DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-066, May 11, 2001
        edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com 

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WORLD OF RADIO 1079:
(STREAM)   http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1079.ram
(DOWNLOAD) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1079.rm
(SUMMARY)  http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1079.html
Other version audio files and three-month archive available at
http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html

CONTINENT OF MEDIA 01-05: Perhaps a more convenient URL for Stream:
http://www.freespeech.org/hauser/sounds/com0105.ram
(SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/com0105.html
Two-year archive available at
http://www.DXing.com/conmedia.htm

BROADCASTS IN ENGLISH
The BDXC-UK booklet publicized in DXLD 1-063: Prices given were only 
for within UK; to Europe, 5 IRC or US$3; Rest of world 6 IRC or US$4. 
This info was in press release but not in BIE itself. 

** ANGOLA [non]. DTK schedule key: 1=Sun ... 7=Sat (BC-DX) So the 
extended R. Ecclésia broadcast is on Sat, not Sun. I never can 
remember which numerical DOW system is being used in different 
schedules, and never use it myself when letters are so much more 
explicit (gh, DXLD)

This morning I heard R Ecclésia with SINPO 25333 on 15545 in 
Portuguese. Carrier signed on exactly at 0500 followed by two minutes 
of tape with male ID "Rádio Ecclésia, uma Rádio para todo [o] pais". 
Then news about Angola with short musical interludes read by YL & OM. 
0510 - 0553 a boring discussion about the relations between Angola 
and Democratic Republic of Congo. Then YL ID, followed by the OM on 
ID tape which included frequency announcement. This was abruptly cut 
off exactly at 0555 and without taking the carrier off; Swiss Radio 
International interval signal began 30 seconds later followed by the 
scheduled broadcast towards Africa at 0600. R Ecclésia is also 
scheduled via Jülich at 1800-1900 on 13810, but not yet checked here 
in Denmark. However, DSWCI member Fernando Caseiro Ferreira in 
Portugal heard this broadcast on May 08. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, 
Denmark, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ARGENTINA. RAE, 15345 at 2359 9/10 May w/chime IS and ID. IDs in 
this order: Spanish, French, English, German, Portuguese, Italian, 
Arabic. English ID as "International Service of Argentine Radio". 
Arabic ID as "Huna al-RAE. R-A-E." Off at 2402. Moderate (Liz 
Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 

** AUSTRALIA. Alice is back on 2310 at night, and also into the 
daytime past 2130 UT; not audible on 4835 in daytime and presumed 
still on 2310 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, May 8-9, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** BANGLADESH. 7185, Radio Bangladesh Betar, full data "Bull Carts" 
card, personal letter and frequency/programme schedule, v/s Dilrula 
Begum - Director, in one sesquiyear, for $1 US. This QSL made possible by the kind assistance of Rifat Eusufzai of the Bangladesh DX Club. 
Rifat made several phone calls, sent faxes and sent E Mails, as did I. 
This in order to receive this QSL. Many thanks to the Bangladesh DX 
Club, thank you (Joe Talbot, Alberta, May 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CANADA. RCI Action Committee - RCI Employees Call for Moratorium 
on No News Weekends

MONTREAL, May 9 /CNW/ - Faced with contradictory explanations from 
the management of Radio Canada International and the CBC, employees 
at Canada's international radio voice have called for a moratorium on 
wide ranging program cuts which are scheduled for the beginning of 
June.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the RCI Action Committee said 
the cuts, which were described by management as fiscal 
responsibility, would cripple the station, its credibility and would 
result in the loss of audiences around the world.

"They have the money for this year," said Committee spokesman Wojtek
Gwiazda, "so why are they insisting on making the cuts now?"

The Committee says management has been vague in explaining what cuts 
are planned and what amount of money is involved. What is known is 
that the international service which is mandated to tell the world 
about what's going on in Canada, will stop producing newscasts over 
the weekend, will shorten the broadcast day during the week, and 
cut back services in a number of languages. 

"You can forget about knowing what's going on the weekend in Canada,"
says Gwiazda, "our offices will be empty from Friday night until 
Monday morning."

Although no permanent staff will be laid off, numerous temporary or 
part time production and technical staff who work throughout the 
week, will not be kept, thereby drastically cutting the already 
enfeebled station. 

The employees are particularly surprised by the decision, since CBC 
and Canadian Heritage, which funds the shortwave service, signed an 
agreement at the end of March to maintain the service as is.

Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, who as a cabinet minister, must keep 
an arm`s length distance from CBC decisions, did however suggest her 
own concern in a radio interview broadcast on RCI programs last week: 
"You want to make sure you're not going to be supplanted by domestic 
programming."

In the past few years the shortwave service has gone through a calmer
period of financial stability which has been assured by funding from 
Canadian Heritage. CBC, by law, is mandated to administer the 
service, but the day to day management is handled by RCI staff.

Ten years ago the service was drastically cut back, losing a third of 
its budget, half its staff and eliminating three quarters of its 
original programming. Almost every year until 1996, the service had 
to battle to stay alive, until Copps and the then Minister of 
External Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, assured independent government 
funding for the service.

BACKGROUND INFO

WHAT'S THE RCI ACTION COMMITTEE? The Committee is an ad hoc coalition 
of employees and RCI supporters resurrected from the Coalition to 
Restore Full RCI Funding. The Coalition was crucial to saving RCI in 
the numerous budget crises from 1990 till 1996. The Coalition was 
responsible for getting a Senate Inquiry started into the 1991 budget 
cuts which concluded RCI should get more funding.

MANDATE OF RCI: Under the Broadcasting Act, CBC is mandated to 
provide an international service. Dedicated funding of $15.52 million 
a year comes from Canadian Heritage, which says "RCI is the chosen 
instrument for implementing that mandate."

CBC Corporate Policy No 14 which came into effect May 13, 1980 says 
RCI is to provide "daily shortwave broadcasts" "designed to attract 
an international audience with the purpose of further developing 
international awareness of Canada...through shortwave and other 
means...The responsibility for the implementation and application of 
this policy rests with Radio Canada International. The Director of 
Radio Canada International leads the CBC representation at the 
consultative meetings held with the Department of External Affairs."

RCI broadcasts in seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, 
Ukrainian and Russian. It has English and French newscasts and 
programming specially tailored to explain Canadian news to an 
international non-Canadian audience.

SHEILA COPPS ON RCI in 1998: "RCI has been a proud ambassador of 
Canada around the world for 53 years. This investment in its 
infrastructure will keep the service strong and viable in the digital 
future." Source: Canadian Heritage press release announcing capital 
funding to rebuild RCI's ageing infrastructure.

In an interview with RCI on May 3, 2001: "I think the government has 
had a chance to understand and rethink the importance of RCI as an 
international voice for Canada to the world. And the investment that 
we're making in RCI, is part of that permanent package...there are 
many, many millions of people who still depend on shortwave radio for 
that reliable service..."

NO NEWS WEEKENDS: One of the effects of the cuts planned for June is 
the elimination of all personnel on weekends. From Friday afternoon 
until Monday morning all RCI newscasts will be eliminated. This 
despite RCI's mandate to explain Canada around the world on a daily 
basis.

IMPACT IN OTHER LANGUAGES, some examples:

UKRAINIAN: The changed format will profoundly affect the character of 
the broadcasts, with no in-depth information magazine programs on 
Canada. There will be no way for Ukrainian speaking listeners to get 
anything except pre-recorded programs that will not have any news 
content. N.B. In radio interviews with RCI, Canada's Ambassador to 
Ukraine, Derek Fraser, stressed the importance of broadcasts to 
Ukraine. During his most recent visit he told RCI staff he strongly 
suggested programs be re-broadcast on local FM stations. The planned 
cuts will go in the opposite direction, cutting RCI's presence on the 
local State Radio.

