DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-111, July 22, 2004 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2004 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1239: Thu 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 4-hourly [maybe] Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 0200 on ACBRadio Mainstream repeated 2-hourly [see below] http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.html Fri 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Fri 2300 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sat 0800 on WRN1 to Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific Sat 0855 on WNQM Nashville 1300 Sat 1030 on WWCR 5070 Sat 1830 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, webcast http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2000 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly Sat 2030 on WWCR 12160 Sat 2030 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sat 2030 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sat 2300 on RFPI http://www.rfpi.org repeated 8-hourly Sun 0230 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0300 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0630 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1000 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 1100 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1500 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Sun 1900 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 Sun 2000 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0100 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0230 on WRMI 7385 [NEW] Mon 0330 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [previous 1238] Mon 0430 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Mon 0900 on R. Lavalamp http://www.radiolavalamp.org Mon 1600 on WBCQ after-hours http://wbcq.com repeated weekdaily Wed 0930 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1239 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1239h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1239h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1239.html [soon] WORLD OF RADIO 1239 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1239.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1239.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1239 in the true SW sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_07-21-04.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_07-21-04.mp3 WORLD OF RADIO ON WRMI From July 26, UT Mondays at 0230 on 7385, which will probably change to a new frequency by the following week. See USA below (gh) WORLD OF RADIO ON ACB RADIO Thanks to Chrissie, in the UK, who has a show on ACB Radio for inviting WORLD OF RADIO on that Internet station. From July 23, WOR will be appearing on the ACB Radio Mainstream at 0200 UT and repeated every two hours for the rest of UT Fridays. The Mainstream has a two hour block of programmes which are changed every 24 hours, as opposed to the other streams which have a continuous programme format. Home page of ACB Radio: http://www.acbradio.org Mainstream page audio links: http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.html WM link: http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.wax WINAMP: http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.pls Real: http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.ram The other streams are the Treasure Trove (Old radio shows of the 1940s and 1950s and occasionally later ones), the Cafe, which features only blind and visually impaired musicians, and the Interactive stream which features DJs from all over the world. Catch the Chrissie On Air weekly show on ACB Radio Interactive, http://www.interactive.acbradio.org every Tuesday at 2100-2300 UT. There is a detailed program schedule for the Interactive stream, but apparently not for Mainstream (gh) Dear Glenn, This is great, I'll check out WOR to see how well it executes. If you plan to talk about this on WOR, you should point out that ACB radio is available to anyone, not just blind people. You might also like to investigate the ACB radio tuner. I think it is available on their web site. I don't know how to download it, someone did it for me, but the tuner allows you to switch among the four channels by simply doing alt-F4 to close one channel and then using the right or left arrow keys plus enter to go to another channel, very handy (Tim Hendel, AL, July 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our new yg. Here`s where to sign up. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ (Glenn Hauser, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. Seasonal schedule valid July 25, 2004 to August 29, 2004: UTC kHz Language 0800 11765 English 0900 11765 Russian 1000 11765 Mandarin 1100 9795 Russian 1200 11765 Mandarin 1300 11870 English 1400 11870 Mandarin 1500 9615 Mandarin 1600 9615 Mandarin 1700 9615 Russian (KNLS schedule at the web modified on 8. June 2004, via JKB, WWDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non?] 4750, 2154 unID and presumed mixing product from Christian Voice or RA on 9500 kHz, heard with talk in Indonesian but modulation sounded like a mixing product (Stu Forsyth, Steven Greenyer and Paul Ormandy braved the wintry weather (actually, the weather was pretty good for mid-Winter!) to spend two nights at Waianakarua, New Zealand, exact dates not given, but around Solstice, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) 4750 would be a semi-harmonic of 9500, not a mixing product; could it not be paralleled to 9500 to be sure? Or could it have been this??:: (gh, DXLD) 4749.92, RRI-Makassar July 15, 1057-1110, 32332 Indonesian, ID at 1057. 1058 with IS. Local news (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Correction of High Frequency Broadcasting Schedule A04, Bangladesh Betar External Service: Presently 9550 and 15520 kHz are not in use (Ashik Eqbal Tokon - Rajshahi, Bangladesh, June 28, 2004, WWDXC via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. As in DXLD 4-082, New URL for Radio Bulgaria is now http://www.bnr.bg --- but missing an overall frequency list, now split to several separate language pages; each table is in the language of transmission, so if you can`t speak the language, you don't understand the schedule. Wondering, why their new website won a prize (Dr. Juergen Kubiak, Ed., July WWDXC DX Magazine via Michael Bethge, DXLD) ** CONGO. 5785, 1938 29/6, RTV Congolaise fair in French with French singing followed by discussion by 2 OMs, ID 1946 followed by more music – KAB (Ken Baird, Christchurch, New Zealand, R5000, Palstar R30, 18m Wire, SW Eavesdropper, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) Scenario: handwritten logging notes for 5985 were mis-read as 5785 by Ken, who also edits this log section, but it was placed before a 5800 entry. Or maybe RTVC actually punched up 5785 by mistake? Whenever there is an `odd` frequency, editors need to point it out rather than reporting it without challenge, explanation or speculation (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 13734.5, 13765.5, 13781, 13797, University Network, (spurs of 13750), 0104 July 22 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, NW England, Icom R75 + Wellbrooke ala 1530, harmonics yg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. R. Progreso, unknown site, 942.0 kHz (presume the 940 one off-frequency) GMT 0030+ July 20, vocals, M DJ, fair level and // 640 (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. US PLANS TO USE C-130 MILITARY PLANE FOR RADIO, TV TRANSMISSIONS AGAINST CUBA --- For a strongly pro-Cuba view see http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/julio/mier21/30violacion.html No comment from me but its useful to read both sides of the arguments I guess (Mike Terry, UK, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Radio Orient is currently heard here in South Germany on 1350 with programming in Arabic and French, location is Nice, listed 300 kW. S4/O4. This closes one of the most exiting [sic – I think he means exciting --- gh] DX channels. 73, (Günter Lorenz, Freising, Germany, July 20, MWC via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) It is strong (with deep fading) also in Milano, Italy. Sob, sigh (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano - Italia, ibid.) On 1350, R. Orient is a fair signal. 73s (Steve Whitt, UK, ibid.) French station Radio Orient heard on 1350 kHz this evening from tune- in after 2100 with news in Arabic, good steady signal here with little fading. News in Arabic continued until 2125 UT when the station identified in French as Radio Orient. The Arabic ID heard several times was "Idha`at al Sharq". Programming mostly in Arabic. The transmitter site is Nice - approved power is 2500 kW but I doubt very much if this output is used. So goodbye all the LPAMs and other DX on 1350 kHz. 73s (Dave Kenny, July 20, BDXC-UK via DXLD) In questo momento, 2040 UT del 20 luglio 2004, i 1350 kHz sono devastati da una simpatica musica araba... Segnale non fortissimo, ma sufficiente a farci capire che abbiamo perso "il" canale dx. E' arrivata Radio Orient!!! DX addio!!! (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, July 20, bclnews.it via DXLD) Is the station 24/7??? 73's (Barry Davies, UK, MWC via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) ARABIC-LANGUAGE RADIO ORIENT OPENS ON MEDIUMWAVE/AM Paris-based Radio Orient was observed by BBC Monitoring broadcasting in Arabic on the reactivated mediumwave AM frequency of 1350 kHz at 2100 gmt on 21 July. Programming was in parallel with a satellite broadcast on Hotbird 13 degrees east frequency 12245 MHz and the live internet audio stream on http://www.radioorient.com The station also operates on FM in Annemasse, Bordeaux, Lyon and Paris. The frequency was used for France Inter radio until 1 January 1997 but was reallocated to Radio Orient in March 2003 by the broadcast regulator, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel. This was part of an initiative to release AM frequencies to the commercial sector, relieving pressure on the overcrowded FM band and in anticipation of an intended replacement for amplitude modulation (AM), the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system. The transmission is believed to operate from a facility in Nice. The allocation reportedly permits a maximum power of 2,500 kW. However, observations on 21 July indicate that transmissions were not taking place at such high power or are directional in nature. Observations would be consistent with a range of sources, which detail the power as 300 kW in the direction of 220 to 230 degrees and 100 kW to 80-100 degrees, the Maghreb and Eastern Mediterranean respectively. Source: BBC Monitoring research 21 Jul 04 (via DXLD) ** GABON. 