DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-042, March 9, 2005 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2005 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1266: Thu 0900 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 [1000 from March 24; also weekend repeats TBA] Thu 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Thu 2130 WOR WWCR 15825 Fri 0100 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400] Fri 0930 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2 [1030 from March 25; also weekend repeats TBA] Fri 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Sat 0000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream Sat 0600 WOR SIUE WEB RADIO [but not this week] Sat 0900 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1130 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 2030 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0430 WOR WRMI 7385 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 0930 WOR WRN1 to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 0930 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9 Sun 0930 WOR WXPN Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9 Sun 0930 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed] Sun 0930 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional] Sun 1030 WOR WRMI 9955 Sun 1100 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 1400 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5 Sun 1500 WOR R. Lavalamp Sun 2000 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sun 2100 WOR RNI Mon 0330 WOR WRMI 7385 Mon 0400 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [Extra 54] Mon 0530 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0900 WOR R. Lavalamp Mon 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Tue 0700 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 Tue 1000 WOR WRMI 9955 Tue 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9985 Wed 1700 WOR WBCQ after hours MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html ON DEMAND [from Fri:] http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] WORLD OF RADIO 1266 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266h.rm WORLD OF RADIO 1266 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1266.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1266.html [from Thu?] WORLD OF RADIO 1266 in the true shortwave sound of 7415: (stream) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-09-05.m3u (d`load) http://www.piratearchive.com/media/worldofradio_03-09-05.mp3 WOR ON SIUE EDWARDSVILLE WEB RADIO --- Glenn, World of Radio will not air on SIUE Web Radio on March 12 --- the campus is on Spring Break that week. WOR will return to its regular slot with two back-to-back editions on March 19 at the same time (0600 UT/Midnight CST). World of Radio Extra #54 is running in automation over the break. 73, (E. B. Stevenson, March 3, SIUEWR) ** ALASKA. KNLS, English at 0800 back on 11765: Changes in presentation; now music from the last 20 years or so; previously had only been American classics (Christer Brunström, Christian DX Report, HCJB DX Partyline March 5, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTIGUA. BBC harmonic heard in NE USA Wednesday 9 March 2005, 30.38 MHz AM: BBC World Service Antigua relay FK97 2nd harmonic 15.19 MHz. OM, YL with news 1648-1700 UTC S5+ > 6 > 7 with good audio quality. Off w/o announcement @ 1700 (Jack Sullivan, Central New Jersey, FN20, harmonics yg via DXLD) So, still there ** ANTIGUA. Re: ``From what I've heard, the BBC is also moving most of their Antigua transmitter-hours to Montsinéry.`` --- Decided at short notice? I saw an A05 schedule for VT, still with the usual Antigua transmissions and nothing at Montsinéry All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Appears BBC will also no longer be on WYFR; see U S A ** CUBA. Re: ``The program was the English broadcast to North America on 6000 ... It was surprising to get this broadcast because I am in Europe!`` --- I know 6000 as a good possibility to hear RHC here in Europe, at least some years ago. Wasn't it understood to be run with a 250 kW transmitter? All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC on 12200 in Spanish, weak mixing product of 11800 and 12000 at 200-kHz intervals, 1423 UT March 9 with news summary following Fidel fragment (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. R. Martí, 15330 announced at 1400 UT March 9 that in addition to usual frequencies, it was now on WPIK 102.5 Summerland Key FL. So exactly what is the schedule via this station? Initially it was 6 pm to 6 am only, give or take (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. The only AM Stereo station in Europe - France Bleu has switched to DRM mode during the day for a few days I'm told on the same MW frequency of 864 khz. Unfortunately the DRM transmitter is 1 fifth of the analogue 300 kW transmitter - 60 kW, so reception is unlikely to be heard in the UK (Dave, UK, March 8, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Hi, Radio France started DRM transmissions via Paris-Villebon on 864 kHz today. This is in conjunction with an exhibition on digital broadcasting held in Paris until March 11. After that date transmissions will probably go back to analog (Rémy Friess, France, March 8, MWC via DXLD) ** GERMANY. On March 1st, Germany's public broadcasters officially abandoned the old ARI traffic information system. ARI used the same 57 kHz subcarrier than RDS, but it was an analogue system, delivering just six area codes and an announcement code by modulating the subcarrier with different tones. Due to this sharing RDS had to be kept at a quite low modulation level (1.2 kHz instead of 4 kHz elsewhere), resulting in difficulties to receive RDS on weaker signals. In practice ARI was switched off on one transmitter after another. On some sites it is still active, and probably some commercial broadcasters do not intend to abandon it by now at all. ARI was introduced in West Germany in 1974 and in East Germany in the late eighties. It was also in use in Switzerland until 2003 and is still active in Austria. But certainly it is even more interesting that ARI was introduced in Czechoslovakia in 1987, in the OIRT band. Suitable car radios were manufactured by Tesla. As announced Deutschlandradio Berlin became Deutschlandradio Kultur on March 7 at midnight sharp (2300 UT on March 6). On this occasion the whole Deutschlandradio website has been redesigned as well. Audio of the lead-over to the news at 23:00 and an opener at 23:05 (being the very last Deutschlandradio Berlin jingle they broadcast), the news at 00:00 (first ever Deutschlandradio Kultur jingle) and a first programme opener at 00:05: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/050305_a3.ram And the launch of Deutschlandradio Berlin 11 years ago, on New Years Day 1994: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/050305_a2.ram All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [non]. I am sending you the program for the period A05 for the broadcasts from Delano and Greenville. DELANO 15190 0600-0800 GMT / 296 (every Saturdays and Sundays 0600-0700 GMT) 9775 1200-1500 GMT / 075 (every Saturdays and Sundays 1200-1600 GMT) 17705 1600-2200 GMT / 075 GREENVILLE 17565 2000-2200 GMT / 164 (Ch. Charalampopoulos, ERT, via John Babbis, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So they plan to stay on 9775 for the 1200 broadcast; not sure how well this will hold up thru the summer, and for the Sat/Sun 1500-1600 fill- in, perhaps still including English on Sat? that will be on 9775 on later instead of 17705 (now 15485) on earlier (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LUXEMBOURG. RTL is trying to get 567, 783 and 1098 kHz coordinated for use with 250 kW and 279 kHz with 300 kW. Cf. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/brific-ter/index.html and there specifically http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/brific-ter/files/ge75/2005/GE75_112.pdf Interesting, to say the least, that coordination for 783 kHz is marked as necessary only with Spain and Portugal but not with Germany. All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. RTM A05 Effective from 27 March 2005 till 30 Oct 2005 All Daily transmissions FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF LOC PWR AZI SLW ANT LANG 3385 2200 1500 54 MIR 10 0 0 751 Local 4845 0000 2400 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 Tamil 4895 2200 0100 54NE STA 10 0 0 751 Local 4895 0800 1500 54NE STA 10 0 0 751 Local 4970 2100 1800 54NE TUA 10 0 0 751 Local 5005 2200 1500 54NE SIB 10 0 0 751 Local 5030 2200 2400 54NE STA 10 0 0 751 Local 5965 0000 2400 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 Malay 5980 2200 1500 54NE TUA 10 0 0 751 Local 6025 0200 1700 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 LocalMalay 6050 2200 1500 54NE SIB 10 0 0 751 Local 6060 0400 1500 54NE MIR 10 0 0 751 Local 6100 1300 1530 54NE KAJ 100 343 0 805 Thai/Bur 6175 0300 0830 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 English 6175 1000 1900 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 IndoMalay 7130 0400 0600 54NE STA 10 0 0 751 Local 7270 0800 1500 54 STA 100 45 0 101 Local 7295 0000 2400 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 English 9750 0300 0830 54SE KAJ 100 150 0 145 English 9750 1000 1900 54SE KAJ 100 150 0 145 Indo/Malay 11885 1030 1230 44N,45NW KAJ 100 25 0 218 Chinese 15295 0300 1230 55,58-60 KAJ 250 133 0 218 Eng/Chin 15295 1530 1900 39 KAJ 250 295 0 218 Arab/Malay (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not all of these may be active (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. Found a good sporadic-E opening in progress at 1508 UT March 9, weather for Nuevo León including 5-day forecast, obscured by a curvy weatherfemale; always nice to get XEFB-2 here at under 800 miles, especially off-season; more Mexicans interfered, also on 3, and co-channel interference on 4, 5 and 6, so opening possibly will poke into FM band. At this time no other reports of an Es opening had been posted on the WTFDA list and nothing posted on the TV FM Skip log http://dxworld.com/tvfmlog.html since March 6 until I fixed that at 1530! Es remained in all day at least on 2 and 3; at 2100 UT on 3 Spanish lessons in English with DVS added on SAP, WEDU?, 2125 Spanish and English mixing on 2, then until 2240 fadeout 2 dominated by a station on the Azteca-7 network with a semi-roundtable sports discussion; would that I knew from which of several possibilities, Tampico probably most likely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. Dear Thomas Roth, I found your email address in Hardcore Dx digest which I also subscribe to. Please since you are in Nepal I was wondering if you can help me get a QSL card/letter verification of my reception report to Radio Nepal. They have refused to reply all my previous letters to them. Emmanuel Ezeani, Nigeria (via Thomas Roth, Nepal, HCDX via DXLD) Hi Emmanuel and group, I cc this to the list for a certain reason. Over the years I've had various requests for help with getting QSLs from Radio Nepal. Now, here's why I, unfortunately, cannot help in this respect: Consider the Kingdom of Nepal for a few minutes. Most folks don't even know where Nepal is. Now, of course DXers do!!! Nepal is one of the most beautiful but also most poorest countries in the world and has been so for many many years. The sole reason Nepal keeps a shortwave