RUSSIAN: Reductions in Russian programs in the past few months has 
caused bewilderment and complaints from listeners. The planned cut to 
weekend programming cannot but exacerbate the situation. RCI's 
Russian programmers point to two recent stories that would not have 
been covered if RCI staff is absent on weekends: the first official 
visit to Canada of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the story of 
the Russian diplomat who killed one Ottawa woman and injured another 
in a car accident. Staffers feel that when program content drops 
below a certain level, the whole exercise becomes ineffective.

-30- For further information: Wojtek Gwiazda, (514) 597-7350, (514) 
524-2229, E-mail: rciaction@yahoo.ca, Website: 
http://www.geocities.com/rciaction (Canada News Wire via Mike Cooper, 
DXLD)

** CANADA. This Week on Quirks & Quarks our feature item is: "Turning 
the Red Planet Green": For decades, the idea of establishing a colony 
on Mars has been a staple of science fiction and a dream of 
scientists. But the Red Planet today is a dead, cold world where 
humans could not live. So now researchers are designing ways to 
transform - or terraform - the Martian environment to make it more 
hospitable to Earthlings in the future. Plus - the ethics of 
genetically modified babies. All this and more on Quirks & Quarks, 
Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One (Bob McDonald -- 
Quirks & Quarks -- CBC Radio quirks@toronto.cbc.ca 
http://www.radio.cbc.ca/programs/quirks DXLD) May 12 after the 1500 
and 2300 UT news via RCI (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1079, DXLD)

** CANADA. To Glenn: My name is Sean Traverse and I just wanted to 
drop a note saying that CFST 1290 Starlight In Winnipeg has changed 
too! 1290 starlight in Winnipeg switches from big band music to all 
sports effective 5/7/200 @ 3:00 EDT/19:00 UTC (May 10, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST) Part of a new nationwide sports network, I gather, yawn (gh)

** CANADA/MEXICO/RUSSIA. [Re: COM 01-05] Bare nekked news: Wasn`t it 
done first pa Rooski? With a good dose of irony as I recall.
http://www.newbeats.com/nakednews.html
http://www.playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/nakednews/01.html
[warning: the playboy article is illustrated with FFN]
(Joel Rubin, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also NORWAY!

** CROATIA. The QSL manager of the Croatian Radio is Zeljko Klasan, 
9A2DQ, so write to him at HRT, Prisavlje 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
(Erik Køie, Denmark, OZ3YI, May 7, BC-DX via DXLD)

** GERMANY. DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE TESTS FROM DEUTSCHE TELEKOM JÜLICH
*********************************************************************

The Digital Radio Mondiale tests from Jülich (for Madagascar), 
conducted by Deutsche Telekom. began on May-08, and will conclude on 
May-16. Three "frequencies" are being used:

21760 1500-1557
12015 1900-1957
13790 2100-2157

The term "frequency" is not really appropriate for these digital
modulation operations, and the designator would be preferably known 
as "channel".

These DRM transmissions occupy a spread-spectrum bandwidth of about 
20 kHz, radiating energy "packets" in digital form. They are of 
course unintelligible without specialised decoders, and on 
conventional receivers these transmissions resemble "rushing water"! 
What we are hearing is a data stream at a high Bit rate, similar to a 
computer output before it hits a modem!

Unfortunately, the tests are a real pain, as they destroy everything 
in that 20 kHz "block". Signal "level" (for want of a better word!) 
as noted here in Melbourne on 12015 and 13790 has been very high, but 
the transmission on "12015" obliterated IBB-Udorn (12015), and on 
"13790" wrecked CNR (13790), AIR (13795), and Radio Bulgaria (13800).

It would hope that further DRM tests will not be conducted within the 
SWBC bands, to avoid this sort of harmful interference to other 
broadcasting services - they ought to be made well outside of the 
bands. If this is the sort of thing which may occur when the first 
official DRM HF transmissions begin, I shudder at the interference 
consequences. It is intended that these broadcasts will be 
"compatible" with existing analogue AM transmissions during the
transition period, and the technology is still evolving.

One of the expected outcomes of DRM is that HF broadcasts will be 
carried on several channels simultaneously from diverse transmitting 
sites, and the receiver will automatically choose the best mix of 
signals. To my mind, not so sure about all that - might be OK for 
shorter distances, such as for VHF, but there are many factors to be 
considered such as propagation delay and multi-path refraction for 
global transmission.

With progressive closure of existing HF AM broadcasting globally, one
really wonders what all this is about, as HF digital AM is merely 
another platform for the delivery of terrestrial world broadcasting!

Time will tell! (Bob Padula, Melbourne, AUS, May 11, EDXP via DXLD)
see also NETHERLANDS

** IRAN [non]. Hi there, Following David Kernick`s tip about Radio 
Baribari [sic]. I heard it tonight (May 10th) on 7480.11 kHz at 1710-
1725 with very good reception quality. They just played an endless 
sling with messages about e-mail address and website. E-mail sounded 
like: info@baribari.nocturne.org and website: 
www.nocturne.baribari.nocturne.net I tried different things around 
this website, but couldn't get it. Can anyone out there hear a word 
other than "nocturne"? Maybe it is a Farsi word, unknown to me? 
Hoping for your help and with 73 (from the island of Gotland in 
Sweden, Björn Fransson, May 11, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 

Don`t know about ``nocturne`` but as in DXLD 1-065 it is BarAbari, 
not Baribari (gh, DXLD)

** JAPAN [non]. UK NHK World at 0500 R Japan in English 7230 is not 
Skelton but Woofferton site. 2100 R Japan in En 6055 (ex 6115) via 
Skelton; but 6180 really via Woofferton !! (Wolfgang Büschel, 
Germany, May 2, BC-DX via DXLD)

NHK World R Japan Frequency change for English service in Europe.
NHK World / R Japan would like to announce that the following freq 
for English Gen Sce in Europe has been revised:

2100-2200 freq: revise 6115 to 6055 relay: United Kingdom [Skelton].
Other freqs are still the same. Please note that the revised freq is 
6055 ONLY for 2100-2200 for English sce in EUR. Following Japanese 
sce for 2200-2300 is still 6115 (C. J. van Oudheusden, Holland, Apr 
29, BC-DX via DXLD)

** KENYA. Just a few lines to let you know that KBC 4915 is still on 
the air and went off at 2110. The reception is not quite good at the 
moment probably due to technical problems.

