Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Free multiband digital display radio by AWR

Radio Giveaway

Starting January 1, 2006, we are giving away a multiband digital display radio EVERY WEEK!

Don’t miss your chance to win. You can enter simply by filling out the entry form below and you can keep entering once a week, every week!

See complete rules and regulations here.
Radio Giveaway Rules

1. Eligibility: Employees of Adventist World Radio as well as the immediate family and household members of each such employee are not eligible. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited.

2. Sponsor: Adventist World Radio

3. Timing: Giveaway weeks begin on January 1, 2006 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (ET) and ends on March 18, 2006 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Weekly drawings will be held every Monday at 12:00 p.m. ET to determine winner.

4. How to Enter: Visit awr.org and follow links and instructions to complete the registration. Complete and submit the registration. You will automatically receive one entry into the sweepstakes. Limit one (1) entry per week.

5. Prize: One (1) multiband digital display radio:

Check back for more details.
http://www.awr.org/


AM/FM/SW 1-6 World band receiver
High Sensitivity I.C. Circuit
Digital Display w/ Manu-tuning
Radio Alarm Clock
Stereo Earphone Set
Detachable Antenna
UM3X2, DC-3V
Removable Belt Clip

Dxers Guide –279

***Soon you can watch your own TV channel
Germany-based Siemens Telecommunications is in talks with all major Indian telecom service providers, including Reliance, Bharti, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd, to launch its Surpass Home Entertainment Solution (HES) technology, which will enable users to watch digital TV, surf the Internet and at the same time make telephone calls.
-Exchange4media.com 22/12

***Recovery brings Smile back to Asia Pacific TV
Brand-hungry shoppers with increasingly fat wallets are fuelling double-digit, year-on-year growth in advertising spend around the Asian region, with emerging markets leading the charge. Total ad spend across 12 Asia-Pacific markets (excluding Japan) was US$61 billion last year, up 21 per cent on the previous year, according to figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the year 2004-2005.
-Televisionpoint.com 22/12

***Tara TV plans separate channel for North-east
THE Rathikant Basu-promoted Tara TV is planning to tap the North-eastern markets by extending its channel brand to cater to this region. Mr Rathikant Basu, Chairman, Broadcast Worldwide, told Business Line, "There is a business plan and we are looking at the North-eastern States with intentions of starting a channel. We have been approaching TV producers and software providers to start a channel for the region, which comprises six States."
-Business Line 22/12

***High Court bans adult films on TV
The Bombay high court restrained cable operators and service providers from showing any film with an ‘A’ (adults only) certificate on television. A division bench comprising Justice RM Lodha and Justice DG Karnik passed the interim order on a public interest petition by social activist Pratibha Naithani.
-Dnaindia.com 22/12

***INSAT 4A to herald new era in satellite television broadcast Marking a major milestone in the Indian space programme, the fourth generation communication satellite, INSAT 4A successfully launched from Kourou in French Guyana will herald a new revelotion in Television broadcasting in India, Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.
-Newkerala.com 22/12

***ATN Launching NDTV News Channel in English on Rogers Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN), the largest broadcaster of South Asian programming in Canada (TSX-SAT) is delighted to announce the launch of India's finest television news channel NDTV 24/7 (New Delhi Television), on Rogers Digital Cable, Canada's largest digital cable service provider.
-Newswire.com 22/12

***Doordarshan Automates Graphics With VertigoXmedia Doordarshan, India's national television service, has purchased the Xmedia Suite for graphics automation and a VertigoXG system to play out graphics for its programming, broadcast throughout India and reaching nearly 90 percent of the country's residents. With Vertigo's Xmedia Suite, Doordarshan will have access to a robust suite of tools for automatically creating, managing, and playing out real-time, dynamic broadcast graphics.
-Broadcastbuyer.tv 21/12

***Govt to examine TRAI's suggestions
The government is examining the recommendations of broadcast regulator TRAI on digitalisation of cable television that envisages to put in place a national plan from 2006-2010. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had in September given its recommendations on digitalisation of cable television for framing a national plan from April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2010, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said in a written reply.
-Economic Times 22/12

***Private channels owe DD Rs 4.54 crore
Private channels owe Prasar Bharati a sum of Rs 4.54 crore for taking DD signal in respect of the India-Pak cricket series, the House was informed. “Some private channels have contested the bills by Prasar Bharati and the matter is sub judice,” information and broadcasting minister PR Dasmunshi said in a written reply. He said so far the amount received by Prasar Bharati for the purpose stood at Rs 12,000 from CNBC.While NDTV 24X7 owed Rs 82.44 lakh, NDTV India had outstanding dues of Rs 68.04 lakh, the minister said.
-Screenindia.com 24/12