transmitter, and a few medium wave ones, on the air is simply because it's the only means to keep the remoter parts of the country (of which there are many) supplied with news, or at least with what the government in Kathmandu wants them to know. Since about 10 years we have a so-called 'Maoist Revolution' going on here that has turned outright nasty and bloody in the last 5 years. Just very recently the King threw the very corrupt and very incompetent 'elected' government out (and rightly so!!!) and took things into his own hands. These are news which you might or might not have heard. It goes without saying that, with all the other stuff going on in the world, this tiny [sic] and insignificant Himalayan kingdom is not very high on the radar of international newscasters... Naturally, at a very crucial time like this, during which the continued flow of foreign aid would be so important, big donors like the almighty U.S. of A. and the British, the IMF and WTO and others withhold desperately needed aid because they see their 'holy cow democracy' endangered. As if it had ever worked here in the first place!!! They, even their ambassadors who never leave their secure embassies and armor plated cars, haven't the slightest clue what's going on on the ground here but have the audacity to tell people here what they have to do, or else... Now to the staff of Radio Nepal. They are chronically overworked and grossly underpayed people who know nothing beyond their immediate duties. They don't understand about the SWL hobby or DXing or that people even have time for hobbies!!! And in a country in which the station manager of the national radio station (monthly income about 10.000 NRs = less than 150 $) has to drive taxi at night in order to put food on his family's table or pay school fees for his children, no one has time for answering these (to them) very strange requests for verification of reception of broadcasts which were never intended for the folks who sent these requests in anyway. One other problem is the postal system. It is about as desolate as anything in this country and the majority of letters might not even make it to the Radio Nepal offices. Especially if they contain a dollar or two. Therefore my suggestion, if you hear Radio Nepal, log them. Record them and file that recording away. Let that be your verification. You know you heard them. You can prove it with your tape or .mp3 or what not. As long as things are as desperate here as they are, bury any hope to ever find an envelope with a Nepali stamp in your letter box. Even if I went there and asked them nicely to do something about these requests, I would just draw blank stares... 73 from Kathmandu and good DX to you all, (Thomas Roth, Nepal, March 9, HCDX via DXLD) I`m sure the same could be said of several other countries; not what QSL maniacs want to hear (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SECURITY FORCES ARREST MORE THAN 200 DEMONSTRATORS IN NEPAL | Excerpt from report by Nepalese newspaper Kantipur on 9 March Kathmandu, 8 March: More than 200 political leaders and cadres have been arrested for taking part in demonstrations organised by five political parties in various parts of the country. They were demanding "complete peace and restoration of democracy." Women were at the forefront of the demonstration that was launched on Women's Day. They took out a rally, calling for reinstatement of a democratic process, from Ason, in the heart of the capital. Women leaders of the five political parties were at the helm of the rally. [passage omitted] Rishi Ram Pokharel of "Tanahu Aawaj", a weekly published in Tanahu [west Nepal], was arrested in Damauli. He was arrested while the political parties were demonstrating. Restrictions were imposed on the movements of Nepali Congress leaders and cadres in Sarlahi [southern Nepal]. Source: Kantipur, Kathmandu, in Nepali 9 Mar 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** POLAND. Re: ``After the collapse of the radio mast at Konstantynow, the Polish broadcasting company used the old transmitter of Raszyn with its 335 metre high mast near Warszawa, which is used since 1978 during daytime for the transmission of a second programme of the Polish broadcasting service in the longwave range on the frequency 198 kHz, for transmissions on 225 kHz at nighttime with a power of 500 Kilowatt. During daytime the transmitter on 225 kHz was inactive, because the facility was not able to work on 198 kHz and 225 kHz at the same time.`` --- In fact Raszyn operated during these years always on 225 kHz, consequently leaving 198 kHz off and silent. Here in Germany some people were surprised about Polish Radio appearing on 198 kHz when the Solec Kujawski transmitter became operational. In so many years of silence this second Polish longwave outlet got simply forgotten here. Two more pictures of the collapsed Konstantynow/Gabin mast: http://community.webshots.com/photo/58788977/58789054lxUZuc http://community.webshots.com/photo/58788977/58789117tbnXfK All the best, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Subject: Zeitverzögerung / Programm Delay in Sines Hallo Steffen, wieder mal habe ich eine Frage an Dich, die Du mir beantworten oder vielleicht über Diensttelefon bei der DW Technik in Bonn klären kannst. Aus Schweden von Henrik und Glenn OK-USA bekam ich die Anfrage, warum das RDP Lissabon Programm Mo-Fr 0745-0900 11660 250 55 deg Sa/So 0930-1100 9815 250 55 deg das seit G-G Thiele's Urzeiten als Ausgleich für die Errichtung der Station in Portugal über den Sender Pro-Funk GmbH (DW): Sines, 250 kW ausgestrahlt wird, um circa 3.8 bis 4 Sekunden später beim Hörer ankommt. Das ist eine Menge Holz und ist nicht mit einem Satellite Hop zu erklären. Läuft das Program aus Lissabon zuerst über Satellit nach Bonn in den Schaltraum, und von dort wieder - über den DW Feed - nach Sines zurück? Oder resultiert die Verzögerung direkt in Sines am Sender wegen dem neuen AM/DRM/Simulcast Modulator, also die PC Softwarelösung? mhg de (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart to Steffen Hilbig, cc to DXLD) Hi Henrik, Glenn, and Carlos, today March 9th, DW says in an e-mail reply from DW Customer Service dept. by Mrs. Dorothea Bender, that time delay at Sines site occurs due to new digital transmitter usage. 73 wb AM/DRM/Simulcast Modulator Lieber Herr Büschel, vielen Dank für Ihre e-mail vom 7.3.2005. Wie Sie schon vermuteten, liegt die Ursache für die Zeitverzögerung im Einsatz des digitalen Senders. Mit freundlichen Grüßen DEUTSCHE WELLE, Kundenservice, Dorothea Bender (via Büschel, DXLD) Hello all! Now that the delay mystery is solved, I will ry to monitor some prgr being b/cast simultaneously by the RDPi on HF, the RDP 1 on MF and on VHF (typically the RDP 1 or "Antena 1" news on the h, and record the delays as I think the one noticed on HF is slightly bigger than that on MF as compared to the same prgr heard on FM. One other note re the two new Thales 300 kW units: I believe the final total of units available won't be 4 x 300 kW + 5 x 100 kW since maybe one or two of the old 100 kW will simply be removed, even if they're kept working normally these days. Future will tell. 73, (Carlos L. R de A. Gonçalves, Portugal, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7390, La Voz de Rusia, recibida bonita tarjeta QSL conmemorativa de 75 aniversario de Radio Moscú-La Voz de Rusia, con datos tales como que Radio Moscú comenzó a transmitir en el año 1929 y estuvo en el éter hasta 1989, en que fue sustituida por La Voz de Rusia. También enviaron varios sellos de correos, tarjeta postal, boletines de programación y carta de agradecimiento, en la que, además, se hace un repaso a la actualidad internacional, y curiosamente, se critican decisiones tomadas por el gobierno ruso, tales como los recortes sociales a los jubiliados, que están dando lugar a manifestaciones en Moscú. La carta tardó en llegar 75 días y el informe de recepción se envió por correo electrónico a las siguientes direcciónes: pcortes@col.ru y letters@vor.ru (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RWANDA. BBC MONITORING GUIDE TO THE RWANDAN MEDIA Contents 1. Overview 2. Press law 3. Media regulation 4. Press freedom 5. Broadcast media 6. Radio 7. Television 8. Print media 9. Profiles of leading papers 10. Other papers 11. News agencies 12. Important web sites Overview Media operations in present day Rwanda take place against the background of the 1994 genocide. This is due to the prominent role that the press, both state and private, played in the killings. The most notorious of these stations is the defunct private Radio Television des Mille Collines (RTLM), owned by hardline government supporters, that broadcast messages urging the extermination of the minority Tutsi ethnic community. The state Radio Rwanda was also accused of the same and so was Kangura (Kinyarwanda for "Wake Him Up") newspaper. According to a 1999 report by the New-York based Human Rights Watch, Radio Rwanda "broadcast directives important to the execution of the genocide". In December 2003, the Tanzania-based UN Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda handed to the heads of these media bodies lengthy jail terms for incitement to genocide. As a result, the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) government, which stopped the genocide in July 1994, has put in place stringent regulations governing media operations in Rwanda. This is especially for the broadcast media. The government defends the rigid regulations saying they are meant to prevent a repeat of the killings. However, government critics and international press organizations, while not disputing the government's concerns and the need to regulate the media, accuse the authorities of overplaying the genocide card with the aim of forcing the media to toe the government line. The government denies the claims and has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the press. It has published a law proclaiming press freedom and denouncing censorship but has incorporated in the same regulation articles threatening journalists with lengthy jail terms and hefty fines. This law is backed by other provisions in the constitution that often deal ruthlessly with anybody accused of dividing Rwandans or promoting "genocidal" ideas. The government has also set up a press regulation body but the organization has to operate from the president's office and is led by pro-government operatives. One newspaper, Umuseso, though, has taken the government to task over graft allegations and other forms of injustices but has had to pay the price of frequent arrests of its journalists and seizure of copies. Since the advent of the Uganda-backed RPF government, English has become an important language for the Rwandan media. The RPF's top leadership grew up in English-speaking Uganda. Also, due to France's support for the ousted regime, French, the national language since independence in 1962, became associated with the genocide. Therefore, its use in media has been in decline in recent times while at the same time preference for English is on the rise. In fact, the government has added English to the country's national languages. About half a dozen private radio stations have been licensed since the beginning of 2004 to compete with the government-controlled Radio Rwanda and its three community radios. Most of these stations have already started broadcasting. The state still holds monopoly over television and runs the only TV