Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Stop CBC from dismantling our transmitters to the world

See updates below – In the next few days the transmission lines that allow Canada to broadcast to the world will be taken down one by one. For more than 67 years Radio Canada International’s shortwave transmitters have guaranteed that Canada’s voice would be heard despite the Cold War, despite natural disasters, and Internet blocking. Now this efficient, cost effective communications tool will be dismantled by Canada’s public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada.

Those of us who understand how important this lifeline to the world is to world communication are sick to our stomachs at the rapidity with which the broadcaster wants to make the transmitters disappear. Shortwave broadcasts of Radio Canada International ended on June 24, 2012. Other countries’ use of our transmitters will end on October 31.

But CBC/Radio-Canada has already started the process of dismantling unused transmitters, and will start taking down still functioning transmission lines very shortly.

Why are they in such a hurry?

CBC/Radio-Canada has never understood the importance of international broadcasting, and is betting that Canadians will ignore the fact that a web-only service has limited impact while shortwave radio can reach more than 800 million radio receivers around the world.


(Source : RCI Action Committee Blog)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Radio Taiwan International Frequency change

Starting from October 28th, our transmission to North America will be changed to 6115 KHz and 15440 KHz from 2200 to 2300 UTC. In addition, RTI's programming can also be heard on 1210 KHz from 0400 to 0500 UTC in Sacramento, California and on 750 KHz from 1400 to 1500 UTC in Baltimore, Maryland.  In Europe, listeners can tune in to our programs on 3965 KHz from 1800 to 1900 UTC.

(Source : Radio Taiwan International)

EBU DEPLORES MIDDLE EAST SATELLITE JAMMING

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has described recent interruptions to news delivered by satellite into parts of the Middle East as “an attack on media independence.”

The targeted jamming cut off radio and television content by broadcasters including the BBC, France 24, Deutsche Welle and the Voice of America. European satellite operator Eutelsat reports that the "deliberate and intermittent interference," originated from Syria and Iran.

EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said: “Access to information is a universal human right and an essential component for democracy. We deplore this attack on media freedom.”

The most recent episode may link to a Eutelsat decision to stop carrying 19 Iranian channels operated by Iran's state media organization, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Eutelsat said it had taken Iranian state television and radio channels off air to comply with tougher EU sanctions on the Islamic state.

In recent years, Iran has jammed the reception of a variety of broadcasters, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The practice of deliberate interference with broadcast signals is banned under ITU rules. In February 2012, the ITU called upon the world’s nations to take "necessary actions" to stop intentional interference with satellite transmissions.

The change in ITU regulations, which was approved at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, came after numerous complaints that international satellite TV programs in Persian and Arabic were suffering from deliberate interference.

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

Nominations wanted for European Podcasting Award

Organisers of the European Podcast Awards are looking for nominations for this year’s competition, with a closing date in January 2013.

Sponsored by Olympus Audio Systems, the EPA sees producers of podcasts and web radio shows from across 10 countries in Europe compete firstly for domestic acclaim, followed by a ‘podcast of podcasts’ shootout with European winners in each of the four categories: Personality, Non Profit, Business and Professional.

Nominations – from producers and host themselves, or from their listeners – are now being accepted for the 2012 European Podcast Award. The only condition of entry is that you must have an RSS feed populated with at least 3 episodes in MP3 format and each produced in 2012.

Dave Thackeray, ‘The Podcast Guy’ and UK Ambassador to the European Podcast Award, told RadioToday.co.uk: “The European Podcast Award is now a well-established gong and is well-respected having been sponsored for four years by Olympus. Web radio and podcasting is fast becoming a fantastic outlet for every independent radio producer, with the ubiquitous availability of devices that allow millions in the UK alone the chance to listen to much more than just terrestrial radio.

“Our judges come from every corner of the industry and winners in past years have run the gamut of styles and themes. 2012 promises to offer a greater array of choices than ever – but you need to be quick to make sure you’ve got the best chance of winning.”

Nominees have until mid-January to get their listener communities voting for them. See more at european-podcast-award.eu.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

CRI launches 80th overseas radio station

China Radio International launched an overseas radio station in Katmandu, capital city of Nepal, bringing the number of its overseas stations to 80.

CRI held an inauguration ceremony at its headquarters in Beijing, China last week. Li Wei, Vice Minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, stressed the significance of the Katmandu station, saying the launch of the station marks CRI's enhanced influence and competitiveness.

The newly launched station will broadcast in Nepalese for 18 hours each day. It will provide Nepali audiences with programs produced locally, bringing them the latest and most comprehensive news and information about China.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

India to monitor content broadcast on FM radio stations

Indian government is planning to set up a facility that will monitor the programme content broadcast on FM Radio stations.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Varma said there was a need to monitor radio content as nearly 800 more FM channels are likely to come up in the next couple of years.

Speaking at the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) in New Delhi, he said, "The whole world of monitoring of radio content is still to be handled and addressed in a meaningful manner. We do have a mechanism but I think we need to keep that mechanism evolving. With 800 plus FM channels expected to come in next one to three years, there will be quite a handful that will need to be addressed".

He said private channels in the coming days would get permission to broadcast news which makes the need to monitor content even more pertinent. "They will begin with All India Radio news, but they may be allowed to generate and broadcast local news and that would have several manifestations which will need to be monitored," Varma said.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

NHK WORLD TV now available for Android smartphones in Japan

NHK launched a live‐streaming application of NHK WORLD TV, NHK’s international English TV channel, for domestically‐used Android OSsmart phones.

NHK WORLD TV’s live‐streaming has been available on its website or via iPhone and iPad in Japan and overseas to make it easier for people to access and enjoy its programs.

NHK also re-stated its commitment to making further endeavours both in quality content creation and in reach, so more and more people will be able to enjoy its international broadcasting services in the future.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Eight channels in China to begin HD simulcasting

China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and TV (SARFT) announced that eight channels have started simulcasting of standard definition and high-definition programming.

According to cmmintelligence.com, the two broadcasts (SD&HD) will feature identical content. 

