DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-158, September 8, 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 1286: Thu 2300 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Thu 2330 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 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 [confirmed active Thu but with 1285] Fri 2000 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru 1600 Sat] Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 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 1600 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 Sat 1600 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America (including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115) Sat 2100 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB 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 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1400 WOR WRMI 7385 [NEW] 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 Mon 1800 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru 1400 Tue] Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 2330 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually; temporary] Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours 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 Friday]: 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 1286 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1286 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1286.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1286.html [soon] WORLD OF RADIO 1286 in true SW sound of Alex`s mp3 (stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_09-07-05.m3u (download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_09-07-05.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO 1285 downloads in studio-quality mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1286h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1286.mp3 World of Radio 1286 is now ready for downloading and podcasting in various MP3 formats. Although I check the files to make sure they work, I would appreciate reports of any problems that I did not detect. The larger file size version is for downloading by the various radio stations around the world that re-broadcast the program. The podcast version is approximately 6.4 megs and recorded in 32 KBps but sounds just fine to my ears. http://www.obriensweb/com/wor.htm Podcast via http://www.obriensweb/com/wor.xml (Andy K3UK O`Brien, 0213 UT Sept 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO PODCAST: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml (currently available?: 1281, 1282, 1283, Extra 59, 1284, Extra 60, 1285, 1286) CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-08 from DXing.com: (stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0508.ram (download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0508.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0508.html [soon] ** AUSTRALIA. The ACA and the ABA are no more. On 1 July 2005, the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority merged to become the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The headlines on the website http://www.acma.gov.au/ are like mediawatch's (Rob Wise, Tasmania, Sept 8, ARDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Hello all! As Glenn Hauser quite correctly put it immediately after sending my 05 SEP report, my presumed logging ``CANADA (t) 9625 kHz CBC-No. Québec Sce. (presum.), Sackville, 26 AUG 1408-..., English, cricket match rpt.; 24432, adjc QRM de FIN 9630. I tried the following days, but the signal was typically weak. (Gonçalves)`` [not published in DXLD; I pointed out to him that CBC would not have cricket and that RA Darwin blocks it that hour even here --- gh] should be R. Australia instead, N O T the CBC, despite no Australian accent detected over the air that day. Again, thanks for your tip, Glenn. After days trying to log the station once more, they were again audible: AUSTRALIA, 9625 kHz. R. Australia (surely beamed to Asia), 08 SEP 1430-..., English, tennis reports, interviews, announcements; 43443 (best via LSB), adjacent QRM de YLE, Finland, 9630 kHz in Swedish. I've visited the ABC webpage http://www.radioaustralia.net.au which indicates the program should be sport, // to 9475 (getting adjacent QRDRM) & 11660 (both not audible). I'd say 9625 is via Darwin NT, not directly from Shepparton VIC - or am I wrong? [yes and no --- gh]. It's been some time since I last visited their page, and it seems it became even worse for those wanting to see a full, detailed schedule. Who doesn't miss the layout of the now old RA aerogrammes with the cangaroo image holding a microphone and where every detail was actually there! The CBC-Northern Québec Service via Sackville 9625 kHz is, however, audible at times right after sign-on and until it's blocked by some other station (the TRT used to be case). My latest recorded log on them during daytime was on 27 FEB'05 1240-1320; 35333 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also NEW ZEALAND ** BURMA [non]. 15480.00, Voice of Burma, via Almaty, Kazakhstan, 200 kW, 132 degrees, 1430-1530 UT, zone 49, ex-5910. Re report of Sep 7th, Dem. Voice of Burma was n o t varying, at least today. Signal only S=2 in Europe, but easy to follow, despite powerful BBC Skelton on upper flank 15485. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CP/Broadcast News byline strike from http://www.ottawaguild.ca/english/index.html CP/BN EMPLOYEES BACK LOCKED-OUT CBC COLLEAGUES Our Guild colleagues at Canadian Press and Broadcast News are being asked by their executive to remove bylines and sign-offs from all stories filed on Wednesday Sept. 7. The action is being taken in protest against the decision by managers of CP/BN to sell audio services to the CBC during the lockout. Many CP/BN editors and reporters are offended by that decision. They object to be used as ''virtual scabs'' against members of their own union. They want ''our locked-out colleagues at CBC to know that Guild members at CP/BN want no part of being scabs.'' (via Ricky Leong, AB, Sept 7, WORLD OF RADIO 1286, DXLD) CP/BN EMPLOYEES BACK LOCKED-OUT CBC COLLEAGUES --- September 06, 2005 Dear fellow CMGers: The decision by our management to ink an audio contract with CBC on the eve of the lockout upset and angered members of the Canadian Media Guild at the public broadcaster and many of you. Reporters and editors at CP/BN objected to being used as virtual scabs, especially against members of their own union. The Guild relayed our serious misgivings about the situation to CP/BN president Eric Morrison. We sought both clarification of the company's position and a meeting with him to discuss the issue. He declined to meet with us. However, human resources manager Paul Woods told us that CP/BN had pursued an audio contract with the CBC for several years and made a purely business and opportunistic decision when the occasion for a sale presented itself. Paul said CP/BN asked CBC to remove any BN identifiers from audio reports, something that did not happen on some occasions. Eric later reaffirmed to CBC the importance of stripping identifiers but the company made it clear there would be no change in the deal with CBC. The CMG Branch Presidents and Executive members unanimously agree that a strong, visible protest needs to be registered. CP/BN management needs to know that many of us were deeply offended by the decision to sell BN services to CBC when its managers have taken such aggressive action against fellow Guildsters. Our locked out colleagues at CBC need to know that Guild members at CP/BN want no part of being scabs. Finally, it is important to consider how we would feel if we were ever on the sidewalk and our colleagues at CBC were inadvertently put in the position we’re in – inadvertently siding with management against fellow union members ***Therefore your Branch Council and Executive is asking all CP/BN reporters on Wednesday Sept. 7 to refrain from adding bylines or sign- offs to any stories you do that day.*** If you have any questions or comments, please contact any of the branch representatives below or Kathy at the Guild office or myself. Sincerely, Colin Perkel; Gillian Livingston; Martin O’Hanlon – CP/BN Branch Executive Greg Joyce; Bob Weber; Roger Ward; Sandra Cordon; Pierre Roberge; Michael Tutton; - CP/BN Branch Council (CMG Sept 6 via DXLD) ** CANADA. UNDERGROUND RADIO [about locked-out CBC person Andy Barrie being on CIUT 89.5 instead] Wed Sep 07 05:08:43 EST [sic] 2005 http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1125957012381&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes (via Ricky Leong, AB, WORLD OF RADIO 1286, DXLD) ** CANADA. LOCKED-OUT CBC EMPLOYEES LAUNCH NEWS SITE Employees of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) locked out by management because of a labour dispute have launched a national news service on the Internet. "While managers are locked in CBC buildings, the talent left on the street by this lockout is doing everything it can to restore the national conversation," say CBCUnlocked.com [a.k.a. http://cbcunlocked.ca ]organizers. The site is produced by volunteers who are providing original news and features in both English and French. The organizers say the site delivers high-quality news and information that meets the same journalistic principles that Canadians expect from the real CBC. # posted by Andy @ 17:15 UT Sept 8 (Media Network blog via DXLD) I assumed this meant audio if not also video, but it is just text/html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Greve na Rádio Canadá prejudica produção do Canadá Direto 11/08/2005 Montreal - Os funcionários da rede de língua inglesa da rádio e televisão públicas do Canadá, a CBC, estão em greve. Enquanto essa disputa trabalhista não for resolvida, o "Canadá Direto" não terá mais acesso às reportagens feitas pela CBC. O programa continuará usando o material produzido em francês pela Radio-Canada na província de Québec, que, por fazer parte de um outro sindicato, não está em greve. Com a greve, o "Canadá Direto" perde também o direito de usar suas correspondentes em Vancouver e em Toronto. Ainda por conta da greve, o programa também perdeu as transmissões para o Brasil na freqüência de 11825 kHz às 2330 UT aos sábados e domingos. Fonte: Site do Programa Canadá Direto (SRDXC News, Brasil, Sept 7 via Noticias DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1286, DXLD) ** CHINA. RSF SAYS YAHOO GAVE CHINA DATA LEADING TO JAILING OF JOURNALIST Internet giant Yahoo supplied information to the Chinese government that led to the jailing of journalist Shi Tao for 10 years, international watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said today. The California-based company's Hong Kong subsidiary gave details to China's state security, which helped to identify and convict Shi, 37, the group said. Shi was sentenced in April for "leaking state secrets." Shi posted on the Internet a government order barring Chinese media from marking the 15th anniversary last year of the brutal 1989 crackdown on democracy activists at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Yahoo Hong Kong provided Chinese investigators with detailed information that apparently enabled them to link Shi's personal e-mail account and the specific message he sent to the IP address of his computer, the group said. The Paris-based watchdog cited the text of the verdict in the trial, which was carried by overseas Chinese websites. "Yahoo Hong Kong Holding Co. provided documents which showed that on April, 20, 2004 ... (Shi Tao) sent an email using this IP address ... and this telephone number ... at the Hunan Contemporary Business News," the verdict said, according to one website. A spokeswoman at Yahoo's Hong Kong office said the company did not have an immediate comment. "We're looking into this matter," she said. Yahoo, along with Google and Microsoft, have been accused of putting business ahead of integrity