DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-066, April 16, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1177: RFPI: Wed 0700, 1300 on 7445 [see below!] WJIE: M-F 0730 on 7490, 13595 [unconfirmed] WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 WRN ONDEMAND http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1177.html WORLD OF RADIO ON RFPI Hi Glenn, hope you are well. Naomi here, RFPI's Program Director, pleased to meet you! Just wanted to let you know that we have finally done a much-needed schedule change which we've been meaning to do for the last six months but there's been no time to do it! The new updated schedule will be on our web site soon. We have a new news short section which will include news regarding subjects such as Freedom of Expression and Journalists Without Borders. Your programs have been moved around a bit. They are now as follows: Sunday WOR 1830 UT [+Mon 0030, 0630, 1230 - no change] Tuesday WOR 1900 UT [+Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 - no change] Thursday COM 2000 UT [+Fri 0200, 0800, 1400 - ex-Wed + UT Thu] Friday WOR 1930 UT [+Sat 0130, 0730, 1330 - no change] Saturday WOR 1730 UT [+2330, Sun 0530, 1130 - half hour earlier] Saturday COM 2130 UT [+Sun 0330, 0930, 1530 - ex-Sat 1730] Another thing you might like to mention is that RFPI is now running a reading series, 15 minutes at 2100 UT Monday to Friday and an omnibus edition on Saturdays at 2030 of George Orwell's 1984. Thanks Glenn, I'll be in touch, (Naomi, RFPI, Apr 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LATEST ILG DATABASE NOW available at http://www.ilgradio.com/ilgradio.htm and yep I checked... it even has Radio Australia - Shepparton listed (pity about the HFCC). Thank you again Bernd Friedewald (Ian Baxter, Apr 14, ARDXC via DXLD) Seems to still be the B02 schedules, albeit updated on 24th March. It usually takes him a bit longer to bring out the charts for the new (A03) season (Craig Seager, ibid.) Involves a lot of bother, downloading special software to read it (gh, DXLD) TRANSMISSÕES EM PORTUGUÊS Amigos, a tabela de transmissões em português das emissoras de ondas curtas está atualizada na RadioWays. As informações estão separadas em blocos de 1 hora cada, facilitando assim a leitura das informações. Este trabalho é oriundo da pesquisa do nosso grande amigo Eng. Rene Gustavo Passold, que pesquisa continuamente estas informações para gerar a referida tabela. Sugerimos imprimir esta tabela, deixando próximo ao receptor, dado que durante o dia inteiro é possivel se tentar ouvir ondas curtas em português para o Brasil, Europa ou Africa. Para os que desejarem ampliar os radio-paises em niveis de confirmações (QSL) é uma boa oportunidade. Acesso: http://www.radioways.cjb.net (Rudolf W. Grimm, Brasil, Apr 14, radioescutas via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 1310.2, R. Nacional, Guayleguaychu, fair on peaks with spoken program including calls from listeners. Clear ID at 0656. Frequency varied between 1310.22 and 1310.35 in a short period (Paul Ormandy, Wainakarua, NZ DXpedition, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) Date? ** AUSTRALIA. The ABC has had excellent war coverage; they have a special interest since Australian troops are involved in the fighting. Coverage both domestically and internationally has been fair and balanced, as much coverage of the anti-war demonstrations as the war itself. The ABC has a special page devoted to the issue, continuously updated: http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/iraq/ (Fred Waterer, ON, Programming Matters, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** BAHAMAS. 1540, R Bahamas, Nassau, 0712 good, steady signal with talk (usually nonstop music) about using the skills of migrant Haitian farmers to improve Bahamian farming methods. They were taking feedback from listeners via e-mail and fax. Amazingly good signal from home with just a modest antenna (2 x 25 m dipoles). (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, NZ, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) Date? ** BANGLADESH. Research and Receiving Centre National Broadcasting Authority High Frequency Broadcasting Schedule A03 Bangladesh Betar External Service effective from 31/03/03 to 28/10/03 UTC Service Programme Freq Zone 1230-1300 G.O.S (English) 7185 9550 South & Southeast Asia 1315-1345 Nepalese 7185 9550 Nepal 1400-1430 Urdu 7185 9550 Pakistan 1515-1545 Hindi 7185 9550 India 1600-1630 Arabic 7185 9550 Middle East 1630-1730 Bengali 7185 9550 Middle East 1745-1815 Voice of Islam (English) 7185 9550 15520 Europe 1815-1900 G.O.S (English) 7185 9550 15520 Europe 1915-2000 Bengali 7185 9550 15520 Europe UTC : Co-ordinate Universal Time [sic] G.O.S. : General Overseas Service - Call Sign : Bangladesh Betar Reports To : Senior Engineer (Research Wing), National Broadcasting authority, Bangladesh Betar, 121 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahbag, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. Tel : +880-2-8625538, 8625538 Fax : +880-2- 8612021 E-mail : rrc@aitlbd.net (via Mr Ahmed Quaruzzaman, Station Engineer, Bangladesh Betaar via Alokesh Gupta, India, DXLD) ** CANADA. CFRB (1010 Toronto, with CFRX 6070), means Canada`s First Roger`s Batteryless, referring to the radio invented by Ted Rogers Sr (Joe Robinson, VA3MRF, Beginners`s Classroom, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CANADA. I began listening to CBL in Buffalo when I got interested in radio in about 1958. What a difference the programming was from WKBW and is ilk! I left Buffalo in `67 and have lived in many American cities but always arranged to pick up CBL, CBW, or CBK. CBL had a reliable signal in Chicago and Huntsville, AL. In Albuquerque you had to check between 990 and 540 to see which was best, but there was an hour`s difference between programs [not in the winter, now --- gh]. Here in St. Louis we had good CBL reception but now CBW is about the only CBC possibility. Occasionally CBK is usable on its lower sideband [away from local 550] and I can catch English programs on 9625 at the right time. I still don`t know how the vast area of Ontario is covered by FM repeaters; seems like a lot more trouble to go to. I guess I`ll have to look into a computer and get the feed that way if I want 24-hour reception! (Memories, John Schmelzer, KF5ZE, St. Louis, MO, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CANADA. 50 YEARS OF CANADIAN TV BROADCASTING HISTORY: http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/ccf/ccf_televisionlistingsandhistories.html (via Dan Greenall, FM/TV Report, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CROATIA [non non]. Summer A-03 schedule for Croatian Radio HS-1 via Deanovac: 0400-2300 on 6165 DEA 100 kW / non-dir 0400-0900 on 7365 DEA 100 kW / non-dir ||||| deleted in A-03 0400-1700 on 9830 DEA 100 kW / non-dir 0400-2300 on 13830 DEA 010 kW / 305 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Apr 15 via DXLD) ** CUBA. CPJ CONDEMNS CONVICTIONS OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS | Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 10 April The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) deplores the convictions of 28 independent Cuban journalists who have been detained since a crackdown began there on 18 March. The journalists' one-day trials were held on 3 and 4 April behind closed doors. On Monday, 7 April, courts across the island announced prison sentences for the journalists, ranging from 14 to 27 years. According to a communiqué issued by several well-known dissidents, in several cases defense lawyers did not have access to their clients or only had a few hours to prepare their cases. "We were deeply concerned when the Cuban government took advantage of international events to launch this crackdown on the press last month," said CPJ acting director Joel Simon. "And our concern turned to outrage when we learned that almost 30 journalists have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms for merely expressing their views." Prominent journalists Raul Rivero and Ricardo González Alfonso, whose trials were held on 4 April, were each sentenced to 20 years in prison. The two men were accused of, among other charges, creating the journalists' organization Sociedad de Periodistas Manuel Márquez Stérling and its "subversive" magazine, De Cuba. Rivero and González Alfonso were tried under Article 91 of the Penal Code, which imposes lengthy prison sentences or death for those who act against "the independence or the territorial integrity of the State." In addition to being charged under Article 91, some journalists were prosecuted for violating Law 88 for the Protection of Cuba's National Independence and Economy, which imposes up to 20 years in prison for anyone who commits "acts that in agreement with imperialist interests are aimed at subverting the internal order of the nation and destroy its political, economic and social system". The detentions of journalists and political dissidents, who are often accused of being "counterrevolutionaries" at the service of the United States, began on 18 March and continued for three days. Police raided and searched the journalists' homes, confiscating books, typewriters, research materials, cameras, computers, printers and fax machines. The journalists are currently imprisoned in several jails administered by the State Security Department. According to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, a dissident organization, the following prison sentences have been announced by the courts: Ricardo González Alfonso (20 years), Víctor Rolando Arroyo (26 years), Normando Hernández González (25 years), Raul Rivero (20 years), Oscar Espinoza Chepe (20 years), Julio César Galvez (15 years), Edel José García (15 years), Adolfo Fernández Sáinz (15 years), Jorge Olivera Castillo (18 years), Omar Rodríguez Saludes (27 years), Manuel Vázquez Portal (18 years), Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez (20 years), Mijail Barzaga Lugo (15 years), Carmelo Díaz Fernández (15 years), Pedro Argüelles Morán (20 years), Pablo Pacheco Avila (20 years), Alejandro González Raga (14 years), Alfredo Pulido López (14 years), Mario Enrique Mayo (20 years) and Fabio Prieto Llorente (20 years). According to the Miami-based news Web site Nueva Prensa Cubana, which posts reports filed by independent Cuban journalists, the following journalists have also been sentenced: Iván Hernández Carrillo (25 years), José Luís García Paneque (24 years) and Juan Carlos Herrera (20 years). CPJ is still trying to determine the sentences of journalists Miguel Galvan Gutiérrez, José Ubaldo Izquierdo, Léster Luís González Penton, Omar Ruiz Hernández and José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, all of whom face lengthy jail terms. For more information about press freedom conditions in Cuba, visit http://www.cpj.org CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world. For further information, contact Carlos Lauria (x120) or Sauro González Rodríguez (x118) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: americas@cpj.org, clauria@cpj.org, sgonzalez@cpj.org, Internet: http://www.cpj.org/ Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 10 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. NUEVOS EQUIPOS PARA INTERFERIR SEÑALES DE EMISORAS DE RADIO Y TV DE ESTADOS UNIDOS NUEVA GERONA, 12 de abril (Carlos Serpa Maceira, UPECI / http://www.cubanet.org ) - La empresa estatal Radio Cuba instalará próximamente en Isla de la Juventud un tercer canal de televisión y un trasmisor de radio para interferir las señales de emisoras y canales de televisión En Nueva Gerona, ciudad capital de Isla de la Juventud, así como e el asentamiento rural La Demajagua, se captan con nitidez las transmisiones de Radio Martí, La Poderosa y WQBA 1140, así como las señales televisivas del canal 51, Telemundo. "El transmisor pudo ser adquirido por Radio Cuba a través de un crédito que le otorgó la República Popular China, y será instalado en el centro transmisor de la cadena nacional Radio Progreso, situada en la carretera del sur de la localidad", señaló a UPECI una fuente que prefirió el anonimato. "Los funcionarios alegan que esta inversión es para mejorar la calidad de la señal de la emisora local Radio Caribe, pero eso no es cierto", agregó. La puesta en marcha del canal de televisión y el transmisor en Isla de la Juventud forman parte de la estrategia en la llamada "Batalla de ideas" convocada por Fidel Castro. El gobierno está preocupado y se empeña en que la verdad de lo que acontece fuera y dentro de Cuba no sea conocida por la población. Un vecino de La Demajagua dijo a este reportero: "Por el canal 51 de Miami, captado en un televisor marca Panda, de fabricación china, pude conocer de las vigilias que se realizan en Cuba los miércoles de cada semana en pro de la campaña 'Libertad sin destierro para los presos políticos cubanos', y también de la reciente escalada emprendida por el gobierno contra opositores y periodistas independientes". Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. http://www.cubanet.org/desdcuba.html http://www.cubanet.org/centro.html (via OSCAR DE CESPEDES, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Wonder what`s going on at HCJB. Have gotten into habit of listening to DX Partyline at my convenience via http://www.hcjb.org/english/dxpl/dxplaudio.php but as of Apr 15 the latest show there is still Mar 22. And the `listen now` option never works for new shows, must download first. Experience shows they eventually get old shows archived, but why wait? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. VOICE OF ETHIOPIA (relay via???) with strong but hypermodulated signal on 7520 khz at 2055-2100* in English about Mussolini, Iraqi dictator, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ended and then switched off on half-word. SINPO 55444 (Artyom Prokhorov, somewhere in Russia, April 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FIJI. AUSTRALIA/FIJI: 92.6FM RADIO AUSTRALIA - A NEW FM STATION FOR FIJI | Text of press release in English by RA/Pacific Media Watch in English 3 Apr 03 Radio Australia will launch its new 24-hour FM service to Fiji with a live broadcast of the network's popular Pacific Beat program from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat tomorrow evening. The new 92.6FM RA service to Fiji continues the network's long commitment to delivering quality radio programs to audiences throughout the Pacific, and is another aspect of the strong partnership between the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and Australia's international radio and online network. "Radio Australia has been broadcasting to the Pacific for more than 60 years now. The launch of a new FM service for our listeners in Fiji cements our efforts to deliver high quality, accessible radio to our audiences throughout the region," says Jean-Gabriel Manguy, Head of Radio Australia. "92.6FM Radio Australia offers listeners throughout Suva and surrounding areas a comprehensive Asia-Pacific and international news and information service, with news on the hour, and a selection of the best information and education programs produced by Australia's public broadcaster." 92.6FM Radio Australia delivers the network's English language service 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Its program line-up includes: 'Radio Australia News' - breaking news from across the Pacific, Asia and beyond, every hour on the hour 'Pacific Beat' - behind the headlines to uncover the events, issues and people that make the Pacific beat 'Asia Pacific' - latest news from across the region, with a focus on major events in financial circles 'Innovations' - showcasing the latest in Australian invention, enterprise and ingenuity. Source: RA/Pacific Media Watch in English 3 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. On Monday (April 14) the major commercial broadcasters of Saxonia, Radio PSR and Hit-Radio Antenne Sachsen, announced that they will discontinue their DAB services by the end of August, following the cessation of the sponsoring by the media authority SLM. In a common release both organizations state that they consider the situation of DAB as ``hopeless and without prospects`` and compare the 380,000,000 EUR of subsidies paid for DAB since 1987 with the 50,000 sets sold so far and these 50,000 sets with the 240,000,000 FM radios existing in Germany: Sachsens Privatradios beenden DAB-Engagement Die sächsischen Privatradios ziehen sich per 1. September aus dem digitalen Rundfunk DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) zurück. Das gaben heute Klaus Vorbrodt, Geschäftsführer der PSR-Mediengruppe, und Norbert Seuß, Geschäftsführer und Programmdirektor von Hit-Radio Antenne Sachsen, in Leipzig und Dresden bekannt. Damit werden die vier Programme DIGITALRADIO KLASSIK und oldie.fm beziehungsweise Hit- Radio Antenne Sachsen und Project 89.0 digital ab September nicht mehr digital empfangbar sein. Der Entscheidung der sächsischen Privatradios gingen bereits DAB-Ausstiege in anderen Bundesländern wie Berlin, Brandenburg und Thüringen voraus. Auslöser sind die aussicht- und perspektivenlose Gesamtmarktsituation von DAB und die Entscheidung der Sächsischen Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien (SLM), die DAB-Förderung Ende August auslaufen zu lassen. "Wir haben Verständnis für diesen Schritt der SLM, denn DAB ist trotz jahrelanger, millionenschwerer Förderung eine ungehörte Spezies geblieben. Außerdem gibt es bundesweit keine Signale für eine wachsende Akzeptanz bei den Hörern", sagte dazu Klaus Vorbrodt, Geschäftsführer der PSR-Mediengruppe. Norbert Seuß, Geschäftsführer und Programmdirektor von Hit-Radio Antenne Sachsen: "Angesichts dieser nicht vorhandenen Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten und ohne Förderung durch die SLM oder diejenigen, die offensichtlich an DAB wider besseren Wissens festhalten wollen, liegen die Risiken der Digitalisierung und die Kostenbelastung ausschließlich bei den Privatradios. So macht ein weiteres Engagement keinen Sinn." Zur Zeit sind in deutschen Haushalten rund 240 Millionen analoge UKW- Geräte in Betrieb, aber nur 50.000 DAB-Empfangsgeräte. Mit anderen Worten: Das Verhältnis beträgt 1 zu 4.800. Dabei flossen seit 1987 zirka 380 Millionen Euro in das Projekt Digitalradio. Zum Vergleich: Das entspricht einer Förderung von 7.600 Euro pro Empfangsgerät. Auch bei den Anschaffungskosten zieht DAB klar den Kürzeren. So müssen Käufer für die preiswertesten Endgeräte rund 300 Euro auf den Tisch legen - und damit ein mehrfaches als für einen UKW-Empfänger. Erschwert wird das Marketing durch das Verhalten der Autoindustrie, die Neuwagen weiterhin ausschließlich mit UKW-Geräten ausstattet (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** GERMANY. DW in English and DRM test on 6140 kHz: 0600-1000 DW English via JUL 100 kW / 175 deg 1000-1300 DRM test via JUL 040 kW / 060 deg 1300-1600 DW English via JUL 100 kW / 175 deg 1600-1900 DRM test via JUL 040 kW / 060 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Apr 15 via DXLD) ** GOA. Today (9th March 2003), the External Service in Nepali at 0130-0200 via Panaji 250 kW was noted on 7567 kHz instead of the normal 7250. Such errors (?) were noted in the past also from this station. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, April 8, dx_india via DXLD) Suspect he meant April 9 UT ** HUNGARY. ROMANY RADIO LIMITS OPERATIONS FOR LACK OF FUNDS Hungary's Romany Radio, which operates in Budapest under the name "Radio C," stopped its broadcasting of everything but music on 7 April due to a lack of financing, "Magyar Hirlap" reported the next day. The station released a statement on its website http://www.radioc.hu that says it does not have the money to cover the cost related to its news and cultural programming. In February, the station successfully applied for 6 million forints ($26,000) in state funding, but has yet to receive any of that funding, "Nepszabadsag" reported. Radio C received international attention when it began broadcasting in October 2001. According to a survey carried out last year, some 60 percent of Budapest's Roma are regular listeners of Radio C, the daily reported ("RFE/RL Newsline," 8 April via RFE/RL Media Matters Apr 14 via DXLD) ** IRAN. Frequency changes for VOIROI/IRIB: 0330-0525 Kurdish Sorani NF 15425, ex 11665 0230-0427 1130-1427 Kurdish Sorani NF 15440*, ex 15610 1030-1327 1430-1627 Kurdish Kirmanji NF 15605#, ex 15610 1330-1427 * 1130-1200 totally blocked by DW DRM test via SIN # 1430-1500 totally blocked by FEBA Radio in Hindi via SAM 1500-1627 totally blocked by RFI in Romanian/English via ISS (Observer, Bulgaria, Apr 15 via DXLD) ** IRAN. TELEVISION BROADCASTING TO IRAQ Iran's around-the-clock Arabic-language news television network, Al- Alam http://www.alalamnews.com began regular broadcasts to Iraq in March, "Iran News" reported on 6 April. According to "Iran News," Al- Alam opposes Operation Iraqi Freedom and Iraq's Ba'athist regime, shows extensive footage of killed Iraqi civilians, and refers to a "war of occupation." Iranian reformists have been quite critical of state media's one-sided war coverage. Iran's Sahar television network also broadcasts in Arabic, and a visit to the website http://www.sahartv.com reveals a similar bias ("RFE/RL Newsline," 8 April via RFE/RL Media Matters via DXLD) ** IRAN. IRANIAN MEDIA BEHAVIOUR 2000 GMT 14 APR 2003 The reformist Aftab-e Yazd daily's leading headline for 15 April, however, quoted Iranian officials' statements on how Iran would put any Iraqi Ba'thist official who enters the country on trial. It also quoted officials criticizing Iran's handling of foreign policy matters. The plight of the Iraq-based Mojahedin-e Khalq was also highlighted by the news agencies, with IRNA quoting border military officials as saying that they do not know "to which enemy they should turn for help", and ISNA reporting an appeal for amnesty of MKO members by Iran's human rights' official to Khamene'i. IRNA also quoted unnamed refugees as saying that the Iraqi information minister had hanged himself. This report, however, was not confirmed by other monitored Iranian sources on 14 April. The agencies also carried statements by Iraqi-based Shi'i opposition SCIRI in which they held the coalition forces responsible for the looting in Iraq, and statements by Iranian clerics calling on US-led forces to leave Iraq. Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Apr 03 (via DXLD) MEDIA BEHAVIOUR 2130 GMT, 15 APRIL 2003 The Iranian media continued their normal behaviour on 15 April 2003. However, a number of points were noteworthy about the Iranian media coverage of the Iraqi situation, as well as US policy towards Syria. 1. The Iranian media still continued to describe British and US forces as "invaders" or "aggressors". 2. The Iranian web site, Baztab, carried an interview with the rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Relations Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Majlis. Kula'i said that US policy towards Iran was aimed at bringing about the disintegration of the Iranian state and proving that a religious government could not achieve development. 3. The Iranian Students' News Agency, ISNA, continued to report on the activities of Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Sistani. ISNA carried a report saying that Shi'i cleric, Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Sistani, who had been reportedly given a 48-hour ultimatum to leave Iraq a few days ago, was in good health. Sistani said that the disorder in Iraq had been caused by allies of "foreign forces" and called on the Iraqi people to form a national coalition. 