station, Television Rwanda (TVR). The print media, which seems to have fared better in post-genocide Rwanda, continues to publish with more than 20 registered titles. These are mainly in the local language Kinyarwanda, French and English. However, due to a number of factors, they do not publish regularly. Press law The Rwandan media is governed by Law No 18/2002 of May 2002 passed by the transitional National Assembly in April 2002. The law amended Law No 54/91 of November 1991 on the press. According to a 5 June 2002 report by the UN information agency, IRIN, the new law was only passed after the removal of clauses calling for lengthy jail terms and death penalty for journalists accused of advocating ethnic divisions and genocide. The draft law had also backed denial of entry to Rwanda to foreign journalists accused of genocide-related charges. The law had also proposed that journalists be compelled to reveal their sources. These clauses were either deleted or amended and the new law guarantees press freedom and rules out censorship. It also sets conditions for the establishment of newspapers, radio and TV stations; operations and regulation of media; and requirements for journalists. Article 10 of the law declares the press "free", while Article 11 says "censorship is not allowed". Article 14 sets out the conditions for those out to establish a newspaper in the country. The media house must have a publishing director and chief editor. The latter is "compulsorily a professional journalist", says the article. As per Article 16, the prospective publisher must notify the government one month in advance of intentions to launch a newspaper. The publisher must also reveal his identity, title of publication, address, periodicity, description of format, language to be used, and editorial orientation. Article 17 bans a person enjoying any form of immunity from operating as publishing director or editor. Article 18 demands that every publication displays name of its publishing director and editor, while Article 19 says that every story should have a by-line. Article 20 demands the same of photographers. Authors using pen names are also required to disclose their identity in writing. Anyone who sets up a paper without permission is liable for a fine of between 100,000 and 500,000 Rwandan francs (about 180- 900 dollars), while running an illegal TV or radio station warrants a fine of between 500,000 and one million francs (900-1,800 dollars). The court may order the closure of the station's enterprise. Article 34 covers operations of broadcast media and partly demands information on the identity of proprietor, types of programmes and their formatting. The definition of journalists is contained in Article 59, which also spells out their responsibilities. Further, all practising journalists must be accredited by the press council. The awarding of broadcast licences is the preserve of the High Press Council (HCP). However, it is the Ministry of Infrastructure that allocates frequencies. These licences cost 1,000 dollars per year. Media Regulation The High Press Council (HCP), which overseas operations of the Rwandan media, was established in March 2003. Its mandate is contained in Article 73 of the press law, which also specifies that this body should fall under the president's office. Theoretically, it is an autonomous body whose functions include the promotion of press freedom, enforcement of media ethics, monitoring of media access by political parties and associations, regulation of broadcast media and recommending punishment for offending media houses and journalists. Rwandan journalists have also attempted to effect self-regulation by establishing their own body to enforce ethics. It is known as Association of Rwandan Journalists and was established in 1999. Press freedom According to a 2004 report by Radio France Internationale (RFI), private media in Rwanda operates in a "very controlled and constraining framework". This is in regards to the press law and the country's political climate. International human rights groups note that the Rwandan media has had to deal with an "authoritarian" political order imposed by the RPF government since 1994. In its 2003 annual report, Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) observed that the "the president's office and the rest of the government continued to keep a close watch on the local press". It added that "self-censorship was standard practice in both state-owned and privately-owned news media". As a result, Rwandan journalists, especially those in print, have had to deal with frequent arrests, seizure of papers and court cases. In April 2003, authorities seized copies of the weekly Indorerwama (Kinyarwanda for "The Mirror") newspaper that was being published in Uganda by journalist Ismael Mbonigaba. No reason was given for the seizure and RSF accused the Rwandan government of "censorship". Mbonigaba, a former editor of the weekly Umuseso (Kinyarwanda for "Dawn") newspaper, had earlier been detained between January and February 2003, eliciting international outcry. At the same time, another editor of Umuseso, which is published and distributed by Rwanda Independent Media Group (RIMEG), was charged with "sowing divisions", a dangerous charge that borders on incitement to genocide. The court acquitted the editor, Charles Kabonero, of the charge termed "scandalous" by the RSF. In November 2004, Amnesty International urged the Rwandan government "to do its outmost to foster the independence of the press and to refrain from interfering in judicial decisions by using the law to repress journalistic activities". Broadcast media The liberalization of the broadcast media followed a cabinet directive that the government allows the establishment of private broadcasters as long as these met stringent broadcasting requirements. Parliament subsequently passed a new press law and private radio stations are now thriving in Rwanda. However, the government is yet to allow broadcasting by private TV stations. Radio Radio remains the most widely-used media in Rwanda. Despite poverty, most Rwandans can afford a radio set and media analysts describe the Rwandan society an "oral" one. This is partly why "hate radios" were very effective in transmitting their deadly messages during the genocide. What has also made radio the preferred medium is the high cost of television sets, lack of mains electricity in many parts of rural Rwanda where 90 per cent of the population lives, and illiteracy, put at 68 per cent of the total population of eight million. The poor transport infrastructure has also hampered the distribution of newspapers outside the towns. Most of the radio stations are based in the capital Kigali but their signal is received in various parts of the country. People living in border areas also have access to stations from parts of neighbouring countries like DRCongo, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda. Only the state radio, Radio Rwanda, effectively covers the whole of Rwanda. The first radio station was launched in February 2004 and media reports indicated that six applications had already been made. The six, according to a 28 January 2004 report by IRIN, were Radio Contact, Flash FM, Campus Radio, Radio Tele-10, Association for Community Development (Adecco) Radio, and another station owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. A government official was cited saying that these stations had "fulfilled the stipulated guidelines" and were only awaiting the allocation of frequencies by the Ministry of Infrastructure. Most of the stations are commercial oriented. All stations - both local and foreign - broadcast either in Kinyarwanda, French, English and Swahili or a combination of these languages. Three international broadcasters - the BBC World Service, Voice of America (VOA) and Deutsche Welle - have relays in Kigali. 1. Radiodiffusion de la Republique Rwanda[ise?] Government-controlled, it was established in 1961. It was the only station until the liberalization of media in the early 1990s. During the genocide, it complemented the inflammatory reports by the extremist RTLM set up early 1993. It regained its broadcasting monopoly after the RPF government banned private radios mid-1994 and remained unchallenged until February 2004 when private stations were once again allowed to broadcast. It broadcasts between 0400 and 2100 gmt in Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French and English. It is heard countrywide and in parts of southwestern Uganda, eastern DRCongo, northern Burundi and western Tanzania. It is available on both AM and FM and can be heard on 6055 kHz and 100.7 FM. Radio Rwanda also runs three community stations: Butare Community Radio (south), Gisenyi Community Radio (northwest), and Kibungo Community Radio (southeast). 2. Flash FM On 25 March 2004, Radio Flash became the first privately-owned radio station to be licensed in post-genocide Rwanda. The station describes itself as a "voice of peace". It started broadcasting countrywide on 89.2 FM in September 2004. It has rented transmitters from Radio Rwanda. Its signal is also heard in eastern DRCongo and northern Burundi. Its programmes consist of music, news briefs and reports on health and sports. About 65 per cent of its programming is in Kinyarwanda, English and French account for 25 per cent, while Swahili and Kirundi comprise 10 per cent. It is based in Kigali and is owned by two local businessmen, Vianney Kabera and Louis Kamanzi. The private Rwandan News Agency cited the information minister, who officiated the launch, saying that Flash FM had come "at the right time when the Rwandan community really needed another radio station". The minister added that "there was a need to build media in Rwanda that would be viewed as a pillar of development". 3. Radio 10 This is yet another Kigali-based station and broadcasts on 90.2 FM. It is owned by Eugene Nyagahene, a prominent businessman who grew up in Burundi and DRCongo. He was quoted saying in 2004 that "it was about time that a radio other than the national one should exist" in the country. Radio 10 broadcasts 24 hours a day in Kinyarwanda, English and French. It can also be heard in Gitarama in central Rwanda, Ruhengeri in the north and Umutara in the east. According to Nyagahene, Radio 10 hopes to cover the entire country by the end of 2006. It is mostly an entertainment station carrying lots of music and sports programmes. Nyagahene has pledged to start offering news in 2006 plus what he terms current affairs as "seen from both ends of the [political] spectrum". 4. Radio Communautaire Cyangugu It was the second private station to be launched in the 2004 and was established in June 2004. It broadcasts on 92.9 FM. The station covers western Rwanda's Cyangugu Province and its signal is also received in eastern DRCongo. A 3 June 2004 report by IRIN said that the station is keen to expand to Kibuye Province, also in the west. During its launch, Rwanda's Premier Bernard Makuza, said the station would "allow Cyangugu Province to monitor good governance and ensure freedom of the press". 