Unscheduled txn of Channel Africa ?

15th Dec 2013 (Sun)  - At 1505 UTC noted unscheduled txn of Channel Africa in Swahili on 17770 kHz....Nelson Mandela Special ?

At 1600 UTC French transmission on 15235 kHz.

 

 

 

New DRM transmitter coming up in UAE

UAE

First digital Malayalam radio Pravasi Bharathi 810 AM to transmit from Abu Dhabi from May 2014

Pravasi Bharathi 810 AM, claiming to be the first fully digital radio station using the DRM standard, will operate from its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/new-malayalam-radio-to-be-launched-soon-2013-12-15-1.531402

As per further info from station they are planning AM/DRM simulcast using a 200 kW Nautel transmitter. Also their website is coming up at http://www.pravasibharathi.com/

Related news :

Malayalam digital radio to hit airwaves
The world’s first Malayalam digital radio will soon be available on UAE airwaves.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?xfile=/data/community/2013/December/community_December12.xml&section=community

Meanwhile there has been some good news from Asia for DRM....

Bangladesh

10 kW transmitter at Bangladesh Betar, Barisal station has been replaced by a new DRM compatible 20 kW transmitter TRAM20 by Transradio. The complete system, transmitter and antenna is fully DRM compatible and they are using TRANSRADIO DRM modulator DMOD3. The new transmitter is already on air & according to a station engineer DRM tests are expected soon.

Mynamar

Daniel Carcopo who works with Harris Broadcast has posted pic on facebook of new 100 kW MW DRM transmitter Harris 3DX100 installed at Mynamar which is being tested on AM/DRM mode.

Harris 3DX 100 Specs :

http://harrisbroadcast.com/products/transmission/radio-transmitters-consoles/am-transmitters/flexiva-3dx- 

SAQ Transmission on Christmas Eve, 24th Dec, 2013

There will be a transmission with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz from Grimeton Radio/SAQ on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th, 2013. The message transmission will take place at 08:00 UTC. The transmitter will be tuned up from around 07:30 UTC. There will be no activity on amateur radio frequencies with the call SK6SAQ this time.The radio station is open to visitors.

  

QSL-reports are kindly received:

  

- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se

- or via: SM bureau 

- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen, Grimeton 72

 

S-432 98 GRIMETON

S    W    E    D    E    N

 

Also read our web site: www.alexander.n.se

  

(Lars Kalland, SM6NM)

In Nepal, radios go beyond conventional purpose

In Nepal, history of radio dates back to the Rana era. Media researchers believe that the Nepali people might have started to listen to radio when broadcasting began in India in 1923. However, until 1946, possession of radio was illegal in Nepal. In July that year, then Prime Minister Padma Shamsher Rana declared that the people could possess radio sets from then onward. Two years later, the Rana government established Nepal´s first broadcasting company, which unfortunately did not last long.

 

More at :

 

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=66125

President Vladimir Putin issues decree to reorganize Voice of Russia

President Vladimir Putin issues decree to reorganize Voice of Russia, RIA Novosti to Rossia Segodnya news wire

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the merger of the RIA Novosti news agency and the Voice of Russia broadcasting company to set up Rossia Segodnya (Russia Today) international news agency. The reorganization aims to ensure cost-effectiveness of the agencies, the head of the presidential administration Sergei Ivanov said.

 

More at :   http://tinyurl.com/kg5xgk7

 

Related :

 

Voice of Russia absorbed by nascent Rossia Segodnya newswire

  

As of today, The Voice of Russia radio company has officially ceased to exist in its previous capacity and will merge with several other state-run news agencies to emerge as Rossia Segodnya, a Russia-based international news service.

 

More at :  http://tinyurl.com/n9tannv

BBC to open news bureau in Burma

The BBC will open a news bureau in Burma, also known as Myanmar, BBC Director of Global News Peter Horrocks announced today.

