Rassegna Stampa Radiorama Gennaio 2020 di Giampiero Bernardini

Avatar for Nicola FranceschiniNicola Franceschini

Tecnologia. Radio in automobile: il digitale diventa per tutti

Fabrizio Carnevalini, venerdì 20 dicembre 2019, Avvenire.it

Da gennaio tutte le auto nuove dovrebbero essere dotate di serie del sintonizzatore DAB+ che offre un’alta qualità di ascolto, ma l’offerta di programmi non è ricca (come potrebbe) in tutte le regioni

L’autoradio con la banda digitale, spesso optional sulle auto nuove (a prezzi che possono anche superare i 400 euro) o integrata in pacchetti di accessori, dovrebbe essere di serie dall’1 gennaio 2020. Il condizionale è d’obbligo, perché se molti grandi gruppi automobilistici hanno adeguato i propri modelli in anticipo (tra questi FCA e Volkswagen), la normativa (legge 55 del 14 giugno 2019) ha concesso la possibilità di vendere anche nel 2020 una piccola quota di vetture con la sola radio analogica FM se prodotte nel 2019 ed entro il limite del 10% delle automobili immatricolate. Quindi è sempre buona norma accertarsi con il rivenditore che l’auto proposta disponga della gamma digitale.

Che cosa si può ascoltare? I programmi nazionali diffusi con lo standard DAB+ (l’acronimo sta per Digital Audio Broadcasting) sono 50, trasmessi da tre operatori di rete: DAB Italia ed Eurodab (che raggruppano i principali network commerciali) e la Rai. I programmi sono quasi sempre identici a quelli in modulazione di frequenza (alcuni differiti di un’ora, come nella tv digitale) a parte quelli di RTL 102.5, che oltre al canale principale propone sei radio tematiche (tra le quali una sulle notizie della viabilità) e della Rai, che ne ha nove considerando le tre non diffuse in tutto il Paese (Rai Radio Classica, GR Parlamento e IsoRadio). Il segnale però non si riceve ovunque: in totale  oggi raggiunge l’84% della popolazione, ma mentre le reti commerciali superano l’80%, la Rai è ferma al 55%. A restare “isolate” sono soprattutto la fascia appenninica dell’Italia centromeridionale ed ampie zone di Sicilia e Sardegna.

L’offerta è più ricca dove vi è trasmissione anche da parte delle radio locali. La Campania è la regione più digitale con 50 programmi (in FM ce ne sono 66), seguita dalla Sardegna (con 39), Toscana e Umbria (entrambe con 33) e Piemonte (32). Molto ampia la proposta anche in Alto Adige, con 38 stazioni, 22 delle quali sono emittenti in lingua tedesca di Austria, Germania e Svizzera diffuse dalla Ras, ente pubblico che gestisce la diffusione dei programmi radiotelevisivi nella provincia autonoma. In Calabria, Emilia Romagna, Lazio e nella provincia di Trento l’offerta arriva al massimo a una ventina di canali locali, che in diverse regioni si ricevono solo nel capoluogo. Nel resto della penisola ci si deve accontentare dei programmi nazionali (Valle d’Aosta, Lombardia, Liguria, Veneto, Friuli, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Puglia, Basilicata, Sicilia).

Le emittenti locali sono in ritardo perché le frequenze dove potrebbero trasmettere (nella banda VHF) sono occupate dalle televisioni, e l’Agcom (Autorità Garante per le Comunicazioni) le assegnerà dall’1 luglio del 2022, quando le emittenti televisive completeranno la transizione al nuovo standard di trasmissione del digitale terrestre, il DVB-T2. Ma i canali non si potranno usare tutti: per non interferire le stazioni che operano negli stati confinanti, le normative internazionali ne hanno riservate all’Italia solo una parte, e il ministero dello Sviluppo Economico sta negoziando con gli stati esteri per ottenere qualche canale in più.

Digital radio for the world – the newest old news?

Cambridgeconsultants.com 11 dicembre 2019  by Tim Whittaker

(Immagine: una Vecchia ricezione di una trasmissione DRM sperimentale – dal sito di IK1QLD)

Digital launched, ever so long ago, with TV and radio. So what’s the big story? It’s that the last piece of the digital jigsaw is finally in place: a system called Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), designed to deliver FM-radio-like quality using the medium wave and short wave bands.

We’re familiar with AM on medium wave and accustomed to the horrible buzz, splat, fade away and back again. But it does have a great advantage in that it will reach for hundreds of miles from a single transmitter. That’s a lot easier than FM or DAB, which both need transmitters every 30 or 40 miles. No fewer than 443 DAB transmitter sites are needed to cover the UK alone.

So take a modern digital scheme, apply some clever (and low cost) computing power, and you can get good sound for hundreds of miles. You get to choose radio stations by name instead of kilohertz, and you can even receive text and pictures. Emergency warning and information features are also built into DRM.

Great technology. But will it fly? Is it available for everyone?

The new news is that India, through its national broadcaster All India Radio, has invested in and rolled out a national DRM service, live today. Just 35 transmitters cover that large country. New cars in India have DRM radios in them now. Other countries like South Africa, Malaysia and Brazil are likely to follow India’s lead.

But something’s missing. The radios that can receive DRM are still prohibitively expensive, especially for those markets that would benefit most. So vast swathes of the world remain unconnected to the services that DRM can provide. Where’s the cheap portable that you can pick up from a supermarket to listen to the news or sport?

Cambridge Consultants has just held its annual Innovation Day, where we throw open our doors to industry leaders and reveal future technology. One of our highlights was the prototype of a DRM design that will cost ten dollars or less to produce, addressing that vital need for information by the 60-ish per cent of our global population that doesn’t have internet or TV. It’s low power, so can run from solar or wind-up.

This design will be ready in 2020, available for any radio manufacturer to licence and incorporate into its own products. We’re doing our bit to make affordable radios for every corner of the globe!

Rádio: 83% dos brasileiros navegam nas suas ondas

Da Radio Clube 1200

A mania de ouvir rádio do brasileiro, mais especificamente do cearense, é tão forte quanto nosso vento “terral”. Prova disso, são os ouvintes que vem seguindo a programação Radio Clube 1200, desde quando era Ceará Rádio Clube, a “Pioneira”. Indagados o porquê dessa predileção. Resposta simples. O rádio não atrapalha em, absolutamente, nada. Muito pelo contrário. Fica bem informado e escuta a música de sua preferência.

Outro ponto levantado pelo ouvinte cearense diz respeito ao hábito. A preferência por determinada emissora. A partir daí, é criado esse poderoso público com passar dos anos. Só no Ceará, são 85 anos junto com seus seguidores.

De acordo o estudo deste ano, do instituto de pesquisa Kantar Ibope Media, o rádio alcança 83% dos brasileiros. O levantamento foi realizadonas 13 regiões metropolitanas onde há aferição. O consumo, de horas por dia, é de 4 horas 33 minutos, em média. Por via de consequência, a força do rádio chega aos mais diferentes (devices) dispositivos na vida do seu ouvinte.

Que por sua vez, mais conectado impacta, também, no conteúdo desse meio. Surpreendo as avaliações, maioria (84%) ainda escuta o rádio pelo aparelho comum. Outros 20% afirmam ouvir pelo celular, 4% por meio de outros equipamentos e 3% pelo computador.

A participação dos entrevistados, por esse instituto, é facilmente compreendida quando olhamos os lugares nos quais o rádio é consumido: 70% dos ouvintes declararam escutar, quando estão em casa e 41% fora do domicilio. Seja no carro, no trabalho, em trânsito ou em outros locais e situações.

Rádio e as idades

A pesquisa revelou, também, que do universo de 83% das pessoas que escutam rádio, a média entre os mais jovens é maior do que entre os mais velhos. O destaque está entre aqueles que têm entre 20 e 49 anos. É a faixa etária que corresponde a 86% entre os que declararam escutar rádio nos últimos 30 dias.

Esse meio de comunicação apresenta mais um aspecto positivo. Que sirva de alerta aos cabeças das campanhas publicitárias da terrinha. O consumo de rádio acontece o tempo todo. O dia inteiro. Ou seja, no rádio, o (prime time) horário nobre é ao longo das 24 horas do dia. Esse é outro importante dado destacado nessa pesquisa.

Final step for proposed rule to allow AM broadcasters to use all-digital transmissions

Image: WHKY AM antenna tower

da SWLing Post 7 gennaio 2020

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who notes:

The Federal Register has today published the proposed rule for AM stations to go digital. This is close to the final step.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/07/2019-27609/all-digital-am-broadcasting-revitalization-of-the-am-radio-service

Mindaugas Macijauskas’ stunning radio poster

Radio enthusiast, Mindaugas Macijauskas, has recently shared a graphics project he’s been working on for quite a few months. Mindaugas writes (on Facebook):

Few months ago I’ve started my little spare time project – “Longwave, mediumwave & shortwave bands” poster. So, I’m happy to announce that poster & wallpaper are ready to download!

Available for free in multiple sizes & formats at: https://macijauskas.org/shortwave/

This is initial, 1st edition so some errors might occur. In that case – please PM me. Currently it’s a bit simpler version, than I’ve initially intended to create. But for this one decided to use “less is more” philosophy.

Had some issues with PDF making, so not all sizes currently are available. I’ll try to fix this within a week or so. On the other hand – tried to print 30×40 cm (12X16 inch) jpeg file at photo lab – and this went exceptionally well.

If you like my my work – you can support it via PayPal. Link is in website.

Very well done, Mindaugas! This is a gorgeous poster and is now the wallpaper on one of my PC monitors. Click here to download the poster and support Mindaugas’ project. 

Islande: 2 émetteurs grandes ondes couvrent l’ensemble du pays.

Da Media Radio Info

L’histoire de RÚV a commencé il y a plus de 80 ans : en 1930. Útvarp Reykjavík était la seule station de radio dont l’émetteur ondes longues était installé près de la capitale à Vatnsendahæð.
Il a ensuite été déplacée dans la région de Gufuskálar. Les installations ont été modernisée dans les années 90.

Une couverture difficile.
L’Islande est un pays au relief spectaculaire, composé de volcans et de glaciers dont beaucoup sont protégés. La population compte environ 355.620 habitants, dont 50% habitent la région de la capitale. La densité est de 3,4 hab./km² c’est la plus faible d’Europe. De plus, la pêche est une activité importante de l’île et les marins souhaite écouter leur radio.
Difficile dans ces conditions pour le service national de radiodiffusion islandais Ríkisútvarpið ou RÚV d’assurer une bonne couverture du pays et des zones de pêches.

Le choix de la FM.
Pour une bonne qualité de réception, RUV dispose d’un réseau FM couvrant en partie la surface de l’île. La couverture totale en FM, comme en DAB+ est difficilement concevable.
On devrait installer de nombreux émetteurs FM en altitude, travaillant dans de conditions difficiles.
Si l’alimentation électrique d’un émetteur n’est pas possible ou si celle-ci est coupée en raison du climat polaire ou de l’activité sismique, des groupes diesel doivent être prévus pour assurer l’alimentation. Une couverture intégrale serait une utopie et les zones de pêche ne seraient toujours pas couvertes !

Sécurité avant tout.
L’un des principaux arguments en faveur de l’existence de la RÚV et des dépenses publiques qui en découlent est le rôle de la sécurité. RUV ne peut prendre le risque d’avoir des émetteurs inactifs, surtout lors de catastrophes naturelles.
Si la situation se présente que le Diesel ne peut pas être livré aux émetteurs, suite à des soucis d’accès, ils seront très vite inactifs. RUV ne peut courir ce risque !

Le choix des grandes ondes.
Pour couvrir toute la zone, RUV s’est tourné vers les grandes ondes.
En 1997, RUV mettait en service un émetteur à Gufuskálar à l’ouest de l’île. D’une puissance de 300 kW, il diffuse sur 189 kHz. L’antenne omnidirectionnelle est constituée d’un pylône en treillis de 412 m de haut.
En 1999, un second émetteur a été mis en service à Eiðar, à l’Est de l’île. D’une puissance de 100 kW, il diffuse sur 207 kHz.
Outre ces 2 émetteurs grandes ondes, RUV exploite un petit émetteur ondes moyennes 666 kHz de 1kw à Kópavogur dans la banlieue de Reykjavík

Une couverture du pays et des lieux de pêche.
Les stations à ondes longues de Gufuskálir et d’Eiðum desservent maintenant l’ensemble du pays et des lieux de pêche.
Les auditeurs ont ainsi la garantie de recevoir au moins un des trois programmes de la radio nationale et ils peuvent ainsi basculer entre les deux émetteurs ondes longues en fonction du lieu où ils se trouvent, ou éventuellement en FM, si la zone est couverte.
Le réseau de distribution a été construit par RÚV et est exploité depuis 2009 par Vodafone.

Un choix judicieux.
Le choix des grandes ondes est judicieux, surtout que si une catastrophe arrivait sur un côté de l’île, les habitants peuvent toujours écouter l’une ou l’autre des fréquences en grandes ondes.
Avec une réserve toutefois, la puissance d’un émetteur n’est pas suffisante pour couvrir toute l’île en cas de panne. Mais là encore RUV a des réserves car l’émetteur 300 kW de Gufuskálir travaille actuellement avec seulement 100 kW et celui d’Eiðum avec 50 kW au lieu de 100 kW

Va-t-on garder les grandes ondes ?
La diffusion sur grandes ondes reste la meilleure solution mais en Islande on surveille avec attention ce que feront les radiodiffuseurs européens. Si les pays européens abandonnent les grandes ondes, le marché islandais est trop petit pour espérer la poursuite de la production des récepteurs.

