Shortwave and Medium Wave frequencies:


Fri March 28, 2014:
19:00 UTC / 20:00 UTC on 7120 Shortwave & 1368 kHz Medium Wave
22:00 UTC / 23:00 CET on 1368 kHz Medium Wave


Saturday 29 March, 2014:
00:30 CET (23:30 UTC on previous day) on 1368 kHz Medium Wave
06:30 CET / 05:30 UTC on 1368 kHz Medium Wave
10:00 CET / 09:00 UTC on 9510 kHz Shortwave &1368 kHz Medium Wave
22:30 CET / 21:30 UTC on 1368 kHz Medium Wave


Audio will be also available on streaming at:

http://mp3.nexus.org:8000/irn.mp3.m3u

or at:

http://mp3.nexus.org (IRRS / EGR audio link)
Happy listening, and stay tuned !
73s,

Ron Norton
  --
Ron Norton                       NEXUS-Int'l Broadcasting Association
email: reports@nexus.org                         http://www.nexus.org

BBC World Service changes satellite frequency in south and south east Asia

The World Service is currently changing the frequency of its satellite distribution to south and south east Asia on the Apstar 7 satellite. The new frequency is 4,088.9Mhz. World Service partners across Asia will notice their receivers being re-tuned over the next couple of weeks. Our audience should not notice any significant break in service. The process is planned to be completed by mid April 2014.

This change is necessary to avoid interference from a new satellite that is shortly entering service in an adjacent orbital position. Nigel Fry, Head of Distribution for BBC Global News, said: "The situation reflects the high demand for spectrum to support satellite operations. It comes at a time when the international regulatory bodies are under pressure to release the same spectrum for future mobile communications applications. We are actively supporting work by the satellite industry and others to protect the use of this part of the spectrum which is of vital importance to the international media industry."

(BBC Press Office)

Hey Don't Forget About Radiogram

"Radiogram is soundly premised on modern digital techniques and mitigates longstanding impediments to HF transmission,” Kobb and Rumbaugh wrote in their comments to BBG. “Users around the world have documented reception of 50 VOA Radiogram programs in more than a thousand YouTube videos. BBG must not allow its own pioneering developments to wither, but should advance them toward operational status.”

More at :

http://www.radioworld.com/default.aspx?tabid=75&entryid=10210

KBC Radio to stay on 7375 for A14

Latest News !!

The Mighty KBC is not moving to 9925 kHz, but staying on 7375 Khz till May. This is only for our broadcasts to the USA, Canada and South America. Please spread the word.

 

(This show is recorded, so we are mentioning the wrong frequency).

 

--

Kind regards,

Eric van Willegen

 

www.kbcradio.eu

 

 

RNZI A14

Effective 30 Mar 2014 - 03 May 2014

 

UTC kHz Target Days

0459-0758 11725 AM 11675 DRM Pacific

0759-1058 9700  AM 9890  DRM Pacific Daily

1059-1158 9700  AM 9890  DRM NW Pacific,PNG Timor Daily

1159-1258 9700  AM           NW Pacific, PNG Timor Daily

1259-1550 6170  AM           Pacific Daily

1551-1650 9700  AM 7330  DRM Cook Islands Daily

1651-1850 9700  AM 9630  DRM Cook Islands Samoa Niue, Tonga Daily

1851-2050 11725 AM 11675 DRM Cook Islands, Samoa Niue, Tonga Daily

2051-2150 11725 AM 15720 DRM Solomon Islands Daily

2151-0458 15720 AM 17675 DRM Pacific Daily

 

Bougainville/Papua New Guinea and Timor Transmission 1100 -1300 UTC

 

From 1100 -1300 UTC our programme is directed to the North Western Pacific and Asia.

Thomson Broadcast reaches agreement with Continental Electronics Corporation

Thomson Broadcast, a worldwide leader in television and radio transmission solutions serving civil and defense broadcast markets announced after a strong 2013 year of growth and a great 2014 beginning, has reached an agreement  with Continental Electronics Corporation to offer Continental’s short-wave transmitters to select Thomson Broadcast customers.

 

After a successful 2013 year with key deals signed in Israel and Russia and a new 2014 off to a flying start, Thomson Broadcast continues to grow and now expands its reach through an agreement with Continental Electronics Corporation. This teaming of capabilities adds complementary short-wave radio transmitter portfolio to Thomson’s broad transmission solutions.

 

“Continental Electronics reputation of designing and manufacturing short-wave custom RF solutions builds great synergy with our outstanding expertise in medium- and long-wave turnkey radio transmission solutions.” said Pascal Veillat the President of Thomson Broadcast.

