DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-123, August 2, 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 #1142: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1142.html RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Thank you very much for your DX Listening Digest to help me to listen more radio stations in the world! (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 17870, R. Voice of Afghanistan, London, via Moosbrunn. was still heard July 19 at *1330-1340 in Pashto with 3 IDs: ``Radio Seda-ye Afghanistan``. 35333. But on July 29 and 30 at 1330- 1340 it was off the air (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. This morning I heard Radio Tirana on 9540 kHz, program in English. Today Radio Tirana has very good signal heard in here, first report the news and then report the Albanian Press Review, Political Party and Finance, etc. then playbacks, folk song (male and female duet) at 2142 UT. Every time when I hear the Radio Tirana English program during 2142-2147 UT, the station on 9545 has sent stronger RF carrier and to pitch or covers the signal of Radio Tirana and at 2155 UT, the station on 9545 kHz send 1 kHz tone strong signal, and then at 2158 UT I heard the announcement as "This is the Voice of America, Washington, D.C. signing on. So the last program after 2142 UT is easy to be heard clear! Sincerely Yours, Your reader (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan, Aug 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. COSAS QUE SOLO PASAN EN LA ARGENTINA Ayer conversaba telefónicamente con el queridísimo amigo y colega Norberto Pugliese quien, entre otras cosas, me contaba que en la ciudad de San Justo, ubicada a 20 minutos de viaje de aquí, comenzó a transmitir en pruebas desde hace unos días Megacanal (por supuesto, sin autorización), en el Canal 4. Lo curioso (en nuestro país poner "increible" sería casi una obviedad ya que nada lo es. Todo puede pasar) es que a escasos 4 km de esa localidad (San Justo), en Villa Madero, emite Sol TV (demás está decir que también opera sin autorización), también por el Canal 4, recibiéndose las 2 señales con interferencia recíproca (Arnaldo Slaen, Aug 2, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 6230, The Utility station VMC/VMW verified with e-mail QSL letter. They say they have been experiencing technical problems with VMW, however VMC is working well. More details about this station will be published later in SWN. V/S: Brendan McMahon, Bureau of Meteorology Service Policy Branch-Marine. Address: GPO Box 1289K, Melbourne 3001, Australia. E-mail: mcmahon@bom.gov.au (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW SOFTWARE KEEPS THE TALKBACK 'DOGS' OFF AIR TOM is on the air on Sydney radio station 2GB talking about his favourite topic: how much he really *really* doesn't like Prime Minister John Howard. More accurately, he's ranting, and he isn't easy to stop. "Let me finish, let me finish," he snaps as talkshow host Chris Smith tries to interpose a word into the flow.... The full story is available at: http://theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,4805249%255E7582,00.html (The Australian Aug 1 via Bill Westenhaver who added this note: I wonder how many stations use this software?) ** BIAFRA [non]. CLANDESTINE from GERMANY to NIGERIA. 12125, Voice of Biafra International, 1903-2000. English program, speeches for freedom of Biafra. Between 1945-1950 speech in vernacular language (Igbo). Transmissions only Saturdays from TDP transmitters. Excellent reception, 55444 (Nucio Ribas, Brasil, July 27, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. R. Independent Mekumui, presumed, 3850, fairly good in Pidgin around 1000 UT August 1 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Você sabia que a freqüência de 4805 kHz, da Rádio Difusora de Manaus (AM), está na ar desde a sua inauguração, em 24 de novembro de 1948? Esse e muitos outros detalhes estão no sítio da emissora, gentilmente indicado por Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé(AM). Acesse: http://www.difusoramanaus.com.br (Célio Romais, Brasil, Aug 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5990, R. Senado verified with QSL letter, but no data. V/S: Lourdes Maria Vieira Carneiro, Chefe da Administração. Address: Senado Federal, Anexo á, Bloco B, Térreo, 70165-900 Brasilia, DF, Brazil (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9675, 0628-, Radio Canção Nova, July 22. Excellent reception except for minimal splash from upper side with preaching in Portuguese by male. Brief announcement at 0629, and back into the same preaching. No parallels were noted (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. 5030. No data form letter QSL signed by Tahere Ouedraogo, Chef de Services des Programmes. Report in French sent to Boîte Postale 7029, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, via registered mail. Replied after 132 days (Nucio Ribas, Brasil, Cumbre DX August 2 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. NEW ZEALAND 9500, 1423-, Democratic Voice of Burma, July 27. S9+10 signal. Non-stop western music until 1427, then a few minutes of dead air, and into Burmese male vocal. Then another brief signature tune, and presumed sign-on announcement by YL just before 1430. 'Kilohertz' heard a number of times (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also MYANMAR ** CANADA. It's 6 PM eastern time here in Montreal on Thursday August 1 and 1610 is definitely back on the air here right now. Just tuned it in after reading your message. No confirmation yet as to whether this is just another test transmission (Sheldon Harvey, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CATALUNYA. HOLA, GLEN[N], SALUDOS DESDE ESPAÑA. ENVIO INFORMACION SOBRE RADIO LIBERTY- PLAYA DE PALS (Girona, Costa Brava). La IBB ha transferido las instalaciones a Radio Nacional de España (RNE). Pero al parecer NO van a ser utilizadas por la radio española, y el Gobierno español (propietario actual) tiene que decidir seguramente el desmantelamiento de la planta transmisora. Adjunto reportaje publicado en el periódico de Barcelona 'La Vanguardia'. Saludos desde España (FRANCISCO RUBIO CUBO, Editor MUNDO DX de la ASOCIACION DX BARCELONA, August 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ESTADOS UNIDOS DEVUELVE LAS INSTALACIONES DE RADIO LIBERTY DE PALS A RNE === LA VANGUARDIA - 05.03 horas - 01/08/2002 ANTONI F. SANDOVAL, Girona. El proceso para la definitiva desaparición de las gigantescas antenas de Radio Liberty de la playa de Pals (Baix Empordà) dio ayer un importante paso adelante. Con fecha de 31 de julio del 2002, el International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) formalizó de manera oficial y en nombre del Gobierno de Estados Unidos la cesión a Radio Nacional de España de "la emisora de la playa de Pals y de todas sus propiedades". Radio Liberty había dejado de emitir el 25 de mayo del 2001. Estados Unidos pone así fin a un periodo de 43 años de ocupación de los terrenos de la playa de Pals desde que en 1959 se iniciaran las emisiones de Radio Liberty dirigidas a los países del bloque comunista. En una nota hecha pública ayer por el consulado de Estados Unidos en Barcelona se señala que la emisora de Pals tuvo una historia "larga y sobresaliente" y desempeñó "un papel crítico a la hora de hacer llegar información objetiva a los habitantes de la antigua Unión Soviética". El Gobierno de Estados Unidos "agradece" los años de dedicación a todas aquellas personas que han trabajado en Pals y da las gracias al Gobierno, a la Generalitat y a RNE por su "inestimable colaboración para que la emisora pudiera cumplir su valiosa misión". La IBB tenía un contrato de arrendamiento de los terrenos que ocupaba Radio Liberty en Pals hasta el 2015 por el que pagaba cerca de un millón de dólares al año al Gobierno español. La directora de Radio Nacional de España, María Jesús Chao, confirmó la cesión de las instalaciones de Pals por parte de la oficina de radiodifusión internacional norteamericana, que vuelven así a ser de RNE. Sin embargo, Chao señaló que el organismo que dirige se "encargará sólo de vigilar esas instalaciones hasta que, lo antes posible, las cedamos nosotros también a Patrimonio del Estado, que es el propietario legal". Será a partir de ese momento cuando se pueda comenzar a plantear el desmantelamiento definitivo de las antenas, que ocupan más de un kilómetro y medio del frente de mar en la playa de Pals. La desaparición de esas instalaciones es una vieja reivindicación de grupos ecologistas, políticos y vecinos de la zona (Vanguardia Digital August 1 via Rubio, DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINESE SCHOLARS ISSUE DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INTERNET USERS | Text of faxed report entitled: "Eighteen Chinese scholars issue a "Declaration of Citizens' Rights for the Internet" to advocate Internet freedom" by Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on 29 July Today, 18 scholars including a famous economist and a film academy professor have entrusted our centre with publishing a "Declaration of Citizens' Rights for the Internet". This declaration has raised questions about the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" to be enforced on 1 August and asks the National People's Congress [NPC] to examine the constitutionality and legitimacy of this law. In this declaration, the 18 scholars including dissident literary critic Liu Xiaobo, economist Mao Yushi, Beijing Film Academy professor Hao Jian, historian Wu Si, and others expressed that (I) the "citizens' rights for the Internet" are part of the citizens' right to freedom as well a part of the civil rights stipulated by the "constitution," the "Declaration of Human Rights," and the "Human Rights Convention" and (II) the citizens' rights for the Internet should at least include 1) freedom of speech on the Internet: citizens have the right to set