Ondes moyennes : Un plan B.
Si l’approvisionnement en récepteur GO se fait sentir, RUV à envisager de modifier sa stratégie et diffuser en ondes moyennes.
Les deux centres émetteurs grandes ondes peuvent être adaptés pour diffuser sur ondes moyennes
Une chose est certaine, la diffusion en ondes moyennes exigerait quatre centres émetteurs au lieu de deux pour assurer la même couverture de l’île et entrainera moins de confort d’écoute dans les zones de pêche.
Les nouveaux centres émetteurs ondes moyennes devront être installés l’un au sud et l’autre au nord. Il n’est pas exclu de pouvoir récupérer un des deux émetteurs Harris DX-150 de Gufuskálar pour un de ces centres.

Un record d’audimat.
99,8% des ménages islandais reçoivent les émissions de RUV.
95% de la population utilisent les services de RÚV chaque semaine et plus de 75% quotidiennement.
Un record d’Europe pour un radiodiffuseur de service public. Seul les programmes en luxembourgeois de Radio Luxembourg avaient un score similaire.
Il faut préciser que les stations en islandais ne sont pas légion et la concurrence étrangère est inexistante.

La RUV.
RÚV accorde une attention particulière à la langue islandaise, à l’histoire de la nation, au patrimoine culturel et à un dialogue avec le public. L’objectif principal du service national de radiodiffusion est d’informer, d’éduquer et de divertir.RÚV est géré par un conseil exécutif composé de neuf membres, nommés par le Parlement et élus lors d’une assemblée générale en janvier de chaque année, et par un conseil d’administration présidé par le directeur général.
Aujourd’hui, RÚV comprend les services suivants :
• Chaînes de télévision : RÚV, RÚV 2
• Chaînes de radio : Rás 1, Rás 2, Rondó
• Plate-formes Internet et mobiles : www.ruv.is , podcasts et applications

Astrofisica. Scoperta nuova sorgente di raffiche di lampi radio

(AGI 7 gennaio 2020) Grazie all’osservazione simultanea con otto radiotelescopi, tra cui l’antenna parabolica da 32 metri dell’Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (Inaf) a Medicina (Bo), (foto) è stata localizzata un’altra sorgente che emette «raffiche» di fast radio burst.

Viene da una galassia abbastanza vicina simile alla nostra, con caratteristiche differenti rispetto a quella da cui proviene la sola altra sorgente ripetitiva localizzata. I cosiddetti lampi radio veloci o FRB (dall’inglese fast radio burst) sono intensi impulsi radio brevissimi, nell’ordine dei millesimi di secondo o anche meno, provenienti da distanti galassie. In questo momento la loro origine resta sconosciuta, ma esistono diverse ipotesi a riguardo, che puntano in direzione soprattutto di oggetti cosmici molto compatti, come le stelle di neutroni.

La risoluzione raggiunta attraverso la combinazione interferometrica dei radiotelescopi sparsi in una vasta area tra Europa e Cina, usando una tecnica nota come Very long baseline interferometry (Vlbi), ha permesso di localizzare la fonte dei lampi in una regione di cielo grande appena sette anni luce. Per fare un paragone, commentano gli autori del nuovo studio, è come se da Terra si riuscisse a distinguere una persona sulla Luna.

«L’ambiente da cui scaturisce il fast radio burst da noi localizzato è radicalmente diverso rispetto a quello del lampo radio veloce ripetitivo localizzato in precedenza, ma è anche diverso da tutti gli Frb finora studiati», spiega Kenzie Nimmo, dottoranda all’Università di Amsterdam, fra gli autori del nuovo studio. «Le differenze tra lampi radio ripetitivi e non ripetitivi risultano quindi meno chiare e ora siamo portati a pensare che questi eventi potrebbero non essere collegati a un particolare tipo di galassia o ambiente.

Potrebbe essere che i fast radio burst siano prodotti in una grande varietà di luoghi in tutto l’universo ma richiedano alcune specifiche condizioni per essere.

Grazie a differenti radiotelescopi, a oggi sono state individuate più di un centinaio di sorgenti di FRB, di cui alcune presentano un’emissione ripetuta di questi enigmatici flash radio.

Al momento sono state individuate con precisione e associate ad una galassia d’origine solamente quattro sorgenti, di cui una sola ripetitiva, scaturita da una galassia nana irregolare con esigua formazione stellare. Ora, come riporta un articolo pubblicato ieri su Nature, un gruppo di radiotelescopi della rete europea Evn (European Vlbi Network) ha permesso di localizzare l’origine di un lampo radio veloce ripetitivo all’interno di una galassia a spirale simile alla Via Lattea. Si tratta del fast radio burst più prossimo alla Terra tra quelli finora localizzati.

Il 19 giugno 2019, otto antenne della rete europea Evn hanno osservato contemporaneamente – comportandosi come se fossero un unico, grande, radiotelescopio – una sorgente radio nota come Frb 180916.J0158 + 65, scoperta nel 2018 dal radiotelescopio canadese Chime. Nel corso delle cinque ore di durata dell’osservazione, il gruppo di ricerca internazionale, guidato da Benito Marcote dell’istituto olandese Jive, ha rilevato quattro lampi radio, ciascuno della durata di meno di due millesimi di secondo.

(Sotto un’altra immagine dell’impianto di Medicina, il radiotelescopio “La Croce del Nord”)

Rassegna Stampa Radiorama Ottobre 2019 di Giampiero Bernardini

Avatar for Nicola FranceschiniNicola Franceschini

Rassegna Stampa mensile a cura di Giampiero Bernardini.

Radio. Sbagliato vivere nel passato, ma anche solo nel futuro. La Radio esiste nel presente. A breve novità regolamentari per DAB+ e web radio

(E.G. per newslinet.com 20/8/2019) Sbaglia l’editore radiofonico che pensa si possa vivere di solo web, nella convinzione (pur corretta) che questo è il futuro. Ma sbaglia anche quello che pensa che la rendita del posizionamento in FM sarà infinita. Come in ogni modello socio-economico quelli passati e futuri sono di ispirazione, ma è sul momento attuale che si regola l’esistenza e l’affermazione di paradigma. E, per quanto riguarda la radio, il presente si chiama multipiattaforma, cioè la coesistenza delle quattro piattaforme che veicolano oggi i contenuti radiofonici: FM (ancora primaria per tre/cinque anni), il DAB+ (diretta discendente della FM), il coacervo DTT/Sat (le piattaforme tv che contraddistinguono l’ibridazione radiofonica con la televisione, la cd visual radio) e, ovviamente, il web, l’indubbio futuro, dove entro 10 anni si andrà a terminare l’evoluzione.

Ha senso quindi investire ancora in impianti FM? Sì, se si ha la ragionevole speranza di ammortizzare l’investimento in un lasso di tempo inferiore ai 10 anni. No, se si pensa di farlo solo per speculare sfruttando il crollo dei valori del mercato, perché le quotazioni sono destinate a scendere e mai più a salire. “Ad essere precisi, l’acquisto di un impianto FM dovrebbe essere ammortizzato in 5-7 anni, perché quello è il momento in cui l’incidenza delle altre piattaforme si incontrerà con la svalutazione dei diffusori FM“, commenta Giovanni Madaro, economista di Consultmedia (struttura di competenze a più livelli collegata a questo periodico). “Oggi, in Italia, pochi possono ambire a sviluppare modelli di business radiofonici con il solo web; qualche speranza in più c’è nell’abbinata Web+DTT (meglio se anche DAB+), ma è solo con la presenza della FM che la radio esprime appieno le proprie potenzialità”, continua Madaro.

“Ma attenzione: chi vive solo di FM e relega il digitale ad uno streaming su una propria app e sul sito sta commettendo un errore uguale e contrario di chi vive solo con i piedi nel futuro o ancorato al passato. Il web esige regole di engagement e di presidio singolari, che non ammettono un approccio “tanto per”. Penso alle precipue regole degli aggregatori (sintomatica a riguardo è la questione dei collettori indipendenti come TuneIn) e degli smart speaker (dove è ormai chiaro che non si può prescindere da skill ed action dedicate).“, chiosa Madaro.

Ma anche per le web radio sono attese novità: da indiscrezioni sembra che la stessa Agcom abbia in animo di estendere a tutte le emittenti che diffondono solo programmi in streaming l’obbligo di iscrizione al Registro Operatori Comunicazione (ROC), anche con fatturati inferiori ai 100.000 euro (limite che anche oggi impone l’iscrizione al ROC). L’obbligo dovrebbe valere anche per le radio amatoriali e si fonderebbe su una disparità di trattamento coi concessionari in FM, che per almeno la metà non raggiungono il fatturato di 100.000 euro ma sono comunque obbligati al regime ROC (così come le emittenti comunitarie). D’altra parte, è francamente inconcepibile che Agcom, regolatore delle comunicazioni per definizione, non abbia assolutamente il controllo di un comparto editoriale la cui individuazione può essere conseguita praticamente solo attraverso gli elenchi delle licenze rilasciate dalle collecting del diritto d’autore e dei diritti connessi

The rise of shortwave broadcasting from China

Peter Marks da blog.marxy.org 30 August 2019 – On recent drive across Australia I was struck by the amount of shortwave broadcasting from China that could be heard.

There is some data available from the HFCC – International Broadcasting Delivery.

The files are fixed width fields which list broadcasts by frequency along with start time, end time, which days of the week, the country, the broadcaster and more.

Countries may have multiple broadcasts on different frequencies at the same time.

To measure output, I calculated the minutes on air of each listed broadcast and multiplied it by the number of days in each week that it’s on and aggregated them by country.

Here are the top broadcasters as at August 2019.

Here’s 2010. It’s China, USA, Russia…

Here’s 2000. Russia, USA, China. How times have changed.

Here’s the changes amongst the top broadcasters now over this period. China is clearly on the rise.

 

There are many flaws in my simple analysis:

  •  Shortwave is used within large countries such as India and China for internal consumption.
  • Different power levels and transmitter site and antenna direction should be taken in to account.
  •  The data may not cover all broadcasts “At present about 85 percent of the overall amount of global shortwave frequency requirements used for broadcasting is kept in this database. The missing 15 percent comprises some smaller stations in Africa and Latin America, as well as stations in the so called tropical broadcasting zone that employ shortwave transmissions for local listeners and are not interested in international co-ordination.”
  • Some transmitters use more than one antenna system at a time (beaming in different directions), currently I count those as two broadcasts.
  • Radio New Zealand International provides programs which are broadcast in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu but I’m counting those as broadcasts from the administration countries rather than NZ.
  • There are, of course, other options including satellite, FM relay, and internet streaming but this post isn’t about those.

I note with sadness that in 2010, Australia was placed 12th, in 2019 we are 57th.

Please let me know if someone else has done any analysis in this area. My thanks to HFCC – International Broadcasting Delivery for making this valuable data freely available.

Radio Vanuatu: New shortwave and mediumwave service through infrastructure upgrade

Da https://swling.com/blog/ Vedi originale

(Source: Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation via Peter Marks)

With the support of the Government of Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation (VBTC) has begun work this month on a 942 million vatu (US$8.1m) infrastructure upgrade to improve radio and free-to-air television service throughout Vanuatu.

The first phase involves the design, installation and commissioning of a new shortwave (HF) and medium wave (MF) service for Radio Vanuatu, the country’s public radio service. Costing for phase one will be in excess of 242 million vatu (US$2.2m) and is funded by the Government of Vanuatu. Following the improvements to shortwave and medium wave services, VBTC will also undertake technical work to strengthen the coverage and reliability of its FM services.

A 10kw MF Nautel transmitter imported out of Canada and a 10kw HF transmitter manufactured by Hanjin Electronics of South Korea will be installed at VBTC’s major public service transmission site at Emten Lagoon on Efate. Both transmitters will be commissioned before the end of 2019.

The second phase, beginning early 2020, will reopen Radio Vanuatu’s medium wave radio transmission facilities at St Michelle in Luganville on the island of Santo. This will provide AM service to provinces in the top half of Vanuatu at a cost in excess of 300 million vatu (US$2.5m).

The third phase will expand the national television free-to-air service, Television Blong Vanuatu, along with a new digital television service. This final phase will cost an estimated 400 million vatu (US$3.5m).

Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas launched the capital development upgrade at a special function attended by cabinet ministers, senior members of the public service, members of the diplomatic corps and members of Vanuatu’s business and non-profit communities on Friday September 20 in Port Vila before he departed the country to attend the UN General Assembly in New York.

In his address, the Prime Ministerspoke atlength about the importance to Vanuatu of having a strong national public radio and television broadcasting service and announced assistance from Vanuatu’s development partners to help achieve this objective.

The Government of Australia funded the scoping study for the radio upgrade project and is providing funding support to implement the strategic reform programme of VBTC which the Prime Minister said is making good progress.

“I’m also happy to announce that the New Zealand Government is keen to support the second stage of the Radio Vanuatu technical infrastructure upgrade while China is considering my request to support the upgrade of Television Blong Vanuatu’s technical infrastructure.

” Meanwhile Kordia New Zealand Limited has been awarded the contract to project manage, design, install and commission the new radio transmission facilities beginning with the facilities at Emten Lagoon outside Port Vila.

VBTC Chief Executive Officer, Francis Herman said that “Kordia has extensive experience in the broadcasting and telecommunications industry in the Pacific, and recently completed a major project in Samoa for State-owned Radio 2AP funded by the Australian Government”. “We’ve worked hard with Kordia and a number of other technical experts to investigate the most efficient and sustainable transmission solution for Vanuatu taking into account the inclement weather, and the need to keep operating costs affordable.”

The shortwave service, which will be commissioned before the end of this year, will provide national radio coverage to the 82 islands spread spanning 1,300 kilometres between the most northern and southern islands.

