Sunday, July 31, 2011

Radio Afghanistan to be back on air

30 July, 2011 07:53:00
Sunday, July 31, 2011 Kabul (BIA) Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen Minister of Information and Culture inaugurated the foreign section of Radio Afghanistan yesterday.
Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen Minister of Information and Culture inaugurated the foreign section of Radio Afghanistan yesterday. This section in the first place will air program in English and Urdu languages each night from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. Opening the section Dr. Raheen said that this section has been revived with the efforts of the director general and employees of the radio and in the first place it will air English and Urdu programs and followed by Arabic and Russian programs and subsequently French and German programs.


Friday, July 29, 2011

India-England cricket commentary on AIR from Aug 10

All India Radio and exclusive rights holder Channel 2 has reached an agreement to broadcast running commentary two Tests and 5 ODIs of ongoing India England cricket series.

Schedule of matches :

Aug 10-14, 2011 - 15:30 (IST) 1000 UTC - 3rd Test (D) Edgbaston, Birmingham
Aug 18-22, 2011 - 15:30 (IST) 1000 UTC - 4th Test (D) Kennington Oval, London
Aug 31, 2011 - 22:30 (IST) 1700 UTC - One Off T20 Int (D/N) Old Trafford, Manchester
Sep 03, 2011 - 14:45 (IST) 0915 UTC - 1st ODI (D) Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
Sep 06, 2011 - 18:30 (IST) 1300 UTC- 2nd ODI (D/N) The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Sep 09, 2011 - 18:30 (IST) 1300 UTC - 3rd ODI (D/N) Kennington Oval, London
Sep 11, 2011 - 14:45 (IST) 0915 UTC - 4th ODI (D) Lord's, London
Sep 16, 2011 - 18:30 (IST) 1300 UTC - 5th ODI (D/N) Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Nautel's VS1 puts DRM+ On-Air in India

A Nautel VS1 low power FM transmitter was the transmission backbone of DRM+ trial measurements in India that "have thrown up very satisfactory results," according to the DRM Consortium. The tests conducted during the week of May 23rd, 2011 were organized jointly by All India Radio (AIR) and the DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) Consortium, and demonstrated the viability of DRM digital radio in the FM band for the Indian market.

http://www.nautel.com/customer_stories/drm_india/

C'mon radio, let's do the twist

Wave innovation might dramatically increase bandwidth, researcher says
By Devin Powell
Scientists have demonstrated a way to mold radio waves into spirals that could allow multiple radio stations to broadcast at the same frequency. Two waves with different shapes can carry different information without overlapping or interfering with each other.
Read the story here :
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/332778/title/Cmon_radio,_lets_do_the_twist

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Airwaves are for every one

Finally, community radio seems to be making waves, writes Ashish Sen

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Bangalore/article2299067.ece

In their voice

AJOY ASHIRWAD MAHAPRASHASTA
CGNet Swara in Chhattisgarh is a mobile radio platform that has helped bring tribal issues to national attention.

The Swara team, with the help of many volunteers, has been conducting media workshops where citizen journalists are trained in recording voice, reporting and editing.


Read the Frontline story here :
http://www.frontline.in/stories/20110812281608900.htm

Tarun Katial: 'We see radio reaching where no other medium can'

Radioandmusic.com features and salutes glorious years of Private FM Radio From Ameen Sayani's golden voice on Binaca Geet Mala to raising political and social issues, All India Radio dominated the radio broadcast for decades, becoming an integral and primary source of information for every household in India.


AIR Trichy - Staff crunch causes radio silence

Close To 100 Positions,Including That Of Station Director,Lie Vacant At AIRs Trichy Station That Serves 9 Districts

D Madhavan TNN
It is a station with a 72-year history and one of the six radio stations in service since the pre-Independence era but today,All India Radio Trichy faces a shortage of staff and barely has enough people to bring out its programmes.


Read the TOI story here :
http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?edlabel=TOICH&pubLabel=TOI&pageid=5&mydateHid=25-07-2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

AIR Shillong holds regional folk and light music festival

excerpt ..... Speaking on the occasion, All India Radio, Shillong Director N Shadap said that the Regional Folk and Light Music Festival was organized by All India Radio, New Delhi in collaboration with All India Radio, Shillong. The day coincides with the Indian Broadcasting Day to commemorate the change of name from Indian State Broadcasting Service to All India Radio way back in 1935. "This festival is being organized in other parts of the country as well," She said.


More at :
http://www.sentinelassam.com/meghalaya/story.php?sec=2&subsec=8&id=83449&dtP=2011-07-25&ppr=1

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Tribal Community Radio Station to go on air at Bhabhra on July 23

A Tribal community Radio Station will go on air at Bhabhara (Alirajpur district) in Madhya Pradesh. The radio station set up with the assistance of Vanya and Tribal Welfare Department will broadcast programmes in 'Bhili' dialect by tribals. The Bhabhra Radio Station will broadcast programmes for two hours daily, which can be heard at 90.4 megahertz frequency within 20 km radius. The radio station will be run by the local tribal community.