up web sites and web pages and express their views on Internet forums and should not be banned in advance but to react after the fact and the targets of the reaction are only limited to pornography, slander, violence, and other content; 2) the freedom of Internet information: netizens have the right to browse any Chinese or foreign web pages and any measures to block overseas web sites should be regarded as unlawful; 3) the freedom of Internet organizations: citizens have the right to set up Internet cafes and other Internet service organizations and the government should not establish a license system in this regard. Therefore, the declaration raises questions about these "provisional regulations" and asked the NPC and international human rights organizations to examine its constitutionality and legitimacy. The declaration maintains that the jurisdiction and legitimacy of the government over the Internet must be submitted to the NPC for a ruling to see whether it has violated the constitution or not, or be handed to the people as a whole for a discussion according to law. The declaration believes that the lessons of China's society in modern times have told us that we should never shut our door to the international community, especially at a time when China is confronted with the transformation to a modern society. [Preceding four grafs handwritten introduction provided by source] 29 July 2002 A DECLARATION OF CITIZENS' RIGHTS FOR THE INTERNET On the eve of the enforcement of the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" by the order of the State Press and Publications Administration and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Industries of the People's Republic of China (the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" was examined and approved at the 20th administration affairs meeting of the State Press and Publications Administration on 24 December 2001 and at the 10 ministerial affairs meeting of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Industries on 27 June 2002 and will be enforced from 1 August 2002), we, as Internet freelancers, personal web site managers, personages who are concerned with the Internet freedom, and Internet users, solemnly publish a "Declaration of Citizens' Rights for the Internet", so as to safeguard the legitimate rights of the PRC [People's Republic of China] citizens to use the Internet. We believe that the following principles are self-evident: I. The "citizens' rights for the Internet" belong to parts of the civil rights stipulated by the "PRC Constitution," the "Universal Declaration of Human rights of the United Nations," and the "Convention of Civil and Political Rights". II. The citizens' rights for the Internet should at least include the following: 1) the freedom of speech on the Internet: citizens have the right to set up web sites and web pages on the Internet, express their personal views on any open Internet forums not to be banned in advance but to react after the fact and the targets of the reaction are limited to "obvious and factual" slanders violating the freedom of speech on the Internet, pornography, and offensive and violent behaviour; 2) the freedom of Internet information: citizens have the rights to browse any Chinese or foreign web sites and web pages and exchange information through e-mail and Internet forums and any measures to block web sites and monitor, restrict, and undermine the above-mentioned personal exchange of information should be regarded as unlawful; and 3) the freedom of Internet organizations: citizens have the right to set up Internet cafes and other Internet service organizations and the government should not establish a license system in this regard. Therefore, we query the legality of the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" and suggest the legislative organizations of China and those international human rights organizations which China has joined examine the constitutionality and legitimacy of this law. We firmly believe that under the present circumstance it is necessary to submit the jurisdiction and legitimacy of the departments concerned of the Chinese government over Internet freedom to the NPC to rule whether it has violated the constitution or to the people as a whole for a discussion according to laws and regulations. We suggest that it has become unavoidable to formulate some laws and regulations according to laws to restrict the power of the government as well as its power to violate Internet freedom. Finally, we reemphasize that a modern government should be based on the right of individual freedom of speech, the right of organizing associations, the right of questioning government decisions, and the right of openly criticizing the government. Only by expressing free and uncensored views can cultural prosperity and political peace emerge in a society. Internet freedom is of a pioneering constructive significance to the progressive causes of mankind and China. One of the causes for the failure to transform China's society in modern times has been the policy of shutting our door to the international community followed by the government including an enforcement of a blockade on public communication between the peoples at home and abroad. Today, we have reasons to be on guard against the policy of shutting the door to the international community. A modern society should be an open society. At the historical juncture of the Chinese nation once again transforming itself from a traditional society to a modern society, any blockade measures are all unfavourable to China's society joining paths with the world and the peace and progress of China's society. The current situation has pressed us to once again enter into an era of responsibility. Every citizen and government should undertake its responsibility and it has become extremely urgent to safeguard Internet freedom. Ren Bumei, Wang Yi, Yu Jie, Yu Shicun, Chen Yongmiao, Wu Si, Liu Xiaobo, Shi Tao, She Daobin, Yang Xiaokai, Mao Yushi, Zhao Cheng, Hao Jian, Zhang Yishan, Mu Nong, Huang Ji, Xiao Shu, and Su Han 29 July 2002 The occupations of some people: Mao Yushi: a noted economist and founder of Tianze Economic Research Institute Hao Jian: a professor of Beijing Film Academy Wu Si: a historian and editor of a certain magazine Most of these 18 people are scholars, university teachers, editors, and so on. The initiator is Liu Xiaobo, telephone no 86-10-88511820 Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 29 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. R. Okapi: David Smith, late of UN HQ, is in fact now in the Congo and is the head of R. Okapi, and confirms that they will have three 10 kw Marconi SW transmitters working in September. He hasn't had time to sort out QSL-cards yet, but says he will (Jerry Berg, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Dear Friends, We are pleased to announce we can now receive donations over the internet safely and securely via PayPal. This will make it easier for you to help us. Simply go to our website at http://www.rfpi.org and there is a button on the top left hand side of the index page. In September 2002, RFPI will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary. The first 15 years have been full of challenges, however, we are working continuously to improve the station, its programs and projects. While we are implementing many new initiatives to make the station self- supporting, we still depend entirely on the generosity of our friends and listeners to keep operating. We are very cognizant of the fact that the world economy is in a downturn at this moment and our bank account mirrors this situation. Since September 11, 2001 many non- profit organizations have ceased operation for financial reasons and certainly we don't want to see RFPI suffer the same fate after we have made a difference in the world for 15 years. Your donation today will keep our vital work broadcasting worldwide on shortwave and the internet, researching, publishing, training, teaching, networking and promoting world peace going strong. Thank you in advance for your help. In Peace, Debra Latham P.S. If you don't want to use PayPal, the mail still works fine, too. The address is: RFPI, P.O. Box 1094, Eugene, OR 97440. -- Radio For Peace International, P.O. Box 88-6150, Santa Ana, Costa Rica, Central America PH: +506/249-1821 Fax: +506/249-1095 e-mail: info@rfpi.org * WWW: http://www.rfpi.org * ON-DEMAND REAL AUDIO: http://www.rfpi.org/webcast.html * LIVE STREAMING IN MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org available 2200 - 1400 UTC M - F, 24 hours Saturday/Sunday _______________________________________________ * Join our mailing list for weekly program previews, schedule and frequency updates and more: http://www.boinklabs.com/mailman/listinfo/rfpi-announce (RFPI via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. SECURITY GUARD STABBED OUTSIDE US RADIO STATION POLICE were yesterday investigating the claims of a security guard at the American radio station in Nicosia that he had been assaulted and stabbed by two unknown men. Charalambos Iakovou, 63, alleged that he had been stabbed by two men, possibly of Arab origin, while he was on guard duty outside the station in Makedonitissa. The assault, Iakovou claimed, took place at 2am, while he was near the station's entrance. The assailants who were hiding near the garbage storage pulled out a knife, injured him on the hands and abdomen, and then fled north, Iakovou said. He was treated in hospital and subsequently discharged. Police however were treating the incident with suspicion, especially after state pathologist Eleni Antoniou, who examined Iakovou after the incident, said that his wounds were too symmetrical to have been inflicted during a struggle. Nicosia Police Director Nikos Theodorides said that Iakovou's claims were puzzling. It is the second time Iakovou has reported that unknown individuals had approached the radio station. On January 17, he told police that while he was on guard at the station, individuals of Arab origin had attempted to enter the compound using a ladder (August 2 edition of the Cyprus Mail newspaper: http://www.cyprus-mail.com/August/2/news5.htm via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Previous story made clear this is an FBIS monitoring station, not a transmitting station (gh) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 4959.85, R. Villa, Santo Domingo, Jul 27, at 0315-0325 with Bachata music, but heavily disturbed by utility on 4960.4, 22332. Had been off since January 2002 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) 4960, Radio Cima, 0840-1000* Aug 2, "Radio Cima Cien" IDs and "Los Gigantes de la Marengue" slogan. Excellent signal, armchair level listening to nice bachata music. 