Wednesday, November 26, 2014

AIR VBS testing in Delhi on 100.1 & Mumbai on 102.8 MHz

All India Radio Vividh Bharati tests in Mumbai heard on 102.8 MHz
Meanwhile checked here in Delhi and surprisingly Vividh Bharati program is available on a new frequency 100.1 MHz, tests....I presume, here's a video :

http://youtu.be/fAOhMu-0G7c





All four metro's are suppose to get exclusive VB channels on FM.
Vividh Bharati online streaming is available at :


Thursday, November 20, 2014

U.S. International Media Attract Record Audience of 215 Million

WASHINGTON — The BBG's networks draw a record-high audience of 215 million people each week, according to a new report released today. This includes noteworthy increases in competitive media markets, on television and online.
 
More at ....
 
 
Performance and Accountability Reports


 
BBG's 2014 audience overview
 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

AU2JCB Special Event Call-sign

To commemorate the birth-anniversary of Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose on 30th Nov, 2014 Indian Hams are going to operate with special call-signs.


Special event Call-sign --- AU2JCB (operated by VU2DSI)

Period of Operation -- 21st Nov to 9th Dec 2014

Frequencies in USB -- 28545 or 28510 kHz
21350 or 21235 or 21310 kHz
14220 or 14310 or 14250 kHz
7040 or 7150 kHz 3650 kHz

In FM Mode --- 50800 kHz, 51500 kHz, 29700 kHz


QSL to VU2DSI.

VU hams please just send qsl for AU2JCB qsl.
DX hams are requested (if possible) to send 2 IRC's or return postage as many many are sending their qsl's for AU2JCB qsl.
More information on AU2JCB QRZ page.
VU2EXP Rajesh and VU2JAU Jayuji will operate with AT1JCB and AU3JCB respectively.

The end of an era - BBC Relay Station site handed back to Seychelles

Tuesday November 18 marked the closure of an iconic chapter of Seychelles' history, signalling the end of an era when information was much more difficult to come by. With much of Africa joining the
internet and mobile phone revolution, the times of trying to glean information about happenings in the rest of the world on a crackly AM radio station have now passed by.
 
Over 25 years after its establishment, the site of the BBC's former Indian Ocean Relay Station (IORS), located at Grand Anse, on the western side of the largest inhabited island in the archipelago, was handed back to the government.
 
Full story and pics at :
 

Public Service Broadcasting and its challenges in the 21st Century

Text of speech given by Peter Horrocks, Director, BBC World Service Group to Myanmar Radio and TV staff on Monday 17 November, 2014


 

Paper about the future of digital radio for community radio

Thanks to James Cridland for posting this on twitter...  Paper about the future of digital radio for community radio, excellent read..






Sunday, November 16, 2014

Peter Horrocks speech to the Observer Research Foundation, Delhi

How India is leading the way in BBC innovation - Peter Horrocks speech to the Observer Research Foundation, Delhi
 
 
excerpt...
 
In recent years the challenges in reaching global audiences have been intensifying. The platform on which BBC World Service historically was strongest - shortwave radio – has come under great pressure as FM radio, TV and mobile phones offer audiences compelling alternatives. In India, BBC Hindi is still available on shortwave and achieves an audience of 5.5 million which the BBC greatly treasures, but that audience has been declining fast as audiences switch to more audible radio and other platforms like TV.

BBC applauds ITU decision to track sources of satellite interference

Leading international broadcasters and broadcasting unions are welcoming new steps taken by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to address harmful interference with satellite transmissions, including cases of deliberate interference.
 
At its recently concluded Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan, Korea, member states agreed to support ITU efforts to track reported cases of interference with satellite broadcasts.
 
Broadcasters have complained that interference has cut them off from audiences in numerous countries and regions over the past several years.
 
The new action to address the problem was approved on 7 November 2014 by the Plenipotentiary Conference, attended by representatives of 171 countries.
 
Director of the BBC World Service Group, Peter Horrocks, says: "This is a welcome step forward. The BBC believes strongly in the free flow of news and information around the world. We must all work together as international broadcasters to put an end to jamming."
 
Entitled "Strengthening the role of ITU with regard to transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities", the agency noted that countries are increasingly relying on space-based communications for a wide variety of services, including remote sensing, communications, and weather forecasting, as well as for bridging the digital divide.
 
Interference, the ITU assembly noted, makes the delivery of satellite services less reliable, and therefore complicates efforts to bridge the digital divide - efforts which bring enhanced telecommunication services to the developing world.
 
The Resolution invites the ITU to enter into agreements with satellite monitoring facilities in order to detect the sources of interference, a process known as 'geo-location' and it calls upon the ITU to create a database on interference.
 
The effort to counteract satellite jamming brings together a coalition of broadcasters from a number of countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The EBU and the Arab States Broadcasting Union have also taken a leading role. In addition, satellite operators who have been impacted by the practice - in particular, France's Eutelsat and Saudi Arabia based Arabsat - have worked with the broadcasters.
 
The successful effort to obtain ITU action on the proposal was also a multi-national effort, introduced by a representative of France's Agence Nationale des Frequences (ANFR) and steered through debate by an official of the United Kingdom's regulatory authority, OFCOM.
 
More information on the ITU resolution is available here
 
(BBC Press Release)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Solomon Islands Broadcasting win first DRM Enterprise Award

The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium is delighted to announce that the recipient of their first DRM Enterprise Award is to the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC). The award conferred in association with the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association is in recognition of SIBC considering DRM and showing interest in actively introducing DRM.

The Pacific Islands region was selected to receive the first DRM Enterprise Award, launched officially at the IBC and the 2013 ABU General Assembly. The award aims to stimulate interest in the DRM standard in various parts of the world that would benefit from the full introduction of digital radio.

Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation is one of those broadcasters who have understood the need to introduce digital radio. Recognition of this initiative will help SIBC become a catalyst for such a process in the region.

Mr Sharad Sadhu co-ordinated the event on behalf of the DRM Consortium and was very pleased to see the first DRM Enterprise Award go to the SIBC and said:

"It was interesting to understand the process, the realisation of the need for digital radio and the first steps towards planning of digital radio transmissions.  The basic objective is to expand coverage area and reach wider audiences with medium wave radio. In addition, digital shortwave radio is being planned for use in linking existing radio stations in the Pacific countries. Already the interest in Kiribati for example is proof of the spreading interest in DRM in the Pacific islands (For example, a radio broadcaster in Kiribati, the island country just west of the International Dateline, has recognised the efficiency of digital radio in carrying signals to islands not currently covered)."

The winner of the DRM award was chosen by a panel of experts co-ordinated by Mr Sharad Sadhu. The DRM Consortium was also represented by Dr Albert Waal, Head of Hardware Development, RFmondial GmbH.

Very soon we will announce the second DRM Enterprise Award for 2015.

For more information on the award, to get updates on the next award, please write to:  projectoffice@drm.org.

About DRM

Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) is the universal, openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies.

The DRM standard comprises of two major configurations: 'DRM30′ intended for broadcasts on short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz and providing large coverage areas and low power consumption. The configuration for the VHF bands above 30 MHz is called 'DRM+', tailored for local and regional coverage with broadcaster-controlled transmissions.

All DRM configurations share the same audio coding, data and multimedia services, service linking, multiplexing and signalling schemes.

DRM provides high quality sound combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services.

For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org.

(Press Release)

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Voice of Russia becomes Sputnik

Sputnik, a major new media brand with modern multimedia centers in dozens of countries, will go live November 10. All of Sputnik's multimedia centers located in major world capitals will maintain their own websites and broadcast from local radio stations.
 
In 2015, Sputnik will broadcast in 30 languages, with over 800 hours of radio programming a day, covering over 130 cities and 34 countries. Sputnik's exclusive content is designed for a global audience of billions who are tired of aggressive propaganda promoting a unipolar world and want an alternative opinion.
 
The flagship site is www.sputniknews.com
 
 
Russia launches major new media brand 'Sputnik'

  
Russia launches foreign news service Sputnik to fight West's 'propaganda'
 
 
Notice at the VOR website :

Dear readers, due to the merger of The Voice of Russia with RIA Novosti into the Rossiya Segodnya media holding, this website will no longer be updated. Our team is moving over to the RIA Novosti site, where you will still be able to read our news and opinion pieces and listen to Radio VR broadcasts. Please update your bookmarks and stay with us!
November 10, 2014

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Global 24 offers special Berlin wall QSL



Global 24 is offering a special QSL card remembering the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, will be broadcasting several special programs throughout the weekend about the tumultuous events in Berlin.


Special QSL card will be available for confirmed reception reports from November 6 through November 10.


DW English radio programming for Africa now available mornings

As of Sunday, October 26, Deutsche Welle English radio programming for Africa will be broadcast in the mornings.
 
From Monday to Friday for an hour each at 4:00, 5:00 and 7:00 UTC, DW will provide news and information on the latest developments in Africa, as well as on important international and German issues.
 
"With the new programming schedule, DW is reacting to changes in media consumption behavior by many Africans, who tend to listen to radio in the mornings, but are increasingly turning on their TVs in the evenings," says DW Director of Programming Gerda Meuer. "With regard to multimedia coverage, this offers DW the opportunity to interlink its Africa radio programming closely with the future English flagship TV channel."
 
