DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-202, December 21, 2001 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com {Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. For restrixions and searchable 2001, 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html Check the WOR websites: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/ http://www.worldofradio.com [NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn] WORLD OF RADIO #1110 (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1110.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1110.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1110.html NEXT AIRINGS on WWCR: Sat 0300 on 3210, Sun 0330 on 5070, 0730 on 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0200, 0800, 1400, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, on some of: 7445-USB/AM, 15040, 21815-USB [note: Fri/UT Sat airings are half an hour later than usual so RFPI can play WOR 1109 immediately preceding, having missed airing last week] AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: rest of world Sat 0900; NAm Sat 1500 UT Some updates have been made to: MARCONI SPECIALS http://www.worldofradio.com/marconi.html HOLIDAY SPECIALS http://www.worldofradio.com/holiday.html We expect the latter to evolve into a permanent /calendar of significant, special programming and DX broadcasts ** AFGHANISTAN [nothing new to report!] ** BELARUS. Regarding Belarus` spur on 7025 kHz (see Signal No. 38). 7265 kHz is mainly used by Belarus` Radio-2, gaps filled by Mayak. I agree with Vlad Titarev about the nature of this phantom (7265- 120=7145, 7145-120=7025). But I never heard Belarus on 7145 kHz myself. You can reach Radio Hrodna (Belarus`) by e-mail: RadioGrodno@tut.by Probably they will be able to issue email verifications for listeners' reports. Snail mail address is: Radio Hrodna, ul. Gorkogo 85, 230015, Hrodna, Belarus (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus, Signal Dec 19 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CNEWS Media News --- Friday December 21, 2001 CBC, technicians reach tentative agreement OTTAWA (CP) -- After a two-week strike-lockout at Canada's national public broadcaster, the CBC and its technicians reached a tentative agreement Friday afternoon. "We're very happy to have a tentative agreement," said Chuck Thompson, CBC director of communications. Mike Sullivan, national representative for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, also confirmed a deal had tentatively been reached but would not reveal details. Both sides began meeting with a federal mediator Thursday after negotiations stalled. The CBC technicians initiated a job action Dec. 7, prompting management to lock them out of all network facilities. The union represents 1,600 staffers who handle the cameras, lights and audio for CBC programs nationwide. While the CBC has called the dispute a strike, union placards on picket lines had termed it a lockout. At issue has been the network's wish to save $6 million in penalty payouts to workers by making changes in the rules governing lunchtimes, overtime and shift turnaround. The union has said a pay raise of 3.5 per cent over two years, which has been implemented unilaterally, won't cover the losses incurred by the rule changes. The dispute has had an impact on the broadcaster's operations with the cancellation of local and regional newscasts and scattered live programming on its 24-hour station Newsworld. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien asked that his traditional year-end interview with anchor Peter Mansbridge be postponed until the labour dispute at the public broadcaster is resolved (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Mahendra Vaghjee reporta a Radio Centrafrique, Bangui, en la frecuencia de 6100 en francés y vernaculares con cierre a las 19 luego del himno nacional, no siendo siempre la recepción fácil debido a la interferencia de Radio Yugoslavia que emite en la misma frecuencia (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Radio Enlace Dec 14 via DXLD) ** CHINA. Gannan PBS, 5969.6, heard at 1200 Dec 16 with various Tibetan spoken word and music programs. Into Mandarin news at 1230, rather inaudible due to strong QRM from 5975, only heard something about development in information technology (ah, so IT has come to Xiahe), but that was pretty much about it. National anthem at 1300 into Tibetan (CNR Tibetan??). (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Yunnan PBS, 6937, 1440-1501* Dec 18. Woman singing song a-cappella, folklore music devoid of frills and with an interesting intonation. When she ended her song there was a very short interval with flute music followed by a long talk by a woman, man at 1458, 1459:30 some (short) tune and then a woman bursting into song, but again there was a short announcement and off at 1501. Fair to poor, too much man-made noise anyway to get an ID (Piet Pijpers, Netherlands, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. Current monitored schedule of Xinjiang PBS: All change-over times slightly variable. [off for] Maintenance Tues, Thurs 0800-1100. 3950 Chinese 0000-0257, 1200-1800 (days on 7155) 3990 Uighur 0000-0248, 1229-1800 (days on 7275) 4330 Kazakh 0000-0325, 1201-1800 (days on 7340) 4500 Mongolian 0000-0330, 1230-1800 (days on 7230) 4980 Uighur 0000-0300, 1157-1800 5060 Chinese 0000-0301, 1155-1800 5960 Chinese 0000-1800 6015 Kazakh 0000-0345, 1155-1800 (days on 9470) 6120 Uighur 0000-0301, 1158-1800 6190 Mongolian 0000-0330, (0530-1030?) 1230-1800 7120 Kyrgyz 0330-0530, 1030-1230 7155 Chinese 0259-1158 (nights on 3950) 7195 Uighur 0000-0259, 1229-1800 (days on 13670) 7230 Mongolian 0530-1030 (nights on 4500) 7275 Uighur 0251-1227 (nights on 3990) 7310 Chinese 0000-0301, 1158-1800 (days on 9600) 7340 Kazakh 0327-1157 (nights on 4330) 9470 Kazakh 0347-1149 (nights on 6015) 9560 Uighur 0247-1201 9600 Chinese 0302-1157 (nights on 7310) 9720 Kyrgyz 0330-0530, 1030-1230 11770 Chinese 0247-1203 11885 Uighur 0247-1206 13670 Uighur 0301-1227 (nights on 7195) Other stations: 3985 CNR-2 2100-0100, 1200-1600 4800 CNR-1 2000-2400, 1300-1730 (Olle Alm, Sweden, 17.12.2001, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to CHINA. FDWR: There has been an apparent change of transmitter on 5925. I have a stronger signal and a very loud buzz. I know of only one transmitter that has this noise, and it is a 100 kW unit at Tbilisskaya. Moreover, it ran three CIS type pips with the high pitch (approx. 