DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-112, July 12, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1139: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1139.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0000 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN RADIO AND TV RECOVER FROM TALEBAN YEARS Afghan Radio and Television is beginning to restore equipment destroyed during the years of war and Taleban domination and has increased employment and broadcast time. The Afghan newspaper Payam-e Mojahid has interviewed radio and TV officials and provided details of transmitters, broadcasting times and resources. The following is an excerpt from the report, carried by the newspaper's web site on 4 July; subheadings inserted editorially It has been 62 years since the radio was established and 24 years since the basis was established for television. These two broadcasting foundations, in terms of their importance, have mostly played roles in the change of regimes. Because of their basic role, radio and television have mostly been involved with various events that have definitely left their mark on this organization. In a brief study we will look at the ups and downs that have been seen in radio and television broadcasting resources. The radio-television foundation basically consists of three major elements: Technical and policy cadres Studios Transmitters In the technical and policy department, because radio and TV are a centre for broadcasting important political events in the country, with the changes in regimes a number of individuals are fired from their jobs or because of their affiliation, or they feel events closing in on them and flee due to prosecution and investigation... With the takeover of the black and despicable Taleban regime in Kabul, once again this cultural site suffered irreparable damage. This period not only included the technical and policy cadres, but a large number of the nation's committed and specialist people were relieved of their work for various reasons. In addition, the door to Afghanistan Television became completely closed to women, while a large number of male staff also lost their jobs. According to one radio-administrative official, of 2,000 radio- television staff, only 270 remained. It is natural that these individuals, to carry on with their lives, went to various institutions, offices and NGOs, and now they are unwilling to return to radio-television with its limited resources and insignificant livelihood... Transmitters In the transmitters department: Radio-Television has a short-wave transmitter in the Yakatut region [eastern Kabul] and had a strong medium-wave transmitter in Pol-e Charkhi [south of Kabul], where the first transmitter was destroyed in the 1994 fighting. The Pol-e Charkhi transmitter was completely destroyed during bombing of the Taleban and Al-Qa'idah by international coalition forces. Likewise the sole television transmitter at Koh-e Asmai [central Kabul] was partly destroyed in 1994 during [former Prime Minister] Golboddin Hekmatyar's war against the Islamic government, and this transmitter was completely destroyed by a bomb dropped by international forces. Studios: Radio Afghanistan has a total of 17 studios for recording and broadcasting programmes, and this is done mostly with old and outmoded equipment. Likewise Afghanistan television has only production studio and two programme recording studios, whose equipment is also very old. It is worth mentioning that in the years 1981-1992] Radio-Television had 15 to 20 cameras for collecting external material and 70 vehicles, and now, of all those resources only seven cameras and six vehicles remain. Mir Amanollah Sharifi, chief of radio-television planning and foreign relations, said during a talk: The radio-television leadership council, in view of its important duty, has tried to improve the quality and quantity of the recreational, educational and news programming in this broadcasting foundation, whose work is monitored every minute and second by the officials and the people. Restoration work In the past radio and television staff had their own salaries and privileges and in the past this office paid commissions to writers. Despite the loss of all these assets, radio-television staff, with honesty and perseverance, are continuing with their work. They began the following activities eight months ago: -Installing and assembling an R-118 transmitter with 100 kilowatts of power on the Yakatut site, on 22 November 2001. -Installing the 10-watt television transmitter. -Installing and assembling a 50-kilowatt radio transmitter. -Installing a 200-kilowatt television transmitter, which will enable television broadcasts to reach up to 30 kilometres outside the city of Kabul. -Installing a 100-kilowatt electrical transformer for the Koh-e Asmai transmitters. -Equipping two radio studios with a new system with the help of the BBC. -Enlisting the aid of the nation of Denmark in starting a one-hour programme called "Good Morning Afghanistan". -Installing and assembling two FM transmitters on the radio-television site. -Installing and assembling six dish antennas ... in the provinces of Herat, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Konduz, Badakhshan and Balkh. -Of 20 television centres in the provinces, 12 have been activated through the efforts of television technical staff. Likewise, 16 radio centres in the provinces have been revived and rebuilt. -The aid of the High Commissioner for Refugees has been enlisted in the various provinces for the production, recording and broadcast of two half-hour programmes by educational radio-television. -The creation of 12 television centres in the various provinces for live broadcast of Afghanistan's Loya Jerga events [assembly held in June], with the aid of the nation of Japan. -It is worth mentioning that 1.1435 gigafghanis in cash has been deposited into the bank from broadcast, censorship, and equipment fees. Programme details Mr Sharifi added: Educational Radio-Television, with its 20 years of broadcasting experience, was active with an equipped organization and resources such as three vehicles, one motorcycle, nine cameras for gathering material, three studio cameras and a television studio with new equipment, two radio studios, 63 experienced staff who have been trained in various countries, along with the Radio-Television broadcasts, but all of this office's resources were destroyed by fighting to the west of Kabul, where the headquarters of Educational Radio-Television was located. It now has only three teams of radio reporters... Sharifi said: The general headquarters of Afghanistan Radio- Television, with 1,800 broadcast, technical, administrative and service staff, serves the people every day. Radio programmes begin at 5 a.m. each morning [0030 gmt] and continue until 8 a.m. [0330 gmt]. They resume at 5 p.m. [1230 gmt] and continue until 10 p.m. [1730 gmt]. It must be said that recently Radio Kabul has had daily FM programmes from 8 a.m. [0330 gmt] until 12:30 p.m. [0800 gmt]. Likewise, daily television programmes begin at 6 p.m. [1330 gmt] and continue until 10:30 p.m. [1800 gmt]. Mr Keshwari, chief of Radio-Television Transmitters, said concerning additional broadcasts: "Since we do not have any backup transmitters and the present transmitters are weak, we cannot increase the hours of television broadcasting." Source: Payam-e Mojahid web site, Parwan, in Dari 4 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) KABUL BROADCASTING CHIEF REFUSES TO GO Abdul Hafiz Mansur, the head of Kabul radio and television, rejected an order to vacate his office from Information and Culture Minister Rahim Makhdum, according to 2 July newspaper reports. Mansur is being dismissed because he imposed a ban on female singing on radio and television. "I didn't ban this," he said, according to "The Daily Telegraph," "but Islam bans this. This is a matter for the country's Supreme Court. We are an Islamic society." There also is speculation that Mansur played a major part in filing a blasphemy complaint against former Women's Affairs Minister Sima Samar. ("RFE/RL Iran Report," 8 July via RFE/RL Media Matters 12 July via DXLD) FORMER TV HEAD DEFENDS HIS RECORD AFTER DISMISSAL | Excerpt from report by Afghan newspaper Kabul Weekly on 11 July Dear readers of Kabul Weekly, In our previous edition of Kabul Weekly we published the news about the dismissal of Mr Abdol Hafez Mansur from the public presidency of radio and television. It was mentioned that the dismissal order for Mr Abdol Hafez Mansur was sent from the Ministry of Information and Culture. Below we publish Mr Abdol Hafez Mansur's answers to the charges given. Of course, the Kabul Weekly in its contacts with Dr Sayed Makhdum Rahin, minister of information and culture of the Islamic transitional government, has sought some information about it. Mr. Rahin said that the dismissal of any chairman, official person or a chief of an office is not an important issue to him, and he doesn't want to spend his time on these kinds of problems. [Presumably Mansur speaking] About women being a part of radio and television, I should say to you that after the expulsion of the Taleban from our Afghanistan, I myself started the first programme of television with women taking part and all the people of Kabul are witness to that. Now the radio and television station is staffed by 40 per cent women. It should be mentioned that in his last session Mr. Rahin, minister of information and culture, said to me that the make-up of television programmes is now defective. When I asked the minister in what way the television programmes are defective he said that women singers and their songs are not presented on television, which he regarded as defective. As regards presenting women's songs on television, I should say that our country is an Islamic country, in this case there are special sensitivities present, and there is no permission granted to the chairman of a radio and TV station to decide himself or herself about these kinds of things. This case should be presented to the council of clerics to decide on or the Supreme Court should itself decide about whether women's songs should be shown on television or not. In this case there is no special direction given that we are against that, but this issue of women singers being shown is just one, compared with the process of peace and stability in our country, and in this important case I have refrained from presenting women singers. However, women are together in other parts like preparing reports, doing interviews and in this place, our office, and they have equality with the men staff. And I should make this one basic point that there has been no discrimination in TV programmes as regards preparing reports, interviews and news. The equality of language is presented on TV in the traditional Sunni way, and all the people are witness to this. And one thing that they are insisting on but they don't specify but suggest it in some other way is that Afghanistan TV couldn't broadcast live the arrival of ex-King Mohammad Zaher Shah in Kabul and his speeches at the opening of the grand session of the Loya Jerga here in Kabul. And in this case I should say truthfully that when the former king arrived in Kabul I was not present here in Kabul and I was on an official trip to a foreign country. At the session of the Loya Jerga grand opening I myself was there as a people's deputy inside the big tent and the matter is that, as a responsible engineer of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] said in a letter he sent that was distributed in all the media - and we have a copy of his letter present here in Bakhtar Information Agency and the Ministry of Information and Culture - there was a technical problem in the live broadcast of the speeches of the ex-king, Mr. Zaher Shah. There