0958 ID, anthem, jingle, and sign-off at 1000 (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When I checked website, the player would not work, and the flash introduxion was agonizingly slow (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Hi radiofolks, this is SWR of Finland... SWR is now ready to transmit... Are you ready to listen??? Very special and interesting first Saturday of August is just beginning.... So.... Ready.... Steady....Go...oooo! Time- and frequencytable (some changes might happen) for SWR's Saturday 3rd of August 2002 transmission. (So REMEMBER starting time is: 21 UT on FRIDAY 2nd): Time Time 48mb 25mb local UTC kHz kHz 00-01 21-22 6170 11690 01-02 22-23 5980 11720 02-03 23-24 5980 11690 03-08 00-05 5980 11720 08-11 05-08 6170 11690 11-18 08-15 6170 11720 18-19 15-16 5980 11720 19-22 16-19 6170 11690 22-23 19-20 6170 11720 23-24 20-21 5990 11690 You can either call or send SMS messages to direct Scandinavian Weekend Radio studio line 0400 995 559 (outside Finland +358 400 995 559) during transmission. To get more info you can visit our web-page: http://www.swradio.net And our e-mail address is: info@swradio.net Reception reports are higHly appreciated. Send them (with 2 Euros/IRC's/US-$'s) to: SWR Reports, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40321 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND. Brand new 2002-model T-Shirts available. We have just got new SWR T- shirts ready for sale! The shirts have new pictures and logos both in chest and back. The printing is black, but the shirts are colourful as ever. http://www.swradio.net/fin/myydaan.htm SWR EDXC2002 Radio 17th August 2002 Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat will have an extra transmission during EDXC-Conference arranged by FDXA. This European DX Council conference will be held in Pori, Western Finland. SWR will be an official radiostation of this meeting. Best Regards, DJ MadMan (Alpo Heinonen alpo.dx@pp.inet.fi August 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. 5765 and 13362, AFRTS, Barrigada was off the air on Jul 8 due to the heavy typhoon passing the island. On Jul 15 and 16 the station was back on the air again. English ID ``AFN``, news. 35443 heard // Hawaii 6350 (33533) (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, Estación Educativa Evangélica "Radio Verdad". Received a letter some weeks ago from Dr. Édgar Amilcar Madrid, Director and Manager for the station, in which he says that the station has been hit by lightning. That destroyed some parts of the transmitter and they are now running 270 watts. He is looking for power transistors for the transmitter and he has been in touch with Omnitronix in Italy and with the subsidiary firm in the US. He also found out that the electronic diagram, supplied with the transmitter, was not the correct one. Now he asks for reception reports to find out how the signal is with only half of the transmitter working. The address is: Estación Educativa Evangélica "Radio Verdad", 4a Ave. 2-24, zona 1, Apartado No. 5, Chiquimula, Guatemala, C.A. He also says that they soon will start a program in English, "Back to Jesus Broadcast", at 0415 UT every day (Claes Olsson, Sweden, Cumbre DX August 2 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9425, AIR Bangalore. During our local daytime they use relay of Delhi FM II. Then 1350-0050 it is program of National Channel which is different from the other SW channel of the Northern Service on e.g. 3223, 3365, 4860, 4880 and 4910. The National channel also uses 1566, 1215 etc. on MW and some FM (Jose Jacob, India, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. From The RSGB: 2 August 2002 With two weeks to go to this year's International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend, over 225 stations in 36 countries have registered their station and site. A full list can be found on the Internet, and there's a link from the RSGB's site at http://www.rsgb.org Please allow a couple of minutes for the data to download. The International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend takes place from 0001 UT on Saturday the 17th of August until 2359 on Sunday the 18th. The organiser, Mike Dalrymple, GM4SUC, asks that if you have registered your station you should check to ensure the details are correct. Any corrections can be sent by e-mail either to Mike: gm4suc@compuserve.com or to Kevin, VK2CE, who compiles the website. His address is vk2ce@amsat.org It is not mandatory to register, but if you wish to do so, there is still time. Again, contact either Mike or Kevin (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRELAND [and non]. LONGWAVE, GOODBBYE? Analysis by Andy Sennitt: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/longwave020802.html (via gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. This CNN story has also made the New York Times now. 73- Bill Westenhaver ISRAELI CABLE OUTLETS GET PERMISSION TO REMOVE CNN August 2, 2002 By JIM RUTENBERG Israel's cable television commission yesterday granted the country's cable providers permission to remove CNN International from their services. While none of the three Israeli cable companies - Matav, Golden Channels and Tevel - have done so, they have dangled that possibility in months of tough contract negotiations with CNN, a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner. The companies say the prices they have traditionally paid CNN, which neither side would disclose, are untenable now that they are facing financial difficulty. They recently began to offer their customers CNN's main competitor in the United States, Fox News Channel, a unit of the News Corporation, instead. The cable negotiations have taken place against a backdrop of loud complaints about CNN's coverage of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Government officials and activists have accused CNN of showing a bias toward the Palestinian side. (Palestinians have in turn complained that CNN shows a bias in favor of Israel.) Complaints from Israel hit a low note in June, when CNN's founder and former chief, Ted Turner, was quoted as likening both sides of the conflict to terrorists. CNN responded by dispatching top executives to the region to meet with government officials. They also met with Israeli reporters to restate the network's commitment to balanced coverage. An Israeli government official said yesterday that the commission's decision had nothing to do with CNN's coverage. Rather, he said, the government was giving the companies the freedom needed in their commercial dispute with CNN. "If it is a pure business decision, we should not interfere," the official said. CNN's contracts with the companies last through October. The network, based in Atlanta, said it was confident that it could reach an agreement by then. In a statement, CNN said, "Frankly, it is very hard to imagine that the Israeli cable operators, let alone their customers, will be willing to remove such a valuable source of information during this critical time in Israel's history." A CNN International executive said the network had shown a willingness to cut its prices. But Reuters quoted Ram Belinkov, the acting chief executive of Golden Channels, as saying: "We gave them a proposal of the maximum we are able to pay. If they meet it, we will not take them off. But so far it looks like they don't want to meet it." http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/02/business/media/02TUBE.html?ex=1029291424&ei=1&en=2d708c5a89b1cacd Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** JAPAN, 6055, 1357-, NSB Radio Tampa, July 27. Lovely signal from Japan this morning. Symphonic music until 1358:30, then sign-off announcements by YL in Japanese. Multiple ads. Parallels 3925 (poor), 9595 (good with minor splatter). Did not sign-off at 1400, but continued with a program called Korea Information (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZIA. Kyrgyz president accuses Radio Liberty of 'information terrorism' Wed Jul 31, 9:56 AM ET By ELENA LISTVENNAYA, Associated Press Writer BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has called Radio Liberty a threat to his Central Asian nation and accused it of "information terrorism," and a leading opposition activist said Wednesday that the U.S.