9580, Africa No. 1, 2006-2021, July 20, French, Continuous French pop music with announcement by YL on the fives (2010, 2015, etc.), presumably regarding the strike at the station. The first two announcements each had a different "canned" ID, the 2020 announcement was without. Fair/good (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) END OF STRIKE AT AFRICA NO. 1 The management and personnel of panafrican radio station Africa No. 1, based in Libreville, Gabon, have reached an agreement to end the strike that started on 15 July. Assistant General Manager of the station Michel Koumbagoye says that management have agreed to all the points raised by the strikers concerning the application of the new convention of the company. The trade unions and the management were due to sign a written document at the end of the afternoon yesterday in front of Gabonese Prime Minister Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane, and the strikers will return to work tomorrow (Friday) morning. According to the management, the agreement envisages the installation as from August 1 of a new wage structure taking account of the career advancement and promotion of the personnel. Moreover, the agreement grants new contracts of employment to freelance journalists, and transforms into contracts of unspecified duration all the contracts with a duration of more than two years. # posted by Andy @ 14:24 UT July 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Did they ever interrupt relays of RFI and NHK as threatened? (gh) ** GERMANY. Updated A-04 schedule for DTK T-systems. (PART 1 - DAILY TRANSMISSIONS) Athmee Yatra He/Gospel For Asia (GFA): 0030-0130 9495 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 1430-1530 15775 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 1530-1630 15660 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 2300-0030 9560 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs Radio Free Asia (RFA): 0100-0300 11975 WER 500 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Tibetan Voice of Russia (VOR), Russian International Radio: 0100-0200 5945 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to ME English WS 0200-0300 5945 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to ME Russian RIR 1400-1500 15430 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME Russian Commonwealth 1900-2100 5985 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME Russian RIR 1900-2100 9825 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to ME Russian RIR 2000-2100 7260 JUL 100 kW / 120 deg to ME Russian RIR 2200-2300 6145 JUL 100 kW / 100 deg to ME Arabic Hrvatska Radio/Voice of Croatia in Croatian/English/Spanish: 0100-0500 9925 JUL 100 kW / 325 deg to NoAmWe 0400-0700 9470 JUL 100 kW / 230 deg to NZ 0600-1000 13820 JUL 100 kW / 270 deg to AUS 2200-0300 9925 JUL 100 kW / 230 deg to SoAm/NZ 2300-0300 9925 JUL 100 kW / 300 deg to NoAmEa Radio Netherland Wereldomroep (RNW): 0600-0700 11655 JUL 100 kW / 020 deg to NoWeEu Dutch (till Sep. 1) Brother Stair/The Overcomer Ministries (TOM): 0600-0800 6110 JUL 100 kW / 295 deg to WeEu English 1300-1500 6110 JUL 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu English 1300-1500 13810 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to EaEu/ME English 1700-1900 17550 JUL 100 kW / 295 deg to NoAm English Deutsche Welle (DW): 0600-1000 6140 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg to Eu English 1000-1200 6140 JUL 040 kW / 120 deg to Eu English DRM 1200-1300 6140 JUL 040 kW / 120 deg to Eu German DRM 1300-1600 6140 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg to Eu English 1600-1800 6140 JUL 040 kW / non-dir to Eu English DRM 1800-1900 6140 JUL 040 kW / non-dir to Eu German DRM Swiss Radio International (SRI) all to NEAf: 0600-0800 15445 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg French/German/Italian/Music 0600-0800 13650 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg French/German/Italian/Music 1630-1815 13750 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Italian/Arabic/Music/French 1630-1815 15515 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Italian/Arabic/Music/French 1830-2130 11815 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Italian/Arabic/Music/Ge/Fr 1830-2130 13645 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg Italian/Arabic/Music/Ge/Fr Radio Chan Troi Moi/Radio New Horizon: 1330-1430 17595 JUL 100 kW / 075 deg to Vietnam Vietnamese [this item via WORLD OF RADIO 1239; what about Spain on 17595?] Radio Liberty (RL): 1500-1700 9565 JUL 100 kW / 070 deg to Eu Belorussian 1500-1700 11885 JUL 100 kW / 085 deg to Eu Russian HCJB (The Voice of Andes) 1700-1800 6015 WER 125 kW / non-dir to WeEu German WYFR (Family Radio): 1700-1800 11785 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME Turkish 1700-1800 13720 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg to NoAf Arabic 2000-2100 13590 JUL 100 kW / 190 deg to WeAf French 2000-2100 13855 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME Arabic IBRA Radio: 1730-1800 15450 WER 125 kW / 135 deg to EaAf Somali 1730-1830 15695 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg to EaAf Swahili 1830-1845 15695 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg to EaAf English 1900-2015 9675 JUL 100 kW / 190 deg to WeAf Hausa 2000-2100 7340 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg to NoAf Arabic CBS Radio Taiwan International (RTI): 2000-2100 5960 JUL 100 kW / 230 deg to SoEu Spanish Democratic Voice of Burma (DVOB): 2330-0030 9435 JUL 100 kW / 080 deg to SoEaAs Burmese (Observer, Bulgaria, July 20 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. GERMAN MEDIA CLEANS STASI OUT OF ITS CLOSET The long tentacles of East Germany's former State Secret Police, the Stasi, not only reached the Communist media, but infiltrated West German public broadcasters as well, a new study has found. http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1432_A_1272098_1_A,00.html?mpb=en (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via DXLD) ** GREECE. GREEK JOURNALISTS TO STRIKE FOR HIGHER PAY ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greek journalists will strike for 48 hours starting Tuesday following the breakdown of talks for a collective wage agreement, unions announced Monday. The strike is expected stop the publication of most national daily newspapers for two days as well as news programs on Greek television and radio stations. State-run television channels will also be off the air for three hours on Wednesday. Journalist unions say employers deliberately wrecked negotiations to avoid paying salary hikes and accuse many owners of blatantly violating existing agreements, leaving workers unpaid, forced to work on part time contracts or paid well below agreed minimums (APws 07/12 1239 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** GUINEA. Re 7375: Hola Manuel, Correcta esta frecuencia? Guinea nunca antes en 7375. 73, (Glenn to Manuel) Lo siento Glenn, creo que fue un error, me parece que es 7125 kHz, la frecuencia de Radio Guinea, pero ahora no tengo la radio aquí, para confirmártelo, ya que esa frecuencia la tengo memorizada en la radio. Un saludo desde España (Manuel Méndez, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Luego:] Rectificación_frecuencia_Radio_Guinea --- Hola Glenn, la frecuencia en la que escuché Radio Guinea es 7125 y por error puse 7375, que es la frecuencia de University Network, que la tenía anotada al lado de la de Guinea en mi libreta de escuchas. Disculpa por el error. Lamento que por mi culpa hayas publicado esa frecuencia errónea en tu boletín. Un abrazo desde España (Manuel Méndez, ibid.) ** HUNGARY. I listened to the R. Budapest file John Norfolk pointed out containing the July 18 ``And the Gatepost`` including the DX segment. It started at 14:45 into the 29:30 program and lasted until 27:17 when the multi-lingual IDs and IS started. Included schedules for R. Jordan in English, AWR Guam in English, WEWN in Spanish. Then logs (called ``DX Tips`` tho they were extremely routine) from Mikhail Karel(?) in Antwerp, ``Germany``, of CRI, NHK, VOA, Rossii, AIR, Israel, TRT, RA, in various languages when happened across, not necessarily the start of the broadcast. Then back to a schedule, for The Overcomer Ministry, which sounded incomplete. Then more ``DX Tips``, from James B. Tompkinson, Decatur IL: VOR, Taiwan, R. Prague International [sic], WRMI, Thessalonika [sic], Thailand, R. San Miguel, WBOH. The tips never include any program details, just station, time, frequency and language. Channel Africa English schedule for ``summer``; IRIB in English including 0030-0330 on 9905 [this is wrong! A mistake I made some months ago, corrected ASAP; the frequency is really in Spanish! Sources for the schedule info are NOT given, just like Budapest have always done, but now we know they are ripping off my material without credit!]; pronounced Sirjan site like ``Xian``! Libya in Arabic to Iraq via Issoudun, France: 16-1803 11660; 1803-1903 11660; USB 7425 11890; 1900-2030 11660. Editor and presenter was Sandor Laszko. I am not impressed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. IRAQ: OM Michael Frese reports an "External service of Iraq" in Arabic now again around the clock. Transmission from facilities of Radio Bangladesh at 12050 kHz (MF, 7. July 2004) Are you sure that this is an official governmental external service of the new Iraqi government? Or is it a clandestine transmission or only featuring program of the inauguration of the new Iraqi Government? Was their any station ID with a hint of transmitter location Bangladesh? Do you have any further information, like English announcements or translated Arabic announcements? Please give us further information and details! The frequency 12050 is listed by several up-to-date frequency lists in July 2004 at the Internet for Radio Cairo in Arabic 1100-0300 UT. This Radio Cairo schedule was also published by our magazine DXM: 12050, General Arabic programm (Juergen Kubiak, Ed., July WWDXC DX Magazine via Michael Bethge, DXLD) Nonsense ** IRELAND. RTE SUSPENDS 567 KHZ FOR FOUR MONTHS FOR MAINTENANCE RTÉ Radio 1 has suspended broadcasting on its high power mediumwave transmitter at Tullamore on 567 kHz. RTÉ says the transmitter and the mast are thirty years old and badly in need of an overhaul. The shutdown will last for approximately four months. The low-powered mediumwave Cork transmitter on 729 kHz remains on air - making it the only authorised mediumwave transmitter presently on air in the Republic. More information on the RTÉ Web site. Stay tuned - important changes from July - November 2004 http://www.rte.ie/radio1/staytuned.html # posted by Andy @ 10:04 UT July 20 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Reminding us that they already activated LW 252 (gh, DXLD) A window of opportunity for MW DX-ers to hear "what lies beneath"! (Dave Kernick, England, 07.20.04 - 12:49 pm, ibid.) From what I remember (from the old days when Tullamore was regularly shut down overnight) its should be Russia and Berlin fighting it out (Ray Woodward, UK, 07.20.04 - 1:13 pm, ibid.) RTE don't have the money to put another national network on, especially at MF (which virtually nobody uses anyway (remember the closure of 612) (Ray Woodward, UK, 07.21.04 - 7:52 am, ibid.) Let's hope that it does come back and with some kind of alternative programming. Oldies or Nostalgia would suit me very nicely, thank you. (Eamonn, 07.20.04 - 10:58 pm, ibid.) Bet they will not put it back on? By that time most of the audience will have found alternatives (Bob Pritchard, 07.20.04 - 7:07 pm, ibid.) ** ISLE OF MAN. RADIO CAROLINE COULD BE REVIVED --- Sun 18th Jul 2004 A proposed Ramsey-based long wave radio station could revive the name Radio Caroline. With less than a year before it goes on air, Paul Rusling, the Chief Executive of Isle of Man International Broadcasting, the company behind the project, says he is undecided of a name but hasn't ruled anything out --- audio of Paul Rusling interview at http://www.manxradio.com/ Apparently the name "Radio Caroline" was registered by their organisation some years ago (Mike Terry, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. IBA "ON VERGE OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE" --- The newspaper Haaretz reports that the Israel Broadcasting Authority's financial reports for the years 2001 and 2002 reveal that the IBA is in imminent danger of financial collapse and may soon cease to be a "going concern." Haaretz says an external report submitted two weeks ago by accounting firm Brightman Almagor found that the IBA accrued a deficit of NIS 200 million in those years. The figure directly contradicts reports IBA director general Yosef Barel submitted at the end of last year which showed a deficit of just NIS 35 million. Barel submitted financials prepared in-house by the IBA's own finance department. Read the full story http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/454510.html # posted by Andy @ 08:04 UT July 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** ITALY. Radio Studio X - Toscana --- Liebe Hörer, RMC Info hat auf der Frequenz 1584 khz kürzlich mehrere Sender an der deutsch- französischen Grenze in Betrieb genommen, was besonders Auswirkungen auf den Empfang unseres Programmes in Süd-West-Deutschland hat. Bitte kontrolliert doch heute abend zum deutschen Programm um 22:00 Uhr MESZ, wie das Signal bei Euch ist und teilt uns dies kurz per e-mail an diese Adresse mit: chris @ radiostudiox.it Vielen Dank für Eure Mithilfe und Saluti dalla Toscana! (Chris Ise, Radio Studio X, Deutsches Programm, 1584 khz AM STEREO aus der Toskana, July 6, A-DX via DXLD) ** MALDIVES [non]. We`ve heard from Dave Hardingham, who is with Friends of Maldives, http://www.friendsofmaldives.co.uk about setting up an independent radio station for the Islands, where the current government does not allow a free press. Just people keen to initiate democracy and free speech in the Maldives. Based in London, they have Maldivians ready to produce programs, and as soon as shortwave transmission arrangements have been finalised, we`ll let you know (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. 