More at : http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=64225



Related Links :


First Tribal Radio Centre Of World To Be Launched At Bhabra On July 23
http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=110719N24&flag1=1


First Tribal Community Radio Station to go on air at Bhabhra on July 23
http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=110721N9&flag1=1


Madhya Pradesh tribals can now hear radio in their dialects
http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=110722N16&flag1=1


Vanya Radio Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=707Jn8o3-gQ


Sajan Venniyoor comments :


First things first: this is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the "first tribal community radio station" in the world. It is probably not even the first in India. There are literally hundreds of tribal community radio stations in Latin America and North America, in New Zealand, Australia, PNG and the Asia Pacific in general, and no doubt dozens more in East Asia.


Secondly, this is not a community radio station. It is owned and run by Vanya (a govt-run 'society') and the Tribal Welfare Dept. of Madhya Pradesh. As one can see from the YouTube video, it seems to be run entirely by non-tribals. The announcer speaks chaste Hindi. The station starts the day's broadcast with 'Vande Mataram', that well known tribal song.


It is commendable that at least some of the programmes broadcast by Vanya Radio are in Bhili, a tribal dialect, but that does not make it a tribal radio station. AIR broadcasts in dozens of tribal dialects in central India and in the North East, where it also runs five 'community radio stations'.
That does not make AIR a tribal or community broadcaster.


According to the news story, "the radio station will play an important role in disseminating information about various welfare schemes". That is what state-run radio stations do. AIR has done that for nearly 65 years now, at immense expense, without any marked success.


(Sajan Venniyoor via cr-india list)
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to
http://www.crforum.in/

World Radio Online - August 2011 Issue

World Radio Online August issue is now available for download here :
http://worldradiomagazine.com/

Direct link to download :
http://worldradiomagazine.com/wro_issues/2011/WRO_08_2011.pdf


Stories this month :

* Kurt's Plan for Keeping Our Poise about the Counterpoise
* Tips on Helping Disabled Hams Choose the Right Radio
* Update: 70cm Seems Safe for Amateur Radio Satellite Communications
* DXing the Hamvention - and a Dayton Photo Essay


In addition, you'll find regular columns including: Morse Code, Pounding Brass, Amateur Satellites, Promotion and Recruitment, With the Handihams, Looking West, MARS, Propagation, DX World, Rules and Regulations, Hamfests and Special Events, Contest Calendar, DX Predictions and more.

Special programme from the Arctic Radio Club

According to current information the programme will go out at 1130 UTC (1330 CET) on Sunday, July 24 on 9510 kHz and it will be repeated the following weekend at 0845 UTC (1045 CET) on Saturday, July 30 and at 1130 UTC (1330 CET) on Sunday, July 31.

A 15 minute special programme made by the Arctic Radio Club will be aired by IRRS over a transmitter in Romania on 9510 kHz. The programme has been produced by ARC members Ronny Forslund, a/k/a Ronny B Goode, and Christer Brunström, chairman of the ARC. We are sitting in for Stephen who usually runs his programme 39 Dover Street at this time but as he is moving house he asked us to fill his airtime. A webstream is also available on http://www.nexus.org/


Happy listening! (Ronny Forslund, ARC)

http://arcticradioclub.blogspot.com/

Radio Gloria is on 6140 khz this Sunday

Dear Listeners,
Radio Gloria is on the air this Sunday the 24th of July 2011. The frequency will be 6140 khz, and the time slot will be 1300 to 1400 utc. We Transmit via Nauen (Beam on 126 degree) under the licence of MV Baltic Radio.

The Programme is also available via:
Radio 700 on 6005 khz 9-10 UTC also via there stream: radio700.eu and via Coloradio.org at 15-16 UTC


Good listening and good reception!


73s Tom
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PS. MV Baltic Radio relay service Schedule for Summertime 2011
1st Sunday – MV Baltic Radio 0900 utc
3rd Sunday – European Music Radio 0900 utc (September)
4th Sunday – Radio Gloria International 1300 utc


NEW EMR Postal Address:
European Music Radio,
c/o M.V. Baltic Radio,
SeestraЯe 17,
D-19089 Gцhren,
Germany

FM Radio in India - an overview

Overview of FM Radio in India by R. Sowmya Sri ...

http://www.indiabiznews.com/?q=node/1711

Friday, July 22, 2011

Installation of a 1500kW LW Solid State Transmitter in Luxemburg

Since mid of June the new TRANSRADIO TRAM/P 1500 LS in Beidweiler, Luxembourg, is in daily operation for RTL replacing an old tube-type transmitter. BCE, the network operator for RTL, upgraded this transmitter to the latest solid-state technology from TRANSRADIO to reduce operational costs and to increase the reliability of this important transmitter, which is broadcasting the French RTL program towards Paris using a directional antenna with three 290 m masts.

More at : http://tinyurl.com/3q5yelj

European Broadcasting Union releases study on radio consumption and trends

The European Broadcasting Union today released the results of an in-depth study on the situation of public service radio and its relation to social media. The report includes data on international radio consumption from 31 EBU Member organizations in 28 countries. It also features 28 case studies on radio programme formats, as well as social- and cross-media strategies in seven European countries plus the USA.

Further details & download executive summary here :
http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/news/2011/tcm_6-72189.php

Thursday, July 21, 2011

New Australian Narrowcast Guide 1611-1701 AM

A new version of the Australian Narrowcast Radio Guide 1611-1701 AM has just been released by the Radio Heritage Foundation and is available from www.radioheritage.com.

