------------------------------------------------------- "RUS-DX" # 876 Broadcasting of Russia, countries of CIS and Baltiya (ex. USSR). Sunday / 12 June, 2016 Information bulletin of Russian DX League Electronic version ------------------------------------------------------- Time : UTC ------------------------------------------------------- Editor : Anatoly Klepov ------------------------------------------------------ QTH : Moscow, Russia ------------------------------------------------------- E-mail : rusdx@yandex.ru Web site : http://rusdx.narod.ru (Russian / English) Mailing List : http://groups.google.com/group/rusdx. QSL, a photo : http://rusdx.blogspot.ru/ --------------------------------------------------------- Russia, CIS and Baltic countries (ex. USSR) Worldwide broadcasting in Russian. Editor's desk. Country information. Radio broadcasting in Russian. WEB radio in Russian. QSL world. DX program. Calendar radiodat. Philately. Mass Media. Radio program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "RUS-DX" may not be redistributed without permission. If quoting from the bulletin, please list the original reporter and "RUS-DX" as source. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronic transfer : http://translate.google.ru EDITOR'S DESK ================ * A lot of information about the radio passes by, and do not have time, something to track, because it does not always happen at the radio and on some days, there are no opportunities to engage DX-hobby. Such is life: illness, work, family life and life in general in Russia - it is a struggle for survival. This everyone knows. Everything is constantly getting more expensive, and email contacts in one salvation - saves a lot of money. I invite everyone to compile a list of radio broadcasts, that the air several times a month and confirm reception of its broadcasts. Write to the address of the bulletin. Today the top of the list. Date: first Sunday of the month. Germany. Radio Joystick. WEB: http://radiojoystick.de/ The transmitters are located in the small town of Moosbrunn near Vienna, broadcasting our shows on every first Sunday of each month at 12:00 h German time (10:00 UTC) with 100 kW at 7330 kHz on shortwave to Western Europe! * Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia group "deneb-radio-dx" said: - A special QSL card Radio Prague. Details here - http://www.radio.cz/ru/static/80-let-radio-praga/specialnaja-kartocka "Radio Prague" has issued a special QSL-cards, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the founding of the radio station, which is received by each student, who will send us a "report on the admission" August 31, 2016. - Russian Madagassar World Voice radio department (KNLS - "New Life") in From July 1 to September 1, 2016 will confirm reports about reception special QSL-cards from Madagascar species and be certified special stamp. The number of cards is limited (200 units). reports welcome to the email address: mwvradio@gmail.com message received from the Russian department of the radio station * Albania. Perhaps soon the international broadcasting of Radio Tirana leave ether. ALBANIA. There are voices that: RTSH on AM broadcasting abroad might be closed one pretty day soon (Drita Çiço, RTSH-Head of Monitoring Center, Radio Tirana, May 27, WORLD OF RADIO 1828, DX LISTENING DIGEST) * Russia. In Russian : The magazine "Radio", 6/2016 (http://www.radio.ru/), see "Listening to the radio" heading: V. Gulyaev. Broadcast News. In free access. * Glenn Hauser, USA reported in the group "HCDX" Updated June 7: DX/SWL/Media Programs: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html Alan Roe`s Hitlist of SW stations: http://www.w4uvh.net/hitlist.htm World of Radio schedule: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html * Iltaly. Here is the schedule for the next broadcasts of Marconi Radio International (MRI) on 8, 15, 22 and 30 June 2016: 1730- 1830 UTC on 13960 kHz (USB mode), 1915-2015 UTC on 15070 kHz (USB mode) and 2045-2145 UTC on 7700 kHz (USB Mode). Our broadcasts include some kind of programmes now sadly missing from most shortwave radio stations: an old style DX show in English "Italian Short Wave Panorama" with lot of recent logs as well as a mailbag programme in Italian. Our station identification announcements are not only in English and Italian but also in French, German, Spanish and Catalan. MRI encourages reception reports from listeners. Audio clips (mp3-file) of our broadcasts are welcome! We QSL 100%. Our electronic mail address is: marconiradiointernational@gmail.com - Please don't forget to include your postal address as some lucky listeners will also receive a printed QSL card. Last but not least, we need your help! If you use social networks, please post an announcement on Facebook or send out a tweet the day before the broadcast. You can also forward this message to a friend. This should help increase our potential audience. We hope to hear from a lot of shortwave listeners about our transmissions. Best 73's Marconi Radio International (MRI) * Cuba. "55th ANNIVERSARY OF RADIO HAVANA CUBA CONTEST" On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Radio Havana Cuba, our shortwave station invites its listeners to participate in a competition marking that important date. The question you must answer is as follows: How do you evaluate the permanence of Radio Havana Cuba in the shortwave bands and its programming, 55 years after its foundation? The jury will award 5 Prizes and 50 Mentions, consisting in Cuban handicrafts and souvenirs from our station. Contest deadline is December 31st, 2016. Essays can be sent electronically through radiohc@enet.cu or by postal mail to RHC, P. O. Box 6240, Havana, Cuba. * Sri Lanka. Closed relay station in Sri Lanka due to the aging of equipment.U S A [non]. As of today the SRI LANKA station is no more. The station is too expensive to maintain and something like a quarter million bolts on the antennas need to be replaced because of corrosion. They are closing two a year now, so one of the German stations is next (a reliable source, June 9, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) To state the obvious, this site was ideal for covering much of Asia, and part of Africa. Perhaps some of the scheduled IRA transmissions for the time being will be shifted to other sites? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Victor Goonetilleke in Sri Lanka, who works as a monitor for IBB, replies, ``Yes, Glenn, last broadcast went out on the 8th. Sad but this is the way SW goes``. (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) * Message: 5 Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2016 From: Tom Taylor Subject: [HCDX] Relays this weekend Saturday HLR: 06.00 to 12.00 UTC, on 6190 KHz 12.00 to15.00 UTC, on 7265 KHz Sunday HLR: 09.00 to 12.00 UTC on 9485 kHz Atlantic 2000 will be on the air this Sunday, 12th of June, with our 34th anniversary show, at 0700 and 1900 UTC on 6070 kHz, and at the same time on our website : http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr Special QSL card available, by sending a detailed reception report to : atlantic2000international@gmail.com Hobart Radio International has an additional broadcast Tuesdays 9955kHz 2230-2300 via WRMI Full A16 Schedule: http://www.hriradio.org/p/current-schedule.html EMR scheduled Short Wave Transmissions for June 2016: Relay on 18th of June 2016: NEW Time Slot 17.00 to 18.00 (Eastern Time) on 7490 KHz - Central & North America via WBCQ. Relays on 19th of June 2016:07.00 to 08.00 UTC on 11650 KHz - Southern Europe - Portugal & Spain via KBC. 08.00 to 09.00 UTC on 6045 KHz - Western Europe & UK via KBC .08.00 to 09.00 UTC on 9485 KHz - Western Europe & UK via MV Baltic Radio. 19.00 to 20.00 UTC on 6070 KHz - Western Europe & UK via Channel 292. Radio Channel 292 Transmission schedules: http://www.channel292.de/schedule-for-bookings/ Radio Mi Amigo Transmission schedules: www.radiomiamigo.es/shortwave -- European Music Radio: website: www.europeanmusicradio.com email: emrshortwave@gmail.com * Our June 14 (June 13 in the Americas) program features special guest Luna Manzanares, who has the lead role in Carmen la Cubana, a cubanized version of Bizet (remember Carmen Jones?). We'll also feature some of the album Cosmopolitan by D'Corason, which won the Nueva Trova category in Cubadisco 2016. We'll also have some more music from Popularmente Sinfónico Vol II by Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas and some vintage Los Papines. Two listening options on shortwave: WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000 UTC (8pm EDT Mondays) Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900 UTC (2100 CEST) See the NOTES section of our Facebook page for more information. Graphic attached. William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer Tilford Productions, LLC 5713 N. St. Louis Av Chicago IL 60659-4405 email: bill@tilfordproductions.com phone: 773.267.6548 website: www.tilfordproductions.com * Ruslan Slavutskiy, Moscow region said: Monitoring. A service radio. "Vertoslet 2016". 11 June 2016 129.100 AM. 10.10 UTC. Airfield "Chernoe" - the call sign "Pokrovskaya". INFORMATION BY COUNTRY. ========================== RUSSIA ======== Altaisky kray. Barnaul. ------------------------------- * June 7 branch RTRS "Altai KRTPTS" began airing radio "Zvesda FM" in Barnaul. broadcasting frequency - 107 MHz 9. "Zvezda FM" can take 825 thousand inhabitants of Barnaul and the surrounding area. Radio "Zvezda FM" - the modern musical and conversational radio station pays special attention to the patriotic and military themes. The grid information broadcast "Zvezda FM" there are all-Russian and international news, news of the Russian army, and weather forecasts. (Russian radio and television) * Radio "Zvezda" - colloquially-musical radio station, which is part of OAO "TV and Radio Company of the Russian Federation Armed Forces" STAR ". Radio "Zvezda" is broadcasting in Russian from February 20, 2005 in Barnaul being broadcast at a frequency 107,9 FM transmitter using a 1 kW. The transmitting antenna is located on the mast of the Altai Regional Broadcasting Center, it enables the reliable reception of radio "Zvezda" program in Barnaul, Novoaltaysk and surrounding towns. On Air - information and educational programs, the transfer of the historical and cultural themes, audiobooks, music 70's - 90-x's regular newscasts. A unique project "Zvezda" is a literary radio program - "Short Story Hour" and "Night radiokniga". The slogan of the radio station: "I remember the past, believe in the future!". The site of the radio station "Zvezda" - www.radiozvezda.ru The Internet broadcast a special internet version of "STAR" radio station, which is different from the FM-version of the lack of advertising and some gear. (OnAir.ru) Vologodskaya oblast. Vologda. -------------------------------------------- Branch RTRS "Vologda ORTPTS" will broadcast Love Radio station in Vologda at a frequency of 96.4 MHz. May 25, according to the results of the contest Roskomnadzor, "Radio Love" (recorded station name) received the right of broadcasting in the regional center. At the moment, the Vologda branch of RTRS is the preparatory work for the start of the broadcast station with a new TV tower in Vologda. Starting the transmitter is scheduled for mid-year 2017. (Russian radio and television) Orenburgskaya oblast. Orsk. ----------------------------------------- On June 9, the director of the branch RTRS "Orenburg ORTPTS" Alexei Mikheyev, deputy head of the city of Orsk Sergey Dunayev and director of TV "Orenburg", the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Orenburg region Larisa Murashova have launched FM-broadcast "Radio Russii" Orsk. Broadcasting frequency - 107.5 MHz. Transmitter power - 1 kW. "Radio Russii" can make more than 400 thousand people. The average radius of the coverage area - 30 km. On the route Orsk - Orenburg station can take 60 km from Orsk. Previously, "Radio Russii" was broadcast in the UHF band at a frequency of 66.92 MHz. During the event, employees of the Orenburg branch RTRS organized a live video from the studio of "Radio Russii" in Orenburg. Leading welcomed the launch of FM-broadcasting in the eastern region and spoke about the advantages of broadcasting in the new format. At the launch ceremony were invited to the winners of "Radio Russii" and the media. Employees of the Orenburg branch RTRS had a guest tour of the telecentre. Aleksei Mikheev, Sergei and Larissa Murashova Dunayev awarded prizes - radios - the winners of "Radio Russii" from Mednogorsk, Novotroitsk and Orsk. Orenburg branch RTRS also broadcasts of "Radio Russii" in the FM-band Buguruslan and Matveevka. Residents can take Buguruslan "Radio Russii" at a frequency on the frequency 107.5 MHz, residents Matveevka - on 102.1 MHz. (Russian radio and television) Tambovskaya oblast. Tambov. -------------------------------------------- June 1 branch RTRS "Tambov ORTPTS" began airing radio station "Radio Dacha" in Tambov. Broadcasting frequency - 90.9 MHz. Transmitter power - 1 kW. Stations can take about 500 thousand inhabitants of Tambov and the surrounding area. (Russian radio and television) Broadcasting in the country - Nashe Radio --------------------------------------------------------- Our new city - Astarhan and Shadrinsk June 2, 2016 began broadcasting Nashe Radio in Astrakhan and Shadrinsk. Today, our radio broadcasts in 75 cities of Russia. Every day on the radio wave is adjusted 8 million people, which is now added and listeners multicultural city of Astrakhan and dynamic city Zauralye Shadrinsk (Kurgan region). The number of potential listeners in Astrakhan in the listening area will be about 700 000 people. Tune in to your favorite wave of our radio in this city is now possible on the FM frequency 87.9. More than 85,000 students Shadrinska hear our leading musicians, and in the wake 103,1 FM. The basis of the music playlist radio make up such legendary groups as "DDT", "Alice", Zemfira, "Spleen", "King and the Clown", "B-2", "Agatha Christie", "Time Machine", and many others. Thanks to our radio gained national love many musicians from Russia and other countries - Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Latvia. What will be our next city? Follow the news on the official website www.nashe.ru Our radio - one of the leading Russian radio station, part of the "Media Holding" (radio VEST FM, ROCK FM, "Radio Jazz", News Agency "National News Service," recording studio "VINTAGE RECORDS STUDIO", the agency "ULTRA Production" and a plant for the production of vinyl "vINYL rECORDS"). "MMX" is considered one of the largest in the number of broadcasting stations of private Russian companies. Since 2008, our radio is the organizer of the National Music Award "Chart Dozen". In addition, for 16 years radio station holds the largest post-Soviet Invasion festival that gathers up to 150 million viewers annually. (OnAir.ru) RUSSIA / ARMENIA / PRIDNESTROVIE =============================== Vesti FM Radio on June 7th at 0000-0057 UTC heard on 1395 KHz Gavar // 1413 Grigoriopol in Russian (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria). BELARUS ========== Belarus registered the Catholic "Radio Maria" Belarus registered the Catholic radio station "Radio Maria". Officially, the entity was called the founding of the "Radio Moldova" - this is due to certain provisions of the Belarusian legislation. However, the Belarusian agency will be able to get the rights to use the trademark "Radio Maria" and aired under this name. The radio will work in Belarus in the Belarusian language. "You also need