by succumbing to China's pressure and censoring sensitive information on its Chinese search engines, websites and blogs. The three portals are battling for a share of China's fast growing Internet market, which grew 18.4 percent year-on- year in the first half to 103 million users by the end of June. It makes China the second largest Internet user in the world after the United States. Last month, Yahoo agreed to buy 40 percent of China's Alibaba.com for one billion dollars in cash, the biggest investment by a foreign company in China's Internet sector. In 2002, Yahoo voluntarily signed the "Public Pledge on Self-Discipline for the China Internet Industry," agreeing to abide by Chinese censorship regulations. # posted by Andy @ 11:38 UT Sept 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CUBA. From 10/SEP/2005 to 1/OCT/2005 I will visit Cuba in order to investigate some local broadcasters in several provinces. Naturally I will visit Radio Habana Cuba. Best regard (Takayuki Inoue, Japan, http://www.malm-ecuador.com via DXLD) Don`t get thrown in jail as a suspected spy, like Ron Schatz was (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Re 5-157, New Cuban station on 600 instead of Rebelde I have checked 600 Urbano Noris, Holguín -- as per 2005 WRTH – several times this evening. It is coming into southeast Florida near local levels and has been carrying Radio Rebelde when I have listened -- // 1180 Villa María, Ciudad Habana, also usually quite strong. Cuban stations are rather fickle as to what network is carried on what broadcast outlet. There seems to have been several switches and mixing of networks lately. It is possible at different times the high power Holguín transmitter on 600 is not carrying R. Rebelde, though I did not hear that this evening (W. Curt Deegan, Boca Raton, (Southeast) Florida, HCDX via DXLD) Well, it`s hardly a ``new station`` if the same old 600 kHz transmitter happens to run a Rebelde FM ID, which may or may not be // Rebelde on AM (gh, DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 4960.41, Radio Cima, 0020 with minor audio problem, per Dave Valko tip, recheck 0250 carrier with no audio. 31 August (Robert Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium Sept 8 via DXLD) Had been inactive for quite some time (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS MEDIA NOTE 0500-0700 GMT 7 SEPTEMBER 05 Egyptian TV channels began to cover the presidential elections on election day from 0430 gmt, about half an hour before voting began. Egyptian Channel 1 TV broadcast correspondents' reports from polling stations in Alexandria, Al-Minufiyah and Al-Buhayra Governorates. It also showed a recording showing Husni Mubarak, incumbent president and National Democratic Party candidate, voting in a polling station in the Heliopolis district in Cairo. Mubarak was accompanied by his wife and his son, Jamal, who also cast their votes. Egyptian Channel 1 TV and Nile News TV showed advertisements urging people to go and vote, in addition to patriotic songs. They also interviewed journalists and professors who hailed the elections, in addition to Police General Department General Mahrus Shabayik on ways of securing the election process. Meanwhile, Egyptian radio broadcast advertisements stressing the importance of the presidential elections for Egypt's future. It also broadcast correspondents' reports from various polling stations to describe developments. There were also interviews with journalists, professors and citizens who spoke about the elections. Egyptian government-owned dailies carried headlines about the poll. Al-Ahram's headline said: "Today, Egypt elects its president through a direct free poll for the first time." Al-Akhbar said: "The people will say their word today." The headline of Al-Jumhuriyah was "The decision is for the people". Ruz al-Yusuf, an independent daily, ignored the elections in its main headlines and focused on the fire that broke out the day before yesterday in a theatre in Bani-Suwayf. It said: "Urgent investigation required into the disaster of the poor people theatre in Bani-Suwayf." Under this headline was another smaller headline referring to the elections saying: "Will the miracle take place?" Independent daily Al-Misri al-Yawm used the headline "Egyptians to choose their president today, and judicial escalation a few hours before the voting". Independent daily, Nahdat Misr said: "Thirty-two million voters to cast their votes today in 10,000 polling stations to choose the president of Egypt." Al-Ghad daily, the voice of the Al-Ghad Party, concentrated on the party's presidential candidate Ayman Nur in its headline, saying: "Today, the youths will resolve the result of the battle for Ayman Nur." Al-Ahrar, the daily of Al-Ahrar Party said: "MPs warn against the lack of integrity in the elections." The New Al-Wafd Party's Al-Wafd daily said: "Today, the people will say yes to Nu'man Jum'ah [the party's candidate]". Source: Channel 1 TV, Cairo, in Arabic 0700 gmt 7 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) EGYPTIAN ELECTION MEDIA NOTE 1000-1300 GMT 7 SEP 05 Egyptian state media continue their coverage of the presidential elections with the same tone and pace since the opening of the polling stations. The programmes consisted of interviews in studios with experts and academics, which did not raise any controversial issues regarding the poll and the way it had been covered and conducted. The programmes made frequent forays into the constituencies via their correspondents who reported factually on a "trouble-free" election. Citizens interviewed outside the polling stations confirmed this impression. Al-Yawm TV was the only media source to report on the demonstration against the poll by the opposition movement Kifayah in central Cairo. The station also reported election irregularities in Al-Minia, southern Egypt. The reporter said polling supervisors were handing the voters ballot papers already marked with the name of the chosen candidate they should vote for. Please note that national radio coverage was poorer compared to TV, with less election coverage and a lot less reporting by correspondents. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 7 Sep 05 (via DXLD) EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS MEDIA NOTE 1300-1600 GMT 7 SEP 05 Egypt's official state media continued its coverage of the presidential elections with the same tone throughout the day. Programming consisted of studio interviews and discussions with experts and analysts, who praised the election process and its significance, but did not address any of the reports of voting irregularities. There were frequent reports from polling stations reporting on the high voter turnout and the lack of "major trouble" across the country. Some people were interviewed outside polling stations, all of whom urged other Egyptians to vote, saying that the process was easy and transparent. Nile News satellite TV channel, in its 1300 gmt news bulletin, reported on the demonstrations in Cairo by the Kifayah (Enough) movement, showing some video footage of it. Nile News also quoted a BBC report that said that there was "no heavy security presence at the demonstrations". Private TV Al-Yawm, with a continuous live broadcast throughout the day, reported on the Kifayah demonstrations, with several reports and live broadcasts from the site of the demonstrations. A correspondent said that a "small" group of demonstrators, chanting pro-Mubarak slogans and carrying pictures of Mubarak, "stormed" the Kifayah demonstration. The footage showed people the pro-Mubarak demonstrators marching towards the Kifayah demonstrators. Al-Yawm TV also included live interviews with opposition officials, from Al-Ghad Party and New Wafd Party, who complained of voting irregularities in several areas across Egypt. An Al-Ghad member said that here had been voting irregularities in Al-Minya in southern Egypt, in Al-Munifiyah, north of Cairo, as well as violations in Cairo itself, with voters begin handed ballots that were already marked for President Husni Mubarak. Presidential candidate Rif'at al-Ajrudi called to complain that public sector employees were being bussed to polling stations to vote for Mubarak. National radio continued to air broadcasts from different areas across Egypt as well as urging people to vote, reminding them of the "historical magnitude" of the moment. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 7 Sep 05 (via DXLD) EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS MEDIA NOTE 1600-1900 GMT 7 SEP 05 Egyptian state-owned media have continued their coverage of the presidential elections in the same tone since the opening of the polling stations. The programmes consisted of interviews in studios with experts and academics, which mainly focused on the need for all Egyptians to vote, describing this participation as "a national duty". They also consisted of frequent correspondents' reports at polling stations in various Egyptian governorates. The reports included interviews with voters, who stressed their keenness to participate. At 1905 gmt, Egyptian Nile News and Channel 1 TV carried live footage from inside some polling stations showing the closure of the ballot boxes and their being sealed with red wax. The footage also showed employees arranging ballot papers prior to their sorting. Private satellite Al-Yawm TV continued its special coverage of the elections, focusing on complaints about irregularities. Some viewers called the programme to complain that they could not vote because they were not registered on the voter lists. The programme also interviewed officials from the ruling party and opposition parties. An Al-Ghad Party member called the programme and raised his concern over the intentions behind the Presidential Elections Commission's decision to retain the results for three days and announce them all at once, instead of announcing the results as they came in. A ruling party official denied any foul play in the light of what he called the full judicial supervision. National radios continued their coverage through interviews with correspondents all over Egypt to follow up the voting process. They stressed repeatedly that citizens should participate in the elections. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 7 Sep 05 (via DXLD) ** FINLAND. STATE RADIO/TV EMPLOYEES WALK OUT OVER JOB CUTS | Text of report by Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat website on 6 September Finnish State Broadcasting Company [YLE] radio and television programmes went off the air at two o'clock this afternoon, when employees walked off their jobs. Regular programming will not resume until midnight. The Finnish State Broadcasting Company made an announcement about the interruption of its programming by means of a rolling text message that appeared on television screens about 20 minutes before they went blank. The walkout by company employees is an _expression of their opposition to plans by the managers of the Finnish Broadcasting Company to make cuts in its staff for economic reasons. The entire programming staff took part in the walkout. On Monday [5 September] the Finnish Broadcasting Company announced that it was planning to reduce its current workforce by more than 400 people. With the exception of the text message telling about the walkout the television channels operated by the state broadcasting company went blank. The radio stations operated by the broadcasting company will continue to broadcast music. According to Heikki Luukkanen, who is the chairman of the programme workers of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, the purpose of the walkout is to make clear to the managers how the staff feels about the proposed job cuts. The walkout is also intended to ensure that the issues that are currently facing the company are thoroughly aired in the course of the round of negotiations that is slated to begin in early October. At just about the time that the employees of the broadcasting company were beginning their walkout Luukkanen announced over the phone: "We want to show the managers of the company that along with the reductions in staff we will be exercising restraint. I hope that we will at least be able to make sure that the forthcoming labour contract negotiations are conducted in a cordial spirit." Company managers were given no advance warning of the impending job action. Luukkanen said. "They got to know about it only when we began to walk out of here." Pekka Arponeva, the chairman of the technicians union of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, told the Finnish News Bureau that the decision with regard to the walkout was made at a meeting of the company's technical staff and programme workers earlier today. During the walkout Radio Suomi will serve as the channel that will be used by Finnish officials for making official bulletins known to the public, should this become necessary. According to the Finnish Broadcasting Company, from one to two hundred jobs are to be eliminated. At the present time, there are roughly 3,600 permanent employees working for the company. On Monday Mikael Jungner, the general manager of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, said that "we are trying to keep the number of termination notices to a minimum. As matters now stand, they are likely to affect from one to two hundred people." Source: Helsingin Sanomat website, Helsinki, in Finnish 6 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Dear Glenn, I forwarded your question of YLE R Finland`s cut off (1358 UT) on North American Service 15400 kHz before Nuntii Latini is over to their e-mail. I got a friendly answer in which they told that problem would be now over and the whole program would be transmitted also on this frequency in future (That means timings of programs --- I think that signing off will be still same 1358 UT). "Kiitos viestistä ja hyvästä huomiosta. Kyseisen lähetysjakson ohjelmien kestoa ja sijoittelua on nyt tarkistettu niin, että Nuntii Latinin pitäisi olla kuultavissa kokonaisuudessaan myös mainitulla Pohjois-Amerikan taajuudella. Ystävällisin terveisin, YLE Radio Finland" (Alpo Heinonen, Rovaniemi, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So I guess they will start it no later than 1353. Listened to 15400 a few minutes Sept 8 around 1345, when they usually seem to have some sacred choral music, but did not check at 1358 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Re DW, 5-157: If anyone told me that to listen to them any more I would need to spend 250 to 300 Euros to replace a radio I had, that worked perfectly well for every other station, I would just not listen to them anymore; does Senger intend to switch off the internet streaming as well? He said in January that he expects 1 million DRM receivers to be in use by the end of next year. People in the industry think radio is more important to the consumer than it actually is; in the main, consumers replace radios when they are broken. Unlike when I was young there are plenty other sources of home entertainment, mp3 players, more TV channels, computers, game consoles, etc. A lot of radio listening is now done in the car, yet none of the three car radios on display seem to have committed to an actual launch date for their product. The price point of 250 to 300 Euros is too high for mass sales as a new product. He is correct in thinking that if there are stations on digital that are not on analogue it serves to drive sales but not at that price point for one digital-only station (Mike Barraclough, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** GUAM. Hello, spent a few hours this morning at AWR here; one of the engineers showed me their updated system. Nothing is run by humans and it`s all computerized. The station has it set up for possible expansion at some later dates. The 5th transmitter is seldom used except if one of the others goes off line unexpectedly. The system is set up similar to where you have your computer set for playing music, as an example and goes down the lists. The engineer showed me a 1.2 gigawatt generator that was once used, and they are trying to get rid of it. Nobody has claimed it yet. I did catch their 11850 kHz transmission in English off my HT at 2030 UT. I mentioned to him that one of my shipmates seemed to think that nobody listens to HF any more, which he laughed at, as many of their listeners are millions of Chinese and Japanese, not to mention the other parts. 73's to the group (Larry Fields, n6hpx/kh2 enroute to Singapore soon, Sept 6, swl at qth.net via DXLD) I forgot to mention the situation where I mentioned there are no humans at the controls. There are about 7 or 8 control consoles that run each individual unit and if one has a sudden shut down in the transmitters, the computer calls the transmitter to come back on 3 times. If it fails to respond it brings on number 5 transmitter. This might take 5 minutes in its response period. Also one of the guys who was there last time I was at the station mentioned about some of the repairs they were making to the station. In par for the conversation he mentioned they make their own parts, except at the time he was telling me about their plans to purchase stainless steel bolts which were $160 apiece. They found a place that could make all 8 of the bolts they wanted for $200. Pretty neat stuff in the rooms, and one in particular was a map that had lots of pins of places that listen to `em; only a small amount were from the Eastern US, the rest were Asia and Middle East. Take care and will be busy in Singapore (Larry, n6hpx/kh2, ibid.) ** GUATEMALA. R. Verdad, 4053V, 1100 to 1130 not there for several recent mornings. Low power operation when broadcasting, 1 September (Bob Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** INDIA. Hello to all, Because All India Radio does not beam any of its General Overseas Services broadcasts to North America, I'll post here the times and frequencies that are strongest here in the Boston area. 13605 kHz at 1745-1945 UT, into French at 1945 (W. Africa); 9445 at 2045-2230 (W. Europe); 10330 kHz in Hindi 0025-0435 UT (fades out around 0200 UT, 2200 local)(Dan Malloy, MA, Sept 7, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SIRIUS COMMITS TO THE CRTC Sirius was required to commit within 150 days of the CRTC's decision regarding its willingness to abide by the CRTC's license terms. They formally accepted those terms today. 3 of the 4 French language channels will be music channels; Sirius states that's equivalent to 16 "conventional" French language radio stations. The only impediment (I believe) is whether or not the Heritage Ministry challenges the CRTC decision that authorized Sirius; that deadline is September 14. The government has not challenged CRTC decisions in recent years. Of course, it's somewhat of a pyrrhic victory for us in North America salivating for easier access to CBC Radio One --- since there is very little on Radio One right now due to the lockout. The PR from Sirius can be read here: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2005/06/c6329.html (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ODXA via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. USA: RED CROSS RADIO LAUNCHES ON XM FOR HURRICANE SURVIVORS, RESCUERS | Text of press release by Washington, DC-based satellite radio broadcaster XM Radio on 7 September The American Red Cross and XM Satellite Radio have joined forces to launch Red Cross Radio, a 24-hour, nationwide XM channel to provide help and information for Hurricane Katrina victims, Red Cross staff and volunteers along the Gulf Coast, and other Red Cross workers across the country. The newly-created Red Cross Radio (XM Channel 248) is broadcasting on XM Satellite Radio from coast to coast. It can be heard on all XM radios for the car, home, and portable use. XM is donating radios to the Red Cross for relief workers and aid stations. The Red Cross is using the XM radio channel to deliver information and announcements directly to workers in the field. In addition, the Red Cross is using the channel to send mass messages to staff across the country. Red Cross Radio is airing regular updates on relief efforts in the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Katrina, as well as the sites where victims have been relocated to receive Red Cross assistance. Listeners in the Gulf Coast area can find out how to receive help, and those who would like to contribute to the cause can learn how to make donations. In addition to Red Cross Radio, XM offers the XM Emergency Alert Channel (XM Channel 247), which tracked the hurricane's progress and now provides updates on clean-up, road closures, school closings, and other information from federal and local governments, law enforcement, and other agencies. Source: XM Radio press release, Washington DC, in English 7 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Coalition Maritime Radio One was heard today September 7 1610-1635 UT on 9133 kHz USB. Reception varied a lot, being good to poor. Station played music from the Middle East. From where does this transmission originate? From a ship in Bahrain waters? 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s what we think, or outside Bahrain waters cruising around the Gulf. They aren`t saying anything more definite (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Reshet Gimel LIVE webfeed! Reshet Gimel, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (Reshut Hashidur) Third Network, finally has a live feed on the web. This network is, as their logo states, is, "Rak Musica Yisraelit," "Only Israeli Music." This feed has been promised for quite a while, but had been delayed while legal issues were straightened out. The network broadcasts 24 hours a day. Looking at the schedule, it seems that 1:05 AM to 6 AM Israel time is auto-programmed music, as the responsible people are "Engineering", as opposed to having a human editor and DJ listed, as the other shows do. Broadcast programming schedule in Hebrew: http://gimmel.iba.org.il/radioshidurim/files/week1-gimmel.pdf Thursday at 5:05 PM - 8 PM Israel Time is the Reshet Gimel Israeli music countdown. The scheduled programs start at 5 past the hour, as the IBA networks start with approximately 5 minutes of news each hour. You can access the live feed from the IBA's "Media Window" English / Hebrew http://media.iba.org.il Or, the Reshet Gimel website: Hebrew Only http://gimmel.iba.org.il (Doni Rosenzweig, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Israel Time = UT +3 during DST, but that should be about over. When does it go back to UT +2? (gh, DXLD) Glenn, This year, the clock will be changed back to Standard time at 2 AM Israel time, on the 9th of October 2005. This is about the latest in the year that it will ever be changed, according to the way that the new law was written. The law says that: 'It would begin on the last Friday before April 2nd at 2 a.m., and end on the last Sunday before Yom Kippur (10th of Tishrei), also at 2 o'clock in the morning.' I decided that with my history of messing up the trivial calculations, I would leave that up to others when sending out email. :-) (Doni Rosenzweig, ibid.) ** KOREA SOUTH. Received a KBS World Radio, Kimjae QSL for a report on 8 May 2005, 15210, 1000-1030 UT in Spanish with broadcast to Europe, in 114 days for an email report to spanish @ kbs.co.kr My web page of QSLs at: http://web.tiscali.it/ondecorte/corea05.html 73s (Nino Marabello, Treviso, Italy, RX: SONY SW7600G, Ant. VHF outdoor at 250 degrees, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. Radio Nederland's Indonesian service was heard at 1127 on Sept. 5. Frequency was 21482.1 kHz. SINPO 25332. Talk by a man, but suddenly off at 1129. After 2 minutes of break, R. Nederland appeared on the right frequency 21480 kHz with strong signal. Anything trouble with its transmitter? (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) That was in the middle of a one-hour