DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-140, August 17, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.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 For restrixions and searchable 2005 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 1284: Thu 1000 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours [stream has been down] Thu 2030 WOR WWCR 15825 Thu 2300 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [occasional] Fri 0000 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours [stream has been down] Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1600] Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sat 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream Sat 0800 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1000 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 & WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7 Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sat 2100 WOR WRMI 7385 [NEW, only airing on this station now] Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB [maybe not this week] Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0730 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sun 0830 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sun 0830 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0830 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0830 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0830 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1400 WOR WRMI 7385 [perhaps from Aug 28] Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sun 1900 WOR RNI Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0330 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually closer to 0418-] Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours [stream has been down] Mon 1800 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Tue 1400] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours [stream has been down] Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually lately] Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours [stream has been down] Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WRN ON DEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1284 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1284h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1284h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1284 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1284.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1284.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1284.html [from UT Thu] WORLD OF RADIO 1284 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 [projected]: (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_08-17-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_08-17-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO 1284 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1284h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1284.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (1277, Extra 57, 1278, 1279, 1280, Extra 58, 1281, 1282, 1283, Extra 59, 1284) WORLD OF RADIO ON WRMI [as below]: Jeff White says new time is Sat 2100 UT on 7385, and hope to add Sun 1400 on 7385, perhaps from the following week. The new Cuban program at midday Sat and Sun also puts an end to the WRN relays at that time including WOR at 1730 (gh) MUNDO RADIAL, AGOSTO-SETIEMBRE: Desde el 19 de agosto, viernes y lunes 2115 en WWCR 15825; domingos 2345 en WRMI 9955 con jamming dentrocubano; (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0508.ram (descargar) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0508.rm (mp3) http://www.obriensweb.com/mr0508.mp3 (guión) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0508.html [pronto] DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS 8/17: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia email address? Does anybody know RA's direct email address? I can't find it on their site anywhere; all I can find is a crappy web-form shoehorned into a tiny frame. The site is poorly designed in any case; several of the frames have information covered up by other frames, and no scrollbar to get to the rest of the info (Ted Schuerzinger, Aug 17, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) english @ ra.abc.net.au --- I am sure it isn't published due to the spambot plague. I found it on the main ABC Radio website. Why don't you just fill out the web form? It will go to the same e- mail box. Web forms are a handy communications tool that avoids some of the spam issues? I agree the site is a badly designed site -- I've complained before but without success (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) Not if you want to save a copy of the message. Every month when I write to Radio Romania International I look up my previous month's email so I can remember how many months of Listeners' Club QSLs I've sent them. :-) Or, if you have something you want to make certain you say correctly, you can save a draft of the message, and come back and edit it later. This is especially useful when I write to ORF or DW in German, since German's not my native language and I'd prefer to get the grammar correct. They probably paid a pretty penny for the design, just like DW did. Radio Slovakia is another site with irritating design; it's difficult to find, say, a direct link to the main page of the English section (Ted Schuerzinger, ibid.) So copy and save it to a separate file or mail it separately to yourself (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. SALUTE TO AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING PIONEERS A long list of early Australian radio broadcasting pioneers has been released at http://www.radioheritage.net the Radio Heritage Foundation website. Most of the early broadcasters had experimental licences, but they entertained local and interstate audiences of the 1920-1929 period with music, concerts and talks. One of the first was that of Ted Gold in Toowoomba, Queensland, and this later became 4GR [Gold Radio] which celebrates 80 years on air this month. Well over one hundred stations are listed from all states, with original callsigns, location, year of starting broadcasts, and the owners name. Origins of many familiar callsigns can be found. Fascinating images include a jazz band from 4PK Ipswich and a crystal set advert from David Jones in 1924. The Radio Heritage Foundation is asking people who knew these radio pioneers, their family members, and others with information about these 1920's broadcasts to come forward and contribute stories, photos and memorabilia before these items get lost or destroyed. The full list of pioneers from the early Golden Age of Australian radio is on-line now. If any stations and pioneers have been missed out, information about them is welcomed. The Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit charitable organization preserving and promoting radio heritage from Australia and around the Pacific. Contact: info @ radioheritage.net (David Ricquish, Chairman, Radio Heritage Foundation, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh Betar : Special August 27, 2005 [Sat] English : Kazi Nazrul Islam : A Legend in Bangla Literature - a special composite on the occasion of the Death anniversary of national Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Date : 27 August 2005 Freq : 7185 kHz (41.75 m) Time : (UT) : 1230-1300 (S & SE Asia), 1815-1900 (Eu) Program Details : 01. Intro : Life and notable literary activities of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. 02. Song (Bangla) : Amar Jabar samoy holo; Artist - Feroza Begum, W/by Kazi Nazrul Islam [W = written?] 03. Talk : Kazi Nazrul Islam : A Legend in Bangla Literature. By- Dr. Abdul Kalam Manzur Murshed. 04. Recitation : Recitation from the poem Shammyabad with the gist in English. W/by- Kazi Nazrul Islam, R/by - Asraful Islam [R = read?] 05. Songs : Selected Nazrul's song with the thematic translation in English. Program Compiler : Prof. Abu Taher Mojumder. Narrator : Laily Mawla & Shahnawaz Ahmed Producer : Md. Akramul Islam Happy Dxing (Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wonder if it will be among their OD audio?? (gh) ** BHUTAN. Schedule A05 of Bhutan Broadcasting Service - BBS: BGN END LANGUAGE FREQ DAYS 0100 0300 Dzongkha 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 0300 0400 Sharchhop 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 0400 0500 Nepali 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 0500 0600 English 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 0600 0800 Dzongkha 6035 Su Sa 0800 0900 English 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 0900 1000 Nepali 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1000 1100 Sharchhop 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1100 1300 Dzongkha 6035 Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa (DXAsia Website via JKB, March 2005, Aug-Sept WWDXC DX Magazine via DXLD) Is this still active? Check around 0100 in Europe, maybe before 1300 in WNAm, Pacific & E Asia (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. Radio Free Bougainville RIP --- I don't know whether anyone reported this or not, but I noticed the following obituary in the July 31st Victoria Times-Colonist: "Francis Ona. Bougainville separatist proclaimed himself king".... It's too long to quote here, but I found another site with a link: http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press687.htm We should remember this is the fellow who was behind Radio Free Bougainville, from whom I received a QSL (actually it was from Sam Voron) ten or more years ago now. I still recall the story they told, of a coconut-oil-powered generator and an output of 40 watts on 3850. Those were the days! (Walt Salmaniw, BC, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: His later years were marked by signs of paranoia and megalomania. However, Francis Ona initiated the rebellion in 1988 against Rio Tinto's vastly damaging Panguna mine on Bougainville, a process which, seventeen tortuous years later, led to an autononmous state. Once, when asked by an Australian interviewer at the height of the bloody conflict, how the struggle would develop, Ona replied: "Papua New Guinea – we can beat in a week. Australia, Rio Tinto – that will take a little longer. . ." Ona is dead - Kabui confirms his death The National, 25 July 2005 By Bonney Bonsella SECCESSIONIST Bougainville and Mekamui leader Francis Ona is dead. Mr Ona died at 1pm at his Guava village yesterday. President of the Bougainville Autonomous Government Joseph Kabui confirmed the death of the reclusive rebel leader from Buka last night. . . This page has 3 more stories about him, one in Spanish! The word ``radio`` does not appear in any of them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5045 kHz, R. Guarujá Paulista, São Paulo SP (no more "via R. Presidente Prudente" on this frequency because according to their webpage, they bought the outlet), 09 AUG 2224-2232, senate discussion & reports; 25332; // 5940.3 kHz at 34342. 5940.3 kHz, R. Guarujá Paulista SP, 09 AUG 2221-2235, relay of senate discussion, reports; 34342. 9675 kHz, R. Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP, 13 AUG 2155-2223, advertisements, ID+60 m frequency, edition nº 162 of DX program "Além Fronteiras" at 2200; 45444, distorted modulation spreading to the adjacent channels (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. 