4885 and 4935: last month both stations were on the air for a few 
days, then went silent. The reception was good on both stns but what 
is the reason to be on and off still remain unknown (Mahendra Vaghee, 
Mauritius, NU May 2 via BC-DX via DXLD)

** LITHUANIA. I just heard that due to complaints about reception 
quality of the half-hour English NAm service on 9875 from R. Vilnius 
at 2330, now airs a repeat one hour later at 0030-0100 on 11690. I 
have slight co-channel on 9875 at 2330, not too distracting, SINPO 
4/5 4444. At 0030 on 11690, I have pretty good reception, ¾ 4544, 
Slight splash from 11680, Spain in Spanish (Bob Thomas, CT, May 5, DX 
LISTENING DIGEST)

** NEPAL. I am sure you have noted already, that Nepal is back with a
booming signal on 5005.3. This is great. So it appears they had TXer
problems. Can you check to see if you can hear 7165? (Victor 
Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, NU, May 2 via BC-DX via DXLD)

** NETHERLANDS. Dear! dear! Dear! We are getting ourselves worked up 
into a frenzy. Calm down, everybody! If Bill Whitacre is right, DRM 
will never go into commercial operation anyway. But if it does, we're 
not suddenly going to switch all our transmissions to DRM mode. For 
example, at Bonaire we have one 50 kW transmitter that can currently 
run DRM transmissions. I imagine that when the time comes, this would 
probably run in parallel with our existing AM transmissions to begin 
with, maybe for several years. But the planning has not even got that 
far yet. Kim's right, a dual mode system is also being worked on. 
We're not about to dump anyone. The intention is to provide loyal 
listeners with a better service, not to lose them! BTW, I'm glad the 
recording industry was not run by some of the people on this mailing 
list, otherwise instead of CD's we'd still be using scratchy old 
cylinders and wind-up motors :-) (Andy Sennitt, swprograms via DXLD)
see also GERMANY

** NEW ZEALAND. KWHR is not the only Pacific station which can`t 
follow its own schedule. May 11 at 1140 I found RNZI with a chart 
show (music countdown) on 9885, which was supposed to go off at 1100. 
Nothing on 11675. At 1154 ran a schedule announcement confirming that 
1100-1300 was supposed to be on 11675 on their NW antenna; 9885 was 
strong enough to have also remained on the ``All-Pacific`` antenna. 
Then some music, and off abruptly without any explanation at 1158* 
Did not come up on 11675 then either. Geez, another station which 
does not even know what frequency it is using. Perhaps another case 
of their frequency changer sticking, or the computer control program 
fouled up (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** NORWAY. Here`s more naked news, but this time on the radio. If 
truth were known, I suspect a lot more of this takes place ;-) (gh)

RÁDIO NORUEGUESA CRIA PROGRAMA COM REPÓRTER SEM ROUPA 

OSLO (Reuters) - A rádio norueguesa Tango transformou-se na primeira 
emissora de rádio do mundo a ter uma apresentadora nua transmitindo a 
previsão meteorológica em sua programação matinal. ``Isso é uma 
exclusividade mundial, nunca foi feito antes'', disse o apresentador 
da manhã da Rádio Tango, Michael Reines Oredam, à Reuters. Oredam 
disse que a idéia das alegres reportagens no estilo ``mais tempo, 
menos roupas'' surgiu durante discussões sobre o que seria 
praticamente impossível fazer no rádio. ``E o programa traz uma certa 
atmosfera ao estúdio, que nós esperamos que chegue aos nossos 
ouvintes'', disse Oredam. A rádio baseada em Oslo tem uma página na 
Internet http://www.radiotango.no que divulga relances de uma 
apresentadora nua. ``Hoje nós tivemos muitas entradas em nossa página 
da Web de pessoas que querem ver o tempo de ontem'', disse ele. A 
primeira apresentadora do tempo nua, Siv Johannessen, teve sua 
estréia no ar na quinta-feira, mas precisa de mais treinamento, disse 
Maiken Mangen, a editora da revista pornográfica Lek, que contrata 
modelos para aparecer no programa do tempo. ``Foi um pouco complicado 
para Siv ontem quando ela deveria falar sobre o tempo e tirar a roupa 
ao mesmo tempo'', afirmou Mangen, acrescentando esperar que 
Johannessen pegasse o jeito do trabalho em alguns dias. A Rádio Tango 
terá, a cada mês, uma nova apresentadora do tempo sem roupa (via 
Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) 

** RUSSIA. TV reporter visits Popov transmitting centre in Samara |
Excerpt from report by Russia TV on 7 May

[Presenter] The Radio Day is being marked today throughout Russia, 
including Samara Region which has a unique site - a transmitter which 
sends out signals to almost half the world. Here is a report from the 
transmitter by Andrey Volkov.

[Correspondent] This staircase [video shows it] goes down 22 metres 
under the ground and it is 60 years old. The Popov central radio 
station looks now exactly the way it did in 1942 when it sent out its 
first signal. Ever since, the call sign "Govorit Moskva" [Moscow 
Calling] can clearly be heard throughout Europe, North Africa, the 
Far East and Japan. The RV-390 transmitter was the world's most 
powerful one for a long time. The unique underground site was built 
in the Samara steppes within a year. The construction was overseen by 
the People's Committee for Internal Affairs Chairman Lavrentiy 
Beriya. Over 10,000 convicts took part in the building works...

[Correspondent] These walls are one metre thick, and the partitions 
are two metres thick. The weight of equipment is measured in tonnes. 
The radio station's staff veterans say that this concrete bunker has 
literally been built on dead bodies...

[Correspondent] At the beginning of the war, the propaganda machine 
of the Third Reich was the most powerful in Europe. And therefore the 
main aim of the Popov radio station was to transmit Moscow programmes 
in 26 languages. The broadcasting went on round the clock. There were 
just 15-minute technical breaks for the transfer of the signal from 
one wavelength to another... 

[Correspondent] In 1943 Hitler personally sent an order to destroy 
the Samara radio centre. However, not a single Luftwaffe plane 
reached this area. After the war, the radio station was ordered to 
jam foreign voices. The general capacity of the jamming transmitters 
was such that in the village of the radio centre, bulbs would light 
up from a simple contact with wire... 

[Correspondent] The radio station has always led a closed semi-secret
existence. No-one would ever come here and no-one has ever left from 
here. At the moment, the staff here consist of children and 
grandchildren of those who launched broadcasting. They no longer need 
to jam the Voice of America. Now the Popov radio station transmits 
just the Voice of Russia on longwave [as heard, presumably 
shortwave]. Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1900 gmt 7 May 01 
(via BBCM via DXLD)

** RUSSIA. Radio Nadezhda opens web site | Text of report by Voice of 
Russia "DX Club" web site on 4 May Radio 

Nadezhda, the first women's radio in Russia, which has been forced 
off the air after a row with bureaucrats of the Press Ministry, has 
opened its own Internet site which contains a lot of interesting and 
useful information, including the station's history, a detailed 
description of its tribulations and texts of the most popular 
programmes. The radio is planning broadcasting via the Internet in 
the immediate future. It also has plans for interactive broadcasting: 
http://www.radionadezhda.ru Source: Voice of Russia web site, Moscow, 
in Russian 4 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD)

** SINGAPORE. Current observed schedule of R Singapore International:
Chinese    1100-1400 on 6000 9560
English    1100-1400 on 6150 9600
Indonesian 1200-1400 on 9665
Malay      0900-1200 on 7235 9665
From 1200, 7235 relays domestic Warna 94.2 FM in Malay.
(Alan Davies, Sandakan, East Malaysia, May 4, BC-DX via DXLD)

** SLOVAKIA. RSI, English to NAm at 0100 on 9440 had splash from 
Turkey 9445, so now on 9485, fair with splash from something on 9480 
(Bob Thomas, CT, May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** TURKMENISTAN. Hi list, Last night, found the signal of Turkmen 
Radio on 4930 at 2042 UT. Usual frequency 5015 kHz was silent. I 
don't know whether this is an official change, or some kind of 
maintenance, or merely an error. So, let's wait... 73, (Dmitri Mezin, 
Kazan, Russia, May 9, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 

** UKRAINE. Hello, Rachel! I send you RUI's schedule in English for 
MT Frequency Guide. Please, be correct with target areas. 