 

Michael Rosso, Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Continental Electronics echoes Veillat’s enthusiasm.  “Thomson will now be able to continue to offer short-wave transmission solutions in markets where they traditionally had a much stronger presence. This will truly provide an added benefit to both our companies.”

 

Thomson Broadcast will exhibit at NAB 2014 show on booth SU 7111, South hall (upper) on the French Pavillon. Thomson Broadcast is highlighting its high-power Futhura TV Transmitter series for drastic energy savings and long-term reliability benefiting from latest Thomson innovation. Futhura series offers in a single cabinet up to 11.6 kW rms. Its leading edge design is constantly being improved to offer unique advanced features including Peak Average Power Ration – PAPR- for tone reservation and unique Digital Adaptive Pre-correction for automatic real-time linear and non-linear pre-corrections. As a reference in the medium-power TV transmitter market, Elite 100 GreenPower range will be presented and its outstanding benefits demonstrated. Its modular design and easy maintenance procedures allow any network extension under any conditions. For both series, outstanding quality, stability and reliability are guaranteed thanks to in-house manufacturing and unique engineering services.

 

These innovative solutions will be demonstrated alongside the company’s leading range of medium- and long- wave radio transmitter S7HP. The S7HP is the reference with the largest worldwide installed base. Thomson Broadcast is recognized as the leader offering a unique DRM turnkey system solution.

 

More information about Thomson Broadcast and its products is available at www.thomson-broadcast.com or by phone at +33 1 34 90 31 00.

 

---- 

About CONTINENTAL ELECTRONICS

 

Founded in 1946, Dallas-based Continental Electronics is a global leader in broadcast transmitter equipment. It is the foremost supplier of advanced high-power RF transmission technology and the world’s most experienced designer and builder of the highest power RF equipment, providing a full range of products for scientific, military, and broadcast applications. Continental Electronics’ products are used in more than 100 countries around the world.

 

For more information about Continental Electronics, visit the company’s website at www.contelec.com  or call +1-214-381-7161 or USA toll free 1-800-733-5011.

 

About THOMSON BROADCAST

 

Since the earliest years of broadcasting, the Thomson name has been synonymous with expertise and innovation at the highest level. A trusted partner to the world’s leading broadcasters, Thomson has pioneered many developments that have shaped the industry, leading innovation in solid-state technology, Digital Adaptive Pre-correction (DAP), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), and Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); winning multiple Emmy® Awards; and gaining more than 50 patents in technologies that have become fundamental to broadcasting. THOMSON Broadcast is building on this great heritage with a market-leading portfolio of transmission products for terrestrial television, radio broadcasting, and state-of-the-art products for scientific applications, combined with world-class systems integration services. With more than 50,000 active Thomson transmission systems deployed worldwide and a global support presence, THOMSON Broadcast continues to forge technologies for the future, with initiatives such as the innovative GreenPower and broadcast/mobile convergence programs. In 2013 Thomson Broadcast was acquired by Arelis Group, a French industrial group mainly involved in military and professional activities. As part of the Arelis Group, Thomson Broadcast has an excellent platform for growth and development as a world-leading manufacturer of television and radio transmitters

 

Information about products from THOMSON Broadcast is available at www.thomson-broadcast.com

 

About ARELIS

 

Formed in 2010 from the merger of two French companies, MEUSONIC and SERICAD, ARELIS is a major industrial and strategic partner in microwave energy conversion. A member of GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautique et Spatiales), Arelis is also actively supported by French Ministry of defense (MOD) especially through the RAPID program. Arelis acquired funding in June 2012 from ACE Management, a private equity investor acting on behalf of prestigious partners such as EADS, Airbus, Thales, Safran, CEA, and Areva. Having made important technology and manufacturing acquisitions, the Arelis Group has the resources to achieve its ambitious development goals in the areas of R&D and production in the fields of RF, microwave electronics, energy conversion and testing.

(Press Release)

Radio Taiwan International launches new website

Radio Taiwan International is going to launch a new website on 28th March, 2014, sneak preview available at : http://english.rti.tw/

VOA Seeks to Boost Services to Asia, Africa in 2015

The Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. government entity that oversees the Voice of America, has released details of a 2015 budget request that will cut Balkan language services but add spending aimed at Asia and Africa.