was no personal intention or threat. About the third question, working experience, I should say to you that 23 years work in information and offices is enough for any person to show the necessary experience that he needs. From being an official to being a news chief, and as a president of Bakhtar Information Agency and as president of Jamiat-e- Eslami 's [Islamic Society, party of former President Borhanoddin Rabbani] cultural committee and as an interim chairman of Ministry of Information and Culture, I served the people before the interim government was formed. And before taking up these posts I wrote many books one after another, and this shows that what they said about me was not true. I think that my dismissal had a personal motive and purpose, because I had some objections in some cases, for instance about recruitment and the special management hiring policy of Mr. Rahin, the minister of information and culture, from the time he started in that post. Because of this there has not been a good or great relationship between me and Mr Rahin. Mr. Rahin didn't have a proper distribution programme... Source: Kabul Weekly in Dari 11 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) US AGENCY TO PROVIDE AFGHANISTAN WITH FM RADIO STATIONS | Text of report by Afghan radio on 12 July A letter of understanding on bilateral cooperation was signed and the document exchanged between the Ministry of Information and Culture and the US (?HOB) international centre. The Bakhtar Information Agency reports that according to this letter of understanding HOB International Co will provide equipment for five FM radio [stations] to the Ministry of Information and Culture. The letter of understanding was signed by the deputy minister of the information and culture and official for publications, Abdol Hamid Mubaraz [phonetic], and the executive director of the American HOB international centre, Daniel Beslore and his advisor, David Kelley [both names phonetic]. A related source told the Bakhtar Information Agency that this is the start of cooperation of the US company with the Ministry of Information and Culture. According to the American HOB international centre's representatives, they will connect Afghanistan with a satellite. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1500 gmt 12 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) HOB?? ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850, Papua New Guinea, Radio Independent Makumui (tentative) 0957-1040 July 12, Weak, but definite broadcast station audible with speech and music around 1030 peak. Impossible to pull an ID with S9 static crashes, but considering the political context, not to mention only reportedly running 80 watts transmitter output, I thought it was worth a mention that I did hear something on the channel here in TN. Again, only a very tentative logging (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 2471 kHz, 0040 12/07/02, Radio Cacique, Sorocaba, SP, transmitindo programa da radio Cacique AM- música sertaneja atendendo ouvintes pelo telefone (Tonico e Tinoco). "Você está com Ödilo Pinheiro? "A música raiz em seu rádio". Às 0104 inicia-se programa da Igreja da Graça em Seu Lar com Pastor Marcos. SINPO 32232 (Júlio Baldim, Salto, SP, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Também ouvido aqui em Curitiba, usando um R75 e um T2FD de 15m. 2470.9 kHz, 2320 UT, Rádio Cacique from Sorocaba, SP. Mentioning results of local sports clubs, followed by some music. ID "Radio Cacique" and station jingle at 2335, SINPO 25232. At 0314 UT the signal had improved a lot and R. Cacique was heard with music, SINPO 33443. (Rik van Riel, Jul 11 2002, ibid.) 2460 kHz, 0045 12/07/02, Radio Novo Tempo. Música evangélica, dando endereços do Rio de Janeiro. Neste caso, creio tratar-se das chamadas "redes", pois não identifica a emissora. Não sei se trata de algum harmónico? SINPO 43333. Receptor Kenwood R-5000 e Antena LW 33 m (Júlio Baldim, Salto, SP, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Ouvi por aqui também nos 2460 R. Novo Tempo; pensei também em harmónico, que é o mais provável. O mais próximo que achei foi a Rádio Novo Tempo de Nova Odessa SP, perto de Salto e São Carlos, que transmite em 830 kHz, mas a divisão dos 2460 por 3 é 820, mesmo assim acho que é esta emissora. Um abraço (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos SP, ibid.) ** CANADA. CBC weekend previews include: OFF THE CUFF: Jazz legend Rob McConnell describes his battle with Canada Customs for possession of his Grammy award. Rebel poet Christian Bok who invents Star Trek languages in his spare time, reveals his most embarrassing childhood nickname. And a cautionary tale from pop star Martina Sorbara - on wearing tube tops in public spaces. That's Off the Cuff, Saturday at 11:28 (11:58 NT) on CBC Radio One. On CBC North Quebec 1528 UT Saturday on 9625 kHz. THE BEST OF QUIRKS AND QUARKS: Next Stop: the Millionth Floor - Riding an elevator to space. Imagine an elevator 36,000 km high. Thanks to new super strong materials, it could become a reality. Also, drinking water off a beetle's back. That's The Best of Quirks and Quarks, Saturday afternoon at 12:06 (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One. Saturday 1506-1559 UT on 9515, 13655, 17800 to the USA and Caribbean. On CBC North Quebec after the news at 1600 Saturday on 9625. Saturday 2300-2359 on 6175, 9590, 13670, 17695 to the USA. Sunday 0000-0057 to SE Asia and China on 11895 via Xian, China and 9640 via Kimje, South Korea. Monday 1200-1259 on 9660 and 15190 via Yamata, Japan. Monday 1500-1557 to India on 15455 and 17720 via Xi`an, China (via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re DXLD 2-111: ``620, CKCM Regina, SK local programmes 0900-2030, v/s Richard King ckxgmusic@kixx.ca (MR)`` This is of course not correct - should be Grand Falls NF. I received the note without city/province and added the wrong details. Sorry for that (Olle Alm, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. RSF "CONCERNED" ABOUT THREATS TO MEDIA | Text of press release in English by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 10 July Reporters Without Borders [RSF, Reporters Sans Frontières] has expressed concern after a number of newspapers published in Santander department (north-eastern Colombia), were threatened by United Self- Defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) paramilitaries on 8 July 2002. "It is time that the armed groups stop viewing journalists as targets and controlling information as an acceptable tactic," stated Robert Menard, the organisation's secretary-general, in a letter to AUC leader Carlos Castaño. Reporters Without Borders asked Interior Minister Armando Estrada Villa to use all means at his disposal to protect journalists. "It is essential that the authorities contact the media outlets that have been targeted, to prevent these threats from turning into assassinations," added Menard. In addition, Reporters Without Borders expressed concern over the 8 July kidnapping of four employees of the RCN Radio and Radio Caracol stations, allegedly carried out by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrillas. The organization urged the FARC to free the four individuals and promise to respect Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, which protects "persons taking no active part in the hostilities". Since 1995, the guerrillas have kidnapped approximately 50 journalists, mostly to demand that certain information is distributed in exchange for the hostages' release. Journalists have become military targets in the armed conflict between the AUC and the guerrillas of the FARC (Marxists) and the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN - supporters of Ché Guevara's philosophy). Castaño (AUC), Manuel Marulanda (FARC) and Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista (ELN) are included on Reporters Without Borders' list of the 38 most dangerous press freedom predators in the world. Colombia is the most dangerous country on the continent for information professionals, 40 of whom have been killed since 1991. According to information collected by Reporters Without Borders, in an interview which appeared in the 8 July edition of the daily Vanguardia Liberal, Commander "Alex", of the AUC central block, stated : "Either [the press] stops toying with the community's pain, or we will find ourselves in the unfortunate position of having to execute someone, so that they understand the people's pain." According to "Alex", the threats stem from the "sensationalistic" way in which local media report on the Barrancabermeja port. The oil-producing region is disputed territory between the AUC and the guerrillas. During a press conference, representatives of five newspapers published in Santander department, including the weeklies La Noticia, La Tarde, La Portada, El Vocero and the daily Vanguardia Liberal, condemned the threats and urged the authorities to provide them with security and ensure that their right to inform is upheld. Moreover, according to the information collected by Reporters Without Borders, Luís Eduardo Perdomo and José Rodríguez, a driver and technician for RCN Radio, respectively, along with Óscar González and Elio Fabio Giraldo, a technician and driver for Radio Caracol, respectively, were kidnapped on 8 July presumably by FARC members. The incident occurred while they were reporting on the national long- distance bicycle race, in Tolima department (central Colombia). RCN Radio engineer Valdemar Campos confirmed that one of the technicians called him from a cellular phone to tell him that the four were being held by the guerrillas, who would likely let them go and keep the stations' equipment and vehicles. The kidnappers asked for a sum of money in exchange for the confiscated material. Reporters Without Borders spoke with the two radio stations and was told that, as of 9 July, the four individuals were still being detained. In a joint press release, RCN Radio and Radio Caracol asked for their employees' release, "in the name of freedom of statement and information," and "so that they can continue to work for Colombian sports." Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 10 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. CAPACIDAD DE ESPIONAJE DE CUBA Posted on Wed, Jul. 10, 2002 [por] MANUEL CEREIJO Cuba tiene una capacidad de espionaje muy importante, que le fue suministrada por la antigua Unión Soviética, luego ya por Rusia, y en los últimos tres años por la República Popular China, RPC. Cuba tiene la capacidad para utilizar lo que se conoce en el mundo actual como humint, o espionaje humano; sigint, o inteligencia a través de satélites y telecomunicaciones; imint, o la capacidad para obtener imágenes, vistas, fotos, a través de satélites; y masint, que es la última tecnología, que le permite hacer un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de los datos e informaciones obtenidos mediante sensores especiales instalados en satélites o vehículos terrestres. De acuerdo con fuentes de inteligencia de los Estados Unidos, las operaciones de inteligencia de Cuba contra los Estados Unidos han aumentado en cantidad y en sofisticación, y es muy probable que continúen en esta tendencia de crecimiento. Humint -- El caso más reciente e importante es el de la espía Ana Belén Montes, que era la más alta figura en el Departamento de Inteligencia del Departamento de Defensa, en lo relacionado con Cuba. Ana Belén Montes tenía acceso a las actividades más secretas de las operaciones y planes militares de los Estados Unidos, así como pudo lograr que se subestimara la capacidad de Cuba en las áreas de guerra asimétrica, tales como bioterrorismo y ciberterrorismo. También están, desde luego, los más de 10 espías capturados como parte de la Red Avispa. Sigint -- Cuba tiene uno de los programas más sofisticados de sigint del mundo. La mayor instalación para esto es la base de Bejucal, al sur de La Habana. Las instalaciones de sigint de Bejucal están entre las más importantes bases del mundo con el objetivo de espiar a los Estados Unidos. Esta base, a menos de 100 millas de Cayo Hueso, es una de las mayores y más sofisticadas del mundo. Le fue construida por Rusia a Cuba con un costo de 750 millones de dólares, en la misma trabajan cerca de 1,000 ingenieros y técnicos cubanos, y desde 1999 cuenta con la cooperación de personal militar de la RPC. Desde esta base se interceptan transmisiones de microondas de los Estados Unidos, comunicaciones de los satélites a tierra, y una gama de transmisiones de alta frecuencia de radio. Puede escuchar y monitorear las comunicaciones de los satélites norteamericanos de órbita fija. Esta base puede también escuchar las comunicaciones de Cabo Cañaveral, así como telecomunicaciones financieras. Existen facilidades especiales (masint) para el análisis e interpretación de estas comunicaciones. Cuba usaba satélites rusos para estas operaciones. Desde 1999 utiliza satélites de la República Popular China, país que ha puesto en órbita más de 20 satélites desde enero del 2000. Imint -- Cuba usa actualmente satélites de la RPC para sistemas de imágenes y fotos. Tienen una resolución de un tercio de metro. Estos satélites tienen un sistema muy sofisticado de sensores óptico- eléctricos. Tienen la capacidad de imágenes instantáneas. Masint -- Cuba, desde 1999, con la ayuda de la RPC, tiene la capacidad para analizar información mediante esta última tecnología, incluyendo métodos infrarrojos y de radar. [el autor es?:] Ingeniero y profesor universitario cubanoamericano. © El Nuevo Herald (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) What is the derivation of `masint`? The others are obvious in either language. So now we know the accentuation of Ana Belén Montes (gh, DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. At this moment (2230 UT [presumably July 11]) the ch 4 building in San Salvador, is on fire; from my office window I can see the smoke. Looks like almost all the building is on fire; no human victims are reported. On the TV sets just the color bars are on ch 4, generated from the transmitter site on San Salvador volcano. The building is located at south of the city next to the campus of my University (Humberto Molina, San Salvador, El Salvador, July 12, WTFDA via DXLD) http://www.geocities.com/hmolina.geo Esto en lo que aparece de última hora en http://www.elsalvador.com INCENDIO EN CANAL 4 DE TELEVISIÓN SAN SALVADOR / elsalvador.com Hora de actualización: 5:20 p.m. (23:20 UT) Un incendio de enormes proporciones sigue consumiendo las nuevas instalaciones del Canal 4 de televisión, ubicado al final de la Autopista Sur y bulevar Los Próceres de esta capital. No hay víctimas, solamente pérdidas materiales cuantiosas. El siniestro se ha extendido a otros establecimientos contiguos al canal, donde también funcionaba el informativo TCS noticias. La Cruz Verde Salvadoreña ha informado que el incendio se originó en las oficinas del noticiero Cuatro Visión. El Cuerpo de Bomberos trabaja con varias unidades, pero todavía no ha logrado controlar el fuego en el edificio de la televisora que forma parte de la Telecorporación Salvadoreña (TCS) Los cuerpos de socorro confirman que dos empleadas de la televisora han sido atendidas, una por intoxicación y otra por neurosis. Representantes del Canal 4 afirman que hoy mismo reiniciarán la señal (via Molina, ibid., ``8:21 pm`` July 11 via DXLD) ** INDIA. PUMP UP THE VOLUME! INDIANS SWING TO RADIO Wed Jul 10, 12:44 PM ET, By Rosemary Arackaparambil http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020710/lf_nm/leisure_india_radio_dc_1 BOMBAY, India (Reuters) - "I'm turned on, are you?" The sticker in the back of a car stuck in a Bombay traffic jam advertises a commercial radio station. The driver shakes his head in time to the music coming from his radio. Radio is not a novelty in India -- the sobering state-run All India Radio has been around for nearly seven decades. But lively, attention- grabbing radio is new. India auctioned off FM radio licenses for 37 stations in 19 cities two years ago and the commercial stations are grabbing audiences and making broadcasters lick their lips in anticipation of growing advertising revenues. In the last few months, four private FM stations began broadcasting in Bombay, India's financial capital, providing a medium for people to request songs, pass endearing messages to sweethearts and express opinions about society and life. Private FM radio is also on the air in Bangalore, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, and more cities are waiting to go live. "I've stopped listening to my CDs and cassettes over the past few months ... It's an automatic reflex to switch on the radio these days," said Rajini Nair, who tunes in for about three hours daily at home or while driving to and from work in Bangalore. Sales of FM radios in urban areas rose 11 percent in January-April, market researcher ORG-GFK said. Sales growth is believed to be higher because the data don't account for hot-selling pocket radios costing less than $2. Until recently, the only radio choice was the 209 stations operated by All India Radio. By contrast there are an estimated 14,000 radio stations in the United States and 1,000 in Italy. India is not expected to match the U.S. any time soon, but with privatization the amount of time spent listening to the radio could rise from a countrywide average of about 30 minutes a day to nearer the world average of three hours a day. THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG All India Radio reaches practically the whole nation, but its hold on urban listeners lasted only as long as they had no other option to its generally staid programming. Until cable television arrived about 10 years ago, city dwellers tuned in to All India Radio's commercial station Vividh Bharti, mainly to listen to its impressive collection of Hindi film music. Once satellite TV beamed from overseas were available, Indians turned off the radio and tuned into the likes of cable music channel MTV. Indians have access to more than 100 TV channels because that industry, unlike radio, is unregulated. Now private FM radio channels compete for attention, mainly by broadcasting Hindi film music and Western and Indian pop music. Enthusiastic young disc jockeys host the shows peppered with small talk, traffic and weather updates. However, political news and current affairs are not allowed on private FM stations. ADVERTISING VEHICLE Radio in India attracts 2-2.5 percent of total advertising spending, much less than 14-15 percent in neighboring Sri Lanka and 12-13 percent in the United States. Radio industry revenue could more than double in the next five years, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimates. Advertisers are attracted by captive audiences like the rising number of Indians who drive to and from work in cities, said Andrey Purushottam, head of ad agency Starcom Worldwide. Auto sales have surged 54 percent in the past five years, largely due to an increasing number of well-paid young professionals. But broadcasters are worried hefty license fees could stifle growth and expansion. After an initial fee for a license, FM stations must pay the government 15 percent more each year for 10 years on a compounded basis. "I don't see radio stations paying that kind of fee will be able to make much money over 10 years," John Catlett, chief executive of Radio City, said. "It is our intention to continue, but our interest in the medium and the industry will slacken if there is no change in the license fee structure over the next year or so." Catlett is in favor of making the fees proportional to the population of the city served, like in the United Kingdom. "People like us who can run the last mile can wait for 3-4 years to break even," said a spokesman for Radio Mirchi, which is backed by the Bennett, Coleman & Co media group. "But unless you have deep pockets, it will be tough." (via Artie Bigley, also via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE TV IS 40 From Waveguide Thursday July 11, 2002 It was 40 years ago today that the first trans-Atlantic television signal was relayed from the woods of Andover, Maine. The transmission was bounced off Telstar I and showed an American flag waving in front of the Andover Earth Station. The satellite was capable of relaying just one black and white television broadcast. That same day the first long-distance telephone call via satellite was carried by Telstar. During the call, then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke to Fred Kappel, then-chairman of AT&T. President Dwight Eisenhower announced in 1960 that he had directed NASA to take the lead in devising the use of space technology for commercial communications. The 171-pound Telstar, which was 34 inches in diameter, was launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral on July 10, 1962. President Kennedy released a statement on July 11, 1962, calling Telstar's successful operation "an outstanding example of the way in which government and business can co-operate in a most important field of human endeavor." Telstar remained in orbit until February 1963. There are 260 active communications satellites today. On July 23, transmission via Telstar gave the world its first live intercontinental television programme (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Yes, I remember it well... (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. UK SATELLITE PIONEERS REMEMBERED You are in: Sci/Tech Jane Wakefield, BBC News Online technology staff in Goonhilly Friday, 12 July, 2002, 07:45 GMT 08:45 UK Communications have come a long way since 1962 when the first live television satellite signal winged its way across the Atlantic to BT's Goonhilly Earth Station, in Cornwall, UK. Forty years on, the three Earth Stations involved in that pioneering test, at Andover in the USA, Pleumeur Bodou in France and Goonhilly, linked up live once again. Live TV footage of the World Cup and other events is now taken for granted. But a revolutionary step forward was taken on a hot summer night on 11 July 1962, as the face of AT&T's then-chairman Fred Kappel was broadcast across the Atlantic. At Goonhilly on the Lizard Peninsula, a satellite dish, affectionately nicknamed Arthur after the knight of the Round Table, received the historic image. British-designed Arthur weighed in at a bulky 1,118 tonnes and was 26 metres (85 feet) in diameter. It was unique at the time, being a dish antenna compared to the American-favoured horn- shaped antenna. Now, round satellite dishes are used all around the world. Walking a tightrope Dr John Bray was closely involved in the design of Arthur, officially known as Goonhilly Antenna One. Aged 90, he was back in the Cornish Earth Station 40 years later to celebrate the tremendous achievements he and his colleagues brought to the world of communication. He recollected the day the transmission went live as "like walking a tightrope" as no one was sure whether the test would work. In fact the reception on the first attempt was very fuzzy, leading some to speculate the dish was too heavy to accurately track the satellite. The problem actually turned out to be more mundane. One component was fitted the wrong way round and the problem was solved within 20 minutes. Despite the teething problems, it was a joy to be involved in such a project, recalled Dr Bray. "They were tremendously exciting times. There was a real spirit of camaraderie among those involved. We really did feel like pioneers," he said. Fiction becomes science The tests were made possible by the launch of Telstar One, the world's first commercial communication satellite, from Cape Canaveral the previous