to pass a number of legal proceedings, but the main stage, finally passed. It is planned that the first step is to create a mobile studio that will broadcast the Mass from different churches of the country. We hope that we will be able to start broadcasting in December 2016 ", - said the head of the" Radio Maria Belarus "Vyacheslav Gulevich. Open the editor of the world famous Catholic radio station "Radio Maria" in Belarus have been trying for five years. charter97.org (OnAir.ru) TAJIKISTAN =========== Heard Tajik Radio Home Service in Tajik on June 10th at 0400 on three harmonics 9530, 14295 and 19060 (best on 14295) but nothing on fundamental 4765 KHz (already at day time). (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria). UKRAINE ======== The largest Ukrainian radio station was obliged to play the national anthem twice a day Interdisciplinary Association "Radio Committee" decided that the national anthem of Ukraine should sound twice a day in the air of all radio stations in its composition. It is reported by the press service of the National Television and Radio Council. "Radio Committee supported the proposal by the regulator sound the anthem of Ukraine on the radio", - said in a statement. The committee consists of radio "Hit FM", Radio Roks, "Russian Radio Ukraine", Kiss FM, Radio the Relax radio "Melody" radio "Lux", "Radio 24", "Nashe Radio", "Auto radio" "retro FM", lounge FM, "FM Jam," radio "Voice of capital", the NRJ radio "Chanson", "Favorite radio", "Business radio" and DJFM. The decision on the proposal of the Radio took the head of the National Council Jury Artemenko. June 7 The National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting has taken the initiative to oblige radio stations include broadcasts Ukrainian anthem twice a day. strana.ua (OnAir.ru) "RUS-DX PLUS" PARTNER CHANNELS AND INTERNET ================================= SHORTWAVE BULLETIN Issue no. 1851, 5 June, 2016. edited by Thomas Nilsson, Sweden ----------------------------------------------- Log 4009.94 / Jun2 / *0000- / Birinchi R, Krasnaya Rechka ID in Kyrgyz and Ru, National hymn, 0003 Kyrgyz ann, orchestral music. // 4819.90 (Xizang fading out). / (AP-DNK) 4765.00 / Jun1 / 2355 / Tajik R 1, Yangiyul Tajik talk about Tajikistan, folksong. / (AP-DNK) AP-DNK Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark BC-DX 1255, 4 June 2016 edited by Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany ------------------------------------------------------ ARMENIA 17560 Radio Northern Ireland Test TX to Asia. To our listeners in Asia: On Sunday, 5th June 2016 from 1000-1030 UT we will manage a broadcast for Radio Northern Ireland program on 17560 kHz via Transmitter Gavar in Armenia at 100 kW, directed at 100 degr. (Alan Gale-UK, SSF_B via BrDXC-UK ng June 3) seemingly backlobe of 280 degrees antenna A86 / A87, see Gavar image at (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 3) RUSSIA 7295 // 7345 Radio Sakha. June 3 with open carrier at tune in of 0855 UT; audio at 0900 UT, but no IS nor time pips; straight into Russian programming; 7345 kHz, as usual the best reception when compared to 7295 kHz. Have to wonder about item in dxld#16-21, reporting "presumed" R. Sakha reception "0803+ UT," as I have only observed a *0900 UT sign on. All the schedules I have seen also indicate *0900 UT, whether weekday or weekend, with 0500* to *0900 UT being silent. (Ron Howard-CA-USA, DXplorer via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 3) DX LISTENING DIGEST 16-22, June 1, 2016 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser,USA ---------------------------------------- ** ARMENIA. Test transmission of Radio 700 via Yerevan Gavar: Radio - People & Stories, see also under Germany. Christian {at R700 Kall}, ist das die 8fach gestockte A80 / A81 Vorhangantenne in 305 Grad? Gavar-ARM antenna site image download link 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 22, BC-DX 28 May via DXLD) 1300-1400 17760 ERV 100 kW 305 deg to WeEUR German on Sunday May 29 Just wanted to highlight the news from Ivo Ivanov and also on the WRTH Facebook page: "GERMANY/ARMENIA Test transmission of Radio 700 via Yerevan Gavar: 1300-1400 on 17760 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to WeEu German on Sun May 29" This is the German program Radio - Menschen & Geschichten (Radio - People & Stories); see http://www.shortwaveservice.com/empfangen/das-magazin-radio-menschen-und-geschichten/ -- (Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sonntag, 29. Mai 2016 um 10 Uhr MESZ (08 Uhr UTC) auf 6045 kHz und 7310 kHz 12 Uhr MESZ (10 Uhr UTC) auf 6005 kHz 15 Uhr MESZ (13 Uhr UTC) auf 17760 kHz Erewan Gavar Armenien <<<<<<<< 19 Uhr MESZ (17 Uhr UTC) auf 3985 kHz wb (Wolfgang Büschel, via roger, dxldyg via DXLD) http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2016-05-28.htm#Gavar http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2016-05-28.htm#Armenia Nauen, Rohrbach, Kall, Weenermoor, Göhren, Datteln, Moosbrunn: http://www.rhci-online.net/files/D-06193_Petersberg_150km_mapping+foF2.png (roger, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) GERMANY [non], Radio Menschen & Geschichten from R 700 via Armenia on 17760 kHz heard with excellent signal from 1310UT (tune-in). http://www.shortwaveservice.com/empfangen/das-magazin-radio-menschen-und-geschichten/ (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1828, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15 Uhr MESZ (13 Uhr UT) auf 17760 kHz Erewan Gavar Armenien <<<<<<<< Der Sender Erewan kann schon seit 1244 UT gehört werden. Zwar stört RRI Chinesisch aus Ziganeschti auf 17755 kHz noch, - bis 1257 UT. 17760 kHz hier mit Signal S=9+15dB oder -56dBm gehört. Und 10 x 50 Hertz Brummtöne wie ein Gartenzaun auf jedem Seitenband auch, nur der 350 Hertz String ist etwas 'unterbelichtet'. wb df5sx (Büschel, DXLD) Peaking at 20 over S9 at the Twente receiver (Richard Langley, 1338 UT, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) German version: Der Empfang war heute morgen von 0800-0900 UT auf 6045 kHz via Nauen am besten - nahezu störungsfrei (Signalstärke: S9+40). Kein Empfang um 0800 UT auf 7310 kHz möglich (tote Zone oder off-air - auf dem ELAD keine Aktivität). Um 1000 UT auf 6005 kHz mittelmäßiger Empfang (O=3), mäßig starkes Signal, mittelstarkes Fading. Der Empfang zur Zeit (1300-1400 UT) auf 17760 kHz via Gavar, Armenien schlechter als auf 6045 kHz (Signalstärke: max. S9+20, Signalstärke schwankte im Takt des mäßig starken Fadings). Laut ILGRadio Database wird mit 100 kW gesendet. Mehrmals QRM durch etwas, dass wie Radarsignale klang (wie einst OTHR aus Sowjetunion auf vielen Rundfunkbändern) auf 17750 kHz zwischen 1315 und 1330. English version: Best reception from 0800 to 0900 UT on 6045 kHz via Nauen - nearly with no disturbances. No reception at 0800 on 7310 kHz because of "dead zone or transmitter off-air (on ELAD no activity). Reception at 1000 UT was fair, fair signal, moderate fading. Actual reception (1300-1400 UT) on 17760 kHz via Gavar, Armenia is not as good as on 6045 kHz (signal strength: max. S9+20 varyiing defending on fading, fading was moderate). According to ILGRadio Database transmitting with 100 kW. Several times QRM from what sounded like radar signals (sounding like former OTHR from Soviet Union all over the shortwave bands) on 17750 kHz during time slot 1315-1330. 73, (Manfred Reiff, Germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here in NW England reception of 17760 at 1340UT tune in is fair to good, peaking to S7+ and dropping to zero on the S meter. The audio sounds harsh, even distorted, in AM mode, and better using one of the sidebands. No interference noted - both sidebands are empty. VOA via Thailand made a crash start as MESZ closed at 1400 with something else co-channel - assumed to be China, as this broadcast is in Tibetan (Noel R. Green, NW England Hi Noel, yeah, you're right. At 1400 UT Voice of America started its transmission in Tibetan on 17760 kHz, heard here with AOR AR-7030plus and with the ELAD FDM-S2, both at S9+20. In the display the ELAD showed another signal on this QRG ranging from 17750 to 17770 kHz. According to the ILGRadio Database it is a Chinese jammer with DRM modulated CNR 1 via Kashi II with 10 kW. According to the database there is a second Chinese jammer active from Dongfang in AM operating with 250 kW. VOA dominated the frequency this time. Often the jammers make it impossible to listen to VOA or RFA broadcasts in languages spoken in China. Even certain VOA English programmes directed to particular regions (Zimbabwe and East Asia) are jammed too from neurotic Chinese jamming fetishists. 73, (Manfred Reiff, ibid.) 29/5, 17760, 1300-1400, RADIO 700 test transmission via TX Gavar. Armenia, German language, strong signal. Audioclip is available here: http://swli05639fr.blogspot.it/2016/05/audioclip-radio-700-test-transmission.html 73's de (Francesco Cecconi, CENTRAL ITALY, ICOM R71, ANT 100 mt LW, noticiasdx yg via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. 3985, R. Belarus via Kall. This is a Radio Belarus program transmitted out of Germany on a listed 1 kW. Initially detected music and then the news on the hour at 2200 which was coming through well enough for an ID. Poor to fair signal received on 11/5 (Phil Brennan, of Darwin NT, visiting Bilbao, Spain, June Australian DX News via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. ... 15530, May 26 at 1342, open carrier at S9-S5, dead air, but shortly CNR1 cuts on in Chinese // echoey 13690, as if it`s jamming something. Like Voice of Tibet, but the closest match on Aoki today is 15528 1315-1340 TJK * VOICE OF TIBET Chi Dushanbe-Ya 1-7 but no carrier audible now on 15528, as it would have jumped at 1340 to 15522 per Aoki, but not noted or checked. 15558.0, May 26 at 1404, JBA carrier here and also on 15555 (along with USB WJHR), and 15560. 15558 would be Voice of Tibet in Tibetan via Tajikistan; 15555 a CNR1 jammer; 15560 another CNR1 jammer. 15565, May 26 at 1405, JBA carrier, i.e. V. of Tibet via MADAGASCAR, until cut off at 1407*, time for it to jump to 15560 where there is already a CNR1 jammer against 15558 VOT Tajikistan as above (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CRIMEA [and non]. The National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting shared their plans with respect to the information policy of the Crimea. Details of the member of the National Council Sergey Kostinsky. According to him, the agency will work in two directions. Firstly, on the territories adjacent to the Crimea will be blocked and broadcasting stations on the peninsula. Secondly, it is planned to provide both analog and digital broadcasting on the territory of the Crimea from the southern regions of the Kherson region. Exactly the same is intended to introduce measures in the Odessa region. In addition, he said that the draft communication strategy will be finalized and submitted to the working group at the beginning of June this year. Earlier, the National Council was marked by scandalous restrictions on broadcasting in the territory of Ukraine of different children, scientific and educational, as well as Russian music channels. The justification cited whenever the absurd argument that the content of the data channels allegedly threaten the national security of Ukraine. http://nahnews.org/774748-nacsovet-po-teleradioveshhaniyu-ozvuchil-genialnyj-plan-v-otnoshenii-kryma/ On the territory of the Crimea Ukrainian radio began broadcasting the UR-1 at a frequency of 101.4 FM, according to the website of the Kherson Regional State Administration. It is noted that when applying for a wave radios signed as "Glory to Ukraine!". "I get messages from Dzhankoy and Krasnoperekopsk - Ukraine receivers hear people say that the signal is good," - said the chairman of the Kherson Regional State Administration Andrey Gordeev. It is reported that on the territory of Genichesky area allocated area for the construction of a high TV tower for better signal reception in the Crimea. Source: http://www.gazeta.ru/social/news/2016/05/27/n_8686949.shtml (Sent by Sergei Sosedkin, USA, via Moscow Information DX Bulletin Weekly electronic publication # 996, May 24, 2016, The editor of the current issue: Konstantin Gusev, via May 29 RusDX, May 31 via DXLD) ** GEORGIA [non]. VOA GEORGIAN MARKS 65 YEARS ON THE AIR Former and current VOA Georgian journalists and other staff with agency Director Amanda Bennett (C) [caption] WASHINGTON D.C., May 27, 2016 -- The Georgian Service of the Voice of America celebrated its 65th anniversary on Thursday. At a ceremony at VOA headquarters in Washington, Georgia's ambassador to the United States, Archil Gegeshidze, said his country's independence from the Soviet Union "was largely due to the positive influence of programs from broadcasters like the Voice of America." VOA Georgian first aired on May 26, 1951. "During the Cold War, you played a critical role in helping Georgians understand the world beyond the Iron Curtain," added U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly. In a video message from the Georgian capital Tbilisi, Kelly said that "since Georgia's independence, VOA Georgian has helped build the foundation for a strong U.S.-Georgia relationship that we continue to enjoy today." Other U.S. and Georgian diplomats as well as human rights experts, representatives of the Georgian-American community and past members of the Georgian Service joined VOA Director Amanda Bennett in honoring the service. "VOA Georgian was an alternative voice speaking to and for Georgians during the Cold War, and it remains so today," said Bennett. "VOA is needed today more than ever. VOA is one of the few media outlets in the region that provide accurate and credible news and information as well as objective, free and fresh voices and perspectives." VOA Georgian reaches 7.7 percent of adults in Georgia each week. In addition to radio programming distributed nationwide on FM via Georgia's Public Broadcasting Corporation, the service produces a weekly television magazine program, Washington Today, that is carried on Georgian Public TV. The show focuses on developments in the United States, American perspectives on major developments in the region, the Georgian diaspora, social issues, medicine, science, technology and culture. "VOA Georgian audiences can always expect us to provide exclusive, reliable news and information," said VOA Georgian Chief Anna Kalandadze, adding that she is "honored to work with the service's dedicated journalists who continue to positively influence Georgia's traditional and new media environments." The service also maintains a dynamic website, http://www.amerikiskhma.com/ providing video reports on its YouTube channel and engaging the audiences through Facebook and other social media (VOA PR, and via Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. No signal from Denge Kurdistan via Grigoriopol on 11600 kHz after 0530 UT May 29 -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So did it stay off, or come back? I don`t find any follow-up about this from Ivo (Glenn Hauser, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Lithuania is ready to develop its own broadcasting in Russian for Russian-speaking inhabitants of the Baltic states, as opposed to translations from the Russian Federation. Broadcasting could go on the basis of "Voice of America" and "Radio Liberty", or other pro-Western media. According to Rolandas Krischyunasa, Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States, "We have to build on what we have" and develop broadcasting in Russian in order to reach the widest possible Russian- speaking audience. "We have a Voice of America, we have Radio Liberty / Free Europe, and we need to work hard to make these channels as loud as possible," - insists Krischyunas. - "I remember back to Soviet times, my parents listened to their radio It was accompanied by constant noise, but every word that penetrate to Lithuania for Lithuanians meant a lot It was a breath of freedom..." According to the Ambassador, Lithuania has transmitters that can be upgraded, and other equipment to start and develop broadcasting in Russian. Text and video: http://www.currenttime.tv/a/27742329.html (Sent by Sergei Sosedkin, USA, via Moscow Information DX Bulletin Weekly electronic publication # 996, May 24, 2016, The editor of the current issue: Konstantin Gusev, via May 29 RusDX, May 31 via WORLD OF RADIO 1828, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7295, Sakha Radio, Yakutsk. 