-funded station's broadcasts were being jammed. Akayev's comments at a round table with opposition groups and independent media last Friday came after months of political turmoil in impoverished Kyrgyzstan - and while the country is hosting nearly 2,000 U.S. and other foreign troops for the anti-terrorist campaign in nearby Afghanistan. Commenting angrily on media coverage of bloody opposition protests in March, Akayev called Radio Liberty "one of the fundamental threats to democracy in Kyrgyzstan," and said its broadcasts were "tendentious and one-sided." He accused Radio Liberty and unnamed foreign news agencies of "information terrorism directed against Kyrgyzstan." Radio Liberty was one of the few media in Kyrgyzstan to cover opposition statements about the March protests, in which six demonstrators were killed in clashes with police. Most media only reported the government's side. A leading opposition party, Ar-Namys, independent newspaper Respublika and several human rights activists have formed a group to defend Radio Liberty in Kyrgyzstan, Topchubek Turgunaliev, an opposition leader and former presidential candidate, told reporters Wednesday. He said the station's broadcasts were being jammed in some regions, and that the group would start monitoring how often the programs are interrupted. Radio Liberty broadcasts five hours a day in the Kyrgyz language. The Kyrgyz government has denied any jamming. Radio Liberty's headquarters in Prague had no immediate comment on the jamming or Akayev's statement. "Only through Radio Liberty do people, especially in distant regions, receive reliable information about events in the country," Turgunaliev said. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, nonprofit corporation that receives funding from the U.S. government. It was established in 1949 to spread pro-Western news to countries behind the Iron Curtain and to promote democratic values and institutions. In May, Kyrgyzstan was named one of the 10 worst places in the world to work as a journalist by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The group said Akayev has been emboldened by the presence of U.S. troops and "used the threat of international terrorism" as an excuse to suppress independent media. In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan was known as an island of democratic and free market reform in a region of authoritarian states, but Akayev increasingly has cracked down on dissent in recent years. "The president discredited the country and himself in declaring freedom of speech then persecuting Radio Liberty," Turgunaliev said. (via Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX August 2 via DXLD) ** LIBYA. 15435, Radio Jamahirya-Voice of Africa, 2315-2338 July 27. Arabic vocals at tune-in, to Arabic text segments, interspersed with musical bridges to announcer`s extended script to 2329. "Jamahiya" audible twice. Possibly a national anthem for Arabic closedown, into English service news at 2330. Topics of interest on Africa and the Middle East. Additional ID at 2337, into Arabic newscript. "Voice of African" mentioned several times during brief English news (Gayle Van Horn, NC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MONACO [non]. /FRANCE. 216/702/1467 During my vacation in Southern France a month ago I passed the LW/MW transmitters at Roumoules near the border to Monaco. It is used by R Monte Carlo and Trans World Radio. If you are interested in seing some photos, please look at http://www.qsl.net/oz3yi/Roumoules.html (Erik Køie, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 6570, Defense Forces Station, July 27, *1330-1630*, is very active. I will be inserting an audio clip in my R. Korea International report this coming first Sunday (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) See also BURMA [non] ** MYANMAR. 5985.84, 1410-, Radio Myanmar, Jul 27. One of my favourite targets. Wonderful local music until 1415 followed by English program. A little too weak to make much out of the English, though. About an S5 signal (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. Nepal is dead on 5005 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Jul 27, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) 5005.10, Radio Nepal (tentative), Kumaltar, 1148-1201, July 28, Musical program (local folk music), 22342, (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Signal via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Election began on July 1 and lasted several days due to electricity problems. During the election many stations were heard with special programs with voting results from various provinces. Extended broadcasts until past 1500 were noted. All stations were heard except 3245 R Gulf, 3335 R East Sepik, 3345 R Northern and 3395 R Eastern Highlands. 4890, NBC, Port Moresby, July 1-7, *1900-2000*, now regularly relays R. Australia via satellite // 6080 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, 1342-, National Radio, Jul 27. Remarkable S9+10 reception. Late night radio program. 16 minutes until wind-down. Tok Pisin. At least 2 hours after sunrise here, on an otherwise poor morning propagationally. Lengthy sign-off at 1400 with announcements in English, and National Anthem (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To keep you informed, as to our latest test developments: We continue to operate on 15185 KHZ, with 5 Watts, and with improvements in the antenna and transmission system. We hope to augment the power, perhaps even today. Antenna is of 5/8-ths-wavelengths, omnidirectional, with 8.84 dBi of theoretical gain. The vertical take-off angles are 3 to 27 degrees. Tests also continue on 7300, with varying levels of power, and with many improvements. All transmissions on this frequency continue to beam toward 184 degrees, from Magnetic North. The primary target is Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. Antenna is a large Corner Reflector, having 25 dBi of gain. The active element is of 5/8-ths wavelength, with vertical take-off angles of 3 to 27 degrees. The frequency 1610 KHZ is also testing, with low power, and, especially, during the hours of darkness, local time. Antennas used vary between a 5/8-ths-wavelength tower (125 Metres tall) and a slanting-wire "Delta" antenna. The frequency 1480 KHZ is in permanent operation, using 1 KW of power, and feeding a quarter-wave tower. All DX Reports are most welcome. With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. All stations heard past weekend, in DX Camp Chascomus, with DXers Nicolas Eramo and Enrique Wembagher. [Please see:] http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=347 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 11885/15120/15270, R. Pilipinas, Tinang, July 13 and 14, *0200-0330*, Overseas Service with English, but still announced old 12015 instead of 11885. Taped program heard with strong signals (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. DZBF, Marikina City, Philippines, 1674 kHz: Just received a chatty e-mail confirmation from Sally A. Balagot, piod- @mozcom.com [truncated] for CD recording, brochure and US$1, sent to: 2/f Marikina City Hall, Shoe Ave., Bgy. Sta. Elena, Philippines 1800 (Paul Ormandy, NZ, August 2nd, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. In response to a message I sent many weeks ago, I have now received this, but, as usual, they don't give me an exact date, nor do I know why he's not a flight risk today when he was yesterday. (Was gonna flee to Switzerland or some such, as I recall.) Also, I heard that Brother Stair had the two dropped charges reinstated (by a grand jury) and has had two more charges added for a total now of six. Don't have much good details, though (Robert Arthur, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From: "Brother Stair" brotherstair@overcomerministry.com Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 10:39:20 -0400 Subject: RE: Out on bond.. Still wating for trial. (via Robert Arthur, August 2, 1439 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. A new update of Spanish MW Stations List was uploAded at: http://www.aer-dx.org/listas/eaenom.htm The list is compiled by Martín Estévez, ee@aer-dx.org, and edited by Pedro Sedano, editor@aer-dx.org; both are members of AER Asociación Española de Radioescucha (= Spanish Radiolistening Association) http://www.aer-dx.org The data of every station are: QRG, Name, Location, Network, kW, Observations (e.g., local broadcasts), Tx Location, QSL policy, Address, Tel. and Fax. There are 3 PDF files sorted by frequency, by location and by network and, forma now, a new Spanish map which includes all Spanish MW stations in GIF format. Changes inside this update: - New telephone numbers of many stations - New map in GIF format with all spanish MW station Till next one! -------------------------------------------------- Pedro Sedano, Madrid, Spain PSEDANOR@coitt.es editor@aer-dx.org ------------------------------------------------- AER http://www.aer-dx.org info@aer-dx.org (via hard-core-dx via DXLD) See also CATALUNYA ** SRI LANKA. The frequencies for the All Asia English Service at 0025-0430, 1230-1550 are: 6005 10 kW (Phillips transmitter) 9770 100 kW (Marconi from Radio SEAC 1949 running at 80 kW) 15425 35 kW (pushing out about 28 kW ex VOA Collins) I often listen to it because of the nice Oldies music of the 60s (which I love!) which the Anglo Indian Community in India appreciates very much and treats more or less as their home radio service. The Service to the Middle East/Gulf Area where there are many thousand Sri Lankans working, including my son-in-law and daughter, is at 1600-1900 on 11775 mainly in Sinhala via NHK 250 kW Kokosai transmitters (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** SURINAME. Ayer, visitando de casualidad el sitio de Radio Apintie, de Paramaribo en Internet, me entere que hoy, 02 de agosto, se celebra el 44 aniversario de la emisora, invitando a los escuchas a mandar sus congratulaciones por correo electronica a la emisora. La emisora esta en Internet en http://www.apintie.sr y lo mas importante es que puede ser escuchada esporadicamente en los 4990,9v, en la onda corta (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** U K. PUTTNAM IS RIGHT TO WANT BROADCASTING TO STAY BRITISH Blair's new 'openness' doesn't seem to apply to the communications bill [by] Jackie Ashley, Wednesday July 31, 2002, The Guardian Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It all seemed to be getting so much better. Look at Tony Blair's recent openness - the two press conferences, the evidence to the Commons committee, the declared opening up of the lobby system. It clearly "worked" for the government, in the sense that it produced no embarrassing stories and was widely