4845, at 0012, R Mauritania, Nouakchott, unbelievably still audible at midday local time! Poor-fair with interview in Arabic (Stu Forsyth, Steven Greenyer and Paul Ormandy braved the wintry weather (actually, the weather was pretty good for mid-Winter!) to spend two nights at Waianakarua, New Zealand, exact dates not given, but around Solstice, July NZ DX Times via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RADIO NETHERLANDS VIA WRMI AT 1200 UT Due to cutbacks at client broadcaster Christian Media Network, Miami- based shortwave broadcaster WRMI is, for the time being, carrying relays of World Radio Network at 1200-1600 seven days a week on 15725 kHz. This includes an hour of English from Radio Netherlands at 1200- 1300. As this is not an official shortwave relay, the frequency is not announced by Radio Netherlands. But we welcome reception reports on this transmission to letters@rnw.nl # posted by Andy @ 10:54 UT July 21 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KOSU - On-line Listening REAL AUDIO STREAM CHANGES KOSU has upgraded its Real Audio stream on the web to version 10. Web listeners currently using older players like the Real Audio 8 or RealOne will be prompted to download a small update to their player in order to receive the new higher quality format. Listeners who already have the Real 10 player will receive the stream without the update. A free Real 10 player is available by clicking on the icon on our Listen Live web page. Those of you who have bookmarked our stream in your Real Audio player software will want to re-bookmark it in order to reach the new Real 10 stream. The old bookmark will work for a few more days (KOSU mailing list July 21 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. ESTAMOS CREANDO UNA NUEVA RADIO PARA LA RAZA! Blares a quarter-page display ad in the July 10 issue of El Latino American [sic], a weekly free newspaper in OKC, but also reaching out editorially to Tulsa and Lawton, and somehow reaching Enid at some Mexican restaurants. This is about 105.3 FM, ex-KSYY, which I have not actually listened to, revealing that the new slogan is ``LA INDOMABLE 105.3 FM``. More text from the ad: ``Tocando sólo la música que a ti te gusta [entonces, clásica??? Creo que no]. En La Indomable 105.3 tu voz es la que manda y nos interesa tu opinión. Llámanos al 460-1053 y dinos que [sic] piensas, qué canciones quieres oir, qué promociones te gustan etc. --- Es my simple, tu opinión es lo más importante y en La Indomable 105.3 FM será tomada en cuenta. Tú te mereces una radio de calidad. Sigue en sintonía del 105.3 FM porque esto es sólo el comienzo.`` (via Glenn Hauser, Oclajoma, DXLD) Not indominable ** OKLAHOMA. One viewer can make a difference. Since my complaint to Nightline, affiliate KOCO-TV in OKC has hit the 0335:00 UT start of the program almost every night, and if not, only late by a few seconds rather than a couple minutes of extra commercials (Glenn Hauser, UT July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. I did find OETA http://www.oeta.onenet.net/ A writer says, "Why I won't contribute to OETA: "As long as the statewide public television system considers it more important to censor minority views, produces only one national show of music intended to please only an ultra-conservative audience, and can't even bother to fix audio and video synchronization for the duration of an entire half-hour popular show several times per year, I'll spend my money on other causes." Enid must be an interesting (little?) town. I came across this movie and wondered if you had seen it. ``Enid Is Sleeping`` made in 1990 starring: Elizabeth Perkins, Judge Reinhold, Jeffrey Jones, Maureen Mueller, Rhea Perlman (Kaylee, enidalt yg via DXLD) Har, har, a black comedy, not about Enid OK, but a woman named Enid. Not the first time we have had such confusion (gh, Enid, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4960, at 1929 5 June, Catholic Radio Network, Vanimo good with music until opening at 2003 with chiming bells, ID in EE and prayers, fading quickly but noted with improved signal 6/6 BCM (Bryan Clark, Mangawhai, New Zealand, AOR 7030+, BOG antenna 125m NE, 110M East, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) Gayle Van Horn and I are wondering if this one is actually on the air 24 hours, or as implied here, not, ``opening`` at 2003 UT (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) 4960, 1940 27/6, Catholic Radio Network strong but better as dawn appeared, inspirational music, Angelus recited at 2000 SMF (Stuart Forsyth, Waianakarua, New Zealand, AOR 7030, long wires, July NZ DX Times via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) 4960, at 2000 Catholic Radio Network, Papua New Guinea, fair signal with ID, then chants, time pips and The Angelus. Not as strong or as steady as NBC 4890. At 2030 ran a program from the ``Bible Radio Network`` (Stu Forsyth, Steven Greenyer and Paul Ormandy braved the wintry weather (actually, the weather was pretty good for mid-Winter!) to spend two nights at Waianakarua, New Zealand, exact dates not given, but around Solstice, July NZ DX Times via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Radio América --- Amigos da Lista, segue infomação enviada pelo amigo Adán Mur da Rádio América do Paraguai. Tentem as escutas e enviem informes ao Adán pelo e-mail abaixo. 73 Samuel Quero comentar que a ZP20 Rádio América está no ar, as 24 horas do día, nos 1480 KHZ, transmitendo desde a planta nova, em Villeta, com 5 kW de potência. Depois de muitas dificuldades, hemos tido bon successo em normalizar a situação. Também, os rapazes do Colégio Técnico Municipal Santa Rosa de Lima, Ñemby, estão provando, as 24 horas do día, nos 3220 kHz, faixa dos 90 metros. O sinal entra fortemente, e com boa qualidade, localmente. Com Um Forte Abraço do amigo! Adán Mur (via Samuel Cássio, July 22, radioescutas via DXLD) New frequency; previously a hefty 5 watts (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Amigos DXistas! The unID LA I had on 5062.35 kHz, also as unID by Rogildo F. Aragão in Bolivia, is a spur from Radio La Hora 4855.xx kHz. 5062 too weak this Tuesday morning to compare the two signals/programs but I listened to Radio La Hora: the DJs, jingle, etc. are the same. 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, July 20, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4775, R. Tarma, 0245-0256*, July 20, Spanish, lite Spanish music, canned "Radio Tarma" ID at 0247, fanfare with full ID announcement by OM with "echo" vocal effects, choral-like music with more OM, organ music at sign-off. Poor/fair over static (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. NEW BOSS OF SENTECH NAMED --- Wednesday's South African Cabinet meeting in Pretoria approved the appointment of the new chief operating officer of broadcast signal distributor Sentech. He is Abdul-Kader Mohamed, currently chief financial officer at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Sentech operates all the broadcasting facilities in South Africa, including shortwave. # posted by Andy @ 14:16 UT July 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SOUTH AMERICA. Jorge García, from Radio Piraña Internacional tells us in Conexión Digital List that his station is going to transmit today, Thursday 22 from 2200 UT until 1300 (following day) and on July 23 from 2200 UT to July 26!!!!!!!! at 1300 with short cuts for battery changes. All transmission are on 6307 kHz. That`s the last Radio Piraña Int's transmissions from South America in many years!!!!!! 73's & 55's (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, bclnews.it via DXLD) Viz.: Jorge Garcia, desde Radio Piraña Internacional informó en la Lista de Conexión Digital que su emisora va a transmitir hoy, Jueves 22 de Julio, a partir de las 2200 UT a 1300 (del dia siguiente) y mañana, Viernes 23 a partir de las 2200 hasta el próximo Lunes 26 de Julio, en forma ininterrumpida, sólo con breves cortes para cambio de baterías. Todas las transmisiones se harán en la frecuencia de 6307 kHz. Como nos indica el realizador de la emisora, se trata de las últimas transmisiones de Radio Piraña Internacional desde tierras sudamericanas ya que Jorge no sabe cuándo la emisora pirata volverá a irradiar sus programas desde este suelo!!!!!! 73's & 55's (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, July 22, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Viz.: RPI transmisiones finales --- Estimados amigos! Esta tarde estaremos cambiando nuestro QTH ligeramente, es decir a una distancia de 300 metros del actual QTH. En el "nuevo" QTH que en realidad es el QTH "antiguo" de RPI (1999-2002) la antenna estará m’as elevada que actualmente y tendrá una altura de 18 m. en vez de 10m. como lo es ahora. El esquema de transmision es la siguiente: Miércoles (21 julio) - viernes (23 julio): 2200 UT a 1300( sig. día) con posibilidad de prolongación. Viernes (23 julio) 2200 hasta lunes (26 julio) 1300 UT con servicio de 24h con pequeños cortes para cambio de baterías. Estos serán las últimas emisiones de Radio Piraña Int. en suelo sudamericano por varios años. No sabemos cuándo volveremos a emitir desde este suelo. Saludos de (Jorge R. García, Radio Piraña Internacional, July 21, Conexión Digital via DXLD) JRG makes some spelling errors, which makes me wonder if he is not a native speaker of Spanish (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN. Just (21 July 2004) got info that the test transmissions of South Sudan station Voice of New Sudan on 9310 are delayed. Testing will start earliest next weekend (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. My new website --- Hello Glenn. I trust you are well. It's been two years since I retired from SRI, which for all intents and purpose is now defunct as a radio entity. I enjoyed two years of "la dolce fa niente", but started to miss the excitement of radio journalism. For that reason, I got the inspiration to launch a new website. I took up the challenge and will be going online on August 1 with "Switzerland in Sound". Basically, SIS is everything I used to enjoy doing at SRI, but without the constraints of a specific format and a boss over me. It's Bob Zanotti Unplugged, so to speak. SIS is a multimedia entity, which will include text, photos and, above all, audio - and lots of it. I call it "radio on demand". Rubrics include Timely Topics, Travel Tips, Places to See-Things to Do, and Features. As a special attraction and in recognition of the past, Bob Thomann and I recently got together to record a one-hour dialogue, looking back on our 24 years as "The Two Bobs", which is included in SIS. I would be grateful if you would spread the word among your audience. The URL is: http://www.switzerlandinsound.com (as of August 1) Many thanks and 73, (Bob Zanotti, July 20, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. SWANSONG FOR VOICE OF SWITZERLAND | Excerpt from report by Swiss Radio International's Swissinfo web site on 21 July Swiss Radio International is to cease all radio broadcasts at the end of October, and will thereafter concentrate exclusively on its Internet platform, www.swissinfo.org. Starting 1 August, a special series of radio programmes will look back at key events that have shaped SRI and Switzerland over the past seven decades. SRI ended its news and current programmes in April, but broadcasts are continuing on shortwave and satellite until the end of October. [Passage omitted giving details of where to find schedule and frequency information on web site]. During our last 12 weeks on air, we will be broadcasting a special half-hour programme each week to recall highlights since SRI first hit the airwaves in 1935. In the week starting 1 August, listeners can hear how SRI evolved from the Swiss shortwave service - which went on air for the first time on 1 August 1935 - into swissinfo, which went online in 1999. Assignment Switzerland Other programmes in the "Assignment Switzerland" series will profile personalities who shaped the country, the four Swiss cultures and the Swiss living abroad. We'll also be looking back at key events in politics, science and technology and the arts, and finding out what outsiders think of Switzerland. The final programme in the series will look at how Swiss views of their own country have changed over the past half-century. We do hope you will tune in to remember SRI's nearly 70 years on air. You can also listen to the programmes online each week by clicking on "In Focus" in our multimedia section. Source: Swissinfo web site, Bern, in English 1330 gmt 21 Jul 04 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) Same story, with sidebars, link to pdf schedule, which I assume does not specifically say these shows are on SW, since English has been cancelled already: http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5093646 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** TURKS & CAICOS. 