7/5 at 0340 with tiny signal and program in Russian (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D, Folded Marconi ant own made), June Australian DX News via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Hi George, My reception of Radio Sakha on 7345 continues to be fairly readable. Compare my audio with yours - https://goo.gl/gmwRZz At 1:23 you can hear the audio starting for CNR1, causing major QRM at 1101 UT. Am also able to just make out // 7295, but 7345 is many times stronger (Ron Howard, California, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. RADIO LIBERTY IN RUSSIAN (RADIO SVOBODA) TO STOP BROADCASTING ON SHORTWAVE FROM 26TH JUNE - http://www.svoboda.mobi/a/27769319.html Posted by: (Stephen Cooper, May 31, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also notified of this by (George Thurman, WORLD OF RADIO 1828, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO LIBERTY, JUNE 26 CEASE BROADCASTING ON SHORT WAVE May 31, 2016 Radio Svoboda logo From 26 June Russian service of Radio Liberty broadcasting stops short wave. Hour broadcast is stored on the website of Radio Liberty. From 0 to 6 pm and from 21 to 22 pm Moscow time, the Russian service of the program, you can listen on medium wave at a frequency of 1386 kHz, and the clock - via Hot Bird and AsiaSat satellites. For details about the settings - on our website. Russian Service (revised) RL beginning shortwave broadcasts March 1, 1953 under the name "Radio" Liberation. "Her first speaker was former Moscow actor Sergey Dubrovsky. Media companies Radio Liberty / Free Europe aims to spread values ??of democracy and civil society, addressing the audience of those countries in which freedom of the press is either prohibited or restricted by the authorities, or has not yet become the norm of society. The history of the Russian service of Radio Liberty, you can learn more about here. GOOGLE TRANSLATION Wir damit auch der Biblis Standort bisambergisiert? Lampertheim kann wegen der Hilfestellung für andere IBB Standorte noch überleben ... wb df5sx (Wolfgang Buschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Google attempt at translation: ``We thus bisambergisiert also the Biblis location? Lampertheim, because of the assistance of other locations yet IBB survive ... wb df5sx`` Wolfy, please translate your comment. Google does not know bisambergisiert! (Glenn to Wolfy via DXLD) 'bisamberg-isiert' = Bisamberg masts Blown-Up is a new word creation amongst DXers in German language newsgroup, few years ago. Vienna Bisamberg was the location of ORF Vienna MW location of 240 / 600 kW on 585 and 1476 kHz. 24 Febr 2010 at 12:40hrs CET southern mast, and 15:00hrs CET, the 265meters tall northern mast blown-up. And the word 'bisamberg-isiert' was a model word description for all blown-up measures in Vigra, Juelich, Wertachtal, Hoerby / Soelvesborg SWE, etc. Will therefore also the Biblis site be Blown-UP soon? 10 kilometers away IBB Lampertheim installation may will survive, because of the assistance of other IBB locations worldwide ... (all Africa, Djibouti, Cyprus Capo Greco, Kuwait, Orzu TJK etc.) 30 videos examples on YouTube 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Liberty (Radio Svoboda) in Russian will stop broadcasting on shortwave from June 26. Summer A16 shortwave schedule of Radio Liberty: 0400-0500 on 7435 BIB 100 kW / 063 deg to EaEu 0400-0500 on 9635 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 0400-0500 on 17770 UDO 250 kW / 021 deg to FERu 0500-0700 on 9635 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 0500-0700 on 12015 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 0500-0700 on 17770 KWT 250 kW / 035 deg to FERu 0700-0800 on 9635 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 0700-0800 on 15195 LAM 100 kW / 077 deg to CeEu 0700-0800 on 17770 LAM 100 kW / 053 deg to CeEu 0900-1100 on 15195 LAM 100 kW / 077 deg to EaEu 0900-1100 on 17770 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to FERu 1300-1500 on 13720 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1300-1500 on 15195 LAM 100 kW / 053 deg to CeAs 1300-1500 on 17850 LAM 100 kW / 053 deg to EaEu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-X65o52doc&feature=youtu.be 1500-1600 on 11945 BIB 100 kW / 063 deg to EaEu 1500-1600 on 13720 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1500-1600 on 17850 LAM 100 kW / 053 deg to EaEu 1600-1700 on 9790 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs 1600-1700 on 13720 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1700-1800 on 7475 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1700-1800 on 9490 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg to CeAs Caucasus Echo 1700-1800 on 9790 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs 1700-1800 on 11780 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1700-1800 on 11800 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg to CeAs Caucasus Echo 1800-1900 on 5930 BIB 100 kW / 063 deg to EaEu 1800-1900 on 5995 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1800-1900 on 9840 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs 1900-2000 on 5995 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 1900-2000 on 7475 IRA 250 kW / 340 deg to CeAs 1900-2000 on 9840 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs 2000-2100 on 5995 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu 2000-2100 on 7475 IRA 250 kW / 340 deg to CeAs 2000-2100 on 9540 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs 2100-2200 on 9540 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg to CeAs -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1828, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OPTIMISTIC BBG PLANS TO ELIMINATE RFE/RL RADIO LIBERTY SHORTWAVE RADIO TRANSMISSIONS TO RUSSIA, CRIMEA, OTHER RUSSIAN-SPEAKING REGIONS [see original for formatting, embedded linx:] http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/optimistic-bbg-plans-to-eliminate-rferl-radio-liberty-shortwave-radio-transmissions-to- russia-cr imea-other-russian-speaking-regions/ BBG Watch Commentary Russian Service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) posted an announcement on its website that as of June 26, Radio Liberty Russian programs will no longer be carried through shortwave radio transmissions but will continue on the Internet. The loss of Radio Liberty's Russian shortwave broadcasts will affect radio listeners in Russia as well as Russian speakers outside of the Russian Federation, including Russian occupied Crimea where many residents speak Russian. Officials of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency in charge of RFE/RL, bet that audiences will use the Internet without fear of being monitored or other forms of interference by the local authorities, such as blocking of websites. In the April 20, 2016 press release, the BBG condemned targeting of independent journalists in Crimea, including RFE/RL contributors. 71.3 % of Russia's population has Internet access, which means that nearly 30 % does not. While no one denies that shortwave radio listenership has been in serious decline in recent years due to the expanding use of digital media, Broadcasting Board of Governors officials seem to be making highly optimistic assumptions about future behavior of Vladimir Putin. Critics also point out that after years of poor management the BBG has now an extremely small audience and impact in Russia, either on radio or the Internet. "This is yet another indication that the agency under the Broadcasting Board of Governors has no significant audience in Russia," a former BBG staffer told BBG Watch. "They are not closing these facilities solely because people have migrated to new media. Regardless of the media/medium, the result is still the same: no significant audience in Russia," BBG and RFE/RL officials often cite misleading statistics, such as the monthly number of site visitors or the number of Facebook "Likes" for a single post, to hide the fact that its overall weekly audience in Russia for all media may be less than one or two percent. Some of the remaining independent Russian media outlets, such as Meduza and Rain TV, have much greater online reach in Russia than RFE/RL or VOA, which seems to suggest that the BBG program content is unappealing or otherwise inadequate. BBG audiences are higher in countries which allow local rebroadcasting of radio and TV programs. The BBG often has to pay local broadcasters for these rebroadcasts because program quality and their audience appeal are poor. Some VOA programs, however, such as the VOA Ukrainian Service and VOA Albanian Service TV news broadcasts, are popular in the target countries. This does not appear to be the case in Russia, which does not mean that high-quality analytical programs with high-quality intellectual content are not urgently needed. There has been a general decline in journalistic standards under the Broadcasting Board of Governors. RFE/RL has not had permanent leadership for over two years. At present, the impact of BBG programs in Russia seems negligible. In a nationally representative survey of Russia, the Associated Press- NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found "Russians' attitudes toward the United States and President Barack Obama are extremely unfavorable and have grown sharply more negative in the last couple of years." "Eighty-one percent of Russians have an unfavorable opinion of Obama, and only 2 percent have a favorable view of him," AP reported. BBG's annual budget funded by U.S. taxpayers through congressional appropriations is approximately $777 million (FY 2017 Federal Budget Request). While the shortwave Russian radio announcement was made by RFE/RL, radio transmission services are provided by the Broadcasting Board of Governors through its International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB). RFE/RL and BBG have so far posted no announcements in English on their plans to cut shortwave radio broadcasts in Russian to Vladimir Putin's Russia and other Russian speaking regions, including Crimea, which Russia has illegally occupied. Media freedom in the entire region has been in decline in recent years. The latest RFE/RL and BBG press releases are dated May 25, 2016 and deal with RFE/RL journalist Khadijah Ismayilova being released from prison in Azerbaijan. The RFE/RL announcement on the planned elimination of shortwave radio broadcasts was in Russian. It was posted on Radio Liberty's Russian website. In recent years, IBB has been significantly reducing shortwave radio broadcasting by RFE/RL and by other of its U.S. taxpayer-funded media entities, including the Voice of America (VOA). BBG officials point out that in the era of Internet and digital media, shortwave radio listenership has been in steep decline worldwide, including Russia. In 2008, IBB cut VOA Russian shortwave radio and live satellite television transmissions shortly before Russia invaded and occupied parts of Georgia. While RFE/RL websites remain vulnerable to being blocked at any time by the Kremlin, the Russian authorities still allow RFE/RL to operate a large news bureau in Moscow which provides news reports and other programming mostly for Radio Liberty's Russian Service. This may account for the optimism among BBG officials. They apparently assume that President Putin will not dare to interfere with the Internet and try to block RFE/RL websites in Russia. However, Kremlin controlled Russian TV channel NTV produced a propaganda hit piece on Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) which was broadcast on March 25, 2016. NTV report linked legitimate physical security measures at RFE/RL to vague accusations of allegedly hidden activities against Russia in carrying out the U.S. government's agenda. The Russian propaganda TV program also alleged misappropriation of U.S. taxpayers' dollars at the RFE/RL Moscow bureau. RFE/RL strongly denied these charges and in the March 18, 2016 press release condemned pressure tactics against RFE/RL bureau in Moscow. BBG and RFE/RL officials must assume that the Russian authorities will not expand these pressure tactics to include blocking of RFE/RL and VOA websites in Russia. BBG officials claim that the money spent on shortwave can be better used to create new programs and expand digital program delivery options, but critics point out that in recent years millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayers' funds have been wasted mostly on the BBG and IBB bureaucracy in Washington, which kept expanding and protected its jobs while cutting radio broadcasts, other programs and programming positions. New CEO John Lansing has been on the job at the Broadcasting Board of Governors since September 2015. He has promised management reforms and expansion of digital media outreach. Critics say that instead of depriving the most vulnerable groups abroad of safe radio program delivery and an inexpensive option of getting uncensored news and commentary through radio, BBG officials should achieve savings and expand digital media by drastically cutting their own bloated and inefficient bureaucracy. The RFE/RL announcement says that 24/7 RFE/RL radio transmissions in Russian will continue online and can be heard through the RFE/RL website. Radio Liberty's Russian audio can also be heard 24/7 on two satellites, Hot Bird and AsiaSat, according to the same RFE/RL announcement. So far, the Russian government has not been regularly blocking RFE/RL websites in Russia, but recently Russia's media regulator, Roskomnxdzor, briefly blocked and then unblocked RFE/RL's news website Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities) in Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea. Roskomnxdzor's spokesman said that the Russian authorities later unblocked Krym.Realii ("Crimea.Realities") after RFE/RL's Crimean news desk complied with a request by Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office to remove from the site "materials that contain illegal information." RFE/RL's Crimean desk said, however, that it removed no content from the site in response to the May 12 blocking of its website by Russian Internet providers. RFE/RL's Crimean desk chief Volodymyr Prytula said that "we received no demands from Roskomnadzor calling for the removal of any kind of content. So we removed no content." While all shortwave Radio Liberty transmissions in Russian are to end on July 26, according to RFE/RL's announcement, Radio Liberty Russian Service will continue to use 1386 kHz medium wave radio frequency from midnight to 6 AM and from 9 PM to to 10 PM Moscow time. This frequency can only be heard in some parts of European Russia. Radio Liberty (originally named Radio