LISTEN DAILY TO
RADIO UKRAINE'S ENGLISH LANGUAGE BROADCASTS
(25th of March 2001 - 28th of October 2001) 

TO EUROPE
2100-2200 5905, 7410, 9560, 11705, 11950 
0000-0100 5905 
0300-0400 7410 
1100-1200 15135
TO ASIA
0000-0100 7320, 9640 
0300-0400 7320, 9640, 11840 

TO NORTH AMERICA & UK
2100-2200 12040 (from 28 Apr)  
0000-0100 12040   `` 
0300-0400 12040   ``
1100-1200 15135  

YOUR LETTERS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME! OUR ADDRESS: RADIO 
UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL, ENGLISH SECTION, KRESHCHATIK 26, 01001 KYIV, 
UKRAINE. TEL./FAX: 380-44) 228 7356 (A. Egorov, RUI, May 11, via 
Rachel Baughn, Monitoring Times via DXLD)

** U K. BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, picks for Saturday, Sunday, Monday, May 
12, 13, 14

SATURDAY MAY 12

3 1200-1300 UT: 1:00pm News; World Routes 
Lucy Duran and Ian Anderson review new CDs of world music. And Samir 
Farah of the BBC's Arabic Service talks about music in his native 
Lebanon, where Beirut has long been a centre of the Arab music 
industry.

2 1200-1230 UT: 1:00pm The Smith Lectures: New Series 
Arthur Smith returns with a ten-part comedy series. This first 
programme takes science and technology as its subject and features 
contributions from Eddie Izzard, Lee Evans, Ed Byrne and Jeff 
Foxworthy, and music from the Texas Chainsaw Orchestra.

2 1230-1300 UT: 1:30pm The News Huddlines 
Roy Hudd, June Whitfield and Chris Emmett with a satirical revue 
based on the week's news. Music from Peter Moss and the Huddliners, 
with announcer Richard Clegg. Repeat 

4 1430-1500 UT: 3:30pm The Erotomaniac 
Biographer Ian Gibson looks into the life of Henry Spencer Ashbee, a 
respectable Victorian gentleman who owned Europe's largest collection 
of erotica and pornography, thousands of volumes strong. Through 
Ashbee's books and diaries, Gibson reveals a man whose secret life 
typifies the curiosity, repression and subverted desire of his age.

3 1645-1715 UT: 5:45pm Jazz File: Jump Jive and Wail 
Brian Morton investigates those aspects of jazz which are rooted in 
the dancefloor, exploring the waxing and waning fortunes of jump 
jive. 2: `Let the Good Times Roll'. Morton is joined by Louis 
Jordan's biographer John Chilton to explore the music of Jordan's 
immensely successful band the Tympani Five, whose upbeat, swinging 
rhythms and direct lyrics were popular with both black and white 
audiences.

4 1900-2000 UT: 8:00pm News; The Archive Hour: Stronger than Sirens 
Humphrey Carpenter tells the story of the vital role that classical 
music played during World War II. For many, it was the first time 
they had ever heard it, as it was played in air-raid shelters, art 
galleries and churches, with musicians performing Beethoven and 
Brahms as bombers flew overhead and sirens sounded.

2 1900-2200 UT: 8:00pm The Eurovision Song Contest 
Live from the Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, the 46th Eurovision Song 
Contest. The UK's entry this year is `No Dream Impossible' performed 
by Lindsay Dracass, chosen by BBC viewers and listeners. With radio 
commentary by Ken Bruce.

4 2200-2230 UT: 11:00pm News; MasterTeam 
Peter Snow hosts a quiz which tests the general knowledge and risk-
taking skills of teams from around the country. In this first 
programme, London play Edinburgh. Broadcast Monday 

SUNDAY MAY 13

4 0505-0535 UT: 6:05am Something Understood Last Bastions 
Mark Tully explores the psychology of last bastions, from the MCC to 
El Vinos, through the Catholic priesthood and the Apartheid regime in 
South Africa. Who defends and who attacks them, and what is actually 
at stake? Repeated later 

4 1230-1300 UT: 1:30pm These You Have Loathed New Series 
Four-part series in which Petroc Trelawny invites two leading 
cultural figures to share the music they simply can't stand. 
Professor of literature and jazz trumpeter Valentine Cunningham and 
poet and author Ruth Padel consider crimes committed in the name of 
music by Beethoven, Berlioz, Bob Dylan and Lionel Bart, among others.

3 1300-1400 UT: 2:00pm BBC Legends: 50th Anniversary of the Royal 
Festival Hall 
Stephen Johnson presents the third of five programmes celebrating 
five decades of music making at London's Royal Festival Hall. 
Featuring a performance marking the 60th anniversary of Stokowski's 
first appearance with the LSO, part of a recital given by Ralph 
Downes, the designer of the Royal Festival Hall's organ, Schoenberg's 
piano conerto performed by Alfred Brendel, and an excerpt from Robert 
Mayer's 100th birthday concert.

3 1400-1500 UT: 3:00pm Private Passions 
Michael Berkeley is joined by Alan Sillitoe, who burst onto the 
literary scene in 1958 with his novel `Saturday Night and Sunday 
Morning'. His subsequent works have included `The Loneliness of the 
Long Distance Runner' and - most recently - `Birthday', an eagerly 
anticipated sequel to his first novel. His musical choices include 
vocal works by Handel and Bellini, a Berlioz overture, a Chopin 
prelude, and works by Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Broadcast yesterday 

2 1500-1530 UT: 4:00pm The Mario Lanza Story 
Michael Freedland presents a four-part series looking at the life and 
career of the great tenor. This third programme chronicles Lanza's 
arrival in Hollywood and his early success with `That Midnight Kiss', 
`The Toast of New Orleans' and `The Great Caruso'. With contributions 
from Kathryn Grayson, Joseph Pasternak, Hedda Hopper, Norman Taurog, 
Vince Edwards, Jill Robinson Shaw, Jose Carreras and Pandro Berman.

4 1600-1640 UT: 5:00pm News; What Do They Know about Us? 
In the second of two programmes, Paul Vickers considers the data 
trail we all leave as we fill in forms, shop at supermarkets, pick up 
the phone and log on to the internet. He follows his own trail and 
talks to information gatherers and to the government-appointed 
guardians of our privacy. Second of two programmes, Broadcast Tuesday 

3 1600-1645 UT: 5:00pm Discovering Music 
Gerard McBurney explores Stravinsky's ballet `Pulcinella', 
investigating the ways in which he used 18th-century music as a basis 
for his own neo-classicism. With specially recorded examples played 
by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

4 1900-1930 UT: 8:00pm News; A World in Your Ear 
Emily Buchanan presents highlights of English-language radio 
programmes from around the world. She focuses on radio bloopers, like 
the uncontrollable laugh during a serious news bulletin and tricky 
words that just won't come out right.

3 2005-2135 UT: 9:05pm Choirworks 
Paul Guinery presents portrait of the organist and composer Naji 
Hakim, beginning with a concert recorded at Manchester's Bridgewater 
Hall last month. Hakim: Children. Faure: Messe basse. Villette: Hymn 
a la vierge. Hakim: Rhapsody for organ; Messe solenelle; 
Improvisation. Naji Hakim (organ), Choirs of Manchester Cathedral and 
St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh/Christopher Stokes. Hakim: Saul of 
Tarsus (excs). Thomas Annmo, tenor (Paul), Lars Hedstrom, bass 
(Jesus), Morten Ernst Lassen, baritone (Ananias), Jaques Merienne 
(Narrator), Choir and Orchestra of Lund University/Fredrik Malmberg.