4. The Iranian radio carried a commentary on US policy towards Syria. During the commentary, the Syrian cultural attache to Iran, Ibrahim Za'rur, and a Syrian political scientist, Hamdan al-Husayni, were interviewed. They both said that US "allegations" regarding Syria's possession of weapons of mass destruction or its providing shelter to Iraqi officials were untrue. Hamdan al-Husayni said that US policies had been "dictated" by "the Zionists". According to the commentary, Arab sources had quoted US sources saying that the plan to take military action Syria had been shelved because of the lack of evidence. 5. Both IRNA and ISNA carried reports on the meeting in Tehran between the leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Hakim, and the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani. According to the reports, both Talabani and Hakim had criticized the US for excluding Iraq forces from the political arena and held the US responsible for the disorder in Iraq. 6. The Iranian radio, which now has a correspondent in Baghdad, reported on demonstrations held in Baghdad calling for the withdrawal of US forces from the country. 7. ISNA also carried reports on a conference being held at Allameh- Tabataba'i University. The title of the conference is; Iraq: Fears and hopes. For example, one of the speakers at the conference, university lecturer, Seyyed Jalal Dehqani-Firuzabadi, said that after 11 September, America had sought to establish itself as a hegemonic power in the Middle East and protect Israel. On the whole, the tone of the Iranian radio and TV has not changed. However, there is greater criticism of Iranian policy towards Iraq. For example, even Elaheh Kula'i, who criticized the US for seeking to bring about the disintegration of the Iranian state apparatus criticized Iranian policy towards Iraq for its "passivity" and "inertia". Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 15 Apr 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. RADIOS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ RECEIVE ONLY U.S. VOICE OF THE TWO RIVERS Many of some 20,000 transistor radios distributed by British soldiers in southern Iraq in early April allegedly receive only the Voice of the Two Rivers, a station set up by coalition forces, according RSF on 7 April, citing the French daily "Le Monde." The coalition's psychological operations are now largely targeting civilians, the paper reported. The Voice of the Two Rivers, heard in southern Iraq on five frequencies, broadcasts music and U.S. "psychological operations" messages, according to "Le Monde." CC (RFE/RL Media Matters Apr 14 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. CNN GUARD'S USE OF FIREARMS "SETS DANGEROUS PRECEDENT" - WATCHDOG | Text of report in English by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 13 April Reporters Without Borders has voiced its concern that a CNN crew's security escort returned fire with an automatic weapon when the crew, travelling in several vehicles, came under fire today at the entrance to the northern Iraqi town of Tikrit. The use of firearms is a practice contrary to all the rules of the profession, the organization said. "Such a practice sets a dangerous precedent that could jeopardize all other journalists covering this war as well as others in the future," Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Robert Menard said. "There is a real risk that combatants will henceforth assume that all press vehicles are armed," he warned. "Journalists can and must try to protect themselves by such methods as travelling in bulletproof vehicles and wearing bulletproof vests, but employing private security firms that do not hesitate to use their firearms just increases the confusion between reporters and combatants," Menard added. The US TV news network CNN has been using a private security firm to protect some its crews, including the one led by reporter Brent Sadler that came under fire as it approached a checkpoint at the entrance to Tikrit today. After a security guard in one of the vehicles returned fire, the convoy turned back. A CNN driver who was slightly hurt was taken to hospital. Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres web site, Paris, in English 13 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1630 GMT 14 APR 03 No Iraqi domestic broadcasting has been traced by BBC Monitoring. US Information Radio continues to be heard. Other sources presumed to be on the air are the US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom, and UK- run Radio Nahrain near Basra. The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's media observations on Iraq and related reports as of 1630 gmt on 14 April: Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April. Colour bars have been observed on the channel's satellite frequencies since 1024 gmt on 9 April. Republic of Iraq Television: No video or audio from the main domestic TV channel has been observed by BBC Monitoring. Youth [Shebab] TV has not been reported on the air since shortly after the start of air attacks on Baghdad. No news sources have reported any Iraqi TV services on the air in Baghdad. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its usual frequencies in the reporting period. No news sources have reported any Iraqi radio services on the air in Baghdad. Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March. OTHER BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ US-run Information Radio has been heard at various times during the reporting period on 756, 4500 and 9715 kHz. The Future (Al-Mustaqbal) On 14 April continuous Western music with no announcements was heard on 1575 kHz, a frequency usually used by Al-Mustaqbal/The Future, a radio station that broadcasts on behalf of the Iraqi National Accord. The station has been observed by BBC Monitoring to be broadcasting programmes irregularly. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq was heard on 13 April on 1206 kHz (audible from 1400-1800 gmt) and 4025 kHz (audible from 1000-1800 gmt). According to reports which BBC Monitoring cannot confirm, the Voice of the Liberation of Iraq is operated jointly by various Iraqi opposition groups in Sulaymaniyah. The station has not announced any contact information or given any direct indication of its political affiliation. US-UK run Towards Freedom TV The California newspaper San José Mercury News on 11 April quoted Daniel Rifkind, news editor of the London-based World Television company hired by the British government to produce an hour-long news programme, as saying: "It's not about war! Don't mention the war!... The programme is about freedom, OK?... We're about information, but it has to be something people want to watch." The San José Mercury News noted that editorial control is not totally in World Television's hands "because the British Foreign Office, which is paying the company for 30 one-hour instalments, ultimately can decide content". "In the United States, content disagreements are unlikely. The Pentagon is producing the segment," the newspaper reported, adding: "And the ultimate goal of Towards Freedom TV is not to flourish but to fade away. What the governments want, said Rifkind, `is for Iraqi TV to go back on the air - run by Iraqis.'" EGYPTIAN PAPER SAYS ALLIES ATTEMPTING PRESS CENSORSHIP IN IRAQ | Text of report by Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram web site on 13 April The crisis of the free media: Two months before the outbreak of the Iraq war, Pentagon experts drew up a closely worked out media plan to impose a military censorship on the media, which is covering the developments in the war, particularly near the frontlines. Contacts were made with the regional and international television networks and with newspapers and news agencies to tempt them to send their correspondents to accompany the forces of the alliance. The correspondents were requested to spend two weeks before the outbreak of fighting in training on how to comply with the military orders and instructions that were issued by the US-British command on the dispatch of news, reports, films and pictures. The aim of these measures was not to protect the newsmen and the media workers as much as they were intended to curb the freedom of the media and to impose full control on everything that is broadcast by the television channels and published by the newspapers. Such an arrangement is in line with what is compatible with Pentagon plans to impose full control on the information or facts which should be told to the US and world public, including the concealment of these news and reports. This explains the reasons which prompted US forces to commit a massacre against the Arab and foreign newsmen who wanted to keep their independence in the news coverage and to remain free of any restrictions which might be imposed on them by the censor of the allied forces. So, the allied forces opened their fire on the hotel where the correspondents of a number of Arab television networks and news agencies and correspondents of several European newspapers in Baghdad were staying. One of the aircraft strafed the Al-Jazeera offices in Baghdad and killed some of its correspondents. The Iraqi and US sides were informed that there were in the hotel the offices and accommodation rooms of the newsmen and the television cameramen. Nonetheless, the alliance forces went ahead and punished them so as to scare them and keep them away from the heart of the battles in Baghdad. The aim is to conceal from the world the reality of the genocide operations that were carried out against the civilian suburbs. What confirms the bad intentions of the alliance forces is that they took advantage of every opportunity to threaten the media that did not comply with their instructions that it was vulnerable to bomb and missile attacks. Rumsfeld and Powell did not conceal their disappointment with the independent media on several occasions. The last of these occasions was the criticism which Rumsfeld made of the reports published concerning the looting that was taking place under the supervision of the occupation forces. However, the most serious consequence of such a trend is that when the United States imposes its full control on Iraq, it might perhaps impose a total media blackout in the coming phase. Source: BBC Monitoring research 14 Apr 03 [excerpts via DXLD) RADIO TIKRIT PICTURE BULLETIN 1900-2100 GMT 14 APRIL 2003 Station announcement: "Huna Radio Tikrit, this is Tikrit Radio, for the whole of Iraq and for all the Iraqis", repeated several times. 1. Presenter identifies himself as Ibrahim al-Nasiri, welcomes listeners 2. Reading from the Koran 3. Religious commentary 4. News a. Coalition forces military spokesman Vincent Brooks says US forces took presidential palace in Tikrit b. Brooks says all Iraqi oil wells are under coalition forces' control c. Marines exchanged fire with sniper in Baghdad building near Palestine Hotel d. Spain expels seven Iraqi diplomats of former regime e. US POWs handed over by Iraqi soldiers says treated well while in captivity f. Iraqis directing US forces to places that may contain weapons of mass destruction g. British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien says US, UK forces to leave Iraq after formation of democratic government h. UK's Jack Straw says Syria not on list of target countries after Iraq, but says Syrians must answers some questions i. British defence secretary says UK wants to maintain dialogue with Syria j. Jordanian king meets President Mubarak in Cairo k. Saudi foreign minister says Saudi Arabia calls for emergency regional meeting of foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbours l. Saudi foreign minister on brief visit in Syria; meets President Al-Asad Source: Radio Tikrit in Arabic 1900 gmt 11 Apr 03 (via BBCM via Dxld) VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ PICTURE BULLETIN 1730 GMT 14 APRIL 2003 1. Opening announcement by male presenter: " This is the Voice of the Liberation of Iraq [Arabic: huna sawt tahrir al-iraq], the voice of democracy, equality and liberation. The voice of peace, tolerance and coexistence, voice of the civil society and voice of the various ethnic groups, religions and rites in Iraq." 2. Times of broadcasting and frequencies of the radio . 