Liberation) began shortwave broadcasting to Russia on March 1, 1953. See RFE/RL announcement (in Russian only) on the planned elimination of Radio Liberty's shortwave radio transmissions in Russian (BBGWatch June 1 via DXLD) MASTERS OF BAD TIMING: BBG TO ELIMINATE RADIO LIBERTY'S SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS IN RUSSIAN OPINION By Ted Lipien [see original for formatting, several embedded linx:] http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/masters-of-bad-timing-bbg-to-eliminate-radio-libertys-shortwave-broadcasts-in-russian/ The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the U.S. federal agency in charge of media outreach abroad, is planning to eliminate all shortwave radio broadcasts in Russian by U.S. taxpayer-funded Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as of June 26, 2016. Radio programming in Russian by Radio Liberty's Russian Service will, however, continue 24/7 online on the RFE/RL website. Radio Liberty's Russian audio will also be available 24/7 on two satellites, Hot Bird and AsiaSat, according to the RFE/RL's Russian-language announcement. Radio Liberty Russian Service will also continue to use 1386 kHz medium wave radio frequency from midnight to 6 AM and from 9 PM to to 10 PM Moscow time. This frequency can only be heard in some parts of European Russia. The BBG's other entity, the Voice of America (VOA), has not been using shortwave radio transmissions since 2008.They were eliminated by the BBG a few weeks before the August 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia. Talk about bad timing. I have always said that we don't need the CIA. Reliable predictions as to where the next international crisis will happen can be made by looking at program cutting decisions by the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you look at BBG's past decisions to cut programming - not just shortwave radio but also entire services and/or satellite television transmissions - they included broadcasts to Russia, China, Tibet, Georgia, and Ukraine. The BBG bureaucracy usually made these decisions a few weeks or months before a major crisis erupted in these countries. They have missed hints of internal repression or external aggression with remarkable consistency. It happens because the BBG has no executives with strong foreign policy and international affairs backgrounds as the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty did during the Cold War. The BBG has been an absolute disaster, a "practically defunct" agency, to use former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's description of the BBG. When she made her comment to Congress in 2013 she herself was an ex officio member of the BBG board. I don't believe that shortwave radio has a strong future, but in cutting shortwave radio transmissions in Russian, Broadcasting Board of Governors officials seem far too optimistic that the Russian authorities will not block the Radio Liberty website. Russia's media regulator, Roskomnxdzor, recently briefly blocked and then unblocked RFE/RL's news website Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities) in Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea. Roskomnxdzor's spokesman said that the Russian authorities later unblocked Krym.Realii after RFE/RL's Crimean news desk complied with a request by Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office to remove from the site "materials that contain illegal information." RFE/RL denied that it had removed any content. Pressure on RFE/RL from the Russian government seems to be growing, although RFE/RL's large news bureau in Moscow has not been shut down by the Russian authorities. Many Western-funded NGOs have already been forced to stop operating in Russia. RFE/RL may be next unless President Putin thinks that he already has it under sufficient control in Russia by using the FSB secret police to put pressure on RFE/RL journalists and their bureau in Moscow. In a hint of what may await Radio Liberty, Kremlin controlled Russian TV channel NTV showed last March a propaganda hit piece on RFE/RL, in which outlandish accusations were made against the American-funded broadcaster. An earlier Russian television program "News Of The Week With Dmitry Kiselyov," the Kremlin's lead propagandist, portrayed RFE/RL journalists as spies conspiring against Russia. Nenad Pejic, RFE/RL editor in chief, called the incident "a disgusting example of intimidation," and said that "authorities in Russia appear to be preparing a case against us because of our journalism." To independent outside observers, these incidents illustrate a certain political vulnerability of the BBG relying heavily on Internet program delivery in Vladimir Putin's backyard. 71.3 % of Russia's population has Internet access. Nearly 30 % does not. Many Russian speakers in regions outside of the Russian Federation, including Moscow-occupied Crimea, still don't use the Internet. With Putin's media making vague accusations of spying against RFE/RL, some Russians may be afraid to access Western news media websites out of concern that their Internet use could be monitored, especially in Russia-occupied territories, such as Crimea. Broadcasting Board of Governors officials, whose ranks have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, seem convinced, however, that shortwave radio broadcasting has absolutely no future in Russia. In 2014, the BBG established a Special Committee on the Future of Shortwave Broadcasting to conduct a comprehensive review of the efficacy of shortwave radio as a distribution platform for U.S. government-funded international media outreach. According to the BBG's "Fiscal Year 2014 Performance and Accountability Report," "The [BBG] committee found shortwave radio to be essential to listeners in a few target countries, but of marginal impact in most markets. Based on consistent and verifiable data, and audience-based research, it was concluded that shortwave listenership around the world has plummeted, and that shortwave usage does not generally increase during crisis situations. Consequently, BBG has budgeted for the reduction of shortwave transmissions to countries where it is not a viable delivery platform." Much more worrisome, however, are minuscule audience reach numbers on any media for both RFE/RL and VOA programs in Russian. In an apparent effort to to hide this fact, the BBG makes it difficult to find on its website recent weekly audience reach statistics for its programs in Russia. RFE/RL publicizes instead less meaningful annual numbers of visitors or page views online. According to RFE/RL, "RFE/RL's Russian- language sites provided 266 million pages of content to almost 170 million visitors. RFE/RL Russian-language Facebook pages registered almost 23 million engaged users last year." RFE/RL's weekly audience reach in Russia, however, is believed to be only about one or two percent of the country's population. Kremlin's state media have huge audience numbers compared to RFE/RL and VOA. That is understandable because Russian state media have in-country distribution, including national TV networks, while the BBG does not because the Russian authorities banned domestic rebroadcasts of Radio Liberty and VOA programs. But VOA and RFE/RL are also far behind in reach and impact compared to some of the few remaining independent Russian news websites, such as Meduza. It operates from abroad on a much smaller budget but has a much larger online audience in Russia. Longtime BBG executive Jeff Trimble listening to a Gallup presentation that support for Crimea being forcefully annexed by Russia is higher among adults who use both Russian and Western media, suggesting that BBG programs may still have a negative impact for the United States. February 2016. Longtime BBG executive Jeff Trimble listening to a Gallup presentation that support for Crimea being forcefully annexed by Russia is higher among adults who use both Russian and Western media, suggesting that BBG programs may still have a negative impact for the United States. February 2016. Even more worrisome is the lack of significant impact of BBG programs in Russia. In a nationally representative survey of Russia, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that "Russians' attitudes toward the United States and President Barack Obama are extremely unfavorable and have grown sharply more negative in the last couple of years." "Eighty-one percent of Russians have an unfavorable opinion of Obama, and only 2 percent have a favorable view of him," AP reported. The BBG may very well be right that shortwave radio transmissions cannot do much more for augmenting its audience in Russia. But eliminating shortwave radio will not help this practically defunct agency. BBG officials have missed a very important point. BBG's impact in Russia is not low because it does not have digital outreach, because it does, and it is not low because the Russian authorities block BBG websites, because for the time being they don't. BBG's impact in Russia is also not low because it has or does not have shortwave radio transmissions, but the overall audience reach will be smaller without them. The poorest and most vulnerable audiences won't be served. Judging by past performance, any money saved from cutting shortwave will be wasted on consultants and the bureaucracy. Here is what U.S. taxpayers who pay $777.8 million to the BBG (FY 2017 Budget Request), of which $121.1 million goes to RFE/RL and $224.4 to VOA, need to know. BBG's impact in Russia is low because Putin's domestic propaganda is highly successful. BBG's impact in Russia is also low because BBG's program strategy and the quality and content of BBG programs are obviously inadequate. Several trends have contributed to the current crisis. Increasing control over RFE/RL by BBG's federal bureaucracy has had a particularly negative effect. The forced merging of RFE/RL and VOA brands have rendered their respective programs and the joint program in Russian "Current Time" largely ineffective. U.S. taxpayers' money is being wasted on the government bureaucracy instead of being invested in producing better quality programming that could stimulate intellectual discussion among Russian speaking elites. The Russians don't need more news, which is available everywhere. What they need is more Western analysis and alternative domestic opinions. The BBG may not be able to achieve high audience numbers in Russia, but at least it has a chance to influence political discussion among the Russian elites with the right kind of programming. This can have a multiplier effect, as it did for much of the Cold War. During that period of high impact, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty employed top journalists and experts. Eliminating shortwave radio transmissions to Russia was an expected bureaucratic response from the BBG designed to deflect attention from the real problems the agency refuses to deal with. The move attempts to show that the government bureaucracy is engaged in doing something, when in fact it is only reducing its already small audience in Russia with its shortwave decision while doing nothing to reform the agency and achieve real impact. The political timing of this decision couldn't be worse, even assuming that eventual reductions of shortwave radio transmissions to some countries are inevitable. But the BBG bureaucracy is famous for doing the wrong thing at the wrong time or even the right thing but at the wrong time. An anonymous RFE/RL journalist got it right in commenting on RFE/RL's and VOA's race for achieving "'Snappy, eye-catching' nothingness," which seems to be BBG's current strategy. "While Putin continues his inroads into former Soviet gory glory, this is how the American taxpayers' dollar is getting wasted. Incompetence, hubris and sausage measuring contests. What a shame. 'Snappy, eye-catching' nothingness. While you gentlemen argue about 'exemplary analysis' dissecting sausage-wielding in Georgia, Russian tanks are still in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Here's the prequel to the sequel. 'The Pork Awakens.' Preparing to roll into another former Soviet republic maybe, and we all know that Russian tank barrels hardly ever fire sausages, at vegans or meat-eaters alike. But go on, have some mustard. No ketchup, please. Not yet." Disclosure: Ted Lipien is one of the co-founders and supporters of BBG Watch (BBGWatch June 2 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non?]. Pirate radio: May 28 from 1810 UT on 6290 kHz frequency observed Russian-speaking pirate who himself declared: "Radio KGB in the Kremlin." Cool music and no longer had anything worthwhile. At 1828 announced that: "The musical program comes to an end." Speak with a clear European focus and transmitter power is comparable to evropiratami. Sometime in the '90s, that was something like: Radio KGB, but this is clearly what the new (Pavel Ivanov, Belgorod, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" & "open_dx" via May 29 RusDX, May 31 via DXLD) In the air there was also Radio Stalingrad --- pirate with Russian songs. Russian or Western Europe ---- ????? (Vasily Lazarev, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx", RusDX May 29, May 31 via DXLD ** TAJIKISTAN. 7245, Tajik Radio, Dushanbi-Orzu. Per WRTVH this channel is DSB. Heard at weak level in Persian to 1800*, 15/5 (Rob Shepherd, Toowoomba QLD (Marconi CR-100 (B28), JRC NRD-535D, 2 x 70 metre (229') longwires), June Australian DX News via DXLD) As in DuShanBe, not meaning Double SideBand! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. GOOD MORNING, UKRAINE! ARMY RADIO SEEKS COLORFUL DJ TO MOCK RUSSIANS http://www.wsj.com/articles/good-morning-ukraine-army-radio-seeks-colorful-dj-to-mock-russians-1464274518 Army FM hopes a `cooler vibe' will drown out pro-Russian broadcasts Alexey Makukhin, center, and Yana Kholodna, right, of Army FM interview Ben Moses, co-producer of the 1987 movie `Good Morning Vietnam,' for an Army FM broadcast. Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense [caption] By Julian E. Barnes The Wall Street Journal May 26, 2016 10:55 a.m. ET 4 COMMENTS KIEV -- Ukraine's army is searching for its own Robin Williams. Specifically, it is looking for a charismatic army disc jockey like the one Mr. Williams played in the film "Good Morning, Vietnam" three decades ago. Alexey Makukhin, an adviser to Ukraine's military who is helping set up the station, wants a Robin Williams to help with his "big problem." Troops facing Russian-backed separatists in the east hear a steady barrage of radio and TV broadcasts that seem crafted to sow doubts about their mission. His solution is Army FM, a radio station for Ukraine's soldiers. To make it a success he needs a DJ--a great DJ. Donetsk radio tower [caption] Dozens of resumés poured in when word about the plan got out. Mr. Makukhin interviewed about 50 DJ applicants. They were an almost complete bust. "A lot of candidates just do not fit to the role of presenter--poor voice, cannot keep up a discussion or stop themselves," he says. "Some candidates have a fixed mind-set and are not ready to work in our format of entertaining and friendly radio." Mr. Makukhin, a 35-year-old former TV sitcom producer, dispatched old colleagues from the military and television worlds to hunt for undiscovered talent. One military colleague, scouring the front lines where the army faces breakaway provinces, found Lidiya Huzhva. Lidiya Huzhva works as a freelance reporter covering the Ukraine crisis. Photo: Arthur Bondar for The Wall Street Journal [caption] With dyed blue hair and a mischievous look, Ms. Huzhva has both personality and a knowledge of the fighting. She spent 18 months as a freelance reporter interviewing Ukrainian soldiers. She also has a good voice and understands what the station's vibe should be, a blend of "Daily Show" style humor and serious purpose like that of an armed-forces newspaper. She says Army FM should respond to pro-Russian broadcasts not with indignant rebuttals but with jokey dispatches. "The people here need to laugh," she says. "They love comedy." There was just one problem. Ms. Huzhva, 38 years old, doesn't really want to be a host sitting in the studio. She would rather report from the front. She also has the wrong taste in music. She likes jazz. Ukraine's soldiers like rap, hard rock and metal. For Mr. Makukhin, it was back to the search. Two years into a conflict with Russian-backed separatists, Ukrainian soldiers have a new weapon against Russian propaganda: Army FM. Photo: Arthur Bondar for The Wall Street Journal The music that Ms. Huzhva doesn't like, but that many soldiers do, is what they get from the Russian and separatist-province radio stations, sometimes with lyrics slamming Ukraine's government. A separatist heartthrob named Gleb Kornilov dominates the charts at Radio Novorossia in Donetsk, in the heart of the breakaway Ukrainian region the separatists dub Novorossia, or New Russia. When the rebellion got going two years ago, he sang about the Ukrainian armed forces' alleged burning of Donetsk. More recently, he has sung of Novorossia planning to go on the offensive against the West. "We believe in the empire with the new vigor/Our song is a military crusade/ Our music is the finger on the trigger," Mr. Kornilov sings in Russian. Reached by phone in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Kornilov said his songs weren't about criticizing Ukraine, just the oligarchs he says took it over. He said he was both pro-Ukraine and pro-Novorossia. "We are fighting not against the people, but against the powers that be," Mr. Kornilov said. "One person fights with a weapon, another with their art." News on the separatist-controlled radio and television stations presents a grim picture of Ukraine, frequently accusing the Kiev government and its supporters of a range of atrocities. One broadcast said pro-Ukrainian militias had kidnapped journalists. The stations, say Ukrainian officials, have grown adept at mirroring the actual news, quickly issuing reports about mortar strikes, artillery barrages or buses hitting land mines. While Ukrainians say rebels are responsible for the attacks, the pro-separatist radio stations assign blame to Kiev. Other reports on channels such as Novorossia TV and Radio Free Novorossia highlight true, but unflattering, news about the Ukrainian government, particularly corruption accusations from the International Monetary Fund or the European Union. Novorossia TV and Radio Free Novorossia didn't respond to a request for comment. Ukrainian officials say they are working on addressing concerns but add that pro-separatist stations exaggerate the problem. One common theme from the separatist broadcasting is that the Ukraine government does nothing while its soldiers sit in the mud on the front lines. "If I watch or listen to it for an hour or two, it hits you in the head," said Lt. Col. Oleksandr Vasylenko. "Whether you want it to or not, it just influences you. Even though you know it is propaganda." The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, called the information war in eastern Ukraine part of a larger struggle. "The point of this Russian propaganda is not to win the argument and it is certainly not to illuminate the truth," he said. "It is to confuse. It is part of their arsenal." Russian officials such as Moscow's ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Alexander Grushko, say Russia has no direct role in the fighting in Ukraine. Separatist and Russian officials say the reports Westerners call propaganda are factual broadcasts, not controlled by Russia, about Ukrainian government incompetence or corruption. It is the U.S. and Ukraine that are misleading the public, Russian officials say. In setting up the Ukraine army radio station, Mr. Makukhin has had help from a U.S. nonprofit called Spirit of America. Unlike many nongovernment organizations in war zones that pledge neutrality, this one tries to align its efforts with U.S. objectives. In Afghanistan, Spirit of America's workers were stationed in the field, helping provide nonlethal equipment to local police forces working with U.S. special operation forces. In Ukraine, it is providing $200,000 to outfit Army FM's studio and put up transmitters, including one just 36 miles from Donetsk. "The entrepreneurial, venture-capital approach is something that's rarely applied in these situations overseas," said Jim Hake, the NGO's founder. "The core of that is to support the initiative of people closest to the problem...see what works, do more of what works, and if it doesn't work stop it." Spirit of America has no direct hand in the programming, but Mr. Hake has offered advice and said Mr. Makukhin understands that Army FM can't fight propaganda with propaganda. "Trust and credibility are more important than transmitters or radio equipment," he said. The station's plans include airing frank interviews with Ukrainian officials to show soldiers the government is willing to address hard problems. It is important for Army FM, which is owned by the Defense Ministry, to avoid a stuffy official military style, said Yana Kholodna, a TV producer hired as an adviser. "The challenge is to make a cool radio station," she said. After the blue-haired Ms. Huzhva didn't work out as host, Mr. Makukhin's colleagues brought him another potential find, Pvt. Oleksandr Bezsonov, a young front-line soldier who had started a pirate radio station to entertain troops at his base. Unfortunately, his tryout didn't go well. He had technical wizardry but not the right on-air personality, Mr. Makukhin said. Army FM hired him as a sound engineer instead, and then made him sound director for several of the shows. On March 1 the station went on the air in beta form, without a morning host. Even so, its opening words were a nod to Mr. Makukhin's quest for a soldier-DJ: "Good Morning, Ukraine." He hasn't given that quest up, but in late March he turned to a veteran civilian radio presenter, Philip Boiko. In its early form, Army FM's morning show is a mix of front-line news (Ukraine's use of MiG 29 jet fighters), pop culture ( Axl Rose's turn as frontman for AC/DC) and long tales of historical Ukrainian war heroes. In one, Mr. Boiko celebrated the ingenuity of a volunteer who made a mobile sauna for soldiers out of an old military truck. Refuting "fake news and announcements" from the occupied east will be part of his show, he said. Bands whose music he has played include a Russian one called DDT that was founded by a Kremlin critic. Mr. Boiko, 38, doesn't pretend to have the manic energy of the DJ star of "Good Morning, Vietnam." But he figures that good rock music and his mix of sarcasm and humor can keep the soldiers listening. Mr. Makukhin, while still keeping his eye out for the military service member he can put on the air, says he can't complain about his civilian DJ. "Eight a.m. in Kiev. `Soldiers, wake up!' " Mr. Boiko boomed on a recent broadcast as he as greeted the troops. "Morning infotainment show starts its second part, and I, Philip Boiko, greet all the listeners of Army FM. Especially our heroes in the military zone who diligently fight with separatist and occupying bastards, protecting their motherland." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** UKRAINE [non]. Radio France. 15770, May 26 at 2130-2200. At this time and DOW [day of week] on this frequency is supposed to be R. France per the WRMI schedule, but today it was actually Radio Ukraine which is listed nowhere in their schedule on any frequency. The only entry for R. Ukraine in the Primetime Shortwave listings is on 11580 at 2330. 73, (Jim K5JG, Carrollton, TX, ptsw yg via DXLD) I already reported: ``15770, Wed May 4 at 2129, WRMI with 1-minute commercial from the ``Smart Money Guy`` --- a spot ad, quite a rarity on SW, not part of a program block. 2130 into `Blues Radio International`, instead of Radio France International still on the schedule for 2115-2200 Wed; and last Thu at 2130-2200 we also heard Ukraine instead of France, so is RFI on WRMI at all any more? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In fact, the WRMI sked as of May 28 still does show RUI at 2330-2400 M-F only, on 11580, as other programming has encroached on Sat/Sun. This has also been noticed elsewhere, sic in translation: UKRAINE [non]. For some time now, it is obvious from the May 3, through an RUI WRMI passed to 2330 UT on 11580 kHz already on weekdays only. On Saturday night, at the time I heard muz.programmu Hobart Radio Int, and therefore the next night on the program should be DigiDX. If this continues, then soon very RUI may disappear on this radio station. A couple of years ago was broadcast every day two times per night at two frequencies. Audibility at 11580 is now great (Russian SWL / DX site Forum of Ukraine on SW, via RusDX May 22 via DXLD)`` (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glenn, I'm not a regular listener to those particular broadcasts, so didn't remember your report from over three weeks before. I reported the anomaly the first time heard it. It's apparently incredibly hard for some of the broadcasters to keep their published schedules up to date. Thanks 73, (Jim K5JG, Carrollton, TX, ibid.) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++ WRTH A-16 UPDATE UPDATE Most of my correxions in a DXLD yg post of May 14 and integrated into next DXLD issue were entered into Version 2 of the A-16 update, along with some further changes, as of May 18: If you downloaded V 1, be sure to replace it with this: http://www.wrth.com/_shop/wp-content/uploads/WRTH2016IntRadioSuppl2_A16Schedules_2.pdf Look for changes in red, blue, or strikeovers. (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BCLNES Il radioascolto in Italia ----------------------------- * Ivo Ivanov SW News June 5 ARMENIA Test transmission of Radio Northern Ireland via Yerevan 1000-1030 on 17560 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to SoAs English on June 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h77R6huZ85w&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvkOso11KqM&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTUZmesTyRE&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtWDDTGrtrg&feature=youtu.be Ivo Ivanov QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire (DX LISTENING DIGEST) * Ivo Ivanov SW News June 6 AZERBAIJAN Ictimai Radio with broadband FM modulation on June 6 from 1000 on 9676.9 unknown tx / unknown to CeAs Azeri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGKN5rNFEtc&feature=youtu.be NUMBERS STATIONS S06s Russian Lady and E11 Oblique, June 6 S06s Russian Lady 1201-1207 on 10230 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 1211-1217 on 12165 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqysnVV7WCg&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0a7wJD7kzo&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLKQQzsHOhM&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ebQWwqEpic&feature=youtu.be E11 Oblique 1225-1228 on 13537 unknown secret tx site to Eu English USB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmSvB2nUvmM&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgUkOwcee70&feature=youtu.be U.K.(non) Reception of Radio Ranginkaman/Radio Rainbow via BaBcoCk, June 6 1600-1630 on 7575 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Mon/Fri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsh-8uV28cc&feature=youtu.be Ivo Ivanov QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire (DX LISTENING DIGEST) * Ivo Ivanov SW News June 7 MOLDOVA Updated schedule of TWR Africa on 9940 & 15105 kHz via Grigoriopol: 1630-1645 on 15105 KCH 300 kW / 160 deg to EaAf Somali Sun, ex 11635 DHA 1630-1700 on 15105 KCH 300 kW / 160 deg to EaAf Somali Mon-Sat, ex 11635 DHA 1800-1815 on 9940 KCH 300 kW / 157 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Mon-Thu, ex 5965 DHA 1815-1845 on 9940 KCH 300 kW / 157 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Mon-Fri, ex 5965 DHA 1800-1830 on 9940 KCH 300 kW / 157 deg to EaAf Tigre Sat, ex 5965 DHA 1800-1830 on 9940 KCH 300 kW / 157 deg to EaAf Kunama Sun, ex 5965 DHA 1830-1900 on 9940 KCH 300 kW / 157 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Sun, ex 5965 DHA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6APtFYw01w&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qKzi-5ShEg&feature=youtu.be NUMBERS STATION S06s Russian Lady in OOB frequencies June 7 0601-0607 on 15945 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 0611-0617 on 16945 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 0701-0707 on 5430 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 0716-0723 on 6780 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUo4sYRLY88&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRKLTtzV6kw&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnmWDYEQAVk&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0pKpiIZ2eQ&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teeJLS8QBOE&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSqsQBVWV7U&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivs9fezErWI&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FczbYATYRs0&feature=youtu.be NUMBER STATION S06s Russian Lady & E11 Oblique in 41,25,19 mb on June 7 S06s Russian Lady 0731-0737 on 7365 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 0741-0747 on 11655 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB E11 Oblique 0745-0755 on 15632 unknown secret tx site to Eu English USB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bWxmQzg3cw&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3WHfxNIxSs&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEFOwKhGD9g&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VRLKxQKfcU&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fhMHU17Wa8&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kw0Pv-b0Io&feature=youtu.be QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire (DX LISTENINIG DIGEST) * Ivo Ivanov SW News June 9 NUMBERS STATIONS S06s Russian Lady and S11a Cherta, June 9 S06s Russian Lady 0940-0946 on 10325 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 1200-1206 on 13145 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB 1210-1216 on 14535 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian CUSB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHa9w0-Q1s8&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaWO4UP5BG8&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQtIFaFvb-s&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_AzfI5EdYU&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99dmsKURjkg&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuAKO-te2PU&feature=youtu.be S11a Cherta 1015-1026 on 16530 unknown secret tx site to Eu Russian USB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKSC9jwFc9c&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGZ-TClKnj4&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niam9TxZIXQ&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd4fHu0bWVs&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjxy38dbVjE&feature=youtu.be UZBEKISTAN(non) Weak signal of clandestine Voice of Khmer M'Chas Srok, June 9 1130-1200 on 17860 