7230 kHz, R. Burkina, Ouagadougou, monitored on 06 AUG 1409-1536, Vernacular, African pops, talks, French program later on; 25432 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. On 6160, Aug 17 at 1404, heard weak CBC News an echo apart from RCI 9515. This would be CKZU Vancouver at a rather late hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. On 9625, Aug 17 at 1342, an apparent ululation contest with weirdly creative vocalizations, interrupted by applause several times. Sort of like bird calls gone wild (is Letterman still doing that?). Then talk in unID language, no doubt either Inuktituk or Cree from the CBC Northern Québec service, 1348 into some country music. Weak signal but better than usual during this one hour clear of QRM in the mornings; no comparison to the huge signal from Sackville on 9650 with CRI, or 9515 with RCI/CBC. Promptly at 1400 the CBC logo was overtaken by abrupt opening of R. Australia, via CVC Darwin with the time in Phnom Penh (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC LOCKOUT LEAVES NORTH WITH LITTLE LOCAL NEWS By BOB WEBER, Canadian Press agency Wed, August 17, 2005 (CP) - While southern Canadians frustrated with the CBC lockout can simply twist dials or flip channels, the public broadcaster's labour dispute has left many northerners without local news - and some with little programming at all in the only languages they speak. "For us here, it's very bad case of interruption to our Inuit listeners," said Paul Kaludjak, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., which oversees the Nunavut land claim. "People listen to news in Inuktitut, announcements in Inuktitut, community reports that CBC does," he said from Rankin Inlet. "It's become a very key link to information around Nunavut." After 15 months of negotiations, the CBC locked out 5,500 unionized employees at 12:01 a.m. Monday. At issue is the broadcaster's wish for more flexibility to hire contract and part-time employees, something the Canadian Media Guild says is a danger to job security for full-time staff. Although viewers and listeners have plenty of choices in the dense media landscape of southern Canada, the CBC is the only full-time broadcaster in most northern communities. Local community radio stations provide a few hours of programming a week, often with technical support from CBC staff. Yellowknife is the only community in the N.W.T. or Nunavut that has private radio stations with news staff. None has private TV news broadcasts. Cable service and broadband Internet are increasingly common in the North and offer dozens of options for national and foreign news. But local news is a different story. "We certainly see your news," said Terry McCallum, mayor of Cambridge Bay. "But as far as local news, we're tied to the CBC." As well, CBC North is one of very few broadcasters providing programming in aboriginal languages. That includes daily radio and TV news in Inuktitut, as well as phone-in shows and community bulletin boards - a service much appreciated by the 70 per cent of Nunavummiut who speak Inuktitut. "That has all totally vanished," said Jim Bell, editor of Iqaluit's Nunatsiaq News newspaper. "If you're a unilingual Inuktitut speaker, you can't even get information on why you can't get information." CBC Iqaluit has one Inuktitut-speaking manager, who is providing daily weather broadcasts as well as interviews from a bowhead whale hunt in Repulse Bay. The station is also broadcasting storytelling by Inuit elders. The N.W.T. has one private radio station that provides aboriginal language programming across much of the territory. But the CBC lockout has stilled a vital forum for the exchange of regional news, says Nellie Cournoyea, head of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and a former CBC staffer. "Local access for providing news is so important," she said from Inuvik. "It's an important couple of hours they broadcast during the day." The CBC has been broadcasting plenty of reruns and pared-down programs during the lockout. There has been no management-produced television newscast. Instead, the corporation has been relying primarily on the BBC World News service. Newsworld has been limited to one-minute roundups of Canadian news read by managers who have then handed things off to the BBC. CBC Radio has relied heavily on music programming. "The one thing I've heard from a couple of cab drivers is that whoever's doing the music programming has good taste," laughed Cournoyea (via Dan Say, BC, Aug 17, DXLD) ** CANADA. Take that, CMG! CBC and hence RCI are still playing the outsourced ``O`Reilly on Advertising``, as I found out Wed Aug 17 at 1430 (no pause for Scott Joplin now) on 9515, 13655 and 17800, all synchronized today, tho it was a rerun about ads that go too far, hilarious to hear again. Here`s the CBC Radio One schedule for the 11 am local hour during the labour difficulties, also on RCI at 1400-1500 UT: Mon Quirks & Quarks Tue Talking Books, Sweet Justice Wed That`s Capital, O`Reilly On Advertising Thu Workology Fri C`est La Vie, Next Sat & Sun Best Of Winnipeg Comedy Festival I`m not sure which hour if any the Comedy Festival will show up on RCI weekends. I also caught the last part of That`s Capital, a show I had not heard of before, from Winnipeg, about some guys who thanks to a (Canada) Safeway offer bought up 1500 cans of Campbell`s soup for enough flyer miles to get to Thailand and back. Yes, they still had to re-sell the soup at a loss of $400, 25 Canadian cents a can, but figure they still came out ahead. CBC is still running Ideas at 9:05 pm local, but the webpage giving the topics is inaccessible. Why was this necessary? That was already in place and planned months in advance! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CMG website now includes photo of Anna Maria Tremonti and others holding a LOCKED OUT sign: http://www.cmg.ca/cbcbranchnegsupdatesn.asp (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. LOCKOUT SPELLS COMMERCIAL SUICIDE FOR THE CBC John Doyle Tuesday, August 16, 2005 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050816/DOYLE16/TPEntertainment/Columnists CBC Television is in tatters and, if this lockout lasts weeks or months instead of days, it will be in ruins. CBC-TV has three strength -- news, sports and Canadian drama and comedy. In all three areas it has been weak in recent years. If it fails to deliver in those three areas -- and it can only fail during a lockout -- it faces a setback from which it can never recover. The loss of NHL last year, through no fault of its own, was a disaster. Sure, the Hollywood movies that aired instead of hockey drew more viewers than expected. But if you can't get viewers with well- known, hyped, mainstream Hollywood entertainment, you're incompetent. The problem is branding the CBC and maintaining the loyalty of Canadian viewers. Those viewers interested in Hollywood blockbusters will drift to any network airing the same fare. The loss of NHL hockey was more than a financial disaster. It had a domino effect on all CBC programs and their ratings. In many ways, broadcasting is not a complicated business. Certain truths hold true as much for the brash and often trashy Fox network as they do for a public broadcaster such as CBC. You have hits and you use those hits to promote and launch other programs. Fox has American Idol, a big, brand-defining hit and uses it to launch House, a hard- to-define drama about a difficult doctor. House is now an award-wining hit because it piggybacked on American Idol. In CBC's case, the loss of viewers for hockey meant that news, documentaries and dramas could not be promoted to an audience already watching a CBC program. Those watching the Hollywood movies were not, necessarily, traditional CBC viewers open to Canadian programming. Now, with a lockout and CBC airing almost nothing that draws viewers, it has no platform to promote what's coming this new TV season. It is commercial suicide. On the news side, CBC's flagship The National news program has had declining viewership for years. Apparently The National, like all of CBC's news programs, was undergoing a rejigging. Exactly what was going to happen is unclear but, right now, CBC can barely provide any news service at all. Naturally, viewers drift away to channels that do provide up-to-the-minute news reports delivered by real reporters and anchors. The likelihood that all those viewers will return to CBC-TV diminishes with each day the lockout lasts. In the drama and comedy genres, every new and returning CBC program is now at a disadvantage. Commercial Canadian and American channels have been relentlessly promoting their fall programs for weeks. Viewers who tune in to news broadcasts, newsmagazine or sports events get a taste of a new program to whet their appetites. It's basic broadcasting business. It is how audiences are built and nurtured. With a lockout and a lack of regular programming, CBC is out of the game. Worse, for CBC-TV, the ground has already shifted in the production of popular and critically acclaimed Canadian-made comedy and drama. CTV has the hits, not CBC. Corner Gas and this summer's Robson Arms are the key Canadian productions of the last few years. CBC is lagging behind in offering quality Canadian productions. In late September and early October, CBC expected to air such audience-grabbing shows as Trudeau II and Waking Up Wally (the Walter Gretzky movie) but those productions can hardly be promoted when CBC is doing minimal broadcasting in August. Further, the lockout adds fuel to the argument that CBC-TV is irrelevant, out-of-date and a waste of public money. Those who feel that CBC is a waste of everybody's time and money in an ever-expanding TV universe will point to the current situation and point out that CBC-TV cannot even get its act together to do its basic job. Exactly why CBC management is committing commercial suicide is a mystery. Like every broadcaster it has to adapt to changing circumstances. But to lock out 5,500 workers and, essentially, air nothing but repeats and reduced programming is a bizarrely combative, gambling strategy. In "An Open Letter to Canadians" published in newspapers on Saturday and co-signed by Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president of CBC- TV, and Jane Chalmers, vice-president of CBC Radio, the following statement leapt out: "No one wants a labour disruption. Yet this is a risk the CBC is prepared to take." The statement is blustering nonsense. To reduce CBC to minimalist broadcasting is not merely "a risk." It is playing Russian roulette with its audience and supporters, and handing ammunition to its detractors (via Sandy Finlayson, PA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) This looks like it's going to get real ugly. Anyone remember the last CBC walkout several years ago. A few words back-and-forth were exchanged, but AFAIK, no one got locked out and people were back into work in several days (Maryanne Kehoe, GA, Aug 16, ODXA via DXLD) Not really sure what you are referring to. The "last walkout" was in December 2002 when the CBC LOCKED OUT CEP for nearly four weeks. It was definitely more than a few words and the return was very bitter. Prior to that, CEP struck for seven weeks starting February 1999. Promises made by the CBC to settle that strike, such as a job evaluation that was guaranteed to be done by July of that year, were NEVER fulfilled. There is not very much trust there (Ori Siegel, Canada, ibid.) BBC Scab Service in Canada: see UK ** CHINA. CRI contest --- Too, I noticed Dino Bloise´s report on Condiglist and I reacted much the same as you. What else can one expect from CRI. In Spanish you would say ``se le ve el plumero`` (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Their plumage is showing (not plumbing). Viz.: Era previsible. Ya llegó el momento. Ya se le veía venir. Se le vio ya el plumero a la poderosa y poco democrática China Popular, la del Partido Unico, en donde le ponen filtos a los motores de búsqueda del internet, y en donde invierten grandes sumas en la instalación de equipos de transmisión y antenas para bloquear las emisiones, no solo de Radio Asia Libre y algunas otras emisoras del occidente, sino también de ciertas emisoras de "esa parte inalienable de China", y también a otras muchas emisoras como la KBS World /15210 kHz/, Radio Vaticano /9645 kHz/ para mencionar tan solo algunos casos. Solo me queda la esperanza de que muy pocos hispanohablantes acepten las reglas de semejante jueguito de mal gusto. Gracias por cederme el derecho al pataleo (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, condig list via DXLD) A mi me ha llegado también la invitación a participar en este concurso y no participaré porque