4 2030-2100 UT: 9:30pm In Business Septic Isle 
Peter Day considers how to change outsiders' perception of Britain as 
home of rail chaos, flood menace and foot-and-mouth misery, to be 
avoided at all costs. Broadcast Thursday 

4 2230-2300 UT: 11:30pm Something Understood Last Bastions 
Mark Tully explores the psychology of last bastions, from the MCC to 
El Vinos, through the Catholic priesthood and the Apartheid regime in 
South Africa. Who defends and who attacks them, and what is actually 
at stake? Broadcast earlier

4 2315-2348: 12:15am Music Afloat 
Short series about the role of music and musicians in sea journeys 
across the ages, from epic voyages of discovery to luxury cruises. 1: 
The Age of Exploration. Sir Francis Drake took musicians with him on 
his legendary circumnavigation of the globe, but what kind of lives 
did they lead on board, and what music did they play? Sue Cook and 
guests look for clues aboard the Golden Hind. Repeat 

MONDAY MAY 14

4 1230-1300 UT: 1:30pm MasterTeam 
Peter Snow hosts a quiz which tests the general knowledge and risk-
taking skills of teams from around the country. Repeated Saturday 

4 1530-1600 UT: 4:30pm Four Corners 
Gavin Esler and guests explore issues from the four corners of the 
Earth - from politics to popular culture, art to anthropology.

4 1730-1800 UT: 6:30pm Quote... Unquote 
Nigel Rees exchanges quotations and anecdotes with Yasmin Alibhai-
Brown, Penny Vincenzi, Christopher Frayling and John Sutherland.

4 1900-2000 UT: 8:00pm News; A Small Gathering of Three Million 
Lelia Badawi recounts the story of a group of pilgrims who travel 
from Bristol to Mecca to perform the Hajj on the eighth day of 
Hijjah, along with millions of other Muslims from around the world. 
It is a journey that takes each individual to the heart of Islam in 
search of forgiveness and rebirth.

4 2000-2030 UT: 9:00pm News; Nature 
Mark Cawardine finds out how the principles of evolution are being 
applied, through computers, to solve problems. He also discovers how 
the foraging patterns of ants are being used to develop better 
communication systems, how lobsters are helping in the design of 
telescopes, and what a snowflake sounds like when it grows.
Repeated tomorrow 

3 2030-2115 UT: 9:30pm Night Waves 
Isabel Hilton explores the work of the Portuguese writer Fernando 
Pessoa, who died in 1935, leaving a trunk of manuscripts which were 
subsequently published as `The Book of the Dead'. Hilton investigates 
the story of the work, as a new English translation seeks to capture 
the spirit of what is now reckoned to be one of the masterpieces of 
20th-century literature. And, as part of Radio 3's Remaking the Past 
season, Ian Christie reflects on the ways in which film makers have 
drawn on works from the past.

3 2115-2300 UT: 10:15pm Late Junction 
Verity Sharp presents traditional Mexican song from Lydia Mendoza, 
music by Vassilis Tsabropoulos (piano), Arild Andersen (bass) and 
John Marshall (drums), and Louis Andriessen's `Overture to Orpheus' 
played on the harpsichord by Lorna Eder (BBC websites chosen by gh 
for DXLD)

** U K. I read the BBC WS statement about their decision to eliminate 
SW service to North America and Australia with utter bewilderment. I 
was so stunned that I decided to analyze the offending arguments one 
by one. I may be preaching to the converted, but here it goes anyway:

1) "Audiences ... have already voted with their dials by migrating to 
higher quality FM broadcasts in their areas while the growth of 
online listening to World Service, particularly in America, is 
outstripping comparable Internet growth rates."

-- I would suggest that online listeners either continue listening on 
SW radios and/or most online audiences are new to BBC WS. (But who am 
I to argue with BBC polling data?)

2) "...[I]t would be wrong to portray this as a retreat from short 
wave broadcasting..."

-- Then what the heck is it? It certainly *is* a retreat 
for North  America and Australia.

3) [The cuts are counterbalanced by a new transmitter in Oman] 
"...which will enhance reception quality for millions of listeners 
from the Middle East across Central and South Asia." [This therefore 
proves BBC's commitment to SW service.]

-- I did not know BBC WS listeners could be traded in like old cars. 
Drop a million here, gain a million there...

4) "In Australia, listening to shortwave has dropped by two-thirds 
over the last eight years..."

-- I smell a chicken... or is that an egg? Perhaps SW listenership in 
the Australasia has dropped off because fewer and fewer broadcasters 
target that area. Darned vicious cycle (Ricky Leong, QB, swprograms 
via DXLD) 

These things are decided at the BBC. The Foreign Office has 
absolutely nothing to do with programme delivery. And because there's 
an election coming up soon, Robin Cook may not even be the Foreign 
Secretary in four week's time. Cynics might suggest that the timing 
of this decision works out very well, as everyone in Westminster & 
Whitehall is far too distracted to be bothered that someone in 
Nebraska can't hear John Peel :-) (Andy Sennitt, swprograms via DXLD) 

Kim can speak for himself (and often does) but I think this is a case 
of "shooting the messenger". With the greatest of respect (I've been 
an SWL for 40 years) many SWLs exist in a 'time warp'. Those of us 
who work in the business, and witness at first hand the rapidly 
accelerating pace of change, understand that we cannot allow our 
personal sentiment for shortwave to cloud our perspective on the 
industry as a whole. Otherwise we end up in a technological backwater 
serving a declining and aging group of people. Kim's job is to 
reflect what is actually happening out there in the real world, 
beyond the narrow confines of the shortwave hobbyist community. But 
because most SWLs don't like these developments, they tend to blame 
the people reporting them. 

One thing I will say is this: There are enough SWLs out there to 
influence decisions, but it will never happen because only a fraction 
of one per cent of them are organised into clubs or on mailing lists. 
For every one message that appears on this list lamenting the BBC's 
decision, there must be several hundred individuals out there in 
rural North America and Australia thinking the same thing, but 
imagining that they can do nothing about it. 

Another problem is one that has been touched on many times before, 
and to which I alluded in the first paragraph. Shortwave just isn't 
reaching the people who will be tomorrow's industrial and political 
leaders. These people need to be 'hooked' by whatever means is that 
the broadcasters' disposal. And that includes local relays and the 
Internet. Shortwave has an image problem. It's perceived as something 
for 'freaks' and retired people. Unfair, I agree, but that's the way 
it is. And messages to the BBC saying "I've been listening to you for 
40 years. Please don't stop" will only reinforce this image amongst 
the decision makers. And before I become the target of hate mail, I'm 
not saying I welcome this development. But someone has to tell it 
like it is, unpopular though that might make him or her. And Kim and 
I, because of the work we do, know that we will be the target for 
criticism - and sometimes abuse - because people have to direct their 
frustration somewhere :-) (Andy Sennitt, swprograms via DXLD) 

In an effort to put this week's news into some sort of 
context, I've published an article which I've called "Don't Panic" at
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/shortwave010509.html

Please bear in mind that I am neither supporting nor opposing what 
our colleagues at the BBC have decided to do. It's their decision and 
they will deal with the consequences in their own way. But I am 
disturbed that some people are lumping all international broadcasters 
together and assuming that because the BBC does something, everyone 
else will follow.