More at :

http://www.voanews.com/content/voa-seeks-to-boost-services-to-africa-and-asia-in-2015/1879187.html

Indian made digital receivers will serve Indian and other countries

MUMBAI: In the South Asian continent, apart from India, there is not much happening when it comes to analog to digital airwave transition. Now the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium (DRM) has decided to turn its attention towards India until the whole of All India Radio (AIR) is digitised. But there is another reason why the DRM is focused solely on India.

More at :

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/indian-made-digital-receivers-will-serve-indian-and-other-countries#story

TRANSRADIO and AMPEGON continue and develop their good business relations to Télédiffusion d'Algérie (TDA)

Renewing its confidence in TRANSRADIO's technology and experience with complex AM/DRM turn-key projects, Télédiffusion d’Algérie (TDA), the national broadcaster of Algeria, again chose the cooperation of TRANSRADIO and Ampegon to upgrade and improve its AM broadcasting network with another two high-power MW transmitter systems.

 

Just a few month after getting the order for the 1500 kW LW station in Tipaza, TRANSRADIO again was rewarded with the contract to renew existing AM equipment in Ouled Fayet (600 kW) and Bechar (400kW) in February 2014. The cooperation partner Ampegon will be responsible for the new antenna systems and dummy loads. Both companies look forward to prove again its ability to manage such outstanding projects.

 

It has been exactly at the site Ouled Fayet where TDA and TSB started their successful AM partnership in 2002 as TSB has put a small TRAM line transmitter into service. The high-quality and reliable technical concept of the TRAM line convinced TDA technicians and engineers so quickly that in the following years TDA asked TSB to deliver lots of AM stations for the whole country in nearly all power classes from 10 to 1.500kW.

 

(Tuesday, 25 March 2014 09:50)

(Press Release)

Alex & Yeyi A14

PROGRAM           TIME(UTC)FREQUENCY DAYS LANGUAGE TARGET AREA

Radio Miraya       0300-0600 11560 mtwtfss Arab/Engl Africa

Denge Kurdistan    0300-1900 11510 mtwtfss Kurdish   Middle East

Suab Xaa Moo Zoo   1130-1200 11570 mtwtfss Hmong     Asia

Que Me             1200-1230 9930  ----f-- Vietnamese Asia

The Khmer Post Radio 1200-1300 9960 mtwtfss Khmer    Asia

Radio Xoriyo       1600-1630 17870 m---f-- Somali    Africa

Oromo Voice        1600-1630 17850 m-w--s- Oromo     Africa

Radio Inyabutatu   1600-1700 17870 -----s- Kinyarwanda Africa

Radio Hilaac       1700-1730 15180 mtwt-ss Somali    Africa

ESAT Radio         1700-1800 15370 mtwtfss Amharic   Africa

Radio Assenna      1700-1800 15245 m--t-s- Tigrinya  Africa

Eritrean Forum     1700-1800 15245 -t--f-s Tigrinya  Africa

Eritrean Forum     1700-1800 15245 --w---- Arabic    Africa

Eritrean Forum     1800-1900 15245 -----s- Arabic    Africa

BBN Radio          1900-1930 15150 ----fss Amharic   Africa

Suab Xaa Moo Zoo   2230-2300 7530  mtwtfss Hmong     Asia

Digital Radio Mondiale(tm) (DRM) Demonstrates Its Versatility at General Assembly held at the BBC in London this month

DRM on all bands received on USB sticks, tablets, desk top receivers, as well as integrated with social media could be experienced during the the first day of the General Assembly of the DRM Consortium (March 26th) at the New Broadcasting House, BBC Headquarters in central London. The event was launched in the iconic BBC Radio Theatre by the Chief Operating Officer of the BBC World Service and Global News.

 

Under the title “DRM in Action”, the Consortium used this opportunity to showcase the many excellent benefits of the DRM standard while experts from around the world highlighted the progress DRM made around the world.

 

In the first key sessions Indian contributors including broadcasters and receiver manufacturers updated the audience on the digital roll-out in India. Then Brazilian experts gave participants an in-depth insight into Brazil’s digital radio contrasts and the support for DRM coming from the industry, community stations and other stakeholders.

 

To prove that digital radio is “radio plus” Consortium member companies invited delegates to experience practically DRM alongside the transmission chain from studio to listener. BBC (UK); Babcock International (UK); Fraunhofer IIS (Germany); Digidia (France); Radio Haugaland (Norway); BT Broadcast Transmitters (Brazil); Orbisonic (Brazil); NXP (The Netherlands) and Rfmondial (Germany) showed the latest equipment and applications for DRM.