530, Radiovisión Cristiana --- Heard them today. I live just south of Daytona Beach and I get a .025-.050mv signal on them all day, at night 1-3mv. Despite what has been mentioned in print they are still running 50 kW, not 100 kW. They are using a 1987 vintage Nautel transmitter that was shipped back to Canada to have the frequency changed to 530 from 1570, having been used by the Atlantic Beacon previous. The Beacon directional array was taken down and a new quarter wave was erected for RVC. The tower sits about 200 ft from the ocean (Jerry Kiefer, Port Orange, FL/Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, July 18, NRC-AM via DXLD) I wonder what kind of directional pattern they had for 1570. I have an ID from John Bowker's collection of 1570 Atlantic Beacon. The former owner of 1570 then WHOG Fernandina Beach, FL coincidentally initiated 30 watt night service around the time the 1570 Turks and Caicos station came on. This got WHOG out of being just a daytimer and wham, 1570 Atlantic Beacon barrels into Fernandina like it was a local. Mark Hogan was very disappointed (Ron Gitschier, Palm Coast, FL, ibid.) Atlantic Beacon/1570 info: two tower array, cardioid pattern, looked like a kidney bean with a tight null at about 65 degrees. Towers had 90 degree spacing; they were 5/8 wave Pirod towers, 260 feet steel and 112 feet top loading. Towards Jacksonville, 320+/- degrees it had just over 3300 mv at 1 km (Jerry Kiefer, Port Orange, FL/Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, July 18, NRC-AM via DXLD) Actually, as I have reported here many times before, I have a QSL letter from the RVC engineer stating that they run the 50 kW Nautel powered down to about 40 kW. Electricity is extremely expensive there since it is all generated with imported fossil fuels. The low frequency and the ocean front tower make them sound much bigger (Patrick Griffith, NØNNK, Westminster, CO, ibid.) Just listened to them minutes ago 12 am Eastern, weak here in Florida, barely nudge the S meter on a Panasonic 2900. They've got to be running low power. 570 & 600 out of Cuba are hot tonight (Jerry Kiefer, Port Orange, FL, July 18, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U K. Richard Sambrook is to leave his job as the BBC's head of news to take up a new post as director of the corporation's World Service it has been announced. Mr Sambrook has been the BBC's news chief for four years and was at the centre of the row with the Government over the Dr. David Kelly Affair. He will be replaced as director of BBC news by Helen Boaden, currently controller of Radio 4 and BBC7 (ITV teletext, July 22nd via Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD) BBC'S HEAD OF NEWS MOVES TO NEW JOB LONDON (AP) -- The British Broadcasting Corp., whose reporting standards were criticized by a judicial inquiry, said Thursday that its head of news is moving to a new position within the corporation. Richard Sambrook will become director of the BBC's World Service and Global News Division responsible for developing the BBC's overall global news strategy across radio, TV and new media, the corporation said. He will be succeeded by Helen Boaden, currently controller of Radio 4 and the digital TV channel, BBC7. Sambrook was head of news last year when the BBC ran a report accusing the government of "sexing up" a vital intelligence dossier used by Prime Minister Tony Blair as a basis for Britain's involvement in the war in Iraq. An inquiry by Lord Hutton into the suicide of weapons adviser David Kelly, identified as the BBC's main source for the story, absolved Blair and officials of "sexing up" the dossier. But Hutton faulted BBC editors for failing to review what reporter Andrew Gilligan was going to say before he went on the air with his story and for failure to first get government reaction. In an e-mail to BBC staff after Hutton's report, Sambrook conceded then that "the BBC made mistakes and we have to face up to that." Sambrook and Boaden take up their new appointments in September. "After nearly four years as director of BBC news, Richard Sambrook will provide fresh leadership of the BBC's global news role, which has been given high prominence in the BBC's manifesto 'Building Public Value,'" said Mark Byford, the corporation's deputy director general and head of BBC journalism. Sambrook and Boaden will both be members of the BBC's new Journalism Board, which reports to Byford. Sambrook said Thursday that he was "delighted to have the opportunity to lead the BBC's international news services at such a crucial time for audiences around the world." (APws 07/22 0744 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) NEW LEADERS FOR BBC'S UK AND GLOBAL NEWS OPERATIONS The BBC today announced important executive changes in the leadership of its UK and international news operations. Richard Sambrook is to become Director of the BBC's World Service & Global News division, responsible for developing the BBC's overall global news strategy across radio, TV and new media. He will be succeeded as Director of BBC News by Helen Boaden, currently Controller of Radio 4 and BBC 7. Helen will be responsible for all UK-wide news and current affairs across radio, television and new media and for all BBC News staff, including Newsgathering. Richard and Helen will take up their new appointments in September. They will both be members of the BBC's new Journalism Board, reporting to Deputy Director-General Mark Byford, together with Pat Loughrey, Director Nations & Regions, and Stephen Whittle, Controller of Editorial Policy. The BBC's Director-General Mark Thompson said today: "Richard and Helen are the right people to lead these two vital parts of the BBC's journalism in the future as we continue to strengthen and develop our output both in the UK and around the world." Mark Byford, Deputy DG and head of all the BBC's journalism, said: "After nearly four years as Director of BBC News Richard Sambrook will provide fresh leadership of the BBC's global news role, which has been given high prominence in the BBC's manifesto Building Public Value. Helen Boaden has been a superb controller of Radio 4. Her strong leadership, experience and insight make her the outstanding person to lead BBC News in the future." Richard Sambrook said: "I've devoted my professional life to BBC journalism so I'm delighted to have the opportunity to lead the BBC's international news services at such a crucial time for audiences around the world. To take the great strengths and heritage of the World Service and build on them across radio, TV and new media will be an enormous challenge and a great privilege." Helen Boaden said: "BBC journalism has a unique place in the lives of our audience. It's a privilege to be asked to lead the team who will ensure that BBC News remains robust, original, independent and fair. I love Radio 4 and have had a truly wonderful time there but this is a huge and exciting new challenge which I shall relish." The BBC also confirmed the appointment of Nigel Chapman as Director of the World Service, reporting to Richard Sambrook on all World Service activities. Nigel has been Acting Director, World Service since February. Anne Barnard, Chief Operating Officer for BBC World, and Sian Kevill, Editorial Director BBC World, will also report directly to Richard. # posted by Andy @ 12:41 UT July 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. BBC ANNOUNCES REFORMS IN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS | Text of BBC press release on 19 July An emphasis on greater transparency, objectivity and accountability underpins radical reforms in the way the BBC will deal with complaints, announced today. New streamlined procedures will make it easier for the public to make a complaint and obtain, where appropriate, a speedy correction. There will be two routes to make a complaint and a straightforward two stage appeals process. A new Code of Practice will ensure that the public know the standards to expect when they complain. A new online site - http://bbc.co.uk/complaints - is to be established, informing the public on complaints received and action taken, and to publish corrections. The Board of Governors is to strengthen its oversight of the process by appointing a new Head of Complaints (Governance), reporting directly to the governors, who will monitor the effectiveness of the complaints processes. Announcing the reforms, Mark Thompson, BBC director-general said: "The reforms we are announcing today mark a different attitude from the BBC towards complaints. "We want to begin with the presumption that the licence payer is right, not wrong. "There will be a greater willingness at the BBC to admit mistakes and where appropriate put things right." BBC Chairman Michael Grade said: "The reforms announced today are part of a programme of change to improve the BBC's accountability to licence payers. "The changes mean greater objectivity, fairness and transparency when the BBC receives a complaint. "The governors will review these new arrangements from time to time to ensure they meet expectations." The announcement follows a three-month review of complaints handling, led by deputy director-general Mark Byford. The review has taken into account recommendations made by the Neil Report, published last month. The new streamlined procedures will ensure that: There will be two simple routes for complaints to be sent to the BBC - either direct to BBC Information, or, if complainants prefer, to the relevant programme; The BBC aims to respond to all complaints at the first point of contact within 10 working days; A new Code of Practice, published today at bbc.co.uk/complaints, and improved publicity about complaints will ensure people know what to expect when they complain; If complainants on editorial matters remain dissatisfied after two exchanges of correspondence, they may appeal to the Editorial Complaints Unit (ECU) (formerly the Programme Complaints Unit) for independent investigation; and if still dissatisfied the complainant will be invited to make a final appeal to the Governors' Programme Complaints Committee (GPCC); A programme or output area or BBC Information must offer referral to the Editorial Complaints Unit if after two exchanges the complaint is unresolved. Very serious editorial complaints will be "red flagged" to ensure they are fast-tracked. The decision to "red-flag" a complaint will depend on the nature of the complaint and not on the importance of the person making it. The decision of the Editorial Complaints Unit will be binding on programme-making or output departments; The BBC online presence at bbc.co.uk/complaints will be used to provide proper reporting to the public on complaints received and action taken. A new Complaints Management Board, chaired