The eight channels include CCTV-3, CCTV-5, CCTV-6, CCTV-8, Tianjin Satellite TV, Shandong Satellite TV and Hubei Satellite TV.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Friday, October 19, 2012

Will Digital Radio Mondiale Save Shortwave Broadcasting?

Once touted as the “Savior of Shortwave,” Digital Radio Mondiale has not lived up to its hype. Proposed in 1988, with early field-testing in 2000, inaugural broadcasting in 2001 and its official rollout in 2003, DRM has had a lackluster career over the last decade. 

With the allure of FM-quality audio and fade-free operation, it had appeared that DRM might revive the shortwave community. Unfortunately, it has been overcome by other events, some technical and some social. The main weakness has been alternate sources of information and entertainment, fueled by the very technology that gave DRM hope. 

Additionally, in areas of the world without ubiquitous social media, DRM has yet to realize receivers at a moderate cost with adequate battery life. The very processing technology that allows improved operation using the more complex DRM waveform costs more and consumes more power than the standard AM receiver. A quick look at standalone DRM receivers over the past decade shows almost a dozen companies entering the market, only to retreat when the promise didn’t materialize. 


(Source : Radio World)

India: Tamil Nadu government to set up 28 community radio stations

Aiming to provide vital information to the farmers in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to set up 28 community radio stations at a cost of Rs 14 crore. 

The announcement was made today by Agriculture Minister S Damodaran while inaugurating the Farm School of All India Radio on Nutritious Millets in Chennai. 

The government also has plans to recruit 504 Agricultural Officers and 417 Assistant Agricultural officers offering additional help to the farmers along with providing information to them. 

All India Radio will commence broadcast of the 30 minute course on nutritious millets for 13 weeks from 1 November at 7:30pm.

Damodaran stated that it was important to adapt to integrated farming, and growing millets in addition to rice and other crops was equally important for the country and to increase the farmers’ income. The farmers thus need to use media to learn about the latest farm technologies. 

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University vice-chancellor Dr K Ramasamy said, “Since India would become the capital of diabetes by 2025, it was important to produce more millet.” 

(Source : Radioandmusic.com)

Jamming interrupts Western broadcasters

Programming from the Deutsche Welle and other foreign broadcasters has been jammed in parts of the Middle East. DW Director General Erik Betterman called the interruption an attack on freedom of the press.
Western radio and television broadcasts to parts of the Middle East have apparently been cut off because of a targeted jamming attack. In addition to programming by Deutsche Welle, the BBC and Voice of America have also been affected.

European satellite operator Eutelsat said earlier this week that the "deliberate and intermittent interference" originated in Syria.

Deutsche Welle programming was last interrupted on Thursday morning (18.10.2012). DW Director General Erik Bettermann protested against the renewed attack on freedom of expression. In cooperation with other foreign broadcasters, the Deutsche Welle was preparing a resolution against the jamming, Bettermann said.

Experts suspected that Iran was behind the current interruptions. According to media reports, the country has jammed reception of a variety of broadcasters in recent years.

The most recent episode, experts said, could be connected to a Eutelsat decision to stop carrying 19 Iranian channels. The satellite operator on Monday stopped broadcasting television and radio stations operated by Iran's state media organization, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Effective immediately, the programming offered by these channels, including the international news channel "Press TV," is no longer available outside of Iran.


(Source : Deutsche Welle)

AWR Increases Broadcasts in Key Languages

Last week, Adventist World Radio’s board of directors voted the ministry’s 2013 budget, which includes a significant increase in shortwave airtime for the new broadcast season, at a cost of well over half a million dollars. Currently, AWR is scheduled to broadcast for 27,177 hours in 2012; next year, the schedule will expand by 5,200 hours – an increase of nearly 20 percent.

“We are able to make this welcome change thanks to several years of solid financial stability,” says AWR president Dowell Chow. “In years past, we were forced to reduce the frequency of programs for some languages, due to financial constraints. We are very, very pleased that now we will be able not only to restore some of those programs, but also add new languages for some key territories.”

The additional broadcasts will be spread over 21 languages – such as Amharic, Somali, Panjabi, and Urdu – for listeners in Africa and Asia. These languages were chosen in close consultation with AWR’s Africa and Asia region directors, who identified the areas of most need and highest priority. In some cases, the frequency of some programs will be increased from half an hour per day to twice a day, while for other languages, the program length will be doubled from half an hour to a whole hour.

“Delivering as many programs as possible to listeners every day is the core purpose of AWR,” Chow says, “and we are very grateful to God that we are able to expand this ministry wider and wider so that more people can hear the gospel in these languages.”

(Source : AWR)

SES and Eutelsat go to war over UK frequency rights

Two of the world’s top three providers of satellite capacity are locked in battle over rights to 500MHz of transmission spectrum for the lucrative UK DTH market served by BSkyB and also Freeview. The dispute, which has been simmering several years, was brought back to the boil by SES launching a new satellite, Astra 2F, into orbit in September, and stating that it intends taking over 500MHz of spectrum currently used by Eutelsat. Its intention is to do this from October 2013, at 28.2 degrees East, which is a prime slot covering the UK and Ireland, beaming highly popular channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. In total, the spectrum under dispute equates to 15 transponders capable of carrying 140 to 180 HD channels.

SES argues that there is no dispute because it had negotiated the rights to the claimed spectrum back in 2005, and that Eutelsat had been operating over those frequencies only on a temporary basis. The rights had been owned by Deutsche Telekom until 2005, with an agreement before then for Eutelsat to use the spectrum. But in 2005, Deutsche Telekom appeared to hand the rights over to German satellite services company Media Broadcast, which in turn signed a deal for those rights with SES. Having launched Astra 2F in the right position, SES now wants to invoke those rights that it believes it owns.

Meanwhile, Media Broadcast had been leasing capacity itself from Eutelsat, but according to some reports, ended that arrangement last year. For its part, Eutelsat is arguing that its own agreement with Deutsche Telekom had no time limit, and was still in force. The dispute therefore appears to hinge on whether SES actually did have full rights to the spectrum after its deal with Media Broadcast, if Eutelsat had a pre-existing contract for them dating back to 1999 that had never been annulled.