“Our role as Vanuatu’s national broadcasting service is centered on helping create an informed public opinion so our people can contribute more effectively to national development”, Herman added.

“VBTC has struggled to remain relevant over the past decade because its technical infrastructure was obsolete and badly neglected making it challenging for us to provide an efficient, reliable, and responsive national radio and television service.”

Alongside the infrastructure upgrade, is an extensive programme to strengthen the technical capacity of Vanuatu’s broadcast technicians along with a long-term maintenance regime to expand the life of the equipment. (September 23, 2019).

U.S.-Based Shortwave Broadcasters Eye Digital

Group seeks a path to “affordable, distributable” DRM receivers

James Careless ⋅ RadioWorld – Aug 26, 2019

Relatively few Americans are aware of it, but the United States is home to many commercial/religious international broadcasters that transmit programming worldwide using analog shortwave radio transmitters. They are supported by an industry group called the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters.

Unfortunately, analog shortwave radio transmissions are notorious for interference and signal dropouts. For listeners in other countries, the sound coming out of their shortwave radios lacks the superior audio range of domestic U.S. AM (yes, we said AM) and is often wracked with static and signal fading.

Foto: Members of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters are shown at their annual meeting in North Carolina, hosted by Trans World Radio.

For years, NASB members have wanted to replace (or at least augment) the poor audio quality of analog SW with the crystal-clear sound of digital SW radio, specifically the Digital Radio Mondiale standard developed in Europe that is now being used in China and India.

“DRM sounds very much like FM, with a wide audio range and no static,” said Charles Caudill, president emeritus of World Christian Broadcasting, owner/operator of U.S. SW station KNLS. “It is also consistent: Either the DRM signal is received on your SW radio in full, or it isn’t. There’s no in-between.”

There are some DRM radios in use now, which is why some NASB members are offering limited DRM broadcasts alongside their regular analog SW transmissions.

“But the current generation of DRM SW receivers cost about $100 each, whereas you can buy a cheap analog SW radio for as little as $10,” said Dr. Jerry Plummer, a professor at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., and frequency coordinator for U.S. SW station WWCR. “Given that the audiences being targeted by NASB members are largely in the third world, the lack of inexpensive DRM receivers keeps them listening to analog shortwave.

Mindful that other digital audio sources are gaining ground even in less-developed countries, the NASB has decided to take action. At its recent annual meeting in North Carolina, at the facilities of U.S. SW broadcaster Trans World Radio, the NASB formed a DRM Receiver Working Group. Headed up by TWR engineer George Ross, this group has been “tasked to evaluate what it will take to get affordable, distributable DRM receivers,” Ross told Radio World. “What is holding DRM up is the lack of affordable receivers.”

CHICKEN-AND-EGG

 

DRM radio prototype from StarWaves.

Given the NASB’s interest in low-cost DRM receivers, it was no coincidence that Johannes Von Weyssenhoff was invited to speak at the annual meeting. Von Weyssenhoff said his StarWaves manufacturing firm (www.starwaves.de) has the technology, capability and existing prototypes to build DRM radios for $29 each, but only if the sale order is large enough to deliver economies of scale. (He also estimated $18 DRM modules could be built for installation in other radio models.)

“Twenty-nine dollars is doable at volumes staring at 30,000 receivers,” Von Weyssenhoff told Radio World. “Even smaller quantities would be possible at this price for very simple radios — for example, without graphics displays — but these would be special projects that had to be discussed individually. But even more advanced radios with Bluetooth or premium designs will be possible to offer at a reasonable price,” he said — as long as the sales orders was in the tens of thousands or more.

Given that India and China have committed to the DRM standard, there appears to be a mass-market for these receivers. But the problem for StarWaves is finding the money to build enough of them to drive per-unit costs down.

“In recent years I have tried to convince quite a number of potential investors but either I have not yet found the correct audience, or I was not yet able to communicate this great opportunity convincingly,” said Von Weyssenhoff. “You just have to imagine that alone in India, according to All India Radio, there is a demand of up to 150 million receivers within the next few years. This market could have been served with tons of receivers by now and big profits could have been made, but instead I had to grow the development in very small steps.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plug-in DRM module.

The money StarWaves needs is not huge: “An amount of $150,000 or even $100,000 would certainly do wonders and enable us to start production within a few within a few weeks,” he said. “A commercial order of 10,000 receivers or more would have a similar effect.”

NASB’s members don’t have this kind of money available. Saddled with huge antenna farms and multiple power-devouring 50 kW to 500 kW transmitters, the commercial/religious shortwave broadcasting sector is tight for cash.

“Broadcasting DRM requires either a new transmitter or the modification of an existing transmitter,” said Kim Andrew Elliott, a retired Voice of America broadcaster and host of “Communications World” who has organized many demonstrations of DRM reception at the annual Winter Shortwave Listeners Fest going back to 2003.

“These days, many shortwave broadcasters are thinking about whether they should keep their existing shortwave transmitters on the air, rather than thinking about buying or modifying a transmitter.

” Their situation isn’t helped by the lack of audience measurements detailing SW’s far-flung listener base. Not only does a lack of SW ratings make it difficult to sell spots to advertisers, “but the squeaky, staticky sound of shortwave makes it hard for us to talk to the people at Coca-Cola, who fear that listeners will associate their product with inferior quality,” said Caudill.

The resulting conundrum is a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma. StarWaves and other DRM radio manufacturers don’t have the money to produce DRM radios in volumes that would make them cheap to buy.

Solving the Medium-Wave Problem: Is it still worth maintaining AM?

Ruxandra Obreja ⋅ 9 October 2019 RadioWorld (The author is chairman of Digital Radio Mondiale)

Is medium wave in decline? Some people think so.

In the 1950s radio was declared mortally wounded by TV. But then FM with its new music rescued it, becoming one of the most successful technologies and platforms ever. Radio survived and thrived but AM should have died at the hands of the nimbler, younger and more attractive FM.

Only it did not and the medium reinvented itself by using presenter-led programming, commercial music and sport. In the United States it took until the end of 1990s for the FM and AM audiences to be equal and to this day the big AM stations are going strong, bringing in the ad dollars.

REASONS

Still, it’s undeniable that the whiff of decline has enveloped AM in the past two decades. The reasons are well-known: Analog medium wave doesn’t always deliver the best sound, it can suffer from interference, it can behave annoyingly different by day and night and even by season. Medium wave mainly appeals to a maturing population (a global phenomenon, considered shameful by some!) using aging receivers (this is bad!).

Analog medium-wave broadcasting also needs quite an infrastructure and deep pockets for the electricity bill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruxandra Obreja

On the other hand, medium wave is that middle sister that delivers by giving excellent regional coverage over hundreds or (overnight and if the ionosphere behaves) even thousands of kilometers, whereas FM goes up to roughly 200 kilometers and digital DAB+ to half of that.

Medium wave is not only a regional but also an excellent local coverage solution. In Australia 33% of the public broadcaster ABC’s local transmitters broadcast in AM and 11 50 kW transmitters are serving the mainland capital or big cities. Medium wave covers large areas and reaches small far-flung communities for whom, even in developed countries, medium wave and FM still provide the first source of information.

Besides, medium wave with its reach, availability outdoors and on the go, is a fallback solution in times of emergency or simply a good standby solution when other platforms or services are unavailable (broadband, satellite, 4G or the mythical 5G).

The listeners’ behavior and the demands of the digital world are such that tackling medium wave has elicited different responses from broadcasters and regulators worldwide. In Europe, where the frequency was much used and abused, broadcasters initially energized by the potential of IP have not thought twice about closing down many medium-wave transmitters. Some have survived the cull, for example, in the UK, France, Spain, or in some eastern European countries.

DIFFERENT SCENARIOS

Regulators in other parts of the world have embraced different scenarios. One was to migrate AM to FM, or AM to a digital solution for FM (HD or DAB+). This process has taken a long time and, despite some successes, has shown it’s no replacement for AM or for a full large regional or national coverage.

In other parts of the world, like Brazil, digital was not even part of the mix. The simple migration AM to FM is plodding on there, as this is easier done in smaller places than in bigger, overpopulated ones, like big cities where there is no FM spectrum available and where the original demand for a solution came from.

Another idea is to expand the FM band, downwards, migrate everyone and forget about AM altogether, as FM seems a proven and winning formula. A nice idea but then, on top of the costs of replacing a large area covering transmitter with many, expensive, spectrum and energy hungry FM transmitters, there is the extra challenge of the new receivers to be produced and actually sold.

Certainly, there is also the option of doing nothing. Reading through the most recent submissions to the judicious consultation launched by the Australian regulator on the future delivery of radio services, I was struck by how some contributors claim that there is no current replacement for analog AM. Their scenario is to leave things as they are, for at least the next 10 years.

[Read: Historic Woofferton Boasts a Modern Twist]

Change is though the name of the radio game. While analog AM will subsist, it is worth looking at other options, too. In India where most of the territory and population are covered by the public radio medium-wave transmitter infrastructure, the government and public broadcaster took the bull by the horns and deployed almost 40 digital transmitters covering about half the country population with a digital signal.

THE SOLUTION

Recently cricket fans were able to enjoy an open-air demonstration of three different DRM programs on one frequency ahead of an important match in Bangalore. The fans also received data (stock exchange values) available on radio screens. This demonstrated that digital DRM is a game changer for medium wave.

In DRM the crackling audio disappears as sound is as good of that on FM. The electricity consumption and costs decrease, the spectrum is trebled and reception, even in cars (as available in over 1.5 million cars in India currently) is excellent, too.

If it is so good then why isn’t DRM medium wave conquering the world faster? Maybe it’s about confidence in a new platform. Broadcasters and governments need to market DRM digital radio once signals are on air in their countries.

As for receiver availability and their costs, let us remember how many receivers were on sale in the 1970s when FM was taking over the world. Nowadays, many listeners consume radio in their cars rather than sit in front of a retro looking wooden box. Digital receivers (DRM alone or DRM/DAB+) are a reality and a bigger push for digital would help with volumes sold thus bringing down the prices.

Radio, and therefore medium wave, can and should survive digitally. Digital radio must be an enabler of audio content and information while preserving its ubiquitous and unmatched advantage of providing a service for all.

For that, a bit of imagination, trust and, last but not least, some long-term investment is necessary. Because medium wave is still worth it!

Rassegna Stampa Radiorama Settembre 2019 di Giampiero Bernardini

Avatar for Nicola FranceschiniNicola Franceschini

Rassegna Stampa mensile a cura di Giampiero Bernardini.

Rai Radio attiva nuovi impianti DAB+ e supera la copertura del 50% della popolazione

“La Rai attiva altri 4 impianti di trasmissione DAB+ per una copertura della radio digitale in costante aumento”. (Via FM World by Nicola Franceschini)

Comincia così un comunicato del 26 luglio 2019, diramato dall’ufficio stampa delle reti di Stato, in cui si evidenzia l’”avanzata” della digital radio verso centro-sud.

In particolare, sono stati accesi i trasmettitori di San Vittore del Lazio (Fr), Cava dei Tirreni (Sa), Pigazzano (Pc), Terni Miranda (Tr). Terminata la fase di copertura del centro nord, questi impianti si proiettano così verso il centro e il sud Italia, raggiungendo oltre 400mila persone.

Con i 4 nuovi trasmettitori, il totale degli impianti Rai sale a 50 e supera il 50% della popolazione coperta. Resta confermato l’obiettivo di superare, entro fine anno, il 57% degli italiani con 62 impianti.

Va avanti in parallelo il processo di rinnovamento degli studi in ottica digitale e radio-televisiva. In particolare, a Saxa Rubra sarà inaugurato entro il primo semestre 2020 un nuovissimo studio dedicato a Rai Radio 1. Il nuovo studio sarà grande oltre 100 metri quadrati, avrà un angolo per musica dal vivo, uno spazio per circa 25 ospiti e sarà interamente personalizzabile grazie a schermi, monitor e display. Come gli altri studi già
realizzati, permetterà di effettuare dirette web e social, con una regia dedicata e camere motorizzate.

Ulteriori dettagli sono on-line all’indirizzo www.rai.it/ufficiostampa/articoli/2019/07/Rai-Radio-e-Dabe3235a79-c6a9-46ad-9134-176d36680f94.html

Switzerland Confirms FM Switch off Date – FM Addio

Radio programs will be available via FM until the end of 2024 at the latest

Marguerite Clark ⋅ Radio World 2 Sept 2019

Bernard Maissen, deputy director for the Federal Office of Communications, has announced that Switzerland’s radio programs
“will only be available on the FM Band until the
end of 2024 at the latest.”

OFCOM said in a release that Maissen based his decision on the radio industry’s existing agreement and legal provisions. As per studies available to OFCOM, at the end of June only 17% of listeners tuned into radio using FM.

TIMELINE – According to the organization, in December 2014, the Digital Migration Working Group (AG DigiMig) stated that radio broadcasters intended to phase out VHF broadcasting by 2024.

It said that SRG and more than 80 percent of private radio stations agreed to this decision in 2015. And in October 2017, the Federal Council adopted the radio industry’s target and provided the legal framework for VHF switch off.

Maissen then announced the country would extend VHF radio licenses expiring in December 2019 until 2024, with the possibility of shortening the duration if the radio industry wishes.

Simultaneously, OFCOM would examine whether individual VHF transmitters in peripheral areas with insufficient DAB+ coverage could continue to operate for a limited period after 2024.

FIGURES – GfK research institute collects figures every six months on behalf of OFCOM and the AG DigiMig. Its results show the Swiss listening to an average of 65 minutes of digital radio per day out of 100 radio minutes.