Completely revised and updated, the guide covers some 70 stations currently broadcasting on the expanded AM dial across Australia. These stations, usually operating with a low transmitter power, have been a feature of the Australian radio scene for some decades. The new guide reveals that almost 40% of the stations operate on just one frequency, 1611 AM, which is just outside the standard AM dial but usually listenable on most car and domestic radio receivers.


Almost 30% of the stations are also operated by just one broadcaster, Rete Italia, which has been expanding use of the narrowcast dial for its services in the Italian language.


Other broadcasters heard include the Vision Radio Network, several country music networks, Arabic, Greek, Chinese and other ethnic stations and several local stations such as the new 2GW in Sydney's Greater West on 1611 AM and relays for Far North Queensland's 4KZ.


Feedback, corrections and updates from users are always welcome and will be incorporated in future versions. Simply email your comments to info@radioheritage.net.


Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.com
July 18 2011


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Radio Makes People 'Happier' Than TV or Internet, New Study Finds

Perhaps the future of media lies in a retreat to the past. A new study commissioned in the U.K. by the Radio Advertising Bureau concluded that listening to the radio makes people happier than watching TV or surfing the Internet. "On average, when consuming radio, happiness & energy scores increase by 100% and 300% compared to when no media is being consumed," the study found. But happiness increased most when that media was the radio.

More at :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/20/radio-happiness-tv-internet-happy_n_904122.html?ref=fb&src=sp

Radio’s decadal shift

Sudipta Datta
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 20, 2011 at 0317 hrs IST
The announcement of FM phase III and auctions this month, though long overdue, have come as a perfect anniversary gift in the tenth year of private FM radio. While the opening of private FM radio a decade ago in the four metros "breathed life into a dead medium", phase II and now phase III will lead to further expansion in the country to tier-II and tier-III towns.

Full story at :
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/radios-decadal-shift/819645/0

Radio signals confuse fishermen at sea

18 July 2011
rajib chatterjee
KOLKATA, 18 JULY: The state government has requested All India Radio (AIR) to undertake a survey to examine the transmission capacity of Kolkata-A-Channel, after reports that fishermen in the Bay of Bengal on the Indian side are receiving signals from a Bangladesh radio instead of the AIR.

Read the full story here :
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=377002&catid=73


(Thanks to Sudipta Ghose, Kolkata for the link)

BBC World Service audience drops after cuts

BBC World Service audiences have fallen 14m in the past year, largely as a result of service closures and platform changes due to cuts to central Government grants.

The overall audience estimate for the year is 166m, down from 180m last year. The World Service, currently funded by the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office, had its budget cut in the Government's Spending Review and in January announced that five language services would close along with significant platform changes to other services.


However, there were solid improvements in some core areas of World Service which partly offset the effects of the cuts.


World Service online audience figures have risen by 40% over the past 12 months. The 2010/11 figures indicate that there are 10m weekly unique users of World Service websites, a 3m increase from 2009/10.


World Service English audiences are up 10% on the previous year with a total weekly reach of 43m and the audience in the US has risen to 10m. This follows record audience figures in the UK of 1.79m for the first quarter of 2011 – a reach of 3.5% among all UK adults.


There were also increases in the audience figures for the World Service's Arabic television service. BBC Arabic TV had a strong year with audience growth of 2m taking it to 13.5m viewers.


Peter Horrocks, Director BBC Global News, said: "We've had to make considerable changes to the World Service over the past year due to the cut in our funding from the Government and this was always going to result in a drop in our audience figures.


"The World Service has been looking hard at the best way to provide impartial news and information to our audiences going forward, and it's encouraging to see improvement in key areas. The strong international journalism from the World Service, particularly during the Arab Spring, has been a key part of the significant increases for online, English radio and Arabic television.


"We are also pleased to see that we are doing so well in the UK with audiences accessing World Service through digital radio, freeview and live streaming online.


"We will continue to look for the best fit for the audience – online, radio, tv, mobile – wherever it suits them best."


BBC World Service's Annual Review is also published today.

(BBC World Service Press Office)

Voice of Russia - new DRM schedule

On July 15, the Voice of Russia started to broadcast a multiplex of programs in two different languages (DRM MDI stream):

To Europe:
– 15545 kHz (Moscow) 0800-1200 UTC (new freq)
– 9850 kHz (Kaliningrad) 0800-1300 UTC
– 9715 kHz (Moscow) 1300-1900 UTC (ex 9750 kHz 1300-1800 UTC)
– 6155 kHz (Kaliningrad) 1500-1800 UTC
– 9880 kHz (Kaliningrad) 1600-2100 UTC
– 6065 kHz (Kaliningrad) 1900-2300 UTC (new freq)


0800-0900 – English, Russian
0900-1000 – English, Russian
1000-1100 – Russian, German
1100-1200 – Russian, German
1200-1300 – English, Russian
1300-1400 – English, Russian
1400-1500 – English, Russian
1500-1600 – German, Serbian
1600-1700 – German, Serbian
1700-1800 – German, Italian
1800-1900 – English, French
1900-2000 – English, French
2000-2100 – English, french
2100-2200 – English, Portuguese
2200-2300 – English, Russian


To Asia:

– 9445 kHz (Irkutsk) 1200-1600 UTC
– 9405 kHz (Irkutsk) 1700-1800 UTC (new freq)


1200-1300 – English, Chinese
1300-1400 – English, Hindi
1400-1500 – English, Urdu
1500-1600 – English, Hindi
1700-1800 – English, Hindi


On the same day, VOR cancelled following DRM broadcasts:

- 7225 kHz (Krasnodar) 1400-1600 UTC to Europe in English
- 15735 kHz (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) to Asia 0100-0300 UTC in Russian and 0300-0500 UTC in English.