***Doordarshan News to go in mobile mode from New Year
Come New Year and television viewers in Delhi and Chennai will have the luxury of watching DD News channel while traveling in their vehicles. This follows Prasar Bharati’s decision to convert Doordarshan’s Digital Terrestrial Transmitter (DTT) service in Delhi and Chennai into mobile reception mode. Currently, Doordarshan is operating DTT from four metros – Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata – benefiting its five channels, including DD News, DD-1, DD Sports, DD India and regional service.
-Exchange4media.com 24/12

***Cyprus co buys 7.9 % stake in NDTV
A European Investments has picked up 7.9 per cent stake in New Delhi Television Ltd. GA European, a company incorporated in Cyprus, acquired 48,36,000 shares aggregating to 7.954 per cent of the total paid-up equity capital of NDTV, the New Delhi-based electronic media company informed the National Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The Cyprus company acquired the shares from Shyam Cellular Infrastructure Projects, it said.
-The Economic Times 21/12

***A book on media's role in India
The Oxford University Press has published a book titled ‘Making News: A Handbook of Media in Contemporary India’ edited by Uday Sahay with a foreword by Robin Jeffrey. This book contains 36 articles written by the top names among the Indian media persons, media academics, PR and media marketing professionals in India. It has representations from the Print Media, the Electronic media, the Internet and the Radio.
-Agencyfaqs.com 26/12

***Industry welcomes the possibility of more research agencies in the fray to measure TRPs
The Rs 4,800-crore television industry in India avails the services of TAM for gauging their TRP ratings. However, though TAM is the widely accepted tool to measure TRP ratings, the market today has another player, aMap (Audience Measurement and Analytics (P) Ltd), which gives out yesterday’s ratings today. Now, the television ratings market is set to witness some more action in the future. The I&B Ministry recently expressed the possibility of allowing more agencies to get into the act of measuring viewership and viewing patterns in Indian TV homes. I&B Minister, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, on December 8, in reply to a question raised in the Lok Sabha had said that his Ministry was open to the idea of ensuring more coverage and allowing more sample surveys to make TRPs a complete exercise.
-Exchange4media 26/12

***Government announces 1st list of FM Radio probables
One hundred companies had expressed their intent to start FM radio operations in India, but 30 seem to have either fallen by the way side or are yet to fully satisfy the authorities. The government today announced the first list of 70 applicant companies that have qualified for financial bids for the second phase of FM Radio, which was outlined earlier this year.
-Indiantelevision.com 27/12

***FM Rainbow radio channel launch
The "FM Rainbow" radio channel for the twin-cities would be launched by Prasar Bharati. It could be tuned at 101.9 MHz. Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer K.S. Sarma who is here for the launch, told reporters on that the channel aimed to meet the changing needs of urban youth in an exclusively entertaining and interpersonal style. Hyderabad would be the thirteenth centre in the country to have FM Rainbow radio channel run by All India Radio.
-The Hindu 25/12

***Indian TV channels go off air in Pak
Pakistan has recently banned 35 entertainment channels, a majority of which are Indian, including Sony and Star. Indian news channels had been blanked out ever since Kargil war. The latest provocation was that local channels were found broadcasting cricket matches through South African channels instead of Ten Sports that has the exclusive rights to broadcast international cricket matches in Pakistan.
-Times of India 26/12

***Bidding for frequency
Business houses everywhere are going radio ga-ga, and who can blame them? With the government having invited bids for 338 FM stations across 91 cities for a period of 10 years, corporates are in hectic parleys for tie-ups and business plan evaluations. Once the ministry of information and broadcasting readies the final list of bidders for the radio stations, the financial bid is likely to begin on January 15. It will go on till February 3 in a phased-out manner.
-Business Standard 28/12
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
T.Jaisakthivel, Editor,
Dxers Guide. [Annual Subscription 5 IRC or Rs. 45/-]
www.dxersguide.blogspot.com

Address for Communication:

T.Jaisakthivel,
No: 3, First Floor,
21, Nathens Arcade,
Malaviya Avenue,
L.B Road, chennai-600041,
Tamil Nadu,
India.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

CVC Christmas Quiz Comp Results

Thanks to everyone who entered the Christmas Quiz Competition during December.