Eutelsat has now requested the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris to rule on whether Media Broadcast and Deutsche Telekom did have the right to snatch away the spectrum from Eutelsat. The ICC is an international business body that does arbitrate in disputes between major enterprises, although it is not totally clear whether its decision is absolutely binding across the world of satellite operations.

SES is the world’s second-largest telecommunications satellite operator by revenue after Intelsat, both based in Luxembourg, and operates a fleet of 50 geostationary satellites able to reach 99 percent of the world’s population. France-based Eutelsat is the world’s third largest satellite provider, covering the whole of Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas.

(Source : Broadcast Engineering)

Sponsors line-up to support Radio Festival

A record number of radio services and companies are supporting this year’s Radio Festival, taking place next to MediaCityUK in Salford Quays.

Organisers tell us tickets for annual event are selling fast but a limited number are left. High profile speakers already secured include Pete Waterman, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine and Fru Hazlitt, Commercial Director at ITV. Other names include Global Radio’s Stephen Miron and Richard Park, BBC Radio 1’s Ben Cooper, Frank Skinner, Spotify’s Chris Maples, Twitter’s Bruce Daisley, Adrian Chiles from ITV Sport and Heart and Classic FM’s Margherita Taylor and many more.

The Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame Dinner, which will see Mick Hucknall presented with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, also has a limited number of tickets still available.

Support wise, in addition to support from returning businesses PPL, BBC Radio 6 Music, RCS Sound Software, Radio Studio Services, Broadcast Bionics, Arqiva, Other Lines of Enquiry, VDL, and Radio Today, new sponsors and partners for 2012 include, 7digital, AdsWizz, All In Media, Audioboo, Blue Revolution, Exaget, GES, NDL Group, P Squared, Pure, The Radio Ideas Bank, ReelWorld, Sharpstream, TuneIn Radio, Triple A Media and Wheatstone Coporation.

A full programme will be released shortly, incorporating the theme, ‘Opening Ears to Excellence’, emphasising The Radio Academy’s ongoing commitment to the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK radio broadcasting and audio production.

Clive Dickens, Chairman of the Radio Festival, told RadioToday.co.uk: “Once again we have had a fantastic response from sponsors and partners for this year’s Radio Festival, Techcon, Foot in the Door & Hall of Fame Dinner. The breadth and quality of companies shows the significance of the Festival for the wider radio industry. We still have some spaces for businesses who wish to sponsor sessions at the events, but they are going fast!

“We are looking for a record number of delegates during the Festival, with tickets still available via the Radio Academy website. We have had some amazing announcements from the confirmed line-up so far and we look forward to seeing everyone soon at The Lowry in Salford.”

For more information and to purchase Radio Festival tickets go to radioacademy.org

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

BBC World Service to cut a further 73 posts

Cuts are third phase of plan to make £42m in savings after broadcaster's budget was cut in 2010 spending review

A further 73 posts will be lost at the BBC World Service following its cut in funding by the government with a number of programmes on its English-language service axed.

The cuts, which were announced to staff on Thursday lunchtime, are the third phase of £42m of savings at the global broadcaster after its budget was cut in the government's comprehensive spending review in 2010.

A total of 25 jobs will go on the English-language service with arts show The Strand to be axed and World Briefing replaced by a new programme, The Newsroom.

News coverage will shrink from 18 to 14 hours a day during the week, with a "simplified" schedule and "fewer regional variations".

The number of documentaries will also shrink, from four weekly strands to three, with Your World axed, and Evan Davis's The Bottom Line no longer aired on the World Service.

None of the 27 foreign-language services will be dropped in the latest round of cutbacks, saving about £12m, which will come into effect by April next year. Some £30m of cost savings have already been made.


(Source :  The Guardian, UK)

VOA Korean Service Recognized for 70 Years of Service

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) awarded a Certificate of Recognition to the Voice of America’s Korean Service in honor of their 70 years of broadcasting to Korea. BBG Governor Victor Ashe and VOA Director David Ensor visited the Korean Service on October 11, 2012 to honor the occasion.

(Source : Broadcasting Board of Governors)

Statement regarding interference to BBC World News and World Service transmissions

The following statement has been issued by the BBC.

The BBC, together with a number of other broadcasters, is experiencing deliberate, intermittent interference to its transmissions to audiences in Europe and the Middle East. 

Impacted services include the BBC World News and BBC Arabic television channels and BBC World Service radio services in English and Arabic. 

Deliberate interference such as the jamming of transmissions is a blatant violation of international regulations concerning the use of satellites and we strongly condemn any practice designed to disrupt audiences’ free access to news and information.

(Source : BBC Press Office)

Liberia: Radio Veritas Closed Indefinitely

Radio Veritas, owned and operated by the Catholic Church in Liberia has been shut down indefinitely by the Archdiocese of Monrovia.

Rev. Father Jerome Zeigler, head of the Archdiocese of Monrovia said a major restructure of the institution is pending, including the arrival of new equipment.

Zeigler told the station employees during an emergency conference that they would be given their severance benefit for services rendered the institution in accordance with the labor law of Liberia, but did not say when.
Sources informed this paper last night the employees would get their benefits at the end of October as the Church is consulting with the Labor Ministry on the payment, which could be in the sum of thousands of dollars. The station is reported to have some 20 full time employees plus 10 interns.

Fortnight ago, Veritas or truth, which is noted for its hard news and independence reporting on development affecting the country, was off the air with technical problem cited, but the employees were barred from entering the premises.

Veritas, formerly ELCM (Eternal Love Community) Radio started broadcast here in 1981 as the second Christian-run radio station outfit after ELWA (Eternal Love Winning in Africa) which opened its door in 1950s by the Sudan Interior Mission.

Those were the two private but church-run stations besides the state-owned Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) until the onset of the rebellion on 24 December, 1989.

But Veritas, under past regimes has experienced difficulties. The junta shut it down many times during the destruction of its facilities in the course of the conflict.

It suffered the same fate under former President Charles Taylor when the station door was closed in 2000. Until it can resume broadcast with the same reportage of truth-telling, the station will be remembered by its numerous listeners around the country and abroad.

(Source : The New Dawn (Monrovia) via allAfrica.com)

Mozambique: Community Radio Reopens in Manica

Maputo — A community radio station in central Mozambique, shut down on Friday allegedly on the orders of the local mayor, re-opened on Monday according to a report in the independent daily newsheet "Mediafax".

