Category Archives: Broadcasters

Australia: “Whispering to the Asia-Pacific”

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(Source: Australian Strategic Policy Institute via William Lee)

Australia gropes and stutters towards a renewed embrace of international broadcasting—the vital need to ‘speak for ourselves’ in the Asia–Pacific.

The latest lurch towards fresh understanding is the silent release of the review of Australia’s media reach in the Asia–Pacific. Note the irony that a report on broadcasting is soundless on arrival.

Behold a classic orphan inquiry, not wanted by either the government or the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, nor particularly desired by the public service. The orphan was created as part of the price to win a Senate vote, and is dumped on the public doorstep without a word of welcome.

The review was completed last December but only released (published on the Department of Communications website) on 17 October. No announcement. No government decisions.

The inquiry matters because it nods towards significant policy failure and the absent-minded trashing of Oz international broadcasting.[…]

Click here to continue reading the full article.

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New report: Review of Australian Broadcasting Services in the Asia Pacific

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Peter Marks, who writes:

A report two years in the making has been released (actually it was a few days ago but there was no fanfare.

I’ve posted about it here: https://blog.marxy.org/2019/10/review-of-australian-broadcasting.html

An interesting conclusion in the report on page 128 is that the authors estimate that shortwave broadcasts to the Asia and Pacific by Australia have a net economic benefit since 2007-08 of $40.3 million.

Presumably this means it would make economic sense for Australia to get back in to Shortwave broadcasting like our clever Chinese neighbours.

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Skyline Radio Germany celebrates 20 years with special broadcast

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gerard Koopal, who shares the following announcement for Skyline Radio:

SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY – 20 YEARS ON AIR! – PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

WE WANT THE AIRWAVES – IF ROCK IS GONNA STAY ALIVE!

Shortwaveradio.de kindly gave us another possibility to be on air with some brand new shows via their transmitters in Northern Germany.

If you would like to try to catch our programmes, 6 hours on October 26th, 2019, Saturday before Halloween, 13.00 – 19.00 UTC would be a good time to give us a listen again.

Try the 75 metre band shortwave on 3975 kHz!

Let’s keep fingers crossed that propagation is good again!

We received more than 30 reception reports again in June and we hope we can beat this result again! So don’t hesitate to write in again.

It might be a good chance for you to catch our very special and unique 1999 – 2019 anniversary eQSL-card! This is available as eQSL-card only!

We look forward to your reception reports and comments to:
SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY, P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, The Netherlands
or via e-mail to: [email protected]

Have a great time with us and Good DX,
DJ Jan-Hendrik

SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY – 20 JAHRE IN DER LUFT! – BITTE GERN WEITER
VERBREITEN!

WIR WOLLEN DIE RADIOWELLEN – DAMIT ROCKMUSIC LEBENDIG BLEIBT!

Shortwaveradio.de hat uns freundlicherweise die Möglichkeit gegeben,
erneut über seine Sender in Norddeutschland mit unseren neuen Shows
auf Sendung zu sein.

Wenn Sie versuchen möchten, unsere Programme zu empfangen, 6 Stunden
am 26. Oktober 2019, Samstag vor Halloween (13.00 – 19.00 Uhr UTC)
wäre wieder ein guter Zeitpunkt, um uns wieder zuzuhören.

Probieren Sie das 75 Meterband Kurzwelle auf 3975 kHz!

Wir drücken die Daumen, dass die Ausbreitungsbedingungen wieder gut sind!

Wir haben im Juni wieder mehr als 30 Empfangsberichte erhalten und wir
hoffen
wir können dieses Ergebnis wieder übertreffen!
Also zögern Sie nicht, uns noch einmal zu schreiben.

Es könnte eine gute Gelegenheit sein, unsere neue spezielle, einzigartige
1999 – 2019 Geburtstags-eQSL-Karte zu erwerben.
Diese ist nur als eQSL-Karte zu erhalten.

Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Empfangsberichte und Kommentare an:
SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY, P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, Niederlande
oder per E-Mail an [email protected]

Viel Spaß bei uns und Good DX,
DJ Jan-Hendrik

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Trans World Radio to retire shortwave services to South Africa by December 31, 2019

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(Source: Trans World Radio via Marcus Keulertz)

Due to changes to the media landscape and subsequent decline in demand for shortwave radio broadcasts in South Africa, TWR will be reducing our English morning broadcasts in the 49, 60 and 90 metre bands on October 27th – followed by a retirement of these broadcasts on December 31st.

We thank God for the impact these broadcasts have had over the last 45 years and wish to remind listeners that you can still enjoy listening to TWR’s English programmes on Satellite (DStv Audio Ch 855), Medium Wave (1170 AM from 8PM CAT) and via our TWR Africa App and TWR Africa Website.

For any assistance, or to request our new reduced English SW schedule, please reply to this email, and we will gladly assist you.

#wearetwr

Blessings and peace,

Anthony Barkhuizen

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Radio Prague now Radio Prague International

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Radio Prague QSL card.

(Source: Radio Prague International via David Iurescia)

For 83 years now listeners of Czech Radio’s external service broadcasts have been accustomed to hearing our specific call-sign. Both the call sign and the station’s name have changed over the years. Another small change is now in the pipeline. As of September 1, Radio Prague will become Radio Prague International. Use our audio slider for a walk down memory lane…

Click here to view on YouTube.

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“VOA Launches Rohingya Language Program”

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Teachers gather with VOA Learning English instructor at the end of training. (Source: Inside VOA)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Eric McFadden and Bruce who share the following item from NPR:

The Voice of America has begun a daily radio show in Rohingya, the language spoken by Muslim refugees who have been forced to flee Myanmar. The program is called “Lifeline.”

Click here to read/listen at NPR.

Also, Inside VOA published the following press release:

VOA Launches Rohingya Language Program

Today the Voice of America’s Bangla language service started a five-day-a-week radio show in Rohingya, the language spoken by Muslim refugees that have fled Myanmar. More than 800,000 people have taken refuge at the Kutupalong camp, one of the world’s largest refugee camps at the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

Titled Lifeline, the 30-minute radio show, is available through short and medium wave signals. The program focuses on the lives and needs of the refugees, providing them with valuable information on security, family reunification, food rations, available shelter, education and health including vaccinations and water purification. In addition, a daily segment of the program offers the refugees the opportunity to share their stories, extend greetings to their families and learn about the hazards of joining extremists groups. One overarching objective of the broadcast is to counter Muslim extremists’ narratives and recruitment efforts in the camps and inform the Rohingya about the U.S. and the international community’s involvement in the crisis.

“After visiting Cox’s Bazaar and the Kutupalong refugee camp last year, it became obvious to me that we needed to address the informational needs of these people caught in the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world today,” said VOA Director Amanda Bennett. “Providing them with a reliable and authoritative source of news, as well as practical information that will improve their lives, is what the Voice of America does well in various hotspots around the world.”

Prior to launching the Rohingya language program, a VOA Learning English team travelled to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in March of this year at the invitation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The VOA instructors offered six days of intensive training on teaching techniques and methods for 100 selected English teachers. The teachers, in turn, will use the acquired knowledge to train another 5,000 of their colleagues in the camps.

Click here to read at Inside VOA.

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Small-scale DAB could lead to hundreds of new UK radio stations

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(Source: Southgate ARC)

Hundreds of new local digital radio stations could start broadcasting in the UK from next year, under proposals outlined by Ofcom

Ofcom say:

With over 40% of the UK’s radio listening now taking place on the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) platform, today’s proposals mark a major step towards expanding local DAB coverage, giving listeners an even wider choice of new digital radio stations.

Small-scale DAB is cutting-edge technology, pioneered in the UK by an Ofcom engineer. It provides local commercial, community and specialist music stations with a low-cost route to hitting the digital airwaves.

The consultation sets out:

• our proposed spectrum and licensing process;
• our approach to developing a coverage area plan; and
• how we intend to advertise licences and assess applications.

We would like to hear from interested parties by Friday 4 October and intend to start advertising licences early in 2020.

Public consultation information
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/licensing-small-scale-dab-new-powers-and-duties-proposed-by-government

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