This, says OFCOM, demonstrates a digital radio usage increase of 16% in three and a half years: from 49% in autumn 2015 to 65% in spring 2019. At the same time, VHF usage fell 16 percentage points from 51% to 35%.

While DAB+ has mainly replaced FM in the home and at work, the reports also reveal that FM is still more frequently used in car (56%). In spring 2019, listeners tuned into radio in the car via DAB+ for 38 out of 100 radio minutes. OFCOM points out, however, that the share of in-car DAB+ listeners is rising.

Findings also show that in the first half of 2019, the Swiss purchased some 136,400 DAB+ radios (excluding cars). According to GfK’s semi-annual surveys, consumers in Switzerland have bought a total of 4.3 million DAB+ devices since 2000.

Swiss Radio Day took place in Zurich on Aug. 29.

Proposal to suspend Radio Romania International’s shortwave service has been rejected

Da swling.com 4 September 2019

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tudo Vedeanu, who shares the following updat regarding the threat to RRI’s shortwave service.

Tudor writes:

I contacted MediaSind asking for more details about the suspension of the SW broadcasts at RRI. Liviu Grosu, the general secretary of MediaSind told me this:

“Following the reactions of MediaSind, the members of the Board of Directors rejected the proposal of the president-general director of the SRR, Georgica Severin, regarding the suspension of the shortwave broadcasts.”

Brilliant news, Tudor! Thank you for sharing this and also many thanks for obtaining Liviu Grosu’s approval to post his message here on the SWLing Post.

Readers, if you love RRI’s shortwave service, I believe this would still be a great time to let them know you’re happy they’re on the air! For the English language service, use the following email address: [email protected]

FCC petitioned to open up 45 to 50 MHz for DRM+ broadcasts in the USA

Da ei7gl.blogspot.com August 28, 2019

Currently most of the terrestrial radio stations in the USA broadcast either on the AM band from 540 to 1700 kHz or on the FM band from 88 to 108 MHz. At the end of September 2018, the FCC announced that there were 4,464 stations on AM and 10,867 stations on FM. Due the crowded nature of the existing bands, it has been hard to introduce new digital radio formats.

DRM or Digital Radio Mondiale is a digital format designed to replace existing AM transmissions with clearer audio and with just 20% of the power. DRM+ is the format for VHF. WRNJ Radio co-owner Larry Tighe has now filed a petition for rulemaking with the FCC, asking that the 45 MHz to 50 MHz band on the VHF spectrum be reallocated for DRM+ transmissions.

In a statement, Tighe said… “The 45–50 MHz band was allocated to two-way radio users in business and government, who have since migrated to higher bandwidths where they can use handsets with smaller antennas. As a result, this spectrum is extremely quiet right now. WRNJ monitored this bandwidth for an extended period of time, and heard very few distant signals.”

“There were 660 TV stations between Channels 2 and 7 before the transition to UHF for HDTV. There are now only approximately 60 TV stations in the USA on those old VHF channels. There is plenty of spectrum to share with a new service, i.e., DRM+ or any modulation, if the FCC really wanted to move AMs.”

Even though the DRM standard has been around for over a decade, it is only recently that it has begun to make serious inroads to the broadcasting scene with India, China and Russia showing an interest. One of the current problems is the high cost of DRM receivers which is prohibitive to consumers in developing countries.

Obviously if the USA opted for a new DRM+ allocation, it would give the format a huge boost. If it turned out to be the 45 to 50 MHz allocation then it raises the possibility of long distance reception by means of Sporadic-E during the summer months or via F2 propagation around the peak of the sunspot cycle.

More info in the links below:
1) FCC stats for the number of AM and FM stations at the end of Sept 2018
2) https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/u-s-based-shortwave-broadcasters-eye-digital
3) Previous post – Russia proposes to use DRM on 65.9-74.0 MHz

BBC is increasing its shortwave radio shows to get past the news lockdown in Indian-controlled Kashmir

By Hadas Gold CNN 16 agosto 2019 – Kashmir is under unprecedented security restrictions by India. As a communications blackout continues in Kashmir, the BBC is using one of the only ways to reach listeners in the Indian-controlled state: shortwave radio. The BBC is extending its Hindi radio output by 30 minutes, launching a 15-minute daily program in Urdu, and expanding its English broadcasts by an hour. All are being
broadcast via shortwave signals.

“Given the shutdown of digital services and phone lines in the region, it’s right for us to try and increase the provision of news on our shortwave radio services,” Jamie Angus, director of the BBC World Service, said in a statement.

Indian-controlled Kashmir is under a tight security lockdown and total communications blackout. The blackout has included internet and landline phones, and some television channels have been cut. The repressive measures, in place since August 5, were introduced just days before the Indian government announced that it was withdrawing Article 370 of the constitution, reclassifying Kashmir’s administrative status from a state to a union territory. The move took away Kashmir’s semi-autonomous special status.

Pakistan, which also claims Kashmir, reacted angrily to the move by India. The two neighbors have fought three wars over Kashmir, and the region has been the focus of periodic conflict for more than 70 years.

Shortwave radio bands are able travel long distances using very high frequencies, unlike traditional radio waves that need to travel in straight lines. In an interview with CNN Business, Angus said most people in the region don’t normally use shortwave to listen to their programs. But due to the communications blocks, “we’ve got limited options,” he said.

“The shortwave audience has historically been in decline, but it’s an important lifeline as a way to reach people,” Angus said. “People value the BBC because it’s independent and one step removed from the national heat around these discussions, that’s why people value our reporting.”

Tensions between authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir and the BBC have been growing. Police in the region have asked people “not to believe fabricated and motivated news” after the BBC published a report saying security forces dispersed protesters in Srinagar, Kashmir, using gun fire and tear gas. The police said “no firing incident has taken place in Kashmir over 6 days.”

The BBC stood by its reporting. “We strongly refute any claims that we have misrepresented events in Kashmir,” the news service said. “We are covering the situation impartially and accurately. Like other broadcasters we are currently operating under severe restrictions in Kashmir but we will continue to report what is happening,” the statement continued. (Sugam Pokharel contributed to this report.)

80 Aniversario del Servicio Monitor de la BBC

Da elradioescucha 29 agosto 2019

A veces las historias que los países cuentan a través de sus medios, o las historias que no cuentan, son noticias en sí mismas. En la BBC, hay una unidad especializada dentro del Servicio Mundial que pasa sus días escuchando, mirando y desplazándose a través de los medios de comunicación del mundo, principalmente de habla no inglesa, buscando esa historia y viendo eventos internacionales mientras juegan escenario publico.

Hoy BBC Monitoring celebra su 80 aniversario. A pesar de cuánto tiempo ha estado funcionando el servicio, ha permanecido en gran parte desconocido para muchos: el arte detallado y matizado de la vigilancia constante no siempre atrae la atención.

La unidad se creó originalmente en una era de medios muy diferente, durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, donde las personas elegidas por sus habilidades lingüísticas escuchaban en los medios extranjeros para rastrear lo que se transmitía durante el conflicto, tanto por enemigos como por aliados.

Resultó ser una fuente de información tan grande que el propio Winston Churchill solicitó que se le enviara una copia directamente a él todas las mañanas durante los años de guerra, con un enlace especial de teleimpresor establecido en 10 Downing Street para acelerar la presentación de informes.

Desde la guerra, el monitoreo ha continuado cumpliendo un propósito vital y especializado, recogiendo historias internacionales importantes antes que nadie, como la caída del vuelo MH17 en 2014, y brindando el tipo de información profunda para desarrollar historias que solo pueden ser acumulado a través de la constante observación y escucha.

En los últimos 80 años, el servicio de Monitoreo se mudó de la sede en Eversham, a Caversham, y ahora a Londres, con 12 oficinas internacionales, incluso en Kiev, Delhi, Jerusalén y Kabul. Trabajan en más de 100 idiomas con un archivo que se remonta a 1939.

Para celebrar el papel único que BBC Monitoring ha desempeñado para la organización y el público en los últimos 80 años, hemos reunido una selección de momentos de la historia del servicio donde su constante vigilancia en los medios del mundo lo vio capturar algunos de los momentos más cruciales. en la historia  moderna, todo escuchando las historias que las naciones se cuentan a sí mismas y a otras personas a través de los medios de comunicación.

Fuente y resto del Articulo: BBC Monitoring at 80

Alexanderson Alternator Station SAQ Hails “Incredible” Number of Listener Reports

August 20, 2019 in QRZnow.com

Sweden’s Alexanderson Alternator station SAQ says it received 438 listener reports — “an incredible amount” — for its June 30 Alexanderson Day transmissions. The list included five reports from the US and three from Canada. The historic electro-mechanical transmitter, which dates back to the 1920s, is fired up periodically throughout the year on 17.2 kHz.

“We are very thankful for all your enthusiastic and positive feedback, with images, recordings, videos, and even Morse ink writer strips,” SAQ said. The station is a World Heritage Site in Grimeton, Sweden.

SAQ’s June 30 message commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first east-to-west transatlantic voice transmission from the Marconi station in Ireland to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. SAQ has posted an interactive map showing the locations of all received listener reports from recent transmissions, including the June 30 transmission, and video of the Alexanderson Day transmission event has been posted to its YouTube channel.

France defeated! Thales and their drones will stay off the 2m band!

Da Save 2 meters 30 agosto 2019

The Ankara CEPT meeting is over and the outcome is
very positive, at least for the 2 meter amateur band.
Many unofficial sources, are saying 2 meter has been
saved!

France/Thales were asked to rewrite their proposal with
any mention of 144-146MHz to be removed. The non
safety aeronautical transmission study will be taken
within the next 4 years. 144-146MHz will not be
included in this study and the threat against the 2m
band has been removed!

This all not official for now; the official position will be posted over next week on the CEPT Website.

We would like to thank all of the organizations who fought together on this matter. A special thank to IARU and DARC for their thorough work. Their common-sensed documents might have made the difference. Why spend time on a CEPT study that simple radio propagation formulas can predict?

While we have won this fight we should stay alert and we urge every radio amateur to use the VHF/UHF bands, stop complaining about other amateur’s activities, remain civilised in our conversations and to act as an Elmer for newbies. On 144MHz we have EME operators, CW, SSB & digital DX’ers, amateur satellite users, FM & digital voice simplex users and repeaters. Each of these amateur activities utilises the 144MHz band in a different way, but we all use it. The “use it or lose it” saying has never been so true.

Onde gravitazionali, osservato un cataclisma cosmico

di Matteo Marini repubblica.it 16 agosto 2019 – vedi l’originale

Ed è la prima volta che viene intercettato uno shock cosmico di questo tipo, con una ‘confidenza’ del 99%. Praticamente cosa certa. La concitazione di queste ore, tra gli astronomi, è grande perché a differenza di quando avviene una fusione tra due buchi neri, dalla quale non ci si aspetta alcun flash, il fatto che sia coinvolta una stella di neutroni fa sperare che si possa osservare l’evento anche nella controparte  elettromagnetica: la luce. L’alert è arrivato anche sul cellulare di Silvia Piranomonte, ricercatrice dell’Istituto
nazionale di astrofisica presso l’Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma: “Il gruppo italiano sta osservando con il telescopio nazionale Galileo che si trova alle Canarie, lo stesso stanno facendo gli spagnoli con il Grantecan, che ha uno specchio di dieci metri e può arrivare così ‘profondo’ per registrare la luce che arriva da quell’angolo di cielo. Ci stiamo coordinando con i ricercatori degli altri Paesi europei, ma si sono attivati anche americani e russi. Chi trova un ‘transiente’, cioè una luce che prima non c’era, condivide le informazioni con gli altri”.

Appena si è conosciuta la natura del segnale, Piranomonte e i colleghi (tra i quali c’è anche Marica Branchesi del Gssi) hanno diramato l’allarme verso i telescopi, con le indicazioni su dove puntare: nella zona di cielo australe, tra le costellazioni dello Scultore, Fornace e Balena, dalla quale sembra provenire, per vedere qualcosa. a non c’era da quella zona, condivide le informazioni”.

Messaggi dall’Universo – L’astronomia multimessaggera ha visto la luce il 17 agosto del 2017, quando, per la prima volta, è stata individuata anche una sorgente elettromagnetica nel punto in cui si era originata una onda gravitazionale. Due messaggi differenti da uno stesso evento. In quel caso le responsabili erano due stelle di neutroni che si sono fuse insieme. Quasi esattamente due anni dopo è la volta di un’altra grande scoperta, cercata da tempo. La teoria li prevede, ma un tandem BHNS (black hole-neutron star, per usare la
sigla degli astrofisici) non era mai stato osservato, non in maniera così chiara. Questo dimostra ancora l’efficienza dei tre strumenti, gli interferometri Ligo e Virgo, hanno raggiunto: “Proviene da una zona molto circoscritta, anche più stretta rispetto a quella del 2017 – spiega Piranomonte – e a seconda delle galassie che ci sono e alla loro distanza, i modelli ci dicono quello che dovremmo osservare. Se troveremo una curva di luce che corrisponde, avremo fatto centro”.