Source:
http://dxing.ru/novosti/21-radioveschanie/1494-izmenenija-v-drm-transljatsijah-golosa-rossii.html


Aleksandr Diadischev
Ukraine


(Via DXLD List)

Step-By-Step in Guam

International religious broadcaster Trans World Radio is documenting the process of upgrading and building its new transmitter facility on the Pacific island of Guam.

More at : http://www.radioworld.com/article/step-by-step-in-guam/23942

New issue of USC CPD PD Magazine is devoted to international broadcasting

PD Magazine, Summer 2011, of the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy, is devoted to international broadcasting. Its contents include:

- Alan Heil, "VOA and BBC at a Crossroads"
- Shawn Powers, "R.I.P., Broadcasting"
- Philip Seib, "Al Jazeera English in Focus"
- Oliver Zollner, "International Broadcasting in the Social Network Era"
- Interviews with former members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors James Glassman and Ted Kaufman and current members Michael Meehan and S. Enders Wimbush
- Philip Wang, "Transformation of Radio Taiwan International"
- Alex Oliver and Annmaree O'Keefe, "Struggling to be Heard: Australia's International Broadcasters Fight for a Voice in the Region"
- Kim Andrew Elliott, "In International Broadcasting, Even the Static Must be Credible"


Download the pdf version here :
http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/media/PD%20Magazine%20Summer%202011.pdf


(Kim Andrew Elliott)

Source : http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=11680

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Radio broadcaster hopes to contribute to gradual change in North Korea

Deutsche Welle talks to 'Open Radio for North Korea' founder Tae Keung Ha about the importance of outside broadcasters for the people of North Korea. The North Korean regime suppresses all forms of free information within the country. "Open Radio for North Korea" broadcasts international news via shortwave and FM from neighboring South Korea for the North. World in Progress talked to the radio station's founder, Tae Keung Ha, about the role of outside broadcasters for the people of North Korea.

Read the DW story here : http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15235363,00.html

Monday, July 18, 2011

IRRS-Shortwave new daily broadcast to Asia and Australia

Effective today, June 18, 2011, we are adding another daily broadcast to Middle East, Asia and Australia from 13:00-14:00 UTC on 15610 kHz.

All our broadast can also be heard online at:

http://mp3.nexus.org or
http://www.egradio.org


You can find our update frequency schedule at:
http://www.nexus.org/schedules/

We welcome your comments and reception reports for these new broadcasts at:
reports (at) nexus (dot) org

Thanks, and stay tuned!

73s,
Ron
--
Ron Norton
NEXUS-Int'l Broadcasting Association
http://www.nexus.org

QSL from Singapore Volmet


...................................................click on the image to enlarge

In 24 days for an emailed report, v/s Chua Guat Mui


Saturday, July 16, 2011

Radio is ready for a revolution

By RJ Anjaan

Imagine a future where your favourite radio jockey has discussions about the global economic downturn, terrorism or gives you a running commentary of a cricket match.


Radio tower collapses after fire

A broadcasting tower in the Dutch town of Hoogersmilde has collapsed. The 200-metre high mast came down following a fire in the building. No injuries have been reported. Large parts of the Netherlands have been left without reception on their radio FM frequencies as a result of the fire.



Have a look at the video here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14168281

Free the Radio !

Alok Tiwari
12 July 2011, 10:30 AM IST
It is funny, almost inexplicable, that in a country that has rambunctious private TV news channels reaching the smallest hamlets, radio remains under tight government leash. One would expect it to be the other way round. Last week, Union cabinet cleared the Phase III expansion of FM (Frequency Modulated) channels. That would take private FM radio to 227 cities from the present 86. It would also allow a modest increase in foreign ownership of channels (from 20% to 26%). The private radio channels would also be allowed to carry All India Radio news bulletin.

Read the full story here :
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bugs-eye-view/entry/free-the-radio

"The 2011 George Enescu Festival" Contest

Radio Romania International invites you to participate in a new prize-winning contest, this time dedicated to the "2011 George Enescu Festival". This music festival was inaugurated in 1958, in recognition of the appreciation George Enescu, the best known Romanian musician of all times, enjoyed worldwide.