como lo dices tú, es de muy mal gusto. Si por las transmisiones radiales, tenemos idea de los pueblos que escuchamos y de los amigos que nos hablan y nos tratan con cariño, creo que sería una especie de traición o una puñalada por la espalda al pueblo Taiwanés participar en el concurso al cual invitan los amigos de CRI. Esta es mi opinión y respeto todas aquellas que no estén de acuerdo. Henrik, recibe un fuerte abrazo (José Elías, Venezuela, ibid.) Now I get this directly from CRI English! (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. A QUIZ ON CHARMING CHANGZHOU (From CRI) The English Service of China Radio International is hosting a new quiz featuring some of the particularities of the city of Changzhou, and asks you seven questions, the answers to which are contained in the article. Listeners who answer all seven questions correctly will have the chance to win prizes. The top prize is a free trip to China. The winner will enjoy a five-day tour of Beijing and Changzhou, as well as participate in activities with local people during October. Don`t hesitate to answer the questions. Your comments are important to win the prize. From 15th to 21st, August, the contest will take place over seven days, with a report about each of the seven contest areas played each day, followed by one question related to that day`s report. The contest is after News and Report. If you miss some of the reports, don`t worry. Listeners can participate by answering the questions online at our Website, http://www.chinaradionet.net/changzhou/ If you`re tackling the questions with friends or family members, one answer sheet with everyone`s name and address on it will also be accepted; and each name will be treated as a separate entry. Copies are also effective. All entries must be received by September 30th, 2005 at crieng @ crifm.com Good luck and see you in China! 1. What is the brand name of famous Changzhou combs? A. Changzhou B. White Elephant 2. What family is famous for their paper-cuts in Changzhou? A. Chang family B. Zhou family 3. Does the Zhou family sell duplicated editions of their paper-cuts? A. Yes B. No 4. What is name of the famous canal in Changzhou? A. Changzhou Canal B. The Grand Canal 5. How many reservoirs is Tian Mu Lake made of? A. Three B. Two 6. Can people directly drink the water in Tian Mu Lake? A. Yes B. No 7. What do people call the Chinese Dinosaur Park? A. Eastern Jurassic Period B. Jurassic Period 8. Your comment and suggestion about Changzhou. Name: Gender: E-mail: Country: Occupation: Age: Background for the quiz on Charming Changzhou Changzhou City is situated in the Yangtze River Delta on China's eastern coast. A famous city with 2,500 years of historical and cultural heritage, Changzhou is also a robust and emerging industrial center. With a total population of 3.85 million, the city covers 4,375 square kilometers of land. Economically, Changzhou is one of the key cities in the "Shanghai Economic Sphere". Because of the affinities in their economic and social development, Changzhou and two of its neighboring cities, Suzhou and Wuxi, are often referred to as "Su-Xi- Chang Area", an area regarded as one of the most prosperous in the country. Changzhou is famous for its combs --- a famous traditional Chinese handicraft with the registered brand "White Elephant" since 1925. All Changzhou combs are made by hand of natural materials. They are well known for good workmanship and rigid selected materials. The combs are not only necessary for daily use they are also works of art. With unique technology and beautiful declarations, Changzhou combs have already been sold to more than 30 countries and regions including America, Australia, and parts of South East Asia. Another famous cultural heritage is paper-cuts. The famous Zhou family paper-cuts in Changzhou are given the name because nearly all the works were collectively created by six members of the Zhou family. Mr Zhou Yunhua is the director of the Chinese Paper-cut Institute and a member of Chinese Artists Association. The other five are all members of the Chinese Paper-cut Institute. The Zhous are skillful in using carving tools, and have developed superb carving techniques including striking 3-D effects. Zhou`s paper-cuts depict a lifelike civilian residential house with very high elegant style in ancient south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River which is Chinese precious historical heritage. Zhou`s paper-cut have received widely approbation and represent the highest level of the Chinese art of paper-cutting. Ornately decorated and full of feeling, Zhou`s paper-cuts have won first prize at many domestic exhibitions and have been sent aboard to Japan, France and America! The family refuses to sell duplicated paper-cuts in order to ensure the continued rarity and value of their paper-cuts. There are now less than 20 pieces in each province, or autonomous region. The scarcity ensures they are highly valued. Besides this rich cultural heritage, Changzhou also contains a famous man-made canal. The Grand Canal is a great feat of water conservancy dating back to ancient China. It was built in the Ming dynasty and is the longest and the earliest excavated canal in the world. The total length of the Grand Canal is 1794 kilometers, sixteen times the length of the Suez Canal and thirty-three times that of the Panama Canal. It connects the south --- Zhejiang province and north --- Beijing and was the most important water stream of imperial China. Historically, it facilitates material transportation from south to north and is helpful for the integration of politics, the economy and culture. Now both sides of this ancient canal are decorated with beautiful flowers and trees. Its capability for transportation has increased a lot and it has become the main channel for transporting coal from north to south. Many enterprises in Changzhou depend on water-borne transport. For example, 70 percent of the materials for steel produced by Zhongtian Steel Group Co. Ltd. are transported by ship. And Xinya Chemical Company loads and unloads one kiloton of chemical fertilizer per day at the canal quay. Despite its developed economy, Changzhou has successfully preserved its clean environment. The beautiful waters of Tian Mu Lake make it a favorable place to visit. Tian Mu Lake is made up of two huge reservoirs called Sand River and Big Stream, which look like the pure, innocent and bright eyes of a beautiful girl. That`s how it got its name, Tian Mu, which means the eyes of heaven. Sauntering over the green hills and along crystal-clear streams, you can see the reflection of the mountain in the lake. The mountain contains the lake while the lake contains the mountains, like a Chinese ink and wash painting. Without any pollution, the air is fresh and the quality is up to the first rank of national criteria. Having weak alkalinity, the pH of the water in Tian Mu Lake always is stable at around 7.5. Experts say this level is the healthiest water. Ordinary tap water could only have such a weak alkalinity level through a seven-step process. Because our bodies are acidic, drinking weak alkaline balances the body`s internal environment and promotes fast metabolism of tissue organs. So when you come to Tian Mu Lake in Changzhou, China, don`t forget to have a sip of the water. Changzhou has not only natural sceneries but also man-made high-tech attractions. The Dinosaur Park is one of them. Themed around the ``Eastern Jurassic Period``, the Dinosaur Park combines exhibitions of popular science with amusement attractions and team games. There are altogether five main halls and six subsidiary halls, each of which is connected to another by logical links of the evolutionary process. The Chinese Dinosaur Park is far from a traditional dinosaur museum, it applies high-tech sound and light instruments combined with video cartoons, internet games, and other attractions. The whole exhibition also promotes the message of environmental protection. Among more than a dozen amusement facilities, visitors can enjoy a virtual traverse through the Jurassic with three-dimensional movies. You can learn and have fun at the Chinese Dinosaur Park in Changzhou. That`s all for the highlights of Changzhou. But seeing is believing so I hope all of you may have the fortune to visit beautiful Changzhou, beautiful Beijing and beautiful China (CRI English via DXLD) ** CUBA. Re: Thief takes shortwave broadcasts off the air Aluminum can insulate? That would sure come as a surprise to the people who got electrocuted when their aluminum antenna elements, masts, or tent poles came into contact with power lines... :-) Yeah, I suppose these are some sort of ceramic/aluminum sandwich or the like, but the first impression was somewhat odd. Another example of a news story omitting the essential corollary information. 73, (Will Martin, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. OWNER OF "RACIST" DANISH RADIO STATION READY TO FIGHT | Text of report by Danish radio website on 16 August If the Copenhagen local radio station Radio Holger has its broadcasting licence revoked then the station's owner, Kaj Vilhelmsen, is ready to take drastic action. He will attempt to sue individual members of the Radio and Television Board. He will also start up an Internet magazine so that the radio station's message is disseminated through other media. The Central Radio and Television Board is expected to revoke the station's licence on Wednesday [17 August] if it rules that the station was racist when it urged listeners to drive all Muslims out of Europe and kill them if necessary. The police have charged Kaj Vilhelmsen with racism. Source: Danmarks Radio website, Copenhagen, in Danish 1747 gmt 16 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) DANISH RADIO STATION LOSES LICENCE OVER ANTI-MUSLIM COMMENTS | Text of report by Danish radio website on 17 August; subheadings as published: Copenhagen local radio station Radio Holger has had its broadcasting licence revoked for three months, effective from today, the Radio and Television Board ruled at a meeting yesterday, . The board says it has revoked the licence because the station has contravened the media-political principles set by Copenhagen Municipality's local radio board. These state that a radio station must not broadcast programmes which encourage hatred on the basis of race, gender, religion, nationality, disabilities or sexuality. Fanatical Mohammedans The famous statements were made on the radio on 12 July. They included the following: "There are only two possible ways of reacting if these terrorist bombings are to be prevented: either driving out all foreign Mohammedans from Western Europe so that they cannot plant bombs or exterminating fanatical Mohammedans, i.e. killing a significant number of Mohammedan immigrants." "In its ruling the board has stressed that this is a contravention of a very serious nature. Any future contravention of the rules could lead to Radio Holger's broadcasting licence being revoked permanently," Christian Scherfig, chairman of the radio and Television Board, writes in a press release. Radio station owner to continue agitating The owner of Radio Holger, Kaj Vilhelmsen, is not surprised that its licence has been revoked and is prepared to complaint to the Ministry of Culture about the ruling. He also states that agitation for the repatriation of foreigners will continue in other media. "If one medium is shut down then we will simply set up another which will help to spread the message about a Danish Denmark," says Kaj Vilhelmsen, who also says the board's decision is illegal. Source: Danmarks Radio website, Copenhagen, in Danish 0857 gmt 17 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? It`s not mentioned on page 182 of the 2005 WRTH under Copenhagen (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. New time for DXPL on WRMI, Sat 2130 on 7385; see USA (gh) By the way, DXPL has a new URL: http://www.hcjb.org/mass_media/dx_partyline/dx_partyline.html (John Norfolk, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 7110, Aug. 17, 0435. Radio Ethiopia. SINPO 24332. Good opening tonight in the lower bands. Very few distant T-storms. // 9704 poor. Lots of interesting HofA music (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, ICF7600GR, with 20 m longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7110 kHz, R. Ethiopia, Gedja Jewe, audible on 14 AUG 1500-1521, Vernacular, chimes, news, talks; 14442; // 9704.2. 