Upcoming frequency changes of Radio France International and DRM schedule

Upcoming frequency changes of Radio France International:

0700-0800 on 15300 ISS 500 kW / 155 deg to CeAf French till Feb.27

0700-0800 NF 17850 ISS 500 kW / 155 deg to CeAf French from Feb.28

1800-1900 on  9660 ISS 500 kW / 160 deg to CeAf French till Feb.27

1800-1900 NF 11995 ISS 500 kW / 160 deg to CeAf French from Feb.28

1800-1900 on 11995 ISS 500 kW / 150 deg to CeAf French till Feb.27

1800-1900 NF 13740 ISS 500 kW / 150 deg to CeAf French from Feb.28

B20 DRM schedule of Radio France International IS ONLY on 3965 kHz

0000-2400 on  3965 ISS 010 kW / non-dir to WeEu French in B20 HFCC

0900-1200 on  6175 ISS 100 kW / 153 deg to SEEu French is inactive

0900-1200 on  6175 ISS 100 kW / 267 deg to SWEu French is inactive

1200-1500 on  6175 ISS 150 kW / non-dir to WeEu French is inactive

All other registered frequencies are NOT ON AIR, from February 21:

0830-0900 on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French addit.txion

1130-1200 on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French addit.txion

1300-1330 on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French x 11735 kHz

1500-1530 on 15310 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French ex 9905 kHz

1730-1800 on 11630 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French ex 9905 kHz

2100-2130 on  9580 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French addit.txion

2330-2400 on  9885 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French ex 5875 kHz

(Via Ivo Ivanov)

Updated B20 DRM test schedule of Radio France International

FRANCE   Updated B20 DRM test schedule of Radio France International

-changes from February 16

1130-1200 UTC on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, addit. txion

1300-1330 UTC  NF 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, ex 11735 kHz

1500-1530 UTC  NF 15310 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, ex  9905 kHz

1730-1800 UTC  NF 11630 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, ex  9905 kHz

2100-2130 UTC  on  9580 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, addit. txn

-changes from February 21

0830-0900 UTC on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, addit. txion

2330-2400 UTC  NF  9885 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French, ex  5875 kHz

(Ivo Ivanov)

Updated B20 DRM test schedule of Radio France International

Updated B20 DRM test schedule of Radio France International:

-additional airings

0830-0900 UTC on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 21
1000-1030 UTC on 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 16
2100-2130 UTC on  9580 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 16

-frequency changes

1300-1330 UTC on 11735 ISS 150 kW / 070 deg to SEAs French till February 15
1300-1330 UTC NF 21620 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 16
1500-1530 UTC on  9905 ISS 150 kW / 070 deg to SEAs French till February 20
1500-1530 UTC NF 15310 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 21
1730-1800 UTC on  9905 ISS 150 kW / 070 deg to SEAs French till February 20
1730-1800 UTC NF 11630 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 21
2330-2400 UTC on  5875 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French till February 20
2330-2400 UTC NF  9885 ISS 150 kW / 105 deg to SoAs French from February 21

(Ivo Ivanov)

Radio Free Iraq Signs Off After 17 Years Of Service

WASHINGTON -- RFE/RL's Arabic Service to Iraq, Radio Free Iraq (RFI) will air its final broadcast on July 31. The resources of RFI will be merged with Radio Sawa Iraq to provide the audience with extensive Iraq-specific news and informational programming. The new Radio Sawa Iraq programming will be broadcast on both its existing frequency and those of RFI during a period of transition.

 

In recognition of their service, BBG Chairman Jeffrey Shell presented letters of appreciation to RFI colleagues, noting that, "[Radio Free Iraq's] coverage of all sides of Iraq's political scene has been unparalleled and deeply appreciated by its audience, as has its coverage of news from throughout the country with its wide network of regional correspondents.  Iraqi decision makers have considered RFI a must listen or read in their daily news diet while Iraqi citizens have expressed gratitude to RFI for providing a platform for them to raise their voices and concerns."

 

RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief Nenad Pejic paid tribute to the sacrifices made by RFI colleagues to deliver the news in a country riven by constant political turmoil, violence, and war. A bomb blast at the AlHamra Hotel in Baghdad in 2005 ripped apart the Service's bureau, two correspondents - Khamail Muhsin Khalaf and Nazar Abdulwahid al-Radhi - were murdered in 2007, and RFI Baghdad Bureau chief Dr. Muhammad Bdaiwi Owaid al-Shammari was shot dead at a checkpoint in 2014 while on his way to work. RFI correspondents have also suffered kidnappings, death threats, harassment, and physical injury while reporting the news.

 

In remarks to RFI staff members, Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) President Brian Conniff said that, "At this moment in history, when Iraq is threatened by an extremist Islamic insurgency and faces numerous challenges in rebuilding from decades of open warfare and authoritarian rule, we believe adding RFI's signature programming to the Radio Sawa Iraq lineup will provide the audience high quality content that will enhance their listening experience." MBN manages and oversees Radio Sawa.

