DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-161, September 7, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser 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/dxldtd3i.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 1198: RFPI: Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 on 7445 [nominal times subject to delay or pre-emption] WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 WINB: Thu 0130 9320 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1198h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1198h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1198.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1198.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1198.ram IMPORTANT NOTE: This is an abbreviated issue, due to computer problems. It may be a while before we are back up and running with another issue. Our main website http://www.worldofradio.com may not be updated for a while. Our other site http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio will provide new info and links via the Anomaly Alert at the top of the opening page. Furthermore, DXLD 3-160 was prepared but in limbo on an inaccessible hard drive; a number of direct contributions are in it and at present not retrievable. Those whose items since DXLD 3-159 are missing from this issue are invited to resend them for possible eventual use. However, most of our E-mail accounts will probably be full more often that not during this period (Glenn) ** ANTIGUA. I was listening last night (Mountain Time) and picked up a couple of interesting stations. When I did the research, I came up with a couple of "discrepancies." Any explanation would be appreciated. Sat AM 9/6 0508 UT on 6195 --- "ragtime piano" followed by German female announcer, heard her say "Deutsche Welle." When I checked EIBI, I came up with the BBC: I did not see any listing for DW at that time, so was I listening to a German broadcast from the BBC, and if so, why did the announcer say "Deutsche Welle"??? Very clear reception (Gloria R. Lalumia, NM, via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MY GUESS: I think that's coming from common BBC/DW Antigua relay site. BBCWS English via Antigua ended at 0500 UT on 5975. BUT starts again service on 6195 kHz at 1000 UT. At the end of the previous broadcast the transmitter staff usually switches the unit and antenna tuner matrix automatically to the next frequency; this has been done PROBABLY around 0508 UT. And at 5-6 UT DW German program is using Antigua too, on 6075 kHz, so the German language feed is available there (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 11710 kHz, RAE, Buenos Aires, from 0203 UT in English, SINPO 32333, announcing schedules, various mailing and e-mail addresses (given in rapid fire amateur phonetics rivaling Glenn Hauser rattling off frequencies). Also mentioned to enclose 3 IRCs for return postage with reports, and not to send cash. Into program of tango music, and largely economic news of Argentina. Three time pips at 0230 (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, Drake SW8 with whip antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11780, Rádio Nacional, from 0158 in Portuguese, with Portuguese Pop, ID at 0200, into "Nacional Informa." SINPO 43444, strongly dominating Radio Cairo which faded up briefly underneath in unknown language (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY Drake SW8 with whip antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6069.62, unID Brasil, Sept 2003, 0010 UT. Religious program // with Radio Tupi 6060.18v and 11765.03 kHz (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, translated by SWB-editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9665.04, R. Marumby, 2342 Remote by M w/background noise and ment of Brasil. Canned anmnt. ZY Pop song. Quick anmnt by studio M, then beginning of ZY C&W song and immediately back to the remote. More ZY Pop mx. 2357 what sounded like a canned ID. Live studio M anncr w/ment of Marumby, Brasil, metropolitana, Francisco de Lima. Another canned anmnt similar to ID anmnt earlier, into soft ZY song. 0003 "Marumby" jingle; 6-7 Sept (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) So 9665 remains shared between this and RNB depending on time (gh) ** COSTA RICA. 11868.6v, University Network (presumed), 7 Sept 0004. Definitely English preaching, possibly Dr. Gene Scott, but it wasn't as fanatical. For some reason, I didn't check for // (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBAN AM STATIONS AUDIBLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - DAYTIME By "El Comentario" Paul V. Zecchino These are currently active, regularly heard stations, hopefully this list may prove of some use to DX'ers in the northern regions. From reliable sources as corroborated by direct observation. R. Progreso: 627.5 Progreso 640 spur; 640 Guanabacoa, Habana; 652.5 Progreso 640 spur; 660 Santa Clara; 690 Jovellanos; 700 Baracoa; 730 La Fé, Isla de Juventud; 740 Camagüey (Sagua de Tanamo); 750 Cienfuegos; 800 Pinar del Río (probable or Bahía Honda); 820 Ciego de Avila; 850 Mayarí Arriba; 870 Sancti Spíritus; 880 Pinar del Río; 890 Santa Clara; 900 Cacocum (more often heard after sunset). R. Rebelde: 540 Sancti Spíritus; 550 Pinar del Río; 560 Ciego de Avila; 580 Mantua, Pinar del Río; 600 Urbano Noris, Holguín; 610 Bahía Honda (night); 620 Colón, Matanzas; 670 Arroyo Arenas; 680 Ciego de Avila; 710 Matanzas; 760 Cienfuegos (night - intermittent). Doblevé: 840 Santa Clara; 1290 La Pastora, Habana; 1310 Sagua la Grande. R. Enciclopedia: 1260 Habana; 1270 Torriente; 1310 (reported by T. "Kilowatt" Krueger) probable location Habana; 1560 (night only) Ciego de Avila; 1570 (night, rare, sometimes 1572.0) location unknown, has been heard personally and by others. R. Musical: 590 La Julia, Habana; 1030 La Palma, Pinar del Río; 1400 Matanzas. R. Cadena: 1080, Güines; 1090 San Antonio de los Baños; 1100 La Salud, Habana; 1120 Artemísa, Habana. R. Guamá: 990 La Palma, Pinar del Río; 1000 Matahambre; 1020 Bahía Honda; 1030 La Palma, Pinar del Río. R. Reloj: 760 Habana; 790 Pinar del Río; 830 Holguín; 850 Nueva Gerona, Isla de Juventud; 870 Ciudad Sancti Spíritus; 910 Bolondrón, Matanzas; 920 Unión de Reyes, Matanzas; 930 Ciego de Avila; 940 Colón, Matanzas; 950 Arroyo Arenas, Habana; 960 Guantánamo (night only); 1270 Camagüey (nights). R. Metropolitana: 910 Habana. Radio COCO: 980 Habana. R. Sancti Spíritus: 1210 Ciudad Sancti Spíritus. R. Jaruco: 1330 Artemísa, Habana; 1390 Jaruco, Habana. R. Ciudad Bandera: 1470 Cárdenas; sometimes simo with 1140 Habana. Also, 1180 is still at least one if not two Rebelde outlets battling endlessly with R. Martí, a complete mess as heard on the shores of this wretchedly paradisaic strip of silicon granules. There are some very low power outlets - for another time - this unworthy scribe is still fondly searching the dials in hope of yet again hearing Radio Entronque Antimperialista's message of love, hope, abundance of happiness in the paradise of the workers. And yes, Radio Sandino is still audible from cruise ships plying the Yucatán Channel every day, right there on 650.00 kHz, yet another stellar achievement in command economy precision unattainable in imperialist circles. An alert from Messrs. Krueger and Crawford concerning new signals on 1060 from Cuba prompted inquiry and discovery. R.Veinte Seis can no longer be heard locally on 1220, 1230, and 1240 above the dogmatic din of Yanqui Imperialist stations broadcasting the lunacies of Limbaugh, the Anti-Hegelian Heresies of Hannity, and O'Reilly's Rightwing rabid running dog rantings. Líder Máximo has devised a solution! Now R. Veintiséis "Radio 26" graces south Florida on 1060 with the voice of truth, freedom, and prosperity. Signal at this location is strong even with local stink bomb on 1070! ID every half hour is YL giving frecuencias. Bearings are 165-170 degrees, consistent with other R.26 outlets. Always newness of joy where Máximo Líder is concerned, fine upbuilding snappy tunes by which to starve (Paul V. Zecchino, Englewood FL; DX-398, R-390's, R-388's, AntiCapitali'ta ICF-2010, long