L’impronta digitale della luce – Gli astronomi stanno confrontando le immagini di quell’angolo di cielo scattate nelle ultime ore, con quelle realizzate in precedenza, per capire se qualcosa di nuovo (si cerca una kilonova, nuova luce, meno potente di una supernova) si palesa in quel punto. Se spunterà fuori, andrà analizzato: “Abbiamo dei modelli da confrontare, ma non sappiamo di preciso cosa aspettarci perché è un
evento che non abbiamo mai osservato – continua Piranomonte – quello che faremo è analizzare le curve di luce nelle varie lunghezze d’onda per vedere se corrispondono. E lo spettro, cioè l’impronta digitale della luce per capire di quali elementi è composta”. Il rush alla caccia del transiente è iniziato e potrebbe durare giorni: “La luce dell’evento del 17 agosto del 2017 è durata parecchio. Nella luce visibile e nell’infrarosso per due settimane. Le ultime osservazioni radio, 200 giorni dopo, ci hanno permesso di capire come era
strutturata la geometria dell’esplosione”.
Miniere spaziali

Ligo e Virgo sono stati accesi di nuovo ad aprile di quest’anno e finora hanno identificato 19 eventi. Dalle prime due campagne del 2015-2016 ne erano stati intercettati 11. Siamo arrivati a 30, dunque, oltre la metà solo negli ultimi quattro mesi. Ma erano tutte fusioni di buchi neri, eccetto quest’ultima (un altro classificato potenzialmente come BHNS con una confidenza di appena il 13%).

Gli occhi più potenti del Pianeta sono aperti. Se fotoni arriveranno, avremo fatto luce su un evento mai osservato e allargato l’orizzonte della comprensione dei fenomeni che animano, rimescolano e forgiano l’Universo. Anche ciò che ci portiamo in tasca, al dito o appeso al collo. Questi sono infatti i processi che hanno portato a creare i metalli che troviamo nelle nostre miniere (dagli scontri tra stelle di neutroni, per esempio, vengono prodotte ), concentrati dalla forza gravitazionale che ha formato la
Terra: “È probabile che anche lo scontro tra un buco nero e una stella di neutroni possa produrre elementi pesanti proprio come l’oro – conclude l’astrofisica – ma fino a che non avremo lo spettro della luce non lo sapremo con certezza”.

Rassegna Stampa Radiorama Luglio 2018

Avatar for Andrea MarchesinAndrea Marchesin

Rassegna Stampa mensile a cura di Giampiero Bernardini.

Tratta dal numero n.82 di Luglio 2018 di Radiorama, rivista online edita dall’Associazione AIR: www.air-radio.it e scaricabile (assieme ai numeri precedenti) al link:
http://www.air-radio.it/index.php/radiorama/
Per chi volesse scaricare il pdf, potete trovarlo qui:
https://www.air-radio.it/index.php/2018/07/22/radiorama-numero-82/

DAB Receiver “Sales Record” – Another Lobbying Illusion

Sales are not impressive, not even in Norway
(da http://digitalradioinsider.blogspot.com/ 21 maggio 2018)

The WorldDAB organisation reports that almost 12 million DAB receivers were sold in 2017 in Europe and Asia Pacific, a new record for yearly sales. Almost half (5.9m) of the sales were for automotive devices, with key markets showing a significant increase in the number of cars sold with DAB fitted as standard.

The new data published by WorldDAB shows ”strong growth in the uptake of DAB across all major digital radio markets”. The WorldDAB infographic covers DAB receiver sales, population coverage, household penetration, digital radio reach, DAB share of listening and the number of national stations available on DAB – with statistics for ten markets in Europe and Asia Pacific up to the end of 2017. Cumulative sales for DAB receivers have now reached over 65 million for the markets covered: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. (WorldDAB infographics below)

Patrick Hannon, President, WorldDAB said: The last 12 months have been a strong period for DAB radio. International receiver sales are at their highest level ever – boosted by the switch-off of FM in Norway and strong growth in other European markets. He also says that DAB is increasingly becoming a global standard.

The UK (36 million), Germany (nearly 10 million) and Norway (nearly 6 million) have the largest installed base of receivers.
Read more: 2017: a record year for DAB receiver sales (WorldDAB release)

Sales of DAB radios in Norway in 2018 is not going according to expectations. Prior to the Easter holidays the leading importer and seller of DAV receivers Sahaga AS put a lots of brands for sale at 40-50% discount.
According to its financial analysis the chain Mekonomen concluded that during the first quarter it was negatively affected by significantly lower sales of DAB products in Norway. During the first quarter, a writedown of DAB products in inventories was made which had a negative effect of SEK 20 million on earnings.

  • WorldDAB is an organisation created by public broadcasters and the EBU in the 1990’s in order topromote the DAB technology for terrestrial digital radio. Promoters of other competing system (somemore modern and efficient) lack the power of WorldDAB which is much funded by public means (tv license fees or taxes). The other systems are DRM, HD Radio, DVB-T2 Lite, CDR and ISDB-T.

Analysis
WorldDAB is trying to make bricks without straw. The cumulative sales for DAB receivers presented with infographics by WorldDAB indicates sales of 65 million sets 2008-2017 but the real period is starting already 1995 with the U.K. representing most sales; 55 %. It should also be noted that sales in Norway is not made on a free market driven by consumer demand but rather by coercion. Listeners were forced to switch-over
from FM (and old DAB) to DAB+ in order to be able to listen to national radio. To include this in ”record sales” is just dishonest.

The WorldDAB figures should also be put in a global perspective. There are more than 6 billion FM receivers in the world only to be challenged by 2,5 billion smartphones as a platform for radio listening. It is quite difficult to envisage Patrick Hannon’s vision that DAB is becoming “a global standard”.

As always with its infographics WorldDAB never mention the listeners. How many are really using DAB as a listening platform? There are only five countries with a DAB listening on a weekly basis of more than 10%; the U.K. Denmark, Norway, Australia and Switzerland. And all 220 countries in the world are still using FM radio – even Norway.

For a technology being on the market for more than 22 years an installed based of 65 million receivers it is a record – of failure. There might be some problems as slanted facts presented by a resourceful lobby organisation are being regularly republished without any prior scrutiny by media journalists.

Also & read:

The Illusions of the DAB Radio World Are Worrying
The Impossible Mission: A Global Future for DAB Radio

Small Scale DAB trial to be extended to 2020

(da radiotoday.co.uk 7 marzo 2018) The ten small-scale DAB triallists operating multiplexes around the UK will continue their service till 31 March 2020. By extending the trial period, around 150 radio services will continue to be available to listeners in the test areas. The trial extension will also allow Ofcom to continue gathering useful information to help inform a new, formal framework for licensing small-scale DAB multiplexes across the UK, which is currently in development.

Ofcom expects that interested parties, including the current trial licensees as well as those not taking part, will have the opportunity to apply for such licences under the new framework in 2019.

Multiplexes are on-air in Bristol, Manchester, Portsmouth, London, Cambridge, Aldershot, Brighton & Hove, Norfolk, Glasgow and Birmingham.

David Duffy from Niocast, who runs the small-scale DAB/DAB+ trial in Manchester, told RadioToday:
“Niocast welcomes Ofcom’s extension of the small scale DAB/DAB+ trial to March 2020 which provides our service providers in Manchester and their loyal audiences with a level of continuity. At the same time, we  understand the frustration of the many stations around the country eager to pursue a digital pathway and those who, like us, want to facilitate that by operating small-scale multiplexes.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long before there is a licensing process in place that will allow for a wide scale rollout of small-scale DAB/DAB+ across the country.”

Ten trial licences were awarded in 2015 to parties in different areas who wanted to operate a small-scale DAB multiplex. The trial multiplexes cover a relatively small geographical area compared to local and national DAB multiplexes. The small-scale DAB trials keep costs low by making use of relatively inexpensive transmission equipment and the freely available ‘open-source’ software.

They were extended for a further two years after the initial nine month trial. Ofcom has started the licence variation process with the individual trial multiplex licensees. Their current licences will expire between 30 April and 29 August 2018 if they are not extended. There is no new funding from Government or Ofcom to support trial licensees with on-going running costs.

FM Radio Will Be Retained in South Tyrol


Analogue and digital radio will co-exist also in the future 

Consumer Center South Tyrol welcomes the statement of th regional government that FM broadcasting will continue to function.

Earlier the broadcaster Rundfunkanstalt Südtirol (RAS) had taken the position that the old analogue FM network would eventually coming to a switch-off.

Many radio listeners were worried that their FM radios would then be dead.

Landeshauptmann (the Governor) Dr. Arno Kompatscher has pointed out that the transition plan to digital radio DAB+ ensure universal coverage with FM radio in the future.

This provides for the South Tyrolean radio listeners also in the future the choice between digital and analog radio. Currently, 8 out of 10 radio users listen to analog FM radio, while 1 in 4 users listen to digital radio.
(www.consumer.bz.it)

This is also good news for all drivers of foreign cars and trucks which is not equipped with DAB radio and transiting this automonous Italian region from and to Austria.

This is killing the false statement by the lobby organisation WorldDAB that South Tyrol will switch-off all FM already 2017. Still, Norway is the only country in the world to switch-off its national FM network. (http://digitalradioinsider.blogspot.com/ 14 giugno 2018)

Icasa takes first step to commercial digital radio in South Africa

(da https://techcentral.co.za 13 aprile 2018) Communications regulator Icasa has taken the first step to possibly introducing digital radio broadcasting in South Africa. The authority has published a discussion document on digital sound broadcasting services to solicit feedback from the industry.

South Africa has run several trials involving both digital audio broadcasting (DAB+) and digital radio mondiale (DRM) technology, but no commercial services have been launched to date.

DAB is effectively a digital alternative to the analogue FM band, while DRM is effectively an alternative to AM broadcasts. Both offer better quality and more services than they analogue counterparts.
Icasa said it intends conducting an inquiry into the prospects of implementing a digitalsound broadcasting service in South Africa.

Parties interested in commenting on the discussion document must make representations with 45 days 

“Digital broadcasting service is an audio broadcasting technology aimed at providing superior quality sound broadcasting service using digital communication technology,” the regulator said in a statement. Digital services differ from traditional analogue broadcasting services in that signals can be transmitted successfully at lower transmitter power, Icasa said.

“Digital radio is also easier to use and tune in to than analogue radio,” it said. “Data capabilities of digital radio can be used directly or modified for other related broadcasting activities such as Internet radio.”

Councillor Dimakatso Qocha said digital radio, if and when implemented, could help improve spectrum efficiency and management, and offer more choice for consumers.

Parties interested in commenting on the discussion document must make representations with 45 days. The discussion document is available on Icasa’s website.

TechCentral held a round-table discussion with key figures in the radio industry in South Africa in 2017 where digital radio was discussed in detail. The panellists were Primedia Broadcasting CEO Omar Essack, Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association (Sadiba) chairman Lynn Mansfield, South African DRM consortium member and adviser to Radio Pulpit Chris Joubert, and Dave Cherry, chairman of the Sadiba/National Association of Broadcasters Digital Working Group (focused on DAB+). — (c) 2018 Bloomberg LP

Rassegna Stampa Radiorama Giugno 2018

Avatar for Andrea MarchesinAndrea Marchesin

Rassegna Stampa mensile a cura di Giampiero Bernardini.

Tratta dal numero n.81 di Giugno 2018 di Radiorama, rivista online edita dall’Associazione AIR: www.air-radio.it e scaricabile (assieme ai numeri precedenti) al link:
http://www.air-radio.it/index.php/radiorama/
Per chi volesse scaricare il pdf, potete trovarlo qui:
http://www.air-radio.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Radiorama-n.81-v1.pdf

Deep Decline for Radio Ads in Norway Bad News for DAB Broadcasters

The transition from FM is considered to be the problem. Meanwhile, all good news for local FM radio.


During 2017 national public and commercial radio made a complete with-over from FM to DAB+. Now, media agencies’ investments in radio advertising show that the two commercial networks Radio Norway and P4 in four months have backed from NOK 144.5 million to a turnover of 133.2 million. By April they have backed 7.8 %, says the CEO of the Media Agency, Merete Mandt Larsen to ad business magazine Kampanje. Just
for April development is even worse. Radio ad investments was down by 17%.

It is a difficult market for radio today, not least because of the transition to DAB. There are fewer listening to DAB radio and the range is decreasing, says Jarle Thalberg, Sales Manager, MediaManager GroupM. The
transition from FM to DAB affects P4 and Radio Norway’s main radio channels when many are listening to a broader output with more and niched channels. It’s worrying is that advertisers seem to have lost their desire for radio, says Thalberg.

In this context, local radio advertising sales have not been included. But there are continued reports of significant increased listening and also increasing advertising revenues for local stations, which continues on FM. For example, one of the larger local radio networks with nine stations Jærradiogruppen – has had a 35 percent increase during the first quarter of the year. It is about local advertising as well as national advertising via media agencies. Radio Metro stations reported have doubled their advertising sales.

Local radio continues to be expanded in areas outside the largest cities where FM is still allowed to broadcast. This week Radio Metro received a local radio concession for Osterøy, Masfjorden, Lindås, Modalen, Meland, Austreim, Radøy, Fedje and Vaksdal in Hordaland county (north of Bergen). The concession was obtained after lottery drawing at the Media Authority because there were two applicants.

The current strike at public broadcaster NRK may benefit local radio more than the two commercial networks DAB channels. This is mainly due to the fact that NRK now broadcasts more music in the absence of news
and current affairs content. Local Radio’s regional and local identity and control override the music playlists of the national commercial channels.

Local radio in Norway is owned and operated entirely by Norwegian interests while the national commercial radio is owned by two foreign companies; German Bauer and Swedish MTG.
In neighbouring Finland and Sweden the radio ad business is increasingly good on national FM networks especially for Bauer. No transition to DAB is on the agenda in those countries. In Denmark Bauer is on FM
and DAB but in order to retain its business position Bauer want to stay on FM.

(da http://digitalradioinsider.blogspot.com 18 maggio 2108)

Bright Future for Commercial Radio in Finland

FM radio is secured until 2030. The Baltic Sea region will be DAB free.

