DX LISTENING DIGEST 0-150, December 5, 2000 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 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html ** AUSTRALIA. Chris Hambly tells me from Australia, that a 24-hour strike by the staff of ABC (also affecting RA) began at 0300 UT Dec 5. Issue is staff cuts. Management is running the programs, and there may be substitutions or a lack of news. I haven't been able to listen yet, and a quick look at ABC Online and the RA website show nothing about this. Any observations from others? 73, (Glenn Hauser, swprograms via DXLD) Any programming that goes out over the next 24 hours will be put together by management. No news and current affairs output. ABC Radio in Canberra has been running a motley collection of music tracks with the occasional announcement apologising for the break in regular programming due to industrial action (which started with stop-work meetings around midday). Radio and TV will be affected. Staff cuts are an issue, so too are the general directions being outlined by the managing director, Jonathan Shier (Matt Francis, Australia, swprograms via DXLD) Sydney Morning Herald Lights, camera, aggro at the ABC Date: 05/12/2000 By Cynthia Banham Eight of the ABC's most senior journalists made an unprecedented public plea for support yesterday, warning budget cuts and management's moves to commercialise were destroying the public broadcaster. The impassioned media conference followed a meeting between the ABC's managing director, Mr Jonathan Shier, directors, staff representatives and union officials, when Mr Shier was questioned about his plans to axe staff, and the decision announced last Thursday to disband the ABC science unit. Mr Shier`s responses failed to allay the concerns of staff, and national stopwork meetings will be held at midday today to discuss possible industrial action, including an immediate 24-hour strike. The meetings will disrupt radio programs, and a strike would affect radio and television news and current affairs programs. Yesterday`s press conference, fronted by Kerry O`Brien, Robin Williams, Maxine McKew, Tom Morton, Sue Spencer, John Cleary and Geoff Burchfield, was chaired by Quentin Dempster, who said the axing of Quantum had galvanised ABC staff. They were "very gravely concerned" he said, about the attack on specialist programming within the ABC, and staff's creative independence. At that morning's meeting, the director of television, Gail Jarvis, had said other units within the ABC would follow the path of the science unit, with more programs being co-produced and outsourced, staff said. "If programs are to be commissioned on the basis of their bankability - because we can flog some product or idea to the commercial sector - that is what will lead to the destruction of public broadcasting, "Mr Dempster said. Kerry O`Brien warned there was "a very real risk" that the ABC's in- house production base was being run down, "to the point where you have to wonder what kind of core of skills and values and culture are going to be left". ABC journalists, he said, were working in "a climate of fear" where they did not know what would happen from "one month to the next". Maxine McKew called for ABC supporters to speak out: "If I want to say anything today it's to make a plea to those people who support the ABC, who appreciate our professionalism, the richness of the ABC: speak up now." Mr Shier said in a statement that many of the journalists` concerns were "without foundation". "The ABC is committed to in-house television, radio and online production in science and other areas of output," he said. The staff-elected director Mr Ian Henschke said it was important the public be aware that "the people who make their programs do not want to compromise their integrity though commercial pressures." But he said the bottom line was funding. In figures adjusted for inflation, the ABC received over $666 million in funding in 1985-1986, compared to $507 million in 1998-1999. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0012/05/noframes.html (via Daniel Say, swprograms) As you will have noted Radio Australia has pre-empted all regular programming due to industrial action by the staff, leaving the management to run programming. I note here in Tasmania, the regional networks and Radio National plus Classic FM are running identical programming. I don't know where from but suspect Sydney. However RA is relaying JJJ but Melbourne's 3LO and Victorian regionals are running separate programming with management announcements. The Newsradio network is still broadcasting Federal Parliament. TV seems to be airing non-scheduled programming. If it (the strike) is 24 hours then I expect they will relay news from the BBC WS and Newshour. (Robin L. Harwood, VK7RH 0530 UTC December 5th. Swprograms via DXLD) Go to http://www.theage.com.au/ There is a string of articles and some editorial and opinion pieces providing heavy coverage of this event. One has to understand the unique position of the ABC in Australian society. Historically, there probably isn't a more important institution in helping to give the country a national identity. It still receives upwards of 90% approval ratings from the public. But the antipathy of several governments -- especially the current one -- have bled away a significant level of resources to the point now where the broadcaster is in an extremely precarious circumstance. Shier is in a no-win situation. He has no experience in public service broadcasting. He`s no dummy though...he clearly sees the situation the ABC is in. He is trying to do what he knows and has done as a commercial broadcaster -- reposition the company by cutting that which costs. It`s the wrong approach here; but given the ABC`s situation, there may no longer be an approach that will work anyway. It really is going to be up to the public to send a message to the government. The broadcaster is now severely underfunded -- especially in an era of multicasting. Shier, to his credit, has argued to the government that the ABC needs more funding. By adopting the policies he has, he is trying to demonstrate that the organization is doing all it can to restrict costs and address the future. IMHO, the problem is this: The government wishes to kill the ABC, at least as a viable national institution willing to adopt positions and policies independent of the government. There can be no other explanation. If the government succeeds -- and make no mistake, they are succeeding -- it will be a tragedy of immense proportions. -- (John A. Figliozzi, Editor and Publisher, ``The Worldwide Shortwave Listening Guide``, All new 2000-01 Edition Now Available! For Details and Purchasing Information: http://www.anarc.org/naswa/swlguide/rsguide, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Industrial action reduces ABC radio to music programming Radio Australia carried the following announcement in would have been the 0700 news slot: "...here on ABC local radio and Radio National. A combined programme on ABC radio because of industrial action by members of the Community and Public Sector Union and Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, so that the ABC is unable to bring you your regular scheduled programme. On ABC television we are bringing you your regular scheduled programming, except for news and current affairs programming. We will have replacement programming on the news and current affairs time-slots, and otherwise on television you should be having your regular programming. But here on ABC radio we have lots of music..." Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0700 gmt 5 Dec 00 (BBC Monitoring via DXLD) Due to a strike (industrial action), ABC is just playing continuous music, no regular programming, such as 6020 at 1000. Other frequencies such as 9580, 11650 and 5995 all seemed to be off. At 1400 6020 closed and they opened on 9580. Many apologies for the disturbance in programming. (John Standingbear, CA, Cumbre DX Special Dec 5) Thanks Jon`s tip, heard 9580 with music at 1440 and same announcement (Hans Johnson, AZ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Australia: ABC management statement on staff concerns | Text of press release from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on 4th December 4th December: Staff Concerns - Statement from ABC Managing Director, Jonathan Shier: A number of concerns were raised today by staff and their representatives about the direction of the ABC. Those concerns are taken seriously, however, some of the statements made are quite without foundation. The ABC is committed to in-house television, radio and online production in science and all other areas of output. The ABC will continue to co-produce programmes with the private sector as it has done for many years. But the continuing emphasis will be on the production of programmes that are made in-house at the ABC. The ABC is committing 350m dollars this year to news and current affairs, television, radio, programme and content development. It has committed 13.7m dollars to new media, which is very small in comparison. The ABC is not obsessed with new media, but if it is to remain relevant it must have a substantial presence in the new delivery