DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-206, December 2, 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 For latest updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html Latest edition of this schedule version, with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1295: Days and times here are strictly UT. Fri 2100 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Sat 1700] Sat 0500 WOR VoiceCorps Reading Service, WOSU-FM subcarrier, cable Sat 0900 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1100 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 & WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7 Sat 1530 WOR R. Veronica 106.5 [ex-1700] Sat 1830 WOR WRN to North America [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 0000 WOR Radio Studio X 1584 http://www.radiostudiox.it/ Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0600 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3215 Sun 0930 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1400 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1830 WOR WRN1 to North America [including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140] Sun 2000 WOR RNI Sun 2230 WOR WRMI 7385 [temporarily] Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 Mon 1900 WOR RFPI [repeated 4-hourly thru Tue 1500] Wed 0030 WOR WBCQ 7415 [usually but temporary] Wed 0100 WOR CJOY INTERNET RADIO plug-in required Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 WRN ON DEMAND: 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 or http://wor.worldofradio.org WORLD OF RADIO 1295 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1295h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1295h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1295 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1295.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1295.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1295.html [not yet] WORLD OF RADIO 1295 downloads in mp3: (high) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1295h.mp3 (low) http://www.obriensweb.com/wor1295.mp3 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 05-10 summary: http://www.worldofradio.com/com0510.html NETS TO YOU Dec edition: http://www.w4uvh.net/nets2you.html ** ALAND ISLANDS. (FINLAND) --- New website for Roy Sandgren's (licensed) Aland project Radio 603 AM: http://www.radio603.info.se The website provides updated, more detailed future plans and updated contact info (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Dec 2, mwdx yg via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Harmonic: 2916 kHz, 1847 UT Nov 30, CRI, Fllake (2 x 1458) Poor (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, NW England, Icom R75 & Wellbrooke ALA 1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6214.1 --- New name for R Baluarte --- I heard this ID on Nov 28 at top of the Hour: "Trasmite Radio Armonía en 100.7 MHz FM, Onda Corta 6215 kHz, Foz de Iguaçu, Misiones, Argentina, la radio que está con vos". The ID seems to indicate that the Baluarte name has gone. Much better audio now from them (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Nov 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6214.1, R Baluarte, Puerto Iguazú, I heard a few minutes ago the following ID only for FM:"...FM Armonia, 100.7". There is not a new manager, because the station has ann[ouncements? ouncer?] of Ministerio Camino Nuevo (New Way Ministry), the same manager [management?] The old name for FM station was Radio Maranatha (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Nov 27, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 11133 LSB, R. La Red, Nov 23, 0754-0809, 25442, Spanish, Talk and news, ID at 0800. Also Nov 28, 0556-0605, 35343, Spanish, Talk and news and music, ID at 0600 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Public Radio of Armenia was heard Thursday, December 1 on 9965 in Armenian (presumed) at tune in at about 1830 UT. French at 1845 and German at 1905. English at 1925 until sign off at 1945. Opened with "This is Yerevan.... dear radio listeners you are listening to the English World Service of Public Radio of Armenia." ( I think it is actually directed to Europe; hardly a world service.) Excellent clear signal. They no longer seem to refer to themselves as the Voice of Armenia. They announced the old A-05 schedule, viz. 4810, 9775 and 11640 (was it actually ever on?). (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You`ve got to wonder about stations, and this is hardly the only one, which perpetually announce outdated or incorrect frequencies for their own operation. Obviously no one in the studio actually listens to their own broadcasts, or they would know better. So why should anyone else? Of course, a bit better internal communication between the frequency/engineering department and the programmiing department would also be helpful (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC Shepparton, 11880. Just spoke to Nigel Holmes. The transmission on 11880 will last to Friday 16th December 2005. Relay of the ABC Darwin. (I got a QSL back from Darwin, normal ABC address). (John Wright in Peakhurst NSW Australia, ripple via DXLD) Johno, Which of the NT stations is currently off? Is it the second or the third by now? 73, (Glenn, ibid.) Tennant Creek. Could be on air very soon. Alice Springs, then Katherine. But as running late the wet season would be a damper on things (pardon the pun). Broadcast Australia is the contractor as I understand. Regards (Johno Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Subject: NT HF relay ex [out of, not formerly] -Shepparton - 2nd extension granted Please note that the relay of NT domestic radio from RA transmitters at Shepparton which was due to cease tomorrow, will now continue until Friday 16 December when it will cease at 0900 UT (2000 EDT). The relay was initially scheduled to operate from 10 October to 18 November. An extension to 2 December was granted and a second extension has been requested because two of the three domestic HF transmitters in NT have been off-air recently. Coverage of the NT and off-shore areas to the north & north-west of Darwin has been excellent and the relay on 11880 kHz has achieved its primary objective of maintaining a conduit for dissemination of cyclone warnings and regional broadcast services. A second email detailing the cessation will be issued closer to 16 December (Nigel Holmes, Transmission RADIO AUSTRALIA, via Johno Wright, Dec 2, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Vienna English on 7325 to NAm varies start time: 0012/0015 and 0035/0038, but even that margin you can`t count on (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) & depends on day of week (gh) ** BELARUS. Harmonics: 12230, 1127 UT Nov 30, BR-1, Minsk //279 (2 x 6115) Poor; 18345, 1121 Nov 30, BLR BR-1, Minsk // 279 (3 x 6115) fair peaks (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, NW England, Icom R75 & Wellbrooke ALA 1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5580.2, Radio San José; San José de Chiquitos, Nov. 30, 2208, Heard with almost non-stop LA music and some occasional short announcements by male in Spanish. ID was heard at 2231. Poor reception; 23432 at best (Mark Veldhuis, the Netherlands, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. R. Pio XII [Doce], 5952.47, 1000-1020+ Nov 25, Spanish talk, ID, ads, jingles, OA folk music [not CP?]. Fair level but poor reception due to splatter form 5950 WYFR (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON [non]. R. Free Southern Cameroon, via Russia, 12130, 1825- 1900* Nov 27. Tune-in to continuous English talk about freedom in southern Cameroon. 1857 lite instrumental music. Weak but readable (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sundays only ** CANADA. A modified version of RCI’s shortwave schedule for the rest of the B05 broadcast season (2 December 2005 to 26 March 2006) has been posted on the ``Schedules and Frequencies`` page of our website at the following address: http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/horaires.shtml You will also find on that page a modified schedule for RCI-3, one of our 24-hour per day satellite channels. That channel can also be heard via our website. The modifications include increased programming in Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. You will also note that the morning broadcast in English to Asia will now begin at 2300 UT, instead of 2230. Please note that the schedules are posted in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader software to read PDF files, you may download it free of charge by following the link given on the ``Schedules and Frequencies`` page. We wish you good listening in the coming months. (RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos amigos radioescuchas: Según he podido comprobar en el nuevo esquema de RCI http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/B05_SWa.pdf se amplían en 30 minutos las emisiones en español de las 0100 y 0300 utc, quedando como sigue: (salvo error) Del 2 Diciembre 2005 a 26 Marzo 2006 2300-2359 11990 - 250 kW - 176 AZ - América del Sur - = horario 2300-2359 13730 - 250 kW - 176 AZ - América del Sur - = horario 0000-0059 9640 - 250 kW - 212 AZ - México/Caribe/América del Sur = 0000-0059 11990 - 250 kW - 176 AZ - México/Antillas/América del Sur = 0100-0159 6100 - 250 kW - 240 AZ - México/Cuba - + 30 minutos 0300-0359 6130 - 250 kW - 240 AZ - México/Cuba - + 30 minutos ---------------------------------------------------------- 73 (José Bueno - Córdoba - España, HCDX via DXLD) ** CANADA. MARY LOU FINLAY RETIRES FROM CBC RADIO AFTER TONIGHT'S AIH "For the last eight years, she's been the interrogative voice of As It Happens. But at the end of the program tonight [Nov 30], she's leaving us. After 35 years in daily journalism, Mary Lou Finlay has retired. "Hosting As It Happens is one of the most difficult jobs there is in this business: every day Mary Lou showed up, recorded a dozen interviews, speaking knowledgeably about everything from the Gaza Strip to gas prices to gastronomy -- often within the same half-hour. While politicians, pundits and dried prune collectors the world over may be breathing a sigh of relief, we here at As It Happens are mourning the departure of one of the world's finest interviewers -- someone whose work ethic and skill made the jobs of those around her measurably easier. We wish her the best of luck in her leisure -- although we doubt she'll be spending much time sitting around." (from http://www.cbc.ca/aih/ via Ricky Leong, AB, Nov 30, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** CANADA. Quirks & Quarks Dec 3rd --- Hello, This Week on Quirks & Quarks we have a special full edition program: "On the Way to a Warmer World." This week in Montreal, the United Nations conference on Climate Change got underway. And according to the latest scientific studies, the situation is more troubling than ever. New historical data, going back 650,000 years, has confirmed what scientists have been saying for the past decade: carbon dioxide levels are closely tied to atmospheric temperature. And another new study shows that even wet areas are going to have problems, as water flow patterns change, leading to floods in the spring and droughts in the summer. Even the oceans could be in trouble, as they try to adsorb the carbon dioxide, threatening sea life. But solutions are out there, and we'll look at how some researchers are trying to find ways to capture and store the excess carbon. All this and more on Quirks & Quarks, Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One (Bob McDonald, Host, CBC.ca's Quirks newsletter via gh, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. In DXLD 5-205 concerning the Sirius Satellite Radio Canada service, I commented on whether the ten new Canadian channels will only be available to Canadian subscribers only and blocked to US subscribers. US subscribers will get 5 of them: 93 - bandeapart – Emerging French-language music scene. 