1 kHz) that is used by Tbilisskaya. 9945 changed from weak and fluttery to good and stable as Moscow transmitters on 9470 and 9480 did so, so it seems to remain at Moscow as found out earlier this week. Some days this transmitter has a very noticeable buzz, but it is much softer than the hard buzz on 5925. The Tbilisskaya superbuzz transmitter was used for the R Rossii relay for several years before it was replaced some months ago (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 8, Cumbre DX Dec 21 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. China/United Kingdom: CRI to air live news in Chinese for Londoners | Text of press release by the London-based World Radio Network on 21 December Starting for the first time this week, Chinese speakers in London and the Southeast can now hear a one-hour news and current affairs programme broadcast live from China five days a week. The transmission is specially produced for a London audience by China Radio International [CRI] in Beijing and goes out between 1700 hrs and 1800 hrs Monday to Friday on Spectrum Radio 558 AM. This Chinese- language debut by China Radio International has been made possible by World Radio Network (WRN) - the programme is downlinked from satellite at WRN's Technical Operations Centre in London and relayed to Spectrum 558 AM for broadcast. In each programme, the day's news headlines are followed by half an hour of political, business and current affairs commentary. The CRI broadcasts include regular reviews of the Chinese press as well as extensive coverage of sports, the environment, tourism and technological developments in the region. This cultural initiative for London follows a collaborative agreement signed by WRN and China Radio International in Beijing in August 1999, since when English and German programming from the international arm of the Chinese national broadcasting organization has been transmitted on WRN's EuroMax English, EuroMax Deutsch and North American networks, as well as on Spectrum 558 AM. For more information contact: Gerry Halliday, Press and PR Officer, WRN. Tel: +44 20 7896 9000; Fax: +44 20 7896 9007; e-mail: gerry.halliday@wrn.org; web site: http://www.wrn.org Source: World Radio Network press release, London, in English 21 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBA Y EL ACCESO A LA INTERNET El Gobierno cubano prohíbe el acceso a Internet, considerado como "un medio de alto riesgo" Cuba entrará en el nuevo milenio sin que sus ciudadanos puedan conectarse libremente a Internet. Desde el mismo instante en que la isla se enlazó oficialmente a la red, hace seis años, las autoridades dictaron normas estrictas para que la información obtenida del ciberespacio estuviese "en correspondencia" con los "principios éticos" de la revolución y no afectase "los intereses ni la seguridad del país". Según admiten fuentes oficiales, hoy sólo 40.000 cubanos -de una población de 11 millones- tiene acceso a Internet, y con restricciones. Paradójicamente, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba (Minrex) quiso entrar al siglo XXI abriendo una página, cubaminrex.cu, que invita a los internautas de todo el mundo a informarse de la realidad de la isla a través de este sitio revolucionario. El sitio fue presentado esta semana en La Habana por el canciller, Felipe Pérez Roque, y entre sus objetivos declarados está "divulgar la realidad cubana", apoyar las causas progresistas del Tercer Mundo y también "acrecentar los esfuerzos" de la isla "contra la explotación y la opresión de los pueblos". En 1996, el Consejo de Ministros de Cuba aprobó el decreto-ley 209 sobre el "Acceso desde la República de Cuba a redes informáticas de alcance global", que estableció "la política y estrategias" gubernamentales "con relación a estas redes". El decreto señaló que el acceso a Internet sería definido "en función de los intereses de Cuba, priorizando en la conexión a las personas jurídicas e instituciones de mayor relevancia para la vida y el desarrollo del país". Esta política, en vigor en la actualidad, tiene como pilar fundamental el siguiente principio: "Asegurar que la información que se difunda sea fidedigna, y la que se obtenga esté en correspondencia con nuestra ética y no afecte ni a los principios ni a la seguridad del país". Asimismo, la ley creó una comisión intergubernamental para atender los asuntos relacionados con Internet. Ésta es la única autorizada para aprobar la conexión a la red y "regular su uso", y está integrada por altos cargos de los ministerios que tienen que ver la informática. "Hasta los talibán en Afganistán tienen acceso a Internet, pero los cubanos no, para nosotros está vedado", ha dicho en alguna ocasión el disidente Elizardo Sánchez. Según Sánchez, el férreo control a los accesos y las comunicaciones a través de la red cibernética es parte consustancial de la censura ideológica y política que el Gobierno mantiene en el país. Según la organización Reporteros Sin Fronteras, Cuba es uno de los 20 países del mundo que, bajo el pretexto de proteger al público contra ideas subversivas o de garantizar la unidad del país, impide el acceso de sus ciudadanos a Internet. Para las autoridades de la isla, la razón del bloqueo a Internet es más económica que política. El país está en crisis y las computadoras son un artículo de lujo -sólo el 60 % de las que existen en la isla tenían hace cinco años capacidad de conectarse a la red-; además las líneas telefónicas son escasas y de mala calidad. "Antes que pensar en Internet hay que garantizarle la salud y la educación a la población", es uno de los argumentos manejados por los dirigentes cubanos. "Hoy en día vivir de espaldas a Internet significa vivir de espaldas al mundo y a la modernidad", afirma Vladimir, un estudiante de la Universidad de La Habana que como muchos otros estudiantes de la capital paga unos cuantos dólares por debajo