platforms. New media is a vital part of the ABC's output. ABC Online was created without additional funding from government. It now consistently rates as one of the most popular websites in the country. Through our website, we have picked up new audiences. As to commercialization, I have stated publicly and in front of Senate Estimates Committee that the ABC will not undertake activity that breaches its Charter or Act. The ABC earned 140m dollars from sources outside of government last financial year, in a manner entirely consistent with the charter. Similar results have been recorded for the preceding three years. The ABC seeks to maximize its programme sales, revenue from its shops and income from product sales and licensing. All proceeds from this sort of activity go straight into the making of more programmes - the ABC declares no dividend back to the government. Despite claims to the contrary, I have given repeated assurances that I am not interested in earning money from advertising online. The fundamental difficulty facing the ABC is the level of government funding. Our budget has remained static, yet costs are rising. The ABC has built an entirely new network with Online without additional funding. The ABC has to provide additional content for digital television without any extra resources from government. These and other pressures have meant that the ABC has to make painful decisions. The ABC has 48 regional radio stations, local radio in every capital city, an international radio service, 14 international offices, four national radio networks, a television presence in every state and territory and an online network that receives six million accesses a week. I am on the record as stating the amount of funding the ABC receives to cover this huge broadcasting responsibility is inadequate. I have forcefully advocated that the ABC receive additional funding from government. It is surprising and disappointing that the unions have not supported this aim. I am scheduled to be making a submission to the board on Wednesday [6th December] outlining plans to request further funding from the government. For further information: Shane Wells, Media Adviser, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (02) 9333 5306 or 0408 445 098 Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation press release, Sydney, in English 4 Dec 00 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Freq change of Radio Vlaanderen Int via DTK Jülich effective Dec. 4: 1830-1855 English and 1900-1955 Dutch NF 13770 totally blocked by UN Radio in Arabic till 1845 Mon to Fri, ex 13710 to avoid VOA in English (Observer, Bulgaria, via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. [Re: report of R. Santa Ana varying to 4635???, DXLD 0- 149; again back on nominal] Glenn, Escutada ontem, domingo, 2355 UT na frecùência de 4649 kHz com anúncios e mensagens para os campesinos: "buenas noches, atención campesinos..." SINPO 44333 Saludos! (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre - Brasil, DX Clube do Brasil, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Hi Glenn, I stumbled upon a surprising station on SW the other day. You probably already know about it, but just in case! on 2/12/00, 3/12/00, 4/12/00 at 1400-1700 UT I have been listening on 9630 kHz to a Relay of YLE`s domestic Swedish language channel- "Radio Vega", playing C&W mx with football commentary. How long has this been there?! 73 (Tim Bucknall, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, the sked in DXLD 0-148 shows 9630 at 1500-2000 at 225 degrees. As for which of various home services may be put on their mostly Finnish and Swedish language SW broadcasts, transmissions schedules do not show. And looking under the YLE Swedish website at Radio Vega, I do not see any mention that it is on SW. At http://www.yle.fi/fbc/rfinland/svenska/index.html we find the below but no specific mention of R. Vega (gh) RADIO FINLANDS PROGRAMGUIDER Genom att klicka rubrikerna nedan kan ni se de program Radio Finland erbjuder er under de närmaste dagarna. Kvällsprogrammet till Europa på 9630 kHz (31m) kan ses under rubriken YLESAT2 (kanal 18). Alla klockslag är finsk tid ( i november-mars världstid + 2 timmar, i april-oktober världstid + 3 timmar) Programinformation får du på denna sida. YLE Satellitradio 2 (YLE r18) INTELSAT 707 (1 gr V) Digital öppen sändning till Europa (DVB-S/MPEG- 2) på frekvensen 11.677 GHz. Kvällsprogrammet på svenska sänds på den här kanalen kl 17.00-22.00 finsk tid, och samtidigt på 9630 kHz (31m). Horisontalpolarisation. Symbolhastighet 22.5 Mbd. FEC 3/4. PID 656. (YLE R. Finland