3. Call from the coalition forces' command to the people of Iraq, including Tikrit and all other Iraqi cities whether liberated from the grip of Saddam Husayn or not. We ask you to protect public property and not destroy any of the public services buildings such as those of education, culture, health and other governmental buildings. This is the property of the people and not of the deposed regime and its followers. 4. The US leadership has pledged to take the necessary steps to install law and order following the spread of looting and damage in Iraqi cities. 5. Congratulations to Iraqi people on their freedom. Coalition forces are here to help you. All citizens must live together peacefully in this new era. 6. The UK newspaper The Observer reported that top level officials in the USA have said that action will be taken against Syria in the future, owing to it harbouring terrorism. 7. Call to Iraqi people to protect public property. 8. Song 9. A US marine said on Sunday that the US forces found barrels containing chemical weapons. 10. Call to Iraqi people to protect public property. 11. Indistinct item on Arab volunteer fighters, some of them Syrians, detained in Iraq by the coalition forces. 12. Call to the Iraqi people not to fire gunshots in the air to express happiness. 13. This is the Voice of the Liberation of Iraq 14. US defence secretary said on Sunday that law and order will return to Iraq gradually. 15. Retired General Jay Garner will go to Iraq: indistinct item. 16. Patriotic song . 17. Call to Iraqi people not to destroy the infrastructure of Iraq. 18. A US military source in Baghdad said today that six members of the US forces were released from imprisonment . 19. Iranian foreign minister says that all the world is satisfied with the departure of Saddam. 20. Call to Iraqi people to protect their country. 21. US defence minister says the US marines are helping to return life to normal in the north of Iraq. 22. Song. 23. Congratulations to the Iraqi people and call not to destroy the country. 24. US retired General Jay Garner says Iraqis have to rebuild their own country. 25. Song. 26. Call to Iraqi people. 27. The US forces captured the last stronghold of Arab volunteer fighters in Baghdad. 28. Call to Iraqi people. 29. Songs. 30. The fall of the last Arab volunteer fighters in Baghdad. 31. The Red Cross says that most hospitals in Baghdad are without electricity and water. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1930 gmt 14 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ARABSAT WILL NOT RESUME IRAQI TV WITHOUT ARAB LEAGUE GO-AHEAD | Text of report in English by Egyptian news agency MENA Riyadh, 15 April: The Arab Institution for Satellite Communications (Arabsat) will not resume Iraqi TV transmission without Arab League authorization. A request to retransmit the Iraqi TV programmes will be approved only if it comes from an Iraqi administration that is recognised by the Arab League, Arabsat said. In statements that appeared in the local Al-Watan newspaper Tuesday [15 April], Arabsat Director-General Sa'd Bin Abd al-Aziz al-Bidna said that the institution has not received any formal request to resume Iraqi TV transmission. The paper quoted media sources in Baghdad as saying that the US army has already contacted Arabsat to restart the Iraqi TV transmission. Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 0940 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. IRANIAN TV CHANNEL "RESISTANCE" BEAMING PROGRAMMES TO IRAQ | Text of report by Iranian Baztab web site on 15 April Tehran, 15 April: Following the inauguration of the TV channel, Towards Freedom, by George W. Bush last week, there have been other reports on the setting up of major radio and TV channels in Iraq. Towards Freedom, which has its transmitters on board an aircraft, transmits programmes five hours a day, five days a week. At the same time there are reports on the transfer of a ready-made TV station from London to Iraq. This TV station has 12 transmitters and will arrive in Iraq from Britain in the near future. Since the American moves, there have been other reports on the setting up of three major radio channels by the opposition Kurds. At the moment the Resistance Channel is the only stable TV channel in Iraq, which was built in three days in the former cafeteria of the production building of the Voice and Vision [Iranian radio and TV organization]. The channel uses the aerial of the Education Channel to broadcast programmes for the people of Iraq. The station was inaugurated last week by Ayatollah Hakim, the head of the Supreme Assembly for Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SAIRI]. Source: Baztab web site, Tehran, in Persian 1400 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) From where, exactly? Across the border in Iran, presumably (gh, DXLD) US ENVOY TO "COORDINATE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS" | Excerpt from US State Department daily press briefing on 14 April by deputy spokesman Philip T. Reeker Question: The communications outlets, I guess, or distribution in Iraq has been out, and, of course, they have state-run newspapers, television. Is much of what's gone on in the way of looting, can you attribute that to the - basically, the failure to switch over to, I guess, a coalition television and radio network? Of course, the newspapers have to take a little bit of time because there is - Mr Reeker: I am not sure if I can accept all of the premise of your questions. You might want to talk to some of those on the ground who are briefing on the exact situation in Baghdad. I do believe that the coalition forces have begun - some days ago - providing television and radio broadcasts within Iraq utilizing equipment they have been able to bring in, and utilizing existing Iraqi channels for that sort of thing. But I think Department of Defence or Centcom could give you a better idea of that. And, obviously, that will be one area for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance to work on, and we would hope as we move ahead in days and months to come that independent media would be an important part of the redevelopment of Iraqi civil society... Question: Can you tell us what Ambassador Tutwiler is going to be doing in Iraq? Mr Reeker: Yes. Ambassador - it's the US ambassador, of course, to the Kingdom of Morocco. Ambassador Margaret Tutwiler is going to depart Morocco soon and serve temporarily as a special envoy of President Bush assisting the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq. She is going to help coordinate the public communications there at that office. And I think the decision to have Ambassador Tutwiler travel there does reflect the high importance that we place on public affairs and communications efforts in post-war Iraq... She remains the US ambassador to Morocco and she'll return following this temporary assignment to [Iraq]. So we appreciate the Moroccan government's understanding and concurrence with this decision and expect her to be in Iraq for several weeks. Question: What, exactly, will she do? Will she be a spokesperson? Mr Reeker: I think, you know, that will remain to be seen. Precisely, she is going to help coordinate communications. As you know, she has a lot of experience in that regard and we will much appreciate that. We will be able to work with her from here, as well, and just coordinate all the interest on the ground. As you know, many of your colleagues are already there in Iraq now, in Baghdad, in other parts of Iraq, and so communications will be an important part of the work of General Garner's group as they proceed forward with their responsibilities... Source: US State Department, Washington, in English 14 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) IRAQI RADIO REPORTEDLY TO START TRANSMISSION 15 APRIL Iraqi radio is due to start transmission on 15 April and Iraqi TV "soon", Abu Dhabi TV reported on 15 April. Abu Dhabi TV correspondent in Baghdad Amr al-Muniri said meetings were held at the Palestine-Le Meridien Hotel in Baghdad between US officials and employees from the Iraqi media on ways to resume the Iraqi radio and television newscasts. "They had a meeting with the coalition troops to start radio and television broadcasts. The engineers and technicians completed the operation of Baghdad radio, which will start its transmission today, and will direct appeals to the Iraqi people. As for the television, we have contacted the television employees and technicians and they said they are ready to resume transmission soon," he said Source: Abu Dhabi TV, in Arabic 1120 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) NEW BAGHDAD MAYOR SAYS IRAQI RADIO BROADCASTS TO RESUME 15 APRIL Abu Dhabi TV at 1120 gmt on 15 April carried a live dispatch from its correspondent in Baghdad, Amr al-Muniri. In his dispatch, Al-Muniri said meetings were currently taking place at the Palestine-Le Meridien Hotel in Baghdad between US officials and employees from the Iraqi media to discuss ways to resume Iraqi radio and TV newscasts. Al-Muniri then interviewed Muhammad Mushin al-Zubaydi, an Iraqi opposition figure who had been elected that day by representatives of Iraqi tribes as the new mayor of Baghdad. Asked about the meeting between US officials and Iraqi media employees, Al-Zubaydi stated: "They had a meeting with the coalition troops to start radio and TV broadcasts. The engineers and technicians completed the operation of Baghdad radio, which will start its transmissions today, and will direct appeals to the Iraqi people. As for the television, we have contacted the television employees and technicians and they said they are ready to resume transmission soon." Al-Zubaydi said the meeting on 15 April was held at the request of tribal leaders, clergymen and community leaders with the aim of "taking effective and practical measures to set a mechanism for restoring normal life to Baghdad". Asked about coordination with US troops over the meeting, Al-Zubaydi said: "There is an understanding and cooperation between us, but they do not have anything to do with today's meeting." Source: Abu Dhabi TV, in Arabic 1120 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1600 GMT 15 APR 03 Journalists and technicians from Iraqi TV and radio met in Baghdad on Tuesday 15 April with a US military representative, and discussed what they needed to resume broadcasts. An Iraqi opposition figure who has reportedly been appointed as the new mayor of Baghdad said that Iraqi radio transmissions were due to resume on the 15th, with Iraqi TV broadcasts starting up again "soon". However, Arabsat has been reported as saying it will not resume Iraq Satellite Channel transmissions without Arab League authorization. No Iraqi domestic broadcasting had been traced by BBC Monitoring at the time of publication of this round-up. But in an indication that some radio broadcasts are being heard inside Iraq, international news agencies reported from Baghdad on 14 April that several hundred policemen had gathered at the Iraqi police academy in the capital in response to a call by an Arabic-language radio station to prepare for joint patrols with US forces against looters. An electricity board representative cited by the Associated Press on 14 April said "he expected power to be restored to east Baghdad in three to four days, and to west Baghdad within a week". US Information Radio continues to be heard. Other sources presumed to be on the air are the US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom, and UK-run Radio Nahrain near Basra. The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's media observations on Iraq and related reports as of 1630 gmt on 15 April: Iraqi journalists in talks with US on resuming broadcasts Some journalists in Iraq are counting on US help to revive broadcasting infrastructure devastated by the war, the French news agency AFP reported on 15 April. Some 30 journalists and technicians from Iraqi TV and radio had a meeting at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 15 April with Lt-Col John O'Brien from the US operations centre. The journalists were asked to draw up lists of equipment they still had and what they needed to resume broadcasts. "The occupation forces issued an appeal to the television journalists and technicians to meet them and I think they (the Americans) are thinking about starting new stations and recruiting Iraqis to work for them," AFP quoted Iraqi satellite TV journalist Abd al-Khaliq Flayh as saying. "You have to understand that this is a phased operation, first military and then reconstruction according to priorities... We, for instance, need to get the electricity going so that people can see and hear what you guys are going to broadcast," O'Brien said, according to AFP. Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April. Colour bars have been observed on the channel's satellite frequencies since 1024 gmt on 9 April. Arabsat has been reported as saying it will not resume Iraqi TV transmission without Arab League authorization (see report below) Republic of Iraq Television -- No video or audio from the main domestic TV channel has been observed by BBC Monitoring. Youth [Shebab] TV has not been reported on the air since shortly after the start of air attacks on Baghdad. No news sources have reported any Iraqi TV services on the air in Baghdad. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its usual frequencies in the reporting period. No news sources have reported any Iraqi radio services on the air in Baghdad. Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March. OTHER BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ Information Radio continues to be heard on shortwave 4500 and 9715 kHz shortwave and 756 kHz. Al-Mustaqbal/The Future has been heard on 1575 kHz mediumwave carrying continuous Western-style music, without announcements. Voice of the People of Kurdistan was observed from 1945-2130 gmt on 14 April on 1206 and 4025 kHz. A transmission was also observed commencing at 0200 gmt on 15 April. The station appears to have made an adjustment to local summer time. Republic of Iraq Radio, Voice of the Iraqi People was observed from 1800-0300 gmt on 4785, 9570 and 11710 kHz shortwave. Radio of the Land of the Two Rivers was observed on 1566 kHz mediumwave from 1300-1900 gmt on 14 April and again from 0300 gmt on 15 April. Voice of the Iraqi People (Iraqi Communist Party) was observed from 1600-2000 gmt on 3900 kHz; from 0000-0600 gmt on 15 April it was also heard on 5883 kHz. Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan was observed on 4090 kHz shortwave from 1600-2000 gmt on 14 April and from 0315 gmt on 15 April. Voice of Rebellious Iraq was observed on 14 April on 1404 kHz and later on the 14th from 1900-2100 gmt on 711 kHz. Voice of Kurdistan Toilers was observed from 0200-0400 gmt on 15 April on 4245 kHz shortwave. Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Apr 03 (excerpts, via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. VOICE OF IRAQI PEOPLE on 3900 kHz at 1907 with clear ID in Arabic? at 1930 sounded like "ash-shaa... Iraq abu radiya" two times in row (Sorry for unprofessional transliteration). Weak when I started to hear but good and stable audio from 1925 (Artyom Prokhorov, somewhere in Russia, April 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQI RADIO & TV I was pleased to read about today's meeting between the US military authority in Baghdad and about 30 former employees of the state radio and TV. The military have wisely recognised that Iraqis are the best people to run their country's media. Some cynics will say that nobody who worked for the official media under Saddam should be given jobs. I disagree. Broadcasters are employees. They do not have to like their employer, or even agree with him. Many operated under duress, and only fear for their own safety and that of their families prevented them from openly defying the regime. I am sick to the teeth with people who have never lived in anything other than a democracy making patronising comments about the people of Iraq. They're not stupid, they knew what was going on. The broadcasters pretended to be telling the truth and the people pretended to believe them. It was the only way to survive under a brutal regime. That has gone now, and everyone deserves a fresh start, including young people who want to become good journalists and up to now haven't been given the chance. I'm not referring to senior management, of course - they were part of the regime. I hope the time will soon come when we will be able to welcome young Iraqi broadcasters to our training centre in Hilversum. At the moment we have with us a wonderful bunch of young people from numerous countries in Africa and Asia who bring enthusiasm, vitality and a fresh perspective that enriches us all (Andy Sennitt, RN blog Apr 15 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. RFE has special coverage of the war in Iraq, including a regular newsletter you can subscribe to: http://www.rferl.org/specials/iraqcrisis/ (Fred Waterer, ON, Programming Matters, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS Conservative fundamentalists with close ties to President Bush are planning a new missionary push in Iraq -- and they might already be converting U.S. troops to their cause. http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/04/15/in_touch/index_np.html (via Jill Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** IRAQ. More Amateur Radio operation reported from Iraq (Apr 14, 2003) -- The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com reports that several hams with the US military in Iraq have begun showing up on the amateur bands. Mark Smith, NG5L, of North Carolina, has been active from near Nasiriya as YI/NG5L on SSB, usually around 0500 UTC near 14.195 MHz, but he's been spotted during the past few days in Europe and North America on other 20-meter frequencies and at other times of the day. Smith's father, Tom, NG5S, who lives in Arkansas, confirms that his son, 26, is in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. As reported earlier, Jim Dunkerton, YI/KT4CK, has been QRV on 15-meter SSB between 1430 and 1600 UTC. He was last spotted by DL7JAN at 1541 UTC on April 14 on 21.260 MHz. YI/KT4CK has been seeking contacts with the US. Steve Toburen, KB0QHV, of Kansas is among other US amateurs deployed to Iraq, but it's not known if he's been on the air. The Daily DX reports that Bob Furzer, 9K2ZZ/K4CY, has apparently crossed into Iraq from Kuwait and has been on the air as K4CY/p or K4CY/m. ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, told The Daily DX that the DXCC Desk has made no decisions on whether any of these operations eventually will be approved for DXCC, especially since no civil authority is in place to authorize amateur operation. The amateurs apparently have permission from their commanding officers to operate, but some form of written authorization from a civil authority in Iraq likely would be required for DXCC credit (ARRL April 15 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** IRELAND. The Irish longwave transmitter on 252 kHz is currently carrying a relay of RTE Radio 1 parallel 567 kHz - though with a very long delay compared to the MW outlet. Observed from tune-in at 1040 UTC today (Tuesday 15 April). This is the first time I have heard any programming on the LW channel (other than the occasional test tone) since the closure of TeamTalk on 31 July 2002 (Dave Kenny, Caversham UK, Apr 15, BDXC-UK via DXLD) RTE TESTING LONGWAVE 252 KHZ Ray Woodward in the UK reports that Irish public broadcaster RTE is on the air on 252 kHz longwave, relaying its Radio 1 domestic service. The station is audible here in The Netherlands with a strong signal. RTE acquired the longwave transmitter two months ago following the closure of the commercial station TEAMtalk 252. According to the Irish Independent, RTE is planning to use transmitter to broadcast to the Irish community in the UK. Programming may either be a relay of RTE Radio One, or a composite of the various RTE networks. RTE already broadcasts all its domestic radio networks across the UK on the Sky digital satellite network, which recently exceeded 6.5 million subscribers (RN Media Network Apr 15 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. BBC WORLD BACK ON ISRAELI CABLE SYSTEMS Two weeks after the Israeli cable companies stopped broadcasting BBC World, the international news station will return to the airwaves for digital service subscribers. Cable companies Matav, Tevel and Golden Channels (Arutzei Zahav) announced on Sunday that they had reached a financial agreement with the news station, and as a result broadcasts would resume. The companies cancelled BBC World at the start of April after failing to reach an agreement on a lower price for the service from the BBC. Many viewers had threatened to switch to the satellite broadcasting firm Yes - which has continued to provide the channel - if the cable companies didn't return BBC World to the cable (© Radio Netherlands Media Network, Mike Brand, 14 April 2003 via DXLD) ** ITALY [non?]. ) "Axel F" is their IS at s/on and s/off; 6275 faded out here at 2145 Apr 12, around 20 minsutes after 6955, so Crazy Wave Radio and Radio Tre Network seemingly are coming from the same site (Harald Kuhl, Germany, Dx-plorer via DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. Russian service of Radio Japan is excellently heard here on 11970 kHz at 1840-1900 (open_dx - Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine. . .) At my location Radio Japan in Russian comes much better at 1130-1200, 11710 kHz. SIO for this broadcast is 454, while 11970 can be rated as SIO 353 in the evening. (open_dx - Vyacheslav Oleinik, Chisinau, Moldova. . .) But Japan shares 11970 kHz with Romania (in Romanian) during the whole hour 1800-1900 (open_dx - Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia. .) Here in Kyiv, we're in dead zone for Romanian signal in the evening. That's our luck. (open_dx - Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine. . .) Another question, concerning Russian broadcast of Radio Japan that is beamed to Kamchatka (5955 kHz, 1900-1920). I'm hearing it with SINPO = 44444. But it has a co-channel: Russian service of the Deutsche Welle. Here in the Far East, QRM is minimal, but what can other DXers say (primarily those who live in Siberia and European Russia)? (open_dx - Igor Ashikhmin, Primorskiy kray, Russia. . .) DW is on top here. And I'd like to ask of the following: which station bothers Radio Japan at 1100-1200 on 11710 kHz? It may be Voice of Korea or CNR. (open_dx - Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine) Voice of Korea dominates 11710 kHz in the Far East (open_dx - Igor Ashikhmin, Primorskiy kray, Russia. . .) The worst RJ clash is its Japanese broadcast at 1800-1900 on 6175 kHz. Frequency is totally covered by Voice of Turkey broadcast in Tatar language (primarily beamed to my area, as Tatars are compactly settling here. - Ed). No even a trace of RJ under the Turkish station. (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, all: Signal Apr 14 via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. Últimas escutas realizadas em Jaraguá do Sul/SC, com receptor Sony ICF-SW 7600 G e antena telescópica: 15660, Voice of Africa, Líbia, 12.04.2003, 1735 UT, leitura das manchetes das notícias a serem apresentadas no programa. Obs.: A emissora transmitiu quase o tempo todo em árabe, durante o horário em que efetuei a escuta (aproximadamente das 1730 