Translated from French:
TRT intends to reinvest in medium waves following the earthquake.
In 2008, TRT turned off its medium and long wave transmitters or reduced broadcast time to a few hours a day without any explanation. These broadcasts were listened to by Turks but also by many citizens of Greece, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and other neighboring countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean basin.
TRT hoped to see its listeners migrate to satellite reception, but it was not successful. For many listeners, there was no possibility of installing satellite dishes, whether on the move, in buildings but also in neighboring countries where the authorities are hunting for satellite dishes.
TRT preferred to ignore that medium wave and long wave was the most reliable means in the event of a disaster or in the event of war, to the chagrin of the Civil Services Directorate of Total Defense which was not heard.
13 years later, Turkey is facing the biggest earthquake it has ever known. Although RTÜK has the ability to order all TV and radio stations to switch to singlecast in an emergency, the measure is proving illusory. Mobile networks and the Internet were impacted, as were FM and television transmitters.
Only medium waves could still be broadcast from transmitters located outside the impacted area. TRT Radyo 1 returned to the Mersin Kazanlı transmitter (36°49’29.4″N 34°44’28.7″E) with its 300 kW on 630 kHz, all day long, instead of local broadcasts which n only aired a few hours a day. These broadcasts can be accessed from anywhere in the affected region, from any battery-powered radio.
The TRT “discovers” as well as the broadcasting in medium waves remains the least expensive method of communication and the only one valid in the face of earthquakes.
Luckily, following pressure, TRT stopped the medium waves while keeping five of the twelve installations in working order. The remaining transmitters continued to broadcast for a few hours a day.
A chance that they did not act like many European countries, by destroying the transmitters and the antennas.
Now, the TRT is looking for medium wave transmitters to renew its fleet. These would be recent transmitters that have been withdrawn from service in another European country.
Medium wave frequencies.
Antalya Aksu (36°55’38.8″N 30°56’30.4″E) 600kW reduced to 100 kW 891 kHz
Izmir Tobali (38°14’59.1″N 27°15’29.7″E) 200 kW reduced to 100 kW 927 kHz
Mersin Kazanlı (36°49’29.4″N 34°44’28.7″E) 300kW 630kHz
Diyarbakır Çınar (37°49’10.5″N 40°19’05.2″E) 300 kW 1062 kHz
Trabzon Deliktas (40°59’13.4″N 39°46’02.5″E) 300 kW reduced to 100kW 954 kHz
Radio Magazine FB group (2023-03-22)