The Macequece community radio, owned by the Macequece Community Association of Manica (ACOMAM), broadcasts in Manica Town, and the radio's editor, Arlindo Francisco claims that the order to take the radio off the air came from the mayor of Manica, Moguene Candieiro, although the mayor vigorously denies the claim.

The interference of the mayor "could at no time be accepted, because the radio belongs to the community and not to the Municipal Council", said Francisco. It is believed that Candieiro ordered the closure, because the radio declined to broadcast political messages that he wanted transmitted.

Francisco said that the radio reopened after lengthy meetings between the radio managers and municipal officials.

But Candieiro gives a different version of events. He blamed the closure on conflict within ACOMAM. "We sent the police to protect the radio, because there's a war between the associates", he claimed. "I didn't order the closure. Who am I to order a radio to shut down?"

He predicted on Friday – accurately as it turned out – that the radio would re-open on Monday "because the associates have sat down and discussed the matters that divide them".

Francisco, however, denied there was any such internal dispute. "There's no friction between the associates", he said. "There was in the past, but the matter was overcome a long time ago".

He claimed that the person who created discord in the past had left and was now involved with the mayor in intrigues against the radio station. "What is happened is that the politicians want to interfere in the radio and we won't let them", said Francisco

The Community Radio Forum (FORCOM) sent a delegation, headed by its President, Joao dos Santos Jeronimo, to Manica at the weekend to investigate. The district police commander, Anito Machava, told them he had received orders from the mayor to close the radio because there was a demonstration taking place at its premises. But when the commander went there personally, he could see no sign of any demonstration.

(Source : allAfrica.com)

Burundi: Humanitarian Diplomacy in Action - Free Radio Airtime Increasing Red Cross Visibility in Burundi

Ariane Ngoti, communications assistant in charge of radio broadcasting at Burundi Red Cross says Red Cross visibility has increased dramatically since 2009, when volunteers started broadcasting their experiences through radio stations all over the country. The number of volunteers has also increased to 350,000.

Ariane, travels from province to province meeting various volunteers. "The volunteers are always eager to share their stories and experiences," she says.

Ariane records these into a one-hour radio programme and distributes it to five nationalwide radio stations. The name of the radio programme is Agir pour Sauver (meaning, "act to bring salvation" as loosely translated into English).

The content of this programme has impressed five commercial radio stations who now offer free airtime to the National Society allowing them to reach audiences all across the country.

The programme is broadcasted in French and Kirundi each week on Rema FM, Africa Republic Radio, National Radio and Television for Burundi.

Through the programme, volunteers are able to explain how they respond to different emergencies and this creates awareness among the listeners. "We recently aired a malaria campaign funded by Belgiun Red Cross," Ariane says. "Volunteers advised the listeners on malaria prevention. The campaign was successful and in subsequent programmes the volunteers reported that families in the community now use mosquito nets, while pregnant women access medical care when they suspect that they have malaria."

Arian, not only interviews the Red Cross volunteers, but she also talks to local administration and partner organizations in order to get a wider view of the various topics discussed in the programme.

"Volunteers also share the various income generating initiatives that they are involved in and how they are assisting vulnerable people within their communities. Other topical issues discussed are how to protect the environment, and how to administer first aid," she says.

Such initiatives reflect successful humanitarian diplomacy in action. Staff and volunteers from the Burundi Red Cross have demonstrated that they can carry out quiet diplomacy, mobilize resources locally, and assist the most vulnerable people in the community through sharing information on a weekly basis.

It is through 'behind the scenes' negotiations that they have been able to access various resources that encourage volunteer development. Airtime that would ordinarily break the organization's budget can now be accessed free of charge.

Humanitarian diplomacy has become a pillar of support for Burundi Red Cross and their stories are worth telling repeatedly. The National Society is now on the road to standing on its own and becoming a model of empowerment and change in their communities, and for Africa more broadly.

(Source : International Federation of Red cross and Res Crescent Societies via allAfrica.com)

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

ABU GA – Top programs and broadcasters recognised at ABU Prizes 2012

Programs about the environment won both radio and TV categories of the inaugural Seoul Awards presented at the ABU General Assembly gala awards evening in the Korean capital.
 
The Seoul Awards were given to the TV and radio projects that best contributed to the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region throughout the past year.  

The inaugural awards were presented by Mr Gil Hwan-young, Vice President of Korean Broadcasting System at a function attended by more than 400 delegates and guests.

The winner of the TV category was the CARE (Change Asia, Rescue the Earth) series by KBS and the radio category was won by the Green Radio initiative of RRI-Indonesia.  

More than 50 radio and television programs or program segments were selected for the finals of the ABU Awards from 166 television and 76 radio entries from 18 countries and 25 organisations, a field the Union’s Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi said reflected the scope and quality of programming the annual ABU Prizes attracts.

A popular winner in the Interactive Program Category for radio was SBS Asia Pop entered by Australia’s multicultural broadcaster and which reflected the popularity of Asian music in that country and internationally.  

The Entertainment TV Award was given to Mr Isao Okajima from JBA Japan for Lady's Story: 1600 Days of Orphan Chimpanzee and a Zookeeper, while the ABU Perspective Award for a program that delivered the best message on a theme – which for 2012 was "water" – was won by Global Report: Endangered Times, The Global Water Crisis by KBS.

The Special Jury Prize for the production crew of a TV or radio program that demonstrated innovative and creative ideas despite limited resources went to Metro TV of Indonesia for The President of Grey Republic and to Bangladesh Betar for the radio program Thorns on the Way.

The Dennis Anthony Memorial Award for the top news report of the year was sponsored by CNN and won by China Central Television for a report on China's manned space mission.

Entertainment at the gala awards dinner was a special performance by Fusion Korea, the World Vision Children's Choir and by popular K-Pop group Infinite.  