The 20th edition of the festival will take place between September 1st and 25th, in Bucharest and other major cities across Romania. The festival includes almost 120 concerts and shows, grouped in various categories: "Great World Orchestras", "Chamber Music Recitals and Concerts", "Midnight Concerts", "World Music", "Opera and Ballet", "Music of the 21st Century", and, of course, "Enescu and His Contemporaries". As usual, this event attracts some of
the best names in symphonic music worldwide. You can get details on these events in our broadcasts, as well as on the website www.festivalenescu.ro, (the English version). The "George Enescu" International Competition has four sections: piano, violin, cello and composition.
The artistic director of the event is the world famous music manager Ioan Hollender, who was born in Timisoara, western Romania, who headed the Vienna Staatsoper, between 1992 and 2010.
In this contest, we grant prizes related to Enescu and Romanian symphonic music, but also to Romanian culture in general. The contest is sponsored by the "Monitorul Oficial" Publishers, with support from the "Casa Radio" Record and Publishing House.
A violin virtuoso known all over the world, composer, pianist, conductor and teacher, George Enescu was born 130 years ago, on 19 August 1881 in Liveni, Botosani county, in north eastern Romania. He is considered one of the greatest
composers of the first half of the 20th century. His work includes three completed symphonies, various other important pieces for voice and orchestra, chamber music, one opera ("'Oedip"), solo works and lieder. Such great names as Yehudi Menuhin and Dinu Lipatti are two of the musicians Enescu had a great influence on.
In order to qualify for one of our prizes you have to provide correct and complete answers, in writing, by 30 September 2011, posting date, to a few questions:
1. When and where was George Enescu born?
2. Name at least three compositions by Enescu.
3. Name at least three prestigious musicians attending this year's edition of the festival (soloists, conductors or orchestras).
4. Which edition of the "George Enescu" International Festival is running this year?
Please answer by mail, fax, e-mail, on our Facebook page, or by filling in the form posted on our website, www.rri.ro We would also ask you to tell us what motivated you to participate in the competition. Our address is: Radio Romania International, 60-64, G-ral. Berthelot Street, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania, PO Box 111, code 010171, fax no. 00.40.21.319.05.62. Our e-mail address is: engl@rri.ro. We are waiting for your answers by 30 September 2011, posting date. The winners will be announced in the second half of October 2011.

2011 RRI Summer Schedule
The 2011 Summer SW frequencies on which you can tune in to RRI's broadcasts:
UTC -----------Frequencies (kHz) ---Area
00 00 - 01 00 7,385 ; 9,580 USA (East Coast)
03 00 - 04 00 7,335 ; 9,645 USA (West Coast)
03 00 - 04 00 11,895 ; 15,340 INDIA
05 30 - 06 00 7,,305 DRM ; 9,655 WESTERN EUROPE
05 30 - 06 00 17,760 ; 2,500 INDIA + AUSTRALIA
11 00 - 12 00 17,510 ; 15,210 WESTERN EUROPE
11 00 - 12 00 15,430 ; 17,670 SOUTH-EAST AFRICA
17 00 - 17 30 7,,350 DRM UNITED KINGDOM
17 00 - 18 00 9,,535 DRM ; 11,735 WESTERN EUROPE
20 30 - 21 00 9,,765 DRM ; 11,880 WESTERN EUROPE
20 30 - 21 00 11,940; 13,800 USA (East Coast)
22 00 - 23 00 5,960 ; 7,435 WESTERN EUROPE
22 00 - 23 00 9,790 ; 11,940 JAPAN
RRI's programs can be heard on the Internet, in WMA, MP3 and AAC+ formats, at www.rri.ro
The English language program to Western Europe, airing at 17.00 hours UTC Summer time, is simultaneously transmitted in DRM system on 9,535 kHz and in analogue system on 11,735 kHz. RRI also brings you a 30-minute program in English, broadcast in the DRM system, transmitted to the UK by the British provider WRN Broadcast, between 17.00 and 17.30 hours UTC, on 7,350 kHz. Our English morning program airing at 05.30 UTC is simultaneously transmitted to Western Europe in the DRM system on 7,305 kHz and in analogue system on 9,655 kHz. Our English program airing at 20.30 UTC is simultaneously transmitted to Western Europe in DRM system on 9,765 kHz and in analogue system on 11.880 kHz. RRI also releases a weekly podcast in English, with an RSS feed; RRI's program, broadcast on Sunday at 17.00 hours UTC, will be available on the WRN servers and also on podcast directories, such as iTunes and Juicer. Also, as from October 2010, RRI's English broadcasts aired at 05.30 UTC (Summer time) and 06.30 UTC (Winter time) are available to listen on demand (via the Brittish provider WRN Broadcast), using a link on RRI's website.
On RRI's website, www.rri.ro you can listen to some of our broadcasts in English from the last 7 days. From Monday to Sunday you can listen, on demand, to our broadcast starting at 06.00 hours Romanian time. The programs become available as audio files 2 hours after broadcasting.

Friday, July 15, 2011

New E-mail list/id for Cumbre DX/DXing with Cumbre

"Cumbre DX" and "DXing with Cumbre" have lost a very good friend. Bob Arnold, N2JEU, who ran Cumbre DX's web and e-mail servers, and who also put the programs on iTunes for us, is a Silent Key at the age of only 58. We at Cumbre are heartbroken at this news, and send our sympathy to Bob's family and friends. "DXing with Cumbre" will continue on the air and WHR streaming audio, but the website, e-mail list and iTunes are gone for now. For those who can get to his funeral on Friday in Canastota, near Syracuse NY, details are available at the obituary link.
Please feel free to share the news, since the Cumbre DX list is gone with Bob's death. We thank Bob for all he did for us, and we know he'll be very much missed in the radio community.