5. Radio Campus It is yet to start operations and is owned by the National University of Rwanda's School of Journalism. It is funded by the university and UNESCO and will be run by the Faculty of Journalism and Communication. An official told the independent Rwandan The New Times newspaper in April 2001 that the station will operate as a community radio by "giving the community a platform to promote their ideas and culture, while at the same time publicizing the university's research works to the entire population". Other radio stations Other stations that have been approved but which are yet to start operations are: Radio Maria, owned by the Catholic Church and licensed in August 2004; the Seventh Day Adventist Church radio; and Radio Contact launched in December 2004. In August 2003, the Rwanda Information Authority (Orinfor) launched its first community radio in the southern Butare Province. According to a report by Rwanda Radio, the station is expected to serve southern Rwanda, parts of northern Burundi and central Rwanda's Gitarama Province. State Minister for Good Governance Protase Musoni said similar stations would be set up in Gisenyi (northwest), Kibungo (southeast) and Umutara in the northeast. Musoni said the project "is aimed at giving the local population access to information and allow them to "participate in the contribution of ideas". Foreign broadcasters Three international broadcasters have relays in Kigali. They are the BBC World Service, Voice of America (VOA) and Deutsche Welle. The BBC broadcasts on 93.9 FM, while VOA can be heard on 104.3 FM. The BBC broadcasts in English, French, Swahili and Kinyarwanda while VOA airs in English and Kinyarwanda. On 28 August 2003, the BBC and Orinfor renewed the five-year agreement permitting BBC to relay its broadcasts in Rwanda. Under the agreement, the BBC will broadcast nationwide on 93.9 FM. Orinfor director Joseph Bideri said the BBC will use Orinfor's transmitters at Mt Jali near Kigali, Huye in the southern Butare Province and at Mt Karongi in the western Kibuye Province. Television Unlike radio, the government is yet to permit private TV stations. It runs the only TV station in the country. However, two applications have been made for TV licences: one by Tele-10, which also owns a radio station, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The government says it will only free the TV once it is through with liberalizing the radio sector. There are no restrictions on the use of cable TV but it is out of reach for most Rwandans and only a few can afford the installation process that costs about 600 dollars excluding the monthly payments. Television Nationale du Rwanda (TVR) It is government-controlled and was established in 1992 when television first came to Rwanda. Originally its broadcasting was limited to three evenings a week and weekends until the genocide. It now broadcasts in English, Swahili, French and Kinyarwanda between 1300 and 2300 gmt weekdays and 1000 and 2300 gmt weekends. From 1994 to 1998, most of the station's directors were military persons. The station gives prominence to activities by top government officials, including President Paul Kagame. Its strength lies in the broad transmission throughout Rwanda. According to Europa 2005, TVR covers 60 per cent of the country. To boost its coverage, the government has been repairing some of the station's facilities destroyed during the civil war in the 1990s. In January 2005, the government signed an agreement with a local firm for the refurbishment of TVR's antennae at Mt Karisimbi in northeastern Rwanda. The New Times newspaper cited Infrastructure Minister Everest Bizimana saying the repair will assist in the transmission of TV and radio images in that region. These transmitters were destroyed in 1994 during the country's civil war. Earlier, in July 2003, Orinfor inaugurated new transmitters in the southwestern region of Cyangugu to strengthen the signals the TV's signals in the area. Print media According to a March 2003 report by the International Media Support (IMS), a Danish media NGO, most of Rwanda's print media either shut down voluntarily or were closed by force during the genocide. Its revival was only courtesy of international media groups, says the report. Currently, there are about 20 titles but most of them do not publish regularly and according to RSF the Rwandan press "still lacks diversity". The country does not have a daily paper. The leading papers are either weeklies or publish three times a week. The reporting is not analytical and in most times revolve round political personalities and groups. Experienced journalists who survived the genocide are said to have taken the pro-government line avoiding, any critical reports but engaging in commentaries without analysis. The press also suffers from a plethora of other problems ranging from high publishing costs, lack of trained journalists, an inadequate financial base, to poor distribution networks. It was not until 1999 that the National University of Rwanda started offering media courses. Some of the pro-opposition papers are published in Uganda where it is cheaper. Most of the papers are tabloids and rarely publish more than 12 pages. Their circulation rates are just around 1,000 copies, most which circulate in the urban areas. The papers publish in either Kinyarwanda, French or English. Profiles of leading papers 1. The New Times It describes itself as "Rwanda's leading newspaper". Kigali-based, it is published in English by The New Times Publications. It publishes three times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - and takes a pro- government line. It operates a web site www.newtimes.co.rw 2. La Nouvelle Releve A fortnightly paper owned by the government through the national news agency, Orinfor. It was created in 1963 and publishes in French. It is hosted on Orinfor's web site: www.orinfor.gov.rw/DOCS/lnr.htm 3. Imvaho (Kinyarwanda for "The Cause") A weekly, it is also owned by Orinfor and publishes in Kinyarwanda. It is also hosted on the Orinfor web site. 4. Umuseso (Kinyarwanda for Dawn) A privately-owned weekly published in Kinyarwanda. It is pro- opposition and its journalists have had frequent run-ins with government authorities. It is published by the Rwanda Independent Media Group (RIMEG) and specializes in reporting corruption scandals involving government officials. It claims a print run of 4,000 copies which are printed in Uganda. 5. Kinyamateka (Kinyarwanda for "The Newspaper") A fortnightly paper owned by the Catholic Church. It was established in 1933 and publishes in Kinyarwanda, French and sometimes in English. The paper has, in recent times, softened its views towards the government, which accuses the Catholic Church of active participation in the genocide. The paper writes on political, social and religious issues. 5. Ingabo (Kinyarwanda for "Soldiers") A Kinyarwanda paper owned by the Rwandan Defence Forces. 6. Urubuga Rw'abagore (Kinyarwanda for "Women's Forum") A monthly paper owned by the Catholic Church. It publishes in Kinyarwanda, French and English and writes on the promotion of Rwandan women and their integration in development. It was created in 1936. 7. Hobe (Kinyarwanda for "Embrace") It is another Catholic-owned monthly paper which publishes in Kinyarwanda, French and English. It seeks to inform children on human, cultural and Christian values. Other papers Other papers include: Rwanda voice (a privately-owned English weekly); Ukuri ("The Truth", a Kinyarwanda-language weekly); L'Enjeu (a weekly private French paper created in 2000 that specializes on the Great Lakes region); and Grands Lacs Hebdo (a private weekly publishing in French and English). There are also Le Verdict (a monthly private French-language paper created in February 1999 and specializing on the genocide trials); Umuco ("Culture", a monthly paper publishing in Kinyarwanda created in 2004); and Rwanda Newsline (a pro-opposition English weekly paper published by the same group as Umuseso. News agencies and organizations 1. Rwandan News Authority (Orinfor) It is not a news agency as such but publishes state papers that give information from the government perspective. It was started in 1974 during the government of the late President Juvenal Habyarimana. It replaced the Ministry of Information and according to various reports its mandate was "to control all government media". It was coordinated from the president's office with its director being a presidential appointee. During the genocide, Orinfor, like many other government media sources, took a hardline stance against the Tutsis. It is still controlled by the president's office. It runs a web site: http://www.orinfor.gov.rw It publishes reports in English, French and Kinyarwanda. 2. Rwanda News Agency (RNA) This privately-owned news agency takes a pro-government line. It publishes in English and French and is owned by Private Rutazibwa, who also heads the High Press Council. It is the only private Rwandan news agency to date. Important web sites - The New Times newspaper: http://www.newtimes.co.rw - Orinfor: http://www.orinfor.gov.rw The site also hosts La Releve and Imvaho newspapers web sites - Hirondelle news agency: http://www.hirondelle.org A Swiss media NGO that specializes on the genocide trials - Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) web site: http://fdlr.r-online.info It promotes views by DRCongo based Rwandan insurgents. - Rally for the Return of Refugees and Democracy in Rwanda (RDR) web site: http://www.rdrwanda.org It carries material from Europe-based Hutu opposition groups. Source: BBC Monitoring research 22 Feb 05 (via DXLD) ** SAIPAN. Exotic SE Asian female (?) solo vocal music, good steady signal with no flutter, unlike European and ME signals at this moment, caused me to stop on 12120 at 1425 UT March 9; unfortunately it was exactly co-channel to RTTY, holding its own at first but faded down at 1429 for closing announcement and off leaving the channel to RTTY (and just in time for me to tune over to 15190 for Charlie Gillett). Subsequent research in EiBi says this was KFBS which has a half-hour in Hmong on Wednesdays; Vietnamese or Koho other days of the week. She must have been singing about Jesus, but I couldn`t tell that (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [non]. News and sports in Galician from REE at 1345 UT March 9 on 15170 via Costa Rica, as well as all their other frequencies at this hour. I enjoy listening to this curious mixture of Portuguese and Spanish, sort of like Portuguese spoken with a Castilian accent, and lament it only merits 5 minutes a day from this station and zero minutes from any other SW station; maybe if there were a Galician separatist movement some other country would take interest. This is the weekdaily block 1340-1355 of 5 minutes each Catalan, Galician and Basque. In Spanish it`s ``Gallego``, and Gallegos is a common surname back in New Mexico. I wonder if anyone in those families still speaks Galician, tho their migration probably dates back 400-500 years (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Sudan Radio Service (Nairobi studios, VT Merlin transmitters) is announcing the following schedule for the post-27 March period (in their case, post-28 March as they only transmit Monday-Friday): 0300-0500 on 11665 0500-0600 on 15325 1500-1800 on 17660 (Chris Greenway, March 9, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UK sites? ** UGANDA. In its latest newsletter, High Adventure Canada announced short-term plans for a short wave station in Uganda. The station is to be developed in co-operation with Dunamis FM Kampala, which already holds a licence for short wave. According to High Adventure, at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Anaheim a deal was struck with the HCJB engineering plant for the speedy delivery of a low