VOA Mandarin Service – Shortwave Broadcast Resumes !

VOA Mandarin Service – Shortwave Broadcast Resumed on 20th Jan '26 !!

Schedule: Monday–Friday
Time: 22:00–22:30 UTC
Frequency:
7500 kHz via Tinang, Philippines
7560 kHz via Kuwait

(Atsuhiko Takezawa via Short-wave Fan FB Group)

Radyo Pilipinas World Service is back to serve Pinoys abroad thru the shortwave radio !

Radyo Pilipinas World Service is back to serve Pinoys abroad thru the shortwave radio !

Radyo Pilipinas World Service (RPWS) comes back stronger and louder with its services that never ceased online and now finally back on the shortwave radio from its eight months silence.

RPWS the overseas broadcast radio station of the Presidential Broadcast Service (PBS) – Bureau of Broadcast Services (PBS-BBS), under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) of the Republic of the Philippines has seized operation on the shortwave radio last March 19, 2025 while continuing its online services.

This ensued from United States (US) President Donald Trump's order last March 2025 to stop all United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) broadcast services.

Trump's order has stripped back USAGM's federal funds and placed some of its staff on leave including USAGM Philippines which houses the Voice of America (VOA) facilities responsible for airing RPWS programs through the shortwave radio reaching Filipinos across the world.

RPWS, through the leadership of its Station Manager Mr. Remigio Sampang maintained the overseas broadcast, relentlessly servicing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Seafarers online despite shortwave radio limitations and challenges.

With the confirmation from USAGM Philippines, RPWS will resume its broadcast operations over the shortwave radio on December 1, 2025.

The revival of its shortwave radio functionality and the expansion to online radio proved RPWS prevailed against all odds.

Afterall, the radio is not dying but it is evolving and adapting to the modern times. Radyo Pilipinas World Service (RPWS) is an embodiment of this claim.

(Report by Bea Gaza-De Guzman)

Source : Radyo Pilipians on Facebook

 

USAGM expands Russian-language programming to Europe

U.S. Agency for Global Media expands Russian-language programming to Europe

March 9, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the growing need for reliable Russian-language news and information in Central and Eastern Europe, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) announced it is expanding its satellite distribution of Current Time TV.

 

Current Time is a 24/7 Russian-language television and digital network, providing live news, robust debate, and fact-based reporting on local, regional, and international issues, aimed at audiences in Russia, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and around the world. It is produced by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in collaboration with Voice of America.

"There is a growing appetite across Europe for a reliable and fact-based Russian-language alternative to Kremlin-controlled information," said USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett. "I'm thrilled to be able to reach more audiences — including the Russian diaspora — with this award-winning programming."

 

Demand for the mix of unique feature and documentary programming that Current Time offers is expanding in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltics, and beyond. In the months following Russia's invasion, Current Time signed over 50 new media partners in countries like Estonia, Lithuania, and Moldova — just as media outlets in those countries were dropping Russia's RT. Current Time television content is also complemented by a robust and popular digital component that engages and connects with global audiences via social media and other platforms. Since the war began in February 2022, Current Time's online videos have been viewed an unprecedented 4 billion times.

 

Following an agreement with Luxembourg-based M7 Group, owned by CANAL+ Group and one of Europe's leading pay TV providers, Current Time TV will be distributed free-to-air via both ASTRA 19.2 and Eutelsat E9B and will soon be available as a linear OTT channel via the M7 platforms in Hungary (Direct One) and Romania (Focus Sat), as well.  For more information, contact USAGM Office of Public Affairs at (202) 920-2000.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, overseeing public service media networks that provide unbiased news and information in countries where the press is restricted. USAGM entities include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa) and Open Technology Fund. USAGM programming has a measured audience of 410 million in more than 100 countries and in 63 languages.

 

(Press Release)

USAGM CEO Bennett condemns media restrictions in Afghanistan

December 1, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to orders from Taliban officials to stop broadcasting all USAGM-funded programming on FM and AM transmitters operated by Radio Television Afghanistan, CEO Amanda Bennett issued the following statement:

"This action by the Taliban will be seen for what it truly is — an effort to restrict Afghan citizens' access to uncensored information," said Bennett. "The people of Afghanistan have the right to know all of the facts, including the information the Taliban is hoping to censor in this flagrant attack on press freedom."