94 - CBC Radio 3 – New Canadian music. 95 - Iceberg Radio – Adult alternative Canadian music. 137 - CBC Radio One – National and international news and award- winning documentaries. 138 - Première Plus – French-language current affairs. I suppose half the new channels is better than none at all. Too bad RCI Plus wasn't included. Later, (Steven Cline, Indianapolis, IN, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also I.V. ** CANADA [and non]. RELIVE CKLW'S BIG RADIO PAST Wednesday, November 30, 2005, Susan Whitall / The Detroit News http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051130/ENT02/511300404/1032/ENT Anyone who loved pop radio and lived within several hundred miles of Detroit will remember "The Big 8," CKLW-AM (800) fondly. While the Windsor-based station still exists today, airing Canadian talk shows, in the '60s it was a Canadian-American pop powerhouse, booming out a snappy format of fast-talking disc jockeys, bloody news coverage and hot hits, with an emphasis on home-grown Detroit music. Now CKLW fans on the north side of the Detroit River will be able to see Michael McNamara's much-lauded CKLW documentary, "Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8," at 8 p.m. Friday on Detroit Public Television WTVS (Channel 56). In-studio guests will include CK's Jo-Jo Shutty-McGregor and Joe Donovan. Also, just in time for Christmas giving for the Detroit radio nerd on your list, a DVD of the documentary also will be available Thursday at the Web site http://www.radiorevolutiondvd.com where you can order with a credit card or check. There are also a few Windsor retailers who are carrying the DVD, including Dr. Disc Music at 659 Ouellette Ave. Call (519) 253-9744 or e-mail drdiscrecords @ hotmail.com The DVD also will be available at the Art Gallery of Windsor Shop, 401 Riverside Drive (just a block from the Big 8's original headquarters). Call (519) 977-0013 (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Friday (Dec. 2) at 8:00 PM, Channel 56 (PBS) in Detroit features the program "Radio Revolution-the Rise and Fall of the Big 8". This excellent program about CKLW in it's heyday was shown on Canada's History Television in 2004. For those who listened to Detroit radio in the late 60's and 70's, it brings back fond memories of bombastic DJ's and 20-20 News (Karl Racenis, MARE via DXLD) WTVS is also on satellite, as I recall the PBS source for much of Canada, Latin America (gh, dxldyg in advance via DXLD) Just finished watching this documentary and it was worth it. If not available on PBS in your area, get the DVD mentioned in the original post. As a teen, I could hear the Big 8 in my hometown of Indianapolis IN, but I am near them today and they are just a talk station (carrying audio of Larry King's CNN show now). Typical of when gov't sticks their nose into business and screws up a good thing like with the "Canadian content law" that killed CKLW in the early 80's (Don Hosmer, Dearborn MI, ibid.) ** CATALUNYA [non]. CATALAN NATIONALISTS CALL FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE COPE RADIO STATION --- By h.b. Wed, 30 Nov 2005, 17:31 http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_1098.shtml Five members of the youth department of the Catalan Nationalist Party ERC, dressed in yellow jump suits and masks and armed with hammers, chained themselves to the railings outside the main studios of Cadena Cope in Madrid this morning. They carried a banner in Catalan which called for the closure of the radio station. Stop the channel of hate ­ was their call. The Cadena COPE is owned by the Church in Spain. Two deputies from Esquerra were with them, Joan Puig and Joan Tardá. Eventually the police arrived cut the protestors free and led them away. © typicallyspanish.com (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz del Guaviare, 6035.02, 1040-1110+ Nov 25, ad string, jingles, Spanish talk, ID, 1100 NA. Fair but some adjacent channel splatter (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Glenn, 2400 kHz, R Revolución, Santiago de Cuba, 0400 Nov 30, 2 x 1200 with national anthem and canned ID. Tnx David Crawford tip (Jay Novello, Wake Forest, NC R8A, various wires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 2279.96, R Anacaona, San Juan de la Maguana, from 0150 tunein Dec 1, 2 x nominal 1140, strong with all-bachata format, pauses between each song as if programmed from an iPod; distorted audio, canned ID 0209 "Radio Anacaona, La Reina del Sur". (Not sure about last word.) 0306 formal ID and NA, then unmodulated carrier past 0311 tuneout (Jay Novello, Wake Forest, NC R8A, various wires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. LA ROSA DE TOKYO PARA EL PRÓXIMO DOMINGO Recuerden que el Grupo Radioescucha Argentino está colaborando con LA ROSA DE TOKIO, el programa de DX y comunicaciones que se irradia por LS11 Radio Provincia, La Plata, Argentina, en la frecuencia de 1270 kHz, con 56 kw! en su horario habitual de 13 a 14 hora argentina (1600 a 1700 UT) y también en Internet, en http://www.radioprovincia.gba.gov.ar La emisión correspondiente al domingo 04 de Diciembre de 2005 de La Rosa de Tokyo estará dedicada a revisar la historia de la radio en El Salvador. El programa se dividirá en dos partes. En una, se revisarán los primeros años de la radio en el hermano país centroamericano. En la segunda, se analizará la radio durante los años de la guerra civil que asoló El Salvador, poniéndose especial atención en los casos de Radio Venceremos y Radio Farabundo Martí. También se revisará el caso de otras importantes estaciones que han marcado huellas en la historia radiofónica del país. No se pierdan las grabaciones historicas que se incluiran en el programa. El programa contará con la participación de los columnistas Ruben Guillermo Margenet, desde Rosario, Argentina y de Arnaldo Slaen, desde Buenos Aires, Argentina.- No dejen de agendárselo!!!! (Arnaldo Slaen, Dec 1, Noticias DX via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. ALEMANIA, 9620 V. of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity, 1904-1925, escuchada el 30 de noviembre en amárico a locutor con boletín de noticias, referencias a América y a la Democracia, segmento de música folklórica y locutora con comentarios, SINPO 54433 (José Miguel Romero EA5-1022, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Hilo de siete metros, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Pirate, R. Spaceman, 4070, 2230-2300+ Nov 26, pop music, ID, frequent announcements. Very weak in noisy conditions (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Harmonic: 2808 kHz, 1848 Nov 30. France Info, Unid transmitter (2x 1404) (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, NW England, Icom R75 & Wellbrooke ALA 1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. FRENCH ALL-NEWS CHANNEL TO BE BROADCASTING BY END OF 2006 (AFP) 30 November 2005 PARIS - The French government on Wednesday announced the launch of an all-news international television network that it said would be operational before the end of next year. Communication Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres told a media conference that a contract had been signed between France’s leading private and public television broadcasters giving birth to the French International News Network (CFII), nicknamed ``CNN à la francaise`` and a potential rival to the US-based broadcaster. The new project is to be owned by commercial network TF1 and the state television company France Televisions, according to the document signed late Tuesday by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. The network, employing around 240 staff, will produce programmes initially beamed to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. News will be provided around around the clock in French, with a four- hour slot of English programming. Arabic and Spanish are expected to be added later on. Government spokesman Jean-François Cope said the CFII would begin broadcasting ``before the end of 2006.`` http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/November/theworld_November812.xml§ion=theworld&col= (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) ** GEORGIA. RADIO GEORGIA TO BE WOUND UP Enclosed a message of the German service editors at Radio Georgia to the Internationale Medienhilfe organization via Rudolf Krumm: Radio Georgia staff had been notified today about a decision to wind up the foreign service. Financial problems were mentioned as reason for this decision, but they doubt that Georgian Radio really run out of money. Radio Georgia editors are no longer in duty as of Dec 1. Remainder of this message is a call for protests (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ________________________________________ Von: Lia Mumladse Gesendet: Dienstag, 29. November 2005 14:53 An: Internationale Medienhilfe IMH / Akstinat Sehr geehrter Herr Akstinat, Heute hat die Rundfunksleitung die Belegschaft ueber ihre Entscheidung informiert, den Auslandsdienst von Radio Georgien samt deutschsprachigem Programm aufzuloesen. Als Grund haben sie wieder finanzielle Problemme genannt. Obwohl wir uns sehr daran zweifeln, dass das ein wahrer Grund fuer die Einstellung des Sendebetriebs ist. Wir rechnen auch diesmal mit der Hilfe der IMH und haben auch vor, auch andere uns zur Verfuegung stehende Mitteln geltend zu machen. Ab 1. Dezember haben wir schon keinen Zugang mehr zu unseren Arbeitsstellen. Wir brauchen Ihre Unterstuetzung so schnell es geht. Hier die Adressen der zustaendigen Personen fuer Protestschreiben: Intendantin der oeffentlich-rechtlichen Anstalt Georgien Frau Tamar Kintsuraschvili tamuna @ gpb.ge Stellvertretender Vorsitzende der oeffentlich-rechtlichen Anstalt Georgien Herr Badri Koplatadse badri @ gpb.ge info @ botschaftvongeorgien.de Frau Maia Pandjikidse media @ presidpress.gov.ge An: Praesidenten Georgiens, Herrn Micheil Saakaschwili lali@parliament.ge An: Frau Nino Burjanadze, Parlamentspraesidentin Georgiens deut.bot.tbilissi @ access.sanet.ge Bevollmaechtigter und Sonderbotschafter Deutschland in Georgien, Herr Uwe Schramm. Mit freundlichen Gruessen im Namen der deutschen Redaktion, Lia Mumladse, Irina Gegetschkori (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) According to a message from the German section of Radio Georgia, the management of Georgia's national public service broadcaster (- under its roof the programs are produced -) made a final decision to shut down the foreign language departments by the end of November. The transmissions were already suspended since a couple of months (Info distributed on the German-language A-DX mailing list via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It seems the German section is only concerned about German. Is it confirmed all other languages including English are also ``wound up``?? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Berlin FM 87.9: VOA was represented at the MABB hearing today by executive director Brian Coniff and at least four other gentleman, plus their German trustee Helmut Drück. Representative of NPR was Jeff Rosenberg, director of NPR Worldwide. A decision about 87.9 could be made already tomorrow. Stay tuned (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. The first thing I did today when the ATS 909 alarmed me after a night without sleep (so I can't write "woke me up") was to take the set and tune it into 177 kHz at 0606. Indeed there was no longer a loud roar, instead human voices, talking about sports, came out of the AM fog in the first twilight of the day. I assume they made the switch at 0400, since the 0100-0400 period is still reserved for DRM testing (or whatever it might considered to be in light of DRM being officially introduced). This step taken by Deutschlandradio meanwhile triggered a next round in the heated DRM debate amongst DXers here in Germany. Hardly a surprise of course (Kai Ludwig, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How nice to hear this one back in good old AM! Who will be the next to switch back? 73/(Olle Alm, ibid.) ** GREENLAND. 