power short wave unit. The station is hoped to be on the air by summer 2005. It remains to be seen , whether this schedule can be met. High Adventure has a pentecostal tradition of "proclaiming victory" long before it happens (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, 9 March 2005, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. BBCWS dropping WYFR relay? see below ** U S A. NEW BILL CALLS FOR RADIO AND TV BROADCASTS TO SYRIA & LEBANON New legislation aimed at stepping up political and economic pressure on Syria is being prepared in Washington. The Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act would impose US sanctions on countries or companies that provide material or technological support to what it calls Syrian efforts to acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction or ballistic missiles. The bill calls for the United States to provide aid to pro- democracy and human rights groups in Syria and Lebanon, and urges radio and television broadcasts directed at both in support of building democracy and civil society. Read the full story on the VOA Website http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-09-voa1.cfm # posted by Andy @ 17:07 UT March 9 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Report by Dan Robinson, audio available (gh) ** U S A. This replaces the tentative A-05 schedule in 5-022: The following is the Final 27 March 2005 to 30 October 2005 High Frequency Schedule for Family Stations, Inc., WYFR. Freq (kHz) (UTC) Az(Deg) Zone(s) Power 5810 0500-1000 181 11 50 5950 0300-0900 285 10 100 5950 0900-1300 355 4,5,9 100 5950 2200-0300 355 4,5,9 100 5985 0500-1300 315 2 100 5985 2000-0500 181 11 50 6065 2245-0445 355 4,5,9 100 6085 1000-1945 181 11 100 6175 0900-1100 160 15 100 6855 0300-1200 355 4,5,9 100 7355 0300-0800 44 27,28,39 100 7355 1100-1400 222 12 100 7520 0100-0200 142 13 100 7520 0500-0800 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0400-0800 44 27,28,39 100 9355 1100-1200 160 15 100 9505 0000-0445 315 2 100 9505 0445-1000 222 11 100 9550 0800-1200 160 14 100 9605 0800-1100 142 15 100 9605 1100-1200 222 11 100 9605 1300-1400 222 11 100 9625 0800-1300 140 13 100 9680 0145-0800 315 2 100 9715 0300-1200 285 10 50 9755 0900-1145 285 10 100 9930 0445-0900 87 46 100 9985 0400-0800 44 27,28,39 100 11530 0345-0900 87 37,46 100 11565 2045-2300 44 28 100 11580 0300-0400 160 14 100 11580 0500-0800 44 27,28,39 100 11670 1400-1600 222 11 100 11740 2145-0000 315 2 100 11740 0200-0500 222 11 100 11770 0800-1100 142 13 100 11830 1300-1700 315 2 100 11835 0000-0245 285 10 50 11855 0800-1200 160 16 100 11855 2000-0500 222 11 100 11865 1300-1700 315 2 100 11910 1300-1700 355 4,5,9 100 11970 0800-1600 151 15 100 13695 1200-2200 355 4,5,9 100 13800 1200-1600 160 14 100 13800 1700-2200 315 2 100 15130 2200-0400 142 13 100 15130 1200-2000 285 10 50 15155 2000-2400 285 10 50 15215 2300-0400 160 16 100 15255 2300-0500 151 15 100 15440 2145-0300 285 10 100 15600 1845-2300 44 27,28 100 15695 2000-2245 44 27,28 100 15770 1200-1600 160 16 100 15770 1600-1700 44 27,28 100 15770 2100-2245 87 47,52 100 17505 1200-1600 160 14 100 17525 1700-1900 87 46 100 17725 1700-0200 140 13 100 17750 2245-0300 160 15 100 17750 1145-1700 285 10 100 17750 1700-2045 44 27,28 100 17795 1700-2145 285 10 100 17805 2245-0100 142 15 100 17845 1900-2245 87 37,46 100 17845 2300-0300 160 14 100 18930 1600-2245 44 27,28 100 18980 1400-1600 142 15 100 18980 1600-2145 44 27,28 100 21455 1600-2000 44 27 100 21525 1600-2100 87 47,52,57 100 21670 1600-1845 44 27,28 100 (via Evelyn Marcy, WYFR Feb 17, updated Mar 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The original version Feb 17 had this entry: 11835 0000-0300 285 10 50 Tho not so designated, this matches previous A-season usage for the BBCWS relay in English, providing our best evening reception. On March 2, we were notified to add the 11835 entry as now in these schedules, implying that WYFR will no longer be relaying BBCWS, filling up that block with its own English and Spanish programming instead. Note that another version was already published in 5-032, sorted by transmitter; this update also applies to it, as well as dropping one hour in the middle of the 1100-1400 Spanish block on 9605, presumably to avoid a collision with someone (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is another version, adding language usage: WYFR BROADCAST SCHEDULE 27 MAR 2005 to 30 OCT 2005 Note: Schedule information showing languages for transmissions carried by WYFR; for other broadcasters will have to be obtained directly from the other broadcasters. FREQUENCY SCHEDULE FREQ (KHZ) TIME(UTC) LANG AZ ZONE PWR 5810 0500-0600 SPAN 181 11 50 5810 0600-0700 ENGL 181 11 50 5810 0700-0945 SPAN 181 11 50 5950 0800-0845 ENGL 285 10 100 5950 0900-1000 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 5950 1000-1245 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 5985 0200-0300 ENGL 181 11 50 5985 0300-0445 SPAN 181 11 50 5985 0500-0600 MAND 315 2 100 5985 0600-0700 CANT 315 2 100 5985 0700-1245 ENGL 315 2 100 5985 2000-0200 SPAN 181 11 50 6065 0000-0445 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6065 2300-0000 FREN 355 4,5,9 100 6085 1000-1600 SPAN 181 11 100 6085 1600-1700 ENGL 181 11 100 6085 1700-1900 SPAN 181 11 100 6085 1900-1945 ENGL 181 11 100 6175 0900-1045 PORT 160 15 100 6855 0304-0400 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 6855 0400-0600 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6855 0600-0700 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 6855 0700-1100 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 6855 1100-1145 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 7355 0304-0400 RUSS 44 27,28,39 100 7355 0400-0500 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 7355 0500-0600 GERM 44 27,28,39 100 7355 0600-0745 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 7355 1100-1200 ENGL 222 12 100 7355 1200-1345 SPAN 222 12 100 7520 0100-0145 PORT 142 15 100 7520 0504-0600 RUSS 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0400-0500 ARAB 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0500-0600 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0600-0700 FREN 44 27,28,39 100 9355 0700-0745 SPAN 44 27,28,39 100 9355 1100-1145 SPAN 160 15 100 9505 0000-0445 ENGL 315 2 100 9505 0600-0700 SPAN 222 11 100 9505 0700-0800 ENGL 222 11 100 9505 0800-0945 SPAN 222 11 100 9550 0800-1100 SPAN 160 14 100 9550 1100-1145 ENGL 160 14 100 9605 0800-1045 PORT 142 15 100 9605 1100-1200 SPAN 222 11 100 9605 1300-1345 SPAN 222 11 100 9625 0800-1000 PORT 140 13 100 9625 1000-1100 FREN 140 13 100 9625 1100-1200 ENGL 140 13 100 9625 1200-1245 PORT 140 13 100 9680 0300-0400 SPAN 315 2 100 9680 0600-0700 ENGL 315 2 100 9680 0700-0745 SPAN 315 2 100 9715 0304-0400 SPAN 285 10 50 9715 0400-0500 ENGL 285 10 50 9715 0500-0700 SPAN 285 10 50 9715 0700-0800 ENGL 285 10 50 9715 0800-1145 SPAN 285 10 50 9755 0900-1145 ENGL 285 10 100 9930 0500-0600 ARAB 87 37,46 100 9930 0600-0700 FREN 87 37,46 100 9930 0700-0845 ENGL 87 37,46 100 9985 0404-0500 GERM 44 27,28,39 100 9985 0500-0600 SPAN 44 27,28,39 100 9985 0600-0700 ITAL 44 27,28,39 100 9985 0700-0745 PORT 44 27,28,39 100 11530 0400-0500 PORT 87 47,52,57 100 11530 0500-0600 FREN 87 47,52,57 100 11530 0600-0700 ENGL 87 47,52,57 100 11530 0700-0800 ARAB 87 47,52,57 100 11530 0800-0845 FREN 87 47,52,57 100 11565 2100-2200 ENGL 44 27,28 100 11580 0300-0345 SPAN 160 15 100 11580 0500-0600 FREN 44 27,28,39 100 11580 0600-0700 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 11580 0700-0745 ITAL 44 27,28,39 100 11670 1400-1545 SPAN 222 11 100 11740 0200-0300 SPAN 222 12 100 11740 0300-0400 ENGL 222 12 100 11740 2200-2345 ENGL 315 2 100 11770 0804-1045 PORT 142 13 100 11830 1300-1645 ENGL 315 2 100 11835 0000-0100 ENGL 285 10 50 11835 0100-0200 SPAN 285 10 50 11835 0200-0245 ENGL 285 10 50 11855 0200-0300 ENGL 222 11 100 11855 0300-0445 SPAN 222 11 100 11855 0800-1145 SPAN 160 16 100 11855 2000-0200 SPAN 222 11 100 11865 1300-1400 ENGL 315 2 100 11865 1400-1500 SPAN 315 2 100 11865 1500-1600 MAND 315 2 100 11865 1600-1645 ENGL 315 2 100 11910 1300-1600 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 11910 1600-1645 FREN 355 4,5,9 100 11970 0800-1000 SPAN 151 15 100 11970 1000-1100 FREN 151 15 100 11970 1100-1300 SPAN 151 15 100 11970 1300-1400 FREN 151 15 100 11970 1400-1545 SPAN 151 15 100 13695 1200-1300 FREN 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1300-1400 MAND 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1400-1500 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1500-1600 SPAN 355 4,5,9 100 13695 1600-2000 ENGL 355 4,5,9 100 13800 1200-1545 SPAN 160 15 100 13800 1700-1800 SPAN 315 2 100 13800 1800-2145 ENGL 315 2 100 15130 0000-0345 PORT 142 15 100 15130 1200-1945 SPAN 285 10 50 15130 2200-2300 PORT 142 15 101 [sic] 15155 2000-2345 SPAN 285 10 50 15215 2304-0100 SPAN 160 14 100 15255 0000-0100 FREN 151 15 100 15255 0100-0300 SPAN 151 15 100 15255 0300-0400 ENGL 151 15 100 15255 0400-0445 SPAN 151 15 100 15255 2300-0000 ENGL 151 15 100 15600 1900-2000 RUSS 44 27,28 100 15600 2000-2100 GERM 44 27,28 100 15600 2100-2200 SPAN 44 27,28 100 15695 2000-2100 ARAB 44 27,28 100 15695 2100-2145 GERM 44 27,28 100 15695 2200-2245 PORT 44 27,28,39 100 15770 1200-1400 SPAN 160 16 100 15770 1400-1500 PORT 160 16 100 15770 1500-1545 ENGL 160 16 100 15770 1600-1645 ARAB 44 27,28 100 15770 2100-2200 PORT 87 47,52,57 100 15770 2200-2245 ENGL 87 47,52,57 100 17505 1200-1300 ENGL 160 16 100 17505 1300-1400 PORT 160 16 100 17505 1400-1545 SPAN 160 16 100 17525 1700-1800 FREN 87 37,46 100 17525 1800-1845 ENGL 87 37,46 100 17725 1700-2000 PORT 140 13 100 17725 2000-2200 ENGL 140 13 100 17725 2200-0145 PORT 140 13 100 17750 0000-0100 PORT 160 15 100 17750 0100-0200 SPAN 160 15 100 17750 0200-0245 PORT 160 15 100 17750 1200-1645 ENGL 285 10 100 17750 1700-1800 GERM 44 27,28 100 17750 1800-1900 ITAL 44 27,28 100 17750 2000-2045 ENGL 44 27,28 100 17750 2300-0000 ENGL 160 15 100 17795 1700-2145 ENGL 285 10 100 17805 0000-0045 ENGL 142 15 100 17845 1900-2200 ENGL 87 37,46 100 17845 2200-2245 ARAB 87 37,46 100 17845 2304-0100 SPAN 160 14 100 18930 1600-1800 RUSS 44 27,28 100 18930 1800-1900 FREN 44 27,28 100 18930 1900-2000 ENGL 44 27,28 100 18930 2200-2245 ARAB 44 27,28 100 18980 1400-1500 SPAN 142 15 100 18980 1500-1545 PORT 142 15 100 18980 1600-2145 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 21455 1600-1800 ENGL 44 27,28,39 100 21455 1800-1900 GERM 44 27,28,39 100 21455 1900-1945 FREN 44 27,28,39 100 21525 1600-1700 ENGL 87 47,52,57 100 21525 1700-1800 PORT 87 47,52,57 100 21525 1800-2000 FREN 87 47,52,57 100 21525 2000-2045 ARAB 87 47,52,57 100 21670 1600-1700 ITAL 44 27,28 100 21670 1700-1845 SPAN 44 27,28 100 (via Evelyn Marcy, WYFR Feb 17, as amended Mar 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And here is the sort by languages: WYFR BROADCAST SCHEDULE 27 MAR 2005 to 30 OCT 2005 Note: Schedule information showing languages for transmissions carried by WYFR for other broadcasters will have to be obtained directly from the other broadcasters. LANGUAGE SCHEDULE LANG TIME (UTC) FREQ (KHZ) AZ ZONE PWR ARAB 0400-0500 9355 44 27,28,39 100 ARAB 0500-0600 9930 87 37,46 100 ARAB 0700-0800 11530 87 47,52,57 100 ARAB 1600-1645 15770 44 27,28 100 ARAB 2000-2045 21525 87 47,52,57 100 ARAB 2000-2100 15695 44 27,28 100 ARAB 2200-2245 17845 87 37,46 100 ARAB 2200-2245 18930 44 27,28 100 CANT 0600-0700 5985 315 2 100 ENGL 0000-0045 17805 142 15 100 