January 2020 is the start of a new tenyear
license period for the commercial
radio in Finland. There will be seven
national FM licenses, with a coverage of
at least 75 percent of the population. In
addition, eleven partially national radio networks (at least 40% in household
coverage) are announced as well as a
number of regional and local states.
Among other things, there is room for AM
and also eight stations in Helsinki.
It will be possible to broadcast on three
long/medium wave frequencies in Pori
(92.2 and 1485 kHz) and Tampere (648
kHz). – Commercial radio in Finland
continues to be the most profitable in the
Nordic region and has increased its
turnover by ten percent in April 2018.
There are no concession fees for
commercial radio in Finland.

There are no plans for DAB radio in Finland, which in 2005 decided to use the full spectrum of VHF band III for television only (DVB-T). Sweden and Latvia are other Baltic Sea region countries which have rejected proposals to replace FM with terrestrial DAB. But digital radio listening online is increasingly strong in the three countries thanks to the smartphone population and full coverage and low cost of 4G LTE for mobile
broadband. (da http://digitalradioinsider.blogspot.com)

La RAI vara Radio1Sport: un canale radio interamente dedicato allo sport


(da www.goal.com giugno 2018) Il 14 giugno prossimo partono i Mondiali di calcio in Russia, appuntamento che tutto il globo calcistico attende con ansia e che noi dovremo accontentarci di vedere da soli spettatori, vista la dolorosa eliminazione dell’Italia allo spareggio da parte
della Svezia.

La RAI, che pure ha lasciato la trasmissione televisiva in chiaro di tutte le partite a Mediaset, ha comunque deciso di approfittare dell’hype che circonderà l’inizio della competizione per lanciare proprio nel giorno inaugurale dei Mondiali il proprio nuovo canale radio, interamente dedicato allo sport.

Tra poco più di una settimana, dunque, partiranno le trasmissioni di Radio1Sport, canale digitale che sarà fruibile su Dab, Dab+, satellite, digitale terrestre, web e app, come recita il tweet di presentazione della
nostra emittente pubblica.

Samsung sbloccherà il chip FM sui propri smartphone venduti in Nord America

(Da https://www.tuttoandroid.net) TagStation LLC, la compagnia proprietaria della nota applicazione NextRadio, ha annunciato che anche Samsung si è unita alla lista di produttori di smartphone che ha deciso di sbloccare il chip radio FM sui propri dispositivi.

Come molti altri produttori anche Samsung costruisce smartphone che contengono chip in grado di ricevere il segnale delle radio FM e grazie all’intervento di TagStation, che ha condotto una campagna a favore
dell’operazione, gli utenti nord americani potranno ascoltare gratuitamente le stazioni radio.

In questo modo gli utenti avranno la possibilità di rimanere sempre in contatto con qualcuno anche in caso di emergenze o di calamità naturali, quando la Rete Internet potrebbe non funzionare. Grazie all’applicazione NextRadio i possessori di smartphone Samsung potranno ricevere dunque le classiche stazioni FM, che nel caso di recenti disastri meteorologici hanno consentito a milioni di persone di essere raggiunte con bollettini
e annunci di pubblica sicurezza.

Il nome di Samsung si aggiunge a quelli di LG, Motorola e Alcatel che avevano già sbloccato in precedenza il ricevitore FM sui loro dispositivi.

Appel d’offres en Suisse romande pour des programmes radio DAB+


(da https://www.swissinfo.ch 28 maggio 2018) Comme annoncé, la Commission fédérale de la communication (ComCom) a publié lundi un appel d’offres pour un nouveau réseau DAB+ en Suiss romande. La date limite de dépôt des offres est fixée au 27 juillet prochain.

Le Conseil fédéral a décidé, le 25 octobre dernier, que le DAB+ deviendrait le principal vecteur de diffusion des programmes radio à compter du 1er janvier 2020.

En Suisse romande, plusieurs entreprises ont manifesté leur intérêt pour une couverture DAB+ supplémentaire. Le Département fédéral des télécommunications (DETEC) a donc décidé d’adjuger le nouveau bloc de fréquences DAB+ dans le cadre d’un appel d’offres public.

L’autorité compétente pour octroyer la concession de radiocommunication est la ComCom. Le renforcement de la diversité des médias, la grandeur du bassin de diffusion et la qualité de réception seront les critères
d’adjudication décisifs.

Dès le 1er janvier 2020, le DAB+ deviendra le principal vecteur de diffusion des programmes radio

Radio. La moria delle emittenti religiose e la conversione delle piccole commerciali in comunitarie

(By Redazione, www.newslinet.com 27 maggio 2108) Insieme allo sviluppo della radio digitale sulla tv (DTT, per il quale presto si limiteranno le possibilità d’ingresso) e sul web (quanto a piattaforma distributiva dei contenuti), ci sono altre due tendenze in corso: la chiusura delle radio religiose (generalmente cattoliche) e la trasformazione di piccole emittenti commerciali in comunitarie, usufruendo delle opportunità offerta dall’art. 27 c. 6 del D. Lgs. 177/2005.

Quanto al primo aspetto, la discesa della saracinesca riguarda una platea eterogenea di soggetti: tocca certamente le radio parrocchiali, quasi sempre sostenute dalle casse delle Chiese di piccoli centri urbani, ma anche importanti stazioni regionali, magari sovvenzionate da Diocesi o da enti di matrice religiosa che si chiedono se la mission (nel vero senso della parola) abbia ancora un senso, alla luce di taluni fattori oggettivi.

Ci si domanda, in particolare, se abbia ancora un fine concreto tenere accesi ripetitori FM per veicolare spesso contenuti altrui (di solito InBlu, piuttosto che Radio Vaticana o qualche altra importante emittente religiosa), stante la difficoltà di produrne di propri, vista la disaffezione di collaboratori (i giovani non sono particolarmente motivati verso un impegno costante nelle radio comunitarie, mentre i volontari storici mollano per sopraggiunti limiti di età). Ma soprattutto, al di là della classica trasmissione delle liturgie religiose, l’interrogativo che serpeggia è: la radio ultralocale rappresenta un mezzo ancora adatto per un efficace proselitismo? Il respiro del web si sente sul collo delle minuscole emanazioni radioelettriche della Chiese. Sempre di più; al punto da spingere a riflessioni economiche ed editoriali oggettive.

Così, sono sempre di più i parroci che abbandonano il colpo; se va bene cedendo la frequenza paesana (ormai) per un tozzo di pane alla rete nazionale di turno, che spesso ha un proprio diffusore limitrofo o isofrequenziale; se va male, spegnendo il trasmettitore o utilizzandolo solo per la diffusione della messa. Le 2000 radio parrocchiali (comunitarie) di trent’anni fa sono un ricordo: sulla carta ne rimangono circa 400 ed il
ritmo di chiusura e impressionante: da due a quattro al mese…

Relativamente allo sfruttamento delle opportunità ex art. 27 c. 6 del D. Lgs. 177/2005, ricordiamo che tale disposto normativo consente “alle emittenti di radiodiffusione sonora operanti in ambito locale di ottenere che la concessione precedentemente conseguita a carattere commerciale sia trasferita ad un nuovo soggetto  avente i requisiti di emittente comunitaria“ (NB: si tratta di un processo irreversibile, nel senso che una volta variato il carattere concessorio da commerciale a comunitario non si può più tornare indietro.

Tuttavia, considerati i vincoli cui sono soggette le emittenti commerciali (gestione di una società, di persone o di capitali; due dipendenti; sopravvenute ridotte possibilità di conseguire contributi governativi) e che il tetto pubblicitario del 25% loro concesso difficilmente viene sfruttato, ben si può comprendere come i limiti delle comunitarie non siano così insostenibili. Meglio, cioè, subire un tetto del 10% a fronte di spot venduti con maggiore dignità di listino, senza però soggiacere all’insostenibile onere dei due dipendenti e dei costi di gestione societaria, che un default concreto.

Certo, l’orgoglio degli editori può subire un contraccolpo nel trasferire la propria radio ad una associazione perdendo il carattere commerciale per conseguire quello comunitario; ma è sempre meglio che dover alzare
bandiera bianca. Soprattutto se le possibilità di restare sul mercato ci potrebbero essere ancora a fronte di una riduzione dei costi d’esercizio. Così, del migliaio di titoli concessori formalmente in circolazione, sono
ormai sempre di più quelli che passano da commerciale a comunitario, diminuendo nel contempo il novero delle stazioni con velleità strettamente d’impresa. D’altra parte, la vecchia FRT (oggi Confindustria Radio Tv)
aveva sempre sostenuto che il mercato poteva sostenere non più di 300 emittenti commerciali, ad esser generosi (qualcuno oggi dice che siano 200). Ed effettivamente, ancorché a quasi 30 anni di distanza dal
proclama, questo è l’assetto che il sistema sembra assumere.

“Tra il 2016 ed il 2017 abbiamo curato numerosissime pratiche di trasferimento di emittenti commerciali verso enti in possesso dei requisiti per gestire un’emittente comunitaria“, dichiara Giovanni Madaro,
responsabile dell’Area Affari Economici di Consultmedia (struttura di competenze a più livelli collegata a questo periodico), che, confermando nel 2018 la prosecuzione del trend, precisa: “Lo stesso Ministero dello
Sviluppo Economico ci conferma che è in corso un trend notevole in tale direzione, soprattutto nelle aree più sofferenti dal punto di vista economico”.“A ciò si aggiunge un secondo fenomeno, altrettanto rilevante: quello delle piccole radio che migrano dall’FM alla tv – continua Madaro -. La radio è ascoltata per quasi il 90% in auto, ma solo a condizione che la frequenza FM sia sintonizzabile lungo tragitti di lunga percorrenza diversamente essa non entra nelle preselezioni delle autoradio (e quindi è sconosciuta alla quasi totalità dell’utenza o, per dirla diversamente, è ERP al vento). Le concessionarie di auto spesso effettuano dei check sulle autoradio delle vetture in manutenzione per verificare quali sono le stazioni memorizzate, al fine di stabilire su quali investire pubblicitariamente.

Ebbene, fermo restando che difficilmente l’automobilista va oltre le prime sei preselezioni (di cui quattro sono quasi sempre le top radio nazionali), nella quasi totalità dei casi le emittenti con raggio operativo inferiore ai
30-50 km non entrano nelle memorie. A questo punto, la riflessione è oggettiva: se devo limitare il mio potenzialità d’ascolto all’indoor, dove ormai c’è solo un ricevitore FM ogni due case (fenomeno in corso in
tutto il mondo tecnologicamente evoluto, come dimostra un recente rapporto USA di cui abbiamo dato conto ieri), tanto vale puntare a cambiare vettore migrando sulla tv, dove almeno c’è la certezza di avere
quantomeno due televisori per casa.

Rassegna Stampa Radiorama Maggio 2018

Avatar for Andrea MarchesinAndrea Marchesin

Rassegna Stampa mensile a cura di Giampiero Bernardini.

Tratta dal numero n.80 di Marzo 2018 di Radiorama, rivista online edita dall’Associazione AIR: www.air-radio.it e scaricabile (assieme ai numeri precedenti) al link:
http://www.air-radio.it/index.php/radiorama/
Per chi volesse scaricare il pdf, potete trovarlo qui:
http://www.air-radio.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Radiorama-n.80-v1.pdf

RAI: in arrivo nuovi canali DAB+

(ANSA 13 aprile 2018) La Rai accelera e punta tutto su un futuro prossimo ‘all digital’. Questo è ciò che emerge dal seminario internazionale organizzato sul DAB+ a Via Asiago. «Sul piano tecnologico e produttivo – ha spiegato Roberto Sergio, direttore di Radio Rai – siamo ormai totalmente digital, sul piano della copertura abbiamo stanziato importanti investimenti che ci consentiranno di coprire la cosiddetta ‘T autostradalè in anticipo rispetto alle previsioni, entro fine 2018. Nel biennio successivo continueremo a investire per rendere la copertura del digitale sempre più ampia e sui contenuti siamo già in onda con 5 nuovi canali, pensati e costruiti in maniera verticale per competere sul terreno del digital entertainment. E nuovi canali si aggiungeranno a brevissimo. Insomma, la Rai c’è e intende svolgere a pieno il suo ruolo di attore principale in questo progetto, come del resto è avvenuto anni fa per lo sviluppo del digitale terrestre televisivo, che non avrebbe avuto successo senza la forte discesa in campo di Rai, tema di cui nel 2004- 2007 mi occupai con entusiasmo». Il seminario ospitato nella storica sala A di via Asiago – trasmesso in diretta sui siti web e i profili Facebook di Rai Play Radio e Rai Radio Live – è stato aperto da Fabrizio Ferragni, Direttore delle Relazioni Istituzionali della Rai: «Siamo impegnati al massimo per guidare questa fase di cambiamenti storici nel mondo della comunicazione. E tutto ciò in stretta collaborazione con Agcom con la quale condividiamo l’obiettivo di gestire nel modo più utile e proficuo per i cittadini il cambio del Dab+ e il nuovo piano nazionale delle frequenze». È stato stabilito che a partire dal prossimo 2020 tutti gli apparati radio in vendita dovranno avere una modalità di ricezione digitale. «Decisione che tutti noi della filiera editoriale e produttiva – conclude Roberto Sergio, Direttore di Radio Rai – abbiamo salutato con grande soddisfazione. La copertura per tutti gli editori è in continuo aumento, così come l’offerta di contenuti».