The announcement comes after the BBC, along with three other international broadcasters, received official permission to open a news bureau from the Myanmar Ministry of Information.

The BBC aims to open its bureau next year. It will also house reporters from the BBC Burmese service.

Peter Horrocks says: "Burma has long been a byword for media repression and censorship but within the last year there has been rapid and welcome change, with BBC global news services being allowed to broadcast trusted impartial news on radio, television and mobile. 

Opening a BBC bureau in Burma/Myanmar is another highly significant milestone and an encouraging sign that the country is moving towards media freedom.

"The BBC will continue to stand by its principles of impartial, balanced journalism, reporting events in Burma without fear or favour. The BBC's charity BBC Media Action will continue its work to help train the next generation of Burmese journalists."

(BBC Press Release)

Beethoven and numbers on Korean shortwave

Dec 9 (Reuters) - As a scratchy rendition of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 8 fades into a sea of shortwave radio static, a robotic female voice starts speaking in Korean. "Number 1913, number 1913, incoming message," the voice says, before reading out seemingly random sets of numbers.

Read the intersting Reuters story at  :

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/08/korea-north-spies-idUSL4N0JK0GM20131208

Bangladesh Betar, Barisal testing its new 20 kW DRM compatible MW transmitter

Test transmission was first noted by Pradip Kundu of Tripura on 7th Dec at around 1300 UTC playing non-stop Bengali songs by Lata Mangeshkar & Sandhya Mukherjee leading to the assumption that it was an AIR outlet. Non-stop test transmission continued next day, however they were observed playing Bengali folk songs by Habib & Runa Laila both folk singers from Bangladesh as noted by Sudipta Ghosh, Kolkata.

 

Spoke to the engineer at Bangladesh Betar, Barisal who was kind enough to take my midnight call at 1 am & discuss about the new Transradio TRAM20, 1 x 20 kW transmitter, test transmission will continue on 8th Dec and will be back to regular programming on 9th Dec. The complete system, transmitter and antenna is fully DRM compatible, they are using TRANSRADIO DRM modulator DMOD3.

 

Links :

Transradio MW Txers
http://www.transradio.de/index.php/en/tram-en/am/trampremiumclassic

Transradio DMOD3
http://www.transradio.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&lang=en&Itemid=29

Tender for replacement of existing 10 kW MW transmitter was announced during Aug 2012 ...

 

http://www.cptu.gov.bd/ShowDetailTender.aspx?ADID=29372 

Voice of Russia Hindi service organises two day conference in New Delhi

 

 

"Voice of Russia" jointly with Embassy of the Russian Federation in India & RCSC has organized two day 8th All India Conference of the Listeners' Clubs of the Radio Station "Voice of Russia", devoted to Russian-Indian Relations.

Voice of Russia Hindi listeners conference will be held for two days - December 7th (Saturday) & 8th (Sunday), 2013.

7th Dec, 2013 (Saturday) - 5.00 pm Inauguration

- H.E. Mr Alexander M. KADAKIN Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of India will address the guests.

- Declaration of results of the Voice of Russia competition.

- Names of the winners will be announced & prizes distributed.

- Delegates from Voice of Russia will address the conference.

- Performance by the Russian folk dance ensemble "Raduga (Rainbow)" from Voronezh.

8th Dec 2013 (Sunday), 11.00 am

The second day of the conference is dedicated to Voice of Russia listeners. Voice of Russia delegates will listen to their audience, like to know their reaction on programs, websites & will also hear to criticisms and desires.

During the conference gifts & prizes will be given to active listeners & club members.

All radio listeners and friends of Russia's club members from South Asian countries are invited for the conference.

Venue :

Russian Cultural centre

Embassy of Russia Cultural Department

24 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi 110001

tel. (+95) 011 23329102 (03)

e-mail: culture@del2.vsnl.net; delhi@rcsc.org.in; india-06@mail.ru

 

(Walking distance from Mandi House Metro Station)

 

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)