We held 3 prize draws from all the electronic entries we received (i.e. through the website, email and SMS text messages) and congratulations to our three Christmas Prize Pack winners:-

Oluoch Orwa from Kenya

Elijah Bassey from Nigeria

Zhiya Xia from China

There are still three more prize draws to be held from all the correct postal entries we receive. We'll draw them at the end of January to give our snail mail contestants plenty of time to get their answers in! So send your entries now and keep listening to see if you're a winner with CVC.

Click here to see if your answers were correct.

Your Top 30 Comp by CVC

On February 4th & 5th the Planet 30 is going to countdown Your Top 30 most requested songs as voted by you, our listeners.

Plus whenever you send in a vote, you’ll go into the draw for a fantastic prize pack containing:-
A triple music CD set
A Video
A CD Rom
A CVC T-Shirt
A Bunch of CVC stickers
An Aussie Plush Toy
Some booklets

We'll give away 5 packs in mid January and another 5 at the end of January.

Send in your vote now along with your full name and address

To enter you can:-
Write to P.O. Box 6361 Maroochy BC 4558 Queensland Australia and clearly write the word “Comp” at the top of your letter.
Send an SMS text message to 61 416 905 878 But remember, you must enter the code word “COMP” spelt C*O*M*P, first in the message screen.
Send an email to our brand new competition email address… comp@cvc.tv

You can vote as many times as you like - the more votes you send in, the greater the chance that your favourite song will make it into Your Top 30 countdown on the planet 30 in early February and the greater your chances of winning a prize!
... email >>> comp@cvc.tv

New frequency trial

New frequency trial for English broadcasts to North America for the winter schedule October 2005 - March 2006
For the winter period 2005-2006 Radio Prague is extending its shortwave broadcasts in English for central and western parts of North America, with a new time and frequency relayed via Sackville in Canada:
UTC kHz m kW Area
ENGLISH 0400-0427 6100 49 250 Sackville, Canada
Please note that this trial frequency changed with the beginning of the winter schedule on 30th October 2005.
To let us know how the signal is reaching you, please send us your reception reports, either by email or traditional snail-mail.

RTI is planning to visit India and Bangladesh!

The English service is planning to have a get-together with listeners in India and Bangladesh. Our tentative plan is to travel to New Delhi on 2/18, Kolkata (Calcutta) on 2/20, and Dhaka on 2/22. If you are interested in our visit or have any suggestions, please contact us at paula@rti.org.tw.

Tell us how you achieved a new year's resolution!

Global Exchange January Topic

Every month, we pose a new question to listeners as part of our Global Exchange segment. If we choose your letter to read on the air, you will receive a special RTI souvenir.
January topic:
Tell us how you achieved a new year's resolution!

Send entries to natalie@rti.org.tw or to PO Box 24-38/ Taipei, Taiwan.

RTI Monitors in 2006

The English service is pleased to announce that it has chosen 9 monitors for the year of 2006. They are: Richard Chen (Trinidad & Tobago), Swopan Chakroborty (India), Don Rhodes (Australia), Gianluigi Naj (Italy), Douglas North (CA, USA), Anne Fanelli (NY, USA), Lee Silvi (Ohio, USA), Hector Frias (Chile), and Venancio J. Victoria (the Philippines).

Monitors are required to send us at least three reception reports per month.

As a small token of appreciation, each one of them will get two bottles of locally-grown black tea.

First list of companies qualifying for financial bidding for FM Radio

The Government has short listed 70 companies who can put in their financial bids in the second round of auction for setting up FM radio stations in the country. Among the prominent companies that feature in the list include Adlabs Films Ltd., Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd., HT Media Ltd. and TV Today Network Ltd.

The 70 companies will be vying with each other to set up FM stations in 91 cities in the Phase II of FM radio expansion by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The list may be further expanded, the I&B Ministry said in a statement posted on its Web site.

"The financial bids would be obtained and opened in January-February 2006 as per the schedule already notified in the tender document. The applicant companies are also being informed individually", the I&B Ministry said.

The Ministry had invited pre-qualification bids for 338 FM stations in 91 cities for Phase II expansion of FM radio broadcasting services on September 21. The deadline ended on November 11.

The Government has formally allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of up to 20% in FM radio companies, following up on the liberalized investment policy announced on June 30.

One hundred companies had expressed their intent to start FM radio operations in India, but 30 seem to have either fallen by the way side or are yet to fully satisfy the authorities.

The government today announced the first list of 70 applicant companies that have qualified for financial bids for the second phase of FM Radio, which was outlined earlier this year.
A notable absentee in today's list is an existing radio operator that has received the Foreign Investment Promotion Board's clearance for investment up to 20 per cent by a British broadcaster.