welcomed. Now, of course, everyone is going around scratching their chins and declaring: "Hah, clever tactic. Speaking openly! Very sneaky." Honesty, or at least submitting yourself to lengthy public questioning, is seen as just the latest twist in the game, a tactical ploy of no greater merit. It was clear to those of us watching the performances that Blair's "honesty" did not mean opening the sluice gates of state information or revealing the innermost contents of his mental sock drawer. Again and again, charmingly, politely and firmly, he simply refused to answer questions: it wasn't the right time; you wouldn't expect me to tell you that, ho, ho; I'm sure the committee would understand if I didn't. Nevertheless, it was a start. Overall, the new approach is greatly to be welcomed, and not simply as a clever tactic. Apart from anything else, it reminds us of Blair's mastery of language, the mixture of theatrical charm and lawyerly cunning that explains why he still bestrides the political scene. The trouble is that this personal talent does not come alongside a commitment to real pluralism or openness. This week we are seeing the darker side of Blair, his instinct for striking private deals to advance his political agenda, even against the wider good. Parliament isn't sitting. Most MPs have gone away. Yet the government's response to the joint committee on the draft communications bill is one of the most important political decisions about power we've seen this year. Most media ownership issues are dizzyingly complicated, but this one is not. The committee, set up by the government under the chairmanship of Lord Puttnam, is deeply concerned about plurality in the British media, and does not believe that the proposed communications bill does enough to ensure it. The economic case for lifting restrictions on ownership has not been made, the committee argues. So, Rupert Murdoch should not be allowed to snaffle Channel 5 and break into British terrestrial television. Nor should other big US-based firms, such as AOL Time Warner or Disney, automatically be allowed to move in, bringing a further Americanisation of British television. Not only have the committee's recommendations already been leaked but, extraordinarily, even before they were published the government had made clear that Tony Blair will brush them aside. His personal sanction for overturning the committee is described by a Whitehall figure as "extremely rare". What's going on? No mystery there: my Lord Puttnam and friends came up with the wrong answer. Blair is ferociously pro-American and equally pro-Murdoch, whose newspaper empire delivered him electoral fruits so long denied to Neil Kinnock. Now he desperately needs something more from Murdoch: his grudging acquiescence (it will never be support) to help win a euro referendum next year. The early signs are not good. In an interview with the Financial Times last month, Murdoch made it clear that his opposition to the single currency is not softening, and that he will use every last column inch of his papers to further that view. But who doubts that the go-ahead for his terrestrial television ambitions could dent, or at least divert, his opposition to the euro? It's not cynical to say so - this is power politics in its rawest form, and neither Blair nor Murdoch has ever flinched from playing the game. It is often said that the hole at the heart of the Blair philosophy is democracy: any real commitment or concern about keeping alive a vigorous, dissenting, arguing country. Perhaps the prime minister understands this, an d this is why he has made efforts recently to take the Commons more seriously. But you can't have a lively democracy without plural media - in television and radio as much as in print. If government is for anything, it is for regulating to maintain that pluralism. And if tycoons are for anything, it is for doing their level best to achieve a monopoly, or near-monopoly. The worry about creeping Americanisation is connected. You might say that battle is lost, with the torrent of cartoons, sugar-sweet US teen drama and mainstream Fox and Disney fare already here. But both ITV and the BBC are still producing a hugely impressive quantity - not always quality - of alternative programming. If the Americans take over commercial television in this country, that will go. French, German and Italian companies do not pose the same threat: their programmes are in different languages and far less likely to wash into our culture. What is at stake is identity. The French subsidise their own film industry as a barrier to Hollywood. We British have given up on that and identify ourselves much more through television. What defines "Britain"? Its democracy, of course, and its mix of peoples; but also its news programmes, documentaries and social concerns, its soap operas, its crime shows, its dramas, its sport. That's what we talk about. That's what keeps us. The American media corporations which flood our imaginations through the cinema, the internet, music and much of television are not yet all-powerful, and that matters. Why don't the politicians get it? Perhaps a strange form of cultural elitism is to blame - West Wing-itis. The Washington and Boston-loving "preppy" boys around Whitehall adore the pinnacle of really good American programming, from ER to The West Wing. But they have little clue of how truly awful the other 98% is, the stuff that surges through cable and satellite channels here already. They see the worst of British programming, from Big Brother to Pop Idol, and think, what's so bad about the Americans? This is like leafing through a book of Michelangelo drawings and saying, hey, I think cartoons are much misunderstood. No, for central reasons of democracy, pluralism and maintaining British identity in a world that speaks American, the committee is absolutely right. Yes, of course winning the euro referendum matters. Yes, of course there are some rather good US television programmes. But nothing justifies surrendering the genuine pluralism of British broadcasting, or giving Murdoch an even tighter grip on the national agenda. This is not an arcane matter. It is the good guys and the bad guys. And the next time Tony Blair stands up to give one of his fluent, winning press conferences, in early September in Sedgefield, I hope he gets asked some very hard questions on this. And - even more - that he answers them (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Re 5 MHz band ham frequencies: Krasnoyarsk has been broadcasting on 5290 for years 20 hours a day with 50 kW which these authorities would know, if they switched on their receivers! But besides that, no other broadcasting station is using these five frequencies (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. On July 24 I received the following temporary QSL by e- mail on their tests July 13 and 19: ``Thank you so much for your recent detailed reception report concerning the 5935 kHz test transmissions of LaserRadio.net which I can confirm as being correct. We are still awaiting our QSL cards from the printer and will certainly send you a card ASAP (maybe another 3 weeks!). This Sunday 28th July is our final Test on 5935 kHz. We are holding a board meeting next Monday to decide whether to continue from Ulbroka. If we do continue, we would hope to start regular broadcasts every Sunday from 1600 to 2200 UT with programmes of good music and items of interest to swl's, dx-ers and Amateur radio hobbyists. Thank you again for your report and interest in our project. Regards, Andrew Yeates, Managing Director, LaserRadio.net http://www.laserradio.net (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi, some explain of an Egyptian national, 73 wolfgang DF5SX VoA Arabic service, called SAWA. Dear Wolfie, well, as a matter of fact, I'm really surprised that those guys are digging so deep to get the meaning of the word. HI! SAWA is a slangish word for together ... in the original Arabic language called FUS'HA the meaning of together would be MA'AN. I was really surprised also that VOA did choose such a name for the radio station, but as I said before as long as the target is the teens ... then what else would be better that slangish Arabic :-) yours (TAREK ZEIDAN, SU1TZ, Cairo, Egypt via BC-DX Aug 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB has updated their website and is giving out a new email address- dfrantz@tennessee.com (Hans Johnson, WY, July 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. [via WWRB]. The American Dissident Voice program is continuing in the wake of William Pierce's death. This week was a replay of an old Pierce speech, but as of next week, Kevin Alfred Strom will be the speaker. This per the National Alliance website. (Hans Johnson, WY, July 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. After speaking with a local engineer, I've found that after their move from 1360 to 1370, WWLG is running daytime only with 21,000 watts beamed east from the new six-tower straight line array in Edgewood, 10 miles east of Baltimore. Here's where it gets screwy: They are co-owned with WCBM, 680 AM. The WCBM site was just west of the Baltimore beltway off 795 in Owings Mills. Those old 1940's self supporting towers (4) have been taken down and were seen in a local steel scrapyard near one of our AM sites! WCBM is now supposedly on the air from their new site. I'm not sure where it is; originally it was supposed to be north of Baltimore near Sparks (appropriate!) with 50kw day/20kw night. They were 10kw/5kw. But 100000watts.com shows the new site not far from the old one west of Baltimore. Obviously, they're on from a new site somewhere because the old sticks are gone! Not sure of power yet, either. But, there is now a new night site to be built for WWLG 1370 with 6 kw on the old WCBM site in Owings Mills! Seems like a helluva lot of trouble for two underperforming AM stations. And as I said before, the new daytime 1370 