wires and loops, NRC IDXD Sept 5 via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.79, Radio Pueblo, Santo Domingo, 2320- 0005, Sept 4, Spanish. String of musical ad jingles at tune-in of fair signal quality. "Canned" public service announcements to evening comunicados, closing with mentions of Radio Pueblo. Signal improved during male announcers extended station ID at 2330, including full ID, frequency/meter band and mention of transmitting from Santo Domingo, followed by upcoming program info, ending with echo "ésta es Radio Pueblo". "Canned" ID repeated with station promo at 2331 into merengue music. Signal up to 44344 by 2335. Several tunes of vocal and instrumental merengue music. Time check at 2340 into more music program which lasted to 2352. ID repeated into music up to 0000. More of same format including IDs. Great station to log and hopefully verify (Gayle Van Horn, Brasstown NC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 3/9 0330 UT had a station speaking German giving ID as "Deutschlandfunk" on 6190.02 kHz. I have never heard German on that frequency here in Quito before (Björn Malm, Ecuador, via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) 6190.02 is Berlin Britz (former RIAS/VoA Berlin transmitter unit from 1951-1980), now 17 kW ONLY. I think, in September the path is open for 49 mb propagation from Germany to South America (Wolfgang Büschel, BC- DX WWDXC TopNews Sept 7 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Hi Glenn, For the last three nights, Radio Buenas Nuevas 4799.7, San Sebastián, has been coming in at a readable level. 9/3/03 0202 - 0305+ SINPO 33333; Brief instrumental version of "The old rugged cross" hymn to M Announcer, QRM from a "sweeper" signal throughout. 9/4/03 0032 - 0215+ SINPO 22332 M with long talk until 0100, band dance music with good ID at 0108. 0040-0101 the signal was nearly obliterated by a digital RTTY like signal and "sweeper" until about 0102. 9/5/03 0233 - 0237 fade out, SINPO 34333, talk by F (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 3340, Radio Misiones Internacional, (Tentative) 0035- 0045, Sept. 5, Spanish. Not positive on this one as no discernable ID heard. Lady's religious music vocals at tune-in to brief Spanish text sounding like a devotional. Upbeat vocals followed, with fair quality despite signal fading. SINPO 33433. Promotional style format at 0043, but just too buried to copy. Plan to recheck tonight (Gayle Van Horn, Brasstown NC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. UNESCO AFFIRMS NEED FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER | Text of press release from UNESCO web site dated 2 September Iraq needs a real public service oriented broadcaster that can provide the population with credible news. This is one of the results of a joint UN and World Bank needs assessment mission to Iraq in August, in which UNESCO was represented by Christina Dahlman. "The need for assistance is urgent", she says. "First of all, there is an immediate need for humanitarian information and for professional training of the Iraqi media professionals, who for many years have been used to reporting only on direct orders. But there is also a more long-term need for developing a real public service oriented broadcaster, that can provide the whole of the Iraqi population with credible news about the developments in their country," Dahlman observes. The mission also identified the need for Media Centres to ensure capacity building of Iraqi media professionals. UNESCO, together with other UN agencies, is now preparing the final report of the mission, and in a donors' meeting in Madrid in late October decisions will be taken on eventual follow-up. Source: UNESCO press release, Paris, in English 2 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) Obviously ** ISRAEL. LOSING OUR VOICE By Hilary Leila Krieger, Jerusalem Post Sep. 4, 2003 http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull%26cid=1062646044394 English-language radio broadcasts were put on the chopping block last month. Is this a case of the government cutting off its nose to spite its face? The English Voice of Israel's report on the first day of school is proceeding as smoothly as news reader Reuven David Miller's silky voice, but the editor who put together the broadcast is agitated. "We should be going out to schools and talking to people - I would love to have children's voices," he says. "But for 10 minutes of news, how much can you do?" Last month, the Israel Broadcasting Authority lopped a third of the airtime off his midday show and reduced the evening broadcast from 15 minutes to five before public outcry prompted Communications Minister Ehud Olmert to reinstate the latter show. The changes cap off a decade of program slashing and budget axing that has turned what was once three hours daily of news, commentary, cultural programming, and high-profile interviews into 40 minutes of pared down news reports. Several thousand kilometers away in England, Jeff Cohen has noticed the difference. He remembers the era when VOI could afford to cover stories outside the capital. "Now they're just in Jerusalem struggling with a few people, and the product is much poorer than it used to be." The co-owner of World Radio Network, which distributes radio programming internationally, Cohen sees the recent moves as part of a long pattern of neglect on the part of the IBA. "It appears the English department is just very overlooked. They're the poor relative in the organization. Nobody seems to champion them. They [IBA officials] are not sensitive to the home audience or the international audience." Cohen is not the only one questioning why Israel chooses to squander what could be an effective weapon in its information war arsenal. However, critics contend the project doesn't significantly advance Israel's cause, while even many supporters of the program feel it doesn't deserve to be spared the scalpel when budgets everywhere are being lobotomized. Either way, Israel is missing out on the global trend of increasing English information dissemination when it scales back rather than boosts VOI programming, according to Cohen. He points out that the interest in international English broadcasting is particularly keen in Arab countries. Egypt has recently greatly increased the quality and quantity of its service. Al-Jazeera TV, which recently launched an English Web site, is considering an English TV affiliate. Already Radio Jordan's hourly bulletins provide more frequent news in English than Israel does. Whereas other international news organizations schedule broadcasts with an eye to the international market, Israel's timing could hardly be worse: the 7:00 a.m. show, for starters, hits England at 5:00 a.m. and New York just after midnight, missing both major markets. And while most other large state broadcasters - from China to Slovakia - buy radio hours in foreign countries through WRN to distribute their shows to targeted international audiences, Israel isn't willing to pay for the service. Even so, Cohen estimates hundreds of thousands of listeners hear VOI in English each day through his company's network - in his eyes a boon to Israel's public relations efforts. "We're definitely about hasbara, though nobody will say it out loud," acknowledges the English VOI editor, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the IBA refused to let any of its employees talk to The Jerusalem Post. "We're about information and news. We're not propaganda, but part of hasbara is knowledge and knowing what's going on," in this case from the Israeli perspective. ANDREA LEVIN, executive director of the US-based CAMERA, which combats media bias against Israel, appreciates the help the program gives her organization. "It's better to have lots and lots of streams of solid information. There's certainly a lot of the other kind out there, and people look to this (VOI) as an authentic voice," she says. Noting the big influence radio has in car-bound Americans' lives, she says, "The generally diminishing [English] radio is kind of mystifying because of the general concern over the battleground of ideas. This is the place Israel can take the microphone and not be at the mercy of some other filter. I think it's unfortunate and I hope it can be revived." But critics aren't in mourning. "The argument that the IBA English service provides a crucial hasbara benefit doesn't persuade me. For the most part it preaches to the converted. Unlike, say, the Voice of America, or even the IBA's Farsi service, it does not serve a vital national security interest. If Israel wants to improve its public relations, it needs more able spokesmen presenting Israel's case on CNN and in the op-ed pages around the world," says Post editor-in-chief, Bret Stephens. Gadi Wolfsfeld, professor of communications and political science at the Hebrew University, says that international propaganda efforts have not typically been very productive. "The things that are really going to have an effect are getting better information to CNN or the BBC," he says. Bar-Ilan Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig, head of the public communications program in the political studies department, agrees that the impact of such state-sponsored radio on the attitudes of the general public is limited in countries with a free press. "Normally a person will tend to believe his own national media more than anything coming from overseas," he says. But the state-sponsored medium, if perceived as "balanced, straightforward, and honest" in its reporting, can have a great affect on oppressed populations whose own media is not free, he says, hence the increasing volume of Voice of America broadcasts to Arab countries in the wake of September 11. In terms of Israel, however, he contends "it's pretty much a waste of money" to try to use the VOI in English to affect the general Western population, since that population usually takes little interest in international affairs. But he can identify some instances where the radio service might be helpful. For instance, it provides another perspective for influencing editorial writers and for drawing away listeners when an established media outlet's stock falls, such as is currently happening to the BBC. To Lehman-Wilzig, the real benefit of VOI programming is its significance to Diaspora Jewry, as "ammunition to argue with the general population," as a way to stay close to Israel, and as a means for easing some of the frustration that comes from seeing Israel constantly beaten up in the local press. "It's a psychological feeling that they're being attacked and they want to feel like they're doing something." British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's desire to help the Diaspora community help Israel prompted him to protest to Olmert about the programming cuts - a letter Olmert cited in explaining his decision to reinstate the evening broadcast. "The chief rabbi is passionately committed to ensuring that Israel's case is made in the most accurate and informative way possible to the English-speaking world," says spokesman Jeremy Newmark. "English news radio is an important way that that objective is achieved." In Israel's case, the issue is as much about promulgating information at home as abroad. There are 350 permanent international press offices which employ 800 foreign journalists here, with about 2,500 foreign journalists visiting annually, according to the Government Press Office. If Israel needs to have an effect on CNN and the BBC as Wolfsfeld suggests, the VOI can be part of that effort from its own living room. The international press corps regularly tunes into English news radio for an Israeli perspective on the day's events, according to Charles Enderlin, a Foreign Press Association board member who once worked for Voice of Israel's French service. (The five-minute French and Spanish evening broadcasts have been scrapped as a result of English radio's reinstatement.) David Gilbert is one such foreign journalist. The Middle East correspondent for America's CBS radio, he brings his radio with him out in the field so he can hear the English news. He catches most broadcasts and occasionally incorporates the Israeli perspectives he hears into his pieces. "It's quite obvious that Israeli reporting in different languages gives an Israeli point of view which is often missing in the foreign press," notes Daniel Seaman, director of the Israel Government Press Office. "It makes our job harder," he says of shrinking foreign-language news offerings. "It takes away a very useful tool for the State of Israel." But he adds, "In a country that's having a hard time feeding its citizens, you have to make tough decisions, so I can understand both sides." HIS COLLEAGUE, Foreign Ministry deputy director-general for public affairs Gideon Meir, speaks of the "great import" of the English Voice of Israel at the same time he describes the devastating budget cuts affecting all government agencies, the Foreign Ministry and IBA included. As he puts it, "We're cutting not the meat but the bones. We're down to the bones." Stephens also argues that fiscal restraint is necessary. "When your balloon is falling to earth, sometimes you have to throw even the best champagne overboard. The IBA English-language news might provide a valuable service, but it's hard to justify that service when many painful cuts need urgently to be made." The latest scheduling changes have only an indirect link to budget cuts, with the evening broadcast replaced with the audio version of Channel 1 TV's 7:30 news. At the time, IBA cited fears that it was losing listeners to rival programming, and since English radio lacks a competitive edge and is out of step with the Hebrew mainstream, the program is vulnerable to cuts. "It's more than just the scheduling changes. It seems to be a policy of slow death by attrition. People are retired and the broadcast hours are cut," says one English radio employee. "It's been no secret that over the years, to the extent that the management has even noticed the English news department, they tell us, you're nothing to us but a drain on the budget.'" He continues, "It's hard to have any morale as such when the organization behind you is not only not supporting you but is actively trying to undermine you." Olmert's office insisted that his directive to maintain the full evening broadcast "stems from his understanding of the importance of the English news broadcast," but also listed the program as being at 7 p.m. instead of 8 p.m., when it is actually airing. The IBA would not respond to the employee's charge or anything else, despite repeated phone calls from The Jerusalem Post. The organization also did not release any budget figures. But Nachman Shai, director-general of the United Jewish Communities- Israel who last year resigned as chairman of IBA, recalls that the English news department's budget is "not an expensive budget." He says, "There are a lot of reason for the Israel Broadcasting Authority's budget [problems], but it's not because of the English news department." In the past 15 years, the English department's staff has been reduced from 25 to 10. A top editor says he's lucky if his base salary of NIS 2,500 per month creeps above NIS 5,000 with overtime and other extras factored in. In contrast, the treasury last year recorded 200 IBA personnel who make a base salary of NIS 30,000 monthly, or close to NIS 40,000 with bonuses and overtime. At the same time, recent budget cuts have been more or less across the board, with salaries in all divisions recently cut by 10 percent. The penny-pinching means that departments frequently go without fax and printer paper. There are no hand towels in the bathroom. To Lehman-Wilzig, it comes down more to external realities than internal priorities. Pointing to cuts in education and other social services in Israel, he says, "Everthing's getting cut back. Why shouldn't overseas propaganda be cut back as well?" Listen carefully Effective international propaganda or not, IBA English radio serves a small but loyal Anglo audience right here. The scheduling changes and cuts have left its members increasingly questioning their significance to the powers-that-be. The recent programming changes shortened the midday news down to 10 minutes, broadcast from 1:10-1:20. The 15-minute morning broadcast at 7:00 has stayed intact, but the 15-minute 7:30 broadcast was briefly cancelled in place of a five-minute news bulletin at 8 p.m. Communications Minister Ehud Olmert, who is responsible for the IBA, ordered the organization to reinstate the 15-minute night broadcast after he came under public and private pressure. But the fact that the program was temporarily on the chopping block - following a decade of reduction in service - has made listeners wary. And angry. Kenneth Berg was not the only listener who complained of prejudice in protest letters written to the IBA. "I would appreciate an explanation as to why you have decided to discriminate against English speakers by dramatically reducing English news bulletins," wrote Berg of Netanya, an 80-year-old who immigrated 10 years ago. "Is there any reason why the English speakers are being abused once more by the IBA?" Ruth Krammer wanted to know. "Don't we count?" At least one English Voice of Israel worker thinks the answer is a resounding, "no." "We're like orphans. We have no one who really champions our cause." Many in the Anglo community point to a lack of political representation, with only one American-born member of the Knesset. And the Anglo population is hardly a large Israeli constituency. It is difficult to identify the precise number of Anglo residents, but the Central Bureau of Statistics records about 125,000 immigrants from English-speaking countries since the state's creation until the year 2000. Yet Anglos did succeed in getting the full 15 minutes of the evening news back, though that might have had as much to do with the international English-language community as the local one. Rachael Risby-Raz, an Olmert adviser, notes that her office received "numerous letters - from around this country and indeed the world, including from people such as Dr. Jonathan Sacks, the chief rabbi of Britain." She adds that Olmert was prompted to act because he understands "the importance of the English news broadcast for the English-speaking population in Israel and the fact that the broadcast has a large listening audience." Yet Olmert's office listed the time of the program as being at 7 p.m. rather than 8 p.m. The latter time, when the radio show has been airing since its reinstatement, coincides with English-language television's nightly broadcast. Olmert's timing mix-up and its inconvenience for the target audience indicate how little the management is really attuned to the issue, according to one radio news staffer: "The fact that they have no idea [about the time] shows that no one [there] listens to us." But if Olmert and the IBA don't, Berg, Krammer, and many more do. - H.L.K.--------- (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. RELIGIOUS RADIO STATION GRANTED RIGHTS TO BROADCAST FOR CENTRAL REGION | Text of report by Yehezkel Laing in English published by Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post web site on 4 September The Second Television and Radio Authority has chosen the Radio Kol Hai Group as the winner in its tender for the broadcasting rights to the central area for a religious radio station, the Authority said Tuesday [3 September]. It beat out the Ofek Group to win the rights. The Radio Kol Hai (the Living Voice) group already has a station which broadcasts in the Gush Dan region. The new license will allow it to expand its broadcasting range from Ashdod in the south to Hadera in the north, including the Greater Jerusalem area. This will effectively expand its listenership by a factor of three. Radio Kol Hai effectively initiated the tender. About a year ago, a court ruling rejected Radio Kol Hai's demand to expand its present broadcast range. Instead, the court obligated the authority to announce a public tender. The new license is good for four years with two options of renewal, each one after four years for a total period of twelve years. The station plans to begin broadcasting to its expanded range at the beginning of 2004. "Both groups which competed submitted quality bids," said the head of the Second Authority's Directorate, Menashe Semira. "The group that was chosen scored higher in the majority of categories surveyed." Radio Kol Hai began broadcasting to the religious and Haredi public in 1996 on the 93 FM radiowave. The station offers a variety of shows, including a current events programme, Jewish thought, Halachic questions and answers, Torah classes, chesed, as well as consumer and medical magazines. Radio Kol Hai does not broadcast its own hourly news but uses that of Station Ten instead. The owners of the station are the Kardan Group owned by businessman Yosef Greenfeld 75.7 per cent, Yitzhaq Sheinfeld 14.3 per cent and former Mafdal MK [Member of Knesset] Nahum Langenthal 10 per cent. Ofek was backed by three groups Gertler/Davidov, Zilberstein Communications and Radio Techelet of businessman Shlomo Ben-Tzvi who owns the Techelet Jewish content television station and the Makor Rishon newspaper. The group said it wished Radio Kol Hai success in its new endeavour. The Second Authority has thus far refused to issue a license for a religious station to broadcast nationally. Arutz Sheva, the most popular radio station for the religious public, therefore broadcasts from outside Israel's territorial waters. All licensed radio stations in Israel pay a flat four per cent of revenues for their right to broadcast. Source: The Jerusalem Post web site, in English 4 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** JORDAN. 03-09, Radio Jordanie from Amman, 1500 UT sur 11690, les news en anglais, SINPO 44444 (Mohamed Kallel, Tunisia, Sept 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. N. KOREA TRYING TO DRAW FIRE FROM MAN GYONG BONG Comment on how the former North Korean numbers broadcasts. Yomiuri Shimbun (Japanese Newspaper) September 7, 2003 Amid mounting criticism over the use of the North Korean cargo- passenger ship Man Gyong Bong-92 for espionage and smuggling, North Korea is trying to show Japan, which is keeping a close eye on the vessel, that it no longer is being used for criminal purposes, according to sources. Public safety authorities said a top official of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) flew to Beijing on April 4, July 23 and Aug. 21. It was quite unusual for a senior Chongryon official to visit China, the sources said. The official very likely met with North Korean officials in the Chinese capital to receive directives concerning what kind of activities the pro-Pyongyang organization should conduct, they said. The public safety officials believe North Korean intelligence authorities have stopped using the Man Gyong Bong to give instructions to Chongryon members and instead have started to use the Beijing channel for similar purposes. Until last year, the Man Gyong Bong carried senior North Korean intelligence officials almost every time it entered Niigata. Japanese authorities believe they briefed North Korean agents carrying out illegal activities in Japan and Chongryon officials on board the ship. For example, a pro-Pyongyang North Korean agent in Japan, whose operations were uncovered by the Metropolitan Police Department in January, reportedly was ordered by a senior North Korean agent aboard the ship to try to travel to South Korea to try to persuade a South Korean serviceman to spy for Pyongyang. Also, when the ship entered Niigata at the end of November, a senior intelligence official of North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea who had been refused entry into Japan reportedly met with a top Chongryon official aboard the ship. North Korea used to send instructions to agents in Japan by transmitting encoded messages via shortwave radio. But when Japanese police began to intercept and decipher the messages in the late 1980s, North Korean agents started to use the Man Gyong Bong to relay instructions. "Giving instructions by word of mouth is the safest way to prevent leakage of information. The Man Gyong Bong was well suited for that purpose as it frequently traveled to and from Japan," a senior police official said. But when the ship entered Niigata-Nishi Port on Aug. 25, no senior Chongryon officials boarded the ship. It initially was said that a Chongryon bigwig would come to the port, but none appeared. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the ship was used to illegally export materials that could be used to build weapons of mass destruction. But in the face of strengthened controls by police and port authorities, North Korean agents have been finding other routes for that activity, according to the sources. In April, a Tokyo trading company was found to have tried to export via Thailand to North Korea electronic devices that could be used to enrich uranium. The same month, German authorities also discovered that a German firm had tried to illegally export aluminum tubes that could be used to manufacture gas centrifuges, which are required to enrich uranium. A senior Chongryon official said the recent shift in the role of the Man Gyong Bong came because Pyongyang did not want to make the ship a focus of criticism anymore. The vessel was labeled a spy ship after the summit meeting of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang in September last year. Calls to ban the entry of the ship into Japan have been mounting ever since among the Japanese public (via Hans Johnson, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6045, XEXQ, R Universidad, San Luis Potosí 1205-1220 with sign on announcement by om, into classical music (Bob Wilkner, FL, Sept 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Definite log of XEXQ here Sept 7 on 6045: tune-in 1203, so if there was NA on the hour, I missed it, but seemed only open carrier, with fast SAH of about 20 Hz, presumably from the Chinee. 1209 two definite IDs by woman as R. Universidad, and 1212 into piano medley of popular classics including Clair de Lune, heard two or three times during the following hour; fading out around 1255, but traces of classical music well past 1300 (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [non?]. A Special Event Transponder from Radio Free Cascadia email RFCI: radio985@efn.org RFCI will broadcast on the world shortwave band to Central and America, September 10th to 14th. We broadcast in solidarity with the thousands of people who are protesting the World Trade Organization in Cancun, Mexico and around the world, indigenous peoples in the Americas and worldwide, and all others who are resisting oppression and global domination by corporations, governments, and trans- governmental capitalist organizations such as the WTO. RCFI will relay streaming audio sources from Cancun, and will originate programming in Spanish and English, including live reports from Cancun, news, commentary, and music of resistance and revolution, especially from the Americas. Our signal will be directed at Mexico and may also be heard in Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and other nations of Latin America, and in the U.S. Radio Free Cascadia International is a direct action of resistance and solidarity. We modulate the air as freely as we breathe it, as a challenge to those who would claim ownership and control of the natural elements, peoples, and creatures of the Earth. Broadcast Schedule It is our intention that most of the broadcast be in Spanish, but we are not able to provide a language schedule at this time. Primary Schedule: 1700-0500 UT (12 Noon-12 Midnight Central [Cancun] Time) on frequency 15045 kilohertz Daytime alternate schedule: 1700-2300 UT (Noon-6 PM Central) on frequency 17552.5 kilohertz variable Evening alternate schedule: 2300-0500 UT (6 PM-12 Midnight Central) on frequency 9310 kilohertz variable Depending on propagation and other factors, the broadcasts may run instead between 1900 and 0700 UT (2 PM-2 AM Central). Band changes will require at least one hour. (from http://www.efn.org/~radio985/RFCI/index.htm via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [non]. RNZI LEASES TIME ON RADIO AUSTRALIA RNZI will be back on short-wave thanks to Radio Australia but with a reduced service - From 1700-2115 UTC on Monday 8 September RNZI will lease time on Radio Australia to broadcast the RNZI Pacific Breakfast Show. Join us from 0500 NZST to 0915 NZST Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 0500-0815 NZST on frequency 9580 kHz, in the 31 metre band. Please note that RNZI Programmes are available via the Internet real audio live stream and the Pacific News is also available for download at http://www.rnzi.com (Adrian Sainsbury, Technical Manager, Radio New Zealand International, P O Box 123 Wellington, Tel: +64 4 474 1430, Fax: +64 4 474 1433, Mobile: +64 (0) 274 504 578 (via Wolfgang Bueschel, John Figliozzi, Alan Pennington, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. 03-09 sur 13640 kHz de 1445 à 1300 UT, des chansons locales et à 1300 les news (Mohamed Kallel, Tunisia, Sept 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, NBC, from 1047 September 6th, EZL and local country music, in English, TC as "12 to nine", possible English / Pidgin mix, occasional word readable, SINPO 22222 (Roger Chambers Utica, NY Drake SW 8 with whip antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3365, R. Milne Bay, 7 Sept, 1040 Native song, brief M announcement with mention of "messages", then soft island Pop song and religious-like vocal song. 1052 song announcement by M, TC, mention of island and province. 1053 English health PSA by M and dialog between W and girl. Singing ad. Into island choral song. 1105 M with program notes, " ?? ABC ?? 5.9 ?? kilohertz", and National Broadcasting Commission. 1106 many good nights and mention of Papua New Guinea. Island Pop song. 1113 PSA mentioning Rabaul and another town and phone number as 853-1163, and address also. Promo of "Port Moresby national news", NBC and phone number over Floyd Cramer music (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY??? 6105, Radio Primero de Marzo, Asuncion!!!!!!!!!!!! 1003-1033, September 7. Spanish/Guaraní. Catholic program in Spanish: "...con la lectura de un pasaje de La Pasión, según... cuando Jesus... Es Palabra del Señor"; Catholic songs. Afterwards, the speaker talks in Guaraní language a messagge from: "la Conferencia Episcopal Paraguaya, en busca de un Paraguay..." "Estamos celebrando la Santa Misa, aquí afuera... y el próximo domingo... el nuevo obispo de Concepción... y también el obispo de Tamanda-e". ID:"...a través de Primero de Marzo". 34443. At 1030 UT abrupt s/off and following ID: "Ésta es Radio Cultura Filadelfia... transmitiendo en ondas curtas... anunciando a palavra da Dios... a radio evangelica do Brasil". [sic --- mixture of Spanish and Portuguese, by station or Arnaldo?] ¿Radio Cultura Filadelfia is an evangelic station but rent transmission hours to Catholic transmission by other station? or ¿Radio Primero de Marzo is on SW now? Thanks DXer Dario Camporini, Munro, Argentina, for the tip!!! (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. 