day. Its historic launch brought to reality the vision of science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke back in 1945 and proved such communication had a commercial future. The same day as the live link up, the world's first long-distance telephone call via satellite took place between US Vice President Lyndon B Johnson and AT&T's then chairman Fred Kappel. Telstar was a low-orbit satellite, between 950 and 5,630 kilometres (590 and 3,500 miles) above the Earth and only usable for three or four 40-minute periods in each 24 hours. During its seven months in orbit, Telstar delivered live pictures of baseball games, plays, news broadcasts and a US Presidential news conference. Telstar could transmit one television channel or 500 simultaneous telephone calls. Today's satellites can handle more than 500 television channels and thousands of data circuits. Its cost was $6m compared with the modern satellites, which cost in excess of $200m. International hub Goonhilly has grown to be the largest operational satellite station on Earth, with more than 60 antennae dealing with a wide range of transmissions. These include international phone calls, the transfer of financial data, television, ship and aircraft communications and internet traffic. Many of the transmissions during the Afghanistan conflict came via Goonhilly and it was also involved in the 11 September disaster, providing alternative routes for data when US communications were damaged. Goonhilly was chosen to house the satellite dish because the Lizard Peninsula offered an unimpaired view of the Atlantic horizon, giving the longest possible contact with low-orbiting satellites. The geology of the area also offers vital support for the massive weight of the antennae. The base is now a popular tourist attraction with 90,000 visitors touring the centre every year. Arthur remains fully operational and currently carries satellite communications to India and the Far East. Showing its true historic pedigree, the famous dish has just been recommended to English Heritage for Grade II listed building status (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Should have been named for Arthur C. Clarke!!! (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE RADIO COMPANIES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN A STILL UNDEFINED NATIONAL MARKET By Ron Harris Associated Press Writer Published: Jul 12, 2002 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - On desolate stretches of Interstate 5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco, country music is about the only thing on the radio. Nothing against country music, folks, but choice can be a good thing. Now, the fledgling satellite radio market offers that choice. The only two companies in the game - XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio - officially began battling head-to-head for the market July 1 as Sirius finally caught up with XM and launched nationally. XM's service ($9.99 per month) has been available nationally for eight months. Sirius' more recent launch ($12.95 per month) has created more noise about this new market, which the companies say should serve both well. The main work left for both is to fine-tune relations with auto manufacturers and car stereo makers to get the special satellite receivers and antenna kits, which start at about $250, onto American dashboards. Consumers should anticipate a brief primer on satellite radio the next time they go shopping for a car costing more than $30,000. Some less expensive new cars also will also offer the option. For those new to the technology, satellite radio transmissions differ from those of AM and FM radio, which is sent from earthbound towers directly to a car stereo. Instead, prerecorded music is broadcast from digital studios at XM and Sirius to separate satellites owned by each company. The satellites bounce the signal back to earth, directly to your car stereo system and to repeaters that boost it in areas with obstructions. So far, radios on the U.S. market receive satellite signals from either XM or Sirius, not both. Paying for radio might at one time have seemed unlikely. But XM's growth to 136,500 subscribers seems to show that folks will surrender cash for 100 discrete stations offering everything from jazz and classic rock to classical, reggae and news. "We have basically proven that people will pay for radio and that there's a real business here," said XM chief executive Hugh Panero. Sirius says 60,000 Sirius-equipped car stereos have reached the retail market, and both companies have persuaded car makers to install satellite radio in 2003 models. A selling point is the lack of AM and FM options in remote places where reception is poor. "I've driven through Indian reservations listening to Miles Davis on the jazz channel," said Jeff Stein, a screenwriter from Los Angeles who drives to Colorado for family visits. Sirius satellite radio now feeds certain car stereo models from Jensen, Kenwood, Clarion, Panasonic and Audiovox. Both companies prize the placement of their radios in cars before they're sold. Sirius has exclusive agreements with DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW. XM leans heavily on its relationship with General Motors. XM announced this month that GM will expand factory installations from two current Cadillac models to 23 other 2003 GM models. Sirius is commercial-free on its 60 music channels but does have advertisements on its 40 news, sports and entertainment channels. XM has about three minutes of commercials per hour on 30 of its 70 music channels, and commercials throughout its news and sports channels. Chrysler Group will offer Sirius Satellite Radio as a dealer-installed option this fall on 16 vehicles including the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Buyers can include the radio's cost and monthly fees in the vehicle price and payment installments. Sirius chief executive Joseph Clayton expects his company to become profitable if it gets to 3 million subscribers by 2005. XM estimates it will reach profitability with about 4 million subscribers by late 2004 or early 2005. To realize such projections, each company will need a cash infusion in the coming months to keep the services alive. Sirius has $380 million in cash on hand to get it through to the end of the first quarter of 2003. XM has $320 million in cash to get it through to the same point next year. Yankee Group analysts predict solid growth for satellite radio over the next four years, reaching 15 million subscribers by 2006. That will mean a scramble for Sirius, which developed the technology first only to see XM beat it to market. Going commercial-free on its music channels helps set it apart, said Yankee analyst Ryan Jones. Both services offer good digital sound quality and channel selection, and Jones doesn't figure XM will lose much business by having more commercials. AP-ES-07-12-02 1543EDT (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Next weekend, the USS Salem Radio Club, K1USN, is running the annual Worldwide Museum Ships Weekend from zero UT on Saturday the 20th until 2400 on Sunday the 21st. Full details are available from Bob, W1QWT, by e-mail to w1qwt@arrl.net or via http://www.qsl.net/k1usn/event.html (from the RSGB website via Mike Terry, July 12, DXLD) ** IRAQ. Hi Glenn, As 'Murphy's Law' would have it, this additional fax concerning Iraq has been received from friend Ray Merrall this morning (re DXLD 2-110, 2-111) Iraq heard on 11787 and 9685.0 at tune in 1604 on July 11. Neither signal was particularly strong initially, but the audio was noticeably better than hitherto, and marred mainly by the usual rectifier hum. Several IDs as Mother of Battles Radio throughout the mixed programme up to a full ID and news bulletin (OM reader) at 1738. At 1730, CRI sign-on on 9685 didn`t quite flatten the strong Baghdad signal, which remained 'readable' under the S8 Chinese. Both Arabic signals rated up to SIO 432 at their best. Usual ME vocals with repetitive chorus and percussion plus strings and woodwind backing continued. I tuned out between 1800 and 1850, and resumed just in time to catch the end of a music bridge and into a long audio break (except for the hum) on both carriers, until Radio Iraq International in English - at least, I thought it was English - the distortion was almost total - was announced on both channels. At 1930, the 9 MHz channel seemed to lose audio and only the hum/carrier could be detected until I lost it in the increasing clutter, before CRI arrived again at 2000. By this time, the 11 MHz signal was down in the terrible clutter - the VOA plus jammer on 11785 splashing. And on July 12 on 11787 at 0822 to 0827 a very weak Holy Qur`an signal followed by assorted spoken intervals between Koranic recital up to (current) 0904. Almost certainly Iraq on a quite quiet noise background; there is an entirely separate carrier plus audio on 11785 in definite // to a much more distorted signal on 12050 - Cairo. So there is hope for Christopher yet! (Ray Merrall, UK, via Noel Green, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 'CHAI TV' TO REACH EUROPE AND US [BY?] DAN GERSTENFELD Jul. 12, 2002 A group of French Jewish investors is in the process of creating a new TV station which will broadcast Jewish and Israeli related content in French and English to viewers throughout Europe and the US, Edouard Cukierman, chairman of investment house Cukierman & Co., which is raising the money for the project, told The Jerusalem Post. The new station, Chai TV, is expected to start broadcasting as soon as November, and be fully operational by 2003. Organizers estimate they will reach some 400,000 households in Europe in the first stage. Cukierman said some wealthy individuals have already invested close $1m. in the project, enough to cover initial expanses, and has received commitment for further investments. He said the group intends to raise some $7m.-$8m. in the next three months, which will allow them to start broadcasting right away. Total investment in the project is expected to reach $20m.... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1025787767885 (via Daniel Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION TO CLOSE SPRING 2003 [By?] Tovah Lazaroff Jul. 12, 2002 Education Minister Limor Livnat plans to close the educational television station within nine to ten months and to replace it with a television production center which will create educational programs to be shown on other stations.... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1025787768089 (via Daniel Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ARAB WORLD/ISRAEL: DAILY SAYS ISRAELI ARABIC SATELLITE TV CHANNEL WILL FAIL | Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat on 9 July The most recent of the latest Israeli incursions has not shaken the Arab side, which has appeared, in contrast to the usual reaction, less concerned than it has in the past. By the most recent incursion I mean the news that Israel has started to launch a channel in Arabic directed against its unique enemy, the Arab audience. The issue does not concern our audience much; in the war of words, unlike the military war, Israel did not, and will not, have much luck. The Israelis have said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon personally is behind the project, and that the government immediately allocated 14m US dollars to launch "Channel 33," as they call it, to confront the army of Arab channels that are estimated to reach approximately 50 million Arabs in the region. We think that the channel will lose the battle, not because its budget is small - it is less than a quarter of the budget of the cheapest channel in the Arab market. It will lose because it will convey a losing message. Regardless of the number of Arabs Israel will recruit to its channel, it will not succeed in politically convincing any Arab, including those who are resentful of their regimes and those who are against the Palestinian leadership. Our problem with Israel is not merely a state policy; it is the conflict of a great nation over a grave issue. It cannot, for instance, be compared to the Arab problem with the United States. However angry the Arabs are with Washington, all along they have considered it capable of solving the tragedy. As for Israel, both the ordinary Arab and the Arab official consider it the root of an existing major tragedy before their eyes, and no TV station could remedy the story of 50 years of occupation, aggression and deliberate humiliation. The only solution that could change the Israeli image is the complete withdrawal and the independent Palestinian state; otherwise, the 14m US dollars will be a waste of money on a project that is doomed to fail. Even if Israel resorted to the most modern methods of production and marketing, its station would remain neglected, and I doubt that a single Arab member of the audience would change his opinion because of it. The rift between the Arabs and Israel is a natural result of a major crisis. It is bigger than the rift between the United States and Cuba, which is continuing although the cause of it has come to an end. The United States compels its citizens to smoke bad Haitian cigars and prohibits them from smoking luxury Cuban cigars. The luck of Israeli Channel 33 will not be any better than the luck of its Jerusalem Al-Quds Radio that tried to compete with the great radio stations with news of and commentaries about the region, but was not able to do so. If the Israelis think that there is a problem in conveying their viewpoint to Arabs because of the Arab media bias against and severe hatred of Israel, which are definitely true, then they are overlooking the fact that it is a state of war and the situation cannot be changed by a TV station. The occupation of land and the dispersal of all these millions of people are not a mere public relations problem that could be remedied by a media campaign; it needs a change in the policies of the pillars of the Israeli ruling class who still want to keep the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the love of the Arabs. Source: Al-Sharq al- Awsat, London, in Arabic 9 Jul 02 p 22 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. On the 21st of this month, I will be leaving for Liberia in West Africa. The purpose of this trip is to put an FM station on the air in the city of Monrovia. This city of over one million people needs a Christian radio station, and so as part of our overall ministry here at WJIE Shortwave, we are establishing 'The Voice of Liberty FM'. We are also laying the groundwork for a shortwave and a television station. We have been granted licenses for both in Liberia. Our plan is to use FM, TV and Shortwave to counteract the onslaught of Islam in Africa. Please pray for me. I have traveled to many places in the world, but none quite like Liberia. They have been through nearly a decade of war, which has severely crippled the infrastructure, and has created a massive sense of despair and lost. What an opportunity to present the Gospel! There are still pockets of conflict, and some denominations have restricted missionary access to the country. But we serve a mighty God who is able to protect, deliver and even multiply in the midst of war! Secondly, you are a receiving this email today, and I am asking you for a donation...but not of money. I am taking with me literally hundreds of hours of music and teaching to air on this new FM. I am in need of additional material. If you mail it today or tomorrow, I should receive it by next Saturday. Voice of Liberty WJIE SHORTWAVE PO Box 197309 Louisville, KY 40259 502-968-1220 Doc Burkhart: wjiesw@hotmail.com Morgan Freeman: morgan@wjie.org (WJIE newsletter July 12 via DXLD) So is Doc or Morgan the ``I`` who is going to Liberia? BTW, what about a SW transmitter for WJIE in KY? (gh, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA [and non]. Lithuania is engaged in a David and Goliath dispute with Russia about the right to broadcast on one of the few remaining clear channel mediumwave frequencies [1386] in Europe.... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/conflict020712.html (Media Network July 12 via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Hello, here two short records of RTL-Radio on 6090 since you had no chance to hear it. The one labelled as 1600 UT actually contains the moment a few minutes earlier when one of the doomed Leszczynka transmitters came up on 6095 for a Radio Polonia broadcast starting at 1600. My radio was "wide open" on the high side to get the full audio bandwidth despite Munich on 6085, resulting in this 5 kHz het. This way Radio Luxemburg once used to perform on our radios, with a not so loud but still distinctive and ever-present het (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Desde hace un ratito estoy en la pagina de Radio Transcontinental (Mexico DF) en http://www.xerta.8m.com/XERTA.htm Tiene una presentación muy bonita. En uno de sus apartados indica que próximamente la emisora estará en el aire en los 4810 khz y señala la dirección de su Oficina Comercial en México: Plaza San Juan No. 5 Esq. Ayuntamiento primer piso, despacho dos, col. Centro. C.p. 06000, México D. F. Tel. 55 18 49 38 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, July 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) XERTA Radio Transcontinental de América tiene un nuevo sitio en la WEB, donde estan transmitiendo por real audio su programación, misma que se transmite por la onda corta. La direccién es http://www.misionradio.com Saludos (Hector García Bojorge, DF, July 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO. martes, 9 de julio 9:49 PM AL RESCATE DE XELA (CNI en Línea) Por Eduardo Monteverde / CNI Noticias. En rebeldía contra un agravio, en defensa de la música clásica como un derecho, se constituye el Comité Nacional de Rescate de la XELA (Conarexela), por la cultura en México. A sesenta y dos años un día de la fundación de la emisora, a poco más de siete meses de que fuera clausurada, un nutrido grupo de melómanos se reunió en el auditorio Julián Carrillo, de Radio UNAM, para dar inicio a un proyecto que retomará, no sólo a la estación, sino también a las siglas que ya son parte de la cultura del país. Hasta la Suprema Corte de la Nación podría llegar el proceso para restablecer la emisora en el cuadrante, bajo la asesoría de Miguel González Avelar. En la búsqueda de las fórmulas para lograr este objetivo, en una mesa presidida por Marcelino Perelló, el ex líder del movimiento del 68 anunció que ya existe un alud de solidaridad con este movimiento, en el que participan intelectuales como Cristina Pacheco, Juan José Calatayud, Víctor Hugo Rascón Banda, estados que también se suman, en este caso con Luis Fernando Luna, Secretario de Cultura de Yucatán. Sin mayores explicaciones, la estación en AM dejó de transmitir el dos de enero de este año para ceder su lugar a Estadio W, radiodifusora deportiva con 24 horas al aire. Sólo con rumores el público se fue enterando que el relevo de la concesión se debía a que el negocio estaba tenía problemas económicos. [sic] Hubo enojo y protestas que fueron publicadas en algunos medios de comunicación; nunca se dio un informe para aclarar la probabilidad de manejos inadecuados, con una frecuencia que pertenece al país. La Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes se niega a dar un informe solicitado por los miembros del Conarexela, debido a que ``esa estación tiene muchos problemas``. La Secretaría de Gobernación ha respondido que ``no se puede dar información, porque no existe sustento sobre la demanda``. La actitud de las autoridades en épocas de supuesta transparencia informativa, ha despertado sospechas. El fenómeno trasciende la música, dijo Perelló, porque es un asunto de cultura tan indignante, como la venta de un edificio colonial de piedra y cantera. XELA tiene el mismo derecho a sobrevivir por que se ha ganado su pertenencia nacional. Reclama el mutismo del gobierno, en un acto en el que es partícipe, el equivalente a tener un huésped en casa y al día siguiente encontrar otro, sólo con el pretexto de que el lugar se lo habían cedido. La difusión de la cultura en los medios electrónicos desaparece en un avatar que viene desde hace 15 años, de suerte que su condición actual es no sólo escueta sino famélica en la pantalla y la radio. XELA cambió su cobertura a Internet, que transmite con interrupciones, ruido y a ratos una gigantesca entropía, que distrae esa devota actitud junto al cuadrante de quien escucha música clásica. Para Marcelino esta es una acción amañada de los propietarios, la dinastía de José Luis Fernández, para asegurar que la estación continúa funcionando, cuando en realidad se trató de la venta de un espacio. Hasta ahora se desconoce si el Comité será integrado como asociación civil, en términos de una fundación o de otra forma. Por lo pronto ya hay una campaña para obtener fondos, apoyo de Radio UNAM y cada vez más allegados por la causa. La nave no se ha hundido, agrega Perelló: ``Sólo está en la dársena, calafateándose para volver a navegar``. Si es reinstalada o se funda de nuevo, es también cuestión jurídica de la que el Estado no se puede desafanar. Se levantará una demanda contra quién resulte responsable, porque hay un derecho, aunque no bien definido, para escuchar música clásica en la radio como lo existe para hablar una lengua indígena, por ejemplo. El corte de tajo, cercena también una herencia para los hijos (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. TELEVISA PODRÍA COMPRAR UNIVISIÓN EFE, El Universal, Miami, Florida, Lunes 08 de julio de 2002 Consideraría Emilio Azcárraga Jean, incluso, pedir la ciudadanía estadounidense, puesto que los extranjeros sólo pueden tener participación del 25 por ciento en los medios de televisión de aquel país El gigante mexicano de las comunicaciones Televisa estudia la posibilidad de adquirir la cadena de televisión estadounidense Univision que el mismo fundó en 1961, afirmó una revista especializada. De acuerdo a la última edición de "Latin Trade", con sede en Miami, incluso el presidente de la junta directiva de Televisa, Emilio Azcárraga Jean, considera "pedir la ciudadanía estadounidense en la perspectiva de dominar la empresa que lidera el sector de las comunicaciones en el creciente mercado hispano de EU". De acuerdo a las leyes estadounidenses, los extranjeros sólo pueden tener una participación de 25 por ciento en los medios de televisión del país. La planificada compra, afirmó la revista, refleja los deseos de Televisa, cuyos programas son la base del éxito de Univision en EU, de descartar acuerdos comerciales desfavorables que se han traducido en que el valor de la empresa estadounidense supere con creces el de la mexicana. Las ventas de Televisa son el doble de las de Univision, pero el valor de mercado de la primera es de unos 2 mil millones de dólares menor. Las telenovelas y otros programas de Televisa son el soporte de la gran audiencia hispana de Univision, pero la compañía mexicana recibe sólo 9 centavos de dólar por cada uno de ingresos y está obligada por contrato a venderle sus programas hasta el 2017. De acuerdo a los pronósticos de Latin Trade, las ventas de Univisión, con un valor de capitalización de 9 mil millones de dólares, aumentarán 20 por ciento este año, a mil 200 millones de dólares. Mientras que las ventas de Televisa tienen un valor de capitalización de 7 mil millones de dólares, sólo subirán menos de 3 por ciento, a 2 mil 200 millones de dólares. La tarea de Azcárraga Jean, no sólo es conseguir los fondos para una posible compra, sino que es necesaria una distensión de sus relaciones con el magnate estadounidense