Radio DAB+: quale scegliere. Un servizio della TV Svizzera

(Portale Italradio, http://portale.italradio.org/ Aprile 27, 2018) La radio cambia musica ma tra gli 8 apparecchi radio DAB+ provati dalla TV Svizzera sono molte le delusioni e alcuni ricevono una… sonora bocciatura. Suono scadente, prezzi, display insufficienti e soprattutto batterie che durano poco. Ecco i difetti della radio digitale dal lato dell’ascolto. Entro il 2024, tutte le radio svizzere dovranno adottare il DAB+. Si promette suono di ottima qualità, niente fruscii o crepitii anche in viaggio; grande facilità di utilizzo, informazioni aggiuntive attraverso testi e immagini. Ma è sempre così? Se lo sono domandati due popolari programmi della tv svizzera. In italiano “Patti Chiari” – andato in onda il 27 aprile su RSI La 1: https://www.rsi.ch/la1/programmi/informazione/pattichiari/Inchieste/inchieste-andate-inonda/Radio-DAB-quale-scegliere10403618.html

preceduto sulla tv germanofona SRF lo scorso 3 aprile dal programma Kassensturz: https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/kassensturz-espresso/digitalradios-im-test-der-klang-laesst-zu-wuenschenuebrig

Patti chiari ha esaminato 8 modelli diversi, con prezzi da 99,90 a oltre 300 franchi (85-260 euro circa). Come dimostrano anche le osservazioni che giungono all’Ufficio federale delle comunicazioni, che coordina il passaggio al digitale in Svizzera, i risultati sono poco incoraggianti. Vince il test modello Ruark Audio (a 379 franchi, 340 euro circa) con un voto di 5,1 che ha mostrato la migliore qualità del suono e facilità di utilizzo.

Al test di parlato, musica classica e pop i ricevitori sono apparsi con suono scadente anche per le dimensioni dell’altoparlante e problemi di elettronica. I display sono apparsi spesso troppo piccoli o insufficienti ma soprattutto le batterie.

Dovendo comprare le batterie a parte il costo supera i 20 Euro (24 franchi) e la durata è scarsa. I peggiori apparecchi si bloccano dopo 6 ore, il migliore dopo 24 ore di funzionamento ininterrotto. Secondo Kassensturz un apparecchio ha anche mostrato di subire disturbi da telefoni mobili e l’ascolto in quasi tutti gli apparecchi non è possibile in ogni luogo. Muri di cemento, ad esempio, bloccano il segnale. Il DAB+ continua a dare segni di insufficienza e costare parecchio. La strada è ancora lunga.

La Svizzera prepara il passaggio al DAB+

(traduzione dal gruppo Facebook BANDSCAN FM Da InfoDigital 24 aprile 2018 https://www.infosat.de/ )

Così, la popolazione in Svizzera può preparare per il passaggio da FM a DAB + nella diffusione di programmi radiofonici in tempo, l’Ufficio federale delle comunicazioni (UFCOM) ha annunciato oggi pubblicamente il mandato per una campagna di informazione di quattro anni sul DAB + dal 2019. L’Ufficio federale sostiene quindi l’industria radiofonica, che distribuisce sempre più i suoi programmi in modo digitale sulle reti DAB + e desidera disattivare le sue stazioni FM entro pochi anni. La Svizzera si vede in pista per impostare la trasmissione analogica di programmi radiofonici nei prossimi anni: in famiglie e veicoli svizzeri circa 3,5 milioni di DAB + dispositivi erano alla fine del 2017 in funzione, 600.000 unità in più rispetto all’anno precedente. Più di un milione di automobili sono ora in grado di DAB + per ricevere 85 per cento di tutti i nuovi veicoli sono equipaggiati di serie con DAB +, e l’uso digitale dei programmi radiofonici (DAB +, reti televisive e internet) nel 2017 54-61 per cento aumentato. Al fine di rendere il DAB + ancora più conosciuto e di promuovere l’ascolto della radio digitale, l’OFCOM sta lanciando una seconda campagna di informazione. L’obiettivo è aumentare ulteriormente il numero di ricevitori radio abilitati DAB + in case e veicoli. La campagna va dal 2019 al 2022 ed è stata pubblicizzata oggi sulla piattaforma di procurement di simap.ch. Il contratto è previsto per l’autunno 2018. Il bilancio di 5,5 milioni di franchi svizzeri sarà finanziato dalla tassa di ricezione e dal nuovo prelievo per la radio e la televisione, che sarà prelevato dal 2019 in poi. Dopo aver avviato l’attuale fase di spegnimento di FM, la campagna si concentrerà sull’informare e consigliare il pubblico e le altre parti interessate. Inoltre, il contraente dovrebbe istituire un centro di competenza per DAB +. La campagna si basa sull’articolo 58 della legge sulla radiotelevisione (RTVG). Prevede che l’UFCOM lavori con società esterne per informare il pubblico sulle nuove tecnologie nel campo dei media elettronici. La prima campagna d’informazione con il tema “Radio in movimento” sarà gestita dal 2017 al 2018 dall’agenzia Republica, con un budget di quattro milioni di franchi. La campagna di informazione è condotta in stretta collaborazione con l’industria radiofonica, che li supporta anche nei propri programmi e con i clienti free-lance. L’industria radiofonica prevede di rinunciare alle trasmissioni radio analogiche via VHF nei prossimi anni e utilizzerà invece il DAB + come principale tecnologia di trasmissione. DAB + consente una ricezione stabile e chiara in alta qualità. Inoltre, gli organizzatori possono integrare i loro programmi radio con informazioni aggiuntive (come testi e grafica). Le frequenze saranno anche utilizzate in modo più efficiente e consentiranno la distribuzione di più programmi in aree di copertura più ampie. Tra il 2013 e il 2014, rappresentanti della SRG, associazioni di radio private e non commerciali e OFCOM hanno elaborato una strategia comune per quanto riguarda la migrazione da VHF a DAB + entro il 2024 al più tardi. Il gruppo di lavoro “AG DigiMig” ha consegnato il corrispondente rapporto finale al Dipartimento federale dell’ambiente, dei trasporti, dell’energia e delle comunicazioni (DATEC) nel dicembre 2014. Il gruppo di lavoro determinerà la data di disattivazione definitiva del VHF entro l’inizio del 2019 e quindi lo annuncerà.

Si gioca sulle strade il futuro del DAB in Italia

(Portale Italradio, portale.italradio.org Aprile 14, 2018) In primo piano al convegno tenutosi a Roma venerdì 13 sugli sviluppi del DAB+ in Italia la conferma della priorità, all’ordine del giorno dei prossimi investimenti della RAI, di garantire la copertura autostradale (inizialmente da Salerno verso nord) essendo prevalente (74%) l’ascolto tramite autoradio. Successivamente si lavorerà, ha sottolineato il direttore del settore tecnologico della RAI Stefano Ciccotti, per la copertura “indoor”. Non realistico, secondo Sergio Natucci di DAB Italia, uno “switch-off” dell’FM.

Sul piano normativo, riferisce a Italradio l’ing. Costantino Pacifici, che ringraziamo per la cortesia, Angelo Cardani, presidente dell’AGCOM, ha confermato che la pianificazione in atto in VHF-III utilizzerà frequenze conformi al piano di Ginevra 2006 opportunamente coordinate con i Paesi confinanti.Tutto comunque compatibilmente con le necessità frequenziali televisive dovute al rilascio della banda 700 Mhz a favore dei servizi TLC in banda larga. Questo limiterà drasticamente il numero dei consorzi che potranno operare a livello di copertura nazionale. Anche l’ing. Ciccotti ha mostrato preoccupazione per la convivenza DAB e DTT dal punto di vista interferenziale.

Sul piano dell’ascolto Natucci (DAB Italia) ha segnalato come circa il 6,1% degli intervistati di un recente sondaggio abbia dichiarato di avere un ricevitore DAB. Natucci ha anche ricordato che dal 1° giugno 2019 (Legge stabilità 2018) i nuovi ricevitori dovranno prevedere almeno una interfaccia digitale. Georg Plattner della RAS di Bolzano, ha ripreso il tema dell’ascolto in auto rendendo noto che la sua organizzazione sta procedendo a servire anche le gallerie più lunghe mediante irradiazione a cavi fessurati. Dal punto di vista dell’emergenza – ha detto Plattner – la protezione civile può anche entrare direttamente nella matrice audio con propri messaggi specifici.

Il convegno – coordinato da Andrea Borgnino della RAI – ha riservato ampio spazio ad interventi internazionali. Patrick Hannon, presidente del WorldDab, ha portato come esempio la situazione di ascolto in UK con nuove opportunità in materia di programmi (esempio sfruttamento di materiale d’archivio). La stessa RAI, secondo altri intervenuti, sarebbe pronta a introdurre 10 nuovi contenuti (programmi?) nella rete DAB. Jacqueline Bierhost (Radio Nederland) prende atto dello sviluppo del DAB+ nel suo Paese fino a chiedersi se abbia ancora senso investire nel servizio FM. Michael Reichert (Bayerischer Rundfunk) riprendendo in parte l’intervento precedente, ha insistito sulla necessità di campagne informative e di sostegno alla distribuzione on line dei ricevitori. Attesi gli interventi di Ole Jorgen Torvmark e Jorn Erik Jensen della NRK che hanno esposto con entusiasmo l’esperienza dello switch off in Norvegia che secondo loro ha avuto pieno successo. Per esempio i piccoli centri abitati dove quasi nessuno investiva si sono visti salire i programmi da 3 a 30. Tutti i relatori stranieri hanno presentato il nuovo logo del DAB+.

Concludendo gli interventi internazionali ricordiamo che Graham Dixon (EBU) ha ribadito le peculiarità positive del mezzo radio come la provenienza certa del messaggio,la robustezza verso i cyber attack, l’affidabilità in caso di emergenza e la non tracciabilità. Italradio si permette di osservare come ciò prescinda dalla banda prescelta e dalla diffusione digitale o meno, se non che quest’ultima non consente la diffusione internazionale e transfrontaliera autenticamente libera. Anche il caso svizzero o quello altoatesino presentano programmi prescelti dalla gestione della piattaforma e non dall’ascoltatore come accade su onde medie e corte.

Tra gli studi economici presentati, Eugenio LaTeana di RTL102.5 ha illustrato il lungo impegno del suo gruppo e il considerevole impegno economico previsto nei prossimi 18 mesi. Anch’egli si è mostrato preoccupato per le ristrettezze frequenziali. Interessante la presenza di Claudio Nervi della FCA (FIAT Chrysler) che ha confermato l’interesse e l’impegno dell’industria automobilistica. Marcello Lombardo della EBU ha presentato infine un suo studio sul confronto tra costi di uno stesso servizio attraverso la radio digitale e il servizio in IP attraverso LTE. Deciso il vantaggio del primo. Sarebbe interessante confrontare i risultati con i costi delle reti hertziane analogiche.

Radio Caroline now available on London DAB

(radiotoday.co.uk Aprile 3, 2018)
Radio Caroline has been added to the Small Scale DAB multiplex in London. The station, which is now broadcasting via 648 AM in East Anglia, is available in the capital at 64 kbit/s in stereo using DAB+. News of the extra coverage was tweeted over the weekend, saying “From Sunday 1st April (honestly) Radio Caroline can be heard on DAB+ throughout the London area. If you are located within the M25, the nearer to central London the better, simply give your DAB+ radio a full scan and then you may find us.”

There’s Not Enough Political Support for FM Sunsetting in Denmark

(By Doug Irwin, www.radiomagonline.com Aprile 19, 2018) COPENHAGEN — There’s more talk in the government of Denmark about the possible “sunsetting” of the VHF FM band in that country. Now, the Danish Ministry of Culture is trying to accelerate the pace of the transition. A strategy paper from the Ministry presented at the beginning of April outlines two scenarios: VHF FMs should be switched off two years after it has been determined that the 50% listening threshold has been exceeded (it is currently at 36%). And, even if the threshold is not reached by 2021, the country should off VHF and go to DAB + anyway. The trouble is that there’s not enough political support for such a move, according to radiowoche.de. The ruling liberal-conservative three-party coalition does not have its own majority in parliament and needs cooperation from other parties; it have to put forward its proposed plans in the media sector up for discussion and then convince either the right-wing conservative People’s Party or the Social Democrats and get their votes. Representatives of the People’s Party have already announced their rejection of a premature VHF exit in the Danish media. A survey conducted for the Danish news agency Ritzau revealed that 70% of respondents are opposed to the sunsetting of premature VHF FM by 2021. Also not very enthusiastic about the new government plans are a number of newspaper publishers operating various regional and local stations, according to the same article.

Can Digital Save Medium Wave?

(www.radioworld.com Marzo 28, 2018)
So, it appears as if the listeners’ appetite for sport, banter and a bit of humor is increasing, and also that medium wave remains the first option for broadcasters to reach sports lovers over the country or capital. And even though Love Sport Radio will presumably not use an AM transmitter from GatesAir, after a recent announcement that the company was suspending the sale of its AM transmitters, is there a constructive way forward for medium wave overall?

GatesAir’s decision to evaluate the medium wave market might be a direct consequence of many broadcasters shutting off analog medium wave. Take the BBC, for example, which switched off some of its domestic medium wave coverage, or other European broadcasters who see the medium as energy inefficient, expensive and a legacy technology that does not fit in with the age of podcasts. But then again, naysayers have been calling radio — including analog medium wave — dead for many years.

In parallel, or as an answer to this declared radio obituary, the EBU Director General praises radio and doesn’t see it dead but “Over 100 Years Young.” He recently quoted a very recent EBU report that shows radio being the most trusted form of media (trusted by nearly 60 percent of the European population). Some might say the figure would be even higher if more medium wave transmitters had been kept on air and were digitized.

In the United States, Nielsen tells us that 93 percent of adults over the age of 18 tune into FM and AM (medium wave) radio each week. The number ticks up to 95 percent when considering just those between the ages of 35 and 49. So AM and FM are popular (though a bit less so with the teen listeners). Square this with the fact that in the U.S., i-Heart Media, the country’s largest analog FM and AM station, recently went bust, having paid about US$1.5 billion in interest on debts only last year.

Are you confused yet? If so, that would be understandable, since there exist many different and contradictory perspectives. There are those who are waiting for 5G to revive radio or audio. But I tend to agree with Reiner Mueller, a top IT manager at the Bavarian State Centre for New Media in Munich, who thinks that there will be so many demands on 5G, when it happens in 2025 or beyond, that it is questionable if 5G would succeed as an important digital transmission path for radio at all. Then there are those who believe that diversification is prudent, like the BBC head of radio who wants a mixed FM, digital and hybrid economy to continue with no digital switchover date set until the audience makes up its mind, or the government.

Further away from such complex evaluations are those who have looked at their rusting medium wave transmitters and have decided to go digital. In India 35 new DRM medium wave transmitters are beaming digital signals. In some very populated areas of India there is much more (information, internet content, educational information, disaster warnings) available than “just” audio. These signals (and their additional benefits) are available to over 600 million Indians now. Neither FM nor DAB can offer this kind of access to radio.

Shortwave and medium wave broadcast bands can cover large areas. Medium wave transmitters deliver excellent coverage for long distances as the signal propagation is along the earth’s surface. Most broadcasters worldwide have been using medium wave and shortwave bands for free-to-air broadcasting for years. But, and there is one but, in-band transmissions use Amplitude Modulation, and in the analog mode this results in quality degradation — on medium wave this is due to noise generated by industrialization. To remain relevant medium wave and shortwave bands must therefore be digitized in order to guarantee the necessary quality listeners wants, along with more capacity, value-added services and to also fill the gaps for FM or DAB transmitters.

Thanks to Digital Radio Mondiale, all the justified criticisms of analog medium wave (poor sound, high operational costs etc.) have been eliminated. So why is it that we aren’t seeing more broadcasters move to digital medium wave instead of simply abandoning entire transmitters sites? We see digital medium wave taking hold in India and there are plans in other parts of the world but what about Europe (with the exception of Hungary that recently installed a huge medium wave DRM transmitter) and the U.S.?

One reason might be the very name “medium wave,” which sounds so old-fashioned. In reality, the digitized version of the medium offers exceptional digital audio quality and extra bells and whistles. A deeper reason might be that digital radio has been promoted exclusively from the technology platforms upward, rather than starting from a broadcaster and listener needs and benefits perspective.

Maybe it’s time to start talking digital radio only and not just focusing on the specific standards (DRM, DAB or HD). Why not have a single organization promote the two open digital standards. This would provide complete solutions to meet requirements, coverage demands and scenarios. It would also encourage listeners to embrace digital radio faster, with more confidence and help convince them to invest a small sum in a new receiver. In short, digital radio (as a whole) would be stronger, better understood and promoted.

Analog radio is not dead, of course, but digital terrestrial radio still has some ground to cover in order to finally be considered more than just an experiment, trial or a modest add-on to analog and IP platforms.

Stati Uniti. La FCC contro i pirati in onde medie ed FM

(The Spectrum Monitor – Maggio 2018 ) FCC Showcases Broadcast Enforcement. During last month’s National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai detailed the commission’s efforts since January 2017 in combating broadcast pirate operations. The chairman noted that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau had undertaken 306 pirate investigations, issued 210 Noticed of Unlicensed Operation (NOUOs), proposed fines totaling over $300,000 and found property owners liable for actively supporting the illegal activity on their property.

In a separate statement the FCC instructed would-be pirates on ways to broadcast to their local communities without resorting to illegal transmitters: “The FCC has licensed low power radio stations in markets where that can be done without causing interference. Also, the use of fill-in translators rebroadcasting AM stations and FM stations, including HD-Radio sub-channels, has expanded the availability of programming in the FM band, including major markets. In addition, modern technology has empowered many new voices to reach audiences online via streamed radio services and other tools, like podcasts, that do not impact licensed spectrum users.”

While intended to be helpful, the advice is not realistic. The FCC does not currently offer low power licenses—a new window for such operations is not likely to open soon, if ever; fill-in FM translators are issued only to currently licensed FM and AM stations (no new AM licenses are being issued either) and, it’s unlikely that any FM station, commercial or noncommercial, broadcasting in HD-Radio, will offer a subchannel to a potential competitor.

Often described as a “Whack-a-Mole” arcade game, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has had trouble keeping up with FM pirate radio activity as its budget has been slashed, field offices closed and staff reduced to a fraction of its previous force when pirate activities weren’t nearly so robust. Congress has stepped into the fray, with a recent bipartisan proposal to heap fines on pirates amounting to $100,000 per day, per violation with a $2 million cap. You can view the FCC’s interactive pirate radio map and find out what has happened in each location here: https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/fcc-enforcement-actions-against-pirate-radio-location

Antenna Bayern anche per il 2018 seguirà i turisti tedeschi sul Garda e a Rimini

(Traduzione del gruppo Facebook BANDSCAN FM da http://www.radiowoche.de 1 aprile 2018)

La stazione radio nazionale ANTENNE BAYERN accompagna i suoi ascoltatori quest’anno in vacanza sul Lago di Garda. Una collaborazione con l’emittente radiofonica italiana ‘Radio Studio Più’ permette agli ascoltatori della stazione di godersi il loro solito programma radiofonico anche in ‘Bella Italia’. ANTENNA BAYERN invia lì ogni giorno dalle 8 alle 16. Per tutti gli ascoltatori di ANTENNA BAYERN che trascorrono le loro vacanze estive sul Lago di Garda, quest’anno ci sarà di nuovo un regalo speciale. Perché la radio nazionale invia di nuovo nei mesi estivi il più grande lago d’Italia. Ciò è reso possibile dalla cooperazione con la radio italiana Radio Studio Più, sulle cui frequenze si possono ascoltare le voci di ANTENNA BAYERN da oggi. Ogni giorno dalle 8 alle 16 ci sono accanto alle consuete trasmissioni, il miglior mix musicale della Baviera tutto incluso. Il programma può essere ricevuto da ANTENNE BAYERN alle seguenti frequenze:

101. MHz – Riva del Garda (TN) – 91.0 MHz – Malcesine (VR) – 91.0 MHz – Rovereto (TN) 94.0 MHz – Pozzolengo (BS) – 106,7 MHz – Gabicce Mare (RN) – Riviera Adriatica

L’inizio del programma è stato il 29 marzo 2018. Fino al 30 settembre 2018, il programma può essere ricevuto nella regione turistica. Con la frequenza di 106,7 MHz a Gabicce Mare si sente anche sulla Riviera Adriatica la radio privata più ascoltata della Germania. Nel frattempo, questo progetto comune europeo ha una lunga tradizione: è stato trasmesso per la prima volta sul Lago di Garda nel 1996 e ha ascoltato le note voci di Leikermoser, Nullinger e Meixner.

BBG Budget News Including Plans for Shortwave

(mt-shortwave.blogspot.com Aprile 8, 2018) The Broadcasting Board of Governors, consisting of VOA, RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, Radio/TV Marti, Radio Sawa and Alhurra, is slated for a $24 million budget reduction in fiscal year (FY) 2019. Of course, Congress will review and probably will modify the President’s budget request for BBG and other agencies.

Here are excerpts from the budget request pertaining to shortwave:

TSI [Technology, Services and Innovation, i.e. BBG engineering] continues to move the BBG from traditional broadcasting technologies, such as cross-border radio transmissions on shortwave (SW) and mediumwave (MW serving regions where these platforms are no longer popular, to other delivery systems that are rapidly growing in effectiveness and are less expensive to operate (e.g., FM radio, DTH satellite, internet streaming, mobile, and social media).

As part of its multi-year global network realignment, TSI will continue to focus efforts on upgrading its shortwave capacity at the Kuwait Transmitting Station, even as use of SW decreases. With superior strategic location and extremely low operating costs, this station will be able to serve the overwhelming majority of legacy SW audiences in the most cost-effective manner possible, at a fraction of the cost of other BBG operated site or expensive leased capacity.

Over the years, the use of shortwave (SW) radio has declined globally. TSI has responded by consolidating broadcasts to more cost-effective transmitting stations and reducing or even eliminating SW where it is no longer relevant. In markets where SW does still retain a sizable, valuable audience, TSI is committed to making SW service available in the most cost-effective way possible.

To meet this need, TSI has been upgrading the Kuwait Transmitting Station (KTS), which enjoys a superior strategic location and extremely low operating costs. In FY 2017 TSI continued to expand that facility, and in FY 2018 TSI will procure and install new antennas. In FY 2019, TSI is committed to investing in the KTS expansion further, utilizing whatever resources may be available, in order to realize longer-term savings. Ultimately, the BBG’s goal is to be able to serve most legacy SW audiences from this one site, at a fraction of the cost of all the other transmitting stations, so that other, more expensive sites may be scaled back or closed.

Philippines relay will close: In FY 2017, TSI completed the closure of the station in Sri Lanka and in FY 2018 will close the BBG facility in Poro, Philippines. TSI’s systematic and thorough review of all transmission leases will continue in FY 2019, identifying further opportunities for savings. In the years between 2010 and 2016, total costs associated with Cross Border Radio (SW and MW ) have declined by over $25 million (34.5%), and we expect this decrease to continue as we respond to market needs and as the Administration and Congress authorize us to shutter less effective legacy facilities.

In China, including Tibet, TSI will continue to provide satellite TV and radio service via Telstar 18, the most popular satellite in China, for only a fraction of the cost of the BBG’s legacy shortwave and medium wave transmissions to the region. This allows TSI to leverage the widespread use of satellite receiver dishes across the country and provide accessible programming where local cable and internet access is restricted . In FY 2018, TSI will procure additional satellite capacity on this satellite, allowing BBG to simultaneously distribute HD and SD TV programming and capitalize on the migration of Chinese audiences to HDTV, while not stranding legacy SD users.

Radio remains a very popular platform in many BBG markets, particularly Africa. BBG global weekly radio audiences increased by a stunning 28 million in 2016 alone and by 35 million since 2012. While shortwave continues to be a relevant means of delivery in several African markets, in most countries rapid growth and competition in the media market have shifted radio habits almost entirely towards FM. The BBG provides 24/7 FM radio programming in over 30 markets across the continent.

But good news for Kuwait and Greenville stations. As part of its multi-year global network realignment, TSI will continue to focus efforts on upgrading its shortwave capacity at the Kuwait Transmitting Station, even as use of SW decreases. With superior strategic location and extremely low operating costs, this station will be able to serve the overwhelming majority of legacy SW audiences in the most cost-effective manner possible, at a fraction of the cost of other BBG operated sites or expensive leased capacity.

The BCI [broadcasting capital improvement] funds in FY 2018 (and base funds in FY 2019) will be used to continue the planned reconfiguration and expansion of the shortwave broadcast infrastructure at the Kuwait Transmitting Station. This will allow BBG to enhance transmission to multiple regions, including Africa, and achieve cost savings for shortwave broadcasts. Because of the very low cost of electrical power in Kuwait, the Kuwait Transmitting Station is the least expensive IBB station to operate. This project will allow the agency to shift mission-critical but higher cost transmissions from other stations in the IBB network to Kuwait.

TSI will install and deploy three newer SW transmitters at the Greenville, NC Edward R. Murrow transmitting station enabling a doubling of frequencies servicing Cuba and making it extremely difficult for the Cuban government to effectively block Radio Marti signals into the Island.

To serve audiences in less developed areas of the world, the BBG must continue to broadcast via traditional technologies, such as shortwave, and maintain capability and improve efficiency on these platforms by replacing antiquated equipment. But to stay relevant in competitive news markets and serve current and future audiences, the BBG must continue to invest in new cutting-edge technology.

In areas where ownership and usage of shortwave radio has declined significantly, the Agency has evolved away from broadcasting in that medium. The BBG has closed transmission stations, repurposed equipment and invested these savings in platforms that the audience has shifted to, primarily television and digital media.

La distensión en la península coreana repercutirá en la propaganda radiofónica

(gruporadioescuchaargentino.wordpress.com Maggio 1, 2018) De cambio histórico y respaldo a la paz y la reunificación es considerada en Pyongyang la Declaración conjunta firmada recientemente por el presidente del Partido del Trabajo de Corea (PT), Kim Jong-un, y el mandatario surcoreano, Moon Jae In.

El texto, fue rubricado por ambos mandatarios el viernes último en la Casa de la Paz de Panmunjom, cuando subrayaron a 80 millones de coreanos y a todo el mundo que no habrá nunca más guerra en la Península Coreana.

De acuerdo con ese documento, la RPDC y Corea del Sur reanudarán en breve los diálogos y negociaciones en distintos sectores, incluidas conversaciones de alto nivel, a fin de tomar medidas para poner en práctica los acuerdos de la Cumbre. El texto precisa que Pyongyang y Seúl instalarán en breve en la zona fronteriza de Kaesong la Oficina Conjunta de Enlace Norte-Sur, donde permanecerán autoridades de ambas partes con el objetivo de estrechar los debates entre las autoridades y asegurar satisfactoriamente el intercambio y la cooperación de nivel civil.

El texto señala además que Pyongyang y Seul paralizaron desde el primero de mayo próximo todos los actos hostiles, sobre todo, la radiodifusión con altavoces y el lanzamiento de volantes en la zona de la línea de demarcación militar, desmantelarán sus medios y convertirán en el futuro la Zona Desmilitarizada en una realmente pacífica.Es importante señalar que aún siguen en el aire un sinnúmero de emisoras de radio propagandísticas que transmiten en onda corta por lo que se aventuran cambios para los próximos meses de continuar esta tendencia hacia la distensión.