website via DXLD) ** ISRAËL: Freq changes of Kol Israël from Dec. 15, 2000 until Feb. 28, 2001: 0500-0515 English NF 6280, ex 11605 2000-2025 English NF 6280, ex 11605 2030-2045 French NF 6280, ex 11605 2045-2100 Spanish NF 6280, ex 11605 2300-0555 Hebrew NF 5790, ex 7545 (Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 4 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. CLANDESTINE/IRAQ: Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan in Kurdish and Arabic noted on Dec. 4: 0200-0600 (time vary) on NF 7390.0 (45444) \\ 4085v (Observer, Bulgaria via DXLD) ** LAOS. I can`t claim to be a competent speaker of Lao, but here`s my interpretation of the sign-on announcement on 4661v: "This is Houa Phan Radio Station broadcasting from the (?Department of Information) in Sam Neua town on shortwave on the frequency of 4640 kilohertz or 63 metres with a power of 1 kilowatt and on FM on the frequency of 102.75 megahertz with 100 watts." The announced schedule is 2300-0130 and 1000-1230, including relays of news from Vientiane at 0000-0030 and 1200-1230, which fits with my observations except that the news relays are interrupted or replaced by music on the rare occasions nowadays when the signal on 6130 from Vientiane is off air. This must be one of the few shortwave stations in Asia that doesn't yet have a satellite feed. Continues to give very good reception here (Alan Davies, Vietnam, Dec 5, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. Nouakchott, 4855 [sic], Great signal 0655 UT in Arabic -- Not a common signal here in the West Coast. Grundig YB400, Sony 2010, 7600G, DX440, DX150B, Kenwood R2000, 7 foot firestick whip (Colin Newell, Victoria, BC, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MÉXICO. At least in October, the X-bander on 1630 was signing on at 1331 UT, and heard in Japan: XEUT, 1630.0, Oct 8 *1331-1339: NA, ``Buenos días, está Vd. escuchando R. Universidad de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, que transmite en el 1630 del cuadrante de su radio, en amplitud modulada. Desde la unidad [ciudad? -gh] universitaria en Avenida Tecnológico sin número, mesa de ..., Tijuana, Baja California, México.`` Then canto universitario. 1338 canned ID [as above adding] ``...transmitiendo con 10 mil watts de potencia...``. Also received large QSL, letter, 2 stickers and poster in one month. V/s Martha Adriana Márquez. They operate 1330-0130 UT on 1630, also on XHBA 104.1 Mexicali and XHUAC 95.5 Ensenada (Hideki Watanabe, Saitama, Japan, Radio Nuevo Mundo Nov 5, just received by P-mail, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Glen[n], please could I just put out a request for Information? I would like to be able to hear Radio New Zealand International here in England but can never seem to find a decent frequency to do so. Can anyone help? DXDave, Bristol, UK (Dave Harries dcharries@hotmail.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Several new items have been posted atop our Oklahoma Broadcasting News page (and not published in DXLD). See http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Oklahoma6.html (gh) ** ROMANIA. Last winter the 1300 English broadcast of RRI could sometimes be well heard here, but not much luck so far this year. Dec 5 at 1345 check, unlike the preceding days, 17805 was audible, but distortion level combined with accents made for intelligibility of about 10%. 15290 somewhat better modulation, but weaker signal. Not much on 15335; 11940 very weak mixed with the Arab (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA/U S A. For the first time in its history National Public Radio from the US has entered local Russian radio market. Starting from December 1, English-language NPR can be heard in St. Petersburg (second largest city in Russia) from 21 to 22 UT on 684 kHz. This deal is brokered by World Radio Network. From Dec. 1 this frequency is also used by other int. broadcasters new to local relays in Russia. 