às 1830 UT), mas das 1735 às 1745 a emissora transmitiu um noticiário em inglês e em francês. O mesmo se repetiu da 1835 às 1845 UT. Consegui identificar a emissora com 100% de certeza em virtude da transmissão deste noticiário em língua inglesa. O sinal estava muito bom, algo em torno de 45444 (Márcio Roberto Polheim da Silva, Jaraguá do Sul/SC, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6105, XEQM "Rasa Onda Corta" 1130-1230 15 de abril del 2003 UT. Escuché muy claramente entre las 1130 y 1200; pondría un SINPO de 33333, donde estaban dando noticias locales del Estado de Yucatán, y principalmente de la ciudad de Mérida, capital de ese estado; por ejemplo escuché del incremento en la actividad en el aeropuerto y de las medidas que están tomando ante este aumento de vacacionsitas. A las 1200 entra una intensa interferencia de Radio Taipei Inetrnacional, en idioma chino, que elimina a la emisora (SINPO 21221). Voy a tratar de escuchar qué señal están transmitinedo, pues de lo que pude escuchar ese noticiario se transmiten en varias emisoras de la Cadena Rasa en Yucatán. Receptor Radio Shack DX-398 con antena externa tipo L invertida de 5 metros de longitud (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Dicen otras: Candela FM ** NETHERLANDS. WERELDOMROEP PRESENTEERT NIEUW REORGANISATIEPLAN Radio Nederland Wereldomroep heeft een nieuw reorganisatieplan gepresenteerd. Een eerder voorstel kreeg in januari weinig steun van het personeel en de vakbonden, onder meer omdat er tientallen arbeidsplaatsen zouden vervallen. In het nieuwe plan vervallen in principe 17 arbeidsplaatsen, en wordt drieenhalf miljoen euro bezuinigd. De besparingen worden onder meer bereikt door een vermindering van de Nederlandstalige radio-uitzendingen overdag naar Europa. Verder stopt de Wereldomroep met het televisieprogramma Studio NL, dat wordt uitgezonden via de Nederlands-Vlaamse satellietzender BVN. De uitzendingen in andere talen worden teruggebracht, maar anders dan in het vorige plan worden geen taalafdelingen geschrapt. In het reorganisatieplan is ook geld vrijgemaakt voor nieuwe activiteiten, waaronder een Arabische website gericht op het Midden-Oosten. De wijzigingen moeten ingaan in 2004. The above translated: * WORLDSERVICE PRESENTS NEW REORGANISATION PLAN Radio Nederland Wereldomroep has presented a new reorganisation plan. A previous plan, presented in January was not supported by personel and unions, because of job losses. The new plan results in a job loss of 17 people, and [Euro?] 3.5 million will be saved. Savings are made by fewer Dutch radio transmissions to Europe during the day. The television programme "Studio NL", broadcast by the Dutch-Flemish satelite station BVN, will be ceased. Transmissions in other languages will be reduced, but unlike the previous plan no language departments will cease. In the new plan money is made available for new activities, like an Arabic website for the Middle-East. The changes are planned to start in 2004. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, Postbus 222, 1200 JG Hilversum http://www.rnw.nl/ Copyright Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. (via Harm Deenen, Ireland, DXLD) NEW REORGANISATION PLAN FOR RADIO NETHERLANDS Radio Netherlands has presented a new reorganisation plan. An earlier proposal in January this year was rejected by the personnel and the unions, largely because of the substantial job losses envisioned. The new plan involves savings of 3.5 million euros and cuts seventeen jobs. Daytime radio transmissions to Europe in Dutch will be radically reduced and there will be less shortwave broadcasts in other languages. The television programme Studio NL, broadcast by the Dutch-Flemish satellite channel BVN, will be scrapped. The reorganisation also provides for new activities, including an Arabic website for the Middle East (Relayed by Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from the Radio Nederland Web site) REVISED REORGANISATION PLAN FOR RADIO NETHERLANDS A revised reorganisation plan for Radio Netherlands was presented to the staff on Monday, following three months of intensive discussion and consultation. The new plan adheres to the principles of the one that was rejected by staff in January, but the number of full-time job losses is reduced to 17, compared to up to 60 in the original version. There will be some significant changes in the internal structure of the organisation. Despite a reduced budget, there will be new activities for Radio Netherlands, including an Arabic-language Web site. More emphasis will be placed on putting international developments into a European, and especially Dutch, context. Savings will be made by cutting back the daily output of programmes in Dutch for Europe, and the programme Studio NL on our television service, BVN-TV, will also end. There will be a reduction in shortwave transmitter hours of services in other languages. The employees' council say they will seek assurances from management over the financial viability of the plan, and the consequences for personnel. They urge that every effort be made to avoid the need for compulsory redundancies. They also want a draft of the new programme schedule to be made available to all staff as soon as possible. A meeting of Radio Netherlands personnel has been called for 1200 UT tomorrow (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 15 April 2003 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Según me informa Adán Mur, desde Radio América, Villeta, esta emisora se encuentra actualmente realizando emisiones de prueba por los 15185 kHz, a diferentes horas del día. Yo no la pude captar desde Baires a pesar de diferentes intentos en ese sentido. Les recomiendo probar. Verifica todos los reportes por carta QSL electrónica. 55's (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Apr 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RADIO SAMORODINKA, Moscow (illegal) on 3922 DSB mode at 2030 in Russian. S=4. (Artyom Prokhorov, somewhere in Russia, April 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. "CREDIBILITY OF ARAB SATELLITE CHANNELS AMONG IRAQ WAR'S CASUALTIES," SAYS SAUDI COMMENTARY | Text of commentary in English by Ra'id Qusti entitled "Credibility of Arab satellite channels among war's casualties", published on by Saudi newspaper Arab News web site on 13 April The fall of Baghdad to American forces was met with feelings of betrayal, disbelief and shock here in Saudi Arabia. Many Saudis are still trying to figure out how the capital could give in to the American forces without putting up any significant resistance. Unanswered questions loom in the minds of Saudis as to how it all happened. One theory is that Condoleezza Rice, in her meeting with Russian officials, was told that Saddam [Husayn] would be allowed to go into exile to Russia on condition that he ordered his officers not to resist and thus allow US forces an easy victory. This theory, along with many others, is all over Arab web sites and Saudi gatherings. But everyone wants to know what really happened. This time, however, there is no Iraqi information minister on Al- Jazeera and Abu Dhabi TV to give people the answers they want to hear. Towards the Arab satellite channels, a sense of betrayal is already taking hold. Saudis did not see the 1991 Gulf war live on television because satellite dishes were forbidden. "Operation Iraqi Freedom" 13 years later was watched in every Saudi household live. Saudi citizens had the opportunity to view the coverage on every news channel on the planet. Many educated people watched the major American networks, such as MSNBC, Fox News and CNN. But for the majority of Saudis, the choice was Al-Jazeera and Abu Dhabi TV. Al-Jazeera is known as the first Arabic satellite news channel and Abu Dhabi TV is known for its bold coverage. Both channels were given credit for transmitting images that many American networks refused to air, such as footage of buildings destroyed by US bombs and the innocents flooding Iraqi hospitals from the bombardments. But after the unexpectedly quick fall of the capital, questions are now being raised as to how objective and fair the reports of those two channels might really have been. All along, both channels in their analysis were telling their viewers in the Arab world that the south had not fallen to the American and British forces, even a couple of days before the capital itself fell. Reports continued about how pockets of resistance were giving the invading forces a hard fight and that Iraqis had not given up their positions in the city. This claim was the opposite to what Western media channels were saying from the reports of their embedded journalists with American and British forces. Many Saudis are now thinking that they were following a mirage. The closer they thought they were getting to the truth, the further they were from reality. Now that Baghdad has fallen, Saudis are in a dilemma. They are feeling betrayed by their Arab satellite channels who had kept them believing that the Iraqi resistance did have a chance to whip the American forces, they are also confused. They wanted Saddam Husayn out, but did not want to see an American invasion of Iraq. They wanted - and still want - to see a better Iraq, but at the same time, do not trust America's intentions in the region. One Arab commenting on the fall of Baghdad said on an Arab satellite television channel: It is wrong to say Baghdad fell. The Ba'th Party is what fell, not Baghdad. The centre of Islam and great civilizations of the past will never fall. His feelings are shared by many here. However, some people do believe that the American invasion of Iraq will bring some sort of democracy as it will have removed a tyrant that had his people living in fear for 30 years. But the majority will never look at America as a liberating force. The reason? Very simply put: Palestine. As long as Arabs in general continue to see the United States as blindly supporting Israel, nothing will change. As long as America turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the incursions of Israeli forces to Palestinian-held territories and the Israeli bulldozers destroying Palestinian homes, Arabs will continue to distrust America. As long as America vetoes every single UN resolution punishing Israel for its crimes, as it has been doing in the past 50 years, it will always be looked at as the other face of the Israeli coin. Solving the Palestinian issue is close to the heart of every Arab and Muslim because Jerusalem is home to the third holiest Islamic shrine. It is the key to winning the hearts and minds of everyone in the Arab world. Only then will America be trusted by the majority of people in Saudi Arabia and the region. But until that happens, Saudis who are glad to see Saddam gone are bound to remain sceptical about the American presence in the region. Source: Arab News web site, Jedda, in English 13 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO. ``This is Radio Yugoslavia, the international radio of Serbia and Montenegro.