3815 (USB), Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa, Greenland, broadcasting over utility station Ammassalik Radio (OZL), presumed heard at 2125, Nov 18, audible in Europe via DX Tuner/Europe, time pips and news at 2130. Utility interference starts at 2131 (Bob Wilkner in Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD). ** INDIA. BBC WORLD SERVICE PROGRAMMES VIA AIR On November 29, I heard BBC World Service Program "Science In Action" on under AIR National Programme on 9425 kHz around 1624 UT. And I heard just a few minutes of the programme. And after conclusion of the program, AIR announcer reminded that its BBC World Service Programme, etc., etc. That means some of the programmes of BBC World Service like Science In Action, etc., are now goes on air also from AIR National Programme. There might have been arrangement with of AIR with BBCWS. That's why some programmes related to education and sports, etc. are aired regularly from AIR National Programme Service as rebroadcast. A few months back, perhaps in October I read following message in DX INDIA. ------ BBC via All India Radio 30 September 2005 On Wednesday and Thursday (28th/29th Sept) Alok das Gupta noted BBC World Service programming at 1600-1630 UT on the National Channel of AIR on 9425 and 9470 kHz (Sports International on Thursday). More details to follow (www.dxasia.info) ------ I just mentioned it for reference. Thanking you, 73 & 55, Yours Faithfully, (Gautam Kumar Sharma, Geographical Location of reception place (Abhayapuri): Longitude: 26º18´20´´North, Latitude: 90º37´50´´East My Address: Gautam Kumar Sharma, Abhaypuri (Near Police Station), PO. Abhayapuri, (Assam), PIN.783384(India), dx_india via DXLD) Please rush your Feedback on the issue. More Monitoring will be done by me on BBC via AIR. Will send my reports to you with latest update as soon as possible or when I hear such BBC World Service Programmes. 73 & 55 (Gautam Kumar Sharma, Avayapuri, Assam, India via Swopan Chakroborty, DXLD) ** INDIA. India - FM Rainbow. Log: 9425, FM Rainbow via Bangalore (AIR), Nov 30, 1211-1230.40*, YL DJ in English with a music program of pop songs in English (Carpenters, ``Yesterday Once More,`` Bette Midler, ``Wind Beneath My Wings,`` Beatles, ``Eight Days a Week,`` etc.), ID and several TC’s, at sign-off played nice AIR pop music singing jingle, poor-fair. e-QSL Received in one day, for an e-mail report sent to spectrum-manager @ air.org.in : ``Thanks for the mail. I hereby confirm that you received our FM Rainbow programme on 9425 kHz which was a test transmission from Bangalore. You may send your reception reports on line through our website http://www.allindiaradio.gov.in Some of the best heard AIR's frequencies in USA are 10330, 11620, 9445 and details are available on website.`` With best regards, Yours Sincerely, Sunil Bhatia, Dy. Director (Engg.) Spectrum Management & Synergy Division Directorate General : All India Radio # 207, Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi-01 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340 + T2FD antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4970, North Eastern Service of AIR Shillong, received an e- mail in 30 minutes from Sunil Bhatia, from New Delhi, indicating: ``Your report is verified as far as frequency & timings are concerned. You will be receiving a QSL after verification of programme content. It may take some time.`` He is outstanding! (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Dec 1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Tom Sundstrom is maintaining his page of Audio and Video Streams on the 'Net Revised 2005-11-24 http://www.trsc.com/audiovisual.html which could lead you to some worthwhile listening you did not know about (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SIRIUS UPDATE: SOME CANADIAN OFFERINGS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE USA BEGINNING 12/1 Just got off the phone with Sirius' VP of Corporate Communications, Jim Collins. There will be no big announcement regarding Canadian channel availability in the US -- they'd rather let Sirius Canada stay in their own spotlight for now. Collins stated that he still wasn't sure what the rollout rate would be for Canadian channels in the USA, but all 10 will eventually be part of the US service. He did confirm that we should see some of the changes beginning tomorrow (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Nov 30, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) My receiver added the following channels this morning: 93 Bandeapart 94 CBC Radio 3 95 Iceberg Radio 137 CBC Radio One 138 Premiere Plus This matches with what I was told -- 5 channels to be available right now (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, Dec 1, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) See also CANADA New on Sirius USA website -- a link called "Northern Exposure" -- listing the 5 new channels. So Sirius did make a US announcement after all. See http://www.siriusradio.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=FlexContent&cid=1132697119269 or http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y2A12104C (Richard Cuff / Allentown PA USA, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Al Jessop story on satellites is similar to our member of the ARDXC Mark Fahey here on the western fringes of Sydney. Mark has a free to air satellite DVD set of 6 DVD's with all the free to air material he has found over the last two years that he can watch and hear. Yes he has radio stations, for example Chinese regional networks, etc. I would go as far to say its the WRTVH of satellites centred on the southern hemisphere. His place is massive, with satellites everywhere. Mark has produced this DVD of 6 hours of entertainment; Australia buyers, it`s $30-00 posted and to overseas countries it`s US $30-00 and we can take credit cards Mastercard or Visa. No money orders or bank cheques drawn on banks outside of Australia, as the fees are higher than what the cheque is worth. You can send your request to dxer @ fl.net.au or snail mail to John Wright, C/o ARDXC, 29 milford Rd, Peakhurst NSW 2210, Australia (Johno Wright, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. NEXT PHASE OF NAB CAMPAIGN TARGETS PAY RADIO --- Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 Using the tagline "Radio: You Shouldn't Have to Pay for It," the NAB is rolling out a new round of pro-radio promotional spots as part of its ongoing, "Radio: You Hear It Here First," campaign, featuring what NAB Radio Board Vice-Chair and Withers Broadcasting CEO Russ Withers says are some attention-grabbing spots. "There are some very entertaining, very funny ads," Withers tells R&R. But Withers doesn't believe the spots unfairly bash satellite radio. "They're a pay medium, and we're a free medium," he says. "You don't have to pay to play us." This new campaign highlights the news, sports, and talk programming that free radio offers listeners, whereas the campaign's initial phase focused on music. Radio Board Chair and Entercom CEO David Field says, "The new spots remind listeners of the 24-7 news coverage, compelling personalities, weather and traffic bulletins, local regional and national talk, local sports and other programming, all of which is available for free on local radio. This next phase of the campaign will build on our momentum from the artist spots and further convey radio's unique value proposition to consumers." To obtain the spots, click on the following link http://www.nab.org/newsroom/issues/radio/radiomarketingcampaignspots-talk.asp (radioandrecords.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. The Communicator sold? 30 November 2005 17:03 --- I have been reading on a couple of web sites including The Caroline Mailing List that the Communicator has been sold to the harbour master for £1,000, a lot less than what Dave Miller originally wanted for it and I bet a hell of a lot less than what he paid for it. Apparently the new owner is not going to scrap it but keep it as it is. Regards Richard Sharpe http://www.anoraknation.com/threads/5125.html#40119 (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. Coalition Maritime Forces Radio One was heard during summer occasionally quite well on 9133 kHz. Now I received letter verifying my report signed by K.W. Auten, Captain, US Navy, Assistant Fifth Fleet. The address in the envelope was Department of Navy, COMUSNAVCENT, Operations N3, FPO AE 9501-6008. 73´s jhy (Jyrki Hytönen, Finland, Dec 2, dxing.info via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 11605, Kol Israel, 1630-1645, supuestamente emisión en francés, solo retransmitiendo música pop hebrea; a las 1645 locutora con ID "Kol Israel, la Voz de Israel" comunica programación en español, presenta música clásica española. A las 1655 acaba la emisión musical y tras la sintonía de la emisora se corta la retransmisión; esta retransmisión supuestamente sería en Ladino, SINPO 44333 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Nov 30, SANGEAN ATS 909, Antena Radio MASTER A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR. 4830, R. Kashmir, Jammu, fade in 0055-0135 fade out, Nov 22, Indian vocals, announcements. This station has been noted in the same time frame for the past two weeks, peaking at S3 around 0105 to 0125, with fade-in around 0055 and fade-out around 0135. This same program pattern has been heard on 3 different occasions in past 2 weeks. 35333 at peaks with only local power line QRM causing any problems. Fading approaches a flutter, or very rapid variations in signal strength (Bruce Churchill, Fallbrook CA in Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 5890, Shiokaze (= Sea Breeze), via Irkutsk (100 kW / 125 degrees), *1430-1500* (Datzinov and Ivanov in R Bulgaria Observer, via BC-DX VIA , DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) Other sources claim that the transmitter is in North Korea (DSWCI Ed. Anker Peterson, Denmark, ibid.) What sources? If it were in KN it would be a black cland, which seems very unlikely, or manages to escape detection? Even more unlikely. Possibly they claim to transmit from the target area, like many clandestines (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. KBS World Radio is celebrating 50th anniversary on Dec 1. On this day they started 15 minute Japanese program on 970 MW, under the name of Voice of Free Korea. In 1957 they extended the program into 30 minutes and started to use SW. They continue to grow and now 4 times daily with one hour program and become most popular station among Japanese listeners (Toshimichi Ohtake/JSWC, Kamakura, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 7590, Denge Mezopotamiya via Moldova. Nov. 27 at *1500-1525. SINPO 45444. Sign-on with female talk in Kurdish. Jingle at 1501. Music program from 1502 (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Still on 11530 before 1500? (gh, DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, R Mauritânia, Nouakchott, 2136, Nov 14, Arabic and Arab music (// 4845), 25322 (Rudolf W. Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, Brazil, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) As far as I can recall: a) I've never heard them simultaneously on both channels, meaning at least 2 HF transmitters are available, and the 41 m band signal should theoretically be as strong as that on 60 m (and believe me, it's very, very strong down here, often many dB over S9 even without any extra help, like now as I write this: 2201, peaking 40 dB over S9); b) seen any similar log; c) or read any listings referring 2 HF transmitters. But I may be entirely wrong, if it's some new operation. I hope I don't forget to observe this next Fri. evening~Sun.afternoon on the SW coast. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. NEPAL GOVERNMENT DEFIES COURT, SWITCHES OFF BBC RADIO Kathmandu | November 30, 2005 1:15:06 PM IST. Though Nepal's apex court asked the government not to shut transmission of South Asia's oldest private radio channel till a final verdict, a defiant state has switched off BBC's Nepali Service, sticking to its charge that the overseas programme was aiding terrorism. The fresh government defiance came even as the Supreme Court Tuesday started hearing the case filed by Radio Sagarmatha, the oldest community radio in South Asia that had been shut down a day before by armed security forces. Judge Badri Kumar Basnet ordered the government to allow Radio Sagarmatha to carry on transmissions as usual till Dec 7 when a final verdict is expected. As the vindicated station resumed broadcasts after a closure of nearly 45 hours, the government moved in again, sending a fresh directive to stop the BBC Nepali Service. For the last six years, Radio Sagarmatha had been airing the BBC Nepali Service, immensely popular because of its hardhitting interviews with underground Maoist guerrilla leaders. It has become even more popular since February this year, when King Gyanendra seized power with the help of the army and banned Nepal's FM stations from broadcasting news, news related to the Maoist insurgents and criticism of the army and royalty. On Sunday evening when the BBC Nepali Service was airing an interview with the top rebel leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, armed security men burst into the office of Radio Sagarmatha in Kathmandu Valley, seized transmission equipment and arrested five staff members. They were acting on behalf of the information and communications ministry that banned the transmission of the radio station - one that had fetched Nepal the Magsaysay Award in 2002 - on the ground it was broadcasting programmes that were spreading terror. As journalists protested in Kathmandu and southern towns, the beleaguered FM station sought the help of the Supreme Court. "We are looking at the appropriate legal remedies available," said Ghamaraj Luitel, acting manager of Radio Sagarmatha. Luitel also said his FM had decided on its own Sunday not to air the Prachanda interview. Instead, it was playing music when the raid occurred. "It shows the immaturity and despotic nature of this government," he said. Earlier this month, King Gyanendra attended the World Summit for Information Society in Tunisia where he said Nepal had made considerable progress in information and communication technology. (IANS) http://www.webindia123.com/ Regards & 73’s (Mukesh Kumar, MUZAFFARPUR, INDIA, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. Thanksgiving Day, 11/24/05, at 1600 UT tune-in on 6924.9 USB, I heard a very weak pirate ID'ing as either "All Turkey Radio" or "Old Turkey Radio". Here in St. Louis, MO, it was a very poor and noisy signal. I was lucky to be able to hear the ID, and could hear "gobbling" sound effects but could not understand the words and music during the body of the program. It either faded out completely or went off-air around 1625 UT. 73, (Will Martin, MO, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. The KFOR tower story has finally appeared on their video on demand list, toward the bottom of http://www.kfor.com. Look for: Kevin and Linda Reporting --- The 2005 Bedlam Bet --- Kevin lost the bet. The Sooners won the game and now Kevin Ogle has to hang the OU flag from the KFOR transmitter tower at 1300 feet. The wind sways the tower at least 20 feet in both directions, our engineers say. It's a scary task that Kevin must endure (via gh, Nov 30, dxldyg via DXLD) Sadly, this is not Linux and Firefox friendly. The site wants IE 6.0, WMP 9.0, blah, blah, blah. Even trying User Agent Switcher the server balks. I even have a WMP 9.0 capable player installed. Whatever happened to using non-proprietary video and audio formats? It certainly goes against the open spirit of the Internet. 73, de (Nate Bargmann, ibid.) ** OMAN. 15140, R. Oman, 1428-1432, escuchada el 28 de Nov en árabe a locutor y locutora con comentarios, SINPO 45433 (Jose Miguel Romero EA5-1022, Burjasot (Valencia), España, SANGEAN ATS 909, Hilo de siete metros, dxldyg via DXLD) What happened to English during this hour?? (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, Wantok R Light, Port Moresby, finally verified with QSL card. I received the following letter: "We have received reports from various parts of the world. Our station is located in a shipping container on the outskirts of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Our transmitter is a Crown TB1000 which is an all solid state transmitter capable of 1 kW output. Our programming is simulcast with our FM programs at the moment but we hope to soon split the programs between Shortwave and FM. "Our antenna is supported by wooden poles similar to utility poles and the antenna consists of two dipoles with ladder line between them. We feed the antenna with coaxial cable. The antenna feed point is slightly off-center to `steer` the beam toward the northwest and toward the center of Papua New Guinea. The antenna is known as a NVIS or Near Vertical Incidence System. We find that we put a very good signal into the center of PNG during the daylight hours. "Wantok Radio Light is a Christian radio station that serves the entire country with Christian music and teaching. We currently have, in addition to the shortwave transmitter, an FM station in the capital city of Port Moresby and 5 satellite fed ``satellators`` located in 5 major cities of Papua New Guinea. We are in the construction mode for the FM network and hope to have 24 stations by the end of 2006. "My husband and I (Sarah Good: V/S) are missionaries and serve with a US based group, HCJB World Radio Missionary Fellowship with headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. We are based here in Port Moresby and along with another missionary couple we are involved in training nationals to operate and maintain the station on their own. Staff members: Pawa Warena, Station Manager; David Olson, Chief Engineer and Amateur Radio Operator (P29CQ and KL7K); Alan Good, Station Engineer; Nick Mapun, RF Engineer. Address: PO Box 1273, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea. E-mail: info @ wantokradio.net " (Masato Ishii, Shibata-shi, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ** PERU. R. Marañón, Jaen, 4835.46, 1020-1035+ Nov 25, Spanish talk, ID, ads, jingles, OA folk music; weak in quiet conditions (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. RRI, Bucharest, English to NAm: at 2130, 9755 heard well, 11940 not heard. At 0100, 6150 poor to fair, also 9615. Neither 9755 nor 6150 stays solid. May improve as season goes on? (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. 5850, Special Radio via Tashkent. Nov.24 at *1900- 1925. Sign-on with ID in Russian & English. Russian pops followed (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Thursdays only ** SCOTLAND [and non]. BBC STAFF TO GET LESSONS ON SCOTTISH DEVOLUTION FERGUS SHEPPARD http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?t430924395 ALL BBC journalists are to take lessons in Scottish devolution to ensure they have a basic grasp of how the country is governed. The course has been approved by Mark Byford, the BBC's deputy director general, and will begin next year. News of the basic primer in recent Scottish history emerged as a senior BBC manager appeared before MSPs at Holyrood. Jeremy Peat, the BBC's national governor for Scotland, told MSPs: "Nothing aggravates me more than mentions on BBC UK news of policy issues which not only sometimes do not make clear that it [the story] applies only in England, but don't take the opportunity to enrich the story by talking about how government policies operate in Scotland. "I still think that not all BBC journalists fully understand the niceties of devolution." Guidelines drawn up by the BBC for staff covering the May general election made clear which issues in Scotland were reserved to Westminster and which were the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament. However, some Scottish viewers continue to complain that national BBC news bulletins report some issues - for example education and health - as if policies announced in England and Wales automatically applied to Scotland. Mr Peat said he would continue to monitor for "inaccurate reporting" on national BBC bulletins. He added: "I personally won't be satisfied until we get accurate reporting, but also enriched reporting." (Scotsman via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) ** SENEGAL [non]. 15260, West Africa Democracy Radio via Rampisham, UK. Nov. 26 at 0754-0805. SINPO 34333. Local popular song and talk in English. ID at 0756. French program started at 0800 with ID & jingles (Iwao Nagatani, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) 12000, WADR (West Africa Democracy Radio), via Ascension Island, 0845- 0900*, Nov 20, French talk, short music, short announcement, Afropop, short interview, very clear ID at 0859 as WADR; another ID (canned) and music jingle, 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) Who says it`s Ascension? Bernd Trutenau says UK sites (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO [non]. RSM, English at 1930 on 6100 is NOT making it into my area (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nor should it be expected to, altho possible in deep winter NE America (gh, DXLD) ** SINGAPORE [non]. AWR Asia/Pacific is planning to start New Wavescan in January. They will announce more details in December. JSWC is to present DX News as same as UK edition days, as narrated by Ms. Yukiko Tsuji with my editing. During my business trip to Singapore at the end of September, I was able to visit AWR Asia/Pacific Regional Office and had a nice chat with staff of the Office. The team of New Wavescan program consists of Mr. Akinori Kaibe, Regional Director, Mr. Rhoen Catolico, Listeners Relations and Mr. Anniston Mathews, Technical Support (Toshimichi Ohtake/JSWC, Kamakura, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO RELAUNCHES ITS WEBSITE Adventist World Radio has launched a redesigned website featuring a searchable programme schedule for AWR's shortwave broadcasts, a prayer request section, and expanded story features. The church-owned site is located at http://www.awr.org # posted by Andy @ 09:31 UT Nov 30 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Their so-called program schedule does not list any programs, i.e. names of shows, just transmission languages. Nor can you search program titles. The old Wavescan page portraying Adrian Peterson http://english.awr.org/wavescan/ is still there via my bookmark but I don`t see a link to it on the new homepage. Still has the final 3 months of old Wavescan audio files ondemand. BTW, I suspect a large percentage of the English-speaking audience quit listening to AWR at all with the suspension of Wavescan (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. SOLOMON ISLANDS BROADCASTER HIT BY POWER OUTAGES | Text of report in English by Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text website on 2 December The continuous power outages in the capital has landed the national broadcaster, SIBC, into a power crisis. The national radio's stand-by generator was down earlier this week, resulting in total blackout for the station every time SIEA shuts down its power to the grid which SIBC is part of. SIBC's chief engineer, Cornelius Rathamana, says the problem is too much for SIBC, which loses up to six hours of broadcast time a day since Wednesday [30 November] this week. Mr Rathamana says the problem is very urgent, and he's been assured by those charged to work on the stand-by generator that they are doing their best to restore the engine. Mr Rathamana says he understands that SIEA also has its own problems, resulting in the continuous power disruptions in the capital. Source: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text website, Honiara, in English 2 Dec 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Stations with programs in English, updated: http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=1947&highlight= (Fabrizio Carnevalini, Nov 29, dxing.info via DXLD) v CATALUNYA [non] ** SUDAN. 