 

Radio Free Iraq was created by RFE/RL in 1998, in response to direction from the U.S. Congress. Led first by former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq David Newton, and since 2004 by journalist Sergei Danilochkin, it has provided accurate and non-sectarian news and information to local audiences and fostered informed debate of issues that are not otherwise reported in Iraq's ethnically, politically and religiously fragmented media.

(Press Release)

RFI European Parliament election special broadcast

In Europe, between 22 to 25 May, European Parliament election will be held, this time it is the first election be carried out ahead of schedule in June. It has attracted attention is expected to increase the momentum in the European Parliament. RFI will broadcast a special program of 30 minutes from 12th to 22nd May, 2014 at 1100-1130 UTC

1100-1130 UTC , May 12 - May 22, 2014

Eastern Europe: 15300 - Southern Europe: 9790

North Africa: 15300 - Central Africa: 21690

West Africa: Dakar to: 15300

West Africa: towards Abidjan: 17630

Eastern Africa - Middle East - Middle East: 17630

Central America: 21690 - South America: 21690

North America: 17630 - South East Asia - North India: 21620

(Source : Hiroshi's Blog and RFI Website)

Joint statement by seven international broadcasters

The following joint statement has been issued by seven international broadcasters, including the BBC.

We, the representatives of Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [Australia], British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) [United Kingdom], Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) [US], Deutsche Welle (DW) [Germany], Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) [Japan] and Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), have met in Berlin to discuss common concerns.

We find international journalism is facing unprecedented challenges from countries that seek to deny their own citizens access to information from outside their borders in violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

We call upon the world's nations to strengthen their commitment to Article 19 and to support expanded opportunities to share information across borders through digital and mobile technologies.

Yet we note with dismay that certain governments continue to control the flow of information. For example, China routinely blocks the Web and social media sites of our broadcasters and jams our shortwave signals, or Iran and Syria interfere with the satellite signals that carry our programs. Governments in Eurasia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America also seek to control what their own citizens can see, hear and read.

Many of these actions, including intentional jamming of satellites, violate international regulations. We condemn them without reservation.

We also call attention to troubling new challenges to free expression. Some governments are seeking to enact far-reaching telecommunications regulations to stymie free speech.

At the World Conference on International Telecommunication (WICT) in Dubai, representatives of the world's nations have considered telecommunications rules that might explicitly apply to the Internet for the first time.

We cast a wary eye on such efforts to control the Internet, and we denounce efforts to identify and track Internet users in order to stifle free expression, inquiry and political activity.

We have agreed to increase, whenever possible, our support for efforts to circumvent Web censorship through the use of new and innovative hardware and software tools. We also agreed to increase our advocacy for Internet freedom.

(BBC Media Release)

New Pressure On Jammers Of International Broadcasts

Monday, February 20, 2012

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called upon the world's nations to take "necessary actions" to stop intentional interference with satellite transmissions.
The change in ITU regulations, which was approved at the just-concluded World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, came after numerous complaints that international satellite TV programs in Persian and Arabic were suffering from deliberate interference, known as "jamming".
Two satellite operators that have been targeted, Eutelsat and Arabsat, said the interfering signals originated from Iran and Syria.
"We are gratified to see the World Radiocommunication Conference take a position on this vital issue," said Richard M. Lobo, Director of the United States International Broadcasting Bureau.
"Of course, it remains to be seen whether Iran, Syria and other countries which interfere with international satellite communications will change their practices. Jamming is a fundamental violation, not only of international regulations and norms, but of the right of people everywhere to receive and impart information," Lobo said.
The interference, which has increased since September, 2011, affected broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting Board of Governors , Audiovisuel extérieur de la France RFI and France 24 TV, Deutsche Welle, and RFE/RL, Inc.'s Radio Farda. Joining in backing the ITW rule change were Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the European Broadcasting Union.
The change in the regulation came after hours of discussion and debate, both in small groups and on the floor of the WRC. A report by the ITU's Radio Regulations Board noted "the persistent character of the harmful interference" and the fact that "in some cases, the administrations involved have not responded … and appear to take no action to resolve the interference."
The revised language says administrations "shall ascertain the facts and take the necessary actions" when they encounter jamming.
Prior to the WRC action, the Directors-General of five major international broadcasters charged that jamming is a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Reporters Without Borders called for nations to "firmly condemn countries that do not respect the fundamental principles of the free flow of information," adding, "the ITU must not be the accomplice of regimes that obstruct the flow of news and information on their telecommunications networks."
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran termed satellite jamming part of a broader effort. "The Iranian government is also engaged in comprehensive attempts to take complete control of online access to the internet as well as restricting mobile voice and data communications," the group said in a statement urging the WRC to address the jamming issue.
(BBG Press Release)

All Quiet on the Western Front

2012 Challenges and Opportunities in the Five-Year Strategic Plan for U.S. International Broadcasting - by Alan L. Heil Jr.