de la manga para conectarse clandestinamente a la red. Pese a las reticencias ideológicas, el Gobierno es consciente de que Internet representa un factor de desarrollo y que no puede quedarse al margen del intercambio de información técnica y científica. En los últimos tres años las autoridades han hecho una cuantiosa inversión en la modernización de las redes telefónicas y en la compra de computadoras y equipos informáticos de alta tecnología para equipar empresas y centros de investigaciones, y planea crear una decena de cibercafés en la isla el próximo año (ya se han inaugurado dos). También se han creado redes locales para algunos sectores profesionales, pero con accesos limitados y numerosas páginas vedadas. "En los centros de trabajo sólo tienen clave para conectarse algunas personas, no se puede entrar a las páginas de contenido político y a direcciones de diarios como el Miami Herald y a los cubanos de a pie no se nos permite tener una cuenta privada, ni pagándola en dólares", explica Vladimir. Pero, ya se sabe, los cubanos están acostumbrados a inventar y eludir los más diversos bloqueos. Mañana, 1 de enero de 2001, comenzará el "Año de la Revolución Victoriosa en el Nuevo Milenio". Así ha sido bautizado oficialmente el nuevo año siguiendo una vieja tradición revolucionaria, y los internautas de todo el mundo, aunque pocos de la isla, podrán ver ésta y otras informaciones de interés si pinchan la página cubaminrex.cu. La .cu es de Cuba. Alternativas piratas Los cubanos están acostumbrados a inventar para resolver sus necesidades informativas y lúdicas por vías alternativas a las del Estado. En los años noventa, jóvenes ingenieros cubanos piratearon con antenas parabólicas caseras los 10 canales de televisión extranjeros que emitía el hotel Habana Libre a todas las instalaciones turísticas de la capital. Cuando las autoridades se percataron y codificaron la señal, en menos de una semana los técnicos ya habían encontrado una solución para eludir el bloqueo. De la misma forma, miles de cubanos, sobre todo científicos y estudiantes, se conectan cada noche a Internet. El sistema más común es el robo de password. Muchas empresas cubanas y extranjeras tienen contratado un servicio de Internet a tiempo completo, pero sólo lo utilizan en horario laborable. Los piratas compran a un dealer una de estas claves para usarla por las noches. La tarifa por horario oscila entre 10 y 30 dólares mensuales y el único impedimento es no abrir el correo de la víctima, pues el operativo sería detectado. El Pais, Madrid España. Cordiales 73's (Oscar, DXLD) Anote la referencia a ``mañana, 1 de enero de 2001`` --- así es que este artículo se originó hace casi un año; sin duda nada ha cambiado en Cuba (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Radio Caribe en Internet includes stereo webcast: http://www.cubanueva.com/radiocaribe/ (via Oscar, FL, DXLD) Some of the linx don`t work, and there is nothing on the above page hinting whether it`s dentro- or fuera-cubano. But there is a lot of material at http://www.cubanueva.com revealing: ``CubaNueva es una asociación independiente con sede y redacción central en Barcelona, España, dedicada a la actualidad cubana y de América Latina`` (gh, DXLD) ** CYPRUS NORTHERN. 6150 BRT Int'l (presumed) Dec 20 2200-2201*. I had a two minute window this evening, once CRI via France had signed off around 2158. I heard the end of a pop song, then the Turkish National anthem. SINPO during the anthem was 23432 (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. December 24th, Christmas Special Programmes on DW-Radio On December 24th, the Christmas holiday in Germany, and the early hours of December 25th, NewsLink will be replaced by special Christmas features on DW-radio's English Service. At 0905, 1105, 1605, and 1905 UT, join Irene Quaile, Mia Lauzé, Anja von Cysewski, Fiona Carruthers and Steffen Marquard for a Christmas trip to Germany's traditional markets and other seasonal highlights. At 2005, 2105, 2305 and on Dec. 25th at 0105, 0205, 0305, 0405, 0505 and 0605 UT, join Breandain O'Shea for a concert of your favourite Christmas music (Deutsche Welle newsletter via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) You will find more information on the programmes broadcast and reception on our website at http://www.dw-world.de/english ** HONG KONG. Paper criticizes local RTHK radio station Hong Kong's RTHK radio station is widely believed to be both inefficient and poorly supervised, according to Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao. The blame for this goes back to the system created by the British Hong Kong government, especially Chris Patten. Some people were given "disastrous 'privileges'" which allowed them to do whatever they wanted without being held accountable. "Such a situation must be changed", the paper said. The following is the text of an article by Guan Zhao from the "Well Water" column entitled "Special privileges of 'RTHK' must be changed" published by the newspaper's web site on 5 December After being lambasted by the Audit Commission, Radio Television Hong Kong [RTHK] again came under a fierce barrage of gunfire at the legislature yesterday. Badly battered, the RTHK is unable to ward off the attacks. According to popular theory, the RTHK has committed at least "two crimes". Its first crime is its low efficiency. A report published by the Audit Commission shows that the station's production crew only produces four hours of programming per person each year on average, but the station's yearly production expenses are as high as 250m Hong Kong dollars. Its staggering production cost tops the world and is even higher than that of the famous BBC, whose news programmes are well known throughout the world and whose reporters brave untold dangers and present highly professional commentaries. In contrast, the RTHK comes up with such low-quality programmes as the one in which "superman Lin" abused the chief executive as the "Taleban". What is even more important is this: Under repeated questioning by the Audit Commission and the legislators, the person in charge of RTHK admitted that the station does not have a "work-target mechanism". That is, its producers