`` This is how R. Yugoslavia now introduces itself. There was extensive coverage of the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjich, and the battle against organized crime, which is being blamed for the murder. Yugoslavia has certainly dipped below the radar screen of late, but it is quite interesting to monitor the news and follow the state of the investigation. Political assassination is nothing new in the country: a surprising number of Serbian kings, Yugoslav kings and Yugoserbian leaders have died violent deaths. R. Yugoslavia`s tone has swung wildly, depending on the politicial situation. Fair and impartial in the early years of the nation`s break-up, it became very anti-American during the Miloshevich regime. More recently, I find it has regained much of its fair and impartial tone. There is extensive coverage of national politics, the Hague Tribunal, and a smattering of international news. They seem to be going out of their way to sell the rest of Europe in particular, and the world in general that they are ready to rejoin the international community and an integrated Europe. At least that`s the ``party line``. Time will tell (Fred Waterer, ON, Programming Matters, April ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** SWAZILAND. INFORMATION MINISTER ANNOUNCES NEW CENSORSHIP POLICY FOR STATE MEDIA | Text of report by press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 11 April New York, 11 April: Recently appointed Minister of Information Abednego Ntshangase announced on Tuesday, 8 April, a new censorship policy for state media in the southern African kingdom of Swaziland. Speaking at his first official appearance before the House of Assembly, Ntshangase told parliamentarians: "The national television and radio stations are not going to cover anything that has a negative bearing on government." Ntshangase warned that those who do not support government policies will be barred from broadcasting their views, the Integrated Regional Information Networks, a UN news service, reported. The ban on negative content will apply to Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services, which operates the only news-carrying radio channels in the country, and to Swazi TV, the country's only television station. Both outlets are state run. Ntshangase specifically indicated that state broadcasters will no longer be allowed to cover the controversy surrounding the government's recent purchase of a luxury jet for King Mswati III, who has ruled Swaziland since 1986. Critics of the purchase note that it comes amid an AIDS crisis and at a time when almost a quarter of the population faces famine. "This new policy is outrageous," said Joel Simon, acting director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. "The press has the right, and the obligation, to report on matters of public interest, even if coverage reflects poorly on the government." State censorship of the press in Swaziland is routine. In 2000, King Mswati III attempted to introduce a decree that would have made insulting state officials a crime punishable by a 10-year jail term. CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information about press conditions in Swaziland, visit www.cpj.org. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 11 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** TIBET. Interesting QSL received today for a report to Peoples Broadcasting Co - Tibet. QSL is Black print white card almost all in Chinese complete with red station stamp. My name on the front written very neatly in a Chinese style. Received in Chinese/English on 7385 at 1630 UT on 4th Jan 03. A NICE QSL! From Louth Lincolnshire, England - Have JRCNRD 525, 30 metre longwire N - S. Been into DXing since 1960s. Collect QSLs, also use scanner and often VHF dxing - when condition permit. Have 5 element VHF ant on rotator (Richard Lowis, Apr 14, dxing.info via DXLD) ** U K. I, too, am frustrated that BBCWS continues to offer all-news programming, even though every week the on-line schedule grid shows normal feature material. Doesn't one of the satellite radio services (XM or Sirius) have a BBC entertainment channel and the other a BBC news channel. Does the entertainment version still exist, or are both services getting the same news over and over and over and over and over? (Mike Cooper, Apr 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. IRAQ. HUMANITARIAN RADIO PROGRAMMES LAUNCHED IN [sic] IRAQ | Text of report by press release from BBC on 11 April The BBC World Service Trust is to launch a series of programmes to provide the people of Iraq with vital information on humanitarian, health and security. The programmes will be broadcast on BBC Arabic Service to help Iraqis overcome the immediate humanitarian crisis. The programmes, funded by the Department For International Development, will be produced by local journalists trained by the BBC World Service Trust and consist of daily Arabic programmes. Against the background of the breakdown of the oil for food programme, civil unrest in several towns and the collapse of the Iraqi regime, the trust believes people will seek guidance on protecting themselves and their families. The programmes will also include personal testimony from Iraqis to help them deal with the trauma of war and its debilitating effect on people trying to rebuild their lives. The programmes will record diaries with Iraqis about their daily lives and encourage them to share their experiences. In addition to humanitarian information, the programmes will also follow the progress of the United Nations agencies and international NGOs when they return to Iraq. They will highlight problems arising from the return of up to one million exiled Iraqis to their homeland. Stephen King, Director, BBC World Service Trust, said: "In such a crisis, BBC World Service radio is relied on as the source of trusted news. "Our regionally produced programmes will provide additional vital information on humanitarian relief and safety, in an environment of instability and hostility." The trust has a track record of providing humanitarian and lifeline information on radio. It has previously worked in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sierra Leone. In Afghanistan, the trust produced similar programmes in Pashto and Dari during and after the US-led aerial attacks on Afghanistan. The trust also has experience of post-conflict media reconstruction in Afghanistan, Somalia and Kosovo. Most recently in Afghanistan it helped equip Radio Afghanistan with digital studios, provided training for local journalists and produced an educational series on the work of the interim administration and Loya Jirga process. Source: BBC press release, London, in English 11 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Summer A-03 schedule of Bible Voice Broadcasting Network/BVBN/. Updated April 13: ME 7430 ARM 100 kW / 195 deg 1700-1800 Mon Amharic 1800-1815 Mon English 1700-1745 Tue Russian 1745-1815 Tue English 1700-1815 Wed English 1700-1730 Thu English 1730-1800 Thu Arabic 1800-1815 Thu English 1700-1730 Fri Arabic 1730-1815 Fri English 1700-1900 Sat English 1700-2000 Sun English 13710 WER 259 kW / 120 deg 1900-1930 Thu Arabic 1900-1930 Fri English 1900-2000 Sat English 15680 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg 1515-1530 Sat English 1530-1730 Daily English/Arabic/Farsi 1730-1800 Sun English 17810 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg 0900-1000 Fri Arabic EaAf 13810 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg 1630-1700 Sun/Mon/Thu Amharic 1630-1730 Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat Amharic CeAf 13725 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg 1900-1915 Mon-Fri English 1900-2030 Sat English EaEu 5970 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg 1800-1830 Mon-Fri English 1830-1845 Mon-Fri Russian 5970 WER 125 kW / 060 deg 1800-1845 Sat Udmurth 1845-1900 Sat English 1800-1830 Sun English 1830-1900 Sun Russian WeEu 5975 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg 0700-0745 Mon-Fri English 0700-0815 Sat/Sun English SoAs 7180 DHA 250 kW / 085 deg 0030-0100 Daily Bengali 9610 DHA 250 kW / 090 deg 0200-0230 Daily Hindi 11975 NAU 250 kW / 095 deg 0030-0100 Mon-Sat Hindi 17540 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg 0100-0200 Sat/Sun English 17655 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg 1530-1615 Mon/Tue English/Urdu 1530-1630 Wed-Sun English/Urdu (Observer, Bulgaria, Apr 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA LAUNCHES SHONA AND NDEBELE BROADCASTS TO ZIMBABWE Washington, D.C., April 8, 2003 -- On April 7, the Voice of America (VOA) began a new half-hour radio broadcast for Zimbabwe in Shona and Ndebele, two languages commonly spoken in that southern African country and in the region. The Shona and Ndebele broadcasts will air weekdays from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Zimbabwe, followed by VOA's current half-hour program to Zimbabwe in English. Together, the broadcasts make up the hour-long program, Studio 7 [1700-1800 UT]. Studio 7 offers Zimbabweans balanced and objective news reports, correspondent reports from Zimbabwe and the region, newsmaker interviews and features on health, family, sports, music and culture. Studio 7 also allows Zimbabweans to hear a wide range of political views in a country where there is no independent broadcast media. "As the Zimbabwean government continues its repressive measures, the people have an even greater need for information," said VOA Director David Jackson. "Now Zimbabweans who speak Shona or Ndebele have a new source of straight and uncensored information from the Voice of America." The program, which can be heard both on shortwave and on AM, has already begun to attract loyal listeners in Zimbabwe and in the region. Listeners can tune in to broadcasts on 909 AM and on 17895 and 13600 SW in Zimbabwe, and write to the program at studio7@voanews.com VOA's Zimbabwe Broadcasting Project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was launched in January 2003.For additional information, please call the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 401-7000 or send email to pubaff@voa.gov (VOA Press Release via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. U.S. X-BAND AT A GLANCE 11 April 2003, Compiled by Tony King, Greytown, New Zealand 1610 CJWI Montreal QUE FF Caribbean music. 1620 WPHG Atmore AL Rel/Gos. (but silent) possible resurrection as WPNS WDND South Bend IN ESPN Radio 1620 KOZN Bellevue NE ESPN Sport .``The Zone`` WTAW College Station TX `Newstalk 16-20 WTAW` CBS Nx KBLI Blackfoot ID SS ``Radio Fiesta`` KYIZ Renton WA Urban/Contemporary Soul KSMH West Sacramento, CA Rel. ``Catholic Radio KSMH`` WDHP Frederiksted, US VI Variety. Has BBC WS until 0900. 1630 KCJJ Iowa City IA Hot AC /Classic Rock KKWY Fox Farm WY C&W AP nx `` K-W-Y`` KNAX Ft Worth/Dallas TX SS. Radio Vida/ Radio Dos Mil Dos. EE ID :58 WTEL Augusta GA `Newstalk 1630 WTEL` x WRDW [still overlooking XEUT Tijuana on 1630] 1640 WKSH Sussex WI Disney KDZR Lake Oswego OR Disney KDIA Vallejo CA Talk/religious/life issues KBJA Sandy UT SS/Radio Unica EE ID on hour 1650 WHKT Portsmouth VA ``AM1650 WHKT Portsmouth, Radio Disney`` KDNZ Cedar Falls IA Talk/ Sport ``The Talk Station``//KCNZ KWHN Fort Smith AR `Newstalk 1650 KWHN` KBJD Denver CO Talk. ``KNUS-2`` KFOX Torrance CA Korean/ EE ID on hour 1660 KTIQ Merced CA Sporting News Network `The Ticket`` WWRU Elizabeth NJ PP & SS Radio Unica/R. Portugal WCNZ Marco Is FL `Newsradio 1660` AP nx. WQSN Kalamazoo MI Sports/talk ESPN KRZX Waco TX ``Newstalk KRZX`` (off 0600 UTC) KQWB West Fargo ND Standards ``Star 1660 is KQWB AM` CNN news KXOL Brigham City UT ``Oldies Radio`` (60`s rock) KXTR Kansas City KS `Classical 1660` WGIT Canóvanas PR SS oldies ``El Gigante`` 1670 WRNC Warner Robins GA Urban Gospel ``1670 The Light`` WTDY Madison WI Sports/Talk. ``The Big one is 1670 WTDY`` ``The Team`` KHPY Moreno Valley, CA Radio Católica SS s/off 0800 but heard later. EE s/off KNRO Redding CA ``Redding`s ESPN Radio 1670 KNRO` 1680 WTTM Princeton NJ Ethnic - Hindi WTIR Winter Garden FL ``Traveler Information Radio`` WJNZ Ada MI Urban/AC KAVT Fresno CA Disney/SS KTFH Seattle WA CC VV JJ RR 1 kw ``The Bridge`` KRJO Monroe LA Gospel. ``Gospel 1680`` 1690 KDDZ Arvada CO Disney KFSG Roseville CA SS rel. /Radio Tricolor/ & Asian. x KSXX. EE ID on hour WPTX Lexington Park ``Newstalk 1690 WPTX`` CNN News 1700 WJCC Miami Springs FL SS/Rel/``Radio Luz`` WEUV Huntsville AL Black Gospel. ``Music of your Life // 1600 WEUC 1 kw KTBK Sherman TX Sporting News Radio ``Sports Radio 1310 KTCK.