http://obits.syracuse.com/obituaries/syracuse/obituary.aspx?n=robert-d-arnold-bob&pid=152522599

New Cumbre DX list is now at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cumbre_dx/

Group Email Addresses :

To Post message: cumbre_dx@yahoogroups.com
To Subscribe: cumbre_dx-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

73 and thanks,
Cumbre DX/Dxing with Cumbre Team

DRM Newsletter July 2011

DRM Newsletter 7/2011 is now available at :
http://newsletters.lavishcreative.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/5E40CD0DF5FC859F/C67FD2F38AC4859C/

- DRM responds to Brazil's Ministry of Communications public notice for trials on digital radio systems
- DRM writes to South Africa
- Korea : 21st edition of KOBA (Korean Broadcasting Engineer & Technicians Association) Exhibition & Conference
- Chilean broadcasters hear about DRM
- DRM presence during Broadcast Asia
- IBC DRM: The Digital Journey to showcase at IBC 2011

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Bob Arnold of Cumbre DX, N2JEU, has died

Cumbre DX and "DXing with Cumbre" have lost a very good friend. Bob Arnold, N2JEU, who ran Cumbre DX's web and e-mail servers, and who also put the programs on iTunes for us, is a Silent Key at the age of only 58. We at Cumbre are heartbroken at this news, and send our sympathy to Bob's family and friends. "DXing with Cumbre" will continue on the air and WHR streaming audio, but the website, e-mail list and iTunes are gone for now. For those who can get to his funeral on Friday in Canastota, near Syracuse NY, details are available at the obituary link.
Please feel free to share the news, since the Cumbre DX list is gone with Bob's death. We thank Bob for all he did for us, and we know he'll be very much missed in the radio community.

http://obits.syracuse.com/obituaries/syracuse/obituary.aspx?n=robert-d-arnold-bob&pid=152522599


73--
Marie Lamb
DXing with Cumbre
(Via ODXA List)



Alokesh Gupta comments : Shocked to hear about this ......personal loss for me, he was a good friend of mine & all these years of moderating cumbre dx email list he always responded swiftly whenever there was a problem. My deepest sympathies & I very deeply regret the loss but am compelled to accept that being humans we all have to surrender to the inevitable and all good things must come to an end. "May he attain Eternal Bliss !"

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

BBC CYPRUS Relay down

By Richard Spencer 5:02PM BST 11 Jul 2011

The 98 barrels containing an estimated 2,000 tonnes of high explosive had been stored for two years in the open, in temperatures of up to 102F (40C), despite concerns of officers from the Cypriot National Guard. The explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, on the southern coast of the island near the town of Zygi, happened shortly before 6am local time. Fire services had been called to a blaze at the base, apparently in the brush, at 4.24, but the flames enveloped two of the barrels, setting off the blast. The shock wave could be heard 40 miles away in the capital, Nicosia. The country's defence minister and military chief both resigned in the wake of the explosion, which also injured 62 people.
Television footage showed the walls stripped from the power plant at Vassilikou, next to the base, which supplies more than half Cyprus's electricity. The authorities urged residents to cut down their use of both electricity and water, since much of the island's drinking supplies comes
from desalination plants.


Also affected by the power outage was a BBC relay station, six of whose transmitters, broadcasting English-language services to the Middle East, were disrupted. . .


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/cyprus/8630547/12-killed-in-Cyprus-when-Iranian-arms-depot-explodes.html

(via Chuck Albertson, Glen Hauser, DXLD List )

Monday, July 11, 2011

Radio Free Asia Hosts Dalai Lama on Anniversary Year

WASHINGTON, DC - Radio Free Asia (RFA) today hosted His Holiness the Dalai Lama at its Washington, DC headquarters. The Tibetan spiritual leader made remarks on RFA's 15th anniversary year to staff from all nine RFA language services, commending them for delivering a free press to closed societies. Also during the visit, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was interviewed by RFA's Mandarin service, with questions submitted from RFA's Tibetan, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Uyghur services.

In his address to RFA's staff, the Dalai Lama spoke about the value of democracy, freedom, and civil law, citing education as the key to ensuring those principles to endure. The Dalai Lama said RFA is "extremely helpful" and lauded its services for their contribution in working to "educate people who have no freedom of information."


The spiritual leader also spoke about the crises and turmoil in recent years in mainland China facing Uyghurs, Tibetans, and more recently people living in Inner Mongolia, referring to them as "brothers" in their challenges.


RFA's exclusive interview was webcast live on its Mandarin and Tibetan sites, and made available online and via shortwave and satellite to listeners in China. The Nobel laureate is in Washington for the 11-day Buddhist Kalachakra ritual, which concludes this week.


(Press Release)

The ‘haunted’ past of Radio Ceylon

by Chamari SENANAYAKE

Walking into the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) buildings at Torrington Square, one would immediately feel the historical value of the place, but most people would not know just how valuable it is. Our SLBC is Asia's first broadcasting corporation. Radio Ceylon started in Sri Lanka then Ceylon, paving the way for many other radio stations that later came to be celebrated around the world, inspiring countries such as Hong Kong, Korea, India and Singapore to enter the world of wireless media.