by the deputy director- general, will oversee complaints handling by BBC management and ensure best practice and that learning from complaints is shared at a senior level. More effective reporting through a new central logging system within BBC Information will ensure that the Complaints Board is fully informed. A new Head of Complaints (Governance) will be appointed, reporting directly to the BBC Governors, who will monitor the delivery of all aspects of complaints handling at the BBC and report regularly to the governors on the effectiveness of BBC processes. The Governors' Programme Complaints Committee (GPCC) remains the final appeal body. As now the GPCC will be advised independently of management on editorial appeals. The Executive Board of the BBC and BBC Governors will separately consider complaints handling on a quarterly basis, with a full assessment in the Governors' Annual Report. Simon Milner, the BBC Secretary, will lead the overall implementation of the new arrangements. Implementation of all the recommendations will start in the autumn, alongside the new changes to governance announced in the recent BBC document Building Public Value. Source: BBC press release, London, in English 19 Jul 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) Here`s a complaint: The BBC suffers from superlativitis --- apparently feeling classical music is incapable of speaking for itself, the commentary accompanying the Proms (in the latest instance) as usual overdoes it. R. Strauss` Alpine Symphony is judged to be ``mighty``, a superlative heard all too often in BBC classical announcing. Give it a rest! Let ME decide for myself whether it is ``mighty`` or just maybe unneedful of any such description. Or publish a list of which works are mighty and which are not (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WAR OF WORDS OVER VOA PETITION, EXTERNAL US STATIONS | Text of editorial analysis by Alistair Coleman of BBC Monitoring Media Services on 15 July 2004 A war of words has broken out between staff and directors at Voice of America as hundreds of VOA staff signed a petition after becoming concerned about the station's future, according to American press reports. The Washington Post on 14 July reported that the petition, directed to the United States Congress and entitled "Who's killing America's Voice?", had been signed by nearly 500 staff members concerned that the Broadcasting Board of Governors - the body which oversees US taxpayer-funded broadcast outlets - is dismantling the radio service "piece-by-piece" while launching services with "no editorial accountability". Staff accuse the BBG of channelling funds into new stations such as Arabic-language Radio Sawa and Al-Hurra television "which are not subject to the same journalistic standards and monitoring as VOA", while closing VOA's Arabic service, reducing English-language and European services, and adding greater emphasis to music at the expense of news, according to USA Today. Non-VOA stations meet with mixed success Chief amongst the staff's concerns are the formation of Radio Sawa, Radio Farda and Al-Hurra Television. Sawa is aimed at a younger audience and mixes Western pop music with brief news bulletins and comment, described as "55 minutes of pop and five minutes of wire stories" by an unnamed VOA journalist in the Washington Times. The station, whose name translates as "Together" is the most listened to international radio station in Iraq according to a November 2003 survey. It has been praised as a success in the battle to win over Arab hearts and minds, despite suggestions that listeners do not listen to the station for its news content. Radio Farda, a joint VOA/Radio Free Europe venture, is the equivalent Persian-language station aimed at young Iranians. Al-Hurra ("The Free One"), a commercial-free Arabic-language satellite TV channel for the Middle East devoted primarily to news and information, is operated by a non-profit corporation called the Middle East Television Network, with a first-year budget of 62m US dollars awarded by Congress. Recent surveys by the Brookings Institution show that Al-Hurra has failed to make an impression on the viewing habits of Arab speakers, with not one of 3,300 people surveyed picking the station as a primary source for news, and only 3.8 per cent choosing it as a secondary choice, raising suggestions that by misunderstanding its audience, Al- Hurra's budget might be better spent on other projects. BBG chairman defends new stations VOA staff are also angered by the reassignment of VOA news director Andre deNesnera to be the station's diplomatic correspondent, seeing it as a "demotion" and evidence of management efforts to undermine VOA's objectivity in news reporting, a move which drew criticism from press watchdogs such as the International Press Institute. With new stations operating outside the structure of Voice of America, staff are concerned that they are being sidelined as the BBG "attempts to dismantle the nation's radio beacon". Complaints that both Sawa and Al-Hurra have not reported major news stories in a timely manner, including the capture of Saddam Husayn, were refuted by BBG chairman Kenneth Tomlinson in a letter to the Washington-based political publication The Hill on 14 July. Dismissing the petition, Tomlinson said: "It is difficult to take seriously any document that makes such an erroneous charge", pointing to the fact that Sawa's listeners heard of the arrest "as soon as listeners to any other media outlet". Accusing the VOA petitioners of "distorting the facts", he points to the 1994 Broadcasting Act which ensures all BBG-supervised stations operate "to the highest possible standards of broadcast journalism". The BBG was committed to bringing "balanced, objective media as a pillar of modern liberal democracy to a worldwide audience", said Tomlinson, with Sawa, Farda and the newly launched VOA service to Pakistan, Aap ki Dunya, increasing their news output. Speaking to the Washington Post, Tomlinson explained that newer services were created independently of Voice of America to avoid red tape. "We launched Al-Hurra in a matter of months. If we tried to do it inside VOA, it would have taken years." Citing the end of the Cold War and a renewed focus on the Arab world, Tomlinson told the Post that "the war on terror is a prime requirement." Given a choice between VOA's traditional audience in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, "you unfortunately have to go with the countries in the Middle East". Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 15 Jul 04 (via DXLD) ** U S A. BBG AWARDS CONTRACT FOR ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) says it has decided to award a contract on a non-competitive basis for the provision of specialized and timely non-personal expert, advisory and assistance services, including analytical and research services as they may be required, to support the BBG in the performance of its entire worldwide multimedia broadcasting public diplomacy mission. This includes "the use and development of programming on medium wave, FM, and shortwave broadcasting to attract substantial target audiences, as determined by the BBG." Because of the specialized nature (i.e., technical, business, cultural, logistical, and political considerations) and the necessary timeliness of the contractor's performance, the BBG says it intends to non-competitively award a negotiated firm-fixed-price contract to Bert Kleinman Programming, Inc. (BKP) of Arlington, VA for this specialized work on the basis of BKP’s unique technical, business, and other qualifications and recent pertinent experience in radio, television, and multimedia news, information, and music programming for mass audiences. BKP has the known capability to successfully meet the BBG’s overall time schedule for its multimedia programming efforts, and BKP has comprehensive international broadcasting qualifications and experience. The term of this proposed contract is for one base-year, with a single one-year option, subject to annual funding availability. The BBG says BKP is the only responsible source it knows that has demonstrated in-depth specialized business and technical knowledge, and multimedia experience with mass audience programming that is critical to the contractor's ability to perform the above-summarized work in a high quality and timely manner for the BBG. However, other organizations that believe they fulfill the criteria are welcome to make this known to the BBG. # posted by Andy @ 08:22 UT July 21 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. EX-SOVIET CITIZEN DEFENDS VOA NAME 7-19 From the Hamilton (Ohio) Journal News By Benjamin Poston WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP -- Igor Zdorov, 57, of Maineville, is a former Soviet refugee from the wrong side of the infamous Iron Curtain. He was born in Siberia in 1946 and raised in Moscow. As a young boy, Zdorov said he remembers watching ruler Josef Stalin in parades and thinking how lucky he was to have been born in a great and prosperous nation. Not until he heard broadcasts from the Voice of America as a 13-year- old seeking answers did Zdorov come to his political awakening. One day, his father caught Zdorov listening with rapt attention to the radio. "He firmly told me to turn the radio off and added that `everything they say is a lie,`" Zdorov said. "I kept secretly listening and it took me no time to figure out that at least `not everything they said was a lie.`" The Voice of America`s reporting, in a few short years, led the young Soviet to realize how suppressive communism was, and that the real liar was Radio Moscow. "I wanted to know what was really going on in the world. Besides being the source of truth, the VOA became my major learning tool," he said. While he said he holds the deepest respect and admiration for the late President Ronald Reagan and his politics, Zdorov said he does not want Butler County to rename the VOA complex. "What I`m trying to do is to explain to people how important the Voice of America was and still is. I think the legacy of the VOA is something else and it should be preserved," he said. Butler County Commissioner Michael Fox has suggested naming the entire VOA complex -- which also includes the 200-acre Butler County MetroParks Freedom Voice Reserve -- after Reagan. Fox suggested the amended name could be the Ronald Reagan Memorial Freedom Voice Reserve or the Ronald Reagan Memorial Voice of America Park. "I think Reagan was a hero to the (Soviets). I don`t think (Zdorov`s) opinion represents everybody`s over there," Fox said. "President Reagan is famous for laying the foundation for the collapse of the Soviet Union." Zdorov recently spoke to a group of VOA Museum volunteers in West Chester Township -- and saw the Bethany station he listened to during the 1960s. "This brought tears to my eyes. A thought that some day I would see the station I was listening to never crossed my mind," he said. In 1981, in the midst of the Cold War after Reagan had taken office, Zdorov defected from the Soviet Union to Minneapolis, Minn., with his wife and two children. "I am very happy to live in the most democratic society in the world. This would have never happened to me without the VOA telling the truth. And who knows how many others were set straight by the VOA. I am sure it has made a very significant contribution into the ending of the cold war," he said. Greg Amend, president of the MetroParks Board, said an informal caucus of his members last month showed that they would support an amendment to the Freedom’s Voice Reserve name. The VOA has two active transmitting stations in Greenville, N.C., and Delano, Calif., as well as numerous relay stations across the country [sic - should be world]. (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) After what Reagan did to the VOA??!! ** U S A. AGENCY FORCED TO POST SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT Dateline: Washington, 07/20/04. In yet another case in which in the Agency demonstrated its inability or unwillingness to follow Labor law, the Agency will have to post a settlement agreement. The case involved the Agency's failure to provide information that was requested by the Union in the GS-13 TV Techs overtime grievance. The Agency is required to send this notice to all employees via email within 30 days after approval of the settlement agreement (AFGE Local 1812 at VOA, via DXLD) ** U S A. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CANTONESE SERVICE? http://www.wbng.org/rfa/bulletins/2004/070204.html Despite repeated assurances by RFA management that it wants to keep the Cantonese service, members are wondering if that's true. At bargaining on June 28th RFA's managers said the main obstacle to filling two vacant broadcaster positions was visa problems. They assured us RFA did not intend to shift positions out of Guild jurisdiction by filling them in Hong Kong. (RFA's chief bargainer in an email later denied that RFA gave such an assurance, but all four Guild bargainers heard it). The next day, RFA told the Cantonese service that one of the Broadcaster positions would be filled by a stringer in Hong Kong and that a Hong Kong contractor would become the acting Director of the service (Radio Free Asia Guild Unit via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) ** U S A. IRAQ/USA: SURVEY OF US-FUNDED AL-HURRA TV'S AUDIENCE | Text of press release from US government-funded satellite TV broadcaster Al-Hurra dated 19 July 2004 and distributed via PRNewswire Springfield, Virginia, 19 July: A new survey of Iraq conducted by Oxford Research International shows that 61 per cent of Iraqi adults had watched the new US-funded Arabic language TV channel Al-Hurra (Arabic for "The Free One") in the previous week. Since it launched on 14 February 2004, Al-Hurra has quickly established itself as an important resource for Iraqis to get their news - 19 per cent of those surveyed cited Al-Hurra as one of their top three sources of information. Of those people who watch Al-Hurra, 64 per cent found the news to be "very" or "somewhat" reliable. The results are based on face-to-face interviews with adults (over the age of 15) in Iraq between 19 May and 14 June 2004, four months after Al-Hurra first aired. Al-Hurra is the latest and most technologically advanced television organization to enter the crowded Middle East satellite television market. The satellite channel is a 24-hour news and information network broadcast entirely in Arabic. It can be seen in 22 countries throughout the region via Arabsat and Nilesat, the same satellite systems used by all major Arabic channels. In April 2004, a second channel was added called Al-Hurra Iraq specifically for Iraqi audiences. The new channel was available by satellite during the time of the survey. It has subsequently started broadcasting with a clear signal in Baghdad on Channel 12 and in Basra on Channel 3. Additional terrestrial channels are expected in the near future. Along with in-depth news from Al-Hurra, Al-Hurra Iraq provides nightly newscasts and talk shows specifically dealing with the issues facing contemporary Iraq. "We always knew that it was critical that we reach out to Iraq. As the country begins rebuilding its government, it's important to provide the citizens with objective, accurate and balanced reporting of the news within their country and around the world," stated Norman J. Pattiz, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors' Middle East Committee. "Even though we had early indications of Al-Hurra's success, the fact that 61 per cent of Iraqis are watching the network after being on the air for several months is extremely encouraging. There was never a question that people would watch Al-Hurra, but no one could have predicted this many, this quickly." The Oxford survey covered all of Iraq with a total sample of 2,912 adults. Oxford Research International provides a unique research facility in the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe, the CIS, Central Asia, China, South-East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The firm was founded in 1995 by a group of analysts who received their training at the doctoral level at the University of Oxford. An earlier telephone survey of satellite television viewers in major cities of the Middle East conducted in April by the French research firm Ipsos-Stat showed that a range of 18 per cent to 44 per cent of adults (15+) who live in houses with telephone and satellite dishes in seven Middle Eastern countries had watched Al-Hurra in the previous week. The surveys were conducted in Lebanon (Beirut), Syria (Damascus and Aleppo), United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Egypt (Cairo and Alexandria), Kuwait (Kuwait City), Jordan (Amman, Irbid and Zarka) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Jiddah) in early April. Past week viewing in Lebanon was 40 per cent; Syria 29 per cent; UAE 19 per cent; Egypt 18 per cent; Kuwait 44 per cent; Jordan 37 per cent and Saudi Arabia 19 per cent. Of those who said they had watched Al-Hurra, 53 per cent of Al-Hurra viewers consider its news "very" or "somewhat" reliable. Reliability figures were 70 per cent for Saudi Arabia; 54 per cent for Lebanon; 40 per cent for Egypt; 44 per cent for Jordan; 61 per cent for Kuwait; 65 per cent for UAE and 37 per cent for Syria. Al-Hurra and Al-Hurra Iraq are operated by a non-profit corporation called "The Middle East Television Network, Inc" (MTN). MTN is financed by the American people through the US Congress. MTN receives this funding through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency that oversees all US international broadcasting. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters. Source: Al-Hurra press release, Springfield (Virginia), in English 19 Jul 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. AFRTS SATELLITE CONTRACT AWARDED TO T-SYSTEMS The American Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO) and headquarters of the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) has awarded a new contract to T-Systems for TV and radio program distribution via satellite. Specialists from the company’s media and broadcasting division will set up and operate earth-based satellite stations in Mannheim, Germany, and Vicenza, Italy for broadcasting AFRTS programs. Furthermore, the new contract now provides for using two transponders - instead of one - on the Hot Bird satellite system. This enables AFRTS to distribute up to 16 TV and 30 radio services all over Europe and in the Middle East as far as Kuwait. For 10 years now, T-Systems has been serving more than about 200,000 American military households or individual military members outside the USA direct via satellite for AFRTS. [no SW, I guess, but would be opportune -- gh] # posted by Andy @ 13:14 UT July 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U S A. 5080, 0800 8 July, R Martí in Spanish with US and Spanish announcers talking about politics in USA and Europe // 5130, 5980, 6030 – JSB (John Standingbear, Prescott Valley, Arizona, USA, DX 375 and whip, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) On a DX 375 and many other low- end receivers, you will get receiver-produced images, 900 kHz below the true frequency. I`m amazed that experienced DX listeners and editors still don`t realise this. 5080 is an image of 5980 and 5130 is an image of 6030 (gh, DXLD) 6027.4, 0858 26/6, R Martí good with transmission details at s/off – SMF 26/6 (SMF Stuart Forsyth, Waianakarua, AOR 7030, long wires, July NZ DX Times via DXLD) Very strange: would not expect an AOR 7030 to be off that much, nor would expect R. Martí to be, unless they were trying to sidestep a jammer. I am not aware that they have ever used this tactic. Or is this another instance of side-tuning and reporting the readout instead of the true carrier frequency? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. The noise Jeff hears on 7555 seems identical to the type of noise being observed on 7385 and it has been sending in this mode for about 12 months. Previous to that, the mode sounded to be a facsimile type of transmission [like 'galloping horses']. I am assuming that it is the same transmitter. I believe this one is located somewhere in Europe and is audible on frequency whenever I tune across it, day and night. As remarked previously, I am no utility expert, but did note some time back a listing of a station in France as received by the British monitoring station at Baldock on this frequency, and which might have referred to this one. Broadcasters seem to be aware of it and have so far steered clear of the frequency - except maybe KJES (Noel Green, UK, July 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI will start broadcasting WORLD OF RADIO from July 26, UT Mondays at 0230 on 7385. By the following week, WRMI will probably have a new frequency below 7 MHz, to escape the interference on 7385 if it continues. Jeff White says the DX program schedule for the moment is: UT Sunday 0230 Viva Miami or Voice of the NASB 0300 DX Party Line UT Monday 0230 World of Radio 0300 Wavescan (Glenn Hauser, July 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. media bytes: tuesday, july 20, 2004 ... Updated: | 06:07| a.m. | pt | --- Air America Radio is expected to announce -- jointly - - with a major radio chain a new package deal that includes San Diego. AAR host Randi Rhodes started to hint that San Diego will be a new home of the network during her broadcast last week, and meanwhile -- work has begun to transform a heritage station. The move is being dictated by corporate offices and the annoucement is slated to be either late this week or early next. Station officials have denied the move, while station ad executives are telling advertisers that new programming is slated. Air America Radio is optimistic that that the new "coast-to-coast" deal will begin to give the punch they need to be heard on AM and FM stations in all corners of the U.S. Stay Tuned. (SDRadio.net July 20 via DXLD) ** U S A. "RADIO FREE SILVER" PULLED OFF THE AIR BY STATION OWNER http://www.thedailypress.com/artman/publish/printer_1263.shtml By Jim Owen Jul 20, 2004, 18:39 "Radio Free Silver" a one-hour, daily, liberal talk show in Silver City [New Mexico] is off the air. KNFT Radio owner Matt Runnels announced Monday he was canceling "RFS" because 20 to 25 of the station's advertisers threatened to pull their spots from all KNFT programming if the show continued to be aired. Runnels said he was faced with a loss of nearly $10,000 in monthly advertising revenue. Car dealers, bankers, pizza business owners, all-terrain vehicle sellers and furniture-store owners were among those who threatened to pull their ads, according to Runnels. "It's a shame that, in America, we can't have someone with an opposing view," he said. "It wasn't like ('RFS' was) preaching anarchy. ... If you don't like what you hear, push the button. There's a lot of programming out there. "I do a lot of conservative programming," Runnels continued. "We have (talk shows hosted by) Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly." Runnels said some advertisers objected to the liberal show's criticism of President Bush. "Rush Limbaugh still badgers and belittles and degrades President Clinton, and he hasn't been in office for four years," Runnels noted. "I thought, as a balance, we could put ('RFS') in a slot," he said. "But, after a month or six weeks, I started hearing rumblings." Some customers didn't want their advertisements aired on "RFS." They "told us (an official) with the Cattle Growers (Association) came by and said it was an un-American show," Runnels reported. Business owners said the association official told them the cattle growers would boycott KNFT advertisers if the show was not canceled, according to Runnels. Ty Bays, southwest area vice president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and a former president of the Grant County Area Cattle Growers Association, denied that either organization threatened a boycott. "If (association members) want to support area businesses that advertise on that station, that's up to them," Bays told the Daily Press. "We have not made any official statement. We're not officially banning that radio station. Our members listen to country music; when