ENGL 0000-0100 11835 285 10 50 ENGL 0000-0445 6065 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0000-0445 9505 315 2 100 ENGL 0200-0245 11835 285 10 50 ENGL 0200-0300 5985 181 11 50 ENGL 0200-0300 11855 222 11 100 ENGL 0300-0400 11740 222 12 100 ENGL 0300-0400 15255 151 15 100 ENGL 0400-0500 7355 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0400-0500 9715 285 10 50 ENGL 0400-0600 6855 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0500-0600 9355 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0600-0700 5810 181 11 50 ENGL 0600-0700 9680 315 2 100 ENGL 0600-0700 11530 87 47,52,57 100 ENGL 0600-0700 11580 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0600-0745 7355 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 0700-0800 9505 222 11 100 ENGL 0700-0800 9715 285 10 50 ENGL 0700-0845 9930 87 37,46 100 ENGL 0700-1100 6855 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 0700-1245 5985 315 2 100 ENGL 0800-0845 5950 285 10 100 ENGL 0900-1145 9755 285 10 100 ENGL 1000-1245 5950 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1100-1145 9550 160 14 100 ENGL 1100-1200 7355 222 12 100 ENGL 1100-1200 9625 140 13 100 ENGL 1200-1300 17505 160 16 100 ENGL 1200-1645 17750 285 10 100 ENGL 1300-1400 11865 315 2 100 ENGL 1300-1600 11910 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1300-1645 11830 315 2 100 ENGL 1400-1500 13695 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1500-1545 15770 160 16 100 ENGL 1600-1645 11865 315 2 100 ENGL 1600-1700 6085 181 11 100 ENGL 1600-1700 21525 87 47,52,57 100 ENGL 1600-1800 21455 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 1600-2000 13695 355 4,5,9 100 ENGL 1600-2145 18980 44 27,28,39 100 ENGL 1700-2145 17795 285 10 100 ENGL 1800-1845 17525 87 37,46 100 ENGL 1800-2145 13800 315 2 100 ENGL 1900-1945 6085 181 11 100 ENGL 1900-2000 18930 44 27,28 100 ENGL 1900-2200 17845 87 37,46 100 ENGL 2000-2045 17750 44 27,28 100 ENGL 2000-2200 17725 140 13 100 ENGL 2100-2200 11565 44 27,28 100 ENGL 2200-2245 15770 87 47,52,57 100 ENGL 2200-2345 11740 315 2 100 ENGL 2300-0000 15255 151 15 100 ENGL 2300-0000 17750 160 15 100 FREN 0000-0100 15255 151 15 100 FREN 0500-0600 11530 87 47,52,57 100 FREN 0500-0600 11580 44 27,28,39 100 FREN 0600-0700 9355 44 27,28,39 100 FREN 0600-0700 9930 87 37,46 100 FREN 0800-0845 11530 87 47,52,57 100 FREN 1000-1100 9625 140 13 100 FREN 1000-1100 11970 151 15 100 FREN 1200-1300 13695 355 4,5,9 100 FREN 1300-1400 11970 151 15 100 FREN 1600-1645 11910 355 4,5,9 100 FREN 1700-1800 17525 87 37,46 100 FREN 1800-1900 18930 44 27,28 100 FREN 1800-2000 21525 87 47,52,57 100 FREN 1900-1945 21455 44 27,28,39 100 FREN 2300-0000 6065 355 4,5,9 100 GERM 0404-0500 9985 44 27,28,39 100 GERM 0500-0600 7355 44 27,28,39 100 GERM 1700-1800 17750 44 27,28 100 GERM 1800-1900 21455 44 27,28,39 100 GERM 2000-2100 15600 44 27,28 100 GERM 2100-2145 15695 44 27,28 100 ITAL 0600-0700 9985 44 27,28,39 100 ITAL 0700-0745 11580 44 27,28,39 100 ITAL 1600-1700 21670 44 27,28 100 ITAL 1800-1900 17750 44 27,28 100 MAND 0500-0600 5985 315 2 100 MAND 1300-1400 13695 355 4,5,9 100 MAND 1500-1600 11865 315 2 100 PORT 0000-0100 17750 160 15 100 PORT 0000-0345 15130 142 15 100 PORT 0100-0145 7520 142 15 100 PORT 0200-0245 17750 160 15 100 PORT 0400-0500 11530 87 47,52,57 100 PORT 0700-0745 9985 44 27,28,39 100 PORT 0800-1000 9625 140 13 100 PORT 0800-1045 9605 142 15 100 PORT 0804-1045 11770 142 13 100 PORT 0900-1045 6175 160 15 100 PORT 1200-1245 9625 140 13 100 PORT 1300-1400 17505 160 16 100 PORT 1400-1500 15770 160 16 100 PORT 1500-1545 18980 142 15 100 PORT 1700-1800 21525 87 47,52,57 100 PORT 1700-2000 17725 140 13 100 PORT 2100-2200 15770 87 47,52,57 100 PORT 2200-0145 17725 140 13 100 PORT 2200-2245 15695 44 27,28,39 100 PORT 2200-2300 15130 142 15 101 [sic] RUSS 0304-0400 7355 44 27,28,39 100 RUSS 0504-0600 7520 44 27,28,39 100 RUSS 1600-1800 18930 44 27,28 100 RUSS 1900-2000 15600 44 27,28 100 SPAN 0100-0200 11835 285 10 50 SPAN 0100-0200 17750 160 15 100 SPAN 0100-0300 15255 151 15 100 SPAN 0200-0300 11740 222 12 100 SPAN 0300-0345 11580 160 15 100 SPAN 0300-0400 9680 315 2 100 SPAN 0300-0445 5985 181 11 50 SPAN 0300-0445 11855 222 11 100 SPAN 0304-0400 6855 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 0304-0400 9715 285 10 50 SPAN 0400-0445 15255 151 15 100 SPAN 0500-0600 5810 181 11 50 SPAN 0500-0600 9985 44 27,28,39 100 SPAN 0500-0700 9715 285 10 50 SPAN 0600-0700 6855 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 0600-0700 9505 222 11 100 SPAN 0700-0745 9355 44 27,28,39 100 SPAN 0700-0745 9680 315 2 100 SPAN 0700-0945 5810 181 11 50 SPAN 0800-0945 9505 222 11 100 SPAN 0800-1000 11970 151 15 100 SPAN 0800-1100 9550 160 14 100 SPAN 0800-1145 9715 285 10 50 SPAN 0800-1145 11855 160 16 100 SPAN 0900-1000 5950 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 1000-1600 6085 181 11 100 SPAN 1100-1145 6855 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 1100-1145 9355 160 15 100 SPAN 1100-1300 11970 151 15 100 SPAN 1100-1200 9605 222 11 100 SPAN 1300-1345 9605 222 11 100 SPAN 1200-1345 7355 222 12 100 SPAN 1200-1400 15770 160 16 100 SPAN 1200-1545 13800 160 15 100 SPAN 1200-1945 15130 285 10 50 SPAN 1400-1500 11865 315 2 100 SPAN 1400-1500 18980 142 15 100 SPAN 1400-1545 11670 222 11 100 SPAN 1400-1545 11970 151 15 100 SPAN 1400-1545 17505 160 16 100 SPAN 1500-1600 13695 355 4,5,9 100 SPAN 1700-1800 13800 315 2 100 SPAN 1700-1845 21670 44 27,28 100 SPAN 1700-1900 6085 181 11 100 SPAN 2000-0200 5985 181 11 50 SPAN 2000-0200 11855 222 11 100 SPAN 2000-2345 15155 285 10 50 SPAN 2100-2200 15600 44 27,28 100 SPAN 2304-0100 15215 160 14 100 SPAN 2304-0100 17845 160 14 100 (via Evelyn Marcy, WYFR, Feb 17 as amended Mar 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. `SURF SOLD` --- They used to have to run seven towers to protect an FCC monitoring station. As I understand, they are now running very low power diplexed on the 1400 Fort Lauderdale single stick. I worked briefly at their FM WSHE 103.5 when both studio were located in the middle of a trailer park, along with the WSRF-AM transmitter, and those seven towers. Big copper screening everywhere to keep the RF out of the audio. It was not always successful. I think I read the seven towers have now been demolished. You knew you were getting close to civilization on the old "Alligator Alley" from the west coast of Florida, when you saw them blinking in the distance after a long night's drive from Tampa to Miami (Brock Whaley, Lilburn, GA, March 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Florida WSRF-AM/Fort Lauderdale PRICE: $1.75 million TERMS: Asset sale for cash BUYER: Alliance Broadcasting Network, headed by President Emmanuel Cherubin. Phone: 305-944-8383. It owns one other station: WAVS- AM/Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. SELLER: Inner City Broadcasting Corp., headed by CEO Pierre Sutton. Phone: 212-592-0411 FREQUENCY: 1580 kHz POWER: 10 kW day/5 kW night FORMAT: Caribbean/Reggae BROKER: Frank Boyle of Frank Boyle & Co. LLC (source? via Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. BUYER SLASHES KDLH STAFF --- TV UPHEAVAL: Malara Broadcast Group terminates most of KDLH's newsroom and changes times of the station's evening news programs BY PETER PASSI NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Posted on Wed, Mar. 09, 2005 http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/11085698.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp Malara Broadcast Group wasted little time Tuesday reshuffling its news programming and making deep staff cuts after paying $10.8 million to buy KDLH-TV, Duluth's CBS affiliate. The Sarasota, Fla.-based company radically reshaped KDLH's newsroom with the help of a longtime local rival, Granite Broadcasting Corp., a New York-based company that owns and operates KBJR-TV, Duluth's NBC affiliate. The only on-air KDLH personalities retained were anchorman Pat Kelly, meteorologist Erin Jordan and sports director and anchor Chris Earl. Other KDLH staff, including anchorwoman Amy Rutledge and meteorologist Phil Johnson, along with all the station's reporters, the morning news staff and the weekend staff, were terminated, said KDLH employees who lost their jobs Tuesday. John Deushane, Granite's chief operating officer, defended the rapid transformation of KDLH now under way. "We have a good plan," he said, "and a good plan doesn't get any better by waiting a month." Malara has entered into a shared-services agreement with Granite to provide most of its services and up to 15 percent of its programming, including local news. "KBJR's staff will be the ones providing the lion's share of the news programming for KDLH," Deushane said, "but Pat Kelly still will be the voice and face of KDLH." He declined to provide an exact count of how many of the approximately 65 people employed at KDLH under its previous owner, New Vision Television of Atlanta, would continue to work at the station. Most of those who remain will become employees of Granite Broadcasting. Tony Malara, CEO of Malara Broadcast Group, said his company has hired two people to run KDLH. Terry VanDell, formerly an engineer, now is station manager. Roberta Lund was retained as business manager. "We tried to be very humane and over-the-top with the affected employees," Deushane said. The severance package, including insurance coverage, "is more than double what they would have gotten under their contracts or negotiated labor agreements," he said. Displaced workers will be offered job-search assistance, as well. Federal Communications Commission rules forbid a single company from owning more than one of the top four stations in any television market, but Granite's relationship with Malara met with FCC approval earlier this year. Commissioners determined that Malara could be considered a separate and independent owner, even if it teamed up with Granite. Hubbard Broadcasting, owner of WDIO-TV, Duluth's ABC affiliate, continues to oppose the deal and has filed its objections with the FCC. "Our feelings about the downside of this have not changed," said Steve Goodspeed, WDIO's news director. "One of our biggest concerns is about the loss of a local, independent news and community voice in this market. Instead of three local TV newsrooms meeting, discussing news stories and developing leads, there now will be only two." However, Tony Malara contends that local viewers will be better served as a result of the transaction. "When you do a deal like this, whatever sense it makes from a business perspective doesn't make any difference if you're not taking care of viewers," he said. KDLH now offers one half-hour local news broadcast at 5:30 p.m. and an eight-minute news "capsule" at 10 p.m., before launching into syndicated programming. Deushane said it no longer made sense for KDLH to go up against the other local stations at 6 and 10. By offering a local broadcast at 5:30 p.m. and national news at 6 p.m., Deushane said, KDLH will broaden the options available to local viewers tuning in at different times. Deushane acknowledged, however, that there would likely be little difference between the KDLH and KBJR newscasts. Deushane contends that viewers have "already voted" in favor of other stations' coverage of local news. He said the number of viewers who tuned into KDLH's morning, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts, combined, was still less than the 6 p.m. audience that KBJR attracts nightly. Granite on Tuesday also completed its $44.2 million acquisition of WISE-TV, an NBC affiliate in Fort Wayne, Ind. There, Granite is selling another Fort Wayne station it already owned, WPTA-TV, to Malara for $45.9 million. As in Duluth, Malara will enter a shared-services agreement with Granite for the operation of its station in Fort Wayne. Steve Shine, a Fort Wayne lawyer and former radio station owner with about 25 years experience in the broadcasting industry, said that while no broadcasters in his market filed formal objections to the Malara/Granite deal, that shouldn't be interpreted as implicit support. "Broadcasters from Duluth were already in the ring with Malara," Shine said. "So no one in Fort Wayne felt they had to put on their boxing gloves." Instead, Shine said broadcasters in Fort Wayne were content to watch events unfold, as the FCC considered objections raised in Duluth. About half of the 70 workers at WISE-TV in Fort Wayne are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 723. A letter of agreement Granite signed with the union in Fort Wayne opened the way for the elimination of 27 full-time positions and 13 part-time positions there. Additional non-union jobs probably will be shed, as well. Tad Frank, WISE-TV's creative director, did not return a Tuesday phone call from the News Tribune. Shine said Granite and Malara can anticipate significant scrutiny in the months to come. "The situation in Duluth and Fort Wayne will be under the microscope," he predicted. If Granite and Malara encounter little outcry, Shine said, it could set the table for other similarly structured deals in other markets. Tony Malara said such collaborations already are occurring elsewhere. "It's new to Duluth, but it's happening all over the country," he said, pointing to similar combined newsroom operations in Fargo, N.D., and Rochester, Minn. Malara said consolidation is happening in other parts of the media industry, too, citing the Duluth News Tribune's acquisition of several Northland newspapers from Murphy-McGinnis Media. The Duluth News Tribune also has a news partnership with KDLH. Rob Karwath, executive editor of the News Tribune, said he and other staff members are still evaluating the evolving picture at KDLH, but he remains committed to the concept of a partnership with a local news broadcaster. "Obviously, we want a news partnership that makes the most sense for our paper and our readers," he said. "Things have changed dramatically at Channel 3, and we'll have to reassess everything as a result." (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) More slash & burn!! -- ** U S A. FT. WAYNE TV STATION DROPS NEWS STAFF Associated Press March 9, 2005 http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/227936-4047-102.html FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- NBC affiliate WISE laid off most of its television news staff -- some 25 to 30 people -- after an agreement was finalized for the same broadcasting company to manage it and the city's ABC affiliate WPTA. All reporters and camera operators and some anchors lost their jobs Tuesday, said Ron Bame, business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 23, which represents WISE and WPTA employees. "We're going to lose all the reporters and all the photographers (at WISE), so there'll be no one to generate local news," Bame said. Based on the two stations' news reports about the changes, a total of 50 to 60 workers have lost their jobs, but no WPTA -- Channel 21 -- employees were laid off. New York-based Granite Broadcasting Corp. announced Tuesday it had finalized the sale of WPTA to Malara Broadcasting for $45.9 million. Granite bought WISE, Channel 33, from New Vision Television for $44.2 million this week. In December, the Federal Communications Commission approved the deal and a shared services agreement for the operation of the stations between Malara and Granite. Granite will manage operations at the stations, according to the two stations' news reports. With the Channel 21 station logo on the wall behind her, WISE anchor Linda Jackson called Tuesday evening's newscast the 21Alive News on WISE 33. The 6:30 p.m. newscast on WISE repeated stories from WPTA's broadcast a half-hour earlier. WISE started on Nov. 21, 1953 as WKJG and was the first TV station in northeast Indiana. The deal will make the two stations operate more profitably and efficiently, Granite said in a news release. It also said that linking the stations would improve and expand local news coverage (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. POSTPONED OR CANCELED? NETWORK POSTS CHANGE, "WIFE SWAP" EPISODE WITH ATHEIST Action Alert Urges Calls, Letters, Faxes To Disney/ABC Exuberance has yielded to caution and even frustration as the ABC television network appears to be postponing an episode of its popular Reality TV show, "Wife Swap." The program features wives from diverse families trading places as moms and home keepers while the cameras roll, providing millions of TV viewers with a voyeuristic glimpse into the newly-disrupted households. After tracking down prospective Atheist families, the network filmed a segment originally slated to air on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 featuring Amber Finley, co-host of the infidelguy.com internet radio program along with her husband Reginald Finley. An announcement was posted on the network's web site http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap/ stating: "A God-fearing pastor's wife from Michigan swaps places with the godless wife of an atheist (sic) from Georgia." The situation changed dramatically sometime late yesterday, when it was learned that the segment featuring Amber Finley had been pre- empted by another completed installment of "Wife Swap." The ABC site was altered, and under the heading of "Next Episode" listed new families ("Cedarquist/Oeth") and a description of the replacement program. "A low-tech, stay-at-home mom who lives off the electric grid in an isolated tree house swaps places with a high-powered, plugged-in career mom who's wired in suburbia." A press release from the ABC television network was also distributed and posted at the company web site. It announced the new installment of "Wife Swap" for the time originally scheduled for the Finley/ Stonerock episode and included an advisory in the second paragraph: "Editors please note: This episode replaces 'Stonerock/Finley' which had been scheduled to air at this time." There were no further details, or an explanation as to why the segment with the Atheist family had been suddenly bumped in favor of the new episode. In an interview earlier today, ABC Media Relations head Mozell Miley told AANEWS that the Finley program had been fully edited and was ready for airing, but was simply replaced due to unidentified network re-scheduling. When asked if the Finley episode would eventually be carried, Miley said "Yes, you can quote me on that." She would not give a specific date, however, and then mentioned that subsequent episodes of the "Wife Swap" program, including the one featuring Amber Finley might well be postponed and pre-empted by new programming coming down the ABC production pipeline. The turn-about at ABC has prompted speculation about why the network seems on the verge of possibly canceling or censoring the "Wife Swap" segment that happens to include an Atheist. This development is even more puzzling in light of the effort ABC and the production company behind "Wife Swap," a firm known as RDF Media, went to in order to find suitable Atheist families. ABC Contacts AA, Michigan Atheists According to Michigan American Atheists State Director Arlene-Marie, Heather Walsh of ABC contacted her for help in filming some of the segments of the upcoming "Wife Swap" program which was to feature an Atheist. ABC informed her and other Michigan Atheists "they would do a show swapping wives; one wife of a religious family and one wife of an Atheist family." The producers also wanted a discussion meeting on the topic of "Religion v. Reason" which later took place at a conference center in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and featured the prospective family members along with representatives from groups like Michigan Atheists and the Greater Flint Atheists and Humanists. "It was an amazing experience," declared Arlene Marie. "The show's producers and camera crew treated us with kindness and respect at all times and we had a lot of fun behind the scenes, too." She added that among the duties for those taking part in the "Wife Swap" experience were to provide "two days of home schooling centered on evolution, for (Pastor Jeff Stonerock's) children." There was no indication of problems during this period; and it appeared that a segment of "Wife Swap" was in the pipeline at ABC and would air nationwide in the coming weeks. And The Latest... Along the statement made earlier today by Mozell Miley, the ABC Media Relations official, there are also reports that "problems with editing" may be behind the cancelation -- temporary or permanent -- of Ms. Finley's "Wife Swap" episode. Arlene Marie told AANEWS that she had been in touch with the New York offices of Heather Walsh, a producer with the RDF Media Group. An assistant stated that to the best of her knowledge, the segment was bumped from the ABC programming schedule due to unspecified editing difficulties. Whatever the problem, it is hoped that ABC will still give Atheists "equal time" on this program. Meanwhile, American Atheists President Ellen Johnson urged that concerned Atheists contact ABC with polite letters inquiring about the fate of the Finley program. For further information: http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/wife1.htm ("Coming of Age at 'Wife Swap'? Have Atheists Broken the Pop-Culture Barrier?" opinion piece by Conrad Goeringer) http://www.infidelguy.com (Infidel Guy program) http://abc.go.com/primetime/wifeswap (ABC website, "Wife Swap") ** American Atheists Action Alert! March 8, 2005 ACTION NEEDED NOW! ENCOURAGE ABC NETWORK TO AIR "WIFE SWAP" SEGMENT FEATURING ATHEIST AMBER FINLEY ... http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-08-mar-2005.html (AA News March 8 via DXLD) FWIW, my 10-cent printed TV Guide listing for Wife Swap, March 9 at 9:02 pm (sic! Why are they doing this now, and are these exact times even correct?) shows the non-Atheist subjects off-the-grid, etc., so that must have been planned some weeks in advance, with the Atheist subject a later change and unchange (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. I heard a weak & poor signal on 700 kHz from RASD at 2255 UT on 5/3. This was in // with 7460. 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, MWC via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Hi Glenn, SW Radio Africa --- 6145 kHz (1600-1900 UT), heard this evening Wednesday 9 March on 6145 is again this evening experiencing extremely severe co-channel interference. I was unsure if it was a transmitter fault from Sentech, South Africa or deliberate interference which has been monitored in various forms since Monday 7 March but it appears most likely that it is deliberate and this evening EXTREME. Heard from 1600 UT sign on with a 20 kHz blocking signal carrier modulated single tone, from 6135 to 6155, centered on 6145. Oddly the interference went off at 1630 UT for around 10 minutes but came back on again with a different modulated tone. At 1700 UT the interference is extreme, making reception almost impossible for me using a Communications grade receiver (Yaesu FRG 7700M); a basic portable radio would not have the selectivity, so SWRA's signal on 6145 would be rendered totally blocked out. I monitor the new SWRA daily broadcast on 3230 mornings (0300-0500 UT) and this transmission is not interfered with. I presume the same Sentech transmitter is used for both transmissions, so still concerned that deliberate interference of 6145 evenings is occurring. We are currently checking with Sentech and SWRA's London studio to confirm if it is a transmitter problem or deliberate interference. 