 

On the 27th the DRM Consortium members endorsed the full set of past activities and the strategy for the next year. They also elected the new Steering Board of the Consortium welcoming to it new members like BT Transmitters (Brazil), Thomson Broadcast (France), and Gates Air (formerly Harris Broadcast, USA).  Ruxandra Obreja was re-elected as DRM Consortium Chairman.  “This was the best, most intense and most encouraging General Assembly of the past years, said Ruxandra Obreja.” The Consortium is stronger than ever and ready to face the many challenges of its key target markets.  It was gratifying to have delegates from India, Brazil, Germany, Nigeria, Turkey, Malaysia, Switzerland, Sweden and other countries contribute, network and reaffirm the strength of DRM globally.”

 

The next big event where the DRM Consortium will hold a targeted workshop is Digital Radio Broadcasting Summit- Africa in Cape Town, South Africa (23rd April).

 

Postal Box 360

1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva

Switzerland

E-Mail: pressoffice@drm.org

Site for DRM: www.drm.org

 

New BBC Tamil series chronicles Tamil film comedy

BBC Tamil is embarking on an exploration of film comedy with a new 15-part weekly radio series. From Sunday 30 March, The History Of Tamil Film Comedy will look at the origins and evolution of comedy as a dominating genre in Tamil film industry.

Based in the Southern Indian city of Chennai, the Tamil film industry is one of India's largest mass-culture institutions, alongside Mumbai-based Bollywood. From their beginnings in the silent movies and on to the 'talkies' age, Tamil films had developed a rich tradition of original comedy, with popular comedians such as N.S.Krishnan, Thangavelu, M.R.Radha, T.S.Baliah, and Nagesh, and female comediennes such as Manorama, who dominated the silver screen in the early days.

The tradition has continued, with a range of artistes firmly established in the comedy genre: Gaundamani, 'Kovai' Sarala, Vivek, Vadivel and Santhanam.

The History Of Tamil Film Comedy is produced and presented by the former BBC journalist, Sampath Kumar. "Actors, directors, comedy writers, film critics and researchers, brought together in these programmes, share their memories, helping to chronicle the amazing story of Tamil film comedy. I had a wonderful experience working on this radio series, researching a genre that has brought so much joy and entertainment to so many lives," says Kumar.

BBC programmes have explored various aspects of Tamil cinema in the past - from the impact of Tamil cinema on regional politics, to the history of Tamil film music, and the doyens of Tamil cinema.

BBC Tamil Editor, Thirumalai Manivannan, adds: "Through its nearly 100 years of vibrant history, the Tamil film industry has nurtured a uniquely original comedy tradition. Our new series highlights the fact that, as a genre, Tamil film comedy has reflected the Tamil cultural mores, occasionally drawing on the 'non-Tamil' traditions such as Hindi and Western slapstick comedy. We hope our audiences enjoy this addition to our Sunday schedule in the coming weeks."

The series will be broadcast at 15:45 GMT (21:15 Indian and Sri Lankan Standard Times) on Sundays, and will be available as podcasts online via the BBC Tamil website bbctamil.com.

The BBC Tamil radio programming is available on SW frequencies - 31, 22 and 19 metres (9500, 13830 and 15470 kHz) - and on demand via bbctamil.com which offers a range of content-sharing functions and has a mobile version. BBC Tamil is part of BBC World Service.

(BBC Press Release)

Radio yet an important media for rural masses

Radio remains the most powerful yet the cheapest mass medium for reaching large numbers of people in isolated areas. Thanks to the revolution of the transistor, even the remotest villages have access to radio, which builds on rural populations. With the expansion of number of radio stations and transmitters, we see the increase of introduction of suitable programmes, which is made keeping in view the general interest of the audience.

Read The Morung Express story at :

http://www.morungexpress.com/public_discourse_public_space/113116.html

TWR's new MW transmitter on air

Trans World Radio's new 500 kW transmitter is on air at full power with regular broadcast schedule. The transmitter caters to the listeners in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Northern India. According to TWR blog full-power programming began on March 24, 2014. TWR conducted low power tests for one week starting 16th Dec 2013.

Broadcasts from new transmitter noted on 1467 kHz with sign off at 1629 UTC.