04.30-05.00 - Radio Slovakia International 05.00-05.30 - Israel Radio 13.00-14.00 - China Radio International All three stations carry their Russian services in St. Petersburg. According a report on Radio Slovakia International, it is expected that soon WRN will have its presence in major radio markets throughout Russia. (Moscow DX Bulletin # 192 by Vadim Alexeyev, via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. A new Russian-language transmission of the Voice of Russia was discovered by Igor Yaryemenko from Novosibirsk. He recently heard VoR from 1700 to 1800 on 6185 and 7170 kHz. According to Pavel Mikhailov from the Voice of Russia, it is a test broadcast used for selecting the right frequencies and transmitters. The technical director of VoR told Mikhailov that this transmission might end soon or its language might be changed. Mikhailov is asking "all our dear colleagues to wait and to refrain from discussing these "phantom" [broadcasts]." From DX-Bistro Russian-language discussion list. (Sergei Sosedkin, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Gorbachev's new radio station at old All-Union Radio frequency | Text of report by Russian newspaper 'Moskovskiy Komsomolets' on 2nd December Former Secretary-General Mikhail Gorbachev has decided to expand his sphere of activities and start his own radio station - he has taken over "button No 1", the former USSR All-Union Radio. Gorbachev took personal part in drawing up the plans. He said: "It has to be interesting to everyone - me, my daughter and my grandsons." Legendary commentator Diana Berlin talked to "Moskovskiy Komsomolets" about the radio station: "One morning in 1991 we came to work and found out we had been moved from button 1 to button 3. They gave our UKV [ultra-short wave] range to a commercial radio station and our entire audio library went to them. Ever since, we have had to pay for every tape I ever recorded. Then [Moscow Mayor] Luzhkov took button 3 away from us. And in 1997 Yeltsin issued a decree eliminating the radio station as such. I went from office to office, and finally [singer] Iosif Kobzon took the station under his wing. It became a joint-stock company. Unfortunately, Iosif Davydovich didn't have enough money and the debts piled up. On the other hand, we gave Radio Rossii a run for its money. That`s [Media Minister] Mikhail Lesin`s long-standing project, and he has done everything he could to push it forward and us back. Sometimes we did not have a single kopek, they even turned our lights off. Artists like Armen Dzhigarkhanyan recorded performances to candlelight. Ultimately, on 15th May 2000, the radio station ceased to exist." Mikhail Gorbachev learned about the radio station`s plight after appearing on the air with Diana Berlin and he immediately offered his assistance. As soon as the station was shut down, a meeting of the team decided they should call Gorbachev. Gorbachev gave his answer: "I cannot take over a network as large as the one you had. For starters, let's try doing a station for Moscow and Moscow Region." And they did. It's called Radio 1 - Good Radio. The first few months were spent on various technical fine points and setting up broadcasts, but in the near future the new radio station is prepared to make itself known - the presentation is set for early December. That's when Gorbachev, who is constantly travelling the world, will settle down in the capital for a couple of weeks. Among those invited are not only his friends and associates but everyone who helped the station in its most difficult years: Yevgeniy Primakov, Gennadiy Seleznev, Boris Nemtsov, and artists - from Alla Pugacheva to Aleksey Batalov. The radio`s concept retains the traditions of "button No 1": hits of every generation, classical music and broadcasts - everything from politics to children's shows. Gorbachev wanted analysis programmes and direct broadcasts with stars. Among the stars he named Sofiya Rotara and singer Zemfira. Gorbachev has already started building the radio station`s own studio so they do not have to pay insane amounts for rent. Source: 'Moskovskiy Komsomolets', Moscow, in Russian 2 Dec 00 (via BBC Monitoring via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN/KAZAKHSTAN: Freq changes of Voice of Tibet in Tibetan and Mandarin Chinese: 1212-1300 NF 15655.0 (SINPO 55544) via Dushanbe, ex 15645.0 NF 15680.0 (55444) via Almaaty, ex 15705.0, re-ex 15685.5 (Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 4 via DXLD) ** U K. To BBC: Thank you for reading my e-mail on last week's "Write On". I appreciate being made famous; nowhere else could my name be strewn so widely across the globe! I also appreciate the fact that you paid so much attention to it! To have the notable Ms. Turk comment upon it was a signal honor. I'd like to mention that I am a dedicated BBC-via-shortwave listener, not just one of those who listen to the local FM relay. I do listen to the relay to get the BBC in higher quality than shortwave can provide, plus the fact that there is no SW relay to the Americas during the local overnight. (By the way, there are a few BBC features on that public-radio FM feed, not only news.) I regularly listen to the BBC features on shortwave just about every day; it was just a treat to have more of them during that brief