may do more work or less as they please and it does not matter whether they do more or less. In the past, some people often mocked the mainland's "big rice pot" system of indiscriminate egalitarianism - "36 yuan for those who work and 36 yuan for those who do not". What we did not know was that our lofty government-run radio station practices such carefree and slipshod management and a system of "36,000 Hong Kong dollars for those who work and 36,000 Hong Kong dollars for those who do not!" Its "second crime" is its lax supervision. In the past year, RTHK incurred as much as 4.28m Hong Kong dollars in employees' overtime pay alone. The public cannot help wondering: With a productivity of only fours hours of programming per production member each year, work pressure is obviously not that great at the station. Instead of being short-handed, the station is, more likely than not, overstaffed. So why is it necessary to hand out overtime pay wantonly and in such an astounding and outrageous manner? A legislator pointed out that government regulations state that public servants are only allowed to apply for overtime pay if they work one hour or more overtime. However, RTHK's overtime compensation scheme has an additional feature - its employees may accumulate their overtime the same way people accumulate "award points" for their credit cards. That is, you may work 30 minutes of overtime today and 15 minutes overtime tomorrow. Adding them up, you will be able to receive a big, fat overtime pay at the end of the month. Will that not make you "fatter than the fatty?" In the face of undeniable facts, Chu Pui-hing [director of broadcasting] admitted it is necessary to improve the "management culture" of RTHK. However, a legislator pointed out that RTHK is used to sticking to its faults and that it was not the first time the Audit Commission has criticized the station by name. To the public, the Audit Commission's repeated "bites" on RTHK are laudable and the legislators' "fierce thrashing" yesterday was justified. The fact that everybody views the matter gravely has nothing to do with "grudges" against any Hong Kong or Taiwan personages. Instead, it was because public money and taxpayers' money must not be squandered and wasted, and doing so without scruples at a time when the public is facing such difficulty is all the more impermissible. With their attitude of "taking up good official posts to serve oneself" and taking public money for granted, some people should feel ashamed when they face the public. What must be pointed out is that such chaotic and lax supervision in the station's management goes hand in hand with the ineffective supervision and chaos in the station's production principle and line. The British Hong Kong government, especially Chris Patten, created disastrous "privileges" for some people in the past, allowing them to do whatever they wanted without being held accountable. Such a situation must be changed. Source: Ta Kung Pao web site, Hong Kong, in Chinese 5 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ISLE OF MAN [non]. Long Wave radio station plans offshore mast More on this story, this time from http://www.manxradio.com/ The firm behind plans to broadcast on long wave from the Isle of Man says it has agreement in principle to build a mast, on a platform five kilometres off the north east coast. It will employ the same crossed field antenna technology that was the basis of the on-land planning application at Bride, rejected about a year ago. Isle of Man International Broadcasting say they hope to build their radio station next year and that may include the construction of offices and studios in Ramsey. That, says the company's founder Paul Rusling, will be a big plus for the town. Marketing Director Geoff Holliman says after the possibility of going " offshore" was identified, a great deal of research, including an environmental assessment was carried out. And permission was sought. (Geoff Holliman interview audio on the website) The project is anticipated to cost £12 million and the necessary fund raising is due to start early next year. It may sound like a lot of money but the men behind this, as they have been all the way along as bubbling with enthusiasm and confidence for their project. Paul Rusling says that, if and when the station is running, it will make an enormous impact on the Manx profile. (Paul Rusling interview audio on the website) (via Mike Terry, Dec 21, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ITALY. Glenn, Thanks for your enquiry regarding the AWR project at Argenta in Italy. Actually though, there is no news to report; AWR is simply awaiting decision on legal documents. Greetings! AMP (Adrian M. Peterson, IN, Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Hello from Hilversum, It's the holiday season, and we're putting the finishing touches to New Year's Eve on the Web. Lou Josephs has compiled a list of around 250 links to help you follow New Years' Celebrations around the world from 1000 UT on 31 December. Here in The Netherlands, it's an extra special New Year as we say goodbye to the guilder and usher in the euro. Except at Radio Netherlands, where we have until 1100 UT on 9 January 2002 to use up our remaining guilders. Rob Green says that Euro day is "the most exciting thing to happen in the European Union since Margaret Thatcher contracted food poisoning in Maastricht". http://www.rnw.nl/en/insite.html New Years Eve on the Web Several years ago, Kim Elliott at the Voice of America spent his New Years Eve listening to how the world celebrated, using shortwave radio to hear international and domestic stations ring in the New Year. Based on the same idea, Lou Josephs has assembled a list of Webcasters and Webcams that will usher in the New Year 2002. The idea is to get you to a Webcast or Web cam as quickly as possible, without lots of graphics, scripts or other things that would slow you down. In most cases you'll find a direct link. Because we don't want to give you a pile of dead links, we're still updating the links and hope to publish the page on Monday. The URL will be http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/newyear2002.