transmission with 250 kW at 85 degrees. More problems: see NETHERLANDS ANTILLES (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. IRCA MEXICAN LOG, 10TH EDITION (WINTER 2005) The IRCA MEXICAN LOG lists all AM stations in Mexico by frequency, including call letters, state, city, day/night power, slogans, schedule in UTC/GMT, formats, networks and notes. The call letter index gives call, frequency, city and state. The city index (listed by state, then city) includes frequency, call and day/night power. The transmitter site index (listed by state, then city) tabulates the latitude and longitude of transmitter sites. This is an indispensable reference for anyone who hears Mexican radio stations. Size is 8 1/2" x 11". Prices: IRCA/NRC members - $9.50 (US/Canada/Mexico/sea mail), $12.00 (rest of the Americas/Europe airmail), $12.50 (Australia/Japan/New Zealand airmail). Non-IRCA members - add $2.00. To order, send your funds to: IRCA Bookstore, 9705 Mary Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117-2334. (Please make checks out to Phil Bytheway --- funds not made out to Phil Bytheway will be returned). PayPal can be used. fokker_d8 @ yahoo.com is the email and PLEASE include an extra 0.50 to cover the service charge (Bytheway, Sept 7, IRCA, ABDX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Hola Glenn: en cuanto a la "C" que se escribe previa a el nombre del Presidente, efectivamente quiere decir "ciudadano"; esto se utiliza no solo para el Presidente sino para muchos otros cargos como gobernadores, secretarios de estado, jefe de gobierno, etc. Y sí es para recordar que al funcionario a quien se le dirije el escrito es primero "ciudadano" antes que su cargo. Se ve en muchos escritos oficiales. Saludos, (Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla [who deserves to be titled a Dr.], DF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Glenn, I haven't been watching the schedules for English lately, but this morning I am hearing Radio Nederland on 15190 KHz from 1220 at my tune in. Is my receiver out of whack or did BBC take a hike? (Chuck Bolland, FL, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] Glenn, Disregard my last. They must have been relaying a program produced in Nederland or I just misunderstood. Anyway, BBC is back there now at 1300 UT. I wasn't paying attention, so I don't know what happened between 1230 and 1300 when my attention went back to the programming. Sorry (Chuck Bolland, ibid.) Chuck, On 15190, the 1200 hour of BBCWS is via Bonaire, the 1300 hour via French Guiana. Bonaire could very well have messed up their part and put RN on by mistake. I wish you could be sure of this (Glenn to Chuck, via DXLD) Glenn, I am sure I heard Radio Nederland at 1228 and until at least 1231, since they mentioned Hilversum and Radio Nederland often, but when the program changed back, I am not sure? It was before 1300, because at about 1255 I started listening again and I noticed it was the BBC. In the interim, I was listening, but not paying attention. I use the BBC as background "sound" you might say (Chuck Bolland, FL, ibid.) More problems: see MADAGASCAR ** NEW ZEALAND. Dear Glenn, Re item on NZL in 5-157 of 6 SEP, RNZI does change beam when switches from 9885 kHz 0º to 9520 kHz 325º, so no wonder reception in NAm is a lot worse, if any, even considering that no adjcacent or co-channel QRM is present. I experienced the same here in NZL's antipodes when they only changed the beam but kept the frequency. There were occasions, however, when reception was only marginally degraded, but that clearly depends on propagation. In those circumstances, I remember reception (on 31 m I think) being possible throughout our morning until the afternoon. Needless to say that whichever their azimuth may be, the signal is always beamed to their antipodes, i.e. the Iberian Pensinsula, the only issue is the path that may or may not be favourable to the time for the frequency in use. This partly explains why I usually receive them while it may be very bad or zero elsewhere in Europe, like for instance in the UK which is only a bit eastwards longitude wise. As I write, and after observing. LRA36 on 15476 usb till s/off 2100 (very bad 2045-2100 though), RNZI on 15720 is currently S1, no QRM, some QRN & QSB, and now almost unreadable at 2145, but they usually improve later. Both received via a 41 m inverted V fed by 450 Ohm ladder line into a home made transformer. I do wonder whether RDPI's signals reciprocate and usually provide fair reception down in NZL. By the way, I once more quoted your remarks in late August about RDPi's audio. Sorry for the long speech. Best 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, antipodes of NZ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Carlos, But my point was the beam on 9520 after 1100 is the same as it was on 9885 after 1100. Will was complaining that after 1100, 9520 is worse than 9885 had been after 1100, which based on the azimuth, should be no different. 73, (Glenn to Carlos, via DXLD) Dear Glenn, You're absolutely right - I simply overlooked that detail, I'm sorry. So that's intriguing, assuming the same band might behave evenly (which is what we & the stations themselves assume, isn't it?), even at zero QRM. Unfortunately, Will Martin (I had to read his report again) is unclear about interference. Well, take R. Australia mornings here on 9580 & 9590, both 100 kW to the Pacific: I wonder which azimuths they have as signals differ too much at times, and they couldn't be closer frequency-wise. I share John Figliozzi's view, i.e. under similar circumstances, we really have to take what we can get! As you can image, it's the same over here re the station in question, only that we benefit quite a bit from being their antipodes. [Later:] 9885, switching to 9520 at 1059: all I can hear on the latter frequency is some VoA program in English, but haven't looked for any data about site (Asian?) or schedule. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Sep 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 0900-1200 on 9520 EiBi has VOA via Kavalla, Greece, in English to ME. As for Australia, 9580 is 70 degrees from Shepparton, 9590 is 30 degrees. 70 is rather more favorable for CNAm, with 30 going up toward Alaska (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. Re the recent revised schedule for Radio Oman issued by Observer on Sept. 2nd, Registered but not active frequencies: 0200-0400 on 6085 SEB 100 kW 320 to ME 2000-2400 on 6085 SEB 100 kW 240 to EaAf 1800-2000 on 6190 SEB 100 kW 240 to EaAf 0000-0200 on 9760 THU 100 kW 315 to WeEu 0200-0400 on 15355 THU 100 kW 220 to SoAf 1800-2000 on 15355 THU 100 kW 220 to SoAf 2200-2400 on 15355 THU 100 kW 315 to WeEu 0400-0600 on 17590 THU 100 kW 220 to SoAf 0600-1000 on 17630 THU 100 kW 315 to WeEu A weak signal was noted today, the 7th, on 17630 around 0630 - weak probably because of poor conditions on this band. It was possible however to parallel it with the better signal from Seeb using 13640 same time. So maybe the other THU frequencies have also resumed "normal service"? 73s (Noel R. Green [NW England], dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, Wantok Radio Light, Port Moresby. Full data 'Grass Hut and Locals holding Portable Radios' card with information letter in 3 months time. v/s David Olson, Chief Engineer, P29CQ/KL7K . Surprising was the date on the letter, which was four days after I sent a follow-up to the station. If so, a very rapid reply (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. 9737.0, R. Nacional, Asunción, 2141, 8 Sept, OM Spanish with ID. Lots of talk, some music. Somewhat poor, 21111, but audible. My first Paraguay and my first log into Hard-core-dx. Hope it is OK? Hi Glenn, it has been a long time (Jerry Ervine, KC5YRE, AMSAT # 20096 AC-Rio Grande Valley HIDALGO TX (EL06), HCDX via DXLD) Hi! (gh) ** PHILIPPINES. A few more AM notes from my recent stay in the Philippines: 792, DWGV-AM, Ángeles City, Pampanga, Aug 30, good signal into northern Manila from this neighbouring province to the north. Mainly Christian programming. Sister station on FM is DWGV-FM 99.1 which also has good coverage of northern Metro Manila. 1017, DXSN, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Aug 29, powerhouse signal at Tacloban City airport, Leyte´s east coast. Checked the band before boarding the plane to Manila, and found very good signals from the northeastern areas of Mindanao. This one as well as 1206 DXRS not logged on the west coast of Leyte island. It would appear that the volcanic soil of Leyte makes a great shield for signals from different directions. The east coasts of islands like Leyte and Samar probably would be great for long distance Trans-Pacific DX. 1134, DWDD, Manila, NCR, Aug 25 noted with an ID at 2300 local time, before fading. Is not a daytime signal in Leyte, evening only, first time noted there. 1206, DXRS, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte noted with drama, promos Aug 29. ID as "RMN Surigao". Listed on this frequency by Bruce Portzer already. The December 2004 NTC official list actually has this one on a different frequency, but 1206 is definitely the correct one. ID also as "Radyo Magbalantay", mentioned 5,000 watts. Heard at San José, just south of the airport at Tacloban, Leyte. 1233, DWRV, Radio Veritas, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Aug 26, sunset signal into Leyte, fair strength. With DYVS only occasionally on, DWRV reaches nationwide. 1674, DZBF, Marikina, NCR, Aug 30, great signal in Malabon, northern area of Manila. Community information. I will send a summary of FM notes later. Just mentioning here that Manila´s 106.7 DWET is now "Dream FM" (also has RDS), while 95.1 DWRW San Fernando, Pampanga has a good signal into northern Manila. ID as "Countryside Radio" (Geir Stokkeland in the Philippines, August 2005, RX: Sony ICF-7600GR, internal antenna, Sept 7, HCDX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. See NEW ZEALAND ** QATAR [non]. USA: FRIENDS OF AL-JAZEERA WEBSITE HACKED Friends of Al-Jazeera http://www.friendsofaljazeera.org a US-based website that offers analysis and criticism of the Qatar-based TV channel Al-Jazeera, appears to have become the victim of internet hackers. When accessed at 1030 on 8 September, the website's homepage had been replaced by the text "SpyKids From Brasil ... spykids.br[at]gmail.com". 