Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who writes:
Radio México Internacional will disappear (again)…web stream to sadly go away.
Tracy referenced this article (in Spanish) from El Sol de México. The following excerpt was translated to English via Google Translate:
A grim picture was presented to employees and workers of the Mexican Institute of Radio (IMER), since the budget cut would technically lead to “paralysis” and a labor liability of seven million pesos before the dismissals.
In an audio, which was obtained by El Sol de México, the workers and collaborators were explained that “the IMER does not have the capacity to hire anyone. Neither in fees nor as a freelance, ” he says.
[…]But the recount of the damages that the IMER will have for the lack of resources is that “four stations will disappear in their entirety: Radio Mexico International, World Music, HD Interference and Digital Jazz. There will be no hearing advocate, which is why article 259 of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law is not followed. “
Very sad news. While RMI hasn’t been on the shortwaves since 2004, they have maintained a web presence.
Thank you for sharing, Tracy.
I agree with Kire’s comments, but don’t overlook that there is now strong evidence that shifting radio to IP (ie internet broadcasting) can produce strong growth in listeners. Two examples are the ABC Australia Listen App and the BBC iPlayer Radio App. Another that has seen steady growth is the NHK App streams in Japan. These modalities are seeing increases in listenership rather than shrinking, plus all examples have seen an expansion of stations as the infrastructure cost is far less for IP streaming delivery when compared to RF.
I think readers and DXers that live in the USA may not realize how significant this shift is as the USA radio structure and ownership is quite often based on a different model to other places, particularly Europe and Asia. It’s pretty clear that in many parts of the world is you are a station that relies only on RF broadcasting you are in an ever increasing death dive.
It must be a struggle for an internet only station to keep listeners in the vast wasteland of the web. Losing the terrestrial broadcast link and going purely online takes alot of continuing support, time, and luck. It seems only a few well supported coorporate or gov’t media outlets are able to thrive. I still enjoy Radio Educacion 6185 often enough here in California.
Radio stations take note, fight like hell to keep your broadcast signal.