USAGM research in 2022 indicates that Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty content is reaching 66% of Afghan adults with access to a mobile phone on a weekly basis.  

"Afghan citizens are seeking out independent, fact-based journalism from Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and this action by the Taliban is a reminder of the importance of press freedom," Bennett added. "Repressive governments around the world like this one clearly understand the power of independent media — that is why they spend so much time and effort fighting it. We are already exploring alternate transmissions, and we will not let this action deter us."

For more information, contact USAGM Office of Public Affairs at (202) 920-2000.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, overseeing public service media networks that provide unbiased news and information in countries where the press is restricted. USAGM entities include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa) and Open Technology Fund. USAGM programming has a measured audience of 410 million in more than 100 countries and in 63 languages.

‌
(‌Press Release)

USAGM Board of Governors announces CEO for interim period

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Agency for Global Media's (USAGM) Board of Governors is pleased to announce that effective October 1, 2019, Grant Turner, currently USAGM's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of USAGM on an interim basis until the President appoints a Senate-confirmed CEO.

"We are confident he will provide strong leadership during this time of transition," said Board Chairman Kenneth Weinstein. "Grant's strong management and process-driven background is exactly what we need to continue building on our achievements, increasing our impact and advancing our strategic plan."

"Grant has earned the respect of our Board, senior management team and employees since joining the agency and has the Board's full confidence as he takes on the role of CEO," said current CEO John F. Lansing.

Prior to joining USAGM as CFO in February 2016, Turner served as the Budget Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and as the Budget Director for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Washington, D.C. Turner also worked for six years at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) where he was assigned to the National Security Division and the Office of the Deputy Director for Management. He is a 1989 graduate of Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and holds a Master's in Business Administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu and a Master's in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Turner succeeds outgoing CEO and Director John F. Lansing, who previously announced his departure from the agency at the end of September to become CEO of National Public Radio (NPR). John Barkhamer, currently USAGM's Deputy CFO, will serve as Acting CFO.

While serving as CEO during this interim period, Turner will work closely with Steve Capus, Senior Advisor to the CEO with extensive knowledge and proficiency in journalism and production, and Matt Walsh, Deputy Director for Operations, as well as USAGM's network leadership and senior management.

(Press Release)

USAGM networks recognized for excellence with Edward R. Murrow Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) networks-Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA)-have been named winners of the prestigious 2019 National Murrow Awards. This is the first time the two networks have received this honor, presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for excellence in electronic journalism.

"I am thrilled that the RTDNA's Edward R. Murrow Awards have recognized the high-caliber reporting that RFE/RL and RFA produce," said USAGM CEO John F. Lansing. "My heartfelt congratulations go to the skillful journalists and storytellers who offer our global audiences accurate and professional journalism-the bedrock of what we do at USAGM."

CEO Lansing added, "Edward R. Murrow, who in the early 1960s led the U.S. Information Agency, a predecessor to USAGM, would be proud of our modern media organization's wide-reaching impact."

Daisy Sindelar, Acting President of RFE/RL, and Libby Liu, President of RFA, offered praise for their award-winning networks, which provide compelling, uncensored and locally-oriented news and information to audiences in some of the harshest media environments around the world.

"We are honored to receive this recognition for providing our audiences with unique stories, powerfully told, on the most influential formats in our coverage area," said Sindelar.

RFE/RL received the National Murrow Awards' top honor for Multimedia in the Television Network category. Judges reviewed eleven examples of RFE/RL's impressive domestic news coverage ranging from Armenia to Uzbekistan.

RFA Mandarin's "The Women Against the State" won in the juried contest's Excellence in Video category. The piece focuses on the aftermath of China's "709 crackdown"- a nationwide roundup of lawyers and legal activists that began in July 2015 - and the wives of those still held in custody today.

"RFA Mandarin's digital team deserves full credit for this prestigious award. Their hard work to spotlight these brave individuals and share their stories speaks to Radio Free Asia's critical journalistic mission," said Liu.

Although this marks the first time that RFA has won a National Murrow Award, the network won several Regional Murrow Awards in years past.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international media, whose mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. USAGM networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa). USAGM programming has a measured audience of 345 million in more than 100 countries and in 60 languages.

(Press Release)