Jerrold Perenchio, quien domina Univision, afirma la revista. Los especialistas afirman que el mexicano causó irritación al estadounidense cuando se quejó por los términos de los contratos entre ambas empresas, pero que ahora hay señales de deshielo. Agregaron que Perenchio puede vender a Televisa, o a cualquiera, si el precio es el adecuado, sin consultar siquiera a la empresa mexicana o a Gustavo Cisneros, el empresario venezolano que posee el 19 por ciento de Univision. Sin embargo, cualquiera que sea la suerte de las negociaciones, Televisa seguirá obligada a vender a Univision los programas de éxito que produce en México y que se retransmiten en EU. La población hispana en aquel país es de alrededor de 35 millones de personas, con un poder adquisitivo de unos 450 mil millones de dólares (Lista mediosmedios via Claudio Morales via Arnaldo Slaen, July 11, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Which leaves the accent off Univisión throughout; and I have heard its execs pronounce it Englishly (gh) ** MIDDLE EAST. ANALYSIS: 9/11 + 10 - CHANGING TRENDS IN MIDDLE EAST MEDIA | Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 11 July Across the Middle East the media sector is increasingly an arena where foreign policy differences are expressed between the region and the rest of the world, as well as between individual countries or blocs, and geopolitical interests are pursued. Since 11 September there has been a substantial increase in the media being manipulated to make political points - ranging from the screening of Usamah Bin-Ladin videos on the leading pan-Arab satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera to the USA and Britain offering fluent Arabic speakers to argue their governments' case in interviews for Middle Eastern TV stations. Western broadcasters step up output The USA (VOA, RFE/RL), the BBC and European broadcasters have stepped up their programmes to the Middle East, Central Asia and Afghanistan in the last 10 months. Major developments included the launch of Radio Free Afghanistan and Radio Sawa, both US-run. The US is also planning a satellite TV equivalent of the latter - both aimed at younger audiences. Israel's Arabic- and English-language satellite TV channel launched on 25 June is the latest in a series of Western moves aimed at winning "hearts and minds" across the Middle East. Mutual suspicion The media, especially television, have also been a crucial force in shaping the Palestinian uprising. In the last year, both Israel and the Arab countries have sought to turn the media to their advantage. There is of course great suspicion on both sides. Several Arab media maintain that the US media are Jewish-dominated. Last year Sa`udi Arabia said it had been the target of a deliberate smear campaign in the Western media, motivated by hidden hatred of Arabs and Muslims. This followed articles, especially in the United States, which accused the authorities in Riyadh of promoting extremism and being soft on terrorism. More recently, following bomb attacks targeting Westerners in Saudi Arabia, sections of the Saudi press spoke of "continued attempts by the Western media to link Muslims and Arabs to terror". "What is dangerous is the Western media's efforts to put us [Sa`udi Arabia] on the top of the list of countries supporting terrorism," an editorial in the English-language Riyadh Daily said on 25 June Media have become an important factor in the deteriorating state of US-Arab relations. For example, The New Yorker magazine and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman reported after 9/11 about how pervasive and influential the anti-American press are in Egypt. Conspiracy theories about Jews creating the 9/11 attacks are widely reported, though how widely they are believed is not certain. Likewise, several US and Israeli commentators accuse Al-Jazeera TV of being anti-Israeli and providing a platform for organizations involved in terror. Rival broadcasting initiatives Since 9/11 - and only partly in response to Al-Jazeera's success in attracting audiences with its scoops on Bin-Ladin - the US has moved quickly to use broadcasting to reach not just traditional opinion formers in the Middle East but also younger audiences by trying to attract them with entertainment and pop music in a bid to also put forward to them the American political perspective and world view. In March this year the US launched Radio Sawa, which features Western and Arab pop music mixed with news about Middle East diplomatic moves. Radio Sawa, which broadcasts on FM in Amman, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is part of a "public diplomacy" campaign to counter the anti-US sentiment which grew after the attacks of last September. It is also audible on mediumwave in Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria. According to Radio Sawa's web site, one of the station's guiding principles is that "the long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly in Arabic with the peoples of the Middle East by radio. Radio Sawa seeks to win the attention and respect of listeners. In reporting the news, Radio Sawa is committed to being accurate, objective, and comprehensive." The US ambassador to Jordan, Edward Gnehm, called the station an "instant hit among Jordan's young". The United States has also floated the idea of an Arabic-language satellite TV channel to rival Al-Jazeera. The US initiative has been criticised from several corners of the Arab world. CNN has also contemplated launching an Arabic-language satellite TV channel. This appears to be a non-starter for the moment, because it would depend on CNN gaining access to the Middle East advertising market, which is Sa`udi-dominated. Given the extensive Saudi interests in several existing pan-Arab satellite TV channels, backed by Sa`udi royal family connections, they are not likely to welcome CNN as a competitor. Since 9/11, and in the light of renewed Western, primarily US, efforts to win new and especially younger audiences in the Middle East, many media in the Arab world are changing their approaches in response to the external broadcasting directed towards the region as well as in response to the needs expressed by their domestic audiences for more informative, intelligent and politically committed programming. Arab broadcasters respond There have been several broadcasting initiatives from the Arab side. In January 2002, the Egyptian satellite channel Nile TV began airing 30 minutes of Hebrew-language news programming a day. Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV in Lebanon, which already broadcasts Hebrew and English segments, is planning a full-time Hebrew channel. In June, Arab countries pledged more than 20 million dollars for a media campaign targeting Israel. And in July a Saudi businessman and member of the royal family, Prince Mansur Bin Nasir Bin Abd al-Aziz, announced plans to launch an Arab TV station broadcasting in English and targeted to audiences in the West. The 160m-dollar English-language satellite TV station will be launched from London soon "to help clear misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims after the 11 September attacks," he said. These Arab initiatives are almost exclusively based on satellite TV. But Syria is planning to launch a new FM radio station called Voice of Youth in Damascus soon, which appears a direct response to the American Radio Sawa. Media freedom static Professional, balanced journalism is not available to most Middle Eastern citizens. One of Al-Jazeera's editors said: "The practice of freedom of speech is still something new in Arab media. Objectivity is a very subjective issue." All these developments are happening in a regional context in which media freedom has remained largely static. In countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco, and Yemen, there are numerous independent papers. But journalists are still prosecuted and papers closed, suspended or confiscated in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and especially Iran. In monarchies like Sa`udi Arabia and Kuwait little change is in prospect. Expected media opening-ups in Morocco and Syria have failed to materialise - though the state's print media monopoly in Syria did come to an end last year. But (in the opinion of the International Press Institute), the spread of the Internet and satellite television are producing unprecedented progress with regard to freedom of statement. TV dominant The Middle East is an increasingly competitive broadcast media environment, with new openings for wider and clearer availability via FM and other delivery methods such as cable and satellite. Ownership of radio and TV is almost universal in major countries, like Egypt and Sa`udi Arabia. Television is the dominant medium throughout the Middle East. The last remaining curbs on access to satellite TV, in countries like Iran and Iraq, are eroding. Domestic TV channels, nearly all state-controlled, attract high audiences. In areas of high satellite/cable ownership, such as Sa`udi Arabia, international TV channels and pan-Arab stations in particular, such as Al-Jazeera, are popular. Al-Jazeera news channel claims to offer the global Arabic-speaking audience an "independent" channel, in contrast to state-controlled stations, which tend to be fairly strictly controlled. National broadcasters in the region are almost exclusively state- owned, with varying degrees of state involvement in content and output. Freedom of the press is becoming an important issue, although censorship is still maintained by local requirements to adhere to "culturally acceptable" standards. With television established as the most important form of media available, newspapers and radio play a complementary role, providing additional analysis of events. Power of pan-Arab satellite TV The pan-Arab satellite TV channels too are trying to boost their own audiences through thought-provoking programming involving more viewer participation and outlets for audiences to express their political views. There are fresh approaches represented by pan-Arab satellite TV channels like Al-Jazeera, LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International), and the Middle East Broadcasting Centre, MBC, which are widely watched for news as well as entertainment. Al-Jazeera is regarded by many as the most influential news channel in the region. Since its launch in November 1996, the channel has revolutionized television news in the Arab world and has set the tone for regional TV news coverage, especially for the conflict in Afghanistan. Supporters of Al-Jazeera call it a vital and reliable news source that covers news professionally from an Arab perspective. They point out that the channel often draws the ire of many Arab governments for its hard-hitting coverage of Middle East affairs. It's also been called divisive and separatist and selective in failing to report on Qatari internal dissent. Some of the pan-Arab channels have become a major headache for Arab governments as they have reflected the scale of the public protest that has swept almost every Arab country since the last major Israeli offensive against Palestinian areas began at the end of March. The TV channels allowed Arab viewers to express solidarity through phone-ins and fundraising "telethons". Internet According to a report released this month by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Arab countries have the world's lowest level of information "connectivity" - the percentage of people who use the Internet and those with access to a personal computer. PC penetration is lower in the Middle East than in many diaspora markets (e.g. the USA, Western Europe), which help make up the Arabic online community. However, internet activity (where access is not severely restricted) is growing and is significant among younger, upper-income