Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio
Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors David Iurescia, William Lee, and Radio Ado for the following tips:
Waves of Hope at Nutley Public Library (Tap Into Nutley)
Saturday, March 27 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom – Learn the true and inspiring story of centenarian Agnes Joan Negra. During World War II, using her shortwave radio from her home in Nutley, NJ, Agnes listened to Radio Berlin each night and notated the names of U.S. Prisoners of War as they were announced. Agnes then went on to send personal letters to each family to inform them that their loved ones were still alive. Author, Nutley native, and Son of Agnes, Ronald along with his wife Valerie, will discuss the creation of this book and this inspiring story of his mother. You must register in advance at nutleypubliclibrary.org/waves-of-hope to attend. When registering you will receive a confirmation and one day before the event you will receive an email with log-in instructions through Zoom.[…]
People will be listening to more radio when the pandemic is over: Ciaran Davis (RadioInfo)
“People have learnt that they can listen to radio in new ways and they will be listening to more, not less, when the pandemic is over,” according to HT&E chief executive Ciaran Davis.
Speaking to radioinfo this week, Davis explained that the company had “a very tough second quarter” in 2020, but the rest of the year turned out better than expected.
“There was a huge improvement in quarters 3 and 4, compared with that horrible quarter 2 where radio revenue was back 46%,” said Davis.
With about 30 people losing their jobs at the height of the pandemic, “regular communication and honesty was important in getting the staff through the worst of the pandemic.” It was “a very unsettling time” but the company “kept people involved and focused on the positive,” which kept the company performing well despite the tough economic conditions.
After early pay cuts, salaries have now returned to normal. “The revenue book was empty, so we had to take the decision to cut pay, but radio listenership and advertising has come back strongly and more quickly than we thought it would then… we were looking at some troubling numbers if the pandemic had of kept going.”
Luckily, the worst fears were not realised. HT&E revenue was 22% down on the previous year, but could have been a lot worse. The outlook seems positive for 2021.
“I think there was a perception that radio would suffer the same fate as out of home because people were not listening in the car during lockdowns, but it didn’t.
“We in the industry knew that our content is engaging enough, strong enough, local and live enough to be resilient. The emotional bond between listeners and their favourite stations and personalities meant that they easily switched to new platforms when they were at home. It took some convincing for the ad market to understand that this had happened, but they understood in the end.
“This is an exciting time. I think people have learnt that they can listen to radio in new ways and they will be listening to more not less when the pandemic is over.”[…]
Read more at: https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/people-will-be-listening-more-radio-when-pandemic-over-ciaran-davis © Radioinfo.com.au
RTÉ to cease radio transmission on DAB network (RTÉ)
RTÉ is to cease transmission of its radio services on the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) network on 31 March.
However, its digital radio services, RTÉ Gold, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ Pulse, and RTÉjr Radio, will remain available on other platforms.
In a statement, the broadcaster said the move to cease DAB transmission was driven by three main factors – the fact that DAB was the least utilised platform in Ireland; that RTÉ is the only Irish broadcaster on the DAB system, and cost avoidance.
A public information campaign will be held to show customers how they can continue to access the digital stations.
In 2019, RTÉ had announced that its digital radio services would cease transmission as part of cost cutting measures.
However, although the DAB service will stop in March, the stations will now still be available on other platforms.
The broadcaster said this is due to the value audiences still derive from them.
The latest JNLR report, Radio in a Digital World, compiled by Ipsos/ MRBI, found that while 8% of the population in Ireland (330,000 people) are accessing radio stations via digital means, the smallest number in this cohort opt for DAB.
According to the report, just under 5% of adults in Ireland listen to radio via a mobile device, 2% listen on a PC, around 1.5% listen on a smart speaker, 0.6% listen on a TV set and 0.5% DAB. 77% of adults in Ireland listen to radio on FM.
For details on how to continue to listen to RTÉ digital radio services visit www.rte.ie/keeplistening
One Megawatt of Peak AM Power – Saving the Voice of America Delano Relay DL-8 (YouTube)
In 2007, the Voice of America ceased operations at the Delano Relay site in Central California. The site is destined to be bulldozed along with several relics of Collins Radio Company’s Broadcast Communications Division. The Collins Collectors Association, with assistance from the Antique Wireless Association, hatched a plan to retrieve one of the Collins 821A-1 250 KW Shortwave Transmitters from the site and place it on display for all to see. This presentation gives some history of VoA and the Delano site and follows the disassembly and relocation of Delano Relay DL-8.
Dennis Kidder, W6DQ, is a retired Aerospace Engineer, having spent nearly 45 years in System Engineering. His career spanned many fields – from building and operating large scale sound systems, computer systems used to publish newspapers and control communications satellites, 4 years as the Chief Telecom Engineer during the construction of the New Hong Kong International Airport, and finally, air defense radar systems and networked radio communications systems used by the military. First licensed as WN6NIA then WA6NIA over 50 years ago, Dennis was granted the callsign of one of his High School Elmers, Chek Titcomb (SK), W6DQ. Amateur Radio has been a nearly life-long passion.
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DAB in Ireland was dead from the start as no commercial stations were interested, the majority of People have a perfectly functional FM radio and have had a MW transmitter lying idle since around 1998 and only recently got permission to destroy the 265 odd meter tower.
It’s funny, if they had put Gold on MW a lot more people have MW radios and they would have had much more listeners on MW than they ever had on DAB, the coverage of this 567 Khz transmitter was vast.
Another point about DAB is that RTE chose to stick with MP2 codec and not move to AAC so as you can imagine sound quality wasn’t as good as they tried to make out, they think that by advertising Digital it will sell.
Certainly where my folks live in South West Ireland it’s longwave, FM or nothing at all. They can get radio via their Saorview box but my Mum isn’t into the idea of listening to the radio over the TV and who can blame her at 86. Maybe they’ll put some of the money saved towards maintaining as much as possible the LW transmitter as the Irish diaspora in the UK are great fans of it.
Germany’s public broadcasters are increasingly using brute force to impose DAB onto the public, which is not overly enthusiastic to adopt that either and which was never asked if they want that. The ARD members spend a lot of money for advertising DAB, then they whine about increased costs in need to be covered by higher fees, then they addressed the Achilles heel of DAB by forcing car manufacturers to include DAB reception in new cars sold in Germany. Other, more subtle moves include e.g.the NDR moving their kid’s programs to DAB-only channels and basicaly suggesting kids should tell their parents to buy DAB radios. For my taste, this is all more than a notch beyond gently pushing a nation to betterment for their own good, also because it’s for the most part based on questionable claims about the benefits of what everyone is supposed to pay substantial money for at the end.
I really appreciated the video of VOA Delano. Used to see and wonder about those towers driving along highway 99 for years. The equipment looked so well maintained. I’m sure it would have fired up with with a bit of preparation. I would have wanted to save everything.
They’re not gonna build that again.