The full list of ABU Prizes is as follows:
ABU Radio Prizes Winners for 2012
  • Drama - The Day I Became Iron by JBA Mainichi Broadcasting System, Japan;
  • Interactive Programmes – SBS Pop Asia, SBS-Australia;
  • Radio Jingles, Promos or Station IDs – Let’s Introduce Our Culture: Dalang, RRI-Indonesia;
  • On-Air Personality – Michelle Lovegrove, SBS-Australia;
  • News Reporting – Burning Garden, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK);
  • Documentary – The Boy with the Violin (World Stories), BBC;
  • Special Jury Prize – Thorns on the Way, Bangladesh Betar (BB);
  • ABU Seoul Prize (Radio) – Green Radio, RRI – Indonesia.
 ABU TV Prizes Winners for 2012
  • Drama – Inklusion by ARD Bayerischer Rundfunk, Germany;
  • Documentary – Tears of the Antarctic, MBC-South Korea;
  • Children - And It’s Up to You (Ene mene bu), ARD ZDF KiKa, Germany;
  • News Reporting – The Policeman Zookeeper, Caring for animals, caring for people, JBA Kansai Telecasting, Japan;
  • Sports – Tour de France 2011 Opener, SBS-Australia;
  • Entertainment – Lady’s Story, 1600 Days of Motherless Chimpanzee and a Zookeeper, JBA STV, Japan;
  • ABU Perspective Award – Global Report, The Global Water Crisis, KBS-Korea;
  • Special Jury Prize – The President of Grey Republic, Metro TV, Indonesia.
  • ABU Seoul Prize (TV) – CARE Series, KBS Korea
 ABU Technical Awards Winners for 2012
  • Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award – Dr Kazuyoshi Shogen, Senior Associate Director, BSAT Japan;
  • Engineering Industry Excellence Award – James Rodney Santiago, Consultant, Association of Radio Industries & Businesses, Philippines;
  • Technical Review Prize 2012 Best Article Award – Dr Ngo Thai Tri, Nguyen Chien Thang and Hoang Thanh Tung, AVG-Vietnam.
 Other Awards
  • Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award – I-Witness: Piggy Bank, GMA Network , Philippines;
  • Dennis Anthony Memorial Award – China’s Manned Space Mission, a Success, CCTV-China.
(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

A broadcasting war: Eutelsat drops Iranian сhannels

European Eutelsat and the British satellite telecoms operator Arqiva have stopped broadcasting through their satellites the signal for 19 Iranian TV and radio stations. The decision was made on October 15 right after the EU approved the new set of economic sanctions against Teheran.

The measures introduced by the Europeans fit well into the framework of the information war between the West and the Islamic republic. In the past, however, it was Iran who was blamed for limiting the spread of information as it reportedly jammed the signal of several Western broadcasters. But the fact that Europe, who prides itself on its freedom rights, is introducing similar measures is something new.

In any event, the broadcasting tension around the Islamic Republic is growing and one has to admit that the information cold war between Iran and its opponents is reaching its peak.

And it is a very worrisome fact. Here is the opinion of Vladimir Yevseev, a military expert and the head of the Russian Center for Social and Political Studies:

“It is no secret that the escalation of propaganda and counter-propaganda as well as increased activity of psychological pressure on the potential enemy can be a sign of preparation for actual military action. That is the way it happened in the XX century and the way it will be in the XXI century. Let's recall the beginning of World War II. The authorities of the opposing sides took away radio sets from their population, created all sorts of shields against the enemy's propaganda by jamming the enemy's radio broadcasting by technical means. The ideological leadership of potential opponents directly prepared their nations for a victorious war, while the opponent's population for moral degradation and losses.”

Similar events took place after World War II. We can recall the Cuban missile crisis around Cuba in 1962, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. Back then both in the Soviet Union and in America the mass media did their best to blame the potential opponent for all sins. One could conclude that they can substitute the term opponent with a more direct word “enemy”. Fortunately, back in 1962 reason prevailed both in Moscow and in Washington.

A similar situation, but on the regional and not global level, is currently taking place around Iran. And it is hard to get rid of the impression that the world is on the brink of yet another crisis, which has yet to be named. Crises have one thing in common – they get named after they break out. One has to hope that we can still avoid the appearance of a potential Hormuz crisis, or a crisis with a similar name.

(Source : Voice of Russia)

Monday, October 08, 2012

Namibian singer Elemotho wins RFI-France 24 Discoveries award 2012

Namibian singer-songwriter Elemotho took home this year's RFI-France 24 Discoveries award...

Elemotho, a singer-songwriter from the Kalahari desert, receives a cash award of 10,000 euros, a promotion package, a concert in Paris and a tour in Africa.

Angélique Kidjo, the international star from Benin, is president of the jury. She says they were unanimous in choosing Elemotho out of the 10 finalists.

 
(Source : Radio France International)

Martin Sweeting G3YJO to speak at Nano-Satellite Symposium

Prof. Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO – Image Credit SSTL
The United Nations / Japan Nano-Satellite Symposium in Nagoya starts Wednesday, October 10 at 0930 JST (0030 UT) and runs until Oct. 13. The Mission Ideas Contest presentations on Oct. 10 will be broadcast live on USTREAM.

The event has attracted speakers from the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Prof. Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO will be giving a presentation titled ‘Pushing the capabilities of small satellites’ on Thursday, October 11 at 0900 JST (0000 UT).

“Small satellites have developed rapidly during the last decade and indeed have become quite fashionable with many organizations. Surrey has continued to research into the latest small satellite techniques and applications to Earth observation and remote sensing – as well as satellite timing & navigation and planetary exploration.”


Mission Ideas Contest http://www.spacemic.net/

UN/Japan Nano-Satellite Symposium http://www.nanosat.jp/

Watch the Mission Ideas Contest on USTREAM http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nano-satellite-symposium
 
(Source : AMSAT, UK)

India: 839 new FM stations in its plan :Prasar Bharati

Prasar Bharati has revealed that it has plans to set up 839 new FM stations in private sector. The stations would be launched in 290 cities of the country in near future.

The plans were revealed by the Secretary Union Information Broadcasting Ministry Uday Kumar Verma at inaugural ceremony and launch of 10 MW FM Channel-2 of the local station of All India Radio popularly known as 'Radio Kashmir.

He also further highlighted that the 10 to 20 FM Channels in private sector have been earmarked for Jammu and Kashmir under this programme.