9704.2 kHz, R. Ethiopia, Gedja Jewe, logged on 06 AUG 1532-..., Vernacular, local songs; 25433 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. EUROPirates --- 3910 kHz, Reflections Europe, IRELAND, 07 AUG 2128-..., English, the usual menu of religious propaganda; 44333 this time with adjacent QRM de BBC 3915 kHz via Kranji, Singapore; // 6295 kHz at 54433. 3924 kHz, Spaceman, HOLLAND, 06 AUG 2154-..., Dutch/English, music, talks, references to R. Underground and Spaceman's frequency shift from 3927 kHz to avoid QRM over that station; 55433. Noted on 3910 kHz (!) on 13 AUG 2137-..., also in Dutch & English, music, ID+frequency announcement; 55433. 3926.9 kHz, UNID (Dutch?), 13 AUG 2140-..., Dutch, oldies, few talks; 45332. 3940.1 kHz, R. Underground (UK?), 06 AUG 2159-..., English, music, talks & references to Spaceman's (HOL) frequency QSY, announced // 6311 khz (inaudible); 25331. 4025.2 kHz, Laser Hot Hits (G?), 06 AUG 2205-..., English, music, few talks; 35321; // 6220 kHz at 54433 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GAMBIA. 648 kHz, GRTS, Bonto, noted on 09 AUG 2209-2217, English, news bulletin; 53442, co-channel QRM de G [=UK] (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. 7125 kHz, R. Conakry, logged on 15 AUG 2225-..., French, news; 44433. R. Rurale, Labé, 1385.9 kHz also nicely heard evenings, e.g. 12 AUG 2129-2150 (off shortly before 2200) at 55444 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Re 5-139: Dear friends, All India Radio, Bangalore is conducting test transmissions to North India as follows with AIR FM Gold programs: 9425 kHz (500 kW): 0130-1230 UT approx. (not continuous) Reception Reports are appreciated and may be sent to: spectrum-manager @ air.org.in [Later:] exact sked of test broadcasts on 9425 from AIR Bangalore is 0130-0530 & 0830-1230 UT. This is in parallel to 9470 via AIR Aligarh. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, India, Aug 17, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4925, RRI Jambi, 1109-1130 Aug 17. Initially noted Qur`an being sung. Finished at 1115 when a woman in comments. At 1116, typical music noted. Signal was unexpectedly good for this late in the morning. Full daylight here in Southcentral Florida (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. USA/INDONESIA: VOA LAUNCHES THREE NEW TV PROGRAMMES IN INDONESIAN | Excerpt from press release by Voice of America on 16 August In response to requests from major television stations in Indonesia for more programming from Voice of America, VOA is launching three Indonesian language news and information television programmes this week: 1. Kilas VOA (VOA Newsflash) will provide regional stations, the fastest growing segment of the Indonesian television industry, with brief reports of the world's top news stories. Kilas VOA will be produced twice a day at 5.30 to 5.35 a.m. (2230 to 2235 gmt) and 8.00 to 8.05 p.m. (1300-1305 gmt) Monday through Friday in Indonesia. 2. VOA Good Morning is a five-minute feature on American life and culture that Trans TV will air twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 9.00 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. (0200 to 0230 gmt) on its popular Good Morning show. Trans is one of the top national television stations in Indonesia. 3. Live from Washington is a 5-minute interactive exchange between Indonesian-speaking reporters at VOA's headquarters in Washington D.C. and the anchors of Metro TV in Jakarta that will air during Metro TV's late night newscast, Metro Malam, on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 11.30 p.m. and 12.00 midnight (1630 to 1700 gmt). The Wednesday programmes will focus on the major news events of the day. On Saturdays, Live from Washington will turn to feature reports and US infotainment news for weekend viewers. Metro TV is Indonesia's national all-news station. Metro already carries Jurnal VOA at 5.05 a.m. (2205 gmt) Mondays through Fridays and Dunia Kita on Mondays at 1.05 p.m. (0605 gmt). VOA news reports can now be seen on a dozen national and regional television stations in Indonesia, with more than 10 million Indonesians regularly tuning in to VOA's radio and television broadcasts. VOA's Indonesian site is at http://www.VOAindonesia.com Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 16 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ. PROFILE OF AL-DIYAR SATELLITE TV Background information Al-Diyar is an Iraqi satellite channel, with head offices based in Baghdad. The channel started test broadcasts in April 2004 and began official transmission on 20 June 2004. On its website http://www.aldiyartv.net Al-Diyar Television, which is headed by media figure Faysal al-Yasiri, identifies itself as "an independent satellite channel free from any party influence, be it religious or political; works in close cooperation and integration with ART, Arab Radio and Television, and is a sister channel of ART Satellite Channels". General director Faysal al-Yasiri, the general director of Al-Diyar Television as stated on the channel's website, is a TV and a film producer, with an extensive work experience in different Arab stations and production centres. He also held the position of "TV director-general in Syria, Iraq, ART Cairo and for 10 years as a TV programme supervisor in Kuwait. Under Saddam Husayn's regime, Faysal al-Yasiri served in various high level media posts, including head of Iraqi Radio and Television. He was the head of an Iraqi preparatory committee that paved the way for the launching of the Iraqi Satellite Channel in 1996 and was also the chief of the editorial staff of Iraq Television Network in 1998. In the same year, Al-Yasiri became Al-Jazeera bureau chief in Baghdad." Mission Al-Diyar Satellite Channel provides an outline of its objectives on the channel's website, stating that all staff members are eager to meet the expectations of the Iraqi audience by providing them with a variety of programmes ranging from cultural, political and economic programmes to sports and entertainment. In elaborating on the channel's approach, the website states that Al- Diyar would adopt transparency in its reporting and focus on issues of public interest, while avoiding issues that would incite unrest and social discrimination. In its approach, the channel would also promote a unified and democratic Iraq and its motto will be "with work and knowledge, we shall build the new Iraq". Similarly, during a news report on Al-Diyar's "Economic Files" within the 1130 newscast carried on 5 July 2005, Al-Diyar General Director Faysal al-Yasiri was quoted as saying: "The aim of Al-Diyar Satellite Channel since its establishment has been to cover in full issues of concern and issues of importance to Iraqi citizens, as well as all matters that would help them come to grips with the major transformations that our country is undergoing." Observations 1. Newscasts rarely show video clips of security developments, be they attacks, bombings or killings; however, reports on security developments in Iraq are often carried against the backdrop of still images. In addition, reports on the security situation are not given priority in the newscasts. This could be attributed to a number of reasons, mainly the fact that Al-Diyar has a limited number of correspondents and is largely an entertainment channel. 2. In its reporting on security issues, Al-Diyar TV station adopts a neutral stance. When reporting on the US and multinational forces in Iraq, it avoids using words such as "occupation" and uses the "presence" of the multinational and US forces in Iraq instead. This is probably due to the fact that Al-Diyar is "an independent satellite channel free from any religious or political influence", as stated on its website. In its daily press review, the station reads headlines, articles and commentaries from newspapers such as Baghdad, Al-Mada, Al-Mashriq, Al-Ittihad, Al-Sabah, Al-Dustur, Al-Mu'tamar, Al-Sabah al- Jadid, Al-Adalah, Al-Furat, Al-Sabah al-Jadid. Those papers generally adopt a moderate tone and anti-terror editorial line. 3. Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most important Shi'i leader, and his affiliates dominate news reporting, with video footage accompanying some related news stories. 4. The channel portrays itself as an "Arab channel with an Iraqi flavour" and as "the Pulse of Iraq," focusing in its newscasts on Iraqi affairs and low level local news. This goes as far as dedicating 50 per cent of the newscast to such domestic reports. As an example for emphasizing the "Iraqi flavour" in its programming, the 1130 newscast is called "Shaku Maku?" which is an _expression in the Iraqi dialect for "What's up?" Moreover, the channel carries various programmes on local traditions and handicrafts. 5. As part of its focus on local issues, newscasts usually include reports on everyday concerns, such as fuel and water shortages, blackouts and pollution. The channel also conducts investigative reports dedicated to these issues, which, in addition to the security situation, top people's concerns as evidenced in the short interviews conducted with average Iraqi citizens within "The Screen is Yours; Feel Free to Express Yourself." The latter is a programme aired on an ad hoc basis, during which polled citizens voice their concerns freely and without censorship. 6. Al-Diyar channel tries to highlight the "democratic" aspect of the current regime. A short video clip showing top Iraqi officials giving speeches and news conferences as well as Iraqis casting their ballots is frequently aired before news summaries and newscasts several times throughout the day. 7. Al-Diyar promotes solidarity and unity among Iraqis and urges the public to stand firm against acts of sabotage. This is evident through the frequent and regular promotions on informing authorities on acts of terror, rebuilding Iraq, as well as public announcements on electricity. 8. Since it is largely an entertainment channel, Al-Diyar channel usually carries Arabic and American drama series and very few political talk shows. 9. As part of its 1130 newscast, the channel regularly carries a four- minute segment called "Issue and Comment," where the host, Bahjat Abd al-Qadir, puts forward a topic for discussion and states "Al-Diyar's Viewpoint" regarding that issue. The issues touched upon in this segment are usually of a domestic nature. Regular programmes Economic: 1. Economic Files: Saturdays, 1800; a programme presented by Dr Sattar al-Bayyati. Political: 1. End of Week: Fridays, 1405; a weekly programme presented by Afaf Mahdi and Maha al-Marsumi. It includes reports on local issues followed by video reports by the channel's correspondents. 2. Press Review: A daily programme carried at 1330. News headlines and articles are usually read from the following newspapers: Baghdad, Al- Mada, Al-Mashriq, Al-Ittihad, Al-Sabah, Al-Dustur, Al-Mu'tamar, Al- Sabah al-Jadid, Al-Adalah, Al-Furat, Al-Sabah al-Jadid. Social: 1. Together on the Road: A programme presented by Dr Nuran al-Ma'ruf at 1750 on Mondays. Newscasts and News Summaries: 0630: News summary (5 minutes) 0930: News summary (5 minutes) 1130: Newscast, including "Issue and Comment," an economic bulletin, and sports report. (60 minutes) 1330: News summary 1530: Newscast, including a rebroadcast of "Issue and Comment," an economic bulletin, and sports report. (60 minutes) 2030: Rebroadcast of the 1530 gmt newscast. Satellite transmission details Arabsat 26 degrees east; frequency 12589 MHz; vertical polarization; symbol rate 4220; FEC 3/4. Hotbird 13 degrees east; frequency 10723 MHz; horizontal polarization; symbol rate 29900; FEC 3/4. Nilesat 7 degrees west; frequency 11881 MHz; horizontal polarization; symbol rate 27500; FEC 3/4. Al-Diyar channel signs on at 0600 gmt and ends transmission at 2300 gmt. Conclusion Al-Diyar Satellite Channel is an entertainment and news channel, focusing mainly on Iraqi issues and local news, which falls in line with the channel's own characterization, "an Arab Channel with an Iraqi Flavour". Similarly, the channel dedicates special attention to local issues, conducting frequent investigative reports where people are given the opportunity to voice their concerns. Al-Diyar is an independent channel and tends to maintain a neutral stance on local security issues, opting for moderation in its reporting approach. The channel's regular promotions on unity and solidarity mirror its commitment to a unified and democratic Iraq. Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Aug 05 (via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. FM stations audible in Amman, Jordan, websites: JORDAN ** JORDAN [and non]. SURVEY OF AMMAN FM RADIO AND WEB STREAMING BBC Monitoring undertook a listening survey of the VHF/FM radio band in Amman between 0900-1300 gmt on 13 August 2005, and researched the associated radio station websites. The following results were obtained, please note that all frequencies are expressed in MegaHertz (MHz) and programming was in Arabic unless otherwise indicated. 88.0 - Radio Jordan General Programme Website: http://www.jrtv.jo - live audio stream available 89.6 - Radio Bethlehem 2000 Website: http://www.radiobethlehem2000.com - live audio stream available 90.0 - Radio Jordan French Service Website: http://www.jrtv.jo - live audio stream available 91.5 - Radio Amwaj, Ramallah Website: http://amwaj.al-carma.com - under construction 92.0 - Mood FM (in English), Amman Website: http://www.mood.fm - under construction 92.4 - Radio Ammannet, Amman Website: http://www.ammannet.net - live audio stream available 93.1 - Radio Jordan Koran Service Website: http://www.jrtv.jo 94.2 - Radio Sawa, Ramallah (US-based) Website: http://www.radiosawa.com - live audio stream available 95.0 - Voice of Israel Network B (in Hebrew) Website: http://bet.iba.org.il - live audio stream available 95.3 - Mazaj FM, Amman Website: http://www.mazajfm.com - under construction 96.3 - Radio Jordan English Service Website: http://www.jrtv.jo - live audio stream available 96.6 - IDF Radio, Israel (in Hebrew) Website: http://glz.msn.co.il - live audio stream available 97.1 - Ahlen FM, Amman (in English) Website: http://www.ahlenfm.com - live audio stream available 97.4 - Radio Monte Carlo - Middle East, Amman (France-based) Website: http://www.rmc-mo.com - live audio stream available 98.1 - Radio Sawa, Amman (US-based) Website: http://www.radiosawa.com - live audio stream available 98.4 - Voice of Israel Network A (in Hebrew) Website: aleph.iba.org.il - live audio stream available 99.0 - Amman FM (Radio Jordan) Website: http://www.jrtv.jo - live audio stream available 99.6 - Play FM, Amman (in English) Website: http://www.play.jo - live audio stream available 99.9 - Rotana FM, Amman Website: None found 100.6 - Marah Radio, Hebron Website: None found 101.3 - Voice of Israel Network Reqa (multilingual) Website: reka.iba.org.il - live audio stream available 101.5 - Voice of Tomorrow, Amman (Lebanon-based) Website: http://www.sawtelghad.com - live audio stream available 102.1 - Fann FM, Amman Website: http://www.radiofann.com - live audio stream available 102.5 - Beat FM, Amman (in English) Website: http://www.mybeat.fm - under construction 103.1 - BBC World Service, Amman Website: http://www.bbcarabic.com - live audio stream available 103.4 - Radio Ajyal, Ramallah Website: http://www.radioajyal.com - live audio stream available 104.2 - Fann FM, Amman Website: http://www.radiofann.com - live audio stream available 105.4 - Fann FM, Petra Website: http://www.radiofann.com - live audio stream available 106.0 - Voice of Israel Network B (in Hebrew) Website: bet.iba.org.il - live audio stream available 106.7 - Panorama FM, Amman (UAE-based) Website: http://www.panorama.fm - live audio stream available 107.2 - Radio All For Peace (in Arabic/Hebrew/English) Website: http://www.allforpeace.org - live audio stream available 108.0 - Radio Tariq al-Mahabbeh, Nablus Website: http://www.tmfm.net - live audio stream available Source: BBC Monitoring research 13 Aug 05 (via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. NORTH KOREAN LEADER MEETS WASHINGTON TIMES CHIEF [Moony] | Text of report by North Korean radio on 16 August Great leader [widaehan ryo'ngdoja] Comrade Kim Jong-il received the president of the US newspaper Washington Times. On 16 August, Comrade Kim Jong-il, great leader of our party and people, received President Chu Tong-mun [Dong Moon Joo] of the US newspaper Washington Times, who is visiting Pyongyang. The president congratulated Comrade Kim Jong-il on the 60th anniversary of the fatherland's liberation during the meeting. Comrade Kim Jong-il welcomed the president's visit to Pyongyang and warmly conversed with him, and posed with him for a commemorative photograph. Source: Central Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang, in Korean 1200 gmt 16 Aug 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) Now there would be an unbeatable pair, Kim Jong-il and another cult leader, Sun Yung Moon. And they even speak each other`s language (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 4782.5 kHz, R. Mali, Kati, 15 AUG 2217-..., Vernacular, folk tunes; 54433, adjacent utility QRM; // 5995 at 54444 with adjacent QRM de DRM signal on 5985 (also affecting Brasil's R.Senado). 7286.3 kHz, R. Mali, Kati, audible on 05 AUG 1417-1510, Vernacular, talks; 25442 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 7245 kHz, R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, observed on 02 AUG 1401-1638, French, news, etc., prayer at 1525; 34332, adjacent QRM de DRM sig. 7240. While that, also active on 4845 evenings (typically putting S9+40 dB) plus on 783 kHz noted on 09 AUG 2207-2219 @ 54444 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. NOTICIAS DE RADIO BEMBA EMISORA LIBERTARIA DE MEXICO [95.5 Hermosillo, Sonora] Hola Dario, una sorpresa tu correo, pues mira realmente tienes apreció por la radio! Te cuento que Radiobemba al igual que la radio de Huayacocotla somos un grupo de 12 emisoras que apenas estamos estrenando permiso; en Mèxico sòlo existían radios comerciales o radios del Estado, por lo que el concepto de radio ciudadana o comunitaria no era reconocido hasta la entraga de estos permisos. Radiobemba al igual que estas emisoras que te comento empezamos como radios libres, sin permiso en el caso nuestro; fueron 4 años de esa forma hasta la obtención de título. Hoy día estamos a punto de reiniciar como permisionados, imanate; empezamos con 1 watt, hoy nos autorizarón 4,000! Por lo que ahora estamos con los preparativos. Nuestro distintivo de llamada es XHCDE, en la frecuencia 95.5 de Hermosillo. No conozco personalmente a la gente de Radio Popolare, pero hace unos años un italiano estuvo en Mèxico en un proyecto hermano nuestro La voladora; él al parecer participa en Radio Sherwood de Padoa, Italia. Para conseguir una playera lo mejor serà que nos visites! Igual aquí tenemos espacio por si necesitas alojamiento; el día 30 de septiembre haremos una inaguración en grande (aun que previamente estaremos al aire). Bueno, hasta acà un saludo y esperamos que también nos visites. Carlos Aparicio, RadioBemba FM, http://radiobembafm.org/ http://radiomexicana.tripod.com.mx/radiocomunitaria/id1.html (via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. If my memory is correct, PJB powered down from 500 kW [on 800 kHz] because the electrical drain on Bonaire's power grid was too great. When they powered down, they went directional to hit their core audience (Bob Galerstein, WB2VGD, Morris Plains, NJ, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 7275 kHz, R. Nigeria, Abuja, noted on 09 AUG 1240-..., Vernancular, few talks, music; 15331 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: GUSH QATIF SETTLERS RADIO AVAILABLE ONLINE A new radio station for the settlers of the Gush Qatif settlement bloc in the southern Gaza Strip, Voice of Qatif, is available on an audio stream from the settler's website at http://www.katif.net The audio stream was observed by BBC Monitoring on 12 August 2005, commencing online at 1007 gmt and going offline at 1538 gmt. Programming mainly consisted of phone-ins and music presented in Hebrew, with identification announcements typically as "Radio Kol Qatif, me'ah ve shesh FM" (Radio Voice of Qatif, 106 FM) or simply "Radio Me'ah ve Shesh FM". The station is operated by the Gush Qatif settlers group and broadcasts illegally on 106.0 MHz FM to the southern Gaza area, from broadcasting facilities believed to be located in the Neve Dekalim settlement.The organization's website is in both English and Hebrew, although currently only the Hebrew section has a link to the audio stream. The stream is also accessible from the Kodesh TV website at http://www.kodesh.tv/kya.htm Source: BBC Monitoring research 12 Aug 05 (via BBCM Aug 17, DXLD) GAZA SETTLERS' PIRATE RADIO STATION OFF THE AIR Kol Katif (Voice of Katif), the pirate radio station set up by settlers opposed to the Israeli withdawal from Gaza, has been suspended, according to the website which has been carrying their audio feed. In a message, the operators say they will be back on the air as soon as possible. Last week, the Israeli government indicated that it would locate and close down the station. (Info via Nick Grace/Clandestine Radio Watch) # posted by Andy @ 17:07 UT Aug 17 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. SW experimental transmissions to Europe - RDP International. Dear listeners, During an experimental period, the frequency 13590 kHz to Europe has been replaced by the frequency 13770 kHz (period 1600-1900h UT Monday to Friday and 1400-2000h UT on Saturday and Sunday). Please let us know, if possible, the reception conditions on this frequency. Thanking you in advance, we remain Yours sincerely, Isabel Saraiva isabelsaraiva@rdp.pt Intercâmbio e Contacto/RDP Antenas Internacionais (via Roberto Scaglione, dxldyg via DXLD) I thought it was the other way around? 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, 1330 UT Aug 17, ibid.) Maybe they have now moved back, correcting the error? (gh, DXLD) Good evening, Wolfgang! Yes, it seems Mrs. Saraiva made a mistake. It's Mrs. Teresa Abreu, who's an electronics engineer, who must know every detail, but for some unknown reason her colleague got it all wrong!!! Best 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Aug 17 at 1815 13590 is giving decent signal of RDP International in Portuguese. Nothing on 13770 (Jari Savolainen in Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Victoria Sepciu, de RRI Radio Rumanía Internacional, me ha comunicado personalmente que ha finalizado su colaboración con RRI el pasado día 15 de agosto. A mi modo de entender, se trata de una pérdida lamentable ya que era una buena amiga de nosotros, los diexistas y ahora deja la emisora. Saludos (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, COORDINADOR GENERAL, AER http://www.aer-dx.org Noticias DX via DXLD) Hola Pedro: Muy lamentable esta noticia; hace unos meses sucedió algo parecido con ella pero llegaron a un acuerdo y parece que no le cumplieron lo prometido. De mi parte extrañaré mucho a esa gran amiga y su forma peculiar de hacer su "Club de oyentes y Rincón Diexista". Le deseo lo mejor donde quiera que vaya! (Dino Bloise, Florida, EEUU, condiglist via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIA'S NEW ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWS CHANNEL LAUNCHES WEBSITE Russia's planned English-language news channel, Russia Today, has launches its website. Initially, there is just a single page on which the station's Chief Editor, Margarita Simonyan, explains the mission of the station: Russia has launched a new, round-the-clock, English-language television news project called Russia Today. It will be broadcast in the U.S., Europe, Russia, the CIS, and several Asian states and