'SpyKids from Brasil' appear to be a group of malicious hackers who have a history of defacing and disabling websites. The Friends of Al-Jazeera organisation has no connection with the TV channel or its website at http://www.aljazeera.net Source: BBC Monitoring research 8 Sep 05 (via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. Heard WOR 1285. I have not heard former R. ``Yugoslavia`` all of July and August, for its 0000 UT English to NAm on 9580. I did hear it up to end of June, nothing beyond that. I`ve tuned around and haven`t found them on another frequency, yet (Bob Thomas, CT, Aug 31, WORLD OF RADIO 1286, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. Sir, from 01.09.2005 onwards, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reduced their Asia service Tamil programme from 2 hours to 1 hour. Ordinarily they are broadcasting from 1130 to 1330 UT. But 01.09.2005 onwards, SLBC Asia service changed their timing to 1130- 1230 (K. Raja, dxer 21, J. P. Koil Street, Old Washermenpet, Chennai, 600021, S. India, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK? WRTH 2005 has this on 7300 and 11905. We know that 7300 jumps around, recently reported on 7312.5 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11715, Sep 7, 1645, SLBC Ekala in Sinhala to Middle East noted here, ex-11775 (Mauno Ritola, Finland, HCDX online log via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. SYRIA/USA: SYRIAN EXILED OPPOSITION GROUP LAUNCHES ANTI-REGIME BLOG | Text of press release from the Washington DC-based Reform Party of Syria on 6 September Washington DC, 6 September: The Reform Party of Syria announced on 21 August the official launch of its weblog (blog) "Syria Comment PLUS". The blog will be dedicated to the representation of the full spectrum of diversity within the Syrian nation and the promotion of the overthrow of Bashar al-Asad's oppressive Ba'th regime. The Reform Party of Syria's blog is the first ever Syrian-run blog explicitly calling for the total dismantlement of the corrupt and impotent Ba'th ruling cabal. Through a network of writers inside Syria and the international Syrian diaspora, Syria Comment PLUS will shed light on Ba'th oppressive measures and crimes committed against Syrian dissidents and ethnic minorities. "Freedom of speech remains a right alien to the vast majority of Syrians; Bashar al-Asad and his cronies are deathly afraid of what might result if the people that they have so assiduously terrorized throughout the years dare to speak out. We hope to play a small role in realizing those fears for Mr Asad and Company," said Reform Party of Syria's US spokesman Oubai Shahbandar. We have two Syrian bloggers. One comes from Damascus University and his name is "Faraj" (which means "End is Near") and the other is a young lady from Aleppo University whose name is "Hajjeh Ba'a" (which means "Enough Already"). Their insightful blogs on life on both campuses drive home the ideology of the Ba'th Party amongst our youth. Syria Comment PLUS is dedicated to becoming an invaluable tool to an international audience often lacking on-the-ground perspectives of the real situation inside this closed country. Contact: Oubai Shahbandar, oms@reformsyria.com; Telephone: (602) 770- 3233 --- Reform Party of Syria, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Suite 400, Washington DC, 20004 Source: Reform Party of Syria press release, Washington DC, in English 6 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) So what`s the URL of the blog??? (gh) ** TAJIKISTAN. 7245 kHz, Radio Tajikistan. Sept. 4 at 1640-1700. SINPO34433. Talk in Dari till 1644, then IS and ID in English as "This is Dushanbe, the capital of Republic of Tajikistan." News and music followed. Arabic program from 1700 (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium, via DXLD) Always good to have reconfirmed this tiny external service in English we have little hope of hearing (gh, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. This site http://www.phayul.com/Index.aspx has lots of exile news about Tibet, including info on V. of Tibet (via Jem Cullen, ARDXC via DXLD) 17550 kHz, Voice of Tibet (presumed). Sept. 5 at *1400-1420. SINPO 45444. Sign-on with Tibetan music and ID. Talk with some interview (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Ergo no jamming heard; the new service for India, not Tibet, SFSG (gh, DXLD) ** TURKEY. CONDITIONS SETS FOR BROADCASTS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES | Text of report by Turkish commercial NTV television on 8 September The Radio and Television High Council [RTUK] has asked the local broadcasting establishments which applied for permission to air in different languages and dialects to renew their applications. RTUK sent a letter to the 10 local television and radio stations which had applied and asked them to send in the necessary documents. Accordingly, these television and radio and stations will undertake that they will not promote separatism or try to teach a language, and that their programmes will be entirely cultural. The duration of broadcasts in different languages and dialects will not exceed four hours a week or 45 minutes a day. Turkish subtitles will be mandatory. It is not yet clear if RTUK will change the existing regulations to allow for broadcasting in different languages and dialects. Meanwhile, EU officials reportedly want this issue discussed during the Turkey-EU consultations to be held on 27 September. Source: NTV television, Istanbul, in Turkish 0400 gmt 8 Sep 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** TURKS & CAICOS. Jerry, is Superpower 1020 back on fulltime yet? Have seen no reports of it despite Ron Gitschier`s notice as QSL manager (gh to Jerry Kiefer, FL, via DX LISTENIING DIGEST) Glenn, Ron jumped the gun a little bit. Target date is first week of October. Thanks (Jerry Kiefer, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A 7-page VOA program guide in pdf is available, with lots of detail about programming, FM relay stations, etc., tho dated May 05 must be the latest: http://www.voanews.com/english/About/upload/WorldwideEnglish_May05ProgramGuide.pdf There are also linx to six other regional sections of the guide in English and all other languages at the bottom of http://www.voanews.com/english/about/ProgramGuide.cfm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Just wondering, any particular reason you changed 17495 to LSB a few weeks ago and have now changed back to USB? 73, (Glenn to Allan Weiner, WBCQ, via DXLD) Dear Glenn, 17495 has always been upper sideband. We never changed to lower. Just a note, today marks the 7th anniversity of WBCQ radio signing on the air. During the last seven years we have seen a huge growth in the shortwave medium. Listenership is up --- new listeners every day. Radio manufacturing has reflected this with so many new models of shortwave radios coming out in the last year, it's hard to keep track. Still trying to develop the "progressive" overnights but still cannot find the backing to cover the $2000 electric and labor charges. After the disaster in the Gulf, every American should own a shortwave radio --- period! Together with the domestic AM service it is the only medium to get thru in a national disaster. Take care, (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Allan added on phone, that the Fox news relay on 9330 and 17495 ended last weekend (gh) Allan, Oh yes, happy anniversary! Well, I was quite sure I was getting 17495 on LSB, not USB for a few weeks. Easy to tell the difference on the ATS-909. Maybe it was an error? (Glenn to Allan, via DXLD) I suggested a number of progressive programs WBCQ might carry (gh) Checked again at 2208 Sept 8, 17495 was propagating well enough so I forced myself to listen for a few seconds to the o so self-confident nonsense preached by Rod Hembree, and found that altho the WBCQ signal was better on USB, there was considerable modulation on the LSB too along with not-very-reduced carrier. I guess the percentages vary for some reason (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Great controversy over the politically correct terminology for victims of Katrina (oh, is it OK to call them victims???) --- On CNN, Lou Dobbs rejected criticism of his calling them ``refugees``, while a few minutes later on NBC ``Nightly`` News, Brian Williams caved and said NBC would now call them ``evacuees`` or ``survivors``. Glad that`s settled! While those terms are also appropriate, it seems to me that anyone who seeks, needs, or has reached REFUGE away from her home is a refugee, regardless of political boundaries, race, sex, citizenship, or anything else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. URBONO was really messed up this morning, Sept 7 on 15285 via WHRI after 1400. CBS News started only 50 seconds late now, but was interrupted after a minute or two for a long, long string of mostly PSAs (including one by acting Pres. Bush for United Way --- what in the world is the chief executive doing, showing such favoritism??? --- o yeah, that`s what he does), until URBONO was rejoined in progress at 1407. Is WHRI censoring CBS News? Another long string of PSAs mixed with some commercials interrupted URBONO at 1416, for almost five minutes straight, then rejoined URBONO with weather outlook in progress. One of the ads was for http://www.panolacove.com (I had to fish around with several spellings), which it turns out is near Natchez MS, marketing to New Orleans, ``waterfront homesites on beautiful Lake Concordia``, for those who have not had enough of being on (and in) the water. A ``Katrina update`` (as if the whole program were not about that) started late at 1428. At times there were also hiccups, echoes in the internet feed. At 1433, just as WWL was starting news about the mandatory evacuation of remaining NO inhabitants, WHRI belatedly interrupted it with their ID. This thing is being botched at multiple levels. And an awful lot of time during the hour was spent running PSAs, many of them generic, not about the current emergency in particular. And they kept coming on and going off in the middle of what the live announcers were saying. Makes me wonder if WHRI has some automatic PSA generator engaged overriding the feed. Once again, 15285 cut off abruptly at 1500 contrary to schedule on WWL site; I`ll leave a radio on and maybe notice if it comes back before 1800. [Later:] 15285 carrier came back on at 1657, joined URBONO at 1658. I wonder what`s going on at Cypress Creek requiring 2 or 3 hours a day of maintenance? And what progress is there to report in moving in an old Noblesville transmitter to add to the complement? The other was to go to WHRA Maine. Another theory about the intrusive PSAs: due to rights issues, royalties to talent, some commercials aired on the URBONO radio stations are being deleted from the internet feed, rather ham-handedly replaced by PSAs; and this is what also goes out on SW. I also heard an ID at one point for WJBO. The 15285 signal dropped out around 1725 and still not heard at 1803. Since it was not a sudden cutoff of the once-strong signal, I suspect this was a sudden ionospheric disturbance, SW fadeout, but I`m too tied up at the computer preparing WOR to check this out elsewhere on the bands (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1286, dxldyg and DX LISTENING DIGEST) See PROPAGATION Sheesh! These WHR transmitters have more switching problems than the BBC's (John Figliozzi, NY, dxldyg via DXLD) Well, the SW schedule on the WWL website has been updated in the past 24 hours, and now reads as follows: [CDT, gh added UT] Monday-Friday 12-6am 5.835 [0500-1100 UT] 7-9am 11.785 [1200-1400 UT] 9am-3pm 15.285 [1400-2000 UT] (Interrupted 10am-1pm for maintenance, as required) [1500-1800 UT] 5-7pm 9.840 [2200-2400 UT] Saturday 12-7am 5.835 [0500-1200 UT] 9am-12pm 15.285 [1400-1700 UT] 6-7pm 9.840 [2300-2400 UT] 7-9pm 5.835 [0000-0200 UT Sunday] 10pm-12am 5.835 [0300-0500 UT Sunday] Sunday 12-7am 5.835 [0500-1200 UT] 9am-12pm 15.285 [1400-1700 UT] 1-4pm 15.285 [1800-2100 UT] 9pm-12am 5.835 [0200-0500 UT Monday] (Andy Sennitt, Sept 7, dxldyg via DXLD) Tnx Andy, looks like they finally got it ``right``. How is reception of each of these frequencies in Europe? (Glenn, ibid.) Noted 5835 briefly around 0800 today but weak, should be better earlier (Mike Barraclough, UK, Sept 7, worlddxclub via DXLD) 9840, WWL, New Orleans, via WHRI, 2332-2342, September 07, English, informations, ID: "...WWL...", bulletin news read by female, announcement and Identification as: "This is WWL..."; strong QRM from RAI, Rome, Italy, with the transmission in Italian for South America in the same frequency. SINPO: 22432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) Heard URBONO at 2355 on 9840 on 7 Sept. Signal so bad that the real thing was better within a half hour. I also noticed the PSAs. Someone --- Andy? Glenn? said WHRI`s money could be better spent elsewhere. I agree. WWL is a big enough station to be heard in most of the lower 48. At 0300, some other programming on 5835 w/S9 signal, WWL somewhat weak (Liz Cameron, MI, UT Sept 8, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Who says/knows it`s WHRI`s money paying for this? (gh, DXLD) Hi Glenn, WHRI on 15285 at 1514 UT is very poor here in Clewiston, Florida. It sounds like the signal is skipping over this location. It is very fluttery and fading badly (Chuck Bolland, Sept 8, dxldyg via DXLD) Today Thursday, URBONO is continuing past 1500 on WHRI 15285. Seem to be fewer disruptions for PSAs, too, but the audio was cutting out for split seconds. It`s always something (Glenn, Sept 8, dxldyg via DXLD) [Later:] Then it went off around 1600 (I think, wasn`t listening closely) (unless another SID hit us). (Glenn, ibid.) [Later2:] Back on (fadein?) but weaker at 1640 on 15285, and with WHRI gospel huxters, not URBONO, at 1643 ending Midnight Cry and going to another one, full WHRI ID sequence before 1700 but fading and cutting out again; and past 1730 with regular WHRI programming. So is this the end of WWL on SW? [Later3:] It looks as if the URBONO SW relay may be done with, as when it was audible this afternoon, 15285 only had WHRI programming, and 9840 is missing after 2200. Well, we knew it would be temporary, but fascinating while it lasted. BTW, I must apologize for mispronouncing URBONO in WOR 1286. This term which I myself coined, had not yet jelled in my own mind. Since ``of`` is the least emphasized word in the phrase, the middle O should also be the least emphasized in the initialism. Proper pronunciation should be ``yer-ba-NOH`` (Glenn, ibid.) ** U S A. This news is getting outdated, but I forgot I had it. This is found in Monday's [Biloxi] Sun Herald: PUBLIC RADIO NEEDS DIESEL TO STAY ON AIR Mississippi Public Broadcasting desperately needs diesel fuel to keep hurricane victims posted on important news and survival information. Its station in McHenry, which broadcasts from the hurricane-ravaged Coast to the torn-up pine belt of Hattiesburg, may run out of fuel this weekend. It needs 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Broadcasting centers in Jackson and Meridian are also low on fuel. If you can help, call (800) 922-9698. WLOX IS TEMPORARILY ON NEW CHANNEL WLOX-TV lost its power source Saturday, but officials plan to continue round-the-clock coverage of hurricane aftermath on WXXV-FOX 25. Michael Sunderman, the COO of Morris Newspaper Corp., the company which owns WXXV, said the channel will continue to run its own advertisements, while broadcasting WLOX's programing. Sunderman said the channel will allow WLOX to use its broadcast signal until the ABC affiliate regains power (Chris Kadlec, Kalamazoo MI, Sept 7, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) Originally channel 13 (gh) ** U S A. LOCAL TV STATIONS SCRAMBLE TO KEEP SIGNALS UP By Dave Walker, TV columnist One week after the world awoke to terrible pictures of Gulf Coast devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans broadcasters are covering the continuing story from locations ranging from Baton Rouge to Orlando. Of the four New Orleans news-providing TV stations, only WWL-Channel 4 is broadcasting on its normal frequency. Anticipating hurricane flooding, the station elevated its transmitter several years ago when upgrading equipment for the digital-television transition. Though the West Bank site has not flooded, the facility`s sturdy construction and backup power has allowed the city`s most-watched news provider to do around-the-clock coverage of the storm and its aftermath. During the past week, WWL news programming has originated from the station`s French Quarter studios, the Manship School of Mass Communication at LSU and even from a makeshift studio at the station`s transmitter site. WWL`s news operation is currently based at Baton Rouge PBS affiliate WLPB. In addition to its over-the-air signal (faintly visible in Baton Rouge, refuge for thousands of New Orleans area residents), WWL`s coverage is also carried on cable TV in Baton Rouge, and, for one hour each day at 4:30 p.m., by WLPB. Transmitter flooding in Katrina`s wake, knocked WDSU-Channel 6, WVUE-Channel 8 and WGNO-Channel 26 off the air, though antenna towers for all three survived the storm. The stations have been discussing sharing a temporary transmitter until their own signals can be restored, a process expected to take several weeks due to floodwater damage to electronic gear. ``Anything that had water in it -- for 10 minutes or five days -- we expect is gone,`` said WGNO General Manager Larry Delia. A sign-on date for the co-op broadcast has not been set. ``We are hopeful to at least be making progress by the end of (this week),`` WVUE General Manager Jeff West said. ``It`s a matter of getting delivery of the transmitter and being able to get it where we need it.`` To cover Katrina, WDSU relocated staffers to both WAPT-TV in Jackson, Miss., and WESH-TV in Orlando, both owned by WDSU`s parent company, Hearst-Argyle Television. WDSU`s signal has been carried in the New Orleans area on Pax affiliate WPXL-Channel 49. WDSU News Director Anzio Williams said the station`s Central Business District studio and newsroom was not flooded or damaged last week by the storm. ``The building is in perfect shape,`` he said. ``The station is functional and ready to go.`` WVUE`s Mid-City studio and newsroom were flooded by Katrina or the subsequent levee failures, and likely won`t be usable as a base of operation when the station fires up again, date undetermined. A portion of the station`s news staff is stationed at WALA-TV in Mobile, Ala., owned by WVUE parent Emmis Communications. Some staffers have contributed reports to cable`s Fox News Channel and WALA. WGNO has teamed with Baton Rouge ABC affiliate WBRZ-TV (both are owned by Tribune Co.) to provide Katrina coverage. Damage to WGNO`s studio and newsroom, recently relocated to the top floor of the New Orleans Centre shopping mall, is believed to be minimal. On radio -- likely the most accessible news medium in parishes where electricity remains knocked out -- two national station groups with New Orleans clusters, Entercom and Clear Channel, have combined forces to broadcast a signal at WWL AM-870. Now based in Bâton Rouge, the cooperative enterprise is providing round-the-clock Katrina news and talk using personalities from numerous Entercom and Clear Channel stations (Times-Picayune Sept 5 via Chris Kadlec, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) I had very rare September E-skip Labour Day Monday, mostly to Louisiana, and logged WBRZ 2 with two bugs - WBRZ's and the New Orleans "ABC 26" bug. WBRZ has apparently taken the 26 in (Saul Chernos, ON, ibid.) ** U S A. EVACUEE RADIO COMING ONLINE FOLLOWING ALLEGED BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS With most evacuees at the Astrodome desperate for news about their situation, relief workers, activists and volunteer engineers and technicians are now racing to build a low-power FM radio station for evacuees at the Astrodome. They have had the equipment, FCC license and 10,000 radios ready since Saturday. But one of the organizers says they were delayed by "Astrodome bureaucracy." That red tape has been cleared. So they're now going through FEMA paperwork now and will be building the station in a matter of hours. They have 10,000 radios with batteries for 30,000 people. "We could use 20,000 more radios," organizer Tish Stringer said. "And 40,000 more batteries." Here's an outdated press release w/ contact info if anyone is interested in this story: (Brian Hartman, via David Alpert, Sept 7, DXLD) Viz.: VOLUNTEERS AND ASTRODOME RESIDENT FAMILIES BUILD EMERGENCY RADIO STATION --- With FCC Go-Ahead, Only Astrodome Bureaucracy Keeps Technicians from Saving Lives Contact: Professor Tish Stringer, tish @ rice.edu (713) 478-4559 Hannah Sassaman, hannahjs @ prometheusradio.org (215)-727-9620 Relief volunteers and Independent Media organizers in Houston, Texas, in collaboration with residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina, have gotten permission from the Federal Communications Commission and the City of Houston, Texas to build a 30 watt radio station to serve the people and families currently living at the Houston Astrodome and adjacent buildings. But a lack of final permission from officials at the Astrodome is keeping the station from going on the air. The radio volunteers, led by a community media publishing group called Houston Indymedia, are working with volunteer professional engineers and technicians from all over the United States to get this station on the air. The FCC acted on Saturday to approve the station, and quickly, the City of Houston gave the project a letter of offical support. The Prometheus Radio Project, a not-for-profit organization that builds Low Power FM radio stations all around the United States, has worked throughout the weekend to facilitate the legal and timely launch of this radio station. ``Families are putting up notices on the walls to find lost parents and children, and then crying themselves to sleep at night, as they start to let the weight of the past week bear down on them,`` said Hannah Sassaman, an organizer at Prometheus. ``This station will provide critical information for people putting their lives back together, as well as the comfort and power of programming made by local Houston volunteers and Astrodome residents. We need to cut through this red tape and start delivering information to these families.`` The Houston Indymedia volunteers, who produce a radio program on Pacifica radio station KPFT, are moving their whole studio to the Astrodome and working with volunteers from as far away as Portland, Oregon to get the station on the air right away. Besides official permission from the Astrodome, they`ll need more equipment – radios for all the potential listeners – to make it possible. ``The FCC, the City of Houston, and the people living at the Astrodome want this station to go on the air,`` says Rice University professor and Indymedia organizer Tish Stringer. ``But the Astrodome staff won`t let the station launch until we have enough radios for all the families. We have the radios ready to go, and all the equipment too. We`re ready to start delivering this essential service.`` The telecommunications industry and the grassroots media justice community are mobilizing to build communications infrastructure for the displaced people of the Gulf. But some broadcasters wish there had been more options for emergency relief before the storm and its aftermath hit. Tom Hanlon, a volunteer with a property owners` association in Baton Rouge that has been waiting 5 years for their Low Power FM radio license to come through, said this about the exodus from New Orleans to Baton Rouge: ``A lack of accurate information, coupled with the time spent tracking down false rumors, did more to delay the mobilization of Baton Rouge than any hurricane. We need more LPFM stations in our cities to help with these crises in the future.`` To donate to the Houston project, please call the Prometheus Radio Project at 215-727-9620, or visit them online at http://www.prometheusradio.org or visit http://houston.indymedia.org (via Alpert, WORLD OF RADIO 1286, DXLD) ** U S A. I haven`t had time to retrieve it yet, but this week`s Le Show with semi-New Orlean Harry Shearer, is bound to be must- listening, even more so than last week, via http://www.kcrw.com (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** U S A. POLITICAL WIND HAS CHANGED Article Launched: 09/06/2005 11:00:00 PM http://www2.