Middle Easterners who are PC-literate - but it is likely to be limited to urban areas. According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2001 there were an estimated 4 million internet users in the Arab world, a figure expected to double by the end of 2002. Though much less widespread than television and beyond the financial reach of many, the Internet allows access to a wealth of news and information that was otherwise unavailable. On the Internet there is intense competition between Middle East sites in both Arabic and English, (and increasingly French for North Africa). Al-Jazeera's growth in Arabic broadcast news is now turning it into a major online player, with the launch of its Arabic news online site - aljazeera.net. Other key competitors emerging in the market include CNN Arabic.com. Internews, an organization that trains independent journalists, started the amin.net web site to post Palestinian and other Arab newspaper articles and to monitor attacks on the media, but otherwise by 2002 had largely moved out of the Middle East. Amin.net has had no funding for the past two years, but it gets 3.9 million hits a month, about half of what Al-Jazeera gets. Looking ahead Following the attacks of 9/11, one way the US is seeking to improve its image in the Arab world is through proposals to set up a Middle East satellite TV channel to counter the influence of Al-Jazeera and other pan-Arab channels. The general Arab response has been that this plan will not succeed in influencing how Arabs view Americans. "The US must employ fair-handedness in the Middle East in order to prove itself," said the editor-in-chief of Jordan's Al-Dustur daily, Nabil Sharif. Other regions of the world, including Afghanistan, the former Soviet Union, Iraq and Bosnia, continue to demand international broadcasting efforts too, whether the provision of training or increasing programming. The leading pan-Arab satellite channels have their own ambitious expansion plans. Al-Jazeera is to launch an English-language web site and possibly an English-language channel in due course. And Kuwait has been toying with the notion of starting its own all- news satellite channel, to be run by the private sector, an idea first mooted several years ago. There is also a trend towards the combination of facilities by pan- Arab channels: LBCI and the London newspaper Al-Hayat are to start a unified news service, and there have been reports about a possible partnership between MBC and Lebanon's Future TV to launch a news channel to rival Al-Jazeera. Most Arab satellite TV stations produce only about a third of their broadcast output, the rest being imports. To retain and boost audiences, Arab satellite stations will have to produce more local programming and rely less on imports. Radio will be negatively affected by the growing dominance of television in the Middle East, but remains the fastest and most efficient way of delivering both news and music. Source: BBC Monitoring research 11 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290 now heard signing on at 2030 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, UT July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Under what name now?? (gh) ** RUSSIA. Caroline via Kaliningrad 1386, DXLD 2-109: See UK [and non] ** SEALAND. WEB REBELS PROFIT FROM NET CONTROLS From [with illustrations] http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2115000/2115887.stm Tuesday, 9 July, 2002, 08:15 GMT 09:15 UK By Alfred Hermida, BBC News Online technology staff A crumbling concrete anti-aircraft tower off the east coast of England is home to a dot.com venture with a difference. The military platform, dubbed Sealand, is the base of internet hosting company HavenCo which is bucking the downturn of the dot.com economy. The company has been exploiting Sealand's self-proclaimed sovereignty to offer an offshore data haven, free of government interference. "We believe that people have a right to communicate freely," said Ryan Lackey, co-founder of HavenCo. "If they want to operate certain kinds of business that don't hurt anybody else, they should be able to do so." The venture comes at a time when governments across the world are tightening controls on the internet. New laws both in the US and Europe are giving officials greater powers to snoop on online activities. Mr Lackey came up with the idea for HavenCo two years ago and started looking for somewhere to create an electronic refuge. "We looked all around the world for somewhere that would have secure internet hosting, outside of government regulation and we could not really find any," Mr Lackey told the BBC programme Go Digital. In the end, he settled on the self-styled sovereign principality of Sealand. Britain built the anti-aircraft platform during the Second World War. It remained derelict until the 1960s when a retired Army major, Paddy Roy Bates, took over the 10,000 square foot platform and declared it the independent nation of Sealand. At the time, the platform was beyond the then three-mile limit of British territorial waters. All this changed in 1987, when the UK extended its territorial waters from three to 12 miles. Britain does not recognise the sovereignty of Sealand but this has not deterred HavenCo. Few controls on sites on HavenCo's servers It has installed internet servers on the platform, linked to the outside world via satellite links. There are few controls on the kind of websites that HavenCo is prepared to host. "We have a strict policy of three things we prohibit here," explained Mr Lackey. "We prohibit child pornography, spamming and hacking from our machines to other machines." So far many of the sites are online gambling ventures. But a growing number of political groups banned in their own countries have turned to HavenCo, such as the website of the Tibetan Government in exile. "We also permit any sort of free debate about issues whereas a country or company might try to censor this or sue you," said Mr Lackey. Providing a service to companies or groups who want to keep their data secret or publish it on the web without censorship is proving a worthwhile enterprise. "We've been profitable since the summer of 2001 so from a commercial standpoint we can continue forever," said Mr Lackey. "Regulations in other countries simply increase demand." However, how long HavenCo will escape the attention of the authorities is uncertain, with officials insisting that any site hosted on Sealand will have to comply with British internet regulations (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. You have heard that according to Sister Stair and someone using the same e-ddress (probably Sister Stair) two charges have been dropped. Did I also tell you that the jail told me the other day that B.S. has been a model prisoner and that his being in max. security is "not the fault of the prisoner." They wouldn't say WHY they moved him, but I guess I tend to believe that B.S. is too charismatic. The jail also said that he was a very popular prisoner prior to his being moved to max. That's probably it (Robert Arthur, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Another BBC discrimination case: see WALES ** U K. Web watch Thursday July 11, 2002 The Guardian (London) You can now listen to most BBC music programmes whenever you want. Late last month, BBCi finally launched a "radio on demand" service for its national radio stations. Much of BBC speech radio has been "on demand" for some time, but wrangles with record companies prevented the BBC from archiving its music shows in the same way. Now, thanks to a new licensing deal, you can listen to shows such as John Peel, Mary Anne Hobbes and next month's Proms concerts on the web up to a week after transmission. You have to use the Beeb's (Real-based) media player and listen to two-hour shows in their entirety, though there is a "skip 15 minutes" button for PC users. You cannot skip tracks or repeat songs. The service has also prompted an overhaul of the Radio One site. It now offers regular online chats with Radio One DJs, exclusive music sessions and a new section for unsigned bands. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) Forced to listen to two hours!!? O, for the freedom of shortwave radios (Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) What, your computer has no OFF button? What brand of shortwave radio gives you the freedom to skip ahead 15 minutes in the program? Maybe that will become the killer application of DRM, allowing listeners the freedom to jump around in a digital program that has automatically gone to the radio's hard drive. The mind boggles (Joe Buch, ibid.) ** U K [and non]. Subject : Radio Caroline on 1386kHz Hi Glenn, Scratch your head and you may remember we've spoken before - I ran Imagination on 6010 kHz in 1999/2000 until it joined forces with Caroline on the Astra satellite system. Remember? Hello! I wonder, do you think you could post this item on your bulletin board? You recently ran an item in bulletin 2-109 which referred to Radio Caroline, Radio Baltic Waves, and 1386 kHz. This is the official Caroline response: Some months ago Radio Caroline made contact with the holder of a low power long term RSL licence (1386 kHz 1W) and investigated the possibility of them relaying Caroline's programmes from time to time within the framework of their licence. No plans were finalised and the option remains a possibility. We've never made any arrangements to operate on 1386 kHz using the Kaliningrad transmitter. UK broadcast licensing regulations have changed out of all recognition since 1964, and Caroline can now achieve its aims operating within the law and without violating existing frequency allocation structures. Satellites provide much greater coverage than AM transmissions ever could, and in much improved quality, and these will remain our primary distribution vehicle. Radio Caroline has no intention of operating on 1386 kHz from Kaliningrad. There! I do wonder where these rumours originate, I'm sure some of them are malignant. If queries on any other Caroline related matters arise and you want information do get in touch. With best wishes (Rob Leighton, Radio Caroline, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) *********************************************** Imagination ".....we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams....." http://www.imagination.clara.net imagination@clara.net ** U S A. AMATEUR FLOOD RESPONSE, RELIEF SUPPORT CONTINUES IN TEXAS ZCZC AX05 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 5 ARLX005 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT July 9, 2002 To all radio amateurs Upwards of 150 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) team members and other amateurs have been supporting flood response and relief efforts in flood-ravaged areas of Texas. ARRL South Texas Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, reports that ARES teams are assisting the American Red Cross, the Baptist Men's Kitchen and The Salvation Army in their efforts to feed and clothe flood victims and to provide them with household essentials as they begin the massive cleanup. Although an FCC-declared communications emergency for 7285 and 3873 kHz has been terminated, responding agencies continue to make use of HF for both health-and-welfare and tactical communications, Taylor said. ''We're doing as much as we can on 2 meters,'' he said, ''but we still really need HF.'' Taylor said amateur HF was providing the only reliable communication in and out of some flood-stricken communities, and telephone and cellular telephone service remains erratic. Taylor, who lives in New Braunfels, said the Guadalupe River was still overflowing the spillway at Canyon Dam north of town. So far, 13 Texas counties has been declared disaster areas. At least eight deaths have been attributed to the flooding, which