{"id":557,"date":"2010-01-11T16:28:06","date_gmt":"2010-01-11T16:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=557"},"modified":"2010-01-13T02:49:44","modified_gmt":"2010-01-13T02:49:44","slug":"a-look-inside-the-2010-world-radio-tv-handbook-wrth-and-interview-with-publisher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2010\/01\/a-look-inside-the-2010-world-radio-tv-handbook-wrth-and-interview-with-publisher\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look Inside the 2010 World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH) and Interview with Publisher"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"wrth2010\"<\/a>The World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH)<\/em>–a printed guide to broadcasts on shortwave, mediumwave, longwave, and FM, as well as on TV–is now available for purchase in its 64th edition<\/em>. This guide is known as the key reference book for hard core DXers, shortwave radio listeners, broadcasters and radio enthusiasts of all stripes.<\/p>\n

This year, WRTH<\/em>‘s publisher sent me a copy of their latest reference directly from the UK; as has often been the case, I found myself immersed in its pages within moments of opening the mail package.<\/p>\n

This year in particular, it is my belief that WRTH<\/em> will become even more important to radio listeners.\u00a0 The main reason for this is the fact that in 2009, International Broadcasting Services, Inc., decided to halt production of its fine broadcast guide, Passport to World Band Radio<\/em>. [To learn more about this, check out previous posts here<\/a> and here]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On SWLing.com<\/a>, I had always suggested newcomers to the hobby check out Passport <\/em>(PWBR) over WRTH<\/em> simply because the main body of its guide was laid out in a “TV Guide”-like fashion, easy for a beginner to understand. In other words, it sorted broadcasts by Universal Time<\/a> and listed all of the broadcasts available (primarily in English) with information about program content, where you could find it on the radio dial, and even included mini-reviews–often humorous–of the shows. This format was very accessible for those who may not yet have a full grasp of the nuances of shortwave radio listening.<\/p>\n

Although not intentionally formatted for newcomers, WRTH<\/em> is also reasonably easy to use, and a much, much<\/em><\/strong> more comprehensive guide to broadcasts than Passport to World Band Radio<\/em>. Indeed, I find that I when I hear a unknown broadcast in a language that I also don’t know, I reach for WRTH<\/em> to solve the mystery.<\/p>\n

What’s inside WRTH<\/em>?<\/h3>\n

The bulk of WRTH<\/em> is a tried-and-true radio reference book with major sections delineated by convenient side bars which make navigating through this substantial book much easier.<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a>

Click to see sample of WRTH's International Radio section.<\/p><\/div>\n

WRTH<\/em> offers the following:<\/p>\n