9505 R. Omdurman, Nov 29, 1656-1707, 45444, Arabic, Talk and news, ID at 1659 and 1705 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. RTI to test Tbilisskaya site Enclosed message from Radio Taiwan International via Rudolf Sonntag: Today and tomorrow RTI German, 1900-2000 on 6170, will be aired via Tbilisskaya (site dubbed here as Armavir and otherwhise also known as Krasnodar) and the next three days until Dec 6 again via Al-Dhabbaya. As far as I know was Al-Dhabbaya in regular use for this transmission since Oct 30, because 49 metres from England skip over Germany in winter nights. But Al-Dhabbaya apparently suffered from an insufficient signal strength, at least it did so when I checked a while ago (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ---Ursprüngliche Nachricht--- Absender: "RTI Eva Triendl" Betreff: Testsendung 6170 kHz am 2. und 3. Dezember aus Armavir, Russland Liebe Hörerinnen und Hörer, wir strahlen unser RTI-Deutschprogramm von 1900-2000 Uhr UTC auf der Frequenz 6170 kHz am Freitag, den 2. Dezember und Samstag, den 3. Dezember aus Armavir, Russland und am Sonntag, den 4. Dezember, Montag, den 5. Dezember und Dienstag, den 6. Dezember aus Al-Dhabbaya, UAE Wir freuen uns über Beobachtungen und Empfangsbreichte! Ihre RTI-Deutschredaktion deutsch @ rti.org.tw http://german.rti.org.tw/ [Later:] I missed the announced RTI transmission via Tbilisskaya (their very first usage of Russian facilities I think), but according to some postings in the A-DX mailing list RNW English was heard on 6170 instead. No such transmission is scheduled, so I assume that Tbilisskaya was indeed on air but with a wrong feed, messed up perhaps already at Bush House main control (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANZANIA. 5050, R Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, according to Ndaro Nyamwocha at R Tanzania, "5050 kHz is not on the air. It has developed a big fault." He indicated that he would let me know when the transmitter would return to the air (Rich D'Angelo, PA Toshimichi Ohtake/JSWC, Kamakura, Japan) Mr. Ndaro Nyamwocha is the technical person in charge of processing reception reports. He asks for 1 US $ to post QSLs directly by himself. Otherwise the QSL may go to general mail section and possibility to get lost (T. Ramachandran Rajeesh, Thrissur, Kerala, India, Nov 17, DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ** U K. Re 5-205: UK BBC Lennon week: ``BBC Radio 2 Bigger Than Jesus, on Saturday 3 December (8.00-9.00 pm), presented by Paul McGann, tells of Lennon's interview with Maureen Cleave - in which he stated: "We're more popular than Jesus now. I don't know which will go first - rock `n' roll or Christianity" - and its aftermath.`` The correct time for this programme is 8.30-9.30 p.m [2030-2130 UT] which is the regular Radio 2 radio documentary slot (Mike Barraclough, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. In 5-190 we reported that BBC was producing a bad echo with itself Nov 5 at 0000+ in Spanish by using both Ascension and Guiana French on 6110. Rechecked UT Dec 1 at 0005 during the news, they have obviously been working on synchronizing the two: now the difference amounts only to a reverb ``hollow`` sound I foresaw, but it`s still not right on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Programmes I Like (# 18 ) --- "Write On" -- BBC World Service: It's a peek behind the scenes, if you will. The BBC World Service generates lots of mail, partly due to its massive output, and "Write On" is a good means by which to get a glimpse of what some of that mail is all about. "Write On" is a 13-15 minute programme that responds to listener comments about the World Service. These comments can come via e-mail, postal mail, SMS texting, and fax. Occasionally, there are also phone conversations with listeners, which allows for a more in-depth discussion of that person's complaint and/or point-of-view. And although most feedback is critical and questioning, there are also some comments of praise and compliments Comments and questions are read on-air by World Service announcers, with comments from the host frequently added or interspersed. Hosted, on a rotating basis by Dilly Barlow, Penny Vine and Nick Baker, listener questions and concerns are often put to the appropriate officials for a response. Those responses discuss station policies, plans, and programming philosophy. In addition, those responsible for specific programmes are put in the "hotseat", enabling listeners to learn of the "how" and "why" of programme making When a response is vague, or unsatisfactory, the host will press the issue via follow-up questions. This process sometimes produces unsatisfactory results, yet nevertheless allows listeners of the programme to learn how and why World Service decisions are made. We may not agree with the official reasoning, but at least we know why something is being done or not done. It also allows us to learn of upcoming changes to frequencies, programmes, and other services. "Write On" is a vehicle for listeners to vent their displeasure with the World Service, and gain a brief insight into how it works. Regardless of how one views the comments offered in the show (good or bad or indifferent), I think that it is required listening for anyone who has a strong interest in the BBC World Service. Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/write_on.shtml E-Mail: writeon @ bbc.co.uk (Peter Bowen, Toronto, Ont., Nov 30, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U K. Almost all currently contracted-for "feature" (i.e.: not news based) programming is to be discontinued by March 2006, as already announced by the BBCWS, and that which remains will be primarily scheduled on the weekends. I've just completed an exhaustive comparison of the various streams -- shortwave, satellite and internet -- that the WS has on offer for January's Monitoring Times magazine. The differences are already quite small (contrary to popular belief, the Sirius stream does carry considerable, though not all of the BBC's, feature programming on weekends) and, as Rich said, will be getting smaller. In fact, I would not be surprised if the BBC decided to dispense with some of its current streams in the not too distant future (John Figliozzi, Nov 30, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. BBC still on shortwave to the US - official :-) I didn't know whether to be amused or ashamed by this page I came across on http://www.britainusa.com - the website of the British Embassy in Washington. http://tinyurl.com/duawx Share your day with BBC World Service BBC World Service, 9 December 2002 BBC World Service on short wave... Listed below are the best frequencies to hear BBC World Service. Times given in EST. Morning 15190 6195 Daytime 12095 5975 Evening 9525 6135 5975 But I did notice at the bottom of the page that "We assume no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information disclosed in the site." (Andy Sennitt, Nov 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also INDIA ** U K. BBC TO HALVE ITS FINANCE DEPARTMENT --- Finance department is halved and new finance centre created in Wales, as BBC looks to reinvest in programmes The BBC has halved its finance division as part of the corporation's drive to cut overall costs and reinvest in programming. BBC director of finance, and Accountancy Age 2005 Awards judge, Zarin Patel, has announced that BBC Finance will reduce its head count from 650 to 310 over the next year, and to 260 by 2007. Part of this will involve outsourcing about 40 posts in 2007. Patel also announced the creation of a specialist Finance Centre in Ty Oldfield (at the BBC's headquarters in Cardiff) and 'the introduction of new, simpler business procedures and a reduction in internal trading'. She said: 'these proposed changes will enable the BBC to simplify the business side of making programmes and to spend more money on meeting the needs of our audiences. 'The proposals will also enable us to maintain and develop consistent business procedures as well as drive continuous improvement. I believe that, difficult though this is, we are making the right decisions for the whole BBC and our licence fee payers.' The cuts are aimed at saving £20m within BBC Finance by 2008, and are part of BBC director-general Mark Thompson's broader drive to make annual savings of £320m within three years – to be reinvested into programme-making (AccountancyAge.com, 29 Nov 2005 via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) see also SCOTLAND ** U K [and non]. Sirius: Chris Moyles in NYC Not a central topic here by any means but some interesting outcomes of having a national broadcaster like BBC Radio One transformed by technology (Sirius Satellite Radio) into an international broadcaster. 1. Although done primarily for the UK audience, Chris Moyles (the morning man on Radio One) and part of his morning crew are visiting NYC this week and doing their show "live" from Sirius headquarters. However, they are incorporating their U.S. listeners into some of their regular features. One is the "Sting Ring" in which they call a listener and just play short bits of Sting songs as a wake-up call. They are calling American listeners and, thus far, the recipients (victims, perhaps, given that these calls are going out between 2 and 5 in the morning NY time -- so the show can be heard live back in the UK) know that it's the Moyles show that is calling them. (Yes, it could be planned; but the premise of the bit is to hear the unrehearsed reaction of the recipient of the call. So I don't think so.) 2. The show's jingles have started alternating the phrase "National Radio One" with "International Radio One". Moyles regularly refers to the show's US listeners on Sirius. It's not a seamless transition and it's not always a transition at all. It's clear that the program is intended primarily for a UK audience. (After all, it is them that is paying the license fee.) Nonetheless, like programs on ABC Radio National in Australia and CBC Radio in Canada, domestic programs are referring to their international listeners more and more. 3. The BBC (and Sirius, presumably) thought it important that east coast U.S. listeners at least hear the program five hours delayed so that the time announcements and programs would coincide with lifestyles here. So, it is not just a straight feed as on the internet, but an effort has been made to accommodate (to some extent) the international audience. Parenthetically, the show really is worth a listen if you have Sirius. Moyles is billed as the "Saviour of UK Radio", so there is that similarity to Stern. But I actually find I prefer Moyles to Stern. There's an "everyman" factor in his personality and his humor is less coarse and attitude more self-effacing than Stern's. He's also a more endearing and accessible character. The show is funny and entertaining and works very well in the morning -- whether you are in the UK or the US. It's on channel 11 on Sirius or you can listen online from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 And there's no commercials (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Nov 30, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD) ** U K. JOHN PEEL TRIBUTES TRIGGER RECORD TRAFFIC for BBC.co.uk http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story1618.shtml Posted: 30 November 2005 By: Jemima Kiss The BBC's tributes to legendary DJ John Peel helped to generate record traffic for the corporation's website last month. A BBC 6 Music re- broadcast of John Peel's 1967 BBC radio debut became the most popular on-demand programme ever, prompting 300,000 listening requests during October. Radio 1's 'Keeping it Peel' micro-site recorded three million page impressions over the month, contributing to a record three million monthly unique users on BBC.co.uk/radio1. The network of BBC radio sites collectively recorded 7.7 million unique users - the highest figure yet. Web users have listened to 134 million hours of BBC radio through the website this year. "These incredible figures show that people really value the option of listening online and catching up with their favourite programmes if they miss them," said Simon Nelson, controller of BBC Radio & Music Interactive. © 2005 Mousetrap Media Ltd (via Tom Roche, DXLD) WEB USERS CONSUME 15,000 YEARS-WORTH OF BBC RADIO 29 November 2005 More than 134 million hours of BBC Radio have been consumed via the Internet this year - the equivalent to 15,345 years of continuous listening. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/11_november/29/web.shtml (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U K. DAB'S FLAGSHIP STATION GETS SET TO PULL THE PLUG UK's digital PrimeTime Radio recently reported greatly improved listening figures considering the difficult task they have of not only promoting their station but also having to cope with the slower than expected take up of digital audio broadcasting (DAB). The impending closure of the station was announced last week after the station's owner Roger De Haan was unable to secure an agreement with GCap, the national digital radio multiplex (transmitter) provider. GCap apparently did offer PrimeTime a further 6 years on DAB but without any assurance of any continuation after that. Obvious speculation has to be that a further 6 years would only just be enough to bring the station into profitability as the existing 4% DAB radio ownership gradually increases. However with no guarantee that PrimTime would get a further 6 year extension after that the company would have been unable to retrieve money previously spent developing the business and promoting the new medium of DAB. Considering most analogue stations these days are receiving 10 and 12 year licences from Ofcom so that stations have a chance of making a return on their initial investment, surely the same consideration should be given to a DAB station that has pioneered the digital mode on behalf of the radio industry and the government. If GCap are able to place the future of national digital stations in jeopardy every 6 years, they are doing nothing to assist in the transition to DAB, nothing for their contracted stations, nothing for the staff that work in the industry and nothing for their listeners. Many dedicated listeners, the very people the radio industry want, have spent money on expensive digital receivers in order to listen to their favourite digital quality radio station, now only to find that station is being financially forced off the air due to what many regard as an unfair decision by GCap. PrimeTime are looking for a solution to this dilemma in hope of continuing the service, with or without DAB, but the clock is ticking. They say their contract with GCap expires in May; however it is alleged that plans exist to axe presented programmes from January and play back-to-back music during the remainder of the period. Surely there must be someone sane enough to care about the radio listening audience and the broadcasting industry to bring an end to this stupidity. The implications of which will reverberate around the studios of all other DAB stations not owned by GCap and who use GCap transmission facilities. Of course one cannot blame GCap entirely as it was the government that introduced a broadcasting system where most independent radio stations are obliged to hire DAB multiplex channels from a major broadcasting competitor. Naturally this does fuel speculation fair or otherwise, but is it really fair to artificially bring about the closure of the station that has done so very much to enthusiastically pioneer DAB, particularly when it has had to overcome so much pessimism over both the introduction and prospects of DAB? GCap must have realised that the building of their national digital transmission network was at best going to be a very long term investment and surely now is not the time to get cold feet (Andy Cadier, UK, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Just went through http://www.afge1812.org for VOA background and found these Greenville-related notes: NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH AGENCY PLANNING MASSIVE RIF Dateline: Washington, 01/04/05. The Agency informed the Union today that it will release an email announcing the final buyout opportunity. The purpose for the buyout is "to reduce or avoid the disruptive effects of: 1. the earlier programming reductions in Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovene, Romanian and Armenian for employees who cannot be placed; 2. anticipated reductions in Worldwide English broadcasts from 19 to 14 hours and; 3. anticipated reductions in the staffing of the Office of Engineering's Greenville Transmission Station on Agency operations and accomplishment of mission and to mitigate the impact on affected employees." This is an incredible waste of resources. We encourage all employees in the English Division and the Greenville Relay Station to contact their Senators and Representative as soon as possible and demand that they do something to keep VOA English radio broadcasts on the air. AGENCY ANNOUNCES THE AMOUNT OF CUTS Dateline: Washington, 01/07/04. The Agency announced to the Union today that the budget for the Greenville Relay station would be slashed by $150,000. The budget for VOA English would be slashed by $200,000 (via Kai Ludwig, Germany, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Speech by acting president Bush at Annapolis Nov 30 at 1515 was found on VOA: 9645 Thailand strongest but with heavy flutter, and a couple seconds behind much weaker 9685 and 15255, both Greece. Scanned all SWBC bands and did not hear him on any other frequencies; VOA Philippines on 6110 and 9760 continued with Special English features. 9645 audio cut off for about half a minute at 1526, but back on just in time for ``God Bless America!``. There was a time when a presidential speech would provoke VOA to add special frequencies to target areas not normally served at such odd times, e.g. Latin America, but no sign of any such domestic sites on the air for this. It was played back at 1845 on C-SPAN. The regimented audience, USNA graduating class, were all in dress uniforms, and tended to applaud, cheer and wave in unison. Boy, are they brainwashed, showing such grossly misplaced enthusiasm for an AWOL CINC whose policies will doubtless kill many of them (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. I've noticed two errors in HFCC public schedule, actually two additional airings, which are actually NOT BROADCASTING! 11965 1600-1615 29S KAV 250 95 Mon-Fri 191105-250306 IBB 11965 1630 1700 29S KAV 250 95 daily 191105-250306 IBB As you can see, both are Kavala, 095 degrees - toward Georgia. I've checked them on Nov. 29th & 30th and there were not broadcasts at all. At 1600-1615 Mo-Fr in VOA satellite schedules there is only a VOA BOSNIAN broadcast, but VOA Bosnian NEVER broadcasted on short waves (Dragan Lekic from Subotica, Serbia, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. It may be worth to have in mind that the AFRTS relays are transmitted via regular utility transmitters at US Navy bases. According to a Navy source, the transmissions have a low priority and are carried in accordance with free capacities. The broadcasts may be taken off the air at any time and for any required period of time if the transmitters in question are needed for other utility communication purposes. That is the explanation why many AFRTS frequencies are often not on the air. More background: the "internal" SW relays via Navy facilities were launched when AFRTS changed from analogue to digital satellite distribution and many reception points were left without signal. The digital distribution uses a strong encryption system (PowerVu) which requires new and rather costly satellite receivers/decoders, and it took the Navy several years to exchange the sets. Apart from that, the satellite coverage for the digital signals was rather limited in the beginning. Meanwhile, most reception points (including Navy vessels) now have the new receivers and the temporary SW relays are not much needed anymore (Bernd Trutenau in Dxplorer, Nov 23 via DSWCI DX Window Nov 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. Question to the brain trust out there. In the past several months, we have been "moved" off of several frequencies in the 5 and 7 MHZ international shortwave broadcast band by FEMA reserving those frequencies. Not only do they want the frequency, they want a "guard band" about a mile on either side. Anybody know what's going on. Are there not enough other government allocated frequencies between 2- 30MHz for them to use? Or, are they using 1950 era Heathkit equipment? Just curious and wonder if anybody out there really has a handle on this one. Thanks (Dave Orienti, WEWN Birmingham, AL, BROADCAST mailing list via Bob Foxworth, ABDX via DXLD) Dave, First I'd heard about them impacting the SW broadcast stuff. 5 MHz is becoming popular with disaster relief agencies due to its usefulness day and night, with reasonable antennas. I'm involved in the Federal SHARES HF radio system as a CAP member and we haven't been notified of any of those changes (yet). FEMA, like all federal agencies is really cracking down on the radios we and other Federal agencies can use. The NTIA requirements are often stiffer than the FCC. (NTIA is to the federal government users, what FCC is to the non federal, commercial, state, local etc.). I don't think you'll see any old Heath equipment on the air. Frequency stability is one of the key requirements. With the number of things moving out of HF, I would have thought that there would be more frequencies available that FEMA and International SW Broadcasters could use. It might be some treaty issues. Bill (Lt. Col. Bill Croghan, CAP, WBØKSW Silver State 708, Deputy Director of Comm., NV wing CAP, Las Vegas, NV; Chief Engineer, Lotus Broadcasting, KOMP/KXPT/KENO/KBAD, ibid.) ** U S A. This past weekend's DXing with Cumbre was #476 and, in it, Marie read out the DXw/C schedule from the WHR website. Unfortunately, she went ahead and read their incorrect listing of the 0330 UT Monday airing as being on 5860 kHz instead of the correct 7315 kHz (the latter verified by listening Sunday night here). One positive thing I did notice was that WHR seems to be letting more DXw/C programs to air completely instead of chopping their ends off early to run "free Bible giveaway" promos during the timeslot. 73, (Will Martin, MO, Nov 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Was that the only erroneous listing given?? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Pastor Melissa Scott --- Dr Scott's Satellite channel (W3 20) at 0130 UT 12/2/05 is replaying a message from Mrs. Scott until everyone has heard it. She is saying finances are not good. She is an attractive women. Maybe she can keep up the church. First time I have ever seen her. Take care, (Bruce MacGibbon, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Check out her alleged porn from previous life (gh, DXLD) We`re hearing a lot less of DGS and a lot more of Melissa on the so- called University Network. Dec 2 around 1415 I listened for a while. She admitted she has no theological training and is not a public speaker, but in the great tradition of her husband, she was haranguing the audience for not giving her --- er, the ministry, look how your checks are endorsed, enough money, not fulfilling pledges. Seems financial support is down 50% from a year ago, and if this keeps up, she may not be able to pay the bills this week, or even have to start selling off assets, such as transmitters. Said this would be repeated over and over for a full week to be sure everybody hears it. Also said they continue to transfer old tapes of his to whatever current media they are using, and will have stuff to broadcast that has not been on the air for many years. But why does it all sound the same??? I started listening on 9725 via Costa Rica, slightly off-frequency from R. Thailand; her long pauses gave fleeting opportunities to hear what RT was saying in English over this very poorly chosen frequency --- but who cares in Asia and Pacific target areas? 