By chance, I was going through some old material at work, and came 
across an article in which Jonathan Marks said "we're not a mini 
BBC". I was trying to think of an analogy. If your local butcher 
closes down, you do not automatically expect every other butcher in 
town to do the same. So I don't see why people assume that 
international broadcasters are like sheep - although I admit that we 
do have occasional cases of foot-in-mouth disease :-)

(Andy Sennitt, RN, standard disclaimers, swprograms via DXLD)

If we`re going to buy the line that AM shortwave broadcasting is too 
expensive, I'd have to ask how Allan Weiner (THANK YOU ALLAN) is 
somehow able to broadcast basically out of a trailer. Radio Canada 
International proudly states that they are Canada's voice to the 
world. This is the attitude to take! AM shortwave is an adventure, it 
is a refreshing alternative to the spoon-feeding of uneventful, 
lowest-common-denominator, well, stuff, that makes so much other 
media so mundane. I'm really in shock over the BBC decision (ChuckE, 
swprograms via DXLD)

My experience is that an actual letter is many times more effective 
at reaching decision makers, when compared to e-mail. I plan to send 
e-mail and a real letter, and suggest that anyone who really, truly 
hopes to get BBC to change its mind on this do the same. The old 
formula politicians use (I think) was that one letter stands for 100 
people who feel the same way; I don't think e-mails have the same 
"oomph." I don't think anyone has posted the BBC's address, so here 
it is, for those who don't know: BBC World Service, Bush House, 
Strand, London WC2B 4PH, UK (Mike Joy, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 
swprograms via DXLD)

I think, if you're like me, you will find this amusing, if not
interesting. Rather than send an email to the BBC and get an auto
generated response or sending a letter to London about the BBC WS 
being dropped to North America and Australia, why not call the BBC 
offices in New York and either get the New York mailing address where 
we can send letters about this, or, maybe I can speak to someone and 
make our feelings known? Here's what transpired.

First after ascertaining the number of the BBC, that news dept. # was 
a recording as "no one is in right now"....HMMMM.....well it gave 
another number....this really is a hoot-- I called and spoke with a 
woman with a thick British accent. After I explained why I was 
calling, she replies to the mention of the "BBC World Service".....
"Oh is this a comedy show you are referring to?"

(I banged my head on the desk).

Interesting how a BBC employee has not even the foggiest notion of 
the World Service. Luckily, she gave me another number. That call was 
just as inept, but, I suggest letters be sent via snail mail to the 
following office- 
BBC
1995 Broadway,
New York, NY,
10023
Attn: Heather Maclean

She promises all letters will be forwarded to Bush House. May I 
suggest letters be sent right away so they get all the letters 
basically all at once, rather than trickling in a bit at a time.
(In case someone wants to call the NY office and attempt to make them
find someone that KNOWS of the World Service, the # is 1-212-501-
1555). Have fun with this one folks. Definite proof the left hand 
in Bush House forgets to tell the right hand in the USA at least all 
of the broadcast functions they have (Bill Bergadano, KA2EMZ, 
swprograms via DXLD) 

Gents: Well, this should be of some help. Connected with Lawrence 
Priestley, the PIO at the British Embassy (202.588.6500). He called 
back with this e-mail contact in London for comments and complaints 
about our issue = louisa.fyans@bbc.co.uk (Alan Bosch, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST)
 
Subject:  BBC Discontinuance of North American Broadcasts 

Dear Ms. Fyans:

I write to tell you how dismayed I am to learn of the BBC's plan to 
drop its shortwave service to North America this July.

And I am far from alone. 

There is a firestorm of objection being posted amongst the US 
shortwave listening community -- which includes items from Canadians, 
too. Last night alone I collected a 42kb document from the DX 
Listening Digest. If I figure rightly, that is about 20 pages...

In any case, the burden of most messages is this: "The cutback, as 
justified, is a shortsighted and destructive measure. It will not 
only punch a huge hole in our worldwide news-and-feature resources, 
but neither the National Public Radio FM rebroadcasts nor the Web can 
fill that gap. For one thing, the NPR segments are just that -- 
principally news and analysis without the intriguing features -- and 
they most often appear at weird  hours." (Mine on WETA in the 
nation's capital don't turn up till 0100 local time.) "Moreover, the 
webcasts are not viable substitutes. Listeners used to enjoying the 
BBC in the living rooms and dens will quite likely not go crank up a 
computer in another room (or maybe down the basement) to hear 
streaming audio."

I know I echo the sentiments of thousands beside myself in asking 
that this misguided initiative be reconsidered -- or better yet, 
abandoned.

If I can help you get a fuller picture of the nature and extent of 
the reaction over here, please let me know.

Alan Bosch, Arlington, VA

PS: I was given your name by the British embassy downtown as the 
person who could best deal with this issue. Let me thank you in 
advance for your help. (cc to DXLD)

I've been sitting here watching the traffic go by (don't you people 
ever have to do any work?) and trying to figure out what the BBC 
World Service was thinking when they made this decision. From my days 
in public broadcasting (many years ago), IIRC, stations don't pay as 
much attention to the ratings of individual programs as they do to 
the "reach" of the station within a given week, that is, how many 
people in their potential audience listened to them in the course of 
the week. Part of the reason behind this is that public broadcasters 
consider that they have a duty to serve underserved audiences, so if 
a given program is reaching an underserved audience, it may not get a 
huge rating, but is still worth broadcasting; the other reason behind 
this is that many public radio programs get abysmal ratings, so they 
look better if they count the whole week. :-)

So, assuming that the professionals at BBC WS are listening to their 
local counterparts (and customers) at local public radio affiliates, 
they're likely more concerned with the reach than the ratings. 
Given that their news programs are a significant draw and apparently 
just about the only thing they can sell to American public radio 
programmers, that's what they think the American public wants. The 
reach, the number of people they reach during the course of the week 
on their myriad local rebroadcasters for 5-10 hours a week no doubt 
dwarfs the number of people who listen via shortwave.

The problem with looking at things this way is that people use the FM
rebroadcasts and the full World Service as available on shortwave in
different ways. Here in the US, we used to have a great many "full 
service" local radio stations, that is, stations that had news, 
sports, entertainment, the whole gamut from soup to nuts. That sounds 
a lot like the role television plays today, and the full service 
station in America is a fairly rare thing these days. That's not to 
say that they're not valued, but companies like Clear Channel find 
they can make more money with more focused programming. The World 
Service as broadcast on shortwave is like those full service 
stations. But the executives at BBC WS apparently feel that there's 
no market in North America for a full service station covering the 
world. The what I suspect are hundreds of thousands of listeners to 
BBC WS on shortwave in North America would argue otherwise, but no 
matter. They've made a decision to refocus their efforts in North 
America as a news service and forgo the concept of full service.

But many people still enjoy the full service station. Whereas a news
station tends to get a lot of listeners for short periods of time 
("Give us 22 minutes and we'll give you a headache"), listeners to 
full service stations tend to put the station on and leave it there 
for hours at a time. The move away from a full service approach in 
North America shortchanges a valuable audience, one that is committed 
to knowing about international affairs and that listens for long 
periods of time. The full World Service gives a much more nuanced 
depiction of the United Kingdom and its place in the world than does 
an occasional broadcast dropped into a local schedule without the 
surrounding context.