PANI Transmitter Test Broadcasts Now Underway

http://www.twr.org/news_and_blogs/2013/12-19/pani-transmitter-test-broadcasts-now-underway

More about PANI broadcasts

http://www.twr.org/give/projects/1620/pani-broadcasts.html

HFCC's reply to BBG on shortwave usage

On 28th Feb, 2014 BBG's special committee on the future of shortwave broadcasting had invited comments....

http://www.bbg.gov/blog/2014/02/28/shortwave-committee-request-for-comment/


Here's HFCC's reply to BBG on shortwave usage ...

http://www.hfcc.org/doc/HFCC_RAD_2014-002-BBG_Request_for_Comment.pdf

Radio Thailand A14

RADIO THAILAND A14 BROADCAST SCHEDULE 

EFFECTIVE MARCH 30, 2014 AT 0800 UTC

SORTED BY TIME :

TIME (UTC)          LANGUAGE          FREQUENCY (KHz)

0000‑0030           ENGLISH             15590 

0030‑0100           ENGLISH             15590 

0100‑0200           THAI                15590 

0200‑0230           ENGLISH             15590 

0230‑0330           THAI                15590 

0530‑0600           ENGLISH             17640 

1000-1100           THAI                17770 

1100‑1115           VIETNAMESE          5875 

1115‑1130           KHMER               5875 

1130‑1145           LAO                 5875 

1145‑1200           BURMESE             5875 

1200‑1215           MALAYSIAN           9390 

1230‑1300           ENGLISH             9390 

1300‑1315           JAPANESE            9390 

1315‑1330           MANDARIN            9390

1330‑1400           THAI                9390

1400‑1430           ENGLISH             9390 

1800‑1900           THAI                9390

1900‑2000           ENGLISH             9390

2000‑2015           GERMAN              9390

2030‑2045           ENGLISH             9390

2045‑2115           THAI                9390

SORTED BY LANGUAGE :

TIME (UTC)          LANGUAGE          FREQUENCY (KHz)

1145‑1200           BURMESE             5875 

0000‑0030           ENGLISH             15590

0030‑0100           ENGLISH             15590

0200‑0230           ENGLISH             15590

0530‑0600           ENGLISH             17640

1230‑1300           ENGLISH             9390

1400‑1430           ENGLISH             9390 

1900‑2000           ENGLISH             9390

2030‑2045           ENGLISH             9390

2000‑2015           GERMAN              9390 

1300‑1315           JAPANESE            9390 

1115‑1130           KHMER               5875

1130‑1145           LAO                 5875 

1200‑1215           MALAYSIAN           9390

1315‑1330           MANDARIN            9390 

0100‑0200           THAI                15590

0230‑0330           THAI                15590

1000-1100           THAI                17770

1330‑1400           THAI                9390

1800‑1900           THAI                9390

2045‑2115           THAI                9390 

1100‑1115           VIETNAMESE          5875

(Source : Radio Thailand)

Tuning in to save lives - how the Red Cross uses radio in Haiti and Nepal

In an age when social media and digital communications are all the rage, there is still an important place for the humble radio when it comes to saving lives.

 

The Red Cross has long been using radio as a means of reaching a wider audience. In countries where literacy levels are low and communication platforms are limited, people often rely on local radio networks for their news and information.

 

More at :

 

http://blogs.redcross.org.uk/international/2014/03/tuning-in-to-save-lives-how-the-red-cross-uses-radio-in-haiti-and-nepal/

BBC adds one hour of DRM txn for South Asia

BBC has added one hour DRM txn towards South Asia for A14 season effective 30th March, 2014 :

0900-1000 UTC on 17820 kHz (Daily) English towards South Asia Via Nakhon Sawan

BBC already has four hours of DRM txn for South Asia :

1400-1800 UTC on 5845 kHz

Radio Romania resumes english broadcast in DRM mode for India

Radio Romania International has resumed it's DRM transmission in English for India during A14 season (effective 30th March 2014), schedule as following :

 

0300 – 0400 UTC on 11825 kHz (analog) & 15220 kHz (DRM)

 

RRI English A14 schedule is available online at :

http://rri.ro/en_gb/schedule_valid_from_march_30th_2014-13859

Radio Romania International had introduced its English language broadcast in DRM mode for India during A12 season, here are couple of video's from RRI English transmission in DRM mode towards India logged during 2012  : 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FgRrl3874U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1UBsQDpK3I 

 

KTWR Guam introduces weekly DRM transmission in Japanese for A14

After series of DRM tests, KTWR Guam has introduced a weekly DRM transmission in Japanese language for A14 season effective 30th March 2014  :

 

 

1100-1200 UTC on 12120 kHz ( Sunday) towards Japan

Harris Broadcast Splits and Renames as Imagine Communications and GatesAir

Harris Broadcast, part of the Gores Group, has been split into two companies that have been named Imagine Communications and GatesAir. The announcement was made at an inaugural MediaDay held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

More at .....

http://radiomagonline.com/currents/business/harris_broadcast_splits_and_renames_as_imagine_communications_and_gatesair_0317/

Voice of Russia to close down shortwave broadcasts by 1st April, 2014

After several online stories & predictions about closure of shortwave services by Voice of Russia received this official response today....