11775 Anguilla was as usual better, and 13845 WWCR was as usual mostly skipping over here at that hour; in the afternoon it is better. 2209 recheck, 11775 Anguilla was still on past its scheduled closing at 2200 and I recognized the same spiel heard earlier; that went off sometime between then and the next recheck at 2242 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR, 4915 and 5225, 1045-1055+ Nov 26, English preaching, weak spurs from 5070. Also heard at 2300 (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +/- 155 kHz (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Re KLNE TOWER COLLAPSE http://www.kolnkgin.com/home/headlines/2020367.html There's a link to video above --- the best I've found so far. Since there's a blizzard raging out there I'm not sure anyone will have much coverage. I checked the Kearney Hub paper and didn't see anything. KHGI-13 doesn't have anything but text. Hence the 10/11 article I listed above. The article link for the Omaha World Herald requires registration to see. To respond to an earlier comment-yes, public TV out here has had its share of financial issues. They used to send out a paper viewer's guide but a couple of years ago said "go to the internet" (hey just like TV Guide...). The stations sign off around midnight but do have 24/7 cable programming-kinda nice for the DXer as it opens up some channels. Iowa Public seems to have more money and a slick viewer's guide-but then again KYIN-24 and KQIN-36 have yet to go DTV whereas all of the Nebraska stations are DTV (Matt Sittel, NE, Nov 28, WTFDA via DXLD) Too late now: video is unavailable as of 0020 UT Dec 3. Archive apparently goes back only 2 or 3 days (gh, DXLD) Oh, the tower will undoubtedly be rebuilt - they need it for both the DTV and the FM. But replacing the channel 3 analog antenna will easily run into the high five figures, maybe even the low six (I haven't priced VHF TV transmitting antennas lately), plus another high-five- figures for transmission line. I haven't seen any pictures yet to indicate whether the tower fell on the transmitter building, but if it did, you're looking at something like $200,000 for a new analog transmitter, too. Is it worth it for a signal that still won't be back on the air until spring 2006 (in the best case), and which will have to sign off for good just three years later? I'm guessing that that transmitter served something in the neighborhood of 100,000 homes. (This may be a high estimate.) Figure cable/satellite penetration of 75% (almost certainly a low estimate), and you have perhaps 25,000 homes that are now without a signal from NET. Three translators in Holdrege, Lexington and Kearney could probably serve most of them with an analog signal for the next few years at a far lower cost than rebuilding the full-power analog signal. (And that's not even figuring in the likelihood that many KLNE viewers might be able to get a usable off-air signal from KHNE Hastings or KPNE North Platte instead...) s (Scott Fybush, WTFDA via DXLD) Good point. Now, if it had happened in Merriman or Bassett (where the analog channels are high-band and the stations have elected to return to those channels after transition) it might have made sense to rebuild the facility. At least the antenna and feedline would have been reusable. I'm not so sure a temporary analog antenna would be financially unfeasible. We hung a temporary antenna (channel 4) on the side of the WSMV tower while the normal antenna was down being fastened to the new DTV antenna. And that for just a few weeks of service. Admittedly, we already had feedline in place. And admittedly, the alternative was to be completely off the air; we don't have high-powered satellite transmitters in Waverly and Cookeville! (but you could get away with something like a run of Heliax for reduced power - I'd think you could do something like 10 kW ERP - and the Heliax could be sold to a two-way/cell phone operation afterwards, or even used in-place for such services after it's no longer needed for analog TV) -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, ibid.) ** U S A. Neither WBTV nor WLWT were ever WBT-TV or WLW-TV. I don't know why WBTV wasn't WBT-TV, but Avco, which owned WLW, was using the Cincinnati TV station as the flagship for a little TV network that stretched through Ohio and Indiana. Their promotional materials ALWAYS wrote the calls out as "WLW-T," and it was accompanied by WLW-C Columbus (now WCMH), WLW-D Dayton (now WDTN), WLW-I Indianapolis (now WTHR) and even an Atlanta station for a few years, WLW-A (now WXIA). The Dayton and Columbus stations operated at artificially low power for many years to avoid signal overlap with the mothership. They had an FM network very briefly around 1950, too - WLW-F in Dayton and one in Columbus, too. The KKOB [Albuquerque] and WOWT [Omaha] changes came about when the radio and TV stations were sold to separate owners. Until about 1986, the FCC didn't allow stations under separate ownership to share base call letters, so when KOB-TV stayed KOB-TV and WOW radio stayed WOW, the former sister stations had to change calls. Another example of this is WJW/WJW-TV in Cleveland, where the TV station became WJKW when it and radio went to separate owners around 1980. When WJW radio became WRMR in the late 80s, the TV station was able to reclaim its WJW-TV calls. ``Omaha's Channel 6 "could" try to reclaim WOW-TV now that WOW-AM & FM are gone, But it would take a lot more than "an Act of God" to get the FCC to re-issue a three letter call now days. KKHJ reverting back to KHJ Los Angles, CA is the only known recent case I am aware of.`` The FCC's been reasonably willing to listen to requests to reclaim old calls. If WOWT really wanted the WOW-TV calls back, I bet they could get them. ``And my dad worked at KMA >> KMTV Channel 3 when both were owned by May Broadcasting, separate cities (60 miles apart) so, KMA-TV was never issued; KMA-FM was used for a short time. KMTV remains unchanged since its 1949 sign on. Plus KMTV-DT`` Yup - for many years, the FCC wouldn't share a base callsign across multiple cities of license, even if they were in the same market. There was a big fight about that circa 1981, when KWK St. Louis bought WGNU-FM Granite City IL and wanted to change the calls to KWK-FM. The FM spent a while as WWWK before the FCC finally allowed it to become KWK-FM. s (Scott Fybush, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Radio Veronica Program Time Changes Good afternoon, all. Radio Veronica is continuing to evolve and we thank each of you for the important contributions your programs bring to our schedule. As part of this evolution, we have rearranged our broadcast schedule by shifting many of our programs to new time slots. This may or may not effect your particular program. Please see the program list below with the updated times so that you may update your records and websites. Thanks, (Rene' Tetro, General Manager, Radio Veronica, 709 Park Road, Lansdale, PA 19446, http://www.radioveronica.us Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: NEW PROGRAM TIMES: ALL TIMES [and days] ARE EASTERN [UT -5] A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES SAT 11:00AM MON 01:00PM ALTERNATIVE RADIO SUN 01:00PM WED 01:00PM BETWEEN THE LINES SAT 08:00AM WED 07:00PM BUILDING BRIDGES SUN 10:30PM FRI 01:30PM COUNTERSPIN SAT 08:30AM WED 07:30PM DEMOCRACY NOW M-F 12:02PM M-F 06:02PM M-F 11:02PM DEMOCRACY NOW SPANISH HEADLINES M-F 10:50PM DEMOCRACY NOW REPLAYS OF MON-FRI PROGRAMS SUN 06:02AM SUN 07:02AM SUN 08:02AM SUN 09:02AM SUN 10:02AM FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS M-F 12:00AM M-F 05:30AM HONORING MOTHER EARTH/INDIGENOUS VOICES SUN 11:00PM MAKING CONTACT SUN 12:30PM FRI 01:00PM PROGRESSIVE POINT OF VIEW M-F 12:00PM M-F 06:00PM M-F 11:00PM PROGRESSIVE RADIO SUN 12:00PM MON 07:30PM RADIO NATION SUN 11:00AM TUE 01:00PM SHORT WAVE REPORT SAT 10:00AM THU 07:00PM SPIRITUAL AWAKENING SUN 02:30PM THU 01:00PM FRI 07:30PM TUC RADIO SAT 09:00AM MON 07:00PM FRI 07:00PM UNWELCOME GUESTS SAT 05:00AM VOICES OF OUR WORLD SUN 02:00PM THU 01:30PM WORLD OF RADIO SAT 10:30AM THU 07:30PM (Radio Veronica, via DXLD) So the Sat airing of WOR moves from 1700 to 1530 UT (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. This year`s Paul Winter solstice concert gets a really early airing on WUOT: HOLIDAY SPECIALS Wednesday, December 7 10:00 PM Paul Winter's Silver Solstice [EST = 0300-0500 UT Thu Dec 8] Most other stations are saving it till closer to the real Solstice (from http://wuot.org/h/programming/airnotes1205.html listing many other holiday specials, via DXLD) ** U S A. Product Placement --- This isn't SW, but is broadcast- related. Just something I found remarkable: I finally got around to watching my taped copy of Nov. 14th's airing of the NBC TV show "Medium", and in it I found the most elaborate example of "product placement" that I've ever noticed. (For those not familiar with the concept, "product placement" is embedding an ad inside a film or program by showing an item or a logo prominently without it being essential to the story. For example, if the characters drink beer, a "Budweiser" can is clearly shown with the label obvious, as opposed to a generic beer can or one with the label unreadable.) In this program, near the beginning, the main characters discuss that they'd like to go to a movie. The husband holds up a newspaper with a full-page ad for the new movie "Memoirs of a Geisha". They say "I've heard that it's good -- let's go see that." They get to the theatre and meet other characters who tell them "We just saw that, it's really good, you'll love it." Then, guess what commercial airs at the first commercial break in the program? An ad for the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha"! I'm used to the usual examples of product placement, with a scene showing a specific brand of car or drink or even clothing, with perhaps a brand name in the dialog. But to make the product a specific subject of a scene, and to have the characters discuss and explicitly praise it, hearkens back to the old days when sponsors controlled the program content and the host or star read the commercials and embedded them inside the show (as in many old-radio variety or drama programs). The nearest thing I can think of is the "Sex and the City" series in which the characters extolled certain fashion items like shoes, but there it seemed mainly for laughs. This was much more of a specific sales pitch. Anyone else notice anything similar in other recent programs? 73, (Will Martin, MO, Nov 30, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is very much a trend in movies -- where it's been done for years -- and increasingly in TV. This is the advertising community's attempt to thwart the capability of on-demand viewers (TiVo, VCR, etc) to fast forward through commercials. You will see much, much more of this in the months to come. The premise for the movie "The Truman Story" was based on product placement as the funding source (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) Such blatant PP is just another reason to avoid this show. I never watch it anyway, but having been given by TV Guide not one but two pairs of red and blue 3-D glasses, or rather cellophanes, decided to grant it a bit of time last week for the much-promoted 3-D special. Has the technology improved in the last semicentury? Not at all --- there are still ghosts – the video image kind, and the color is of course off, as the 3-D ``encoding`` depends on colors (rather than polarization, for instance). I only got thru a couple of the 3-D segments, since they were reserved for only the most violent flashback scenes, keyed by a 3D notice in the corner --- we were allowed to take them off except during these segments. Time for a new gimmick? OTOH, polarization 3-D on a big IMAX screen works quite a bit better, tho the overall image is dimmed, e.g. Polar Express (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I shared the item about product placement with my sister (she is taking a communications degree) and forwarded me this item (Eric Flodén, Vancouver, swprograms via DXLD) Viz.: THAT'S ADVERTAINMENT http://www.startribune.com/stories/459/5742884.html In Denver, Sacramento, Atlanta and Cleveland, radio stations owned by the Gannett media conglomerate have adopted "advertainment" - a new programming format that consists of "hybrid shows, which mix entertainment with commercial content (in addition to regular commercial breaks)." In Minneapolis, Gannett affiliate KARE plans this spring to "revamp its chatty mid-morning talk show 'Today,' and put much of that happy talk up for sale," writes Deborah Caulfield Rybak. "Advertisers will pay $2,000 to $2,500 for 5-minute segments on the show. ... 