signal is not good; they have to protect 3rd adjacent WWIN on 1400 in Baltimore, so obviously those six towers are there to block the 21,000 watts from roaring into Baltimore. I'm just not seeing much sense out of their reasoning on this one. 73 and good DX! (Bruce WB3HVV Colllier, Aug 2, God Bless America! IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Friday, 08/02/02 | Middle Tennessee News & Information COURT SAYS TOWER ILLEGALLY ZONED; NEIGHBORS CONSIDER RULING A VICTORY P. CASEY DALEY / STAFF [caption:] David Crockett leans against the fence of his Rutherford County farm, 8 feet from a guy wire of a radio tower on land that the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled is improperly zoned. Crockett estimates that he's spent more than $200,000 fighting the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, which owns and operates the tower. _____Related map_____ by SCHERI SMITH Staff Writer The sound of Christian radio may be different now that the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that a 500-foot radio tower in Rutherford County was illegally spot-zoned. The tower, owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, was built on 3 acres near Eagleville, Tenn., in 1997. Ever since, a group of neighbors, spearheaded by David Crockett, has been battling the tower's existence. ''I've been through so much with these people,'' said Crockett, who bought his farm in 1992. ''I just can't wait for the day that the tower comes down.'' Last week the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that the Rutherford County Commission's decision to rezone 3 acres on a private farm had elements of ''arbitrariness and capriciousness'' that amounted to spot zoning. Spot zoning is the practice of rezoning a small section of land to benefit one person. It is prohibited by Tennessee law. John Davis, director of the county planning commission, would not comment on the issue. County attorney Darrell Scarlett was unavailable for comment. The tower, which was built on Glenna Williams' land, broadcasts Christian programming for Smyrna station WFCM-FM 91.7. The institute pays Williams $500 a month for the use of her property. There is also an unrelated 300-foot tower on her farm. Williams, who said she did not know about the appellate court decision, would not comment. Heidy Hartley, spokeswoman for the institute, said it was ''disappointed with the decision. It is now investigating options for moving forward.'' The institute has 60 days to ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to review the case. But Crockett's attorneys, Joseph Woodruff and Charles Williamson of Nashville, said the state Supreme Court probably would not review the case. ''Even if they did that, it has been conclusively established that Rutherford County engaged in spot zoning,'' Woodruff said. ''Spot zoning is against the law because it's a way to put a brake on the power of the zoning authorities so they don't run wild.'' Crockett says he can see the tower from almost every vantage point on his 600-acre horse farm. He first filed a lawsuit in 1996 to try to stop construction of the tower, but that injunction was denied. Then in 1999 he and his lawyer took the case to Rutherford County Chancery Court, where Chancellor Bob Corlew referred the decision back to the Rutherford County Commission. It wasn't until last week that Crockett felt any sense of victory. He estimates he has spent more than $200,000 fighting the institute. ''My neighbors are behind me, but I didn't expect them to shell out,'' Crockett said. ''They've done the best they can do.'' The tower, which stands on a hill with an elevation of 500 feet, has 16 grounding wires that help stabilize it. Some of the wires are grounded right at Crockett's property line. Crockett says they've acted as ''lightning rods,'' causing water pumps and breaker boxes to burn out on his property. Woodruff said the whole ordeal had taken a toll on a lot of people. ''It's been a long and difficult process,'' he said. ''But Mr. Crockett was willing to take it, because he and his neighbors had not been treated properly by the zoning process.'' Scheri Smith covers Rutherford County for The Tennessean (via DXLD) ** U S A. HOLY MOTHER WITH A MEDIA EMPIRE (Filed: 02/08/2002) A television network started by command of the Archangel Michael is heading this way, reports David Rennie She is, some say, the most powerful nun on earth. Her no-nonsense religious homilies reach 75 million homes worldwide, on a television network that she founded herself starting with $200, a borrowed garage and a command from the Archangel Michael. You probably have not heard of Mother Angelica, a 79-year-old Franciscan nun, or of her Catholic media empire, the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). But now, the least likely media mogul in history is spreading her wings and aiming for Britain with her uncompromising message of piety, family values and strict obedience to papal teachings. Although British viewers can access EWTN via a German satellite, the network is keen to break into the mainstream market. Currently, it does not have the £500,000 a year needed to buy a slot on Sky's British satellite line-up, but the network's chiefs are unfazed. In 21 years of operations, they have never had enough money for any of their expansion plans. Yet, in the end, the cash has always turned up (EWTN has become a major force among Catholics in North and South America, Africa and the Pacific Rim.) It is, they say with grave certainty, the Lord's will. Staff at EWTN casually talk of miracles as a daily presence. But you do not have to believe in them to acknowledge that something remarkable has been built at their headquarters in Irondale, a sleepy suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama is not Catholic country - it is the Deep South, a land of clapboard Baptist churches, pick-up trucks with gun racks, and large men in dungarees. Yet Mother Angelica, born in Ohio to a family of Italian immigrants, moved there in 1962 after promising God that she would found "a monastery in the south", if He would ensure the success of a risky spinal operation, needed after an accident with an industrial cleaner. After 21 years of constant expansion, the site of her first monastery is home to a state-of-the art media campus, with satellite dishes, a printing press, 24-hour-a-day television and internet operations, together with coachloads of adoring "pilgrims", as studio audience members are known. The network broadcasts television in English and Spanish, on five satellites, and over cable. Its radio programmes are made available, via satellite, to AM/FM stations across America, and by short wave worldwide. Its internet site carries streaming audio and video, religious commentaries and digital archives - from papal encyclicals to the teachings of St Thomas Aquinas. There is no advertising, and the network has never commissioned a ratings survey - nor does it intend to start. Its programmes include daily Masses, theological talk shows, biblical dramas, lavish coverage of the Pope's world travels, and cartoons depicting the lives of the saints. The most popular shows are live call-ins, including The Journey Home, a show about lapsed Catholics returning to the church. Mother Angelica herself has been off air for six months, following a stroke. According to notices sent in by viewers, 356,000 rosaries have been offered to date for her return to the airwaves; 233,000 Holy Communions; 59,000 novenas and 687,000 Lord's Prayers. In 1999, Mother Angelica moved her 38 nuns to a new monastery, away from the noise and hubbub of the television network. Following a vision from the infant Jesus, she built an exact replica of a 13th century Italian monastery and church in the rolling green Alabama hills - its fine marble and stonework paid for by anonymous donations from five families. She recently built a small medieval castle next door, to encourage pilgrims to become knights for the faith. Yet neither the monastery nor the media centre are theme parks. The atmosphere is reverent: the nuns are strictly cloistered behind 13- foot walls, and may only be interviewed through an iron grille. This is not the world of America's "televangelists" - all big hair, stretched Cadillacs and brows glistening with sweat, as they order viewers to give, give, give. EWTN is firmly part of the Catholic hierarchy. Its presenters are priests, loaned to the station by their bishops. The floor managers are young Franciscan brothers, swishing around the set in brown robes. The network even has a resident theologian, who vets all programming to check that it is in accordance with Vatican teaching. Mother Angelica is a Franciscan abbess, under the authority of Rome. EWTN has no business plan, and no cash reserves, and has never made a profit. It relies wholly on donations and Mother Angelica allows only minimal fund-raising. At the end of programmes, presenters say: "Remember us between your gas bill and the electric bill." A self-confessed technical innocent, Mother Angelica has embraced multi-media technology, emerging from her contemplative seclusion to attend cable conventions and lobby businessmen, her wimple and robes keeping her safe amid the porn merchants and cable sharks. She appreciates the irony of the strange company that her network keeps, says Michael Warsaw, EWTN's president. "She once said: 'You know, we're on satellite, on cable and the internet - wherever you find filth, we're there, providing an alternative.' " This has been a bleak year for the American Catholic church, as it has emerged that church leaders shielded scores of paedophile priests for many years. EWTN has come out fighting, attacking liberal teachings with even greater zeal than before, and arguing for strict obedience to the laws of priestly celibacy. EWTN's chairman and CEO, "Deacon Bill" Steltemeier, believes that the horrors of the past 12 months - from the paedophile scandal to September 11 - are a warning from God. Such views have made EWTN, and Mother Angelica, loathed by church liberals. A few years ago, the liberal Archbishop of Milwaukee, Rembert Weakland, engaged in a public slanging match with the television nun. The trigger was a pageant staged during a papal visit to America, in which a woman played Jesus. Mother Angelica told her flock this was "blasphemy". Archbishop Weakland called her attack: "disgraceful, un- Christian and offensive". This May, Archbishop Weakland took early retirement, after acknowledging he had paid a young man £300,000, to settle a sexual abuse claim. Priests visiting EWTN this week were not afraid to draw a lesson from the archbishop's fate. Rev Tom Griffin, from Chicago, explained: "Bishop Weakland didn't have a lot of time for Mother Angelica's theology. But she's still here - and he's gone." http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/08/02/nmed02.xml © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. INTERNET RADIO STATIONS GO UNDERGROUND By Dale Tournemille, CTV News Staff Iain McLeod is mad as hell and he isn't going to take it anymore. "I never did like bullies," McLeod says from his home in Warrington, England, where for the past few months he's worked in secret to create software called Streamer that allows anyone to anonymously run their own Internet radio station. The free software has become a rallying point and McLeod a figurehead for pirate radio on the Internet in a looming war over copyright and royalties. "Let's start a broadcasting revolution!" says McLeod.... http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020731/tech_column_netradio_020731/Specials/story/ 73's (via Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. A useful news portal is http://www.inboxrobot.com because it searches for words in headlines. Use it to search on radio and you will see several recent stories about this or that Web radio station shutting down or threatened with shutdown (Kim Elliott, DC, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. BC-PA--Anarchy Radio, Bjt,760 WEST PHILLY GRASSROOTS RADIO STATION AMONG DOZENS NATIONWIDE By CATHERINE LUCEY Associated Press Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Broadcasting from a tiny room in a decaying Victorian house in West Philadelphia, disc jockeys play punk, pop and old jazz records and expound on issues like the death penalty, religious freedom and sexual health. You're listening to Radio Volta. Anarchy is on the air. "We think it's a very dangerous future for us if ordinary citizens don't report," said Pete Tredish, 32, a former radio rebel who uses his pirate pseudonym. Part of a nationally growing grassroots media movement, Radio Volta was founded by political activists -- some of them former radio pirates and some who identify themselves as anarchists. The station, named for the female 19th century anarchist Voltairine de Cleyre, is streamed online and on a community station at night. "It's better than a bullhorn," said DJ Diane Imelda Fleming. "There's sort of a crackdown on protest. This is a nice complement." For several years these anti-mainstream media warriors have been scrambling around the streets with tape recorders, posting online and broadcasting to anyone who will listen. They set up battle stations at the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in 1998 and the 2000 Democratic and Republican conventions. After broadcasting online during the Republican Convention in Philadelphia, this group is still going. Today the station has about 30 staffers and broadcasts seven nights a week. "We were out on the streets covering protesters, taping speeches," said Fleming, 37. "We realized we had a great thing going." The founding principle is that this is radio by the people, for the people. No one is a trained journalist and many have day jobs. There is no boss and no hierarchy at the station. They invite anyone with a story to tell it. "One of our primary interests is getting the average everyday person who would typically sit at home and watch the news," said Anthony Mazza, who works on the news show. "Anybody can cover an event in their area." The tiny studio has pink walls, cramped shelves full of records and antique-looking stereos and radio equipment crammed in the corner. Most of the technical pieces were donated or found. Under the name Mediatrix, which she says means conduit, Fleming broadcasts Thursday nights, playing old Ray Charles and T. Rex records and talking about birth control and women's sexual issues. With her biker boots, leopard-print top and layered hair reminiscent of the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, she looks like a rock 'n' roller as she speaks slowly into the mic. Tonight Nicole Miller birth-control pill cases and family planning funding abroad are on the agenda. "The media should be used to educate people," she said. "There's a lot of things people need to know." She says the music is just fun. "Most of us are record collectors," she said. "We play things you'll never hear on regular radio, because they're not on these very small playlists." Other shows on the station discuss general news, religion, social justice and abortion. Tredish, who owns the house and also works on the Prometheus Radio Project, which campaigns for greater radio access for community members, said independent radio is vital. "We have a media that is getting down to a point that the vast amount of media is owned by six multinational conglomerates," he said. Amanda Bellerby who discusses independent media during a show called The Indy Hour for a community station in Mendicino, Calif., said "by using this people's media system, anybody is able to create their own media." Bellerby said the independent media movement first started in Seattle. A makeshift-newsroom was set up and audio and video news reports were streamed online. "We noticed that nobody was talking about any of the issues," she said. Since Seattle and the 2000 political conventions, about 170 independent media centers have opened around the country, she said. While Volta, the radio branch of Philadelphia's Independent Media Center, would like to move to larger quarters, the group remains camped out in the tiny studio, DJs championing their causes. They have little idea if anyone out there is listening, but say what they're doing is important. "Most people think it's a dead medium," says Tredish. "We gave it CPR," Fleming retorts. ------ On the Net: Radio Volta: http://www.radiovolta.org Independent Media Center: http://radio.indymedia.org AP-NY-08-01-02 1454EDT (via David R. Alpert, DXLD) ** U S A. BAD NEWS --- RATINGS ARE PLUNGING, STAFFERS ARE LEAVING. WHAT'S GOING ON AT CHANNEL 4? --- By Matt Pulle Not long after the Meredith Corp. bought WSMV-Channel 4 in 1995, the Iowa-based company decided to renovate the station's Knob Hill offices. At the time, Channel 4 enjoyed a nationwide reputation for blending winning ratings with serious and award-winning journalism. Proud of its stature, the station had decorated its hallways with the many trophies and plaques it had won over the years. But when Meredith officials began redecorating, they decided they didn't like all the clutter. And so they chucked all the awards into the parking lot Dumpster. "Staffers were distraught as they pulled out all the station's hard- earned awards from the trash," says Lorraine Grula, who began working at the station in 1982 in the special projects unit and just recently resigned. "Things just began to change when Meredith took over." Nashville's oldest television station, Channel 4 is in the midst of one of the gloomiest periods in its long and distinguished history. In May, during the all-important sweeps period, the station lost to its longtime rival WTVF-Channel 5 in every single time slot. And while the July sweeps aren't as important, they do seem to signify a trend. At press time, it looked like WTVF-Channel 5 would again sweep every newscast. So it's no fluke. Channel 4 is an also-ran station. "I think we had a plan to dominate in this market, but I'm surprised that it happened so quickly," says Channel 5 news director Mike Cutler. Making matters worse, the onetime standard bearer in broadcast journalism has revamped its reporting over the last year, focusing on shorter and more sensational stories. Channel 4 even filmed a live burglary as a part of a weeklong series that featured a former thief- turned-consultant telling viewers the tricks of his past trade. That piece won't win Channel 4 any trophies for the trash. In the wake of a ratings plunge, morale has sunk while Channel 4 has watched nearly 15 employees depart over the last year. Here are just a few: Two weeks ago, Channel 4's general manager, Frank DeTillio, resigned under pressure after seven years on the job. Longtime anchor Sharon Puckett, who had worked for the station for 28 years, abruptly left earlier this month. Jackie Pillars, Channel 4's special events producer whom one former reporter characterizes as the "lifeblood of the station," resigned last week after telling The Tennessean that she didn't feel appreciated. She had logged almost 20 years at the station. And reporter Dorinda Carter quit Channel 4 last week to work for rival WKRN-Channel 2, a jump that would have been viewed as a questionable career move just one year ago. "There are some people at Channel 4 who are still very happy, but there are a lot of people who don't like everything that's happening and I think those people are praying for a miracle," says Carter, who began her career at Channel 4 six years ago. "I think I'm going to be able to go over to Channel 2 and do the best work of my career there." In the 1980s and early '90s, Channel 4 was a remarkable station, airing long, complex stories on the 6 p.m. news while delving into other issues ranging from philosophy to education with the kind of depth and precision rarely