6819.77, La Voz de las Huarinjas, Huancabamba, 2343-2353, September 6. Spanish. Tecnocumbias, TC & ID as: "las 6 de la tarde con 50 minutos, la hora a través de la radio La Voz de las Huarinjas... a través de la señal de La Voz de las Huarinjas". A man conducted the program and talked with listeners: "Alo, buenas noches... quien habla..." Greetings for program listeners: "Un saludo especial para Gumersindo... quien se encuentra trabajando en Chota...", 33333 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. Reactivated Peruvian with new name! 6895.57, Radio La Voz de San Miguel, San Miguel de Faique, provincia Huancabamba, departamento Piura. Aug 27 2003, 0100 UT. "Reactivated with new name" I think is a correct description but I have to say it is a little bit `messy` on the frequency. I haven`t heard "Radio San Miguel" ID for a long time and in April this year "La Nueva Radio Superior", San Miguel de El Faique. For 3-4 days in August "Radio La Voz de San Miguel" IDs were heard on 6895.57 kHz. The DJ announced also MW 1360 kHz, not listed in WRTH. Listen to the recording from this occasion: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Huancabamba, cuya capital es Chanchaque. Sus distritos son: El Carmen de la Frontera, Huancabamba, Huarmaca, Lalaquiz, San miguel de El Faique, Sóndor, Sondorillo; con una población total de 125,458 hab. 73 (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, translated by SWB-editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. OBITUARY --- BORIS BELITZKY Boris Belitzky died on September 3rd. He was 82. A man of high integrity, outgoing heart and sparkling sense of humour, he never complained of ill health despite his advanced age. His death came as a shock to all of us. Boris Belitzky stayed with the English Service for 57 years and from the very beginning until the very end his brilliancy in the profession was beyond doubt. A remarkable translator, radio announcer and observer, he never approached his work with anything but a creative urge. For many years Boris Belitzky was the author and host of "Science and Engineering" - one of the most popular programs on the Voice of Russia. His enticingly intriguing voice, immaculate command of English and profound knowledge in the subject he covered earned him the respect of millions of listeners. Right after graduation from Moscow University in 1942, Boris Belitzky was called up to fight the Nazis. He fought the Nazis in Rumania, Hungary and Austria and for his heroism was awarded numerous orders and medals. In post-war years his achievements were repeatedly marked with government awards. As a high-class interpreter he also worked beyond the confines of the radio. In 1960 he translated at the trial of the spy pilot Francis Gary Powers and in 1961 translated for Yuri Gagarin at a reception given by the Queen of Britain. Boris Belitzky has brought up several generations of translators, announcers and journalists. Everyone who knew him remembers him as a hard-working and well-wishing man of wisdom who could but evoke undisguised love and respect. All of us at the English Service are mourning for him, and the bright memory of our much-loved colleague, Boris Belitzky, will live in our hearts forever. . . Copyright © 2003 The Voice of Russia (via Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) I have met Boris on a number of occasions --- he was a class act (Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Sakhalin Radio, 11840 USB heard with poor signal, 2045 on 9/6 with Russian programming, time pips across the hour at 2100. Magadan has been audible the past few nights (9/4 and 9/5) on 7320. Fades in beginning 0630, at good strength by 0730 (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, Wash., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020 kHz, SIBC from 1053 UT, September 6th light pop music, female announcer, ID as "Solomon Islands Broadcasting Commission from Honiara", into orchestral anthem and off at 1102 UT. Generally poor (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY Drake SW 8 with whip antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 7255 kHz, from 1107 UT September 6th in unknown Asian language, music, then bells IS melody, English ID, bells repeated, into another 13 minute program in another Asian language, 1129 UT, more bells, then with no break into VOA music interval and news in an Asian language, no change in beam or break noticeable. Poor to fair at times, 32233 with Ham QRN (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY Drake SW 8 with whip antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. 03-09, Radio Tunis, la chaîne nationale, 1458 UT sur 11730, SINPO 44434, la levé de la prière de l`après midi (l’émetteur se trouve à 20 km de chez moi). (Mohamed Kallel, Tunisia, Sept 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. EXILED UGANDAN OPPOSITION LEADERS SAID USING NEW SHORTWAVE RADIO FROM GERMANY | Text of report by Ugandan newspaper The Monitor web site on 5 September Ugandans living in exile have started a shortwave radio station to "give an alternative view on the politics of the country". A Ugandan political activist living in exile said that the radio, based in the German city of Berlin, will be launched on 16 August [tense and date as published] by two exiled politicians, former President Milton Obote and Col Kizza Besigye, a losing presidential candidate in 2001. Col Besigye and Mr Obote will be hosted together in a one-hour talk show, Mr Godfrey Elum Ayoo told The Monitor in a telephone interview from his German base. "They will talk about politics and the need to redirect the democratization process in Uganda," he said. The two leaders will speak on the radio again on 17 August [date as published] from 6 to 6.30 p.m. [presumably meaning Ugandan time, i.e. 1500-1530 gmt]. "It's an opportunity for them to use this platform to reach out to people in Uganda without endangering the lives of journalists working in Uganda," he said. Ayoo said yesterday that Radio Rhino International-Africa (RRIA) will broadcast in English from 17555 [kHz] shortwave. The radio will broadcast from 6 to 6.30 p.m. on weekdays and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Ayoo, who is also the director of RRIA, said the station's signal would be received in east, central and parts of South Africa. He said that for proper reception, listeners in Uganda would have to place antennas of their respective radio sets at 145 [as published - possibly a reference to the fact that a signal transmitted from Germany to east Africa would be beamed on a bearing of approximately 145 degrees, roughly southeast, although this is irrelevant to how a listener would adjust their own antenna]. Obote, the president of Uganda People's Congress and twice deposed by the army from State House, has been living in exile in Zambia since 1985. Besigye fled the country in August 2001 in the aftermath of that year's disputed presidential elections. He cited harassment from security agencies. He lives in exile mostly in South Africa. Ayoo said yesterday that the radio would help counter the [ruling National Resistance] Movement [NRM] government's "intolerance to free and independent press in Uganda". "RRIA is a declaration of an airwave campaign in the liberation, protection and promotion of the freedoms of expressions and the rights to information by the press, mass media and the people of Uganda," Ayoo said in an e-mailed statement to The Monitor. He said the radio would cover news on current events, politics, economy, health, education, culture and environment in its daily broadcasts. The activist, who has been living in exile since 1985, said RRIA will counter the NRM regime's 'intimidation, harassment, and forceful closures of private independent radio stations and newspapers and barring of accurate reporting especially on wars and insecurity where the UPDF [Uganda People's Defence Forces] is overtly or covertly involved in and outside Uganda'. "Certainly we shall show that there are things you cannot control and these include the airwaves," he said. [It is possible that these transmissions are using the facilities of the German communications company Deutsche Telekom, which has a record of leasing airtime from its shortwave transmitting station at Juelich, near Cologne, to a variety of exiled political organizations, including those broadcasting to Africa.] Source: The Monitor web site, Kampala, in English 5 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) NEW OPPOSITION RADIO STATION HEARD BROADCASTING TO UGANDA A new shortwave radio station has been heard broadcasting to Uganda. It calls itself Radio Rhino International-Africa and is clearly opposed to the government of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). The new station - which describes itself as a "voice of freedom and democracy" - was heard on 5 September with an English-language broadcast at 1500-1530 gmt on 17555 kHz. Reception in east Africa was excellent. The transmission was described as a trial and announced that regular broadcasts would be launched in mid-September. Telephone and fax numbers in Germany were announced for contacting the station, along with a web site - http://www.radiorhino.org This web site says the trial broadcasts began on 3 September and that regular programming