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network, Radio Netherlands newsletter Dec 21 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. From alt.pirate.radio 20 December 2001: A radio pirate in the Barnes Road area of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada has had his equipment confiscated by Industry Canada. The pirate, who, they describe as 'not too bright' and dressed in woman's clothing was awakened from his sleep by a squad of agents, who searched the house and seized thousands of dollars of radio transmitting equipment. The pirate was caught when while under the influence of alcohol, mistakenly broadcast his address on the air, while soliciting free beer from listeners. Charges are pending (via Mike Terry, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What was the *name* of the station? Was it on SW? (gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. In case you are not following John Figliozzi`s weekly or bi-weekly advance previews, here is the latest, including a number of Xmas specials; and you may access future editions at the same site: R. NEW ZEALAND INT. PROGRAMS Edition 176 Dec. 22-26, 2001 (UT) Here are some listening suggestions for RNZI for the next week... http://www.topica.com/lists/swprograms/read/message.html?sort=d&mid=1605749358&start=12153 He also posts same for R. Australia but latest version not there yet (via gh, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. RRI has a basic, no-frills website http://www.rri.ro/index.html that is easy to pull out information [from]. BTW, check out the contest section; prize is a trip for two in May! Deadline is Dec. 31 (Dr John Barnard, AB, Signals Unlimited, Dec CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Subject: [SWL] Voice of Russia Holiday Programs Frequencies for the Voice of Russia's English-language programs can be found on the HCI website at: http://www.w9wze.org/SWL/Skeds.php?PathNom=Skeds.skeds.txt Voice of Russia World Service Programs At Christmas Folk Box (on the air from Monday, December 24) All throughout the week we'll be listening to fairly-tale Christmas tunes, Russian and ones sung by our neighbors. Tune in to the next edition of Folk Box to find out what people in various countries eat on Christmas, how they tell the fortune and what Christmas signs they usually make use of. Like, for example, a salted roll marriage-age Ossetian girls tuck under their pillow to get a good husband. And get they do, that's for sure! Do tune in to Folk Box on Monday at 1530 UT. The program is repeated on Tuesday at 0230 and 0830, on Thursday at 0530, 0930, 1630, and 2130, on Friday at 1830, all times UT. Bless the Lord, O My Soul This upcoming edition of Bless the Lord, O My Soul offers the church music lovers a fine present - as tender and radiant as Christmas itself. Children from the Veneration choir will be singing Christmas songs Orthodox kids usually sang in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is absolutely angel singing we are going to hear! The program will go on the air on Thursday, December 27, at 1730 and 1930 UT, and also on Friday, December 28, at 0430 UT. Music and Musicians Do you know what the word "Vertep" really means? In Old Slavic it means a cave where Jesus Christ was born. It also means an old Nativity puppet show in Russia acting out all kinds of Evangelical stories. How? Tune in and find out in the next edition of Music and Musicians. The program can be heard on Saturday, January 5, at 1710 UT. It will be repeated on Sunday, January 6, at 0910, 1810, and 2110 UT, and also on Monday, January 7, at 0810 UT. We wish you all happy listening. Copyright © 2001 The Voice of Russia (via Marie Lamb, Dec 19, swl@qth.net via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Desde la Isla de Mauricio, Mahendra Vaghjee me informa para Radio Enlace, que las únicas dos emisoras activas en el aire emitiendo desde Somalia, son al 11 de Diciembre: Radio Hargeisa, 7530 kHz de 1530 a 1930, siendo sus programas mayormente de música, noticias y cxs [sic] en somalí; y Radio Banaadir, en 7002 kHz, de 15 a 2130 siendo no siempre la recepción buena. Canciones en inglés pueden ser escuchadas a las 21 y antes del cierre a las 2130; emite con muchos cxs en somalí. Por otra parte, Mahendra me informa que Radio Mogadishu, La Voz del Pueblo, 6750 kHz, está fuera del aire desde ya hace casi 5 meses (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Radio Enlace Dec 14 via DXLD) ** TATARSTAN. RUSSIA. 11665 kHz, Voice of Tatarstan, Samara, Rep. of Tatarstan. QSL full data and printed material in English with info on Tatarstan and frequency schedule. 21 days. Sent 1 IRC and 1 US$. V/S: Ildus Ibatullin. QSL Manager, P. O. Box 134, Kazan, Tatarstan, 420136, Russia (Marcelo Toníolo, NY, Cumbre DX Dec 21 via DXLD) Interesting: this is the station which previously announced it would not accept potentially anthratic mail from the USA, and return postage would have to be via bank transfer --– but you seem to have succeeded by conventional means (gh, DXLD) ** U K I find it curious that the ``I Want My BBC`` boon tactic item apparently has generated absolutely no response here. If you think it pointless, that would be interesting. If you have participated/are going to, so would that. 73, (Glenn Hauser, swprograms via DXLD) Actually, in a sort of a roundabout way, the BBC has already come around some. If you read the explanation in "On Air", while it explains that there are no "direct" shortwave broadcasts to North America (and Australasia) any more, it points out frequencies for contiguous areas that might work. This is a far more helpful explanation than appeared there at the beginning of this fiasco and continued for several months. Furthermore, the reality has turned out to be far less dire than the initial expectation. Reception during the evening here in upstate NY has been only of a little lesser quality than what it was prior. In the morning 15190, for the most part, has turned out to be a little better than the initial experience when 15220 and 17840 were redirected "away" from North America. There is still much more room for improvement during the morning (IMHO) as 9515 was a stellar