they hear ('RFS'), they probably turn it off." The president of the Grant County Area Cattle Growers Association, Jason Dobrinski, was not available for comment this morning. Because of customer complaints, KNFT stopped placing any advertising on "RFS," instead requiring the program to pay for itself by collecting about $600 a month from supporters. The fund-raising goal was met, and the program became self-sustaining, according to Runnels. He said "a lot of people" contributed, with checks ranging from $1 to $100. However, KNFT advertisers continued "calling our sales people," threatening to cancel their ads because of "RFS," Runnels said. © Copyright 2004 by thedailypress.com (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) ** U S A. We see in PublicRadioFan.com listings that there is a new webcasting station from New Mexico, KSFR 90.7 in Santa Fe. It`s relatively low-powered and not on Sandía Crest, so doesn`t make it into Albuquerque, except in certain sweet spots, but has built up steadily in the last few years into a good local public radio station which can concern itself with Santa Fe, not Albuquerque. Check out their program schedule at http://www.ksfr.org Some intriguing titles, and a good variety of music shows in the evening; the ones I have picked out to enter in my Monitoring Reminders Calendar, and to check out when possible, beginning with weekday drivetime magazines with lots of local content, here strictly UT days and times: M-F 1400-1500 Santa Fe Radio Café M-F 2200-2400 The Journey Home Tue 0030-0100 Living Juicy Tue 0300-0600 Beyond Borders Wed 0130-0400 Tuesday Night at the Opera Wed 0400-0600 Map Is Not Territory Thu 0100-0200 You Heard It Here First --- new music Thu 0400-0600 Last Hours of the Night Fri 0200-0400 Acoustic Explorations Fri 1830-1900 Center Stage --- arts in SF Sat 0100-0200 Soundtrax Sat 0200-0300 Best of Broadway Sat 0300-0400 Southwest Stages Sat 0400-0600 Santa Fe Opry Sat 1430-1500 Boom Box Classroom Sat 1800-1830 New Mexico This Week Sun 1300-1400 Ancient Airs Sun 1800-1830 New Mexico This Week Sun 1900-2000 Living on the Edge –-- Toward a Sustainable New Mexico Unfortunately the WM stream keeps hanging up on us, but we get it to go sometimes. Hope they get the bugs out of this soon. Especially entertaining was Last Hours of the Night. Also see host`s website http://www.publicradiogod.com Only a few of NM`s public radio stations webcast: KUNM in Albuquerque (which also covers Santa Fe, but Albuquerque comes first), KRWG in Las Cruces, KSJE in Farmington, another recent addition KEDU-LP in Ruidoso, and now KSFR, most welcome from the closest cultural oasis to Enid, The City Different, where the minimum wage has been raised to $8.50 since the Bush regime won`t do so, and neither will Kerry, the cost of living being so expensive there that even that barely keeps the average worker out of poverty. Some other NM stations we wish would webcast: KRZA Taos-Alamosa, KENW Portales, KANW Albuquerque, not to mention some of the exotic Res stations. At least KSUT does so from SW Colorado, also reaching into NW NM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. An advance tidbit from the Issue 29 AM Switch column. . . 1170 WWVA WV Wheeling - The mention of a proposed move to Stow, Ohio by this station (see Auction 84 items DX News, Issue 24) has conspicuously disappeared from the FCC database, having been dismissed by the feds. Let’s hope this is the last we hear of this outrageous proposal. Don't forget where you saw it first, hi. 73, (BILL Hale, July 20, NRC-AM via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) I heard on the 1440 WAJR (Morgantown, WV) News at noon today that Clear Channel was going to hold a press conference at 1400 today to announce that due to pressure from the listening public and WV members of Congress they have decided not to move the transmitter. Nothing else since (Larry N4SEA Fravel, Shinnston, WV, July 20, ibid.) From the time this was proposed, I was wondering what would happen if Senator Robert Byrd ever got wind of it. Now I wonder if that's what happened. 73 (Bill Dvorak, Madison WI, ibid.) I saw Byrd interviewed on Meet the Press with Russert this past Sunday. He seemed to be showing signs of Parkinson's disease, with hand tremors etc. I have no doubt he would be highly protective of such a well-known state asset. But I'd have to wonder how much time he has left (Bob Foxworth, FL, ibid.) Also about WWVA, registration required: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/9199108.htm?1c (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. STEALING ALL TRANSMISSIONS http://www.metropulse.com/dir_zine/dir_2004/1430/t_eye.html Knoxville’s pirate radio station was the victim of a burglary last Monday afternoon, when two men broke into Knoxville’s First Amendment Radio`s trailer in South Knoxville, stealing two CD players, a turntable, computer, headphones, TV monitor and a few other items. The theft didn`t shut KFAR 90.9 FM down; the most important equipment --- the mixing board and transmitter --- were bolted down. But it did leave the volunteer-run station scrambling to replace what was lost. ``We have equipment burn out from overuse a lot, so every few months we`re replacing something. Most of the equipment that was stolen we`d bought in the past year,`` says one KFAR deejay, who goes by the alias The Ghost. ``We definitely did not have the funds to purchase new equipment.`` The Ghost said he couldn’t estimate how much all the equipment cost. Some speculate that the thieves might have gotten the idea to raid the station after reading the July 4 News Sentinel article that focused on KFAR. The station has stepped up security, replacing the locks and putting out a new security camera. ``One good thing about [the theft] is it kind of prepared us for if the FCC came and took our equipment, how fast can we get stuff to get back on the air,`` he says. If you`d like to help out, a list of needed equipment will soon be up on the station`s website, http://www.kfar.org or you can call the station at 577-7955. Keep an eye out for some upcoming benefits in the Old City (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. PIRATE STATIONS UNDER ATTACK --- Radio, TV and law enforcement officials gathered in Hollywood on Tuesday to talk about ways to sink radio pirates. BY JONATHAN ABEL, Miami Herald http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/9202447.htm?1c The disc jockeys on one Fort Lauderdale hip-hop radio station routinely use the words ''f--k'' and ''b---h'' along with other obscenities. They encourage underage drinking, and can block key emergency communications. Even the advertising pushes the envelope. A DJ on 89.1 FM, for example, made this pitch for a local liquor store on Friday night: ''If you're 18 with ID, you can get anything you want, if you know what I mean.'' The station did not return more than a dozen phone calls to The Herald over the past two days. More than 50 radio managers and owners gathered Tuesday at a meeting of the Florida Sheriffs Association at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood. Their goal: To plot strategy on taking small-time, illegal operators off the air. South Florida is the capital of pirate radio stations -- those that are not licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, according to Matt Leibowitz, general counsel for the Florida Association of Broadcasters. And because those stations are not licensed, they do not adhere to FCC regulations. ''It's a Catch-22,'' Leibowitz said. ``If you're not licensed, you're not subject to the same standards of decency.'' But now, thanks to a new law against unlicensed radio transmission that took effect July 1, the crime has been elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony. Under the new state law, those convicted of radio piracy -- now a third-degree felony -- face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Previously, radio piracy was outside of local law enforcement's jurisdiction because it was a federal misdemeanor. That meant it was rarely, if ever, enforced, Leibowitz said. OBSCENITY ABOUNDS The medium is dangerous and the message is obscene, law enforcement officers say. Yet pirate radio is at the center of a flourishing counter-culture in South Florida, where around 35 underground stations operate. ''Because there's such a low cost involved in setting up a pirate radio station, someone can go to Radio Shack, buy some inexpensive radio equipment and literally communicate gang messages on different frequencies that gang members driving in a car or listening at home can hear,'' said state Rep. David Rivera (R-Miami), who sponsored the new law. The Broward Sheriff's Office has one of the most advanced -- and aggressive -- anti-pirating programs in Florida, experts say. Even before the new law went into effect, BSO shut down a dozen stations over the past 18 months, said Capt. Larry DeFuria. ''We found out through basic police work that people who violate federal laws generally violated other laws,'' DeFuria said. TOUGH ENFORCEMENT For example, radio pirates often did not have proper proof of ownership for their equipment, weren't operating out of a properly zoned building, or their electrical equipment was not up to code, and BSO could take the equipment. ''It takes ruthless, local law enforcement tactics,'' DeFuria said. The general area of interference, according to BSO, is south of Sunrise Boulevard in the Fort Lauderdale area. But it's not just the obscene message that rankles pirate radio's critics; it's also the medium which, they say, poses a danger by blocking legitimate radio transmissions. ''They could frustrate an Amber Alert or interfere in a weather emergency,'' said Reggie Garcia, an attorney for FAB. When more than one station broadcasts over the same signal, there is an overlap in which the pirate station can be heard over a legitimate one, experts say. Radio executives say that is not fair. ''We had pirates on both sides of the dial,'' said Jerry Carr, president and CEO of WXEL, who has been involved in lobbying for this new legislation. ``They put us out of business in some areas.'' García also pointed out that pirate stations have tampered with air traffic control signals. ''There is a chance that people could die because of it,'' said Roy Pressman, a broadcast consultant (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. FLORIDA (PIRATE), 1620, Radio Keenam, Orlando; 0045+ 20 July; tune-in to French (almost RFO-ish sound) talk, but later definitely Kreyol talk (preaching?). Fading in between WTAW and the Virgin Islands. Probably the Orlando pirate, but the Homestead Kreyol also a possibility (Terry Krueger, Clearwater, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. U.S. X-BAND AT A GLANCE - JULY 2004 COMPILED BY TONY KING, GREYTOWN, NEW ZEALAND Send corrections or updates to broadcast.dx @ radiodx.com 1610 CJWI Montreal QUE FF/Creole 1620 WHLY South Bend IN ``ESPN Radio 1620 South Bend`` (Call swap. WDND to 1580) KOZN Bellevue NE ``ESPN 1620 Omaha``s The Zone`` WTAW College Station TX ``Newstalk 16-20 WTAW`` Takes ``USA Radio News`` & C-to-C AM KBLI Blackfoot ID SS sports ESPN Radio KYIZ Renton WA Urban AC/ Black Oldies // KRIZ ``Z Twins`` KSMH West Sacramento, CA Rel. ETWN Catholic. ``KSMH West Sacramento`` WDHP Frederikstad, US Virgins BBC WS to after 0600 UTC. Full ID at :59 [missed the R. Martí relay reports] 1630 KCJJ Iowa City IA Talk/Sport KKWY Fox Farm WY C&W AP nx ``The Spirit of Wyoming`` ``K-W-Y 1630`` KKGM Ft Worth/Dallas TX Rel. Some SS. x KNAX WRDW Augusta GA Talk/Sport ``Newstalk 1630`` [Still missing XEUT Tijuana tho 1700 is listed below, and CJWI] 1640 WKSH Sussex WI Disney KDZR Lake Oswego OR Disney ``KDZR Radio Disney Portland`` ``AM 1640 KDZR`` KDIA Vallejo CA Talk/religious/life issues WTNI Biloxi MS ``Talk Radio 1640 WTNI Biloxi`` Takes Coast to Coast, ABC nx KFNY Enid-Oklahoma City OK All Comedy Radio. P.O. Box 952 Enid OK 73702 KBJA Sandy UT SS/Radio Única/Radio Latina. EE ID on hour 1650 WHKT Portsmouth VA Disney. ``AM1650 WHKT Portsmouth, Radio Disney`` KBIV El Paso TX C & W. ``Country Classics KBIV`` KCNZ Cedar Falls IA Talk/ Sport. KDNZ call to 1250. Takes ``Coast to Coast`` KWHN Fort Smith AR ``Newstalk 1650 KWHN`` KBJD Denver CO Talk. ``KNUS-2`` KFOX Torrance CA Korean/ EE ID on hour 1660 KTIQ Merced CA Now ``Radio Visa`` SS talk. EE ID ``KTIQ Merced`` WFNA Charlotte NC Sporting News Radio // WFNZ 610 WWRU Elizabeth NJ Now Korean format [UPDATE] WCNZ Marco Is FL ``Newsradio 1660`` AP nx WQSN Kalamazoo MI Sports/talk ESPN KRZX Waco TX ESPN + local sport //KRZI 1580. Nx on hr/local ads .05 KQWB West Fargo ND Nostalgia ``Star 1660 is KQWB AM`` CNN news KXOL Brigham City UT ``Oldies Radio`` (60``s rock) KXTR Kansas City KS ``Classical 1660`` WGIT Canóvanas Puerto Rico SS oldies ``El Gigante`` 1670 WMWR Warner Robins/Macon GA News/Talk x WRNC ``Talk Radio WMWR 1670`` WTDY Madison WI Sports/Talk. ``Talk Radio 1670`` (Sporting News Network) KHPY Moreno Valley, CA Radio Católica SS EE on the hour. KNRO Redding CA ``Redding``s ESPN Radio 1670 KNRO`` 1680 WTTM Princeton NJ Ethnic – Asian ``EBC Radio`` WLAA Winter Garden FL SS WDSS Ada MI Disney ``AM1680 WDSS`` KAVT Fresno CA Disney/SS KTFH Seattle WA Ethnic/SS Rel/ ``The Bridge, AM 16-80 KTFH Seattle.