BBC has made a decision that North America is not interested in its 
feature programs. That's sad, and, I think, wrong. It does a 
disservice to the North American audience, and it does violence to 
the image of the United Kingdom here. The US and UK allegedly have a 
"special relationship", but Britons are much more aware of that than 
Americans are. I would think that the BBC would want to take 
advantage of every possible medium to tend to this relationship, but 
apparently that's not the case any more. They'd rather be just 
another program provider in the oligopoly of the American public 
broadcasting infrastructure, with their unique message getting lost
in the blur of mostly-mediocre programs on most public radio stations 
here. I believe they'll find that they'll reach more people but touch 
them far less deeply. I don't think they understand what they're 
giving up. – (Ralph Brandi http://www.brandi.org/ralph/ swprograms via 
DXLD)

Very well put, Ralph. I think you nailed it. Of course, I think 
you're smart because you come to the same conclusion that I do. <g>  
Here's the gist:

1.  This decision is hard to evaluate objectively without knowing the
BBCWS's objectives in NA.

2.  Do they want to continue to be a full service radio station?

3.  Are they now only interested (by virtue of their concentration on
Internet distribution) in the young, the educated and the affluent?

4.  BUT! Does being on the Internet translate into interest in the 
BBC by the young, the educated and the affluent?  (Peter Barnard, 
radio critic for The Times of London says that radio -- at least the 
kind of radio we're talking about -- is something people come to only 
with experience and maturity in hand; something most young people 
lack simply by virtue of the fact that they are young!)

5.  There is a certain arrogance in these decisions made by the new 
brahmins at the BBC. I use two analogies:
       The longtime listener:  I like this old car (the radio). It 
has its flaws but it serves me well and I don't need a new one (the 
Internet) even though it has shinier metal and some new neat features 
(GPS). The BBC says, "tough shit...you need a new car if you want us 
to ride with you."
       The BBC:  Yeah, I'm getting older but I don't like it. Sure, 
my wife of 20 years (longtime BBC listeners) and I have been through 
a lot together and I really respect the old girl. But, I'm heading to 
the gym. I'm gonna look younger and be attractive to that 20 year old 
blonde (the younger listener) who yawns when I talk to her and 
doesn't give me the time of day. I hate to divorce my loyal wife, but 
--hey--life goes on and I have to move with it.

6.  To me the name of the game in broadcasting (as perhaps it is in 
life) is to do what you do, the best you can do it (find your niche 
and give it all you got). Note to broadcaster: Serve the listener 
where he/she is, not where you want them to be.

7.  In this regard, the BBC has become kind of schizophrenic and more 
than a little unfocused. Maybe we can't figure out where they want to 
be, because they haven't either (John Figliozzi, swprograms via 
DXLD) 

I view the decision to pull the plug on BBC WS to North America as a 
money move. Not only do they save on transmission costs, but it also 
provides a reason for the World Service fans to subscribe to new 
satellite radio systems. Look at the http://www.xm-radio.com site. 
The BBC is listed as a programming partner. Their programming will be 
60% news and 40% features (same old familiar BBC). The listing says 
that the programming will include "shows heard nowhere else in the 
U.S." It sounds like some sort of exclusive clause may be involved in 
the programming agreement. Anyway it doesn't appear that the BBC 
World Service will actually disappear in North America. Rather it 
will cost a bit more (L R Mathis, May 11, swprograms via DXLD)

BBC Dropping English to Australia on SW!!

Surely they (the BBC) don`t believe we (i.e. all Australians) have 
24h hour access to the BBC via FM or all have access to the Internet 
on a 24h basis. Where an earth is the BBC’s audience relations 
receiving this misinformation from I ask?

As editor of the Pacific FM Megabase I can tell you that there are 
NIL Australian FM stations carrying a quality 24h FM service of the 
BBC-WS here on the FM BCB! 

There are however in most Australian capitals one & only one FM 
station per capital carrying a 24h FM sub-carrier service of the BBC-
WS from a community or commercial broadcaster. The reception of this 
service isn`t the best, reception distance is limited & audio 
bandwidth is something less that 6 kHz & sounding much worse than a 
standard local MW broadcaster. To receive this service you have to 
pay for a special radio & pay a regular subscription fee, unless you 
have the ability to construct an FM sub-carrier decoder & incorporate 
in an FM radio.

As for the other Australian radio stations carrying the BBC; well the 
scant minority of these basically only carry this service after 
midnight. I like most folk sleep then, don`t you! Those broadcasters 
that carry a little BBC-WS programming are:- The RPH stations (mainly 
metro based), Newsradio (mainly metro based) & a quickly diminishing 
number of local community radio stations. Most of the community FM 
stations that did carry BBC-WS now carry COMRADSAT overnight. Not The 
BBC-WS!!

As for the internet. Well, most of us have to be within connection 
distance of a telephone line (PSTN), if we have a PC & an ISP. Most 
folks don`t have a dedicated phone line for internet usage & don`t 
have it connected on a 24h basis. 24 Internet subscription isn`t 
affordable or available to everyone & certainly in the smaller rural 
areas of Australia isn`t downright expensive to have.

So just where is the BBC getting is audience research from. Certainly 
not from me.

In NZ there is a 24h BBC-WS re-broadcaster in Auckland on AM & in 
some Pacific Island nations there is a dedicated BBC-WS FM station. 
As for the other non French colonial Pacific nations in the South 
Pacific the broadcasters there only carry a small number of hours of 
BBC WS programming.

That`s the facts as I see `em. I`m very disappointed in the BBC.
Regards (Ian Baxter, ARDXC via DXLD)

Dear Glenn, 
I read with some amusement the comments of other readers on the BBC's 
decision to close its North American service. I am, it appears to me, 
far from being a typical DXLD reader. Unlike all your correspondents 
I virtually never listen to the BBC World Service. More 
significantly, as a UK taxpayer I actually pay for the BBC World 
Service. I noted that whilst your correspondents were willing to 
deluge the BBC with complaints, none of them suggested sending Auntie 
a few quid. If all the supposed millions (?) of BBC listeners in 
North America agreed to send just a dollar or so each year then no 
doubt you could have the World Service on short-wave for ever and a 
day. 

Unlike your correspondents I am surrounded by the BBC, with its mix 
of trashy "light entertainment" shows, and partial and inaccurate 
current affairs shows. If the World Service reflects the domestic 
services then it seems to me that you are well rid of it. In any 
event he that [pays the] piper calls the tune, and it isn't a 
question of whether you all enjoy the BBC. The real question is what 
does the BBC World Service do for us poor mugs that pay for it? 

Nothing at all as far as I can see. Does it increase Britain's 
influence? From Suez to Grenada we can see that when push comes to 
shove US administrations take precisely no notice of us. Does it 
improve the image of British people? Well I don't know, but many of 
us wonder why all the villains in Disney films are English? Seems the 
message isn't getting across. Perhaps no-one's listening? 

For all my life the British Government has shut down radio stations 
that I loved. Big L, Atlantis, Caroline, Radiofax - they closed the 
lot. Live with it. We've had to. Yours sincerely, (Nicholas Mead, 
Helston, Cornwall), May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 
p.s. Keep up the good work, Glenn!

