Monthly Archives: June 2011

Prominent RNW listeners speak out

RNW headquarters in Hilversum, Netherlands (photo coutesty: RNW)

In the aftermath of RNW’s budget being cut by 70%, prominent world citizens have been voicing support for RNW:

“I will raise my voice and will do my utmost to convince the Dutch government of the powerful effect of Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the value of its work which mustn’t be lost.” –Nobel Peace Laureate, Adolfo Perez Esquivel (Argentina)

Read the full article at RNW.

Would you like to add your voice? Go to this site and sign a petition in support of RNW.

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BBC World Service to be allocated additional funding

BBC World Service - Bush House

In the midst of many international broadcasting budget cuts, very good news for the BBC World Service (Source: BBC):

BBC World Service is to receive an extra £2.2m per year over the next three years from the government.

The funding boost will be used to maintain BBC Arabic Service’s “valuable work in the region”, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

The BBC will also reallocate an additional £9m to safeguard the Hindi language short wave service.

Read full article here.

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BBC World Service annual broadcast to Antarctica

(Thanks to Andy Sennitt for bringing this to my attention.)

This year, it’s difficult for me appreciate the annual tradition of broadcasting to the 43 scientists and technicians at the British Antarctic Survey in light of the recent BBC World Service cuts. Still, the broadcast is quirky, nostalgic and certainly DX worth catching.

Here are the times/frequencies courtesy of RNW Media Network:

This half-hour programme will be on the air at 2130-2200 UTC tomorrow (Tuesday 21 June) on the following shortwave frequencies:

  • 5950 kHz  Skelton 300 kW beam 180 degrees
  • 7295 kHz  Rampisham 500 kW  beam 180 degrees
  • 7360 kHz  Ascension 250 kW beam 207 degrees
  • 9850 kHz  Skelton 300 kW beam 180 degrees

Read RNW Media Network’s full article on the broadcast here.

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Lord Patten: BBC Hindi to survive budget cuts

(Source: moneycontrol.com)

Terming the BBC Hindi Service as “very important”, Lord Chris Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust and chancellor of the University of Oxford, today said the service will survive the major funding cuts that had severely affected its future.

Read full article here.

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RNW will focus on free speech, eliminate most other broadcasting

RNW headquarters in Hilversum, Netherlands (photo coutesty: RNW)

(Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

The Dutch cabinet has announced plans to cut back the activities of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. The Dutch world service will no longer provide information for Dutch people living abroad, or provide the rest of the world with a realistic image of the Netherlands.

Instead, Radio Netherlands Worldwide is to concern itself solely with providing information in countries where free speech is suppressed or threatened.

While I’m glad they’re keeping a focus on free speech, I’m certain these budget cuts will have a negative impact on the amazing content RNW produces each and every day.

Read full article here.

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