Yet another existing FM player Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd. (MBPL), which runs the brand Radio City, is also absent from the list. When quizzed on this, the company's official spokesperson says,"It is too premature to comment. Only the first list of probables for the second phase is out."

Prominent among those who have qualified for financial bidding in the second phase are Subhash Chandra's Pan India Network Infravest Pvt Ltd, HT Music and Entertainment company, Asianet Communications, Malayala Manorama and Bag Infotainment. Another major player set to make a foray into the FM radio sector is Anil Ambani whose Adlabs Films has qualified for the bid.

Among the existing operators, Radio Today Broadcasting has also made it to the list.

The financial bids would be obtained and opened for scrutiny in January/February 2006 as per a schedule already notified in the tender document.

The government had invited pre-qualification bids on 21 September, 2005 for expansion of FM Radio broadcasting services through private companies in 90 cities for over 300 frequencies.

The bids have been evaluated as per eligibility criteria, the information and broadcasting ministry said today.


1 M/s Malayalam Communication Ltd.
2 M/s Raj Television Network Ltd.
3 M/s Creamline Dairy Products Ltd.
4 M/s Gwalior Farms Pvt. Ltd.
5 M/s Swar Sudha Cassettes Industries Pvt. Ltd.
6 M/s PCR Warehousing Ltd.
7 M/s Neutral Publishing House Ltd.
8 M/s Tarun Bharat Multigraphics Pvt. Ltd.
9 M/s Eastern Media Limited
10 M/s Indogo Mass Communications
11 M/s Arya Communications & Electronics Services Pvt. Ltd.
12 M/s Pan India Network Infravest Pvt. Ltd.
13 M/s Charhdikala Publications Private Limited
14 M/s Noble Broadcasting Corporation Pvt. Ltd.
15 M/s CMR Agro & Broadcasting Services Pvt. Ltd.
16 M/s Purvy Broadcast Pvt. Ltd.
17 M/s Oral Metronet Limited
18 M/s HT Music and Entertainment Co. Pvt. Ltd.
19 M/s Ananda Offset Private Limited
20 M/s Adlabs Films Ltd.
21 M/s Pudhari Publications Private Limited
22 M/s The Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.
23 M/s Sanmarg Pvt. Ltd.
24 M/s Sri Adhikari Brothers Media Limited
25 M/s Sri Adhikari Brothers Films Division Ltd.
26 M/s Kal Radio Pvt. Ltd.
27 M/s South Asia FM Pvt. Ltd.
28 M/s Adi Shakti Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
29 M/s Century Communication Ltd.
30 M/s Rajasthan Telematics Ltd.
31 M/s Shri Puran Multimedia Ltd.
32 M/s Santa Banta.com Ltd.
33 M/s Sapad Holdings Limited
34 M/s Rancka Fincom Private Ltd.
35 M/s Jay Bee Energy Pvt. Ltd.
36 M/s Ushodaya Enterprises Ltd.
37 M/s Asianet Communications Ltd.
38 M/s Malar Publications Pvt. Ltd.
39 M/s Shaf Broadcast Pvt. Ltd.
40 M/s Devyani Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
41 M/s BAG Infotainment Private Limited.
42 M/s Rajasthan Patrika Private Limited
43 M/s Plasmix (P) Ltd.
44 M/s Radio Today Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd.
45 M/s PGH International Pvt. Ltd.
46 M/s Life Style Impex (P) Ltd.
47 M/s Associated Broadcasting Co. Pvt. Ltd.
48 M/s Lewis Natural Food Ltd.
49 M/s Sambhaav Media Ltd.
50 M/s ITM Software and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
51 M/s Seaward Exports Pvt. Ltd.
52 M/s PCM Cement Concrete Pvt. Ltd.
53 M/s Endeavour Industries Ltd.
54 M/s Agniban Publications Ltd.
55 M/s Muthoot Finance Pvt. Ltd.
56 M/s Delhi Press Patra Prakashan Pte. Ltd.
57 M/s The Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd.
58 M/s Rai Bahadur Kishor Chand & Sons (Prop) Pvt. Ltd.
59 M/s Commercial Drug House (I) Pvt. Ltd.
60 M/s Entertainment Network (India) Ltd.
61 M/s Jamkash Vehicleades Pvt. Ltd.
62 M/s Chinar Circuits Ltd.
63 M/s Positiv Radio Pvt. Ltd.
64 M/s Writers and Publishers Ltd.
65 M/s Bhaskar Denim Ltd.
66 M/s Synergy Media Entertainment Ltd.
67 M/s Hitkarini Prakashan Ltd.
68 M/s Subhamangal Traders Pvt. Ltd.
69 M/s Avanti Media Pvt. Ltd.
70 M/s Syntech Informatics Pvt. Ltd.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

DW Current Affairs Quiz December 2005

Make sure you enter this month and a brand new short-wave radio could be yours!