TAC 100 kW / 122 deg to SEAs Khmer Thu/Sun via RED Telecom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCr0SGic2Ok&feature=youtu.be UZBEKISTAN(non) Frequency change of Voice of Wilderness via RED Telecom, June 8 1330-1530 NF 7620 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, ex 7615, re-ex 7610 QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire (DX LISTENINIG DIGEST) DX-Window No. 557 from the Danish Shortwave Club International Greve, Denmark Editor and Distributor: Anker Petersen June 08, 2016 ---------------------------------- DX NEWS ARMENIA 1377 MW, ERF Germany, via Gavar, *1700, May 14, Sorani Kurdish, ID, address www..... and Christian religious programme, 44444. (Pankov) 1377 MW, TWR Central Asia, via Gavar, 1803, May 19 and 20, English reading from the Bible and immediately translated in Farsi, 35343. (Pankov) KYRGYZSTAN 4009.94, Birinchi R, Krasnaya Rechka, *0000-0010, Jun 02, ID in Kyrgyz and Ru, National hymn, 0003 Kyrgyz ann, orchestral music, 35233 // 4819.90 (34232 Xizang fading out). (Petersen) RUSSIA 1593 MW, R Bonch, students' station Of the Bonch-Bruyevich St.Petersburg State University of Telecommunications, has received a provisional permission for using the frequency of 1593 kHz for experimental broadcasting which is valid until June 30, 2016. The station will be on air daily at 13.00-15.00 local time with output power of 60 W. Please try to tune in and announce about this event in FDXA mailing list and in similar lists of neighbouring countries. Correct reception reports will be verified by Radio Bonch QSL card which is about to be printed out. Reception reports are to be sent to Alexander Beryozkin or by mail to Radio Bonch, Media Centre, Bonch-Bruyevich St.Petersburg State University of Telecommunications, Prospekt Bolshevikov 22, St.Petersburg 193232, Russia. (Beryozkin in DX- Clusive) 7295 // 7345, R Sakha, Yakutsk, Jun 03 with open carrier at 0855, audio at *0900, but no IS nor time pips, straight into Russian programming; 7345, as usual the best reception when compared to 7295. (Howard). Cf. DX-Window 556. (Ed) TAJIKISTAN 4765.00, Tajik R 1, Yangiyul, 1940, May 20, vocals, fair to good signal, best in LSB. (Ormandy). Also heard at 2310- 2400, May 24 and Jun 01, man reading poetry in Tajik, talk about Tajikistan, folksong, 45333. (Petersen) Loggings on remote SDR receivers Thanks Bell at Simonstown, Republic of South Africa for new SDR remote unit access. 4819.941 KGZ Kirgiz Radio Bishkek, from Krasnaya Rechka bcast site S=7 or -86dBm at 1624 UT on June 5. and at 1713 UT at Piliyandala Sri Lanka remote SDR unit, thanks Victor 4009.821 KGZ Kirgiz Radio Bishkek, from Krasnaya Rechka bcast site, at 1736 UT on June 5. Sounds like an opera singer px of the 1930'ties ... Hard-Core-DX Digest ------------------------------- * Vol 162, Issue 10 Message: 2 Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2016 From: Glenn Hauser Subject: [HCDX] Glenn Hauser logs June 7-8-9, 2016 ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11600, June 9 at 1149, trying to hear Denge Kurdistanye, but only get Chinese past 1201 with CNR jingle. Last report on this from Ivo Ivanov was May 29 when he said the 0500-1300 segment via PRIDNESTROVYE was off the air between 0530 and 1230. Is it still normally operative daily at 03-05 via France, 05-13 Pridnestrovye, 13-17 Bulgaria, 17-21 Pridnestrovye, as in current Aoki? As for Chinese on 11600, RTI is on here at 10-13, but not in Mandarin so not jammed; Sound of Hope could also be on 11600.225 thruout between 00 and 16 with RFA relays, drawing jamming onto 11600 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 15522, June 9 at 1342, very poor carrier. Any split frequency in this area has got to be Voice of Tibet via TAJIKISTAN, and indeed so listed by current Aoki at 1340-1400 in Chinese. No jammer carrier audible on 15520 or 15525. Next check at 1412, I find one on 15558, also listed as same, 1407-1430 in Tibetan, and there is also something on 15560, which would be co-channel jamming and/or VOT in Tibetan via Madagascar (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) * Vol 162, Issue 11 Message: 3 Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2016 From: Glenn Hauser Subject: [HCDX] Glenn Hauser logs June 9-10, 2016 ** TIBET [non]. 15557, June 10 at 1403, JBA carrier, so Voice of Tibet via TAJIKISTAN, but there must have been another slight schedule change since current Aoki info which shows: 15557 1304-1333 TJK * VOICE OF TIBET Tib Dushanbe-Ya 1-7 15558 1407-1430 TJK * VOICE OF TIBET Tib Dushanbe-Ya 1-7 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Message: 4 Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2016 From: Daniel Wyllyans Subject: [HCDX] QSL NEWS QSL Denge Kurdistane 11600 kHz Mi primera QSL, en mi segunda etapa de diexista, despues de 12 a?os de no enviar informes, hoy recibo esta maravilla de Denge Kurdistane. 11600 Khz, recibida en 3 dias, direcion para el informe: prtc@idknet.com Jose Hernandez Madrid / QSL Show https://dxbrazilsw.blogspot.com.br/2016/06/qsl-denge-kurdistane-11600-khz.html QSL Radio Ukraine International via WRMI (Okeechobee, FL) 11580 kHz QSL Radio Ukraine International via WRMI (Okeechobee, FL) 11580 kHz NEW QSL: Radio Ukraine International via WRMI (Okeechobee, FL) was logged on 5 March 2016, on the short-wave frequency of 11.580 kHz, from 23.30 till 00.00 UTC. Reception report was emailed and posted to Radio Ukraine International in subsequent days. QSL card arrived in the mail from Ukraine on 20 May 2016. M Breyel / QSL addresses https://dxbrazilsw.blogspot.com.br/2016/06/qsl-radio-ukraine-international-via.html Moscow Information DX Bulletin Weekly electronic publication Number 998 June 7, 2016 The editor of the current issue: Vadim Alexeev. Russia -------------------------------------------------- ---------------- RUSSIA Altai region June 7 branch RTRS "Altai KRTPTS" began airing radio "Zvezda FM" in Barnaul. broadcasting frequency - 107 MHz 9. "Zvezda FM" can take 825 thousand inhabitants of Barnaul and the surrounding area. (Http://altai.rtrs.ru/news/read/445/) 1 июня филиал РТРС "РТПЦ Республики Алтай" начал трансляцию радиостанции "Радио России" со вставками ГТРК "Горный Алтай" в FM-диапазоне. Частота вещания - 103,5 МГц. Запуск передатчика состоялся в ходе реализации проекта ВГТРК по переводу сети радиовещания в FM- диапазон. "Радио России" могут принимать жители Кош-Агача и близлежащих населенных пунктов. (http://gorny.rtrs.ru/news/read/87/) Amur region RTRS branch "Amur ORTPTS" began test broadcast of the radio station "Mayak" in the FM-band to the 160th anniversary of Blagoveshchensk. Broadcasting frequency - 90.2 MHz. (Http://amur.rtrs.ru/news/read/189/) Astrakhan region June 1 RTRS Branch "Astrakhan ORTPTS" began airing radio station "Nashe Radio" in Astrakhan. Broadcasting frequency - 87.9 MHz. (Http://astrakhan.rtrs.ru/news/read/173/) Vologda Region Branch RTRS "Vologda ORTPTS" will broadcast Love Radio station in Vologda at a frequency of 96.4 MHz. May 25, according to the results of the contest Roskomnadzor, "Radio Love" (recorded station name) received the right of broadcasting in the regional center. At the moment, the Vologda branch of RTRS is the preparatory work for the start of the broadcast station with a new TV tower in Vologda. Starting the transmitter is scheduled for mid-year 2017. (Http://vologda.rtrs.ru/news/read/488/) Samara Region June 2 RTRS branch "Samara ORTPTS" began broadcasting around the clock radio "Komsomolskaya Pravda" at the frequency of 98.2 MHz in Samara. Power "TF-1000" of the transmitter is 1 kW. Radio "Komsomolskaya Pravda" can take the residents of Samara, Novokuibyshevsk and nearby settlements. (Http://samara.rtrs.ru/news/read/459/) Tambov Region June 1 branch RTRS "Tambov ORTPTS" began airing radio station "Radio Dacha" in Tambov. Broadcasting frequency - 90.9 MHz. Transmitter power - 1 kW. Stations can take about 500 thousand inhabitants of Tambov and the surrounding area. (Http://tambov.rtrs.ru/news/read/198/) Tatarstan (Republic) June 1 branch RTRS "RTBC Republic of Tatarstan" has started the FM-broadcast of "Radio Russii + Radio Tatarstan" in Novosheshminsky (98.8 MHz), Sarmanovo (96.4 MHz) and Kushmanov (101.6 MHz). Transmitter power - 100 watts each. Stations can take 6.2 thousand inhabitants Novosheshminska 14 thousand inhabitants Sarmanovo and 11 thousand inhabitants Cushman. (Http://tatariya.rtrs.ru/news/read/291/) Radio "Kunel" edition which is located in Naberezhnye Chelny, began broadcasting in Buinsk. As explained Chelny-biz.ru Zufar Davletshin, director of the SEC "Chally-TV", which includes radio "Kunel" structure, the decision was made about six months ago, the leadership "Tatmedia" (founder of TRK). The radio operates on the wave of 102 MHz. "Kunel" now also broadcasts in Vysokogorskom, Baltasinsky, Sabinsky and fish-Sloboda regions, as well as in Mamadysh. According Davletshina while concrete plans for further spread of the radio to other cities in Tatarstan there. (Http://onair.ru/main/enews/view_msg/NMID__61616/) UKRAINE In July 2016 the National Television Company of Ukraine promises to launch the radio "Voice of Donbass". This at a press conference on June 7, said the general director of NTU Zurab Alasania, reports IA REGNUM. "Somewhere in a month we will launch a radio" Voice of Donbass ", - Alasania said. According to him, now NTU working to provide radio quality content. Besides, Alasania said that Ministry of Information Policy conducts technical training to run the radio. According to IA REGNUM, May 26 the head of the Department of Information Policy of Ukraine Yuriy Stets said that the government can not start broadcasting Ukrainian channels in the so-called DNR and LNR as large towers with transmitters were in Donetsk and Luhansk. "The Ministry established a commission to spread the field equipment. Who is the main task. On the boundary line are already 25 transmitters "- Stets said. According to him, the Cabinet submitted the project of construction of new towers (20 mln. UAH.), But the decision is not accepted. Earlier, the Cabinet twice rejected the request on the disbursement of funds under this program. Recall, back in 2014 Stets promised to restore the broadcast on Ukrainian channels controlled by the separatist territories of the so-called DNR and LNR. In 2015-2016 gg. USA, Lithuania and Poland free of charge transferred to Ukraine equipment and transmitters to launch Ukrainian broadcasting in those areas. (REGNUM - June 7 sent Sergei Sosedkin) Shortwave DX-ing from Bulgaria Bulgarian DX blog, Ivo Ivanov -------------------------- SWLDXBulgaria News June 1-5 June 5 ARMENIA Test transmission of Radio Northern Ireland via Yerevan 1000-1030 on 17560 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to SoAs English on June 5 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/06/test-transmission-of-radio-northern.html UZBEKISTAN(non) Frequency change of Voice of Wilderness via RED Telecom 1330-1530 NF 7620 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, ex 7615, re-ex 7610 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/06/frequency-change-of-voice-of-wilderness.html June 3 U.K.(non) Radio Ranginkaman/Rainbow via BaBcoCk on June 3: 1600-1630 on 7575 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Mon/Fri http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/06/radio-ranginkamanrainbow-via-babcock-on.html U.K.(non) Sedoye Bahar Voice of Spring via BaBcoCk, June 3: 1730-1734 on 7495 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Russian Music 1734-1800 on 7495 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Farsi Thu/Fri http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/06/sedoye-bahar-voice-of-spring-via.html UZBEKISTAN(non) Frequency change of Voice of Martyrs via RED Telecom 1530-1700 NF 7505 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, ex 7510, re-ex 7520 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/06/frequency-change-of-voice-of-martyrs.html UZBEKISTAN(non) Frequency change of North Korea Reform Radio via RED Telecom 2030-2130 NF 7595 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, ex 7505, re-ex 7510 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2016/06/frequency-change-of-north-korea-reform.html Ivo Ivanov QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire BROADCASTING IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE ================================== Canada ----------- Radio Bible Voice Broadcasting. * For two or more months of the program Last Call Ministries in Russian and Ukrainian language does not sound at a frequency of 18.00 kHz, 6130. Pastor, leader of the program was around the age of 95 years, and its program was played through and Radio Teos appears on Fridays from 15.30 to 11650 kHz. (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria / "deneb-radio-dx") * In the "Bible Voice" website under Programs: http://www.bvbroadcasting.org/s/shows/view/1070, the last entry is dated May 27, 2016 Maybe they stopped broadcasting on this frequency or even in Russian? (Konstantin Aseev, Kursk, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx") * Indeed, the transmission of Bible Voice Broadcasting in Russian and Ukrainian language terminated at a frequency of 6130 kHz. (Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx") Poland ------------ 06/03/2016. "Radio Poland" is experiencing another boom of the reorganization, and, apparently, without a loss (frequency and staffing) here will not do. A quote from the latest issue of "feedback" (Russian Service): "Changed the organizational structure of our program we have not Russian edition and Russian version of the section." East ", in which are also subject to other sections - Belarusian and Ukrainian sections have new leaders. . with regard to our editorial office, she manages from 1 June Nazar Oliynyk, which is, perhaps, he is represented in the air and explain the purpose of the changes. " ("DX Courier", Russia) USA ------- * "Radio Liberty" has opened up access to the archive of audio since 1953 RL provides access to its archives, which contain records 1953-1995 period. Everyone at any time from now on will be able to smoothly use the archives of Radio Liberty, including news and political programs, the reading on the air gap in the Soviet literature, poetry readings. Total collection includes more than 10 thousand hours of broadcasting of Radio Liberty. "Today, when Russian citizens once again rely on RFE / RL and RL as a source of reliable information, these archive programs acquire a new value", - said editor in chief of the corporation of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Nenad Peich. archive building OSA (Open Society Archives) is located in the center of Budapest, Arany János street in a former sewing factory. Archive is run by the Central European University. History of OSA Archives began during the Cold War with the filings of samizdat publications and all kinds of forbidden literature in those years. Director Istvan Rev says that to this day archive specializes in systematization forbidden documents: - The richest part of our collection - is the information that was used by journalists while working on the radio, in particular, on Radio Liberty. In addition to written materials, we have a huge collection of propaganda films, perhaps the greatest in the world. Now OSA Archives is preparing to publish the so-called "Munich files Radio Liberty". This project is supervised by an archivist Alex Zelensky: - Records and files, which are now hit the Internet, will be able to enjoy the widest audience. It is a treasure trove of Russian culture, it may be interested in anyone who loves Russian history and Soviet history, is interested in it and want to identify any patterns of its development, to find answers to questions posed by the era. Through these records through the entire twentieth century Russian history. svoboda.org (OnAir.ru) * USA Masters of bad timing: BBG to eliminate Radio Liberty's shortwave broadcasts in Russian. OPINION_By Ted_Lipien The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the U.S. federal agency in charge of media outreach abroad, is planning to eliminate all shortwave radio broadcasts in Russian by U.S. taxpayer-funded Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as of June 26, 2016. Radio programming in Russian by Radio Liberty's Russian Service will, however, continue 24/7 online on the RFE/RL website. Radio Liberty's Russian audio will also be available 24/7 on two satellites, Hot Bird and AsiaSat, according to the RFE/RL's Russian-language announcement. Radio Liberty Russian Service will also continue to use 1386 kHz medium wave radio frequency from midnight to 6 AM and from 9 PM to to 10 PM Moscow time. This frequency can only be heard in some parts of European Russia. The BBG's other entity, the Voice of America (VOA), has not been using shortwave radio transmissions since 2008. They were eliminated by the BBG a few weeks before the August 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia. Talk about bad timing. I have always said that we don't need the CIA. Reliable predictions as to where the next international crisis will happen can be made by looking at program cutting decisions by the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you look at BBG's past decisions to cut programming - not just shortwave radio but also entire services and/or satellite television transmissions - they included broadcasts to Russia, China, Tibet, Georgia, and Ukraine. The BBG bureaucracy usually made these decisions a few weeks or months before a major crisis erupted in these countries. They have missed hints of internal repression or external aggression with remarkable consistency. It happens because the BBG has no executives with strong foreign policy and international affairs backgrounds as the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty did during the Cold War. The BBG has been an absolute disaster, a "practically defunct" agency, to use former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's description of the BBG. When she made her comment to Congress in 2013 she herself was an ex officio member of the BBG board. I don't believe that shortwave radio has a strong future, but in cutting shortwave radio transmissions in Russian, Broadcasting Board of Governors officials seem far too optimistic that the Russian authorities will not block the Radio Liberty website. Russia's media regulator, Roskomnxdzor, recently briefly blocked and then unblocked RFE/RL's news website Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities) in Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea. Roskomnxdzor's spokesman said that the Russian authorities later unblocked Krym.Realii after RFE/RL's Crimean news desk complied with a request by Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office to remove from the site "materials that contain illegal information." RFE/RL denied that it had removed any content. Pressure on RFE/RL from the Russian government seems to be growing, although RFE/RL's large news bureau in Moscow has not been shut down by the Russian authorities. Many Western-funded NGOs have already been forced to stop operating in Russia. RFE/RL may be next unless President Putin thinks that he already has it under sufficient control in Russia by using the FSB secret police to put pressure on RFE/RL journalists and their bureau in Moscow. In a hint of what may await Radio Liberty, Kremlin controlled Russian TV channel NTV showed last March a propaganda hit piece on RFE/RL, in which outlandish accusations were made against the American-funded broadcaster. An earlier Russian television program "News Of The Week With Dmitry Kiselyov," the Kremlin's lead propagandist, portrayed RFE/RL journalists as spies conspiring against Russia. Nenad Pejic, RFE/RL editor in chief, called the incident "a disgusting example of intimidation," and said that "authorities in Russia appear to be preparing a case against us because of our journalism." To independent outside observers, these incidents illustrate a certain political vulnerability of the BBG relying heavily on Internet program delivery in Vladimir Putin's backyard. 71.3 % of Russia's population has Internet access. Nearly 30 % does not. Many Russian speakers in regions outside of the Russian Federation, including Moscow-occupied Crimea, still don't use the Internet. With Putin's media making vague accusations of spying against RFE/RL, some Russians may be afraid to access Western news media websites out of concern that their Internet use could be monitored, especially in Russia-occupied territories, such as Crimea. Broadcasting Board of Governors officials, whose ranks have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, seem convinced, however, that shortwave radio broadcasting has absolutely no future in Russia. In 2014, the BBG established a Special Committee on the Future of Shortwave Broadcasting to conduct a comprehensive review of the efficacy of shortwave radio as a distribution platform for U.S. government-funded international media outreach. According to the BBG's "Fiscal Year 2014 Performance and Accountability Report," "The [BBG] committee found shortwave radio to be essential to listeners in a few target countries, but of marginal impact in most markets. Based on consistent and verifiable data, and audience-based research, it was concluded that shortwave listenership around the world has plummeted, and that shortwave usage does not generally increase during crisis situations. Consequently, BBG has budgeted for the reduction of shortwave transmissions to countries where it is not a viable delivery platform." Much more worrisome, however, are minuscule audience reach numbers on any media for both RFE/RL and VOA programs in Russian. In an apparent effort to to hide this fact, the BBG makes it difficult to find on its website recent weekly audience reach statistics for its programs in Russia. RFE/RL publicizes instead less meaningful annual numbers of visitors or page views online. According to RFE/RL, "RFE/RL's Russian-language sites provided 266 million pages of content to almost 170 million visitors. RFE/RL Russian-language Facebook pages registered almost 23 million engaged users last year." RFE/RL's weekly audience reach in Russia, however, is believed to be only about one or two percent of the country's population. Kremlin's state media have huge audience numbers compared to RFE/RL and VOA. That is understandable because Russian state media have in-country distribution, including national TV networks, while the BBG does not because the Russian authorities banned domestic rebroadcasts of Radio Liberty and VOA programs. But VOA and RFE/RL are also far behind in reach and impact compared to some of the few remaining independent Russian news websites, such as Meduza. It operates from abroad on a much smaller budget but has a much larger online audience in Russia. Longtime BBG executive Jeff Trimble listening to a Gallup presentation that support for Crimea being forcefully annexed by Russia is higher among adults who use both Russian and Western media, suggesting that BBG programs may still have a negative impact for the United States. February 2016. Longtime BBG executive Jeff Trimble listening to a Gallup presentation that support for Crimea being forcefully annexed by Russia is higher among adults who use both Russian and Western media, suggesting that BBG programs may still have a negative impact for the United States. February 2016. Even more worrisome is the lack of significant impact of BBG programs in Russia. In a nationally representative survey of Russia, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that "Russians' attitudes toward the United States and President Barack Obama are extremely unfavorable and have grown sharply more negative in the last couple of years." "Eighty-one percent of Russians have an unfavorable opinion of Obama, and only 2 percent have a favorable view of him," AP reported. The BBG may very well be right that shortwave radio transmissions cannot do much more for augmenting its audience in Russia. But eliminating shortwave radio will not help this practically defunct agency. BBG officials have missed a very important point. BBG's impact in Russia is not low because it does not have digital outreach, because it does, and it is not low because the Russian authorities block BBG websites, because for the time being they don't. BBG's impact in Russia is also not low because it has or does not have shortwave radio transmissions, but the overall audience reach will be smaller without them. The poorest and most vulnerable audiences won't be served. Judging by past performance, any money saved from cutting shortwave will be wasted on consultants and the bureaucracy. Here is what U.S. taxpayers who pay $777.8 million to the BBG (FY 2017 Budget Request), of which $121.1 million goes to RFE/RL and $224.4 to VOA, need to know. BBG's impact in Russia is low because Putin's domestic propaganda is highly successful. BBG's impact in Russia is also low because BBG's program strategy and the quality and content of BBG programs are obviously inadequate. Several trends have contributed to the current crisis. Increasing control over RFE/RL by BBG's federal bureaucracy has had a particularly negative effect. The forced merging of RFE/RL and VOA brands have rendered their respective programs and the joint program in Russian "Current Time" largely ineffective. U.S. taxpayers' money is being wasted on the government bureaucracy instead of being invested in producing better quality programming that could stimulate intellectual discussion among Russian speaking elites. The Russians don't need more news, which is available everywhere. What they need is more Western analysis and alternative domestic opinions. The BBG may not be able to achieve high audience numbers in Russia, but at least it has a chance to influence political discussion among the Russian elites with the right kind of programming. This can have a multiplier effect, as it did for much of the Cold War. During that period of high impact, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty employed top journalists and experts. Eliminating shortwave radio transmissions to Russia was an expected bureaucratic response from the BBG designed to deflect attention from the real problems the agency refuses to deal with. The move attempts to show that the government bureaucracy is engaged in doing something, when in fact it is only reducing its already small audience in Russia with its shortwave decision while doing nothing to reform the agency and achieve real impact. The political timing of this decision couldn't be worse, even assuming that eventual reductions of shortwave radio transmissions to some countries are inevitable. But the BBG bureaucracy is famous for doing the wrong thing at the wrong time or even the right thing but at the wrong time. An anonymous RFE/RL journalist got it right in commenting on RFE/RL's and VOA's race for achieving "'Snappy, eye-catching' nothingness," which seems to be BBG's current strategy. "While Putin continues his inroads into former Soviet gory glory, this is how the American taxpayers' dollar is getting wasted. Incompetence, hubris and sausage measuring contests. What a shame. 'Snappy, eye-catching' nothingness. While you gentlemen argue about 'exemplary analysis' dissecting sausage-wielding in Georgia, Russian tanks are still in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Here's the prequel to the sequel. 'The Pork Awakens.' Preparing to roll into another former Soviet republic maybe, and we all know that Russian tank barrels hardly ever fire sausages, at vegans or meat-eaters alike. But go on, have some mustard. No ketchup, please. Not yet." Disclosure: Ted Lipien is one of the co-founders and supporters of BBG Watch (BBGWatch June 2 via dxld; via Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, hcdx and dxld June 3) (BC-DX 1255, 4 June 2016) * USA Eliminating Radio Liberty SW Russian. Optimistic BBG plans to eliminate RFE/RL Radio Liberty shortwave radio transmissions to Russia, Crimea, other Russian-speaking regions BBG Watch Commentary Russian Service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) posted an announcement on its website that as of June 26, Radio Liberty Russian programs will no longer be carried through shortwave radio transmissions but will continue on the Internet. The loss of Radio Liberty's Russian shortwave broadcasts will affect radio listeners in Russia as well as Russian speakers outside of the Russian Federation, including Russian occupied Crimea where many residents speak Russian. Officials of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency in charge of RFE/RL, bet that audiences will use the Internet without fear of being monitored or other forms of interference by the local authorities, such as blocking of websites. In the April 20, 2016 press release, the BBG condemned targeting of independent journalists in Crimea, including RFE/RL contributors. 