Month: May 2023

Canada

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CANADIAN RADIO NEWS [and non]
–Jon Pearkins jon@pearkins.com

If laws are passed in the US that force auto manufacturers to include AM receivers in all new vehicles, Canadians are almost certain to benefit, given the cost savings involved in minimizing differences between US and Canadian vehicle models. Given their emphasis on the AM in their program title, Coast to Coast AM has produced their own commercials to motivate their listeners to sign a petition, by Texting, that will be forwarded to the US government to mandate AM in
vehicles. The Save AM Radio ads are being included as must-run commercials in the nightly syndicated program, first noted here in Edmonton on KFYR-550 at 0236 EDT on April 29th.

 590 NB Sussex CJCW Wants to move this directional 1000 watts day/250 watts night AM to FM with 725 watts, directional with a maximum ERP of 1400 watts, at 97 metres above average terrain (EHAAT). The Application will be heard in a CRTC Hearing on July 6th in the National Capital Region (Ottawa/Hull area). No change in programming is planned.

 910 AB Drumheller CKDQ Wants to move this 50,000 watt directional AM to FM with 24,500 watts, directional with a maximum ERP of 36,600 watts, at 39.4 metres above average terrain (EHAAT). The Application will be heard in a CRTC Hearing on July 6th in the National Capital Region. There is no indication if a format change will accompany the move to FM.

The Facebook page Canadian Radio News by Dan Sys provides much of the information for this column.

IRCA DX Monitor May 13, published May 8 via WOR iog (2023-05-09)

Space Weather

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HERE COMES ANOTHER CME: An approaching CME is peppering Earth’s atmosphere with energetic particles, causing an S1-class solar radiation storm and a polar radio blackout. The CME itself will reach Earth on May 10th, bringing a chance of geomagnetic storms and auroras. Full story https://spaceweather.com/

Ydun Ritz (2023-05-08)

United Kingdom

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Radio Caroline has its own YouTube channel.
Last weekend Radio Caroline again broadcast live from the Ross Revenge from Blackwater Estuary. On that occasion, the station also launched its own channel on YouTube . In a first video, Josh Holmes-Bright, Caroline’s most talented addition since last year, gives a tour of the ship, which is currently being crowdfunded , with the aim of bringing it to dry dock within a few years and thoroughly restoring it for the following decades. 
Recently, the British ITV News also published an item about this, with a reporter live from the Ross Revenge. That contribution has now also surfaced on YouTube . The crowdfunding via Crowdfunder has – with ten days to go – currently passed £86,000 (apart from £57,000 from a similar promotion last year). As soon as the Caroline charity has enough demonstrable donations, the organization wants to apply for grants, through agencies such as the British Lottery, to finance the rest of the renovation costs. The cost of a permanent repair is estimated at roughly half a million pounds, although there is in fact no ‘upper limit’.
https://radiovisie.eu/blad-1768-radio-caroline-topradio-all-india-radio/

Nico, Gouda HOL (2023-05-08)

Italy

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Tonight (07 May 2023) there will be the first test transmission from a new experimental radio station from Italy. Modulo Radio, will be on the air, from 1845 to 2000 hrs UTC, on 1575 kHz.
Reception reports to: moduloradio@hotmail.com

Antonello Napolitano, Editor of DX Fanzine to mwcircle iog (2023-05-07)

United Kingdom

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Isle of Man.
DAB+ is to replace medium wave in a not too distant future. “Manx Radio listeners in Douglas and Onchan will be able to listen to the station on DAB for the first time from today. [2 May 2023]. […] The [three year] trial will cost around £20,000, it’s hoped the digital service will replace Manx Radio’s AM transmitter. [1368 kHz] Commercial station Energy FM will also be taking part, but Irish owned 3FM has declined to do so. Manx Radio’s Managing Director Chris Sully said: “We were hoping that both the other radio stations on the Island would join us from launch day, however, the Board of 3FM has decided not to be part of the trial at this time. […]” https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/manx-radio-begins-dab-trial/

via Dr Hansjoerg Biener (2023-05-06)

Czechia

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Michal Hons reported on the MW DX Club Facebook:

Radio Dechovka will celebrate Czech Broadcasting 100 year anniversary May 18th on 1233 kHz.

On Thursday, May 18th, 2023, it will have been exactly 100 years since the start of regular radio broadcasting from Czechoslovakia. Radio Dechovka will celebrate this anniversary with a symbolic 24-hour broadcast from the Prague Zbraslav transmitter on the frequency of 1233 kHz, as the only radio station. Don’t forget to tune in on May 18th 10:00 UTCfor the special broadcast on the medium wave frequency of 1233 kHz and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the start of regular radio broadcasting in the Czech Republic with Radio Dechovka. To commemorate this anniversary, Radio Dechovka will be sending a special QSL card to listeners.

Mike Terry to WOR iog (2023-05-05)

India

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All India Radio changes name to Akashvani.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has announced that All India Radio (AIR) will now be known as Akashvani, as per a provision of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990.

In a satellite message, the policy division of the office of the Director General, Akashvani, informed all centres across the country
about the change. The next radio bulletin in English on the government-run service will begin with the announcement, “This is
Akashvani,” instead of the current announcement, “This is All India Radio.”

The new announcement format will also be used in other tongues or dialects. The word “Akashvani” was first used by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1939 as a poetic translation of All India Radio. According to The Wire, the new decision has led to mixed reactions, with former I&B minister Manish Tiwari calling it a “silly, inane branding exercise which is completely redundant.”

As per the Prasar Bharati Act, the term “Akashvani” denotes the establishments, offices, and stations that were formerly under the
control of the Director General of All India Radio belonging to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as of the appointed day.

After 26 years, the ministry has finally decided to put this clause into effect. However, the Act is not clear on what happens to offices set up post-November 15, 1997, which is the appointed day. The popular radio station Vividh Bharati, which has an English name for all official communications and is classified as a “commercial broadcasting service” in the Union budget, has been the subject of speculation as to what may happen to it as a result. TMC MP and former I&B secretary Jawahar Sircar has asked for the budget head for Vividh Bharati to be changed first if the aim is to do away with colonial legacies.

The change to Akashvani has sparked a debate on the necessity of the rebranding exercise. Some have argued that AIR has a brand value and that changing the name is unnecessary. However, others feel that Akashvani is more reflective of India’s cultural heritage and that the change is a step in the right direction. Regardless, the change is now in effect, and the next time you tune in to AIR, you will hear the announcement, “This is Akashvani.”
https://www.outlookindia.com/national/ministry-of-information-and-broadcasting-announces-change-from-all-india-radio-to-news-283549

Mike Terry to mwcircle iog (2023-05-04)