strike. I am happy to hear them multiple times; I even tape some for re-hearing. Perhaps you can mention in future Write On programmes if there was any great pro-news reaction to my (and the other) anti-news comments. I think that those of us who are pro-feature feel more strongly about the issue than those who are interested in news only. After all, though the BBC World Service is a great source of news, there are other such sources. But there are few sources of the features we so love. Here in the US, we have a vast selection of news to choose from, but radio features of specialized interest are only available in a very limited range. For example, National Public Radio has only two hours a week of science-oriented programming: what they call "Science Friday" in the mid-afternoon (and some stations air a taped repeat later). And it was pre-empted in recent weeks for the US- elections-fiasco coverage! Any other science news has to come from shortwave; the BBC, Radio Canada International relaying the CBC`s "Quirks & Quarks", Radio Netherlands, etc. I do realize that in many areas of the world, the BBC news is much more important than it is to us here; they don`t have the luxury we are used to. But still, news on shortwave does come from many different sources. Features are harder to find. Regards, (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri (Yes, you said it right!) USA, to BBC Write On, via DXLD) [Will`s comments via DXLD were also quoted on VOA Communications World] ** U K [non]. BBC World Service to Asia Pacific noted with horrible distorted audio and heavy background noise at 1400-1430 on 1 Dec during 'East Asia Today' programme on 5995, 6195 and 9740 kHz. At first sounded like serious noise jamming, but obviously really a studio or feed problem as the 2 Singapore frequencies briefly switched to another unaffected English-language programme stream at around 1403-1407. This mess was inflicting quite bad splatter on adjacent channels including R Japan on 6190 (Alan Davies, Vietnam, Dec 5, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. DTK Jülich sent E-mail advising of tests by United Methodist Church, 1700-1859 on 13810, 15485; 0400-0559 on 11775, 13685. E-mails: ralf.weyl@telekom.de and FHartmann@telekom.de (Bill Flynn, OR, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We had this already in DXLD 0-146 under GERMANY, but reminded me to check for this Dec 4; 15485 was a nice clear frequency and quite audible with some fading; what I could hear on 13810 in the windy sideband of KAIJ-13815 appeared not to be \\ 15485, when tuned in at 1830, during speech in English about HIV; 1839 anti-smoking PSA, and into another talk about child care; 1851 wrapping up broadcast, with addresses: 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115; fax 214-870-4xxx; E-mail radio@gbgm-umc.org (gbgm was not given phonetically, and actually sounded more like gdpn! But I assume it`s an abbr for:) The radio service of the General Board of Global Ministries, of the United Methodist Church. At 1853 some African choral music, and re- opening the 2-hour program even though it was about to end. It`s called ``Perspectives`` (an over-used title; ask ABC News, and the United Nations), said this is a test Dec 4-12 leading up to the première of a new service starting in 2001y (nothing more precise) for sub-Saharan Africa, including lots of music. Presently in English and French, planning to add Portuguese. Invites potential stringers in Africa to send samples of their work. Will also deal with matters of faith, respectful toward other religions, off abruptly at 1859* I must say I am impressed, from what I heard. This is not another fire-and-brimstone gospel huxter service, but presents programs addressing social issues to improve the life of Africans. BTW, the Methodist Church added United several years ago upon merging with another denomination, the Evangelical United Brethren. As for the morning broadcast, I expect 11775 will be useless here, if not in Africa, due to Cuban commie jamming and Radio Martí, scheduled ... 