seen on television. "Ten years ago, we'd do at least one piece during the 6 o'clock news that ran five minutes or more," says attorney Tom Lee, who worked at Channel 4 from 1989 to 1992. "It might be a consumer investigation, political piece or environmental story. Every night there was a chance to learn about something in extraordinary depth." While Meredith has run Channel 4 for nearly seven years, only recently has the station management come under fire. With 10 other stations under its wing and a vast print business--Meredith publishes 16 magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens--the 100-year-old company gave Channel 4 a measure of autonomy. But all that began to change last November, when Meredith brought in the brash, swash- buckling Kevin O'Brien to run Meredith's broadcasting division. In just eight months, under O'Brien, five of the company's 11 general managers have resigned, including Channel 4's DeTillio. Six news directors have also left under O'Brien's watch, and the chatter among Channel 4 reporters is that their boss, Mark Schafer, may be next if ratings continue to head south. Although O'Brien works from Las Vegas, he watches many Channel 4 newscasts from his computer. O'Brien, who's in his mid-50s, has visited the station at least three times and has not exactly endeared himself to Channel 4's rank and file. In fact, at one meeting about how to improve ratings, Lorraine Grula says he told staffers that "journalism doesn't work." In a subsequent meeting, O'Brien denied uttering such newsroom blasphemy, but few staffers believe that he's committed to quality journalism. O'Brien even said as much at a recent meeting, when he reportedly told staff that anybody interested in doing quality, long-form journalism should go work for PBS. "He can be very much of a bully," Grula says. "At one point, he told the staff that he wanted everybody to be happy. Then he turns around and says that everybody here is lazy and needs to work harder and that it's our fault that the station's in trouble. Then he says he can't understand why morale is down." "He's fiery--he's like a drill sergeant," says Carter, who witnessed O'Brien in action during two staff meetings. "And his bottom line is that he wants to make money, and that's the most important thing for him." O'Brien could not be reached for comment, but Jody Judge, a spokesman for Meredith, says that O'Brien was recruited to resuscitate the company's flagging broadcast division. "Kevin O'Brien's goal is to come in and increase the profitability of Meredith," Judge says. "Some of the changes that have been made are directly attributable to that goal," he says. "Anytime you implement change, you'll have people who accept it and people who resist it." Long before O'Brien arrived, Channel 4 had begun to stray from its impressive traditions. In fact, under news director J.T. Thompson, now departed, Channel 4 began airing the kinds of sleazy sweeps stories that were formerly anathema to the once proud station. Under O'Brien's watch, the station is not as lowbrow, but it's still a shell of its former self. One of O'Brien's mandates, staffers say, is that, stories as a rule should rarely exceed one minute and 15 seconds. Complaining incessantly about newscasts being boring, O'Brien demands that there be high story counts, but that encourages cursory reporting on simple issues. Watching a typical Channel 4 newscast offers the evidence. The anchors nearly have to speed-read to get through all the stories. And an abundance of gloom-and-doom pieces gives viewers the impression that Nashville is on the verge of the apocalypse. In fact, in a recent newscast, Channel 4 aired four grim stories in a row, the first two on local car crashes, the last two on fires. Not long ago, Channel 4 would have scoffed at such story selection. "You don't want to turn on the news every day and see that your city is a crummy place to live, but that's the way it's coming across," one frustrated staffer says. "O'Brien's theory is that death, destruction and mayhem will lead the newscast." Other contributions from O'Brien include a heavy emphasis on live shots and props. During the recent state budget debates, reporters would be live at Legislative Plaza during the 10 p.m. newscast, even though all the characters who helped make the site a colorful place during the day had long since gone home. In addition, reporters always seem like they have to be holding a door, picking up a sign or moving something with their hands. (If you mute a typical Channel 4 newscast, it looks like the reporters are playing a game of charades.) "It's a stretch to have a meaningful demonstration that really adds to the story every night," says longtime anchor Demetria Kalodimos. And having a crew report live from an empty building just to add another live shot is not always a wise use of resources, she adds. "The emphasis on live shots unfortunately squanders the ability of our photo staff, which is probably the strongest it has been since I've been here," Kalodimos says. "We have some of the finest photojournalists in the country, but it's tough if they have to put together a live shot instead of putting a whole story together with pictures." Judge says that O'Brien's approach to journalism is, if anything, scientific. "We've done a lot of research at our different markets on what our viewers want," he says. Most media critics, however, view market research as the bane of journalism, turning media outlets into followers of public opinion rather than independent purveyors of information. Channel 4's more experienced hands especially dismiss that kind of convenience-store approach. "For better or worse, research and focus groups carry a lot of clout with our owners in how we do news," says veteran anchor Dan Miller. "Personally, I put very little stock in having people tell us what kind of news they'd like to see before it even happens. I seriously doubt that anyone said, on Sept. 10, that we should present more coverage of terrorists who fly planes into big American buildings." Kalodimos also scoffs at the station's heavy emphasis on shorter stories. "How do you explain the proliferation of 20/20s, Datelines and other magazine-style journalism shows where very often the stories approach five minutes?" she says. "The attention spans are there, the ratings are there and, while I'm not saying that it's all grand journalism, it's certainly longer form than one-minute stories." While O'Brien remains a resoundingly unpopular figure in the Channel 4 newsroom, station news director Mark Schafer cuts a more complicated reputation. Some staffers say that while Schafer has sound journalistic instincts, his management skills are suspect. That's an especially crippling flaw when you preside over a crew of reporters and anchors--a group not known for humility. "Schafer may be a respected journalist and a wonderful investigative reporter, but his leadership ability and people skills are terrible," reads one post on the industry Web site tvspy.com. "Schafer's reputation is that he is a really nice guy and a big thinker, but that he can't lead on a day-to-day basis," says a staffer at a competing station. "He's a very good journalist. I just don't think he's right for the job." Schafer declined to comment for this story. But one staffer says that while the station has struggled since Schafer took the reigns just a year ago, don't blame the bad news on him. "Mark is powerless," one reporter says. "Nobody should be blaming him right now; he's just a pawn." Kalodimos, for one, says that Schafer can lead Channel 4 out of its current doldrums. "I've known Mark for 18 years, and I respect him a great deal because he has done everything in this business," she says. "If he is allowed to follow his own vision, we're in great hands." For now, however, Channel 4's immediate future looks bleak. The station still boasts popular anchors and hardworking reporters, but it has nevertheless hemorrhaged top talent over the last few weeks that will be difficult to replace. And another thing is undisputed: O'Brien's formula isn't working. His fondness for live shots, props and short, sensational stories has continued Channel 4's ratings slump. Dan Miller says that, while he personally hasn't noticed any change in newsroom morale, the station isn't accustomed to being second-best. And the spate of defections hasn't helped matters. "When people are fired or resign, especially a high-profile veteran like Sharon Puckett or the general manager, it causes apprehension or even sadness," he says. "But on the other hand, there's a sense of rallying among many of the people still here." Kalodimos says that Channel 4 can return to its high-flying days, but only if it stops trying to be something it's not. "If we get in comfortable clothing again, we'll do our best," she says. "It' about being sincere, letting some of the humanness show and bringing personality back to the newscast. Currently the story count is so high that you can barely have an aside if a story is funny. And believe it or not, those are the things that endear you to viewers." All content is © 1995-2002 Nashville Scene unless otherwise noted (via DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. 13765 and 15235, Vatican R., July 28, 1330-1530. I was listening to a direct relay of the 17th International Youth Convention in Toronto where my son is also camping out attending it. 800,000 estimated attending. Nothing on the TV, CNN, etc, so this is the only way for me. Reception was very good and excellent on my R71 with the Cushcraft Log Periodic beamed to Vatican City! No way that I could spend more than 2 hours on the Internet paying per minute for the telephone, where they announced they also were with a live webcast. The broadcast to S Asia is being retimed from Aug 1 to 1430- 1600 on 12065 Tashkent, 13765/15235 from Santa Maria di Galeria (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ###