RFA Launches 15th Anniversary Multimedia Website Detailing History, Impact

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, Radio Free Asia (RFA) launched a website commemorating RFA’s 15 years of bringing news and information to people without access to a free press. Featured on the homepage is a video greeting by recently freed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi thanking RFA for keeping her informed during her house arrest and praising the broadcaster for making an “invaluable contribution” to freedom and democratic ideals

Visitors to the multimedia site can view images, video, and timelines that tell the story of RFA from its beginnings in 1996 to the present. The site also takes visitors behind the scenes through a special section that details the creation and continuation of RFA’s nine language services, which deliver objective, timely news and information to people living in countries that restrict press freedoms and censor free speech.

“While much has changed at Radio Free Asia since we began in 1996, our mission continues to be imperative: to advance the principles and the universal right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any medium and regardless of frontiers,” said Libby Liu, President of RFA. “We hope this website marking RFA’s 15 years as a news organization shows how our staff’s work has made a tremendous impact on the lives of our listeners.” 

In addition to sections devoted to RFA’s listener comments, awards in journalism, and praise from global opinion leaders, the site also informs visitors about the journalistic climate of the countries into which RFA broadcasts in nine languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Uyghur, Burmese, Vietnamese, Korean, Lao, Khmer, and Tibetan in three dialects) through an interactive map.

(Source : The Broadcasting Board of Governors press release)

Radio Free Europe celebrates 60 years of broadcasting

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the official launch of Radio Free Europe, the American-funded broadcaster which was established as an anti-communist source of information during the Cold War and is widely considered to have played a critical role in the ultimate collapse of communism. Now based in Prague, Radio Free Europe continues to provide news and information to countries where independent media reporting is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed. In this edition of Panorama, we look back at the history of Radio Free Europe, which is widely respected in many quarters, although it also has its detractors.

Read More from Radio Prague

(Source : Radio Prague) 

DRM+ showcase in India from 23-27 May

The DRM Consortium and Indian state broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) will run a test of DRM+ Digital Radio system in the FM band in New Delhi from 23rd - 27th May 2011. During the DRM+ Showcase attendees will be invited to experience the DRM+ live broadcast, to observe the initial results of the DRM+ trial and to learn more about the full DRM standard.

The aim is to test coverage, power and interference comparing results with the analogue performance for the same area. The tests would then be followed by workshop organised by the DRM Consortium and AIR with invited guests drawn from the Indian/Asian broadcasting community. After evaluation, the result of the test would jointly be made public by AIR and the DRM Consortium.

(Source: DRM Consortium via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

RDP plans “temporary suspension” of shortwave

Portugal’s National Communications Authority (ANACOM) sees “no problem” in the temporary suspension of international shortwave transmissions by the national public broadcaster, RDP. The decision has already received the green light from Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Jorge Lacão.

According to a source at parent organisation RTP, the request for temporary suspension “was based on several factors: the dwindling number of listeners served by this distribution platform, the increased costs in recent years and the growth of investment needs.” Moreover, he continued, “the RDP Internacional transmissions can be alternatively provided via satellite, cable and Internet, with lower costs and higher quality, serving the vast majority” of listeners to RDP Internacional.

“Only at the end of the period of provisional suspension will there be an evaluation of the consequences thereof, and a final decision,” he added, noting that “many international operators have chosen in past years” to end or reduce transmissions on shortwave. Italy, Holland, England and Germany are countries that have taken steps in that direction, the source told the Lusa news agency.

However RDP’s Listener Ombudsman Mário Figueiredo said he was “totally opposed” to the temporary suspension of shortwave broadcasts. He told the newspaper Público that he was only made aware of this decision after the process had already been initiated. “I’m totally opposed, as a representative of the listeners,” he said in a statement to the public in April.

Mr Figueroa points out that the other platforms, such as satellite, cable or Internet come at a cost to the listener as opposed to shortwave. And programmes of RDP Internacional dedicated to groups such as truckers, for example, would no longer make any sense.

(Source: Público via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

NHK reports record-breaking revenue

NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, has seen a record collection of the receiving fee for the 2010 fiscal year, its board of governors announced on Tuesday.

NHK collected 653.1 billion yen ($7.98 billion) for the 2010 fiscal year - which was 14.76 billion yen ($180 million) more than the previous year.

With this windfall, NHK now expects a $36.7 million to $49 million surplus. Earlier, it had projected a deficit of 6.1 billion yen ($74.6 million).

The previous record was set in 2003, when NHK recorded revenue of 647.8 billion (about $5.38 billion according to historical rates)

Board of Governors Chairman Fumio Sudo attributed the 2010 results to a cost-cutting drive and a rush by viewers to subscribe to NHK's digital satellite service before the scheduled end of analogue broadcasts in July.

This fiscal year, NHK had planned to cut the receiving fees by 10%, Mr Sudo said, but the March 11 earthquake and tsunami has meant increased expenses were required to report the events. Mr Sudo said NHK would have to carefully consider how the fee should be revised.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Dutch radio stations suffer problems on Eutelsat

A number of commercial radio stations in the Netherlands are experiencing technical problems with the delivery of their audio signal via the Eutelsat satellite at 16 degrees East. Affected stations include Radio 538, Radio Veronica, Sky Radio, Slam! FM, Arrow Jazz and 100% NL. This is affecting delivery of audio to some terrestrial FM transmitters and cable heads. Various FM stations are using a backup facility, but this gives lower quality audio and there may be problems with the supply of the RDS signal.

At the end of 2010, commercial radio and television providers in the Netherlands experienced problems for several days when Eutelsat lost control of its W2 satellite at 16 degrees East. The satellite was taken out of service and the affected stations were moved to several older satellites, but at 7.09 this morning, one of these satellites, SESAT-1, was also affected by a fault. Eutelsat have told the Hilversum company that uplinks the signals that in the case of SESAT-1 it has full control of the satellite. However, Eutelsat has not yet indicated whether and when SESAT-1 will be operational again. Meanwhile, alternative distribution arrangements have been, or are being, set up for the affected stations.

(Source: Totaal TV/mediamagazine.nl via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Update: The problems are reported to have been resolved at around 1430 UTC.

Fiji broadcast media to switch frequencies

Radio and television stations in Fiji will be using new frequencies from 1 July when government implements a new spectrum plan for the country, Radio Fiji reports.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the new frequencies are in line with government's plan to drive innovations in the FM broadcasting and television sectors.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: "The government's reallocation of spectrum under the new plan will ensure this resource is managed and positioned for the benefit of all Fijians and release frequencies that will allow additional TV and radio broadcasting services."

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum revealed that under the new spectrum plan, an additional national television programme channel will be commissioned through the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

He says the new plan will also enable interference-free national FM channels for FM broadcast listeners.

Industry players are to adjust their equipment to the new frequencies as outlined in the plan on 30 June.

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation CEO Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said with the enactment of a new spectrum plan for the country, the broadcaster will now be similar to other state-owned enterprises such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the BBC.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum says the new spectrum plan will ensure Fiji becomes one of the first Pacific countries to move into the digital age with proper spectrum planning.

Under the new spectrum plan, an additional national television programme channel will be commissioned through the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

21 mini FM stations helping Japan quake survivors

A total of 21 mini FM radio stations have obtained government licences to operate as provisional broadcasters, giving people post-disaster information in areas ravaged by last month’s earthquake and tsunami, Japan’s communications ministry said last Wednesday.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is authorized to issue special licences to municipalities to set up radio stations to provide disaster information to communities. Applicant municipalities can seek licences without official documents.

The FM radio stations in northeastern and eastern regions provide information, including on how evacuees are living in shelters and various lifeline services like the restoration of electricity and medical services, and do not get advertising revenues in most cases. Local residents provide services to operate on a voluntary basis after the municipalities get the licences.

Read more from japantimes.co.jp

(Source : Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog/The Japan Times Online)

Radio Taiwan International Job Opening

The English Service has an opening for a program host/reporter.

Responsibilities include: translating, writing, broadcasting, interviewing,
producing programs and maintaining web page.

Applicants must
-- have graduated from university,
-- have a good speaking voice,
-- be fluent in spoken and written English,
-- be proficient in speaking and reading Chinese,
-- have a strong interest in the broadcasting profession,
-- have basic computer skills,
-- Web experience is a plus.

Those interested should download an application form from our web page (http://www.rti.org.tw/big5/checked/resume/index.aspx) and send it to 1000521-English@rti.org.tw by May 13th, 2011. Written and mic. tests will be administered for this position from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on May 21th, 2011.

Address: RTI Personnel Department, No. 55, Bei-An Road, Taipei, Taiwan
Fax: (02)2885-0403  Tel: (02) 2885-6168 #516

(Applicants must provide a phone number and qualified applicants will be notified before the test date. Resumes will not be returned.)

(Source : Radio Taiwan International)

Radio Prague Annual Competition 2011

Radio Prague is announcing its annual competition for 2011. Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the month of May we will be playing a song which originated in an unnamed Czech theatre. We want you to listen to the song and tell us which theatre it was and who were its main protagonists. The jury will consider the quality of contributions and the research involved. The competition starts on May 1st and ends on May 31st.

Entries should be sent no later than May 31st to cr@radio.cz or by regular mail to:
Radio Prague
Vinohradská 12
12099 Praha 2
Czech Republic

 

The winner will receive a digital radio and another 30 contestants will receive small prizes. We wish you happy listening and good luck!

 

(Source : Radio Prague)