`` KRJO Monroe LA Urban Gospel. ``Rejoice 1680`` 1690 KDDZ Arvada CO Disney KFSG Roseville CA SS rel. and Asian. EE ID on hr ``KFSG Sacramento`` WRLL Berwyn/Chicago IL ``Real Oldies 1690`` WSWK Adel GA Atlanta Country. To move to Avondale Estates GA. WPTX Lexington Park MD ``Newstalk 1690 WPTX`` CNN headline News 1700 WJCC Miami Springs FL SS/Rel/ ``Radio Luz`` WEUV Huntsville AL Black Gospel. KTBK Sherman TX Sporting News Radio ``Sports Radio 1310 KTCK- The Ticket`` KBGG Des Moines IA ``All News 1700 KBGG``. CNN. Now SS format ?? KVNS Brownsville TX ``Newstalk 1700 KVNS The Valley``s Talk`` XEKTT Tijuana MX New. (XEPE mentioned as call by Tim Hall, Corazón DX) (July NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** U S A. NEWS FLASH, THE CLUE TRAIN FOR TV NEWS --- 17 July 2004 I broke down and got a copy of the book. It's by Bonnie Anderson, formerly of CNN, NBC, The Miami Herald and Cocca, now Florida Today. The only thing I found in the entire book that needs clarification is Matt Lauer`s journalistic quals. Matt came out of the same primordial soup that Robin Young did, PM Magazine, at WJAR TV in Providence RI. In that format you learned how to due an interview or you were gone. She won't be on the O'Reilly factor anytime soon, however. The chapter on Fox is worth the price of the book alone. The bad and ugly chapters are priceless. Paul Harris interviewed her on his talk show in St Louis a couple of weeks back and here's the audio; it's in real [two segments]. http://www.harrisonline.com/audio/listings/bonnieanderson.htm This book is the "clue train" for TV news. Go read it. Before one of the suits at CNN gets lucky and slaps a restraining order on the publisher (they have tried). (Music choices for the book: Who Loves You ---Four Seasons) and Moonlight Feels Right ---Starbuck). (Lou Josephs blog July 17 via DXLD) Viz.: Bonnie Anderson [7/7/04]: The veteran TV newswoman talks with Paul about her book, "News Flash," in which she says that TV news is no longer about journalism and the truth, and it's not about a liberal or conservative bias -- the only bias in TV news is towards the bottom line. She discusses the hiring practices, the lack of ethics, and the lack of delineation between news and entertainment. Bonnie also explains why she withheld information while covering the Waco siege, and how a top CNN executive was wrong to suppress information about atrocities in Iraq and Cuba just to maintain the network's relationship with their governments. This is the book the network news divisions don't want you to read! [see site for two audio linx] [Amazon.com] Bonnie Anderson's book is "News Flash: Journalism, Infotainment, and the Bottom-Line Business of Broadcast News" (via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Radio Nacional de Venezuela, a través de sus programas en onda corta [¡vía Cuba!], está anunciando que ha efectuado algunos cambios en sus trasmisiones, y da como válidos y actualizados los siguientes: Zona de San Francisco 1100-1200 H. Local, 1800-1900 UTC 13740 KHz Zona del Caribe 1500-1600 H. Local, 1900-2000 UTC 9550 KHz Zona de Wáshington 1605-1705 H. Local, 2005-2105 UTC 6000 KHz Zona de Chicago 1705-1805 H. Local, 2205-2305 UTC 9820 KHz Zona de Chile 1700-1800 H. Local, 2100-2200 UTC 11875 KHz Zona de Buenos Aires 1700-1800 H. Local, 2000-2100 UTC 15230 KHz Zona de Río de Janeiro 1700-1800 H. Local, 2000-2100 UTC 17705 KHz Agradece que se reporten estas transmisiones a la siguiente dirección de correo electrónico: wwwondacorta@hotmail.com [sic] o al Apartado de Correos 3979, Caracas, Venezuela [sic: see previous reports that this is out of service, replaced by a complicated street address] (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No he escuchado los anuncios, pero en realidad no hubo cambio en la emisión para ``San Francisco`` (no importa el resto del país?). El 20 de julio la encuentro como siempre a las 19 TU, y no a las 18. La emisora se queda mas confusa que nunca. Del horario citado parecen haber cambiado la cantidad de horas entre TU y hora local para la figura correcta en este caso, 7 horas en verano -- pero cambiaron la hora citada en TU en vez de la hora local! A las 19 TU, en San Francisco son las 12 del mediodía, y no las 11 de la mañana. Aunque escribo antes de pasar más horas de la tarde, pienso que las otras emisiones (excepto para Sud-América), se encontren como siempre una hora más tarde en TU que citadas arriba. Hay que recordar que todas estas emisiones emanan desde Cuba y no desde Venezuela, aunque la emisora no lo admite. Si Chávez caiga del poder en el referendo del 15 de agosto, sin duda La Habana termine este acuerdo... 73, (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Luego:] en 9550, RNV todavía a las 20 y no a las 19 TU, es decir a las 16 y no a las 15, hora de verano de Cuba, y horas normales en PR y RD, los principales países caribeños hispanoparlantes; a las 2030 no puedo confirmar 15230, y como siempre 17705 está lleno de Grecia vía Delano. 6000 inaudible a las 2105 tanto como las 2005. Hasta cierre a las 2201, algo in 11875, no confirmado RNV. En la hora de las 22, nada en 9820. Hubo portadora por las 2250 en 11760, y comenzando a las 23, señal de intervalo de RNV, pésima calidad de sonido, emisión perdida arriba, pero en el esquema anterior para América Central a las ``1700`` y todavía nada en 9820 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS U S. 1620, Radio Martí (via WDHP-EB), Frederikstad; GMT 0045-0300 tune-out 18 July; the weekend Martí relay clearly here - - fading in with baseball coverage, Martí jingles, // 6030. Overall fairly good signal (Terry Krueger & David Crawford at Krueger's QTH- Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What`s ``-EB``? Extended band? ** ZAMBIA. In response to my query, N. Pakula of ZNBC replied the following. ``We are planning to put our signals (radio and TV) on satellite. We are also planning to re design our QSL card. We want it in colour`` (Swopan Chakroborty, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This item had no country header, but I can only assume it refers to Zambia (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SANGEAN PT-80 Just got PT-80, works good. Someone has done their homework on this one. Are there any SW clubs in or around KC MO. SW man for 60 years, love old radio. HI""""" (Larry Margrave, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NTMK PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MW & LW TA's Glenn: I was lucky here in N.J. to log FM DX from Canada and Arkansas- to-Florida during the July 5 to 7 openings that you already mentioned, but also.... There have been Trans-Atlantic Long Wave African stations on 153, 207 and 252 kHz at 0430 UT July 13 and 0430 UT on July 19. All with various North African music. Many Medium Wave stations also heard between 531 and 1602 kHz, so I counted split-frequency signals with my BFO set for a 400 Hertz tone. 14 splits around 0430 UT 7/13 29 splits from 0240-0300 7/14 35 splits between 0225-0245 7/15 56 splits between 0415 & 0500 7/17 8 splits around 0140 7/19 Most were too weak to show audio; the best signal came from Spain- 1359, S7 at 0419 7/17 with music & man speaking Spanish. Some MW stations not quite dead on the 9 kHz splits were 890.927 or 890.981 (different nights), 963.956, 1034.986, 1071.061, 1295.99v, and 1583.994 kHz (Wells Perkins - way west of the Statue of Liberty in New Jersey, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels. The first two days of the summary period were dominated by quiet to active geomagnetic conditions due to the influence of the coronal hole high speed stream. Activity levels decayed to generally quiet to unsettled conditions with isolated active periods. The onset of the transient on 16 July resulted in active to major storm levels early on 17 July. Thereafter, through the end of the summary period, the field was quiet to unsettled. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 21 JULY - 16 AUGUST 2004 Solar activity is expected to range from low to high. Regions 649 and 652 are both expected to produce further M and X-class activity early in the period. Old Region 646 is due to return on 29 July and could produce isolated M-class flare activity through 12 August. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is possible. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 26 – 27 July due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to active levels with minor storm periods at high latitudes. Unsettled to active conditions with high latitude minor storm periods are possible on 25- 26 July as a recurrent coronal high speed stream rotates into a geoeffective position. At the time of this writing, a CME associated with an M8 flare in Region 652 appears to be at least partially Earth directed; consequently, minor to major storm levels are possible on 23 July. Region 652 is a very large and complex sunspot group with good potential for geoeffective CMEs during the first week the forecast period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2004 Jul 20 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2004 Jul 20 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2004 Jul 21 170 8 3 2004 Jul 22 170 15 3 2004 Jul 23 170 20 4 2004 Jul 24 165 10 3 2004 Jul 25 160 10 3 2004 Jul 26 150 10 3 2004 Jul 27 140 12 3 2004 Jul 28 140 10 3 2004 Jul 29 125 12 3 2004 Jul 30 115 10 3 2004 Jul 31 110 10 3 2004 Aug 01 110 10 3 2004 Aug 02 110 10 3 2004 Aug 03 110 10 3 2004 Aug 04 110 10 3 2004 Aug 05 110 8 3 2004 Aug 06 110 8 3 2004 Aug 07 115 12 3 2004 Aug 08 125 12 3 2004 Aug 09 130 12 3 2004 Aug 10 130 8 3 2004 Aug 11 130 10 3 2004 Aug 12 140 10 3 2004 Aug 13 140 10 3 2004 Aug 14 140 10 3 2004 Aug 15 140 10 3 2004 Aug 16 140 8 3 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) AURORAL CONDITIONS Look out for aurora and auroral conditions of the next few days as today at 1230 UTC an M8 Class solar flare erupted from Sunspot 652 which had just come into view (Mark Coady, Ont., July 20, ODXA via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) Alle 1229 UTC le onde corte si sono improvvisamente svuotate!!! Dopo avere inviato l'allerta ho riacceso il ricevitore e la situazione è tornata normale. Ciò è avvenuto nel giro di circa mezz'ora, però posso assicurare che nonostante la brevità il fenomeno non è stato determinato da eventuali difetti tecnici della mia stazione in quanto la banda di 13m era ancora attiva e sui 49m il livello del noise elettrico locale era regolare ma le broadcasting erano sparite tutte. Possibile un black out così breve? (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, July 20, bclnews.it via WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DXLD) As often happens following a blackout, the MUF shot up the next day: July 21 around 1410, 13m was hopping from the Middle East, with Dubai 21605 heard well for the first time in a long time, among others. Look at the SF = 170, highest for a long time (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1239, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###