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_3006497 L.A.'s greatest satirist, Harry Shearer, went serious on Sunday. He just talked, with a quaver in his voice. He ruminated. In between musings, he played the songs of the greatest musical town in America. In the nearly 40 years Shearer's been on the radio here making skits that make light of the world, from "The Credibility Gap' on Pasadena's KRLA back in the mid-'60s through the last 20 years or so of "Le Show' Sunday mornings at 10 on KCRW, it's been bitter, funny and great. But I knew his first non-satirical show ever was coming. The previous Sunday, as the hurricane approached what for many years has been Shearer's second hometown, he cued up one of Randy Newman's most moving songs, "Louisiana': "What has happened down here is the winds have changed / Clouds rolled in from the north and it started to rain. ... Louisiana, they're trying to wash us away.' Then there's a bit about President Coolidge coming down to view the disaster that was Louisiana in 1927 and saying to the factotum with a notebook in his hand, "Little fat man, ain't it a shame what the river has done to this poor cracker's land?' Mmm. Coolidge had to come on a train. Wonder how long it took him five days, ya think? Less? That Hurricane Katrina has become political should be the least surprising thing on Earth. If you are among those decrying that fact, get real. For those defensive about President Bush's initial response one white Pentecostal preacher accuses "the media' of "playing the race card' try the fliperoo test, always a good exercise. Let's say in an alternate universe W. had enjoyed two terms first, followed by two from one William Jefferson Clinton. And let's say Clinton had hired as his FEMA head a Dem party hack with zippo disaster-management experience whose most recent post had been heading up an Arabian horse association, from which job he had been dismissed for incompetence. Then the hurricane destroys the coastal Deep South, and the federal response is as much a disaster as the weather. People are dying by the thousands, and are on their own. For God's sake, Cuba and Croatia offer to send aid, since we're sitting on our hands as our Third World underbelly is exposed. It's a national disgrace. As things get worse, the president has a hard time cutting his vacation short; finally flies to Washington; finds time to see for himself by the end of the week; sends in the cavalry. Disputes develop with the other-party state leadership to the point where no one is speaking. Every red-blooded GOPster in the nation would be howling for the FEMAhack's resignation and for Clinton's as well. We all know that. So let's let down our guard here and recognize the magnitude of the mistakes that were made. It would be really cool to see first a federal response that made up for lost time and then a federal investigation into what went wrong segueing into a study of how not to blow it next time. I mean, Louisiana voted for the president. What's that say about what kind of help we'd get come the Big One? Larry Wilson is editor of the Pasadena Star-News. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. DISASTER USED AS POLITICAL PAYOFF Tuesday, September 6th, 2005 The Federal Emergency Management Agency has done it again. Already under fire for its woeful response to Hurricane Katrina, the federal disaster agency appears to have turned hurricane relief donations into a political payoff - until it was challenged. All last week, FEMA bureaucrats gave prominent placement on the agency's Web site to Operation Blessing, the Virginia-based charity run by controversial right-wing evangelist and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson. For anyone wishing to donate only cash, the agency's site listed the names and phone numbers of three groups: the Red Cross, Operation Blessing and America's Second Harvest, a national coalition of food banks. That first list was followed by a second, longer list of several dozen religious and nonsectarian charities. This second list was for anyone who wanted to give either cash or noncash gifts. Just as in an ordinary election, however, top ballot position makes it far more likely you'll get noticed and chosen. The same FEMA list was then disseminated by state and local governments throughout the country. Both Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg, for example, placed the same top three FEMA charities on their Hurricane Katrina press releases and Web sites last week. Those familiar with Robertson and his charity were flabbergasted. Operation Blessing, with a budget of $190 million, is an integral part of the Robertson empire. Not only is he the chairman of the board, his wife is listed on its latest financial report as its vice president, and one of his sons is on the board of directors. Back in 1994, during the infamous Rwandan genocide, Robertson used his 700 Club's daily cable operation to appeal to the American public for donations to fly humanitarian supplies into Zaire to save the Rwandan refugees. The planes purchased by Operation Blessing did a lot more than ferry relief supplies. An investigation conducted by the Virginia attorney general's office concluded in 1999 that the planes were mostly used to transport mining equipment for a diamond operation run by a for-profit company called African Development Corp. And who do you think was the principal executive and sole shareholder of the mining company? You guessed it, Pat Robertson himself. Robertson had landed the mining concession from his longtime friend Mobutu Sese Seko, then the dictator of Zaire. Investigators concluded that Operation Blessing "willfully induced contributions from the public through the use of misleading statements..." After the investigation began, Robertson placated state regulators by personally reimbursing his own charity $400,000 and by agreeing to tighten its bookkeeping methods. Separating Operation Blessing from Robertson's many politically oriented endeavors is not that easy, however. The biggest single U.S. recipient of the charity's largess, according to its latest financial report, was Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. It received $885,000 in the fiscal year ended March 2004. Robertson uses that Christian network for some markedly unchristian purposes. A few years back, he repeatedly defended Charles Taylor, the former brutal dictator of Liberia who is under indictment by a UN tribunal for war crimes. As with Mobutu in the Congo, Robertson had a personal stake in the matter: He had millions invested in a Liberian gold mine, thanks to Taylor, according to press reports. Recently, Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Those who know Robertson's record raised such an uproar that on Sunday FEMA suddenly rearranged its entire Web site for hurricane donations. Gone was Operation Blessing's name and choice location. Replacing it was an alphabetical list of nearly 50 national relief organizations. At FEMA, they take a while to get things right (NY Daily News via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Three students posed as journalists to reach New Orleans 3 DUKE STUDENTS TELL OF 'DISGRACEFUL' SCENE By Ray Gronberg, The Herald-Sun September 4, 2005 9:36 pm DURHAM -- A trio of Duke University sophomores say they drove to New Orleans late last week, posed as journalists to slip inside the hurricane-soaked city twice, and evacuated seven people who weren't receiving help from authorities. ... http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-643298.html (via Tom Roche, DXLD) See also INTERNATIONAL VACUUM, Red Cross Radio ** U S A. KATRINA TELETHON DRAWS STARS, BUT CAN THEY SPEAK OUT? Recording stars Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Neil Young and the Dixie Chicks will headline a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims slated to air this week on six major US networks and around the world, producers said yesterday. But it was not clear whether they or any of the other celebrities booked for Friday's event, including comedian Chris Rock and movie star Jack Nicholson, will be permitted to freely express their opinions during the show or required to stick to the script. The question arose after impromptu remarks last Friday by rapper Kanye West, who used his appearance on a similar NBC network broadcast to accuse President George W Bush of racism in the government's relief effort. "George Bush doesn't care about black people," West said, adding criticism of the media's portrayal of blacks. Kanye's comments were carried on NBC's live feed to the East Coast and central time zones but were cut from the tape-delayed broadcast aired on the West Coast and mountain regions. NBC said West had deviated from his script and that "his opinions in no way represent the views of the network." The General Electric Company-owned broadcaster is one of the six major networks planning to simulcast a separate live, commercial-free special this Friday, titled "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast." The hour-long event also will be carried by numerous US cable channels and broadcast in more than 100 countries, organizers said. Proceeds will go to disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Although West was absent from the lineup of performers announced for the show, a spokeswoman for producer Joel Gallen said that West was slated to make a live appearance. But she and two other spokesperson for the show all said they did not know what, if any, steps producers would take to censor or curb political statements celebrity participants might make. One NBC spokesman said a decision about a possible time delay for the live broadcast had not been made. A number of stars on the bill, including the Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Chris Rock and Neil Young, are known for their outspoken views on political and social issues. A spokeswoman for MTV, which is planning to air yet a third all-star telethon for hurricane relief, said the cable music channel "does not censor artists." She added West was slated to perform in a pre-taped segment for the MTV special. # posted by Andy @ 14:13 UT Sept 8 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. ABC NEWS RADIO TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS | ABC News Radio Correspondents Will Report From Ground Zero and the Pentagon NEW YORK, NY (September 8, 2005) – ABC News Radio, America’s largest commercial radio news organization, will provide extensive coverage of the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Sunday, September 11. Coverage of the morning's commemoration ceremony in New York will be anchored live by ABC News National Correspondent Jim Hickey from 8:06 AM to 9:59 AM (ET). [= UT -4] ABC News Correspondent Aaron Katersky will report from Ground Zero and ABC News Correspondent Pam Coulter will be at the Pentagon. In addition to on-site reports, ABC News Radio will offer a one-hour special, America Remembers 9/11: An ABC News Special, at 7:06 PM (ET) [2306 UT] on Sunday, September 11. Hosted by ABC News Special Correspondent Gil Gross, the broadcast will cover the day’s events and provide interviews with family members of 9/11 victims as well as various special guests. This year’s commemoration ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City will include victims’ siblings reading their names to a backdrop of music, with the proceedings pausing at four moments – twice to mark the times that each plane hit the towers, and twice for the times when each tower fell. At sundown, a ``Tribute in Light`` will be held in memory of those lost. The events in Washington, DC will include a Freedom Walk that begins near the Pentagon crash site, crosses Arlington National Cemetery, and concludes adjacent to the National Mall and Reflecting Pool. About ABC Radio Networks ABC Radio Networks has nearly 4,600 affiliate radio stations reaching 116 million people age 12 and over each week. Programs and services include ABC News Radio, Paul Harvey News and Comment, The Sean Hannity Show, Satellite Sisters, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Doug Banks Morning Show, MoneyTalk with Bob Brinker, The Larry Elder Show, American Country Countdown with Bob Kingsley, The Dan Patrick Show, The Michael Baisden Show, Dick Bartley's Rock & Roll's Greatest Hits, The John Batchelor Show, Saturday Night at the 80s, Renán Almendárez Coello—El Cucuy de la Mañana, El Vacilón de la Mañana with Luís Jiménez and Moonshadow and El Vacilón de la Mañana with Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero. Other ABC broadcast services include ABC Sports Radio, Radio Disney, ESPN Radio, syndicated music and talk programs including Flashback, format-specific ePREP and production libraries, and eleven 24-Hour Formats, including Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel (ABC News Radio press release, as amended, via DXLD) ** U S A. A pirate FM in FORT MYERS has been shut down by state and federal agents, reports the FORT MYERS NEWS-PRESS, which says that the illegal broadcasts at 103.3 FM was playing uncensored Hip-Hop and entreaties to listeners to boycott CLEAR CHANNEL events and to commit acts of violence against CLEAR CHANNEL employees and the police. The complaint by CLEAR CHANNEL named the station's operator as JASON GREEN, calling himself "J. STYLES" on the air; GREEN has been fined $10,000. in the past by the FCC for pirate activity (allaccess.com via Brock Whaley, Sept 7, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 5042 kHz, Radio Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho with strong signal and very distorted sound. Two days ago I noted them on 5036 kHz. 