As an added incentive he further highlighted that the license fee and the rental fee for the private parties intending to launch FM stations in the state would be half as compared to the private persons in rest of the country.

(Source : Media Mughals)

Sunday, October 07, 2012

New IARU R3 Chairman

Following the surprise passing away last month of Michael Owen VK3KI, the Directors of IARU Region 3, as required by the Constitution, have appointed Peter Lake ZL2AZ as the new Chairman.

In view of the short time remaining before the next conference in Vietnam, when a new set of directors will be elected, the Directors have decided not to co-opt anyone else to fill the vacancy.

Peter ZL2AZ said he was extremely grateful to the fellow Directors for their support in this difficult time, and for the procedural work by our Secretary Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP to formalise an appointment.

He said he would do his best to carry through all the work in progress, much of it due to items and ideas put in place by the late Michael VK3KI who had served as the IARU R3 Chairman since 2006.

Peter ZL2AZ said his style will probably be different from Michael's in some ways - but our goals are the same - to ensure a growing and successful IARU Region 3.

He said it was a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the member societies and fellow radio amateurs in Region 3.

His background includes a career in telecommunications as a professional engineer in the New Zealand Post Office and then in Telecom New Zealand.

This was followed by 14 years in a small and specialised telecommunications consulting company with a wide variety of assignments including projects in the Pacific, Asia and South East Asia.

He has been an active radio amateur since high school over 50 years ago.

His involvement in IARU activities dates back to before 1986 and has been a Director of Region 3 from February 2005.

(Source : Jim Linton VK3PC via Southgate Amateur Radio News) 

World Radio Day 2013: What do you want to tell the world about radio?

The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) and Fundación Comunica are supporting World Radio Day 2013.

On 13 February 2013 we will celebrate World Radio Day for the second time since it was proclaimed by UNESCO as a day to celebrate radio broadcasting, improve international cooperation among radio broadcasters and encourage decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio, including community radios.

As part of the celebration, UNESCO is offering you an opportunity to tell a story about radio to the world. “Did you know that...?” will be a series of short (1.5 to 2 minutes) radio spots in which broadcasters and researchers, can share their facts, figures and anecdotes about radio with the world. If you have a story, an interesting fact or an example of an innovative programme, let us know.

If your story is chosen, UNESCO will make arrangements to call you from their radio studio in Paris, record your story, edit it and package it for broadcast, targeting prime news and current affairs time slots of radio stations around the world. The series will be offered to the world's international broadcasters, 257 public radio broadcasters, and other UNESCO partners, made available in broadcast quality over the internet and distributed on UNESCO iTunes. You can tell your story in your mother tongue, or in any of the six UN official languages: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic or Russian.

If you are interested in telling a story, please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wrd2013 and let us know what it's about and how to contact you. The deadline to submit your proposal is 19 October 2012 and the interviews will be recorded during November and December.

For more information visit UNESCO's World Radio Day internet page

(Source : The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR))

Angola: Mass Media Ministry Hails National Radio Contribution

Luanda — Angola's Mass Media Ministry on Friday praised the contribution of the National Radio of Angola (RNA), in the process of training, information and leisure of the Angolans, Angop has learnt.

This is expressed on a press note issued by the ministry, under the commemorations of the 36th years of existence of the mentioned radio station, marked on October 05.

"On this day, we seize the opportunity to exhort all the professionals of the RNA to continue in a hard manner the holding of its tasks, making thus possible that radio accomplishes its social mission", says the press note, signed by the incumbent Minister, José Luis de Matos.

(Source : Angola Press via allAfrica.com)

Ethiopia Harasses Voice of America and Its Sources

Nairobi — Ethiopian authorities should halt their harassment of journalists covering the country's Muslim community and their intimidation of citizens who have tried to speak to reporters about sensitive religious, ethnic, and political issues, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police in the capital, Addis Ababa, briefly detained Marthe Van Der Wolf, a reporter with the U.S. government-funded broadcaster Voice of America as she was covering a protest by members of Ethiopia's Muslim community at the Anwar Mosque, local journalists said. The protesters were demonstrating against alleged government interference in Islamic Council elections scheduled for Sunday, according to VOA and local journalists.

Wolf was taken to a police station and told to erase her recorded interviews, and then released without charge, local journalists said.

This week, security officers have also harassed Ethiopian citizens who were interviewed by VOA's Amharic-language service, according to the station. Police arrested two individuals who spoke to VOA on Thursday about a land dispute outside the capital, VOA reported. On Monday, police harassed individuals who spoke to the station about a dispute over resources between ethnic communities, the outlet said.

"We urge the government's leadership to set a new tone of tolerance and halt the bullying tactics of the past," said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. "Citizens should be allowed to voice their opinions to journalists without fearing arrest or intimidation, and reporters should be allowed to cover even those events the government dislikes."

For much of the year, Ethiopian authorities have cracked down on journalists and news outlets reporting on the unprecedented protests by members of the Muslim community, according to CPJ research. In May, police detained former VOA correspondent Peter Heinlein overnight on accusations of "illegal reporting" for covering a similar protest, VOA reported.

VOA released a statement today that condemned the harassment and obstruction and said the incident was "designed to prevent journalists from doing their job."

Three Muslim-oriented papers have not been published in the country since July after police raided the outlets and searched the homes of their editors. Yusuf Getachew, editor of Ye Muslimoch Guday, has been imprisoned on charges of treason and incitement to violence for reporting on the grievances of the Muslim community, and at least two journalists, Senior Editor Akemel Negash and copy editor Isaac Eshetu, have fled into hiding, according to CPJ research.

With six journalists in jail, Ethiopia is the second leading jailer of journalists in Africa, second only to its neighbor, Eritrea, according to CPJ research.

(Source : Committee to Protect Journalists, New York via allAfrica.com)

Saturday, October 06, 2012

India: Spectrum fee waived off for Community Radio Service

The Ministry of Communications & IT has decided to "waive off spectrum fee" for Community Radio Services (CRS).

Minister of Communications & IT has asked Department of Telecom to evolve detailed guidelines by 12th October, to ensure that the spectrum is optimally used and the channels use these airwaves only to inform and empower the common man. The waiver grnated by the government will however cost the government a cost of 25 lakh rupee.