Quote....

Dear Mr Gupta,

This is just a short message to thank you for your letter and let you know that the Voice of Russia is closing shortwave broadcasts as of April 1^st. Our programs will be available online at http://voiceofrussia.com/play/

We hope you will stay with the Voice of Russia and hope to hear from you soon again.

Sincerely yours,

Elena Osipova

Letters Department

World Service

Voice of Russia

Riding the Indian radio waves

Anupriya Acharya, Alexander Zink, Yogendra Pal and Prasun Kumar discussed the future of radio and monetisation, anchored by Tarun Katial

 

Anupriya Acharya, group CEO, ZenithOptimedia (ZO), kickstarted a session titled ‘The future of Indian Radio and Monetisation Opportunities' on day two of FICCI Frames 2014 with an observation that radio is a bigger influencer in India than it is elsewhere. The session was anchored by RBNL’s Tarun Katial.

 

http://www.campaignindia.in/Article/375165,ficci-frames-2014--riding-the-indian-radio-waves.aspx

 

Related :

 

FICCI Frames 2014: There is a monetisation opportunity in Radio as it goes digital

 

Panel discusses the imminent changes which will come with the advent of digital radio

 

http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2014/03/ficci-frames-2014-there-is-a-monetisation-opportunity-in-radio-as-it-goes-digital/

DRM debuts at FICCI Frames 2014 

 

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/drm-debuts-ficci-frames-2014#story

National Community Radio Awards 2014 presented

Shri Bimal Julka, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting presented the 3rd National Community Radio Awards here today. The list of awardees is as under.

 

i) Most Creative /Innovative Programme Content Awards

 

1) Yerlavani Community Radio, run by Yerala Projects Society, Sangli, Maharashtra, for its programme, “Changes in cropping and agricultural practices as per environmental change”

2)  Community Radio JU, Run by Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, for its programme, “Sunno Theke Suru – Types of Quadrilateral”

 

ii)     Thematic Awards

 

1)  Anna Community Radio, Run by Educational Multimedia Research Centre, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, for its programme, “Putholi” 

2) Kumaon Vani run by The Energy and Resource Institute, Uttarakhand, for its programme, “Bazar Laye Bochhar”

3) Radio Madhuban, run by Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Rajasthan, for its programme “Gruhasan Se Singhashan” 

iii)  Community Engagement Awards

 

1)  Saiyere Jo Radio, run by Saiyere Jo Sangathan, Gujarat, for its programme, “Khaso Sashan” 

2)  Radio Vishnu, run by Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, Andhra Pradesh, for its programme, “Vijayapadham” 

3)  Pantnagar Janvani, run by G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Uttarakhand, for its programme “Gaon ki Baat” 

 

iv) Promoting Local Culture Awards

 

1)  Voice of  SOA Community, run by Siksha O Anusandhana University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, for its programme, “Kandhai Katha” 

2)  Radio Kissan, run by Association for Integrated Development, Odisha, for its programme “Ama Kala Ama Sanskriti”

3)  Community Radio Sarang, run by St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, Karnataka, for its programme “Dudi Nalike (Kunitha) 

 

v)  Sustainability Model Award

 

1)   Radio Media Village, St Joseph College of Communication,  Kerala

  

The entries for this year’s national Community Radio awards were invited from operational community radio stations till 31stJanuary 2014. A total of 131 entries from 68 community radio stations were received. An Independent Jury of peers was constituted to screen the awards. 

 

The National Community Radio awards were instituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2012 to promote better programming on Community Radio Stations. These awards are given in five categories.

Most creative /Innovative Programme Content Awards: The purpose of this award is to encourage community radio stations to experiment/devise new formats of programme, presentation or adaption of traditional communication formats to convey development concerns to the community with greater impact.

Thematic Awards: This award is given to the community radio stations which create programmes that are relevant to the community, addressing any issues pertaining to the need or interest of the community.

Community Engagement Awards: This award is given to the community radio stations which engage community in planning, content, production and broadcast of programme.

Promoting Local Culture Awards: This award goes to that community radio stations that incorporate best local talent and tradition in its programming.