Full story with photo's at :
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/07/10/spe01.asp

Saturday, July 09, 2011

All India Radio to launch 24-hour news broadcast channel

The government plans to launch a 24-hour news broadcast channel of All India Radio (AIR) as part of its sweeping modernisation programme in the next five years.

AIR will also witness a complete digitisation of its studios, transmissions and connectivity across the country by 2017 according to plans by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. With a view to improving efficiency and broadcast quality, the government will replace old and obsolete equipment besides enhancing AIR's infrastructure by refurbishing its studios.

Read the full story here :
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/174820/247-news-channel-part-plans.html

UK: Government still won’t commit to digital radio switchover date

The Government has refrained from committing to a digital radio switchover date, originally tabled for 2015, saying the decision to move away from FM is still two years away. Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, has refused to commit to a digital radio switchover date, saying that the decision will not be made until 2013. Talking in London at the annual Intellect technology conference, the event where Vaizey first announced the digital radio switchover action plan a year ago, he said: "We will make the decision [about digital radio switchover] in 2013 whether we will go ahead in 2015 or delay.

Full story at :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8617678/Government-still-wont-commit-to-digital-radio-switchover-date.html

NUJ members to strike at BBC on 15th July

Journalists at the BBC are due to walk out on 15 July in a strike over compulsory redundancies. NUJ members have a long standing commitment to the policy of no compuslory redundancies at the BBC. The NUJ has called on the BBC to enter urgent talks to resolve the threat of compulsory redundancies for the small number of outstanding cases and for the reinstatement of a member dismissed in the BBC World Service. Industrial action will go ahead next week if the BBC fail to address these issues.

More at :http://righttowork.org.uk/2011/07/nuj-members-to-strike-at-bbc-on-15th-july/

Saregama India, Timbre Media to launch radio channels

Music label Saregama India Ltd and Timbre Media Pvt Ltd have joined hands to provide genre-based radio channels to Indian listeners. The Saregama India-Timbre Media strategic alliance is expected to bring back the legacy of Worldspace radio, a name synonym with genre-based programming.

More at : http://tinyurl.com/6zxky5v

VOA Hosting Live Coverage of S. Sudan Independence

Washington, D.C. — July 8, 2011 — Voice of America will provide live coverage of South Sudan's independence celebrations on Saturday 9th July, with reports from the new country and Washington, including interviews with key leaders who have guided the historic transition.
Sudan in Focus, VOA's popular English language radio program to the region, will be renamed South Sudan in Focus to mark the occasion. A special live broadcast of the ceremony will include the proclamation of independence, the signing of South Sudan's transitional constitution, the swearing-in of the new government, the playing of the new national anthem and reaction from citizens of the country.
Hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including the heads of state of 30 African countries and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, are expected to attend the ceremony.
VOA reporters in South Sudan will contribute to the special live broadcast, which will be hosted by John Tanza in Washington and Charlton Doki in Juba. VOA broadcasts to southern Sudan on shortwave, FM affiliate stations and is streamed on the Internet. VOA language services broadcasting to neighboring countries will pre-empt regular programming to broadcast Saturday's Independence Day ceremony.
Voice of America and fellow U.S. international broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Network have provided extensive radio, television and Internet coverage of southern Sudan's march toward independence.
Other U.S. international broadcasting coverage will include live reporting of the July 9th events on Alhurra TV's Arabic-language satellite broadcasts as well as expanded radio newscasts on Afia Darfur, broadcasting to Darfur and Eastern Chad.
For more information about VOA broadcasts in English or any of our languages, visit http://www.voanews.com/.


(VOA Press Release)

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Policy Guidelines for expansion of FM Phase-Ill

Policy Guidelines for expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-III)

The Union Cabinet in its meeting today has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to approve of the 'Policy Guidelines on Expansion of FM radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-Ill)'. Cabinet has also cleared the proposal
of the Ministry for conducting ascending e-auction, as followed by Department of Telecommunications for the auction of 3G and BWA spectrum, mutatis-mutandis, for award of license of FM Channels, as recommended by the GoM on Licensing Methodology for FM Phase-Ill.


FM Phase-Ill Policy extends FM radio services to about 227 new cities, in addition to the present 86 cities, with a total of 839 new FM radio Channels in 294 cities. Phase -III policy will result in coverage of all cities with a population of one lakh and above with private FM radio channels.


Salient features of the approved Policy for Phase-Ill as against Phase-11 are as under;-


i) Radio operators have been permitted carriage of news bulletins of All India Radio.


ii) Broadcast pertaining to the certain categories like information pertaining to sporting events, traffic and weather, coverage of cultural events, festivals, coverage of topics pertaining to examinations, results, admissions, career counselling, availability of employment opportunities, public announcements pertaining to civic amenities like electricity, water supply, natural calamities, health alerts etc. as provided by the local administration will be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast and will therefore be permissible.


iii) The limit on the ownership of Channels, at the national level, allocated to an entity has been retained at 15%. However channels allotted in Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and island territories will be allowed over and above the 15% national limit to incentivise the bidding for channels in such areas;


iv) Private operators have been allowed to own more than one channel but not more than 40% of the total channels in a city subject to a minimum of three different operators in the city.


v) FDI+FII limit in a private FM radio broadcasting company has been increased from 20% to 26%;


(vi) Networking of channels will be permissible within a private FM broadcaster's own network across the country instead of in 'C' and 'D' category cities only of a region allowed at present.