has affected nearly 50,000 Texans. Several days of nonstop rain between June 30 and July 6 generated some of the worst flooding in 100 years and caused thousands to flee their homes. Some areas of central Texas--which had been suffering drought conditions--received nearly three feet of rain. As residents have been allowed to return home this week, most Red Cross shelters were closed, but a few hundred people continue to take refuge. Taylor said the Baptist Men's Kitchen, the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army continue operations in seven or eight communities with Amateur Radio support. Page last modified: 03:27 PM, 09 Jul 2002 ET Page author: w1aw@arrl.org Copyright © 2002, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Re new synthetic voices at NOAA Weather Radio: Hi, Folks, As a constant user of artificial speech, I find the new voices fatiguing in a way that Perfect Paul is not. Although more human-sounding at first, there is a disjointed quality about the speech which is fatiguing. It also sounds jerky at a much slower speed than Perfect Paul, thus it can't really speak as clearly as a fast- reading human would, and other software can do this properly. In its infinite wisdom, though, NWS didn't choose to go with software which is more natural and can read at higher speeds. Craig and Donna are more fatiguing to listen to, also, because even though they theoretically sound more "human", there is less variety in pitch from sentence to sentence. But since the people who choose program designs aren't real users of speech in their everyday lives, they make bad choices, and the taxpayer covers the cost, only to do it again in a few years. I hear tell that a third voice is to debut in a month or two, but I haven't heard it. (--Rick Lewis, AZ, WTFDA via DXLD) Just to show we are all different: I find the new voices still poor but better then Perfect Paul to my ears. I find Perfect Paul absolutely grating in my ears to the extreme (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) Hey, I`ve got an idea. Why not have real people record the weather? I do not accept excuses that they do not have the manpower (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. My daughter Connie found an interesting article in the Lima News newspaper last week. It's titled "Collector at home with hundreds of radios." The article was written by Larry Gierer of the Knight Ridder Newspapers. The Vietnam War veteran pulls the pin from the grenade in his hand and those nearby a step back. "Boom," he laughs. "See, it's a cigarette lighter." But, it's more. Like just about everything in Ray Weaver's living room, it's a radio. The telephone has never received a call, the guitar has never strummed, the football helmets never worn, the roulette wheel never spun. You can find your favorite station using the clock on wall or by adjusting the pair of binoculars with which you are spying on the neighbors. If nature calls and you must leave for a moment, that's OK, the toilet paper holder is AM and FM. "I just love of radio that looked like something else," Weaver, age 69 says. He must. He has eight-hundred twenty five of them in his Columbus condominium. Using a small studio he's put together in his bedroom, he has photographed each radio and recorded the pictures alphabetically in a computer file. His screen saver reads "The Novelty Radio Nut." "And that's what I am," says Weaver, who served his country in the Navy, Air Force and Army, retiring as the chief warrant officer before working civil service in communications at Fort Benning until 1987. Weaver, raised in Magnum [Mangum! -- gh], Oklahoma, is especially proud of a miniature microphone his daughter Sandy gave him that reads, "make my heart to sing". It came from a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital telethon in which Sandy, a disk jockey, participated. Weaver is also fond of some Raggedy Ann figures. "They were Eileen's favorites," he says of his wife of 41 years who died in 1998. There are shelves filled with antique car models. Another is taken off with a foot long replica of the Star Trek ship Enterprise. He has a brewery full of beer cans including that once upon a time Georgia favorite, Billy Beer. Figurines such as John Wayne, and Elvis Presley, contained radios. He especially likes a model of a dollar bill. George Washington's mouth moves as the radio plays. Weaver has some "adults only" models to which he keeps hidden away. Besides his daughter, his son's Ed and Ken, and their families, have for years contributed to the collection. "It was an easy Christmas gift at first," he says, "but now it's gotten more difficult because they can't keep track of what I have." All of the radios are transistor models being no further back than the mid 1950s. Some are promotional items which were never for sale in stores. He checks catalogs to find what's available, but most of the radios he gets he finds at flea markets and yard sales. He also trades with other collectors via the Internet. So what does the owner of probably more radios than anyone in town listen to on the radio? "I really [sic -- rarely?? -- gh] listen to radio," he says. "I get bored with what's on." (via Connie Vobbe, WHAZUP, a monthly e-newsletter from the DX Audio Service during peak DX season, National Radio Club July 2002 via DXLD) ** U S A. LABELS TO NET RADIO: DIE NOW You`d think the record companies would love Internet tunes --- instead they`re trying to kill them By Steven Levy, NEWSWEEK: http://www.msnbc.com/news/777023.asp (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE: See LIBERIA ** URUGUAY. 9620.9, SODRE, 0728 July 12, tentatively the weak signal here with Latin music back-back and suffering some splash from Ukraine 9620kHz. Long time since they've been heard in NZ! (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES. INDIA-BORN BROADCASTER ACCUSES BBC OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION - INDIAN AGENCY | Text of report by Indian news agency PTI London, 10 July: An award-winning India-born radio presenter has accused her bosses in BBC of "bullying" and treating her as an "illiterate native" of the Raj years. Fifty three-year-old Anand Jasani, who was appointed Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1998 for being a "cultural ambassador", is claiming racial discrimination against BBC Wales. The Independent, which carried the story, said that BBC denies the allegation. Jasani, who has worked for the BBC for 15 years, told an industrial tribunal that a programme controller had dismissed her show as not serving a useful purpose. "I have been a victim of slow and subtle persecution and I have been bullied on occasions by my male-dominated superiors who have behaved at times as though I was another example of an illiterate or unintelligent native of the Raj years," Jasani said. "In brief, I have been a victim of unequal treatment, a lack of commitment, promotion and career development, condescension, apathy, and marginalization," she told the tribunal Tuesday. She said her husband, a doctor, and their two daughters had worked without payment so that her show, "A voice for all", would be ready for transmission each week. Jasani said she was paid 267 pounds a week for putting the show together and was told that this figure should be considered as her salary and the budget for her programme. Source: PTI news agency, New Delhi, in English 1729 gmt 10 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO PRESENTER ACCUSES BBC OF RACIAL BIAS, By Antony Stone, PA News BBC Radio bosses allegedly bullied and degraded the host of a flagship show for Asians, treating her like an "illiterate native" under the Raj, an industrial tribunal heard today. Anand Jazani, 53, sobbed as she told how her doctor husband and two daughters worked for nothing to ensure the weekly BBC Radio Wales show, A Voice For All, could keep going. But the tribunal was halted for five minutes today when the award winning host broke down as she told how a programme controller allegedly dismissed her show as not serving a "useful purpose". She told the tribunal she was paid 267 [pounds?] a week for putting the show together and told it should be considered as both salary and programme budget. Mrs Jazani said she was able to claim an extra 50 a week for volunteersworking on the show but spent up to 10,000 herself in the last 15 years, building up a music catalogue. She claims racial discrimination against BBC Wales, which denies the allegation. The tribunal heard that she put the show together herself from her home in Upper Cliffe Close, Penarth, and went into the BBC's Cardiff studio to broadcast it. She said that over the show's sesquidecade run, which continues, she had interviewed celebrities ranging from Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama and Sir Richard Attenborough to Tony Blair. She described herself as an energetic Welsh Tanzanian Indian, who was born in India and brought up in cosmopolitan East Africa. She said that she was multi-lingual and came to Britain in 1967 with her family where she initially worked in High Schools in the Midlands. She moved to Wales 25 years ago and said she was headhunted by the BBC in the late 1980s to launch her show, which is broadcast across Wales to the principalities 40,000 plus population of Asian origin. Since then she had won several Asian media awards, been awarded an MBE and seen the show shortlisted as Best Radio Entertainment along with Goodness Gracious Me. She said matters came to a head in the summer of 1999 when she was summonsed by a programme controller to a meeting where the show was allegedly denigrated. She said that she was "belittled and bullied" and told that the BBC was not in the business of running an Asian channel for a programme that had an audience of just 2,000. A tearful Mrs Jazani said: "I have been a victim of slow and subtle persecution, and I have been bullied on occasions by my male-dominated superiors who have behaved at times as though I was another example of an illiterate or unintelligent native of the Raj years. "In brief I have been a victim of unequal treatment, lack of commitment, promotion and career development, condescension, apathy, and marginalisation." Mrs Jasani said that BBC controller Geraint Davies also moved her live magazine style programme to the late night Sunday evening graveyard slot. "There had been no previous consultation or discussion about this planned move," she said. "When challenged he indicated that my programme was not serving any useful purpose and that he was not in the business of running an Asian channel. "According to him was just a niche output meant for more than 2000 listeners expected on a Sunday evening." She added that his inference was that Asian listeners are not interested in her show. "This was quite contrary to the view of many listeners who reacted very strongly to the change of schedule," she said. She added that she felt her popular programme was not given an earlier slot because BBC Wales did not want to upset Welsh listeners. Mrs Jasani also hit out at the BBC for marginalising her programme by failing to publicise it properly. She said she was never given more than one line in the Radio Times and her media profile was reduced further by the removal of her publicity portraits from the BBC Wales headquarters in Cardiff. She said the only occasion in the last decade her publicity portraits had been reinstated was during a visit by BBC former Director-General John Birt. "Then it suited the BBC to portray a multi-ethnic mix of broadcasters," she said. The tribunal continues tomorrow. ends (PA news Jul 9 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. I can confirm that the Voice of The People is continuing to be broadcast on 7310. Heard here at sign on 0330 7/12/2002 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###