Sustainability Model Award: This is to encourage community radio stations to adopt innovate model to generate revenue for self sustenance.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

13-March-2014 15:27 IST

Radio Caroline rides the waves again for its 50th anniversary

BRITAIN'S most famous pirate radio station will take to the airwaves once more from Liverpool for its 50th anniversary at the end of this month. Radio Caroline will broadcast continuously from March 31 to April 28,

on 87.8FM, or online at www.carolinenorth.com

More at :

http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-news/local-wirral-news/2014/03/11/radio-caroline-rides-the-waves-again-100252-34400345/

Related :

Britain's most famous pirate radio station will take to the airwaves once more from Liverpool

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/radio-caroline-take-airwaves-liverpool-6795423

Digital Radio Mondiale(tm) (DRM) General Assembly to be held at BBC in London this month

DRM is in focus as preparations are under way for the General Assembly of the DRM Consortium, scheduled to take place on March 26th and 27th 2014 at the BBC Headquarters in central London, the New Broadcasting House.Under the title “DRM in Action” the Consortium will use this opportunity to highlight the excellent benefits of the DRM standard and the progress it is making around the world, as well as to emphasise the power of digital radio.

The first day of the GA (March 26th) will be open to all DRM members and invited guests from the UK and abroad.  It will be a day to celebrate the future of radio.  The well-known broadcaster, Robin Lustig, will give a personal and global view on the power of radio.

One of the key sessions will examine the digital roll-out in India with the help of Indian contributors. Brazilian experts will give participants an insight into Brazil’s digital radio contrasts.

The morning session will have a chance to consider why digital radio is “Radio Plus” and should be attractive to listeners.

In the afternoon, delegates will be able to have a “hands–on” experience of DRM and digital radio under the guidance of some Consortium members and representatives: BBC (UK); Babcock International (UK); Fraunhofer IIS (Germany); Digidia (France); Radio Haugaland (Norway); BT Broadcast Transmitters (Brazil); Orbisonic (Brazil); NXP (The Netherlands) and Rfmondial (Germany).

The event will be hosted in the iconic Radio Theatre of the BBC in central London.

To register for the General Assembly events on the 26th March please contact projectoffice@drm.org as the event is by invitation only.

Sessions held on the 27th March are for DRM Consortium members only.

--

DRM Consortium

Postal Box 360

1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva

Switzerland

E-Mail: pressoffice@drm.org

Site for DRM: www.drm.org

AIR Kolkata 'A' now on additional frequencies with better coverage

          Prasar Bharati ad that apperead in 8th March,2014 edition of The Telegraph, Kolkata

All India Radio, Kolkata 'A' channel on 657 kHz is now available on additional frequencies via newly installed transmitter at AIR Chinsurah.

 

Schedule :

5.55 am - 3.00 pm (0025 - 0930 UTC) on  594 kHz

5.00 pm - 11.15 pm (1130 - 1745 UTC) on 1134 kHz 

FEBA Radio SW test via Srilanka

FEBA Radio is testing via Trincomalee, Sri Lanka ( 125 kW) as per following schedule :

March 5th,2014 - 1330-1400 UTC on 9720 kHz Azimuth 345 deg

March 6th, 2014 - 1330-1400 UTC on 9720 kHz Azimuth 345 deg

Reception reports to : Kenneth Edward, Head Program, FEBA, Bangalore on his email kenneth@febaindia.org

(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India)

Digital Radio Mondiale(tm) (DRM) successful Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event in India focuses on manufacturing opportunities

The one-day National Seminar 'DRM: The Future of Indian Radio - Business Opportunities for Stakeholders' on 28 February, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in co-operation with the DRM Consortium, was the first of its kind involving technology specialists, broadcasters and representatives of Government and industry. The seminar In New Delhi attended by over 120 participants focused on the opportunities offered by the current roll-out of digital radio to the Indian industry. Several speakers stressed that All India Radio (AIR) was equipped to launch DRM, which would make all short wave and medium wave channels available to everyone in FM-quality over an area and at a cost that no current or future FM plan could match. The reach would be unlike FM which was today available to around 45 per cent of the country (including 25 per cent coverage by private channels). On the other hand, medium wave covered the entire country.