is to begin on 16 September. It says the station will be launched by messages from Milton Obote (a former president of Uganda and currently leader of the Uganda People's Congress) and Kizza Besigye (who stood unsuccessfully in the 2001 presidential elections and is currently leader of the opposition group known as the Reform Agenda). (Both men currently live in exile - Obote in Zambia and Besigye in South Africa.) The web site describes Radio Rhino International-Africa as "your voice for freedom, liberty, democracy, justice and equally developed Africa". It says the new radio intends to "break the chains of state concealment of the NRM's man-made gruesome inhuman sufferings on the people" and "unravel the Uganda NRM regime's propaganda of misinformation, lies, concealment and denials of the inhuman effects of its militaristic political ideology". The web site does not disclose details of the station's transmission arrangements. However, it is believed that it is hiring airtime from the German communications company Deutsche Telekom, which has a record of leasing shortwave transmission facilities to a variety of exiled political organizations, including a number broadcasting to Africa, notably Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Ugandan newspaper The Monitor had reported on 18 July that it had received a statement from a Ugandan exile, Godfrey Elum Ayoo, saying that Ugandan exiles living in Germany planned to launch Radio Rhino International-Africa, which would be based in Cologne. On 5 September, The Monitor reported Ayoo, whom it described as the radio's director, as saying that it would be based in Berlin. Sources: BBC Monitoring research 5-6 Sep 03; The Monitor web site, Kampala, in English 18 Jul and 5 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. Thanks to tip from Chris Greenway in Nairobi (who heard the station yesterday 5 Sep at 1500 UT on 17555), just heard sign-on of R. Rhino Intl at 1500 UT Sat 6 Sep on 17555 kHz (via Juelich) in English, targeting Uganda. Broadcast announced as a trial with official launch "middle of September" (16 or 17 Sept according to website). Fair signal here - but best on lsb to avoid splatter from strong Chinese (Voice Intl?) on 17560 (Alan Pennington, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. 03-09, Radio Emirate de Dubai à 1440 UT sur 13630 kHz et 13675, très bonne écoute; le spekeur annonce la levé du prière du couché du soleil (Mohamed Kallel, Tunisia, Sept 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A/INDONESIA. VOA LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION NEWS SHOW IN INDONESIA | Text of report by press release by Voice of America on 4 September Washington, D.C., 4 Sept: Monday, 1 September, the Voice of America (VOA) launched a new daily Indonesian television news show, Jurnal VOA, on Metro TV in Indonesia. Jurnal VOA, a 25-minute live and interactive show focusing on the main news stories of the day, will air on Metro TV Monday through Friday from 5.05 to 5.30 am local time. Metro is seen in 39 cities throughout Indonesia, including all the major markets. Jurnal VOA consists of four elements: top international news, an in- depth discussion of one of the top news stories with an outside expert or senior VOA editor interacting with callers throughout Indonesia, a summary of U.S. editorial opinion, and a man-in-the-street question- of-the-day feature called Ragam Suara (Diverse Voices). "This program will be a great addition to VOA's television offerings," said VOA Director David Jackson. "Indonesia is an important country and we're pleased to have Metro TV as our broadcasting partner." VOA currently broadcasts more than 29 hours of news and information via radio, television and the internet at www.VOAindonesia.com. In addition, VOA's Indonesian TV programs include a 30-minute magazine show, Dunia Kita, broadcast via Metro TV on Mondays at 1.30 p.m. and Halo VOA, an interactive discussion, broadcast via satellite on Thursdays at 5.30 a.m. VOA went on the air in 1942 and today broadcasts more than 1,000 hours a week of news, information, educational, and cultural programming to a worldwide audience of 94 million people. Programs are produced in Indonesian and 54 other languages. VOA is funded by the U.S. government. Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 4 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. COURT DELAYS FCC MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES By David B. Caruso, Associated Press PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court Wednesday issued an emergency stay delaying new Federal Communications Commission media ownership rules that would allow a single company to own newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same city. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a coalition of media access groups called the Prometheus Radio Project would suffer irreparable harm if the new rules were allowed to go into effect as scheduled Thursday. The new ownership rules, which the FCC approved on a party- line, 3-2 vote, also would allow a single company to own TV stations reaching 45 percent of the nation's viewers. Smaller broadcasters and network affiliates are concerned the new limit will allow the networks to gobble up more stations and limit local control of programming. The National Association of Broadcasters, however, contends the changes don't go far enough. The influential industry group filed an appeal last month to block changes to how radio markets are defined and overturn rules that still prevent TV station mergers in some smaller markets. The House, over the objections of the Bush administration, voted overwhelmingly in July to block the FCC. The Senate was to take up the issue this month. 73 and good DX from (Eric Amateur Radio Station N0UIH, IRCA via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. STATE BROADCASTER PLANS DOMESTIC RADIO PROGRAMMES IN CHINESE, JAPANESE President Tran Duc Luong has praised the operations of the Voice of Vietnam radio station, which he visited on 3 September to mark its 58th anniversary. He noted, however, that the need to modernize further was one of the station's greatest challenges. Voice of Vietnam's domestic foreign-language radio service plans to add programmes in Chinese and Japanese in the near future to the existing English, French and Russian language programmes. The following is the text of a report from the Vietnamese radio text web site on 3 September; subheadings added editorially: Vietnamese State President Tran Duc Luong paid a working visit to the Voice of Vietnam radio station [VoV] in Hanoi on 3 September to mark its 58th founding anniversary. At a working session with cadres, the editorial staff and correspondents of the station, President Luong stressed: "It can be said that among the many mass media channels in Vietnam at present, the Voice of Vietnam has attracted the largest segment of the audiences in the country." This was the first working visit by President Luong to the Voice of Vietnam radio station in five years. His last visit was in 1998. At the station, he was very encouraged by the significant development and expansion of the station in term of equipment, editorial and personnel staff, as well as a strong technical team. On behalf of the station's leadership, VoV Director-General Vu Van Hien briefed the state president on activities and achievements recorded by the station over the past years, in particular during the past eight months of this year. The director-general stressed: "Thanks to the special attention of the Party and the confidence of the people, the VoV has been able to catch up with all developments, overcome all challenges and satisfactorily fulfil all the assigned tasks. The VoV has consistently manifested its role as an assault force, honestly reported all political-socioeconomic developments to the public and has actively participated in the struggle against negativism and social vices." After visiting a number of offices at the station, President Luong had a meeting with more than 200 key cadres of the station. Speaking to them, he said: "The Vietnamese people throughout