'I am aghast,' said University of Minnesota media ethics professor Jane Kirtley, who at first thought a reporter was kidding about the new format. 'This is the logical extension of the whole pernicious practice of infomercials. If viewers are accustomed to getting [talk show] programming in a very different way, to suddenly change the rules on them isn't fair.'" SOURCE: Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 23, 2005 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4213 (via Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) Product placements, crass though they are, are everywhere. Listen to or watch a sports telecast and you'll find every segment has some sponsor line attached to it. Among the worst offenders is the radio broadcast of the local Kansas State University (primarily an agricultural school) football (gridiron) games. You'll hear things like the "Case/IH (a farm equipment manufacturer whose primary color is red) Red Zone" (the area between the 20 yard line and the goal line) and "That's a Jeep/Chrysler First Down". These are only two of many examples. Part of the issue, I think, is that so much money has been offered to carry these games that the telecast's producers need every bit of sponsorship money they can muster just to break even. In many cases there are hours of pre and post-game coverage to gain more ad revenue. We are advertised to at every turn. It's interesting that I tune them out for the most part. It takes a very catchy advertisement to get my attention these days. Don't forget the broadcaster's motto, "Content, that annoying time between commercials." 73, de Nate Bargmann, -- Wireless | Amateur Radio Station N0NB | Successfully Microsoft Amateur radio exams; ham radio; Linux info @ | free since January 1998 http://www.qsl.net/n0nb/ dxldyg via DXLD) I can't help it! What's even more insulting is that KSU football has gone straight down the toilet, since blundering KKSU off the air during the dispute over the exclusive rights to air KSU football games and the time-share (dis)agreement with WIBW on 580 kHz. The programming on WIBW, during KKSU's former afternoon time slot, is (at best) moronic. It will certainly be interesting to see whether KSU has been happy with their arrangements, when it comes time to renew the contract with the mid-america ag network in (I think) 2007. (Ken Kopp, Topeka, ibid.) A good time to point out that KSU is still producing new Perspective shows every week, presumably carried on some existing KS stations, and available via: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/radio/perspective.htm There is a 2-month archive, and several recent eps deal with the evolution issue in KS (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. The FCC has proposed eliminating the code requirement for all U.S. ham licenses, while the ARRL has countered with a proposal to keep 5 WPM for the Extra. The final FCC ruling could come any day now, and I expect them to eliminate all code requirements for all licenses. If you're looking for a lot of interesting people to talk to, ham radio isn't for you --- it's a bit like looking for true love in a brothel. But if you're looking to experiment with radio hardware, software, antennas, and propagation, it can be a lot of fun. I spend most of my radio time these days on sub-one-watt QRP using PSK31, and it's a blast having 1000+ mile contacts with 500 mW on 14060 kHz. Six meters is also wild when sporadic-E is up, two meters is great for tropo openings, etc. If you're just looking to communicate with people at a distance, the internet is the way to go. But if you like to play with RF/wireless systems on different frequencies and with different modes, ham radio can be fun. Just don't go looking for true love. And don't confuse a ham radio store with a brothel, okay?? (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19 ABDX via DXLD) Sorry, but Harry I must disagree. In the 40 or so years on radio, I have found a BUNCH of interesting people to talk to, about every topic under the sun, and they were all over the world, on phone and CW. I even exchanged garden seeds with a ham in Argentina, back in 1984. I have talked religion and government with Russians and atheist hams, and had much better time than ever had on any one of these internet lists. But, enjoy chasing DX on CW much better. I have never had a ham tell me that I didn't work such and such DX station, as I have on these radio lists. Ham radio gives me the freedom to talk with people, unlike anything on the internet. Yes, I agree, QRPp is great fun. Worked a ham in West Germany while he was running only 2 watts, on 20 CW. On 2 meters, if you get away from the repeaters, you will find great and interesting people to talk to, as well as DX. E-mail for me is about as usless as tits on a bore hog!! It's far to easy to piss some SOB off who thinks that they own the internet. The lists are overly monitored and you can't talk about the things you want to. Can't tell funny jokes, but some can on the internet and some can't. The people on internet lists, for the most, part use code names, or false IDs, you don't know where they really are located, or who they really are. Not so with ham radio. 99.9999% of hams use their correct calls. And you can look in the call book and find an address; can't do that on the internet. I have, in 40 years of hamming, had but one such person ever cuss me, or tell me I can't talk about a given topic. This was when I was in Dallas, on 40 phone. But the FCC got him, in time. He was in Dallas, in 1984, and running 5,000 watts while drunk and reading "little black Sambo" story with all the "N" words. ``And don't confuse a ham radio store with a brothel, okay??`` What's the difference? I have been screwed in both!!! Folks may remember the ham radio store on Ross Av. in Dallas, back in the 50's and 60's (Willis, WB5KHD Monk, Old Fort, TN, ibid.) ** VENEZUELA. R. Amazonas, 4939.66, 0130-0324* Nov 26, Spanish talk, IDs, LA music. Fútbol play-by-play coverage. Sign-off with NA; fair (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Glen[n], 6870: something here very weak into Southern NJ on Dec 1. 2005 PWBR lists WRMI here but not until midnight UT. Maybe them? (Ed Rausch, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I hope that`s not the 2006y ``PWBR`` -- WRMI left 6870 many months ago, now on 7385 and 9955 only. Guess what? Add 910 to 6870 and you get 7780, WYFR`s recently activated way OOB frequency. Do you have a receiver subject to such internal images? Trouble is, 7780 is not scheduled then, but at 03-08 and 10-14 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9645, 1115-1128 Dec 2. Initially noted a man singing an opera type song. At about 1125 a man comments in possibly Italian. This is followed by a pop song entitled, "Crazy For Loving You". The Brenda Lee song. But sung by a man. At 1128 the signal abruptly goes off the air and doesn't come back. This is probably the Vatican Radio, but not scheduled at this time as far as I know, for the Italian language; and why are they playing pop songs? Signal was poor (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida NRD545 Dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9645 1050 1130 27 SMG 250 326 16 386 1 301005 260306 D LITURGY CVA VAT VAT 530 (HFCC via DXLD) Loosening up the liturgy? (gh, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glen[n], as usual the DX Digest is so full of all sort of information. I commend you to find the time to put together such information. Regards (John (down under) Wright) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ DVD ON SATELLITE RADIO & TV RECEIVED IN NSW: see INTERNATIONAL VACUUM MY DXING This is a wonderful web page for anyone interested in historical shortwave radio DXing. Mr. G. Kock of Finland put this page together featuring radio station photographs, audio identification files of various international radio stations, QSL cards and station pennants. http://www.filatelia.fi/dx/ (via Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec, Oct Radio HF Internet Newsletter via DXLD) CD RECORDINGS OF RADIO STATIONS AROUND THE WORLD Several CDs have been released by Sublime Frequencies featuring sounds of radio stations around the world. http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/ The CDs mainly feature music; here are some examples: Choubi Choubi! Folk and Pop Sounds from Iraq Guitars of the Golden Triangle: Folk and Pop Music of Myanmar Vol. 2 NIGER: Magic and Ecstasy in the Sahel Radio Sumatra: The Indonesian FM Experience Radio Phnom Penh MOLAM: THAI Country Groove From ISAN Folk and Pop Sounds of Sumatra Vol. 2 Harmika Yab Yum: Folk Sounds From Nepal Streets of Lhasa Leaf Music, Drunks, Distant Drums ISAN: Folk and Pop Music of Northeast Thailand RADIO INDIA: The Eternal Dream of Sound Brokenhearted Dragonflies: Insect Electronica from Southeast Asia BUSH TAXI MALI: Field Recordings From Mali Cambodian Cassette Archives: Khmer Folk & Pop music Vol. 1 Folk Music of the Sahara: Among the Tuareg of Libya I Remember Syria Radio Palestine: Sounds of the Eastern Mediterranean Radio Morocco Radio Java (via Mike Terry, UK, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) RARE HALLICRAFTERS VIDEO & AUDIO ON DVD & CD! Never Before Seen Looks Into The Radio World Of Bill Halligan Exclusive Rare Audio Like You've Never Heard Before! Limited Production, Order Your Copies Now! Available Nov. 30 http://www.qsl.net/w8dbf/Hallicrafters_Archives.htm (via Duane Fischer, swl at qth.net via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ CRI WANTS TO MEET ARGENTINE LISTENERS DECEMBER 15 29 de Noviembre de 2005 --- Queridos Oyentes, Con la presente, Radio Internacional de China y su corresponsalía en Buenos Aires tienen el gran honor de invitarles a un encuentro exclusivamente para nuestros oyentes en la Argentina, que se realizará el dia 15 de Diciembre (jueves), a las 15:00, en el Hotel Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel de Buenos Aires(Calle Florida 944, Capital Federal, Argentina). El motivo del encuentro es la llegada del Señor Ding Bangying, sub director de nuestra radio, y su comitiva, quienes vienen a Argentina con la esperanza de acercarse y conocer en persona a Ustedes, oyentes que siguen como siempre a nuestro lado durante tanto tiempo y expresarles nuestro agradecimiento. Al mismo tiempo, el Señor Hu Min, director del Departamento de Español de la radio, va a escuchar sus sugerencias y comentarios hacia nuestra programación en español, así como su historia como oyente nuestro. Para los que se animen juntar con nosotros, nececitamos su confirmación lo más pronto posible. Puede llevar a uno o dos amigos o familiares. La confirmación se puede hacer por Correo Electrónico criagtin @ hotmail.com por teléfono (011-48049936, 011-48053612), o por el correo tradicional, que es: Av. Coronel Diaz 2333, 4-C,o 4-D, 1425, Capital Federal, Argentina. Esperamos su respuesta, y, preciosos regalos provenientes de China les van a sorprender. Corresponsalía de Radio Internacional de China En Buenos Aires (via José Elías Díaz, Venezuela, DXLD) Nota: Si estuviera en Argentina no faltaría a esta cita (JED, ibid.) ###