Several speakers also said AIR examined in great detail all the options, made a judicious proposal sanctioned by the Indian government which was as recent as last month endorsed by an advisor to the Prime Minister. All India Radio (AIR) Deputy Director General (Engineering) S K Saxena stressed that 36 DRM transmitters were in various stages of implementation in the country under a plan approved by the Planning Commission. Officials of the AIR said that the commissioning of 100 kW, 200 kW and 300 kW Transmitters is likely to be over by end of December 2014. Eight DRM transmitters are already on air in simulcast, though AIR would like to move eventually to a digital signal only. AIR is in the process of replacing or converting 72 MW transmitters to digital ones across the country, which should increase coverage to 70 per cent of the Indian population, representing some 800 million people. As it was stressed throughout the day by many Indian and foreign speakers, DRM technology provides the listeners with enhanced audio quality, service reliability, added data services, emergency warning alerts, targeted advertising and a more efficient transmission system that greatly lowers the power costs.

FM, while popular in India, said Yogendra Pal, Honorary Chairman of the DRM Indian Platform, is spectrum hungry and not an answer in places like Delhi "where AIR alone would need up to 25 niche channels, an impossibility". Later in his presentation Matthias Stoll of Ampegon demonstrated how one 100KW DRM medium wave transmitter, working at 90 % efficiency, would need to be replaced with 15 FM transmitters of 10 kW working at 55% efficiency, if an area of about 600 kilometres is to be covered.

Referring to criticism that affordable DRM sets were not available, AIR Engineering-in-Chief R K Budhiraja said that four Indian manufacturers had expressed interest in manufacturing affordable DRM sets in response to a tender floated by AIR, provided there was content and demand. The clear aim of the seminar was to tackle head on the question of receivers. And the CII event did not disappoint as it included a full, lively session with excellent contributions from representatives of chipset manufacturers (like Analog Devices, NXP), local entrepreneurs engaged already in designing or even manufacturing receivers. All speakers underlined the need for the industry to grasp this opportunity, for the government to support the revival of the indigenous electronics industry and for the public broadcaster to give serious attention and support to the roll-out, content creation and communication of a project with vast possibilities. Thus, Mr TVB Subrahmanyam of Analog Devices gave a clear picture of the potential yearly DRM market of about 16 million desktop, mobile and car radios, estimated at possibly a value of up to half a billion dollars.

Mr Ashak Chandok of NXP gave examples of the excellent tests carried out in cars in areas already covered by AIR DRM transmitters. If mobiles and cars are a clear market opportunity, Mr Ankit Aggrawal of Communication Systems Inc. offered a glimpse into the first Indian made desktop DRM receiver with all extra DRM features, ready to be produced very soon. Businessmen like A Kharabanda and Mr Ramendra Baoni talked about the excitement, the real challenges and great opportunities the DRM receiver market affords those willing to take the risk. All speakers mentioned that the price of receivers is dependent on good, desirable content and on volume while no price was really mentioned. Mr V Sharma, Chairman of CII National Committee on ICTE Manufacturing, sees the next step as getting the DRM receivers to be recognised by the government and manufacturers as one of the critical products deserving interest and investment.

Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairman, says that: " All in all this was the most successful meeting held by the DRM with the industry in India to date. The CII event offered up to the minute information on the roll out and actual DRM transmissions on the air and excellent news on DRM production. The buzz was all positive and palpable especially when one of the speakers Alexander Zink of Fraunhofer IIS demonstrated the sound qualities of DRM and then produced a regular tablet receiving DRM "live" on an attached dongle."

The progress on DRM in India and other key countries will figure prominently during the DRM General Assembly scheduled to take place on March 26th.

(Press Release)

CII meet urges manufacturers to meet digital radio needs

The country is poised to experience better sound quality and coverage area in radio by next year, as revealed by participants at the CII National Seminar on DRM

The move towards digital radio is expected to take off in 2015.

The seminar comes at the heels of the Pitroda Expert Committee's report in January, which endorsed All India Radio's decision to convert analogue medium wave to DRM. Apart from quality and range, DRM is an open global standard that can cover all the bands.

Ruxandra Obreja, Chairperson, DRM Consortium, said it was time that Indian-developed and manufactured receivers available to listeners. India, she said, was uniquely poised as it had both the market as well as the technical knowhow to manufacture digital radio receivers.

AIR plans to continue analogue and digital simulcast till 2016, and thereafter shift to digital broadcast.

Confirming this, Mr R K Budhiraja, Engineer-in-Chief, All India Radio, informed that the installation of DRM transmitters was proceeding on schedule and called upon the industry to make receivers available by the first quarter of 2015. Former Prasar Bharati Engineer-in-Chief R R Prasad looked back on the DRM test run in 2007 and how it had surpassed everybody's expectations. But, he asserted that there should be an environment for the public to have reasons to buy digital receivers.

More at : http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/cii-meet-urges-manufacturers-to-meet-digital-radio-needs-114022801273_1.html