** U K [non]. Subject: BBC and SWISS radio solution 
From: "Roadranger" wwfv@ellijay.com 
Date: 5/10/01 12:32 PM Central Daylight Time 
Forum: rec.radio.shortwave 

Shortwave radio station WWFV is willing to relay BBC, Swiss radio 
soon Austria and Radio Netherlands via it's new 100kw transmitter 
facility global-3 if you Hobby SWL's support it with donations. We 
see your heartfelt post with such emotion about this matter that we 
are advising the BBC and Swiss radio and the others[broadcasters] to 
follow know of our offer so now your e mails to the BBC asking them 
to stay on shortwave have a solution which is no cost to the BBC or 
Swiss but to you the recipients of the programs. Given the reality of 
the situation for shortwave broadcasters (gov'ts cutting of funding 
left and right) it is now time for YOU to step up to the plate and 
put you financial support into the broadcast medium to keep them on 
shortwave. it's up to you regards to all! [all sic] (via John 
Norfolk, DXLD)

** U S A. IBB Stationery May 9, 2001

Dear Tim (Shamble), this is to notify you of a modification of our 
letter of January 17, 2001, informing you of a reduction in force.  

On May 9, 2001, Brian Coniff, Acting Director, International
Broadcasting Bureau, authorized the modification of the initial
reduction in force as follows.

The reduction in force is cancelled for the Thai Service. All four
positions will be retained.

The reduction in force is modified for the Uzbek Service. The service
will consist of three GS-12 IRBs. 

Sincerely, Mary Rasmussen Labor Relations Specialist

cc Ungar/Welch (BBG memo via DXLD) 

So in this rather offhand way, VOA Thai service is reprieved (gh, 
DXLD)

** U S A. Talking billboards heard in Chicago, called Radio Cadillac, 
advertising the cars, first found on 1550 on the outskirts, then the 
same on 1710 around the Loop, but I could not hear them both at the 
same time to check if parallel. I see the signs where signal strength 
peaks but cannot see any obvious antennas on them (George Thurman, 
IL, May 7-9, CONTINENT OF MEDIA 01-05, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. Signal change could improve classical radio sound |
Tests under way at 1660-AM, April 8, 2001, The Kansas City Star 

Radio lovers may have noticed a "new" classical station way up at the 
high end of the AM dial. It's not exactly a station, at least not 
yet. It's KXTR-AM (1250)'s possible future location at 1660-AM, a 
more powerful alternative. The new frequency is now being tested, 
sans advertising, for a few hours each day. The new position might 
mean clearer sound. "It is our intention to put KXTR on 1660," said 
Bob Zuroweste of Entercom, the broadcast giant that bought KXTR-FM 
(96.5) last year and moved the powerful classical station to AM. "Our 
goal is June 1. As a matter of fact, it could be earlier." Entercom 
must wait for the FCC to license the new station after field tests 
have indicated its full range and cleared it of potential 
interferences with other stations. 

Those in Johnson County are already reporting a better reception than 
1250 provides. For now, 1660 is sending the same feed from Boston 
that fills KXTR's broadcast hours when 1250 is not occupied with 
local programming. Though some music lovers might not find it within 
themselves to say "thanks" to Entercom, which in September killed one 
of the nation's most powerful FM classical stations, it's at least a 
step in the right direction. 

Patrick Neas, whose drive-time Morning Show has calmed many a case of 
caffeine-induced morning jitters, remains one of the nicest things 
about Kansas City's musical life. For Neas, the new frequency is a 
sign that things are not as gloomy as we all assumed last fall. "It 
shows that Entercom is committed to the format and that moving us to 
AM wasn't just the first step to killing us altogether," he said. The 
new nondirectional broadcast means you don't have to be directly in 
the path of the "wave" to get a good signal. "This station will 
radiate in all directions," Neas said. "With this move, a bigger 
swath of the city will be covered." Because 1660 lies in a little-
occupied part of the AM band, the station can get better coverage 
with about the same amount of power. There's a financial end to it 
all, too, Neas said. "It means also it'll be more attractive to 
advertisers." Zuroweste emphasized that the move was to provide 
"enhanced coverage and enhanced quality" for classical listeners - 
and particularly for those in Johnson County, where the 1250 signal 
has proved especially weak. "This is a commitment to serve the 
community," he said, adding that the switch will cost Entercom at 
least $200,000 and probably much more (via Robert Wien, IRCA AM 
Newsflash via DXLD)

** U S A. More on Clear Channel: From the San Jose Mercury News: 
http://www.bayarea.com/entertainment/column/kava/docs/ae8ear.htm 
(Kevin Burnett, NRC-AM via DXLD)

** U S A. Discouraging me from bothering to advance publicize talk 
shows, two of the guests on Diane Rehm I gave in DXLD 1-063 were no-
shows this week: Daniel Schorr has been rescheduled to Tuesday 15th, 
and no word on Bill Gates Sr. (but both are making the rounds and you 
should get plenty of them if you be alert). Note that VOA Talk to 
America is ondemand only for 24h, then replaced by the next show. 
Actually, it wasn`t until about 1900 UT that the previous day`s show 
was replaced by the latest one; anyhow, I heard the one on UFOs, 
which had true believers vs skeptics. Also enjoyed/tape delayed the 
WGN Thursday night on Don McNeill. I have been diligently checking 
Charlie Rose guest list on his PBS website, since PBS network in 
Oklahoma refuses to carry him –- too intellexual for the perceived 
Okie audience, I guess -– but his down-home NC accent ought to be 
worth something! When I finally found a show I wanted to hear, I 
discovered that the only radio station webcasting him, WHYY 
Philadelphia, has replaced him with The (non-Lydon) Connection! 
Anyhow, Rose is trying to make his talking-heads program more visual, 
with excruciatingly long film clips, etc. And the opening commercials 
(oops, funding credits) are getting longer and longer (Glenn Hauser, 
DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** UZBEKISTAN. 2130-2200, R Tashkent, 9540 9545 (not 7105 in summer, 
since decades!). Observed in last years - this summer again 9540 and 
9545 at 2030 and 2130. 1200-1230 and 1330-1400 UZB R Tashkent 
English, additional 5975 in Sep-Oct (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, May 
2, BC-DX via DXLD)

** VANUATU. I have noticed over the last week that R Vanuatu is using 
only 7260 and not 4960 local mornings and evenings. I can hear it s-
on at 1900 (but having stiff competition from co-channel VoA) after 
playing Island mx for a few mins prior to the hour. It is very strong 
in our local evenings (better than 4960 is) until closing around 
1115. It maybe a planned move, but I suspect otherwise! (Barry 
Hartley, New Zealand, May 4, BC-DX via DXLD)

** VATICAN/Italy. Government to set limits on electromagnetic 
emissions | Text of report by Italian radio on 10 May 

Electromagnetic pollution: the decrees proposed by [Environment] 
Minister [Willer] Bordon, pinning down the limits of electromagnetic 
waves emissions, have been favourably received by the cabinet 
meeting. The formal approval, nevertheless, was deferred to an 
unspecified day. The decrees are now in the hands of the health 
minister [Umberto Veronesi], who declared he is ready to implement 
them quickly, even if he does not agree with the limits put forward 
by the environment minister. Veronesi proposed as an alternative the 
limits suggested by the European Union. The environmental 
organizations said they are not satisfied. Source: Rai Radio 1, Rome, 
in Italian 0600 gmt 10 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD)

UNIDENTIFIED. A small mystery (logged at Trollhättan, Sweden by Johan 
Berglund) UNID 14987 08 apr [sic, must mean 8 May? -gh] 2110 Nonstop 
music. Fine ballads and old hits, all in French. Just a few words 
said by a woman at 2135, then more music of the same kind. QSA 2-3 at 
2110, sudden deep fading occurred, then up again, but at 2145 the 
signal strength was down to NIL. The 19 mb was almost dead. Is this 
some spur, or what? (The report is ready to mail if the station had 
just shouted some ID...) 73 (Johan Berglund, May 10, DX LISTENING 
DIGEST)                                 ###