11775 0400 0700 OCB LARM SPAN GB 05 184 234567 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY: United Methodist Church via DTK Jülich - observation in Bulgaria on Dec. 4 & 5: 1700-1800 on 13810 (55555), 15485 (55555) 1800-1900 on 13810 (45444), 15485 (45444) 0400-0500 on 11775 (45444), 13685 (45444) 0500-0600 on 11775 (45554), 13685 (55555) (Observer, Bulgaria via DXLD) ** U S A. An obvious(?) mistake in the Monitor URL, quickly fixed in the archive copy of DXLD 0-149, but hard to see in the font on my composing monitor, was R instead of N in http://www.monitorbeacon.com (gh) ** U S A. It seems following an interview on VOA Communications World that the SW-via-AFRTS from NPR was low-profile, not much publicized, this is about to change. We got this from NPR`s press office: December 4, 2000 Siriol Evans at 202-513-2313 sevans@npr.org NPR Worldwide Expands its Reach and Visibility with Live, Shortwave Transmissions and an International Ad Campaign Washington, DC -- NPR Worldwide [sm], which transmits signature NPR® programs to overseas audiences via FM radio rebroadcast, cable and satellite, has further extended its global reach and visibility with new, shortwave transmissions and an international ad campaign. The shortwave broadcasts deliver award-winning programs such as Morning Edition (with Bob Edwards) and All Things Considered from NPR News live, to the most remote corners of the globe. In addition, a year- long series of print ads in the International Herald Tribune will highlight NPR Worldwide`s growing European presence. The shortwave broadcasts bring NPR Worldwide to listeners who cannot access NPR programs via FM rebroadcasts, cable or satellite, such as yachtsmen on the open sea, pilots, and outdoor adventurers in remote areas. Listeners with single side band shortwave receivers can pick up NPR Worldwide via the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service's global broadcasts. Car Talk, Weekend Edition Saturday, Weekend Edition Sunday and Weekend All Things Considered are included on shortwave. For a shortwave programming schedule and tune-in information, visit http://www.npr.org/worldwide/shortwave.html or call 1 202 513 2026. NPR Worldwide`s print ad campaign will run in the International Herald Tribune`s Atlantic edition (serving Europe and North America) once a week through December 2001. With headlines such as Car Talk on the Autobahn and Wertheimer in Warsaw, the series showcases NPR Worldwide`s recent expansion in the European market. ... (via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Some further listening in the Hanoi area recently suggested that the first domestic sce on 5975 kHz is probably coming from a different site than the other domestic channels in the Hanoi area (5035, 5925, 6165, 9530). During 'difficult' reception periods, such as before first light at around 2245 and on one occasion during a nearly total HF fade-out during daytime at around 0510, 5975 was still giving good reception in the city centre while the other frequencies could hardly be detected. All of these frequencies are somewhat variable. However I think recent reports of an Asian station on 5030 are probably somewhere else, most likely Kuching Malaysia, as the Hanoi transmitters don`t seem to drift more than a few 100 Hz off channel. The entry 'Dai Tieng Noi' in the very out-of-date WRTH listings is presumably a garbled form of the name of the radio station (in Vietnamese, dai = station, Tieng Noi Viet Nam = Voice of Vietnam) rather than a location for the Hmong service transmitters on 5035 and 6165. At present, strong harmonics are often audible on 11850 (2 x 5925), 11950 (2 x 5975) and 19060 (2 x 9530). Since around 2 Dec I have also noted the two domestic channels from the Ho Chi Minh city area, 6020 and 7210, each producing strong spurs with distorted audio about +/- 15 kHz off channel. Ha Giang broadcasting station on 7156v noted 0302 on 26 November with a local ID at the beginning of local programming (listening in Haiphong). The 'gi' is pronounced like a 'z', so the name sounds like 'Ha Zang'. This is a very tough station to hear a local ID on. For most of the time it relays the 1st programme of Voice of Vietnam from Hanoi, but local programmes are often heard at around 0302-0332. They are probably also carried at other times, but reception is usually awful in the early morning (poor propagation and BBC Vietnamese on 7160 2300-2330) and after around 0315 when strong and dirty noise jamming appears on 7150, presumably from China. Even at the best of times, the signal from Ha Giang is rather weak. Approximate operating hours for Ha Giang appear to be 2200 or 2300- 0130, 0300-0600 and 0900-1425 but these seem to be quite variable. Usually if local programming is carried, the transmitter stays on air with open carrier from 0332 to 0500 before rejoining VoV1 for the midday news. Modulation tends to be on the low side. As far as I can tell, the local content seems to be mostly speech with none of the very distinctive montagnard music carried on the other Vietnamese regionals on shortwave (Alan Davies, Vietnam, Dec 5, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) ###