Community radio focuses on low cost and low return pattern of operations. Donor funding is crucial for CRS, as most of the donors come from local communities, this financing option is inadequate and irregular for CRS operating in remote areas and for the marginalized sections of the society. 

This follows requests received from National Advisory Council, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Community Radio Association for waiver of spectrum charges for Community Radio Services. 

Community Radio Services (CRS) plays a vital role in building vibrant communities, in mobilizing groups to action by informing and empowering citizens, in giving voice to the marginalized groups of society, and in bringing community needs to the attention of local and even national governments. CRS can prove to be an excellent tool for managing plurality in a society and for fostering democracy.

(Source : Media Mughals)

NASA Release Amateur Radio CubeSat Deployment Pictures

NASA have released photographs of the amateur radio CubeSats TechEdSat, F-1 and FITSAT-1 taken by an Expedition 33 crew member on the International Space Station (ISS).
Radio amateurs around the world have been listening for signals from the four new amateur radio CubeSats that were deployed from the ISS on Thursday, October 4.
The small satellites were transported to the ISS in the HTV-3 (Kounotori 3) cargo vessel that blasted off on an H-IIB rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center on Saturday, July 21 at 0206 UT.
The cargo vessel arrived at the ISS on July 27 and the ISS Canadarm2 robotic arm was used to install the HTV-3 to its docking port on the Earth-facing side of the Harmony module at 1434 UT. The CubeSats were then unloaded by the Expedition 32 crew.

The CubeSats were mounted in a JEM-Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD). In one pod were TechEdSat, F-1 and FITSAT-1 while in the second pod were WE-WISH and a scientific CubeSat RAIKO.
Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI put the J-SSOD into an airlock, which was depressurised and exposed to the vacuum of space via an automatic door. The Kibo robotic arm was then be used to grapple the J-SSOD in the airlock and move it out away from the station so the satellites could be deployed.
WE-WISH and RAIKO were first to deploy at 1437 followed by TechEdSat, F-1 and FITSAT-1 at 1544 GMT. They could have a life-time of 4 or 5 months before they burn-up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

 
(Source : AMSAT-UK)

Friday, October 05, 2012

Digital Radio Conference 2012: Keeping Digital Radio Moving

Following up on last year's highly-successful edition, the New Radio Group's annual plenary event will take place on October 10-11 at the EBU's Brussels office, and focus on issues surrounding the mobility of digital radio.

Radio has been an 'on-the-move' medium since it's inception, and today in-car audiences make up a significant share of total listening. As well as striving to retain these audiences through close collaboration with the car industry, digital radio offers opportunities to reach listening contexts that have traditionally been poorly served through analogue radio, such as air travellers, drivers in tunnels and high-speed rail passengers.
The event is free for EBU Members to attend and registration will open shortly.

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

Biggest-ever ABU General Assembly ready to welcome delegates

A record 660-plus delegates have signed up to attend this year’s ABU General Assembly, which starts in less than a week in Korea.

ABU General Secretary Dr Javad Mottaghi says he is very pleased with the response from the Union’s members, industry partners and international media organisations at a critical time for broadcasting.

And he praised the Korean hosts for their hard work in preparation for when the towering 63 Convention Center in Seoul opens its doors to delegates on 10 October.

Earlier this year Dr Mottaghi said to the region’s broadcasting industry that if the Asia-Pacific really was to be the heart of the 21st Century, it was vital for its broadcasters to provide the lifeblood for its advancement.

“The explosion of online offerings, mobile devices and social media have brought into question the whole basis of public service broadcasting as we have understood it for generations,” he said. “We all face these challenges and the ABU General Assembly and its associated events will provide an ideal common space for us to exchange experiences, share problems and work together on solutions.”

ABU President Dr Kim In-Kyu is also expected to tell delegates at the official opening ceremony that broadcasters stand on the precipice of a rapid digital transformation and that ABU members need to work together to meet the challenges ahead.

As well as dealing with the business of running an organisation representing more than 230 Asia-Pacific broadcasters, the 49th ABU General Assembly will host a series of special forums to discuss media issues as diverse as the challenges faced by public broadcasting, the future of journalism in a new media age and the role of women in media workplaces and on-screen.

Seoul will also host the inaugural ABU Radio and Television Song Festivals, which will be broadcast in countries around the world.

Information on the ABU General Assembly is available via: www.abu.org.my.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Radio station for ethnic minorities to be launched in Lao PDR

Lao National Radio (LNR) - with the support of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) – is launching a new local community radio station in the Xiengkho district of the country next year.

“IPDC has been supporting the development of community media for decades and is particularly sensitive to projects aiming at strengthening ethnic minority languages”, says Rosa Gonzalez, UNESCO Advisor for Communication and Information in the UNESCO Bangkok Office.

Xiengkho, one of the 47 poorest districts of Laos, has been chosen as the site for this project due to the low number of local radio services.

A radio station will be built and equipped with the help of LNR staff and selected trainees with a particular focus on women. The radio station will primarily provide community-based radio programmes including ethnic language windows in Lao, Hmong and Khmu. In line with the project, two mentors will train local radio trainees from the community on technical operation and maintenance of radio equipment, radio programme production techniques and journalism. The trainees will also conduct target audience research among the villagers of Xiengkho in order to identify their information needs. The results will be used to produce target based radio programmes. 

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

BBC Radio announces The Listeners' Archive

On Thursday 11 October a number of BBC buildings around the UK will be opening their doors and encouraging people to bring tapes, cassettes and recordings of BBC programmes they’ve found in their attics, under their stairs or in their garages - in the hope that they help build The Listeners’ Archive. 

The major initiative is part of the BBC’s 90th anniversary celebrations and aims to recover the lost gems of the BBC’s archive of radio programmes from 1936 to 2000. It is a pan-BBC Radio project involving BBC local radio in England, BBC Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, along with BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio 6 Music. 

The recordings will help enrich the BBC’s archive and plug the gaps in broadcasting history for future generations. The material collected will then be broadcast in a special programme to be hosted by Simon Mayo on Wednesday 14 November - the day of the 90th anniversary of BBC Radio. 