As the Voice of America marks its 70th anniversary, what lies ahead for all of the world’s publicly-funded overseas networks in the year ahead? For Western broadcasters collectively, 2011 was the most potentially devastating year in more than eight decades on the air. Now, because of fiscal uncertainties in their host countries and rapidly evolving competition from both traditional and new media, they face huge cuts in airtime and operations. Can America step up to help fill the gap? A new strategic plan for U.S.-funded overseas broadcasting charts a possible path.

Read the article at :
http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/rev_item/2012/0106/ca/heil_quiet.html

International Broadcasters Call For Action Over Jamming

International broadcasters - Voice of America (VOA), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Deutsche Welle (DW), Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF) and Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) – have condemned the deliberate interference of satellite broadcasting signals to silence independent media and prevent free access to information.
Meeting in London, the Directors General of these broadcasting organisations issued a statement, noting, "We have seen an escalation this year in the number of pressure tactics that have been used on the media being accessed by audiences in Iran and other countries.
In particular, they noted an increase in deliberate interference – known as "jamming" – of international satellite programming in Persian. Satellite operators indicate interference originates from Iran. According to the five international broadcasters it is intended to prevent Iranian audiences from seeing foreign broadcasts the Iranian government finds objectionable.
"We call upon the regulatory authorities to take action against those who deliberately cause interference to satellite signals on the grounds that this is contrary to international conventions for the use of satellites. We specifically ask national telecommunications authorities to take up the issue at an upcoming meeting of the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva. "We also call upon satellite operators and service providers to recognise the importance of the role they play in ensuring the free flow of information."
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG broadcasts reach an audience of 187 million in more than 100 countries. BBG networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí).

(BBG Press Release)

Power cut stops Radio France broadcasts

Radio France bosses have ordered an inquiry into why a power cut halted broadcasts, including those of RFI, on Saturday night.

More at :
http://www.english.rfi.fr/visiting-france/20110306-power-cut-stops-radio-france-broadcasts

BBC, Radio France International go off air in Ivory Coast

BBC radio and Radio France International (RFI) were taken off air in Ivory Coast on Wednesday, with both stations' FM bands producing nothing but fuzz.

Read the Reuters Africa story here :
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE7212I720110302

French radio service to be launched in Qatar

Staff Reporter
To cater to the French speaking community across the country, the Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) today launches a new French radio service - Oryx FM. The 24-hour station to broadcast seven days a week on frequency 94FM stereo is a partnership between QMC and Radio France Internationale (RFI).

Read the Gulf Times story here :
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=410163&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

New RFI website

Radio France Internationale - English Service

We have a new website!
Visit www.rfienglish.com to check out the new layout and functions... including (eventually) comments on our articles. Please check it out, and let us know what you think - all feedback is welcomed!

(Via Facebook)

In Haiti, UN radio station resumes broadcasts with French support

20 January 2010 - One week after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, the United Nations radio station in Port-au-Prince, MINUSTAH FM, is back on air with material and technical assistance from Radio France and Télédiffusion de France.

Read the full story here :

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33538&Cr=haiti&Cr1=

RFI Unions call indefinite strike to protest lay off plans

Four of Radio France International's five trade unions are calling on all employees to walk-off the job next Tuesday, demanding the scrapping of a management plan which would see the international radio network lose nearly a quarter of its workforce.

Read the full story here :
http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/113/article_3692.asp

Congo suspends Radio France International frequency

Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:51pm EDT
KINSHASA (Reuters) - The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended transmission of French broadcaster Radio France International (RFI), a government spokesman said on Monday.

More at :
http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE56Q55R20090727

Congo bans RFI

Jerry Nguwa, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya

The DR Congo has banned French international radio broadcaster - Radio France International (RFI) from operating. The ban follows alleged continuous broadcast of 'provocative statements' against the government, Congolese officials say.

Read the full story here :
http://tinyurl.com/q95kaq

TDF-RFI DRM Txn to India on 15530 kHz

France's RFI radio launches Hausa service in Nigeria

Dec 9, 2007
LAGOS (AFP) — The public Radio France Internationale has
launched in Nigeria this weekend a news service in Hausa,
the official language of northern Nigeria that is widely
spoken in other parts of West Africa.
Financed by RFI and with collaboration from the
international Voice of Nigeria, the Hausa programs will
be broadcast two hours daily -- the same amount of time
as British rival, BBC, broadcasts in the same language.
"It's the first time in the history of the international
French radio that the editorial staff is completely
relocated overseas," said Jean Claude Kuentz, RFI's
deputy general development director, speaking of the
launch which took place Saturday.
Five journalists and three technicians will make up
the radio's Hausa team, which Kuentz said has triggered
interest by Tanzania's radio and television broadcasting
service for a similar collaboration in Swahili.
The Hausa service will allow the station to offer "the
diversity of French opinions and not just the official
position of France" worldwide, France's ambassador to
Nigeria Yves Gaudeul said.
English is Nigeria's official language.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdao-Zp-r5KbGgiVIUxARnSEhxkQ