(vii) A choice is proposed to be given to the private FM broadcasters to choose any agency other than BECIL for construction of CTI within a period of 3 months of issuance of LOI failing which BECIL will automatically become the system integrator and set up co-location facilities and CTI.


(viii) Special incentives for North East (NE) Region and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Island territories:


• Private FM Radio broadcasters in North East (NE) Region and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Island territories will be required to pay half the rate of annual license fee for an initial period of three years from the date from which the annual license fee becomes payable and the permission period of fifteen (15) years begins.


• The revised fee structure has also been made applicable for a period of three years, from the date of issuance of guidelines, to the existing operators in these States to enable them to effectively compete with the new operators.


• Apart from the fee relaxation, it is further proposed that Prasar Bharati infrastructure would be made available at half the lease rentals for similar category cities in such areas.


• The limit on the ownership of Channels, at the national level, allocated to an entity has been retained at 15%. However channels allotted in Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and island territories will be allowed over and above the 15% national limit to incentivise the bidding for channels in such areas;


The provisions of the Policy will also be available to FM Phase-II operators.

The incentives provided in the Policy with regard to J&K, North Eastern States and Island territories will make the operations viable in these areas and are expected to result in better offtake of channels. The steps taken in the new policy will bring down operational costs and improve viability in general. To improve the viability further as against a maximum of 4 channels in D category cities permitted in FM Phase-II, FM Phase-Ill proposes only 3 FM channels in D category cities so that there are lesser operators to share the advertisement pie. The reduction in the lockin period of shareholding of promoters/majority shareholders from the present 5 years to 3 years will give them greater freedom to change the Share Holding Pattern.


Content diversification because of news content provided by All India Radio, because of categories being specifically permitted and because of multiple ownership of channels in a city except in D category cities will allow operators to distinguish themselves from others to be able to cater to niche audiences. This will also increase the overall listenership base and the listening time.


E-auction for the channels will be conducted in batches and number of batches will be decided by the Ministry of I&B, depending upon the response from the bidders after auction of first batch. The Ministry of l&B will appoint an independent expert agency, though a transparent selection process, following established procedure, to conduct e-auction. The Ministry will separately issue a detailed Information Memorandum, in due course, enabling the prospective bidders to participate, and also indicating the cities, reserve prices city-wise, number of channels to be taken up in each batch and other procedures for e-auction. A Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for participation in the Auction(s) will also be issued in due course of time.


(Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India, 7th July 2011)

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

At IBB, a Call for Rejuvenation

by Paul McLane
If you're a tech manager in a bureaucracy, you'll appreciate the headaches that confront engineers at the International Broadcasting Bureau.

Full story at :
http://www.rwonline.com/article/at-ibb-a-call-for-rejuvenation/23858

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Band 2 AIR logs 4th July 2011

No Es yday only tropo

FM Logs - 4th July 2011 0200-0400z

91.9 - Radio Mantra, Bareilley 218 kms
99.4 - Shuklafanta FM CRS, Mahendranagar Nepal 307 kms
100.2 - AIR Patiala 208 kms
100.3 - AIR Jammu 526 kms
100.4 - AIR Bareilley 218 kms
101.3 - AIR Aligarh 108 kms
102.1 - AIR Mussourie 235 kms
102.2 - AIR Kathua 467 kms
103.1 - AIR Chandigarh 259 kms
103.7 - AIR Nagaur, Raj (Presumed, no id heard)

AIR Kathua, J&K ID : http://tinyurl.com/66kvakk

Monday, July 04, 2011

Inauguration - Amateur Radio Messaging Server

The "Amateur Radio Messaging Server (RMS) Gateway Station" – Amateur Radio Advanced Digital Communication network will be inaugurated by Chief Guest, Shri B.M.Baveja-VU2BMB, Group Co-ordinator, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and I.T., Government of India, New Delhi.

Date: Wednesday, 6th July 2011 Time: 1200 Noon.

Venue: Ham Radio Station, 2nd Floor, Gate No.2, Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, Kasturba Road, Bangalore-1.



All are welcome !


73,

SAthyapal, VU2FI

New UNAMID radio on air in Darfur

03 July 2011 - The African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur today began a series of radio broadcasts throughout the Darfur region, in accordance with a recently signed agreement with the Sudanese Government.


According to this interim arrangement, UNAMID Radio will broadcast for two hours daily on Al Salaam Radio, a one-hour programme at 8:30 and another at 14:00, with repeat broadcasts at appropriate times on Darfur state radio stations.


The broadcasts, titled Yala Nabni Darfur ("Let's Build Darfur"), will feature a unique perspective into the lives of the region's people and present the latest on UNAMID's activities and its mandate in helping to achieve peace. With television and daily newspapers out of the reach of many in Darfur's more remote communities, radio is often the only available source of information.


The interim agreement inked on 26 June between the Mission and the National Public Radio Corporation (NPRC) is to last while the Government reviews the Mission's application for a radio broadcasting license, in conformity with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).


(Communication and Public Information Division,UNAMID)

Related News :

UNAMID radio starts broadcasting in Darfur
http://www.sudantribune.com/UNAMID-radio-starts-broadcasting,39412