is the first project of its kind undertaken in Russia. We carefully studied the experience of countries that have national networks broadcasting to foreign states. The television channels CNN, BBC World, Euronews, and Al Jazeera are well known throughout the world. Germany, Japan, China, Italy, Israel, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and many other countries also broadcast television shows in English. The time has come for Russia, an increasingly dynamic participant in globalization, to appear in the international television medium. The Russia Today channel will promptly provide information about Russia to the general public abroad, giving people the opportunity to learn about the Russian perspective of world events, forming a positive image of Russia abroad, and creating a familiar information climate for compatriots living outside Russia. The guidelines of the editorial policy will be elaborated by the Public Board of the new television channel comprised of prominent foreign and Russian public figures, journalists, artists, scientists, and business people. We plan to encourage foreign journalists to work as anchors, producers, and advisers for the new channel, but Russian journalists and technical personnel will make up the core of the staff. This is a challenging and ambitious project, but we are confident that we can suitably represent Russia on the international airwaves. Russia Today http://www.rttv.ru/index.html # posted by Andy @ 09:10 UT Aug 17 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Atentos a R. Eslovaquia --- Amigos radioescuchas, acabo de recibir el boletín de Radio Eslovaquia Internacional rsi_spanish @slovakradio.sk y dentro de una de las noticias figura un artículo que afecta a la radio eslovaca: El Gobierno sesiona después de un mes de vacaciones El Gabinete de Mikuláš Dzurinda se reúne después de un mes de vacaciones teniendo planeado tratar 50 puntos en su sesión de hoy... Otro punto de relevancia a ser deliberado en la sesión del Gabinete es la solicitud del ministro de Cultura, František Tóth, de que sean elevadas las partidas del presupuesto estatal destinadas a su sector. Según ha dicho, requiere más contribuciones del Estado para poder financiar, sobre todo, sus proyectos prioritarios. Para nosotros resulta muy importante, dado que entre las prioridades del ministerio de Cultura figura también la Radio Eslovaca. --- Saludos y buenos DX's 73 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, Aug 17, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Checking REE 17595, 23 hours after the horrible mess reported August 16: at 1357 August 17 it was back to normal, thankfully (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. See UGANDA ** TAIWAN [non]. Corte en RTI --- Saludos cordiales amigos radioescuchas: Viene en la página web de Radio Taiwán Internacional http://www.cbs.org.tw/spanish/Novedades/Content.aspx?id=209 2005/08/17 Interrupción de programas Debido a la falla del transmisor de Family Radio de EEUU, se suspendió la transmisión de: 15/agosto, 15130 kHz, 17805 kHz, UT 2300-0000. Rogamos disculpen las molestias --- Saludos y buenos DX's 73 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, Aug 17, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** TANZANIA. 5050.1 kHz, R. Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, audible on 03 AUG 1825-1855, Swahili, talks, music, African tunes; 45433 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOT, 15225, fair with continuous Turkish music at 1315 Aug 17, 1324 brief closing announcement in English and a couple minutes of their wonderful IS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not 1415+ as I mistakenly posted on yg (gh) ** UGANDA. 4976 kHz, R. Uganda, Kampala, noted on 15 AUG 2212-2223, Vernacular, African songs; 45433, but noisy audio and distorted modulation (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On later than usual? 2100 UT = midnight local and sign-off listed in WRTH 2005y is 2105. Needless to say (then why am I saying it?) the later they stay on, the better for possible evening reception in North America (gh, DXLD) ** UGANDA. ANALYSIS: UGANDA'S SUSPENSION OF KFM RADIO FUELS DEBATE ON MEDIA FREEDOM | Text of editorial analysis by Ian Liston-Smith of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 17 August Kampala's KFM radio station had its licence suspended by the Broadcasting Council of Uganda on 11 August until further notice. This followed a programme broadcast the previous evening titled "Tonight with Andrew Mwenda Live". Andrew Mwenda hosted a heated discussion about the events leading up to and following the deaths in a helicopter crash of the newly sworn-in Sudanese vice-president, John Garang, six Sudanese officials and the seven Ugandan crew. Garang's death sparked rioting in Khartoum and Juba in which at least 130 people died. Since the crash, the Ugandan media have been full of speculation and conspiracy theories as to its cause; even President Yoweri Museveni is reported to have said that it may not have been an accident, but told the media not to speculate on its cause. Background The crash occurred in the Amatonj Mountains near the Ugandan border late on Saturday 30 July when the Ugandan Mi-172 presidential helicopter was taking Garang back to Sudan following a meeting with President Museveni of Uganda, and US and European diplomats. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. A memorial requiem mass was held in Kampala on 9 August for those who died in the crash. In his address on the occasion, Museveni said that he would not tolerate any newspaper which "plays" with regional security issues. The president named three publications which he said were guilty of this, amongst them the independent newspaper the Daily Monitor, and singled out Andrew Mwenda, who writes for the publication. Museveni belittled Mwenda, describing him as a "young boy" and said "he must stop" his controversial writing. In his programme on 10 August, Mwenda discussed the justification for that day's national day of mourning, to honour those who died in the crash, and speculated on its cause, suggesting the helicopter was in poor condition and that Garang's safety was put in danger by the Ugandan government. He also played a recording of the president's attack on him and followed this by saying he would not stop his reporting and dared Museveni to close the Daily Monitor, adding that if the president did, he "will seek his job". Among those taking part in the programme was Moses Byaruhanga, special presidential political assistant, who said: "Fine, you continue what you are doing and wait and see." Suspension notice The next day, two officials from the Broadcasting Council entered the station's offices and handed the notice announcing the suspension of KFM's licence to the station's chief executive, Conrad Nkutu. Monitor Publications publishes the Daily Monitor and operates KFM (transmitting on 93.3 MHz and formerly known as Monitor FM). The notice read: "Following receipt of numerous complaints and listening to the recording of your programme 'Andrew Mwenda Live' of 10 August, 2005 aired between 7 and 8 p.m., the Broadcasting Council has on surface discovered that the programme prima-facie offends the minimum broadcasting standards enshrined in the first schedule of the Electronic Media Act CAP 104 2000. The Broadcasting Council has decided to suspend your broadcasting licence in order to carry out further investigations into the matter". Nkutu questioned the legality of the Broadcasting Council's action, but made a brief on-air announcement explaining the situation to listeners and advertisers and then closed the station. KFM and the Daily Monitor are part of the Kenya-based Nation Media Group. In the Daily Monitor's editorial in the following day, the paper protested against the station's closure, but conceded that "as a responsible media house we are open to suggestions and improvements". The editorial stressed its support for national security, but called on President Museveni to respect the constitution, adding that the council should have suspended only the programme and then initiated talks with the station. Detained for "sedition" Andrew Mwenda was detained for questioning at the CID headquarters in Kampala on 12 August and charged with sedition. Mwenda denies the charge, saying the constitution guarantees free speech. He was freed on 15 August after colleagues paid bail of 10.5m shillings (about 6,000 dollars). Mwenda's next hearing is set for 29 August. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in jail. This is not the first time the Monitor Group has received the attention of the Museveni government; in 2002 the Daily Monitor was temporarily closed by the information minister. Further government statements The Daily Monitor reported the minister of state for information, James Nsaba Buturo, as saying that not too much should be made of the case and that the Broadcasting Council would meet to try and resolve the issue. Buturo also stated that it is the duty of the council to ensure that the media operate within the law. Radio Uganda on 15 August reported that Buturo said the implications of the claims by Mwenda could be far-reaching if they were believed by the Sudanese people. The state minister for general duties in the prime minister's office, Mondo Kagonyera said that despite the closure of KFM, the government was committed to promoting press freedom. "I want to assure parliament and the general public that the future of the media is bright and it's getting brighter. The press is free in this country, but it is free to report responsibly. If they want to be freer they must assure the public that they are responsible. The freedom of the press is guaranteed." Wider reaction The Daily Monitor on 12 August reported the wider reaction from the following: The executive director of the Uganda Human Rights Initiative, Livingstone Sewanyana said: "Freedom of speech and _expression including freedom of press and other media is guaranteed by [the] Constitution and is not a privilege handed down by the state." The Uganda Journalists' Association says that the Broadcasting Commission does not have the powers to close KFM and the UJA's president, Ahmed Kateregga, said the closure was a "clear attempt to muzzle freedom of expression". The article also reported the president of the Uganda Law Society, Moses Adriko: the closure of KFM should have been a last resort. Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontières had a similar reaction. On 12 August their website stated: "Silencing a radio station is a serious action that aggravates problems rather than resolving them [...] Regardless of the charges against a news media or the gravity of the political context, we call on the body that regulates Uganda's broadcast media to put dialogue before repression and to give journalists a chance to express their views before pronouncing sanctions. Clearly issued under the impact of President Yoweri Museveni's threatening comments against the media, this ban on KFM is an extraordinary punitive measure and worries us, and we call on the president to realize that such authoritarian measures undermine democracies." A dissenting opinion, however, was published on Kampala's The New Vision newspaper website. It stated that Mwenda's radio show had clearly "exceeded the parameters of responsible journalism" by his stressing his opinion that Ugandan authorities had a role in the crash. The New Vision added: "You don't have to be a political scientist to predict what the Sudanese could do to Uganda, after hearing this from an otherwise respected Ugandan medium". Possible reopening Mwenda has reportedly apologized for his "intemperate" remarks on his radio show. Stalemate followed a meeting on 12 August between KFM's management and the Broadcasting Council. Since then, talks have continued and the Daily Monitor website reported on 16 August that the Broadcasting Council says "it should be possible to reopen the station in the next couple of days." Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 Aug 05 (via DXLD) ** U K. BBC SLAMMED OVER CANADIAN DISPUTE http://www.bectu.org.uk/news/gen/ng0226.html Locked-out union members picket CBC's HQ in Toronto. [caption] Unions have condemned the BBC for taking sides in an industrial dispute at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Since CBC locked out its 5,500 union workforce on Monday August 15, news programmes from BBC World have been broadcast across Canada to fill gaps in schedules caused by the lockout. CBC's main TV channel has replaced all its normal bulletins with feeds from the BBC, and its news channel has increased the number of BBC-provided bulletins it transmits to six a day. In a letter sent to the BBC sent today, August 17, BECTU and the NUJ accused the Corporation of undermining union members in Canada by helping to keep CBC on the air, and warned that serious damage was being done to the BBC's reputation. Lise Lareau, President of the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) which represents the locked-out workers, said: "The BBC runs the risk of losing its international status as an impartial and highly regarded news service by so openly being associated with one side in a dispute between CBC and its staff. People in Britain and elsewhere should be concerned about this." The BBC's two main unions have demanded an urgent meeting with top managers to discuss the issue, and will be urging the Corporation to cut the lifeline that has allowed CBC to avoid blank screens while its staff stand on picket lines. Martin Spence, BECTU Assistant General Secretary, said: "The BBC's support for a broadcaster who has locked out its staff rather than talk to them can only make CBC management bolder, and will probably lengthen a dispute that should never have happened in the first place. The last thing the BBC needs is this kind of damage to its reputation at a time when the debate about its own future is beginning". CBC's move to lock out its workforce came after talks between Canada's main public broadcaster and CMG collapsed due to differences over the use of staff on short term contracts. Managers wanted the union to accept a new collective agreement which would allow the level of contract staff in CBC, currently almost 30% according to the Guild once casuals were included, to be significantly increased, allowing contract workers to replace permanent staff as vacancies occur. By comparison, the BBC itself consciously reduced the incidence of contract working, with union support, from 24% of its workforce in 2000 to less than 14% by 2004. CBC management have been accused by the Canadian Media Guild of demanding impossible concessions from the union as part of a pre-conceived plan to engineer a workforce that was "mostly temporary". The union has also emphasised the long-term damage that will be done to public service broadcasting in Canada if CBC protracts the current lockout. More information from Lise Lareau: 00 1 416 591 5333 Letter from BECTU and NUJ to BBC management: Gillian Alford, BBC People, London 17 August 2005 Dear Gillian, We are writing on behalf of the NUJ and BECTU to seek an urgent meeting to discuss the use of BBC material by CBC management during the course of the current dispute at the corporation. BBC journalists in Canada and Canadian unions allege that the BBC is supplying additional material to CBC which is being used to replace regular news programmes and is thereby taking sides in the industrial dispute and undermining the rights of Canadian media workers. We understand there have been a number of newspaper articles in Canada critical of the BBCs role in the dispute and questioning its partisan approach in being seen to back the management position. A number of BBC workers are already refusing to do handoffs for CBC. Some have sought advice about withdrawing their permission for their material to be used by the BBC if it is then going to be used by CBC. BECTU and the NUJ would like an urgent meeting to discuss the dispute and the BBCs role. In particular we want to know if the BBC has received any requests from CBC management to increase the use of BBC material, what permissions have been given, what financial considerations are involved, and what action the BBC proposes to take to ensure that the BBC is not seen to be taking sides. We look forward to your early response. Yours sincerely Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, NUJ Martin Spence, Assistant General Secretary, BECTU 17 August 2005 (BECTU News via Dan Say, BC, DXLD) Much more at CANADA ** U K. Re 5-139: Radio Anyone documentary If in North America and a Sirius satellite radio subscriber, this program also will be heard beginning at 9 pm EDT on Sirius channel 97. (John Figliozzi, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) --- The BBC Radio 1 Lamacq Documentary: Radio Anyone mentioned in DXLD 5-139, 30 minutes long, is already available online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/documentaries/radioanyone537p01.shtml (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe the entire Lamacq program itself runs four hours; but the documentary is only 30 minutes (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) ** U S A. WRMI is still carrying WRN during certain hours; Wed Aug 17 at 1409 a weak signal on 7385 was talking about Israel, but in a reasonable tone of voice you don`t get from gospel huxters, especially Brother Scare. Signal actually improved at 1420 recheck when talking about Cologne --- what else but DW, even after moving to the suburb of Bonn. I hope the city fathers in Köln realize how DW put that city on the world map. At 1440 recheck it was R. Sweden, both in accordance with the WRN North America schedule. As of Aug 17, the new WRMI program schedule still has not been posted at http://www.wrmi.net/pages/714011/index.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Dear Allen and Glenn: As you know, our new programming to Cuba that began this week is causing us to reduce the number of hours we broadcast to North America substantially. On weekends, we are going to be transmitting to Cuba/Latin America from 5-9 am, 12 noon-4 pm and 6 pm-12 midnight Eastern Time on 9955 kHz. So for afternoons and evenings, that only leaves us a two-hour window from 4-6 pm ET to North America on 7385 kHz. Therefore, we will move the DX programs up to that time block as of this coming Saturday the 20th. Specifically: 2100 UT Saturday - World of Radio - 7385 kHz 2130 UT Saturday - DX Party Line - 7385 kHz I am also hoping to get both programs on Sunday mornings somewhere around 1400 UT on the same frequency to North America. It may not happen this weekend, but hopefully by the next. We are also now airing Glenn's Spanish DX program Mundo Radial Sundays at 2345 UT on 9955 kHz to Latin America, and I am hoping a half-hour space will open up so we can get the DXPL on the Latin American beam as well. I am sorry about these sudden changes, but as you know we have needed a financial shot in the arm, which this new Cuban programming is giving us, and that will enable us to do a lot more things in the long run, such as get the second transmitter on air. I'll keep you up to date on any other significant changes. Many thanks for your understanding (Jeff White, WRMI, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Two WYFR transmitters down: see TAIWAN [non] ** U S A. VOA TV expands in INDONESIA: q.v. ** U S A. PATRIOTIC SENATORS CONTACT OMB Dateline: WASHINGTON, 08/17/05. A group of fourteen Senators wrote to the Office of Management and Budget urging that office to: "instruct VOA to cease its efforts to transfer its overnight English language news writing function from federal employees in Washington, D.C. to contractors in Hong Kong." The letter appears below. Besides Senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski the following Senators also signed the letter: Patrick Leahy, Russell Feingold, Barack Obama, Barbara Boxer, Tom Harkin, John Kerry, Edward Kennedy, Richard Durbin, Charles Schumer, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, and Christopher Dodd http://www.afge1812.org/Content_Page_1.html (AFGE Local 1812 Aug 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. Making The Walls Transparent http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/starke ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ W.O.N.P.R. http://www.wonpr.org (Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* March On Washington Live on Harambee Radio, Thursday 8:00 PM EST to Midnight. [sic, surely EDT = UT Fri 0000-0400] Please tune in to The Harambee Radio Network on Thursday http://www.harambeeradio.com 8:00 PM EST to midnight. We will have a special four hour LIVE show that will cover all aspects of Saturday's event. We will have phone lines available to take your calls and get you on the air. 1-800-335-9818. If you have any questions that you want answered on the air, use aol instant messenger: harambee radio We will play some of the speeches made and give everyone a chance to be part of the dialog. I look forward to hearing from you all on Thursday Night 8:00 To Midnight. We want all the participants standing by for comment. Be there or be quiet. Join the Harambee staff Live. Dalani Aamon (via Kay Lee, GA, Enid Alternative via DXLD) This was the March on Washington for prison reform, i.a. (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. The Wandering KYNO-1300 --- KYNO-1300 Fresno, CA was down on 1299.7053 kHz last week Now they have moved to the high side. Here is the daytime lineup on 1300 kHz as of 1300 PDT 08/16/05: 1300.0001 KPTL Carson City, NV 1300.0345v KPMO Mendocino, CA 1300.1199v KYNO Fresno, CA Allied A-2515 receiver, Homebrew external sync detector, frequency measurement system, two 35 ft. Ewe antennas at 218 and 293 degrees, 6 ft. outdoor loop (Albert Lehr - Livermore, CA, Aug 16, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. WELCOME TO THE HARVEST MOON DRIVE-IN THEATER I thought you'd like to read about what it's like going there. http://www.readbuzz.com/news/2005/07/21/AroundTown/Welcome.To.The.Harvest.Moon.DriveIn.Theater-963732.shtml (Buzz Magazine via Curtis Sadowski, IL, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent International now using 5060 (ex 5025 kHz) for their half hourly English broadcasts at 2030 and 2130 UT. Also announced // 9715 and 11905 in their sign-on announcement - neither audible here. Very strong signal yesterday (15 Aug) and today - probably the strongest on 60 metres here. Feature yesterday evening on the "Uzbekistan-Switzerland Friendship Society". According to their announcer yesterday, Radio Tashkent has 120 such "Friendship clubs". Met up with Chris Greenway in the "Prince of Wales" this evening, who by strange coincidence had also tuned into exactly the same broadcast from Tashkent yesterday evening. On the basis of this, maybe we could form a Radio Tashkent - Caversham Friendship Society? 73s (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham, UK AOR 7030+ / longwire, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735 kHz, R. Tanzania-Zanzibar, Dole, logged on 09 AUG 1545-1611, Swahili, oriental songs, ID, newscast; 34443, adjacent QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 6612. Aug. 17, 0430. SINPO 25342. Myself welcome to the club: never before heard a 2nd harmonic "working" so well. No trace of // 3306. It would be a real pity when they fix that transmitter. Attractive vernacular tunes, combined with female announcer. No T- storms in the distance tonight (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Raúl, Don't think that Zimbabwe will get around to tuning its Shortwave facilities of 3300 for some time, so enjoy the 2nd harmonic (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, ibid.) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. Severe jamming of VOP, 7120 this evening 17 Aug at 1745. Someone out here doesn't like them that much. 7120 in the clear for most programing, the jammer just idling away which can heard on frequency. At 1745, all plugs put in by the jammers, a total 80 kHz wipeout of the frequency band in use, very, very severe. What is of note is that this jammer can block a wide range of frequencies within a centred one, i.e. 7120, therefore causing extremely difficult reception for modest radios. Also the jammer has the ability to control power level to the transmitter so enabling both to be able to monitor and then block a certain frequency. The jamming of VOP, to Zimbabwe 7120, 1700-1800 is for real --- and not kind to listen to (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe you said before that 1745 is when VOP start the English segment? (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. You may think DXLD carries a lot of material from BBC Monitoring, but it`s only a tiny fraxion of all the dispatches distributed every day. One more I am not going to reproduce is from the "Weekly media update" for 1-7 August, published by Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe on 11 August. It`s mostly about the print media, but does quote Studio 7 several times without identifying it as US-government-sponsored. The word ``radio`` never appears in the entire 2493-word document, and hence SW Radio Africa is never mentioned, nor is Voice of the People. One can only wonder if this be a true reflexion of the impact of these surrogate stations inside Zimbabwe (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1550.2 kHz, (as I previously reported too) Silent carrier noted again on 09 AUG 2149-...; 33442, adjacent QRM & Brazilian station audible underneath. Some DF with my Beverages and on the ground K9AY indicate it's probably coming from the Southwest, but it still remains to be ascertained whether it's W. Sahara, which, by the way, continues active on 700 & 7460 kHz - and if it really is the Polisario, then the level of this signal is well below the one they had on 1550.0 kHz (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7535, Aug 17 at 1408, caught brief military-sounding 2- way transmission in English on AM, then some digital sounds. Bears some further checking. This frequency used to be on the schedule at night of some US SWBC station, WSHB? But I see in A-05 FCC no stations are authorized on it at any time. Nor are there anywhere in the incomplete HFCC world for A-05. It appears USG is forcing more and more SWBC OOB stations back inband (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 12121, some strong and steady CW caught my ear, outside the marine band, obviously not hand-keyed, Aug 17 at 1328; I was listening for a DE but it was a long time in coming, and then I missed the ID but think it started with W- so not terribly exotic. For a while ran RYRYRYRY and KKKKKKK. This would be good for code practice (which I could always use). Klingenfuss 2002 SW Frequency Guide does not have anything on 12121 or nearby frequencies. Searching 12121 at the WUN Archives http://www.wunclub.com/archsearch.html only got three hits, SSB from Romania and Sweden (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ If you're looking for a phone number on a web site, you won't have to translate it. Every language uses the same symbols for numbers, including those using Chinese, Cyrillic, Arabic, Hebrew or whatever characters (Chuck Hutton, WA, NRC-AM via DXLD) And surprisingly, even if they write backwards, i.e., right to left, the numbers still appear in the order we use, left to right, even tho the one`s place is on the right, ten`s place next to the left, etc. However, Arabic certainly does have different numerals, as any philatelist will know. Why the ones we use are called ``Arabic`` is beyond me, except that they are closer to Arabic than to Roman! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ WKYC-DT-2 improved photos Several photographs of WKYC-DT are at the bottom of this page: http://www.geocities.com/doglethorpe/kvbc2.html (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, WTFDA via DXLD) Not exactly bottom. And a lot more about DTVDXing! (gh, DXLD) August 9 Es --- Forgive me for mentioning that DTV station in Cleveland again. I'm sure some of you are tired of my bragging. Hopefully, I'll be able to refrain from mentioning that subject after this post. As the list is slow, I will share a few details about the rather unusual Es of August 9, as I promised to do last week. At about 1150 CT, I had the channel 2 TV on. Although there had been no sign of DX, a strong, color signal popped in and stayed. It turned out to be WGRZ-2 Buffalo, with "Family Feud." Within a few minutes, the DTV snow began to appear. By 1158 WCMH-4 Columbus appeared, while WGRZ and the snow continued in control of channel 2. WGRZ was still in at 1200, with an ID. WCMH-4 is not a common catch here. WGRZ-2 and WIVB-4 from Buffalo are common. There was only a small amount of cci on WCMH's signal. It is unusual for me to have WGRZ-2 Buffalo and WCMH-4 Columbus at the same time, especially without WIVB-4 Buffalo making a good showing. As WGRZ and WDTN Dayton are both NBC, I'm not sure which was being covered by snow at 1208 when Cleveland's PSIP was received. When the snow slacked off, WDTN IDed at 1227. At 1237, WTTV-4 (WB4) Bloomington, which is just a little over 600 miles distance and not common here, was IDed. One of my most- frequently IDed Es targets, WJBK-2 Detroit (FOX2), IDed at 1240. Channel 5 was active by 1200, but nothing was IDed. I kind of lost interest in the analogs for a while after the appearance of the Cleveland PSIP (Danny (Shreveport, LA) Oglethorpe, ibid.) BOSTON ACOUSTICS RECEPTER RADIO® HD AVAILABLE FALL 2005 Boston Acoustics Introduces Recepter Radio HD With HD Radio™ Technology by iBiquity Digital. This dynamic, next-generation HD Tabletop delivers enhanced audio quality, fidelity and reception, new information features - and The Boston Sound™. The Recepter Radio HD embodies the bright promise of HD Radio technology, which radically upgrades sound quality while providing new wireless data services by allowing digital broadcasts to be transmitted over existing AM/FM radio bands. A PDF brochure is available at: http://www.bostonacoustics.com/newproduct/HDRR_NPA.pdf It won't be cheap. The word floating is $499.00. With more manufacturers, and wider acceptance, the prices will drop. This not be a radio for the "common" man for a while to come (Pete, KZ1Z Kemp, NRC-AM via DXLD) Imagine that? We can listen to Rush Limbaugh bellow, stutter and rant in startlingly clear digital sound! Wow that makes me want to run out and buy one today. That and hash on both sides of the carrier are the main selling points for me at this point (Bob Young, Millbury, MA, Hammarlund HQ-180C 4' loop/375' LW, ibid.) This radio was supposed to already be out. Another postponement of the release! (Powell E. Way III, Aug 17, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ Re: Really cheap GMRS radios Except at the bottom of the page they say they are sold out. Or I guess those are the models referred to... (Glenn to Will Martin, via DXLD) OOOPS! But I don't think it said that when I first looked at the page. I guess it was such a bargain that they all got sold in a day or so. This was in one of the e-mail ads Sportsman's Guide has been inundating me with; when I first accepted their offer to send e-mail, I was under the impression that I'd get one a week. Now it seems I get one (or more) a day (Will Martin, MO, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Follow-up on H.Res. 230 Some months ago, there was some publicity about House Resolution 230 which would express the wishes of the House that the FCC reconsider and revise rules regarding BPL due to the interference issues. I wrote my representative about it and he acknowledged receipt of my e-mail. I just received a follow-up letter from his office that said that HR 230 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and that no further action has been taken. This may or may not mean that it is dead, but that's what the current status is. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ NASA SCIENTISTS CLOSER TO TIMELY SPACE WEATHER FORECASTS Erica Hupp, Headquarters, Washington August 16, 2005 (Phone: 202/358-1237) Bill Steigerwald, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. (Phone: 301/286-5017) Buddy Nelson, Lockheed Martin, Palo Alto, Calif. (Phone: 510/797-0349) RELEASE: 05-226 Scientists funded by NASA have made big strides in learning how to forecast "all clear" periods, when severe space weather is unlikely. The forecasts are important because radiation from particles from the sun associated with large solar flares can be hazardous to unprotected astronauts, airplane occupants and satellites. "We have a much better insight into what causes the strongest, most dangerous solar flares, and how to develop forecasts that can predict an 'all clear' for significant space weather, for longer periods," said Dr. Karel Schrijver of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (ATC), Palo Alto, Calif. He is lead author of a paper about the research published in the Astrophysical Journal. Solar flares are violent explosions in the atmosphere of the sun caused by the sudden release of magnetic energy. Like a rubber band twisted too tightly, stressed magnetic fields in the sun's atmosphere (corona) can suddenly snap to a new shape. They can release as much energy as one, 10 billion megaton nuclear bomb. Predicting space weather is a complicated problem. Solar forecasters focus principally on the complexity of solar magnetic field patterns to predict solar storms. This method is not always reliable, because solar storms require additional ingredients to occur. It has long been known large electrical currents must be present to power flares. Insight into the causes of the largest solar flares came in two steps. "First, we discovered characteristic patterns of magnetic field evolution associated with strong electrical currents in the solar atmosphere," said ATC's Dr. Marc DeRosa, co-author of the paper. "It is these strong electrical currents that drive solar flares." Subsequently, the authors discovered the regions most likely to flare had new magnetic fields merge into them that were clearly out of alignment with the existing field. This emerging field from the solar interior appears to induce even more current as it interacts with the existing field. The team also found flares do not necessarily occur immediately upon the emergence of a new magnetic field. Apparently the electrical currents must build up over several hours before the fireworks start. Predicting exactly when a flare will happen is like studying avalanches. They occur only after enough snow built up. Once the threshold is reached, the avalanche can happen anytime by processes not yet completely understood. "We found the current-carrying regions flare two to three times more often than the regions without large currents," Schrijver said. "Also, the average flare magnitude is three times greater for the group of active regions with large current systems than for the other group." The researchers made the discovery by comparing data about magnetic fields on the sun's surface to the sharpest extreme-ultraviolet images of the solar corona. The magnetic maps were from the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument on board Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft. SOHO is operated under a cooperative mission between the European Space Agency and NASA. The corona images were from the NASA Transition Region and Coronal Explorer spacecraft (TRACE). The team also used computer models of a three-dimensional solar magnetic field without electrical currents based on SOHO images. Differences between images and models indicated the presence of large electrical currents. "This is a result that is more than the sum of two individual missions," said Dr. Dick Fisher, Director of NASA's Sun-Solar System Connection Division. "It's not only interesting scientifically, but has broad implications for society." For imagery about the research on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/clear_weather.html For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html -end- (via Joe Buch, Aug 17, DXLD) ###