The broadcasts at 4:00, 5:00 and 7:00 UTC will allow the 25-minute radio magazine "AfricaLink" to react to events in East and West Africa, which are spread across four time zones. The popular education program "Learning by Ear" will be broadcast twice a week as part of "AfricaLink."
 
In addition to world news and Africa-related topics, there will be six special-interest and background radio magazines featuring issues from Germany and Europe to the environment, science and development.
 
The 30-minute radio magazine "Inside Europe" will more strongly reflect the interests of African listeners. On weekends, a one-hour version of "Inside Europe," along with the radio magazine "WorldLink," offer insights into what is happening in Germany, Europe and around the world. Both programs are extremely popular in Africa due to their lively reports, interviews and broad range of topics.
 
"DW has been broadcasting in Africa for more than 50 years, which has created a very special relationship with our listeners and users, characterized by trust and respect," says Gerda Meuer. "They know that we objectively explain, analyze and contextualize the latest developments from a German and European perspective."
 
Over 100 FM partner stations in English-speaking Africa rebroadcast DW's English programs. In crisis-ridden South Sudan, they number among the most popular international radio programs.
 
In South Sudan, around eight percent of the target audience listens to DW every week. In Zambia and Tanzania, that figure is five percent.
 
Deutsche Welle offers online news and analysis from and about Africa at www.dw.de/africa. Online content for Africa in English is set to be further expanded with a special focus on mobile services, which are becoming ever more popular in Africa.

(DW Press Release)

Deutsche Welle winter schedule effective from 26th Oct, 2014 is available at :

Saturday, November 01, 2014

BBC Hindi now available on Line instant messaging

As part of its 'mobile-first' strategy, BBC Hindi is making its content available on smartphone instant messaging platform LINE – one of the world's top five chat apps. By searching for the username BBC Hindi, and adding the account, or by subscribing to BBC Hindi in the Official Accounts section, Hindi-speaking LINE users can receive the latest news from BBC Hindi via text, graphics, short video clips and audio.

One of the fastest growing Hindi news websites, bbchindi.com has pioneered the use of the instant-messaging platform among Hindi-language news providers. The launch of the BBC Hindi LINE app follows the recent launch on LINE of the BBC News account. LINE has 560 million registered users globally and over 30 million registered users in India.

Earlier this year, the BBC conducted successful trials in India with other instant-messaging apps. Audiences have shown an appetite for such services, and the bbchindi.com website now operates on the 'mobile-first' basis, delivering mobile-friendly content that users will want to share.

BBC Hindi Digital Editor, Rajesh Priyadarshi, says: "The Indian market has become the new driver of digital growth, and social media is teeming with activity. Chat apps are opening new windows of opportunity and by making our content available via LINE we are tapping into vast numbers of users who will welcome access to BBC journalism in a digitally friendly fashion."

BBC World Service Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific, Indu Shekhar Sinha adds: "Chat apps are redefining the rules of engagement. As one of the world's most trusted broadcasters, BBC World Service has always been keen to engage with audiences on their preferred media platforms. Thanks to this collaboration with LINE, our presence on the Indian mobile market will be further reinforced."

LINE spokesperson, Abhijit Mishra, says: "LINE is an integrated mobile platform committed to building strong content partnerships to provide relevant and meaningful information to our users. Our alliance with BBC Hindi official account will amplify the rich user-experience on LINE and provide BBC Hindi with a wide reach to the Indian audience."

As part of BBC World Service, BBC Hindi adds to the BBC's expanding social-media presence. BBC Hindi has more than 2.6 million followers on Facebook. BBC News is the most shared news brand on Twitter and has more than 40 million Facebook page 'Likes' worldwide.

For more information please contact:

BBC World Service Group Communications - Lala Najafova lala.najafova@bbc.co.uk

Notes for editors

BBC Hindi delivers content for online, mobile, TV and radio platforms. Hindi-speakers across the world can access the BBC Hindi content via the news site bbchindi.com. The 'mobile first' website can be accessed via the mobile portals of Vodafone, Reliance, Aircel, Tata Do Co Mo, Tata Indicom, Idea and Loop Mobile, and via the BBC Hindi apps developed for Android smartphones and Nokia's Series 40 devices. The BBC Hindi weekly TV news programme, Global India, is broadcast by the ETV network in India where it has a weekly audience of around 6 million. BBC's special radio output for India's FM market, available on regional FM stations, includes infotainment updates in Hindi and a portfolio of weekly programmes.

BBC World Service is an international multimedia broadcaster delivering a wide range of language and regional services on radio, TV, online and via wireless handheld devices. BBC World Service uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of over 191 million globally. The BBC attracts a weekly global audience of 265 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news