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, http://www.malm-ecuador.com 1051 UT Sept 7, WORLD OF RADIO 1286, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4599.95, 1000 to 1030 slight audio, first noticed 24 August. Bolivia? (Bob Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium via DXLD) Could be 4 x 1150 or 5 x 920 (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. EXTRAÑA JAMMING SIGNAL --- Desde hace varios días vengo captando una señal muy fuerte de Jamming en tres frecuencias de la banda de 60 metros. I have been catching these days a estrange JAMMING signal in the 60 m band: 4850 kHz 0238 UT Sept 05. 4860 kHz 0240 UT Sept 08. 4870 kHz 0249 UT Sept 06. Can anybody monitor these frequencies and verify this so estrange signal? Alguien podría monitorear estas frecuencias a esa hora y verificar esta extraña señal? (CESAR PEREZ DIOSES, CHIMBOTE – PERU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably against Kurdish/Iranian clandestine around there (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 2/9 2005 I had a recording of unID Spanish speaking on 5745.75 kHz and I asked if it really is "Radio Virgen de Remedios", Tupiza (Bolivia) - has been reported on this frequency. Today I received a mail from Christer Brunström (Sweden) saying that it is not Radio Virgen de Remedios but WWRB (USA). I have earlier also received feedback on this topic on the mailing lists from Glenn Hauser (USA) and Hans Johnson (USA). You can read the full versions of their mails on the mailing lists; both are suggesting Radio Virgen de Remedios with relay of an USA station (Björn Malm, Ecuador`s website via DXLD) "Hi Björn, I heard a weak signal with religious program on 5745.xx kHz and I was listening more than 30 minutes, I was very interested to know if this was Radio Virgen that has been reported on the frequency. But it turned out to be WWRB with Spanish program. I remember the station being on a split frequency above 5745 kHz. Program title was "La palabra de vida" and was transmitted beetwen 2330-0002 interrupted with ID for WWRB in English" (Christer Brunström, Sweden, via Malm, http://www.malm-ecuador.com/ via DXLD) I had pointed out that WWRB was now scheduled to Latin America on 5745 at that time, but according to their posted schedule, NOT in Spanish at that particular time, and it would also be hard to imagine WWRB carrying programming from EWTN, which was what Björn reported. I asked him to check and see if what he heard on 5745 was // WEWN, which would have ruled that in or out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Christer heard "La palabra de vida", 2330, the same time as in the schedule from WWRB. This is what I heard this Wednesday morning on 5745.66v kHz (drifting a little bit): Up to 1027 UT, Católica Mundial in // with WEWN on 7425 (with WEWN-IDs 1026). 5745 with 1 second delay. 1027-1030 UT, NOT in // with 7425 but too weak. I think I have a recording of these 3 minutes and will check it later today. 1030 UT again in // with 7425 kHz. Together with the Católica Mundial-ID there was something the DJ said very rapidly and I`m wondering if it was WWRB, but very uncertain. I still have not heard any English. Bolivia is not very easy here in Quito but 5745.60v is quite regular. The sound is a little bit distorted. [Later:] Glenn, you remember that Christer Brunstrom heard the program "La Palabra de vida", I myself heard this program Tuesday night; I do not remember the time. I just visited WWRB`s homepage and find programs in Spanish, for example "La palabra de vida" Frequency: 5.745 MHz 07.00 PM (2300 UTC): Dios Cudia De Ti [sic] 07.30 PM (2330 UTC): La Pala Vra De Vi Da" (= Palabra de vida 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could what Christer hears and Björn hears be two different stations? (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ BEWARE NEWSPEAK FROM THE BUSHIES I was watching Hannity and Combs on Fox News last night (September 6) and almost couldn't believe my ears when I heard what our astute Secretary of Defense said. In a prerecorded interview conducted by Sean Hannity (alone), Rumsfeld was asked if the Military response to the disaster in New Orleans could have been any more rapid. Rumsfeld started by saying first of all "you need to be invited". He then continued by remarking "you need a plan". Well how about that, I guess the lessons of Iraq have made an impression on Don Rumsfeld after all! It makes one wonder if he was even listening to the b.s. coming from his own mouth. Rumsfeld`s mindless remarks remind me of a wonderful essay by George Orwell called "Politics and the English Language". The thesis of the essay has to do with the need to write and speak clearly, to use concrete imagery and to avoid jargon and pseudo-academic technical terminology. Orwell argues that politicians speak and write using vague phraseology on purpose to deliberately mislead the public. We have certainly gotten our fill of deceptive catch phrases from the Bush administration including: "weapons of mass destruction", "global war on terror", "fight them over there so we won`t have to fight them here" --- the list goes on and on. Orwell notes that these types of phrases build consensus exactly because they are vague. Taken on their own, they are meaningless so the individual must ascribe meaning to them, i.e. create his or her own interpretation which, of course, is bound to be a reasonable facsimile of the truth! This, of course, is the concept behind "newspeak" in Orwell`s novel "1984". Orwell warns that vague writing and speech promote lazy thought, a type of mental anesthesia, one in which critical thought is abandoned. Why were there no serious debates over our response to 911, the invasion of Iraq, the creation of FEMA and Department of Homeland Security not to mention the creation of an "intelligence Czar"? Those in positions of power dared not raise the possibility that there might be other strategies far more effective. I believe there has been no serious dialog on pressing issues in this country because of a general lack of critical thought. Hurricane Katrina was no vague sound byte, not some passing image; but instead, concrete, real, and overwhelming. Katrina has shown us how far removed from reality policy making has become in America. The pictures from New Orleans have been shocking, and as many have noted, resemble the third world more than they do America. It makes one realize that third world conditions are not related to geography but rather have to do with the effectiveness of government. The effectiveness of democracy relies upon an honest assessment of fact and not the promotion of an ideological agenda. Celebrated American historian and author Daniel Boorstin wrote an excellent book called "The Image" in the early 60s. I highly suggest reading it if you haven't already. Here is a link to a review: http://www.transparencynow.com/boor.htm The effect of contrivance and promotion of what Boorstin calls "pseudo-events" in American culture, are largely the result of the press and advertising industry. Our preference for image over reality makes especially fertile ground for the newspeak of the Bush Administration. I believe Karl Rove is quite familiar with the writings of both Orwell and Boorstin and is skillfully and successfully manipulating collective political perception through the predisposition of Americans to choose image over reality. The brilliance of Rove is that since he is tapping into an American cultural phenomenon those of differing views (both left and right) must conform to the over all superstructure of Bush administration policy making or risk getting voted out of office. Hence you have popular support for the Patriot Act and the invasion of Iraq even by leading Democrats. I think this also explains why the rest of the world scratches its head and wonders why the hell we make the policy choices we do in this country, many of which defy rational thought. Until we as a nation start thinking critically, we will continue to be vulnerable to storm, terrorist attack and the lies of our elected officials (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Right on! (gh, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Reception Report (or not...) For what it's worth: Turned on WWCR on 15825 at 3:20 or so (CDT) this afternoon and DXPL was coming in fairly clear with just a little noise. But the signal sank into the noise and by the time WoR started at 3:30 PM, it was barely identifiable and totally non-understandable. Left it on for about 10 minutes and now & then one or two words came thru clearly but I gave up and turned off the radio. A perfect example of what Allan Weiner said people constantly complain to him, that it seems that the station is "turning down the power" just when the program the listener wants to hear comes on. Yeah, I know it is due to the ionosphere and propagation fluctuations, but there IS something really odd about this. Why would propagation variations occur with any relation whatsoever to our totally arbitrary time designations? Signals should fade in and fade out at completely random times, not on the hour or half-hour. The odds are 30-to-1 against fading out happening at those top-of-the-hour and bottom-of- the-hour times, yet it certainly appears to me that this phenomenon happens far more often than chance would explain. All too often, I tune into a station early, before something I want to hear begins, and I hear the signal reasonably well when the content is something I have no interest in. Yet as soon as what I *want* to hear begins, the noise overwhelms the signal, or the QRM starts up. This happens far more often than the opposite; that is, I tune into a poor signal and it gets better when the desired programming starts. Is this just another example of the innate animosity of the universe, or should we attribute it to the power of Satan? (Or maybe those are two names for the same thing... I think that's the Gnostic heresy... :-) Maybe this is divine punishment for gh's promoting atheism... Hmmm; note that DXPL, a *religious*-oriented program, was transmitted and propagated successfully, and then WoR was smote down... :-) 73, (Will Martin, MO, 2149 UT Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chris Hambly had just phoned from Victoria to say that 60m band reception Africa just vanished around 2100 UT Sept 8 (gh, DXLD) Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01 Serial Number: 52 Issue Time: 2005 Sep 08 2135 UTC SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1 Begin Time: 2005 Sep 08 2052 UTC Maximum Time: 2005 Sep 08 2106 UTC End Time: 2005 Sep 08 2117 UTC X-ray Class: X5.4 Optical Class: 2b Location: S12E75 NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales (SEC via DXLD) :Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2005 Sep 08 2100 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 08 September follow. Solar flux 94 and estimated mid-latitude A-Index 10. The mid-latitude K-index at 2100 UTC on 08 September was 2 (16 nT). Space weather for the past 24 hours has been strong. Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level occurred. Radio blackouts reaching the R3 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be strong. Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R3 level are expected (SEC via DXLD) ###