The team are looking for a number of key programmes – including music sessions by high profile guests pre-1990, comedy programmes pre-1990, dramas and readings pre-1990, appearances by Dylan Thomas, a number of Reith lectures and lots more. A full wish list can be found at bbc.co.uk/listenersarchive.
The BBC buildings taking part in the amnesty are:
  • BBC Bristol, Whiteladies Road, Bristol.
  • BBC Leeds, Broadcasting Centre, 2 St Peter's Square
  • BBC Southampton, Havelock Road
  • BBC WM, BBC Birmingham Mailbox
  • BBC Norwich, The Forum, Millennium Plain
  • BBC Newcastle, Barrack Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne
  • BBC Sheffield, 54 Shoreham Street, Sheffield
  • BBC Nottingham, Island Business District, London Road, Nottingham
  • BBC York, 20 Bootham Row, York
  • BBC Wales, Llantrisant Road, Cardiff
  • BBC Radio Ulster, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast.
  • BBC Radio Foyle, Northland Road, Londonderry
Anyone who isn’t able to get to an Open Day can contact the team behind The Listeners’ Archive with details of recording they may have by emailing listenersarchive@bbc.co.uk or via Twitter @BBCListeners.
“Even before the project was officially announced we began to get offers from collectors and radio enthusiasts who’ve been delighted to find that they might be able to share their old recordings with a wider audience. We have old Kenny Everett Shows, John Peel on Top Gear, Music While You Work and an old Stuart Henry show to name but a few. And since we told BBC Local Radio listeners about the project we’ve received a flood of really promising offers. One collector told us ‘this has made my year’. We say this may make the BBC’s 90 Years,” says Trevor Dann, Editor of The Listeners’ Archive. 

The Listeners’ Archive is part of a range of events and programming to mark BBC Radio’s 90th birthday. Other highlights include: Radio Reunited, an unprecedented global simulcast across the BBC’s radio networks - including every UK station (local, network and national) and many World Service outlets - curated by Damon Albarn; 90 x 90, a series of 90-second miniatures that celebrate, calibrate and curate the diversity of radio in its widest form, each episode representing one year of the 90; and a range of programming from Radio 2’s History of Music Radio to Radio 4’s Who’s Reithian Now?

(Source : BBC Media Centre)

RNW: The State We’re In to finish

We have some bad news: The State We're In is being terminated. As many of you may know, Radio Netherlands Worldwide was hit with a drastic 70 percent cutback last year by the Dutch government. We were assured at that time by Radio Netherlands' outgoing management that the show was still going to be an integral part of Radio Netherlands, but those assurances didn't hold. 

Subsequent changes in the organization's mandate towards a tighter focus on nations in the developing world, and a much slower-than-expected transition to new management have made it impossible for us to continue.
The State We're In exits with its head held high: it was the most broadcasted, downloaded and decorated program in the long history of Radio Netherlands Worldwide, and won praise from radio industry leaders from around the world.

It was heard in top public radio markets the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland and in select markets in India and Africa. Our overall audience reach was 12 million people. We will miss you and all the engaged, thoughtful responses you had to what we put on the air. It was a privilege bringing these stories - which sometimes included stories you told us - to light.

FYI: Our last original program will be produced at the end of October. There will be some repeat shows after that.

Greg Kelly, Editor TSWI

(Source : RNW)

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

MW switch-off remains at BBC Local Radio

A trial to turn-off medium-wave transmitters at some BBC local radio stations is to continue after hardly any listeners complained.

As Radio Today revealed in August, the BBC is testing the switch-off of medium wave transmission for certain stations. After the initial five-week trial was completed, so few listeners complained about the loss of service that the trial is now to be continued in two areas. 

BBC Radio Nottingham’s MW transmitter, and Radio Kent’s relay at Rusthall near Tunbridge Wells on 1602kHz, will now remain off-air, possibly indefinitely. The BBC says “This is because we want to assess the impact of a longer-term switch-off, given the low number of response in these areas.”

Meanwhile, the trial switch-off has ended as planned at BBC Radio Merseyside and Lincolnshire, and for BBC Radio Kent’s other medium wave transmitter at Littlebourne on 774kHz.

The BBC told RadioToday.co.uk in August: “MW services mainly duplicate what is already available on FM and DAB, and most listeners will be able to hear their local stations on FM. The BBC is also committed to a full roll out of local radio stations across the DAB network. If local radio is not already available on DAB it will be in the future.

“The aim of the trial is to get a better understanding of the impact of the loss of MW for our core listeners and also enable us to ensure adequate coverage is available on other platforms in these.”

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

India launches its heaviest communications satellite

India’s heaviest satellite, the 3,400kg GSAT-10, was successfully launched from French Guiana in the early hours of Saturday 29 September.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says this mission will give a big boost to communication, entertainment and civil aviation as the satellite carries 30 transponders and a component of navigation system Gagan.

The satellite will have an operational life of around 15 years and be ready for use in November after successful completion of all tests. It will be placed along with INSAT-4A and GSAT-12 satellites and will add to ISRO’s existing own transponder capacity of 168.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Join AMSAT-UK

AMSAT-UK is a non-profit volunteer organisation for those interested in amateur radio space communications.

AMSAT-UK produces a quarterly newsletter OSCAR News and its members are involved in designing, building and operating amateur radio satellites.

Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in amateur radio satellites or space activities, including the International Space Station (ISS).

The Membership year lasts for 12 months starting on January 1 each year.

If you join after July 31 of any particular year, then you will receive complimentary membership for the whole of the following year, i.e. join on Oct 3, 2012, and you have nothing to pay until Dec 31, 2013.

Now is a very good time to join.

There are three rates:
UK – 15.00 GBP
Europe – 19.00 GBP
Rest of the World (Overseas) – 25.00 GBP
These separate rates go to offset the extra postage costs involved in mailing our quarterly publication, “Oscar News”, to different parts of the World. Sample copy at http://www.amsat-uk.org/on_193_final.pdf
Join AMSAT-UK using PayPal, Debit or Credit card at
http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/category_9/Join-Amsat-UK.html
 
(Source : AMSAT-UK )