71.3 % of Russia's population has Internet access, which means that nearly 30 % does not. While no one denies that shortwave radio listenership has been in serious decline in recent years due to the expanding use of digital media, Broadcasting Board of Governors officials seem to be making highly optimistic assumptions about future behavior of Vladimir Putin. Critics also point out that after years of poor management the BBG has now an extremely small audience and impact in Russia, either on radio or the Internet. "This is yet another indication that the agency under the Broadcasting Board of Governors has no significant audience in Russia," a former BBG staffer told BBG Watch. "They are not closing these facilities solely because people have migrated to new media. Regardless of the media/medium, the result is still the same: no significant audience in Russia," BBG and RFE/RL officials often cite misleading statistics, such as the monthly number of site visitors or the number of Facebook "Likes" for a single post, to hide the fact that its overall weekly audience in Russia for all media may be less than one or two percent. Some of the remaining independent Russian media outlets, such as Meduza and Rain TV, have much greater online reach in Russia than RFE/RL or VOA, which seems to suggest that the BBG program content is unappealing or otherwise inadequate. BBG audiences are higher in countries which allow local rebroadcasting of radio and TV programs. The BBG often has to pay local broadcasters for these rebroadcasts because program quality and their audience appeal are poor. Some VOA programs, however, such as the VOA Ukrainian Service and VOA Albanian Service TV news broadcasts, are popular in the target countries. This does not appear to be the case in Russia, which does not mean that high-quality analytical programs with high-quality intellectual content are not urgently needed. There has been a general decline in journalistic standards under the Broadcasting Board of Governors. RFE/RL has not had permanent leadership for over two years. At present, the impact of BBG programs in Russia seems negligible. In a nationally representative survey of Russia, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found "Russians' attitudes toward the United States and President Barack Obama are extremely unfavorable and have grown sharply more negative in the last couple of years." "Eighty-one percent of Russians have an unfavorable opinion of Obama, and only 2 percent have a favorable view of him," AP reported. BBG's annual budget funded by U.S. taxpayers through congressional appropriations is approximately $777 million (FY 2017 Federal Budget Request). While the shortwave Russian radio announcement was made by RFE/RL, radio transmission services are provided by the Broadcasting Board of Governors through its International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB). RFE/RL and BBG have so far posted no announcements in English on their plans to cut shortwave radio broadcasts in Russian to Vladimir Putin's Russia and other Russian speaking regions, including Crimea, which Russia has illegally occupied. Media freedom in the entire region has been in decline in recent years. The latest RFE/RL and BBG press releases are dated May 25, 2016 and deal with RFE/RL journalist Khadijah Ismayilova being released from prison in Azerbaijan. The RFE/RL announcement on the planned elimination of shortwave radio broadcasts was in Russian. It was posted on Radio Liberty's Russian website. In recent years, IBB has been significantly reducing shortwave radio broadcasting by RFE/RL and by other of its U.S. taxpayer-funded media entities, including the Voice of America (VOA). BBG officials point out that in the era of Internet and digital media, shortwave radio listenership has been in steep decline worldwide, including Russia. In 2008, IBB cut VOA Russian shortwave radio and live satellite television transmissions shortly before Russia invaded and occupied parts of Georgia. While RFE/RL websites remain vulnerable to being blocked at any time by the Kremlin, the Russian authorities still allow RFE/RL to operate a large news bureau in Moscow which provides news reports and other programming mostly for Radio Liberty's Russian Service. This may account for the optimism among BBG officials. They apparently assume that President Putin will not dare to interfere with the Internet and try to block RFE/RL websites in Russia. However, Kremlin controlled Russian TV channel NTV produced a propaganda hit piece on Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) which was broadcast on March 25, 2016. NTV report linked legitimate physical security measures at RFE/RL to vague accusations of allegedly hidden activities against Russia in carrying out the U.S. government's agenda. The Russian propaganda TV program also alleged misappropriation of U.S. taxpayers' dollars at the RFE/RL Moscow bureau. RFE/RL strongly denied these charges and in the March 18, 2016 press release condemned pressure tactics against RFE/RL bureau in Moscow. BBG and RFE/RL officials must assume that the Russian authorities will not expand these pressure tactics to include blocking of RFE/RL and VOA websites in Russia. BBG officials claim that the money spent on shortwave can be better used to create new programs and expand digital program delivery options, but critics point out that in recent years millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayers' funds have been wasted mostly on the BBG and IBB bureaucracy in Washington, which kept expanding and protected its jobs while cutting radio broadcasts, other programs and programming positions. New CEO John Lansing has been on the job at the Broadcasting Board of Governors since September 2015. He has promised management reforms and expansion of digital media outreach. Critics say that instead of depriving the most vulnerable groups abroad of safe radio program delivery and an inexpensive option of getting uncensored news and commentary through radio, BBG officials should achieve savings and expand digital media by drastically cutting their own bloated and inefficient bureaucracy. The RFE/RL announcement says that 24h/7d RFE/RL radio transmissions in Russian will continue online and can be heard through the RFE/RL website. Radio Liberty's Russian audio can also be heard 24h/7d on two satellites, Hot Bird and AsiaSat, according to the same RFE/RL announcement. So far, the Russian government has not been regularly blocking RFE/RL websites in Russia, but recently Russia's media regulator, Roskomnxdzor, briefly blocked and then unblocked RFE/RL's news website Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities) in Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea. Roskomnxdzor's spokesman said that the Russian authorities later unblocked Krym.Realii ("Crimea.Realities") after RFE/RL's Crimean news desk complied with a request by Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office to remove from the site "materials that contain illegal information." RFE/RL's Crimean desk said, however, that it removed no content from the site in response to the May 12 blocking of its website by Russian Internet providers. RFE/RL's Crimean desk chief Volodymyr Prytula said that "we received no demands from Roskomnadzor calling for the removal of any kind of content. So we removed no content." While all shortwave Radio Liberty transmissions in Russian are to end on July 26, according to RFE/RL's announcement, Radio Liberty Russian Service will continue to use 1386 kHz medium wave radio frequency from midnight to 6 AM and from 9 PM to to 10 PM Moscow time. This frequency can only be heard in some parts of European Russia. Radio Liberty (originally named Radio Liberation) began shortwave broadcasting to Russia on March 1, 1953. See RFE/RL announcement (in Russian only) on the planned elimination of Radio Liberty's shortwave radio transmissions in Russian. (BBGWatch June 1 via dxld; posted by Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, hcdx and dxld June 3) WEB RADIO IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE ============================= Russia. Moscow ---------------------- Radio Culture. WEB: http://www.cultradio.ru/ 91,6 MHz Broadcast Area: Moscow and Moscow region the beginning of the broadcast date: November 1, 2004 QSL WORLD ======== AK = Anatoly Klepov, Moscow, Russia AT = Andrey, Tomsk, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" DK = Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" KA = Konstantin Aseev, Kursk, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" & "open_dx" PI = Pavel Ivanov, Belgorod, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" & "open_dx" VL = Vasily Lazarev, Samarskaya oblast, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx" Albania ------------- QSL received from the German edition of Radio Tirana for the reception - 05/20/2016, 19.31-20.00 UTC at a frequency of 7465 kHz. The card with the four small pictures employees of the radio station. The report sent the e-mail: aibro @ albaniaonline.net (DK) Brazil -------------- Got a QSL card from Radio National da Amazonia registered letter for a report 5.05.16 / 01.25-02.00 utc / 6180 kHz e-mail: centraldoouvinte@ebc.com.br (VL) Czech / Russian ---------------------- * I got a QSL-cards of the Russian edition of Radio Prague. 04.05.2016 / 08: 30-08: 28 UTC / 738 kHz Subject: Church of St.Barbara - Kutna Hora. View card here - http://rusdx.blogspot.ru/2016/06/blog-post_6.html Let me remind you that the station confirms the reception and on the Internet. (AK) * I got a QSL-cards from Radio Prague for the reception - 28.04.2016, 02.00-02.29 UTC at a frequency of 738 kHz (via World Radio Network). The card - "Big Synagogue in Plzen "card at number six on the site.: http://www.radio.cz/ru/static/qsl/kartoshki-qsl#. The report sent e-mail: rusky @ radio.cz. (DK) Finland ----------------- SWR confirmed Saturday reception eQSL. http://ivanovpb.blogspot.ru/2016/06/scandinavian-weekend-radio.html (PI) Germany ---------------- * I got e-QSL from Radio Joystick for receiving 05.06.16 / / 7330 kHz // 10.00-10.30 utc. Broadcast conducted a transmitter power 300 kW --- omni-directional antenna. e-mail: chapri@radiojoystick.de e-mail: radionorthrnireland@oulook.com (VL) * Promptly confirm receipt eQSL Radio Joystick - 7330 kHz. http://ivanovpb.blogspot.ru/2016/06/radio-joystick.html (PI) * Germany --------------- I got e-QSL from Radio Radio Ohne Namen for reception by Channel 292 - 10.06.2016, 19.00 UTC on 6070 kHz frequency. The report sent: radio.on @ gmx.de. (DK) Italy ------- * Marconi Radio International sent two eQSL confirmed receiving 18 and 25 May, the frequency of 7700 kHz (USB). http://ivanovpb.blogspot.ru/2016/06/marconi-radio-international.html marconiradiointernational@gmail.com (PI) * I Got eQSL Marconi Radio International. May 18, 2016 / 20.25-20.27 UTC / 7700 USB kHz (AK) Philippines ----------------- Got a letter from Radio Veritas Asia (qsl - on the card some park, people on the boat - for the reception 04/30/2016 1500- 1553 (although in the report reception to 1530) through 15620 Santa Maria di Galeria, sticker, keychain, card, and what - That printed material on the Internet station). (KA) Poland ------------ I got a QSL-cards Russian edition of the Polish Radio. 04.05.2016 / 09: 00-09: 59/738 kHz Subject: View of Warsaw. (AK) Russia / Germany --------------------------- I Got 4 QSL-cards of the "Voices of the Andes" from Voronezh for the reception in Russian in January, February, April and May 2016 at the frequencies of 11900 and 13800 kHz. Reports sent by e-mail: mks @ intercon.ru. On the cards - scenery of nature. (DK) Turkey ---------- * I got a QSL-cards from the "Voice of Turkey" for the reception in Russian - 05.04.2016, 13.00-13.55 UTC on 11965 kHz frequency. The report sent E-mail: russian @ trt.net.tr. Also sent to a bookmark with the emblem of TRT and schedule broadcast in all languages. (DK) * "Voice of Turkey" received QSL-cards from the Russian edition. 01.04.2016 / 13.00-13.55 UTC / 11965 kHz / Transmission Site EMR. Subject: Turkish President with children. View card here - http://rusdx.blogspot.ru/2016/06/blog-post_8.html (AK) * He received a letter from the "Voice of Turkey" (qsl - Erdogan on the card with children - over the reception 10/04/2016 1300-1355 11965, frequency transmission schedule, bookmarks) (KA) United Kingdom ------------------------ * Got e-mail QSL from DigiDx for reception - May / 20.00-20.30 utc / 6070 kc / e-mail: reports@digidx.uk (VL) * I got a QSL from Radio Northern Ireland. http://ivanovpb.blogspot.ru/2016/06/radio-northern-ireland.html (PI) Vietnam / United Kingdom ---------------------------------------- Got 2 QSL-cards of the Russian edition of "Voice of Vietnam". April 15, 2016 / 1900-1958 UTC / 9890 kHz May 2, 2016 / 1900-1958 UTC / 9890 kHz (AK) * I got a QSL-cards from the "Voice of Vietnam" for the reception in Russian - 26.04.2016, 19.00-19.28 UTC on 9890 kHz frequency (via transmitter Great Britain). The card - "The boys herding buffalo." The report sent E-mail: golosvietnama @ mail.ru. (DK) * * I got a QSL-cards from the Chinese service of the Voice of Vietnam 04.28.2016. Subject: sailing boat on the background of two small rocks in the sea - this is a single copy with me. (AT) Russian SWL / DX site. QSL album. Moscow, Russia June 12, 2016 ---------------------- The author: irbisspb Reception Location: St. Petersburg Receiver: P-250M2 | Antenna: 10 m LW outdoor Madagascar Madagascar World Voice / 9570 kHz / 31.03.2016 00:00 / QSL-card / Russian / questions@knls.net The author: rusborder Reception Location: Saratov Receiver: SDRplay | Antenna: LW 35 meters USA Global Catholic Network (WEWN / EWTN) / 15610 kHz / 23.04.2016 13:01 / QSL-card / English / viewer@ewtn.com, gtapley@ewtn.com Italy Marconi Radio International / 7700 kHz / 02.06.2016 21:25 / e-QSL / marconiradiointernational@gmail.com Brazil ZYE365 Rádio Nacional da Amazônia / 6180 kHz / 12.05.2016 01:25 / QSL-card / Portuguese / centraldoouvinte@ebc.com.br Russia Adygeisk Radio / 6000 kHz / 21.03.2016 18:20 / QSL-card, printed matter / booklet with pictures of Krasnodar KRTPTS. Please send a report to STRC Adygea gtrkadygeya@yandex.ru. No reply received. / Russian / Krasnodar@rtrn.ru Turkey Voice of Turkey / 11965 kHz / 10.04.2016 13:05 / QSL-card, calendar, printed materials / Russian / russian@trt.net.tr Italy IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) / 6970 kHz / 21.04.2016 18:55 / QSL-card / ibc@europe.com Germany The Mighty KBC / 9925 kHz / 05.06.2016 00:00 / e-QSL / English / themightykbc@gmail.com Netherlands Mustang Radio / 6267 kHz / 04.06.2016 21:35 / e-QSL / Dutch / mustangradio@live.nl The author: Gryinya Reception Location: Smolevichi, Belarus. Receiver: Consumer | Antenna: Telescopic Madagascar Madagascar World Voice / 9570 kHz / 30.03.2016 18:00 / QSL-card / Russian / mwvradio@gmail.com Guam Adventist World Radio / 9760 kHz / 07.04.2016 20:00 / QSL-card, printed materials / Russian / golosnadezhdi@gmail.com CALENDAR RADIODAT ===================== [Supplement to the theme of "The History of the radio. Calendar radiodat "http://rusdx.narod.ru/data.htm] * June 7, 2016 marks five years since the start of the broadcast Love Radio in Astrakhan. Broadcasting frequency - 102.2 MHz, the potential coverage of the population - 669.5 thousand people.. Regional partner Love Radio - LLC "Nizhnevolzhsky tehnokommerchesky Center", Director - Avanesov OA (OnAir.ru) * June 7, "Taxi FM" marks 5 years since the beginning of broadcasting in Moscow. 5 years under the slogan "Always lucky!" Radio "the FM Taxi" moves in tune with your mood! 5 years all hits us on the way! (OnAir.ru) Mass media ========= Sami radio only in Russia may stop broadcasting Kola Sami Internet radio - the only Russian radio in the Sami language - may stop broadcasting. At this edition does not have enough funds to pay for hosting services for a year. - Radio began broadcasting on the Internet July 22, 2012. The first years were lower than the tariffs, and we could from his family budget to pay. The last two years we supported our permanent sponsor. This year we decided to appeal to the public around the world. The amount of tiny - 6-7 thousand a year, but even it is a problem to collect - said SeverPost vice president of international NGO "Saami Council" Andrey Danilov. He also added that no assistance from the state does not receive Sami radio. - For example, there are subsidies in Ugra. But in the Murmansk region there are none and the Fund can not apply for grants to voluntary organizations of the Murmansk region on competition conditions, although the presidential grants are issued to all non-profit organizations. Why in the Murmansk region ignore the example of the President of the Russian Federation and the Public Chamber? - Andrey Danilov said. To save radio Sami organized a fundraiser. As stressed by Andrey Danilov, "if this week will not be collected at least as a means Sami radio silent on the Internet." Since 1990, the transfer of Sami went on STRC Murman in Lovozero, but in 2000, stopped broadcasting in the Sami language. In this regard, in 2001, I began to be implemented international project to establish an independent radio station Sami. Initial costs of the creation of the Sami radio on the Kola Peninsula were mostly funded by various social, governmental and intergovernmental organizations. Reporters radio station prepared to Northern Sami to share with colleagues from the Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish Sami radio stations. In 2009, the radio station had serious problems due to prolonged non-payment of salaries to employees, and the accumulation of debt. In 2012, the radio station resumed its work on the Internet. severpost.ru (OnAir.ru) 73!