73s (David Pringle-Wood, Harare, Zimbabwe, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15375, someone is running DRM here, before and after 1400 UT March 9; in the past both Voz Cristiana, Chile and HCJB have DRMed this frequency, but nothing current in either version of the DRM online schedules! Nor any posts about 15375 on the DRM fora in the past month since HCJB was testing to Mexico. Still going after 1500 but now with Analog Russian on 15370, no doubt ruining any DRM reception just as DRM ruins the Russian. 15375 DRM still going at 2100 UT recheck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then at 1700 UT March 9 I found that the next DXPL for March 12 is already audible at the HCJB website. Allen Graham greets SWL Festers and says HCJB is testing DRM for them ``all weekend long`` --- but no details!! Maybe that`s what is already running on 15375. I had another look at the DRM fora, and NO mention of this or of HCJB`s DRM tests on 90 and 49 meters, which were to take place in February. Have these now concluded, or sporadic, or what? Why isn`t there any publicity for this, especially from HCJB and DRM? The DX world would not have known about them were it not for news from our correspondent at the HFCC in the DF. Did anybody ever hear HCJB in DRM on 3220 or 6095? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ NEW MW/LW COORDINATIONS ITU The most recent survey of MW/LW stations that have been registered with the ITU for further international coordination was posted on the ITU website: http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/brific-ter/index.html Select "GE75_112". Note: any entry with countries shown in column "Coord_B" ("coordination required") is still in the coordination process: the final characteristics are subject to be changed if required by affected authorities, or a station may not be approved (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, March 8, MWDX yg via DXLD) LATEST PACIFIC RADIO HERITAGE NEWS from http://www.radioheritage.net includes the following scheduled for release in the coming week: (1) Search now on for Pacific's oldest 'Top 10' music charts (2) Car stickers keep on sticking on (3) Even more MORE FM replaces heritage radio stations (4) Hits and Memberships as website grows (5) New Pacific guide series launching. Watch this space. It's BIG! (6) Volunteers and memorabilia donations making a difference (7) 1st radio heritage meeting gets 100% turnout and 20+ stations (8) Save 3ZB Site campaign update and full facts (9) More Pacific radio documentaries air on RNZI (10)and lots of new photos, logos and images now on-line Plus, the following new full length stories with fresh images and material are now on-line at http://www.radioheritage.net --- (1) Radio Norfolk Island (2) From Hawkes Bay to Replay Radio (44 Years with RNZ) (3) WXLG Kwajalein (4) Canton Island - WXLF to Hermit Crab Network (5) Canton Island - In the Phoenix Islands Group, WXLE Radio 1385 (6) Canton Island - Inside DJ stories from WXLE Coming in the next few days are even more stories: (7) Radio Tokelau FM (8) Wireless is like ping-pong (Amateur Radio in Christchurch, 1932) (9) KMTH Midway - Territory of Hawaii (10)KMTH Midway - 180 Miles from Tomorrow Watch for our next update with news of more full length stories scheduled for on-line release at www.radioheritage.net in mid-April. Special Request Enjoying the current series of radio heritage documentaries on Radio New Zealand International? Tell us what other Pacific radio stations you want us to feature. Visit www.radioheritage.net and email us with your suggestions or write to Radio Heritage Foundation, PO Box 14339, Wellington, New Zealand. Warm regards (David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, http://www.radioheritage.net 'Sharing the stories of Pacific radio' March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Although this does not directly impact the topic of short-wave listening, it is worth reading. Lightning impacts all of us in one way or another. NASA FINDS LIGHTNING CLEARS SAFE ZONE IN EARTH'S RADIATION BELT Lightning in clouds, only a few miles above the ground, clears a safe zone in the radiation belts thousands of miles above the Earth, according to NASA-funded researchers. The unexpected result resolves a forty-year-old debate as to how the safe zone is formed, and it illuminates how the region is cleared after it is filled with radiation during magnetic storms. The safe zone, called the Van Allen Belt slot, is a potential haven offering reduced radiation dosages for satellites that require Middle Earth Orbits (MEOs). The research may eventually be applied to remove radiation belts around the Earth and other worlds, reducing the hazards of the space environment. "The multi-billion-dollar Global Positioning System satellites skirt the edge of the safe zone," said Dr. James Green of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. He is the lead author of the paper about the research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. "Without the cleansing effect from lightning, there would be just one big radiation belt, with no easily accessible place to put satellites," he said. If the Van Allen radiation belts were visible from space, they would resemble a pair of donuts around the Earth, one inside the other, with the planet in the hole of the innermost. The Van Allen Belt slot would appear as a space between the inner and outer donut. The belts are comprised of high-speed electrically charged particles (electrons and atomic nuclei) trapped in the Earth's magnetic field. The Earth's magnetic field has invisible lines of magnetic force emerging from the South Polar Region, out into space and back into the North Polar Region. Because the radiation belt particles are electrically charged, they respond to magnetic forces. The particles spiral around the Earth's magnetic field lines, bouncing from pole to pole where the planet's magnetic field is concentrated. Scientists debated two theories to explain how the safe zone was cleared. The prominent theory stated radio waves from space, generated by turbulence in the zone, cleared it. An alternate theory, confirmed by this research, stated radio waves generated by lightning were responsible. "We were fascinated to discover evidence that strongly supported the lightning theory, because we usually think about how the space environment affects the Earth, not the reverse," Green said. The flash we see from lightning is just part of the total radiation it produces. Lightning also generates radio waves. In the same way visible light is bent by a prism, these radio waves are bent by electrically charged gas trapped in the Earth's magnetic field. That causes the waves to flow out into space along the Earth's magnetic field lines. According to the lightning theory, radio waves clear the safe zone by interacting with the radiation belt particles, removing a little of their energy and changing their direction. This lowers the mirror point, the place above the polar regions where the particles bounce. Eventually, the mirror point becomes so low; it is in the Earth's atmosphere. When this happens, the radiation belt particles can no longer bounce back into space, because they collide with atmospheric particles and dissipate their energy. To confirm the theory, the team used a global map of lightning activity made with the Micro Lab 1 spacecraft. They used radio wave data from the Radio Plasma Imager on the Imager for Magnetopause to Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft, combined with archival data from the Dynamics Explorer spacecraft. IMAGE and Dynamics Explorer showed the radio wave activity in the safe zone closely followed terrestrial lightning patterns observed by Micro Lab 1. According to the team, there would not be a correlation if the radio waves came from space instead of Earth. They concluded when magnetic storms, caused by violent solar activity, inject a new supply of high- speed particles into the safe zone, lightning clears them away in a few days. Engineers may eventually design spacecraft to generate radio waves at the correct frequency and location to clear radiation belts around other planets. This could be useful for human exploration of interesting bodies like Jupiter's moon Europa, which orbits within the giant planet's intense radiation belt. The research team included Drs. Scott Boardsen, Leonard Garcia, William Taylor, and Shing Fung from Goddard; and Dr. Bodo Reinisch, University of Massachusetts, Lowell. For images and information about this research on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/image_lightning.html (via Duane B. Fischer, swl at qth.net via DXLD) During the summary period, the geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels at lower latitudes with minor to severe storming periods observed at the higher latitudes. The period began on 28 February with quiet to active conditions, while periods of minor storming was observed at the higher latitudes due to the effects of a geoeffective coronal hole high speed wind stream. These conditions persisted through most of 02 March. From 03 – 05 March, the field was quiet to unsettled with some active conditions at high latitudes. By 06 March, the large, northern coronal hole high speed stream rotated into a geoeffective position. Unsettled to minor storming was observed at middle latitudes, while minor to severe storming occurred at the higher latitudes. These conditions persisted for the remainder of the summary period. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 09 MARCH - 04 APRIL 2005 Solar activity is expected be at very low to low levels the entire forecast period. A greater than 10 MeV proton event is not expected. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 09 – 12 March, 17 – 19 March, and 03 – 04 April. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to minor storm levels. Coronal hole high speed wind streams are expected to produce unsettled to active levels with occasional minor storm periods on 09 – 10 March, 16 – 17 March, and again on 02 – 04 April. Otherwise, expect quiet to unsettled conditions. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2005 Mar 08 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 2005 Mar 08 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2005 Mar 09 95 20 4 2005 Mar 10 100 15 3 2005 Mar 11 100 10 3 2005 Mar 12 100 8 3 2005 Mar 13 100 8 3 2005 Mar 14 100 8 3 2005 Mar 15 95 8 3 2005 Mar 16 90 15 3 2005 Mar 17 90 25 5 2005 Mar 18 85 12 3 2005 Mar 19 80 10 3 2005 Mar 20 80 5 2 2005 Mar 21 80 5 2 2005 Mar 22 75 5 2 2005 Mar 23 75 5 2 2005 Mar 24 75 10 3 2005 Mar 25 75 10 3 2005 Mar 26 75 10 3 2005 Mar 27 75 10 3 2005 Mar 28 75 12 3 2005 Mar 29 75 8 3 2005 Mar 30 80 8 3 2005 Mar 31 80 5 2 2005 Apr 01 85 5 2 2005 Apr 02 90 15 3 2005 Apr 03 90 20 4 2005 Apr 04 90 20 4 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1266, DXLD) ###