the country, overseas Vietnamese and friends around the world have listened to the VoV since the victory of our revolution and the day when Vietnam regained its independence. The phrase that read: 'This is the Voice of Vietnam, broadcasting from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam -' has become a familiar, friendly _expression to all listeners who would choose not to miss it. Today, at the explosion of the information technology in the world, the VoV has consistently and firmly retained its very important role in providing accurate news and information to the public, in general, and in contributing to the cause of building and defending the Socialist Vietnamese fatherland, in particular." Need for modernization President Luong stressed: The Communist Party of Vietnam and the state have highly appraised development and progress made by the VoV in improving and strengthening its network for the cause of national renovation at present. The achievements recorded by the station over the past years were great, yet the current national industrialization and modernization require the station to make more efforts to consistently improve its network and to overcome new challenges, the most difficult one is the ability to catch up with modern broadcasting systems. President Luong contended that with its transmission capability covering 90 per cent of the Vietnamese territory, the VoV will be able to retain its strong position in the mass media circle that only a few can match. He urged personnel of the VoV to consistently improve the quality of broadcasting programmes and to strengthen the station's technical bases so as to produce more meaningful materials, promptly report accurate and in-depth information on all domains. The VoV should strive to more effectively disseminate the party's and state's lines and policies, and serve as a firm bridge linking the people with the party. On the other hand, personnel of the VoV should stay close to reality and the people while listening to their feelings and aspirations. The editorial staff and personnel of VoV must strive to report on new factors and progressive models in the social life and activities of various regions and areas, nationality and religious groups and the overseas Vietnamese community abroad. They must also strive to review professional experiences, enrich the theoretical knowledge and participate in building, supplementing and perfecting the party's lines and policies as well as the state law. President Luong believed that with its great achievements and contributions made over the past 58 years, the VoV will advance further to become one of the most important mass media channels of the party and state. New daily news round-up planned On behalf of almost 2,000 cadres, editors, correspondents and the technical staff, Director-General Vu Van Hien pledged that all VoV personnel will make greater efforts to fulfil all the assigned tasks. In the immediate future, the station will broadcast a new daily programme on rounding up current news and political events starting from 7 September. Currently, the VoV broadcasts 191 hours of domestic and external services a day in six channels. It also broadcasts programmes on travel, weather forecast, entertainment for the northern region; a general programme for the Mekong River delta, and programmes in eight different ethnic dialects. The VoV has transmitted its programmes to all regions of Vietnam, and to date almost 90 per cent of the population have listened to these programmes. The VoV has also launched its VoVNews electronic web site on the Internet, thus expanding its network to meet the increasing demands on information by the masses. In recognition of its outstanding achievements, the State of Vietnam has bestowed the VoV with the high distinction of the Resistance Order, First Class; the Labour Order, First Class; the Independence Order, First Class - and in 2001it was bestowed with the Labour Hero Order, the new state high distinction for outstanding performance in the renovation process. Domestic radio programmes in Chinese, Japanese planned Also in the atmosphere of celebrating the VoV founding anniversary, the editorial staff of the External Service Department organized a function to mark the fifth anniversary of the VoV5 channel, on 7 September. Programmes of this channel are designed to serve foreigners living, working and studying in Vietnam and are broadcast in English, French and Russian. Attending the function were representatives of many foreign embassies in Vietnam. The diplomatic corps in Hanoi say that the VoV5 channel has become a friendship bridge linking the VoV with the foreign community in Vietnam, and has provided them with sufficient information on current developments in the country. Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Joe Thawaite said: "I have highly appraised activities, contributions and efforts of the VoV5 channel in improving its programmes. It provides us with updated summaries on current events in Vietnam. I think that in the international arena, the VoV has also been highly appraised, and I hope that the VoV5 programmes will be further improved to meet the increasing information demands in the new stage." The VoV5 programmes were officially broadcast on 3 September 1998. Besides the current English, French and Russian language programmes, the channel planned to broadcast additional programmes in Chinese and Japanese in the near future. Source: Voice of Vietnam text web site, Hanoi, in Vietnamese 3 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. RUSSIA, 7380, Degar Voice via Chita (Atamanovka), *1302-1327* Sept 2. Sudden sign-on (carrier on at 1300) in mid song, followed with a speech in Vietnamese by male speaker. This was followed with two other commentaries, all dealing with Human Right Violations by Vietnam towards the Degar People. The 'only' ID I heard was at 1320 repeated words --- Degar, Degar --- The program ended with a very rustic, string viola selection and off without any fanfare. This was noted on the 2nd with very strong signals, on the 4th, there was no sign of this broadcast, but on the 6th (with strong signals) at *1300-1326* again sign-on in mid-sentence with the repeat of the broadcast of the 2nd. Again off with out any 'formal' station ID. The sudden sign-ons and the sign-offs indicates possible problems with the audio links, as on the 2nd there was a hum on the audio, but nothing on the 6th (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, Canada, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. TANZANIA: 6015, Radio Tanzania Zanzibar (presumed), Dole 0338-0350, Sep 05, Vernacular, comments by female announcer, musical program, news program, 23222 (Nicolás Eramo, Villa Lynch, Prov. Buenos Aires. Argentina; Receivers: Icom IC-R75 Kenwood R-2000 Sony ICF 2010 Antennas: T2FD with balun 3.1 V Inverted 15 mts with balun 1.1 V Inverted 11 mts with balun 1.1 Others: MFJ-959B Receiver Antenna Tuner/Preamplifier, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4919.87, 0913 Sept 6. Like Arabic style music. 0930 Talk by man, presumed in Indonesian. 0931 Asian pop music. Fair signal. Indonesian Station ?? (Nobuo TAKENO, Yamagata, JAPAN, NRD535D with 10 meters wire, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ CUMBRE PROPAGATION OUTLOOK Once again things have been very quiet as far as solar flares go. Coronal hole windstreams have again been in effect, with the earth's geomagnetic field at unsettled levels early in the week, and again since Wednesday. MUFs have generally been enhanced, however propagation conditions have been fair-poor over the last few days. Generally good conditions are forecast until Sep 8 when another coronal hole windstream will come into effect. Prepared using data at http://www.ips.gov.au (Richard Jary, SA, Sept 5, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) WHERE`S THE ANTIPODE? http://jidanni.org/geo/antipodes/images/world.png Another projection which I have found very useful and interesting is found here: http://www.wendycarlos.com/maps/nadirs.jpg (Walt Salmaniw, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###