Dutch domestic news/information network Radio 1 will begin temporary broadcasts from the former BBC mediumwave transmitter at Orfordness on 648 kHz at about 0900 UTC on Thursday 4 August. At the same time, Dutch domestic network Radio 5 will return to its usual frequency of 747 kHz, which has been temporarily used by Radio 1 since the fires at two FM transmitting sites in the Netherlands on 15 July.
Cees de Bruin, Director of Distribution for Netherlands Public Broadcasting speaks of an emergency situation: “It is rare that we have to ask for assistance from our British colleagues because Dutch transmitters cannot provide complete national coverage. With the help of Radio Netherlands Worldwide, on Monday we received permission from the British authorities to use the AM transmitter at Orfordness, and immediately we started tests. From 11 am on Thursday [0900 UTC] this station will provide national coverage for Radio 1 on AM.”
How long NPO will use the British transmitter isn’t yet clear, explained Mr De Bruin: “The mast in Lopik is still running at a very low power. The mast owner [Novec] must give permission to our provider [Broadcast Partners] to bring signals back to the original level. Only then will the problems with FM reception be significantly reduced. Unfortunately it hasn’t reached that stage.”
Nationally, there are still problems with FM reception of the public radio networks 3FM, 1, 2 and 4 because of the restrictions currently imposed on the masts in Lopik and Wieringermeer and because of problems resulting from the collapse of the mast in Smilde.
(Source : Media Network Weblog)
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