`` KBGG Des Moines IA `The new AM 1700 KBGG``. CNN KQXX Brownsville TX `Oldies radio 1700 AM` (April NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. On CBC TV Newsworld last night, there was a documentary called "Chávez - Inside the Coup" -- what a fascinating show! One feature was how the private media apparently conspired to show only views that supported their desired outcome. The filmmakers were present for almost all the critical incidents. I cannot recall being more amazed at another documentary. My question: was this story covered by any of the international SW broadcasters? Can anyone point me to more about this chain of events? (Eric Flodén, BC, swprograms via DXLD) from CBC website: Just over 12 months ago two Irish documentary-makers, Kim Bartley and Donnacha O Briain travelled to Venezuela to make a film about this charismatic and unorthodox world leader. They met with Chávez and secured his permission to have full access to film, what was to be, an up close and personal profile. It turned out to be something completely different. "Chávez - Inside the Coup" is a thrilling insight into Chávez, charting the last seven months in the run up to the coup and his dramatic return to power some 48 hours later. Never has such a range of footage of Chavez, the new icon of the left and the thorn in the side of the US Administration, been assembled in one documentary (Eric Flodén, BC, Apr 14, swprograms via DXLD) BTW, on Sun Apr 13 around 1400 I did not hear Aló Presidente on 15570 via Cuba, tho did not search thoroughly for it elsewhere (gh, DXLD) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. Last night, WDHP on 1620, Virgin Islands, was easily logged in the Austin Area. Strong signal at 0500GMT with BBC Programming. At times the signal was almost equal to semi-local WTAW! 73 and Good DX, (Mike Beu, Austin, Texas, Apr 13, Latin MWDX yahoogroup via DXLD) If you hear the BBC World Service at 0545 on 1620 you`re listening to WDHP, Frederiksted, US Virgin Islands. and listen at 0559 for the grand ID! Takes BBCWS until 0900 (Tony King, Greytown NZ, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) 1620, WDHP, Frederiksted, US VI, 0558. Good signal and ID heard at :59 ``This is De Ray Harj, a Virgin Islander who lives in Maryland and when I`m in Maryland I listen to WDHP 1620 AM the Caribbean powerhouse on the internet at http://www.wrra.vi You are listening to WDHP 1620 AM simulcasting with WAXJ 103.5 FM in the United States Virgin Islands. Our transmitters are in Frederiksted and our studios at 79A Castle Cokely. We are in St Croix. WDHP 1620 AM and WAXJ 103.5 FM`` Followed by jingle ``Radio gets Results --- that`s Radio.`` Relays BBCWS until 0900 and heard from fade in 0515 to past 0700. Good to very good and peaks around 0600. MN TK SF PO (Paul Ormandy Mark Nicholls, Tony King, Stu Forsyth, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) Dates? Are missing from most MW logs in NZ DX Times; how come? (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++++ GRUNDIG FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY I read in the paper today that Grundig has filed for bankruptcy. Best regards (Carlos Coimbra, ON, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looks like Grundig ist kaput. The link below was publicised on the R75 mail list. http://www.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/04/14/grundig.reut/index.html (Ian Johnson, Apr 14, ARDXC via DXLD) German consumer electronics group Grundig has filed for bankruptcy, after posting huge losses. The company had been in takeover talks with a Taiwanese, and then a Turkish, company. Both sets of negotiations ended in failure. Grundig was founded in 1945 and was once the biggest radio manufacturer in Europe, employing 38,000 people at its peak (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 14 April 2003 via DXLD) It will be interesting to see how Grundig comes out of this, especially considering their alliance with Drake (Mark Coady, ODXA via DXLD) Well, it's not Grundig AG that has the alliance with Drake, it's Lextronics in California, a Grundig licensee for North America that has this relationship. If you recall, Lextronics' use of the Grundig Satellit name for the Millennium 800 was somewhat controversial. Grundig AG refused to license the use of its name for sale of the 800 outside North America after testing the receiver and finding it not up to Grundig AG's standards. I'm sure this was as much politics as it was science, but there you have it. Grundig in NA can be different from Grundig elsewhere (as with the S-350 and Sat 800) and it can be the same (as with the YB-400, 2000 and YB-300). (John Figliozzi, NY, ODXA via DXLD) John, It's not Lextronics any more. Lextronics was purchased by Eton, which now trades as Grunding North America. See http://www.grundigradio.com/asp/home.asp (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) As far as I know, this shouldn't affect Grundig shortwave radios -- in the USA, anyway. The Grundig name for Shortwave in the USA is licenced by Eton Corporation in Palo Alto, CA. It was interesting to read the PR at the Grundig Germany website. Grundig has been in discussions with a Turkish electronics manufacturer, Beko, and a Taiwanese manufacturer, Sampo. Discussions with both firms have broken off, so the bankruptcy filing is proceeding. See http://www.grundig.com/presse.grundig/index.html. (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) GRUNDIG, THE RADIO MAKER, IS INSOLVENT http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1431_A_833171_1_A,00.html April 15, 2003 By MARK LANDLER BERLIN, April 14 --- Germany's protracted economic woes claimed one of its postwar corporate icons today as Grundig, the illustrious but faded maker of television sets and radios, filed for insolvency. The company, based in Nuremberg, sought protection from its creditors after its efforts to find a foreign buyer fell through. Electronics companies from Turkey and Taiwan had negotiated for a controlling stake, but pulled out over doubts about the company's prospects. The latest suitor, Beko Electronik of Turkey, said it dropped its bid because of "diverging ideas about the price." Grundig has been searching for an investor since 2001, when it lost more than $160 million. Although the company was once the largest maker of radios in Europe, with a name known from the United States to Asia, it lost ground to low-cost competitors from Japan, Taiwan and other Asian countries. Its insolvency is one of a rising tide of corporate bankruptcies in Germany, as consumers have stopped spending and banks have stopped lending. Among other pillars of German industry that have tumbled in the last year: the media tycoon Leo Kirch and the construction giant Philipp Holzmann. Grundig's demise may strike a chord, at least with older Germans, because its cheap, but well-made, radios symbolized the rebirth of a consumer society here after the destitution of World War II. Founded by Max Grundig, a Bavarian radio dealer, the company originally made instruments to repair radios. Mr. Grundig later expanded into radios themselves, as well as tape recorders, record players and TV sets. His goal, according to his biographer, Christa Bronnenmeyer, was to produce "a radio for every man, at a price every man could afford." "Max Grundig awoke the consumer dreams of an entire generation, and to a large extent, was able to fulfill those dreams," said Ms. Bronnenmeyer, who wrote a 1999 biography, "Max Grundig: Made in Germany." As Germans became more affluent in the 1950's, Grundig kept pace by producing television sets. By the 1980's, it had sales offices in Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Spain, France and Taiwan. By then, however, it was also feeling the pinch from the Japanese, who could turn out competitive products at lower prices. An investment by Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands in the 1990's ended badly because Grundig resisted pressure to cut costs by overhauling its operations. Although Grundig has 2,800 workers and sales of nearly $1.3 billion, analysts said, the company was too small to compete with global giants like the Sony Corporation or Samsung Electronics. Recognizing it had no future as an independent company, Grundig began courting potential buyers, including Beko of Turkey and Sampo, one of Taiwan's major appliance makers. But those talks foundered, analysts said, after the potential buyers burrowed into Grundig's red-ink- stained books. Last week, the company named a bankruptcy lawyer, Eberhard Braun, as its chief executive. Mr. Braun said today that Grundig would keep looking for a buyer, and that the bankruptcy filing might actually help its chances. "A series of obligations have been set aside," he said. Some analysts predicted the company would be broken up, although its brand name and sales network still have value. With bankruptcy filings here running at a record clip, some experts said the fall of Grundig would be seen less as a novelty than as one more sign of Germany's weakness. "For older people, Grundig means something special," said Andreas Vogel, a researcher at the Institute for Media and Communications Studies at the Technical University in Ilmenau. "For the majority of Germans, however, Grundig is just another company." (Deutsche Welle via Artie Bigley, DXLD) PORTUGAL/GRUNDIG AL BORDE DE LA CAIDA Una notícia muy triste para los amantes de la radio. Grundig, empresa alemana que fabrica algunos de los mejores receptores del mundo, está al borde de la falencia, después que la empresa turca Beko, que fabrica aparatos de TV, ha desistido de comprarla. La noticia, en inglés, puede ser leída en la siguiente página: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20030408S0028 En Portugal, la Grundig posee una fábrica en la ciudad de Braga, donde produce autoradios y aparatos de alta fidelidad (hi-fi). Ha sido la fábrica portuguesa de Grundig la que ha fabricado los autoradios que equipan los automóviles Volkswagen y Volvo vendidos en Europa. Esta fábrica es compartida también con otra prestigiosa empresa alemana, la Blaupunkt. Se espera que Blaupunkt, por lo menos, continue su labor (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, Portugal, en Lista Radioescutas, abr 9, traducido y adaptado) (en Portugal también se fabricó la primera tanda de Grundig Yacht Boy 400 ...ed.)(Horacio Nigro, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Before we write their obituary, some sources are reporting that Grundig are still talking to potential buyers, but don't want to disclose who at this stage. I've also read that one of them is the Turkish company Beko, which is reported to have renewed its interest in Grundig after it announced it was filing for bankruptcy. I assume they think they'll get a better deal now. So maybe we haven't seen the last of this famous brand (Andy Sennitt, Apr 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Yes, Andy, that's right! According to German law declaring bankruptcy to an Inferior Court is the FIRST step to try to rescue a company from destruction. After declaration the court appoints a trustee of bankruptcy (in German "Insolvenzverwalter"). It is his primary task to find a company willing to take-over business and hopefully preserve as many jobs as possible and to organize a company's financial situation. He will have many talks to creditors ... A tough business! After Philips retired from business with Grundig the management was seeking for prospective customers - at last with Beko. As you know - without success. Some companies may speculate on a better deal. It's like seasonal sale. Declaring bankruptcy does not mean the end of "Grundig". It may take a long time until this may happen or - hopefully - will not happen. Now, time is running out for Grundig ... I think Beko will make it within the next two or three months. I began by DXing "career" with Grundig receivers like Grundig 2000, 2100, 500 and 600. There is still one Satellit 600 working ... Best wishes from Wuppertal vy 55 + 73 (Manfred Reiff, Germany, ibid.) ###