performer, but one can still get "their BBC" albeit not quite as easily as before. I suspect that the experience has been similar in Australasia, but obviously I have no first-hand knowledge to assess that. So, in the end, the experience of this past summer could be described more as a public relations disaster for the BBC than anything else. Handled more professionally and with some consideration toward its listeners, the BBC easily could have accomplished the same objective without the black eye that resulted. For some odd reason, it decided that an "in your face" (albeit with a smile) attitude was preferable to a "how can I continue to help you" one. I suspect that we could see some modification next spring, but I don't think there'll ever be an overt reinstatement of frequencies for the areas ostensibly abandoned. We might notice it (as we did early on with the service for "Mexico") in a changed antenna beam or in a reference to a frequency being for "the Americas" without stating specifically which "Americas". But given the fact that they still can be heard pretty well, whatever audience number they get is liable to be pretty much what and where it was last year with maybe an uptick in direct satellite (XM) and FM listeners. They'll conclude that they were right all along and just continue as they are (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) John F., Your acquiescence disappoints me. (I write that with tongue slightly in cheek.) Personally, I find it almost impossible to listen to BBCWS in morning to noon anymore, as the signal is very unreliable. (And I only live a few miles from you.) It'll be strong and clear one minute, then fade to unintelligible the next. And often in an irritating in-between zone. So I've moved on to other daytime listening fare. Nighttime is a much less pleasant experience now too without a designated NA frequency. And the principle of what the BBCWS did still bugs me. Not just the snub, but the fact that it's such lost potential. The idea of being able to listen to BBCWS like AM radio was very appealing. Now listening to them is a chore. It seems like a bigger loss now, in the post-9-11 world, because many of us have a hunger for the kind of news and information they provide. Also, from the standpoint of the BBC, their content has gained a lot of new followers, but I think they blew it by abandoning SW instead of promoting it. It's a lost potential audience builder for them. Of course they'll never change their minds I realize, so I've let go of worrying about it. But I still believe it was a monumental blunder on their part, and a loss for listeners here. As for the boon idea, maybe it hasn't stirred up interest because most of those on this board have given up on the possibility of BBC changing their minds. Oh well (John Townes, NY, swprograms via DXLD) No acquiescence here, I assure you. We continue the effort. Just recently, Mike Barraclough, one of our number in the UK, sent background information and research on the Coalition's behalf to the FCO in anticipation of their quarterly meeting with the BBC WS. But, just as you say, one must be realistic. The current plan, according to the FCO and BBC, is to review research data one year out (which will be next summer) and act accordingly. Reception is less reliable, to be sure, especially on the portable receivers which most use. I agree wholeheartedly that there was an opportunity lost here for the BBC and it continues to be lost. It was all handled very badly and listeners were not treated with even a modicum of respect. The commercial mindset is crowding out the public service instincts that had been the hallmark of the corporation --- this is the greatest tragedy of all, IMHO. As I understand the "boon", it is a favor granted by royalty on some august occasion. In order to grant a favor, one must have the power or authority to grant it. Since the royal family is a figurehead, I think this idea is of no consequence. Of course, people should continue to contact the BBC and register their continued displeasure. That part of Mr. Coady's suggestion has considerable merit and should be pursued vigorously, IMHO. The fact that my name shows up in any of those correspondences will no longer be a surprise to those reading these messages, I assure you. In that regard, I doubt my name has any significance in this effort any longer. New names will (John Figliozzi, ibid.) As John said, have been corresponding with Dr. Denis MacShane at the FCO and submitted some research to Charles Winnington-Ingram, Head of BBC World Service Section, from the website including an update of Sheldon Harvey's study on FM rebroadcasting which I found has changed little. I got a reply back saying that the material had been included on the papers considered on November 29th. The FCO will review audience figures with the BBC WS next year and I have made the point about these taking into account the amount of time listened to Dr. MacShane as many FM listeners are only listening to short news bulletins. As to this 'boon" I doubt the Queen herself has ever heard of this, the idea that she has the power to order the BBC to turn on shortwave transmissions to North America I find somewhat difficult to believe to put it mildly. Pointless waste of energy in my opinion (Mike Barraclough, swprograms via DXLD) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Mr Winnington-Ingram, Dr. MacShane advised me in a letter dated 28th September that I could submit research material from the Coalition to Save BBC World Service in advance of the quarterly meeting between the BBCWS and FCO representatives on November 29th. The Coalition wishes to make the following points: 1. Shortwave frequencies beamed to other areas are providing good audibility in North America and Australasia at certain times of the day. The Coalition has therefore proposed reinstatement of just three shortwave frequencies thus preserving the majority of the cost savings BBCWS identified. 2. FM rebroadcast outlets do not cover all areas of North America and Australasia. 3. Most FM rebroadcasting is during overnight hours when most are asleep. Daytime rebroadcasting on FM is generally confined to a short news bulletin at odd times. Therefore, the broader "rich mix" of World Service programming formerly broadcast to the area on shortwave is unavailable via FM. 4. Industry studies have shown that even amongst users with a broadband connection the percentage using streaming media is small. 5. The BBC website was unavailable on September 11th and following the recent aircrash in Queens. FM rebroadcasts in the New York City area were also unavailable until four days after the September 11 disaster. Research documents, press comments and letters to the press supporting these points are attached. Yours sincerely, Michael Barraclough cc Oliver Heald MP (via swprograms via DXLD) Adding on to what John F. had said, the Coalition's approach has been one of "constructive engagement" of the organizations responsible for the BBCWS: its funding and its management, reinforced by an analysis of the misuse of the statistics behind the BBC's decision. This 'boon' tactic might very well be more useful as a kind of "peoples' petition", and the weight of large numbers and its grass- roots nature may very well be more effective than the imprimatur of the Coalition. (Disclaimer: my opinions only -- not those of the Coalition as an entitiy) (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, USA, Dec 21, swprograms via DXLD) Glenn, I sent my email & address 10 seconds after you posted it on the list. I want my BBC too!! Happy Holidays (jim strader, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re DXLD-201, item on Kid's Day: I noticed that I forgot to put a credit to the ARRL at the end of the item; sorry (John Norfolk, OKCOK) ** U S A. Loggings of some narrow FM auxiliaries in Oct-Nov: 26150 KARE (ch 11) Minneapolis MN, 17/11 2140, TV audio, Navy vs Notre Dame football on NBC, ad mentioning Apple Valley and Hastings, ID as ``Care 11``; fair signal 26150 KGIN (ch 11) Grand Island NE, 15 Nov 1810, TV audio, mentions of Grand Island, KGIN ID, poor [this used to be a satellite of KOLN-10 Lincoln, and perhaps lucky to catch during own noon news –gh] 26300 WLTX (ch 19) Columbia SC, 21 Nov 1645, ``News 19``, viewers asked to check WLTX.com; poor signal 26350 WSCV (ch 51) Ft. Lauderdale FL, 17 Nov 2305, TV news in Spanish, ``Telemundo`` ID; fair signal 26400 KSBH-TV (ch 41) Kansas City MO, 25 Oc 2210, TV audio, ID ``NBC 41 Kansas City``; poor signal (Alan Roberts, St. Lambert, QC, 25 Plus, Dec CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** U S A. Good story about the impact of VOA in Afghanistan: Sitting Around the Radio, By Nora Boustany Friday, December 21, 2001; Page A27 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10020-2001Dec20.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR Holiday Specials, starting December 22, UT: Good News, Salvation Army: Mon 0900 3210, 1900 12160 Stewards of the Earth, Salvation Army: Sun 0700 3210, 1730 12160 The Greatest Gift, John Tesh: Sat 1200 5070, Tue 2100 15685 Telling of a Xmas Story, School Ministries: Sun 1205 5070 Xmas Focus on the Family: Sun 0900 3210 Puzzle Club, Envoy Productions: Sat 1215 15685, Tue 0600 5070 Red Boots for Xmas, Envoy Productions: Sat 1400 15685, Sun 1115 5070 Sing for Joy, Dr. Alvin Reuter: Sat 1000 5070, Sun 1630 12160 Xmas Story, Williams Ministries: Sat 0600 5070, Tue 1815 15685 Celebrate Xmas, Focus on Family: Sun 0600-1000 5070 (4 hours long) 12 Days of Xmas, with ``Happy Jack`` Burns: Tue-Sat 0600-0800 3210 (10 different hours) (via Tammy, WWCR, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WSM could face changes, Gaylord says By CRAIG HAVIGHURST and BRAD SCHMITT, Staff Writers Gaylord Entertainment Co. is exploring changes among its three radio properties, including syndicating the Grand Ole Opry and possibly modifying the formats of WWTN-FM, WSM-FM and the historic WSM-AM. Gaylord Chief Executive Officer Colin Reed said the company is evaluating the operations of its three radio stations, and that classic country WSM-AM is the least profitable of the three.... http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/01/11/11534684.shtml?Element_ID=11534684 (Tennessean Dec 21 via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Nashville Public Radio's purchase of AM station will expand offerings By RICHARD LAWSON, Staff Writer Early next year, local National Public Radio junkies will have more program options when the Nashville station carrying NPR broadcasts additional world news and talk shows from the AM radio dial. Nashville Public Radio, which operates WPLN-FM 90.3, has struck a deal to buy Madison Spanish music station WKDA-AM 1430 from owner Bill Barry for $3 million. ''It will enable Nashville Public Radio to literally overnight double the amount of programming it offers,'' said Mike Schoenfeld, chairman of WPLN's board and vice chancellor of public affairs for Vanderbilt University.... http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/01/11/11445535.shtml?Element_ID=11445535 (Tennessean Dec 18 via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. KCRW, Santa Mónica, CA, http://www.kcrw.com : ---------------------------------------------- SPECIAL HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING [PST = UT - 8] ---------------------------------------------- ** Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day ** Noon to 2 pm * JESSYE NORMAN Families for Freedom Christmas Concert ** Please note In a prior press release this program was listed as airing from 1 to 3 PM. ** Tune in for a special Christmas Concert from St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Jessye Norman will present the Girls Choir of Harlem, the St. Bart's Choir, Boys and Girls Choristers of St. Bart's, chamber orchestra, and organ. The concert will feature traditional carols and spirituals. This special evening, instigated by Miss Norman, is a benefit for the "Families of Freedom" fund (chaired by former President Clinton and former Senator Bob Dole), providing for the education of the children of World Trade Center victims. Produced by WNYC New York, distributed by NPR. 2 to 4 pm * DYLAN THOMAS CHRISTMAS KCRW celebrates a Dylan Thomas Christmas. Join us to hear the poet himself read ``A Child’s Christmas in Wales,`` followed by his only drama, ``Under Milk Wood, A Play for Voices,`` starring Richard Burton and a BBC cast. Completed only a month before Dylan Thomas died, ``Under Milk Wood`` is an inspired and irreverent account of life and love in a small coastal village in Wales one spring day. ** Monday, December 31 New Year's Eve ** 6 to 7 pm * THE CAPITOL STEPS The Year in Review Revue The bipartisan masters of satire in song look back at the year that was...and what a year it was! Musical mayhem and political parody fill this hour with non-stop laughter. ** Tuesday, January 1 New Year's Day ** 9 am to 3 pm * A FESTIVAL OF AMERICANA A Celebration of Caedmon On New Year`s Day, KCRW continues its annual storytelling tradition with a Festival of Americana. Join us for a six hour marathon of story telling, featuring classic tales by Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first commercial spoken-word label, Caedmon Records. Tales by Twain you’ve probably never read will surprise and delight. He captures the unique and colorful vernacular of a more innocent time in our history. His attempts to imprint on paper the colloquial speech, mannerisms and experiences of the American people translate perfectly into this audio experience. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the great chronicler of America's Jazz Age, captured the glittering melancholy of an era uncannily like our own. Among his finest achievements are his brilliant short stories, which come to resonant life in readings by an extraordinary cast of stage and screen stars, including Blythe Danner, Peter Gallagher and Eric Stoltz, among others. Caedmon began in 1952, when Barbara Cohen and Marianne Roney sat with poet Dylan Thomas in the bar of New York’s Chelsea Hotel and persuaded him to record A Child’s Christmas in Wales along with five of his poems. Among the many voices Caedmon has published through the years are those of T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and Sylvia Plath, as well as those of actors such as Charlton Heston, Sir John Gielgud, and James Mason, to name only a few. Now an imprint of HarperAudio, Caedmon publishes new releases of classic works. Our broadcast will feature stories by Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald; we thank HarperAudio for permission to broadcast. For more info, visit http://www.harpercollins.com or your local bookstore, or call 1-800-331-3761 (KCRW newsletter via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Central Asia/USA: US reportedly planning new Central Asia radio service The Kazakh Eurasia opposition web site has reported that the US plans to set up a news channel and two independent publishing houses in Central Asia. US State Department officials told a delegation of Kazakh opposition parties in Washington that the US plans to launch a new "more powerful" news channel for Kazakhs and their Central Asian neighbours. "New radio stations broadcasting from the West to Central Asia in their own languages should be another more powerful news channel for Kazakhs and other Central Asian nations. Discussing and funding these stations are on the US Congress's agenda," Eurasia said. US State Department officials also briefed the Kazakh delegation on US plans to set up independent publishing houses in Almaty, the southern capital of Kazakhstan, and Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The US-sponsored publishing houses would "enable an independent press to be published in those countries without pressure from the special services, ministries and local authorities", Eurasia reported. The director of Voice of America's (VOA) Russian service invited the Kazakh opposition figures to the studio and recorded an interview with them, which will go on air soon, Eurasia reported. They discussed human rights violations and corruption in Kazakhstan. Source: Eurasia web site in Russian 18 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) But, but... we already have VOA and RFA; isn`t that enough? (gh) ** U S A [non]. Today (December 21) I heard VOA ID in Chinese on 4760 at 0100! But there's another program on 9545 and 15395 (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, I was a little surprised as I heard the VOA jingle today (December 21) at 1600 UT on 5005. Later the signal became clearer. The language was Dari or Pashto as the ID about 1655 mentioned the programme for Afghanistan with the usual address given in Washington DC, at 1659 the English s/off ID, a few seconds silence with the transmitter still on the air then the first notes of a (for me) unknown interval signal with the sudden switch off. 73s (Erich Bergmann, Germany, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4470 Seems to be a 1490 x 3 harmonic, possibly from Colombia. Nothing on fundamental 1490 x 2 [2980]. Strong signal Dec 18. News and actualities. 1106 short items with little chimes after each. Mentioning Fidel Castro once, but Colombia many times. Actuality from Departamento Atlántico, station also seemed to give out its phone and fax number once. Also several mentions of Colombia, but there were a few references to Cuba that are giving me doubt as to the station's origin. Reference to Departamento sounded like Sagarita. My Spanish is non-existent, but they also seem to mention Barranquilla several times and had an ad for Metro Deli, giving its phone number. Other phrases heard "La Nueva Banda Cubana." No ID heard, but perhaps 1490 Onda Nueva in Barranquilla. Still there at 1150 but had to tune out (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) QSLS on display: Here is something to do when conditions are bad or you have too much time: surf my English DX pages at http://www.sci.fi/pst/dx/index-e.htm By clicking the World Map you can find a little over 100 of my QSLs. The earliest are from the 1950s and the newest is a few weeks old. Hope you find them all. The files are quite small (QSL pictures typically 5- 10 kB), so you don't have to wait minutes for the pages to load up. 73 (Pentti Stenman, Finland, Dec 21, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Very nice collexion, including some pennants, many going back to the 1960s (gh, DXLD) ###