{"id":43002,"date":"2020-05-01T09:07:25","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T13:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=43002"},"modified":"2020-05-01T09:07:25","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T13:07:25","slug":"radio-waves-radio-garden-bbc-budget-legacy-of-ronan-orahilly-and-ariss-to-begin-experimental-demonstrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/radio-waves-radio-garden-bbc-budget-legacy-of-ronan-orahilly-and-ariss-to-begin-experimental-demonstrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Radio Garden, BBC Budget, Legacy of Ronan O’Rahilly, and ARISS to Begin Experimental Demonstrations"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio<\/h2>\n

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\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s<\/em> Radio Waves<\/em>, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0<\/strong>Enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em> contributors Dennis Dura, Mike Terry and the International Radio Report for the following tips:<\/p>\n

\n

A trip around the world through local radio stations (The Guardian)<\/a><\/h3>\n

Streaming means we can tune into breakfast shows, travel bulletins and local gossip on every continent \u2013 and revel in radio\u2019s ability to create a sense of community<\/p>\n

I\u2019d missed the joke about the three-legged chicken. It was causing a stir.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat one about the chicken with three legs you told yesterday,\u201d said a presenter on Ireland\u2019s Midwest Radio\u2019s afternoon show, \u201capparently Ronald Reagan told it first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he, now?\u201d the co-host replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. You stole a joke from Ronald Reagan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeez, I\u2019m going as red as a tomato here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conjunction of tripedal fowl, the 40th president of the United States and two men in a studio in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, will never make a list of great radio moments but it was enough to coax me from between my four walls, even if it was via the imagination.<\/p>\n

Radio has never been more popular: it\u2019s seen off challenges, from television to the internet, to become stronger than ever. In 2017, according to industry ratings body Rajar, nine out of 10 people in the UK listened to the radio every week. Perhaps it succeeds because we have to conjure up our own pictures of events and places beyond our immediate surroundings. As a bored, lonely boy growing up in an anonymous south-east London suburb, I\u2019d spend most evenings in my bedroom jamming a coathanger into the back of an old radio and scanning the airwaves, awestruck by the range of languages and music bursting out of the night through skirling static; each voice sending tantalising reassurance of a world beyond the dispiriting confines of my own.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Coronavirus: BBC ‘needs to make \u00a3125m savings this year’ (BBC News)<\/a><\/h3>\n

The BBC has said it will have to “think hard about every pound” it spends on new programmes because of financial pressures during the current lockdown.<\/p>\n

Delays to a new licence fee regime for people over 75 and problems collecting fees are among the challenges cited.<\/p>\n

Staff have been told the BBC will have to find \u00a3125m savings this year.<\/p>\n

Senior leaders will take a pay freeze until August 2021 and all non-essential recruitment will be put on hold as part of the cost-cutting measures.<\/p>\n

Staff will also be invited to work part time or take unpaid leave if they find it “helpful” during the lockdown.<\/p>\n

In a briefing on Wednesday, director general Tony Hall said other reasons behind the cash shortfall were a delay to a plan to cut 450 jobs, and uncertainty around commercial revenues.<\/p>\n

Other broadcasters have been badly hit during the crisis, with ITV last month cutting its programme budget by \u00a3100m and Channel 4 cutting \u00a3150m from its programming.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Channel 4’s director of programmes Ian Katz said the broadcaster would have to cut back on drama and produce “lower tariff” shows.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Irish Legacy of Ronan O’Rahilly and Radio Caroline (The Irish Broadcasting Hall of Fame)<\/a><\/h3>\n

With the passing of Ronan O\u2019Rahilly in April 2020, a colossus of radio broadcasting has left a legacy that will stand the test of time and has made a massive impression on radio broadcasting in Ireland. While his beloved Radio Caroline was a familiar sight off the South East of England, its influence on both radio and music in 1960\u2019s Britain cannot be underestimated. It forced the British Government to enact new legislation outlawing the almost a dozen pirate radio ships that blasted pop music into Britain and it forced the BBC to reorganise and compete with the opening of a dedicated pop channel in 1967, BBC Radio One. In the month when Ronan passed onto the afterlife, both BBC Radio One and Radio Caroline still broadcast today. But while Caroline\u2019s history focusses mainly on its influence on Britain, Ireland has played a key role in that colourful history and this is that story.<\/p>\n

At the helm of Radio Caroline was Ronan O\u2019Rahilly. He was born in Clondalkin, Dublin in 1940, his father Aodogan was a well-known and wealthy businessman, regarded as an influential ally of Eamon DeValera, while his grandfather Michael O\u2019Rahilly was better known as The O\u2019Rahilly, sacrificed his life during the 1916 Easter Rising having been shot dead while leading a charge on a British position at the end of Moore Street.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, ARISS to Begin Experimental Demonstrations of School Contacts using a Multipoint Telebridge Amateur Radio Approach (ARISS)<\/a><\/h3>\n

ARISS News Release\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0No. 20-03\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\nApril 28, 2020 \u2014Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the first use of a concept called Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio, allowing school contacts for Stay-At-Home students and simultaneous reception by families, school faculty and the public.<\/p>\n

During the last several weeks, efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus have resulted in massive school closures worldwide. In addition, the Stay-At-Home policies invoked by authorities, initially shut down opportunities for ARISS school contacts for the near future.<\/p>\n

To circumvent these challenges and keep students and the public safe, ARISS is introducing the Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio concept. First operation of this experimental system will occur during a contact scheduled with a group of Northern Virginia Students located in Woodbridge, VA on Thursday, April 30 at 13:35 UTC (9:35 EDT). During this event, an ARISS telebridge radio ground station will link to the astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) ham radio station and each Stay-At-Home student and their teacher will be individually linked to the telebridge station. Under the teacher\u2019s direction, each student, from their home, takes a turn asking their question of the astronaut.<\/p>\n

Quoting ARISS Chair Frank Bauer, \u201cThis approach is a huge pivot for ARISS, but we feel it is a great strategic move for ARISS. In these times of isolation due to the virus, these ARISS connections provide a fantastic psychological boost to students, families, educators and the public. And they continue our long-standing efforts to inspire, engage and educate student in STEAM subjects and encourage them to pursue STEAM careers.\u201d<\/p>\n

ARISS is inviting the public to view a live stream of the upcoming contact at its new ARISS YouTube Channel:\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/Cu8I9ose4Vo<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n