This month sees the sixth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation. We want to know where it's being held. Is it

1. Brussels
2. Vienna
3. Cairo or
4. Hong Kong


Send your answer on a postcard please, postmarked no later than December 31st 2005, to "Deutsche Welle English Service, postcode 53110 Bonn, Germany" or email us at newslink@dw-world.de. The winner will receive a
shortwave radio and there are consolation prizes for the first five runners up. Good luck!

Best Listeners' and monitors' 0f 2005

Dear Listener,
We're nearing the end of 2005. Listeners' and monitors' reception reports, comments and suggestions over the course of the year have helped bring about improvements to both our broadcast and program quality. Thanks for making 2005 such a success here at China Radio International (CRI). To show our appreciation, we've chosen some especially good listeners and sent one small gift to each of them. The list is printed below. Happy New Year from CRI, and let's work together to make 2006 our best year ever!

CRIENGLISH.com

Best Listeners

Hannu.Kiiski, Finland
Jacques.Augustin, France
Zdzislaw.Gomulka, Poland
Dmitriy Kutuzov, Russia
Olli-Jukka Paloneva, Finland
Jouke Van Der Galien, The Netherlands
Brian.Stokoe, New Zealand
Ian Cattermole, New Zealand.
Andrew McKean, Australia
Lu Derming, Australia
T.Jaisakthivel, India
S.Selvam, India
Aaquib Nehal Khan, India
Md. Salahuddin Dolar, Bangladesh
Faramarz Bahramloo, Iran.
Mogire O Machuki, Kenya
Tiaweh Tyee, jr., Liberia
Oyesanmi Oyedotun, Nigeria.
George J. Poppin, USA
Franz. Schwartz, USA
Bill Watters, USA
Melvin. Williams, USA
Gordon Blom, USA
Eric Walton, Canada
Jeff Bowes, U.K.
David.Ansell, U.K.
Peggy Meadows, U.K.
David.Gray, U.K.
Ron. Haynes, U.K.
NG. Wing Yuen, U.K.
Roger Tidy, U.K.
Alastair Pamphilon, U.K.
Nick Sharpe, U.K.
Gunter.Kastner, Austria
Gerd. Wedemeyer, Germany
Günter Jacob, Germany

Gifts include: a Snuff Bottle, a Waistcoat, a Fish-shaped Bag,
a Cushion Cover, or a Sweat Band

Best Monitors

Mike Peraaho, USA
Roger R. Roussel, Canada
Brian Kendall, U.K.
Christer Brunstrom, Sweden
Azam Ali Soomro, Pakistan.
A. Balakrishnan, B.Com., India
Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Banglade
Mrefe Akpotu, Nigeria

Gifts include: a Waistcoat and a Fish-shaped Bag

Thursday, December 15, 2005

The Voice of Russia presents a new quiz - RUSSIAN REGIONS.

We welcome you to a fascinating journey into Russia - a vast
territory that occupies one third of Eurasia stretching from the Baltic Sea to
the Pacific Ocean. Ten time belts separate the country’s east from
west. And the huge area is dotted with regions, each remarkable for its
history, nature, climate, traditions, economy and customs and famous for
remarkable personalities.

The quiz RUSSIAN REGIONS will unfold in five stages, each stage
lasting two months, during which we will be introducing you to a region on
which you’ll have to answer one question. Listen attentively and you’ll
get the answer right.
Each stage will be followed by a month-long pause to sum up the
results. The winners will get souvenirs from the regions’ administrations.
And the winners of the whole project will get an invitation to visit
one of the regions.

PROGRAM 1. THE YAROSLAVL REGION
PROGRAM 2. KARELIA
PROGRAM 3. THE TVER REGION
PROGRAM 4. THE CHUVASH REPUBLIC
PROGRAM 5. THE RYAZAN REGION
PROGRAM 6. CHUKOTKA

http://www.vor.ru/Quiz_Region/index_eng.html


ABID HUSSAIN SAJID
PAKISTAN

Bhutan Broadcasting Service to get new TV centre, shortwave transmitter

Bhutan's national television - Bhutan Broadcasting Service Television (BBS TV) - expects to undergo a major professional facelift with the construction of Nu. 56.4 million television center.

BBS TV is looking at better news broadcast, quality programmes and a nationwide coverage when the TV center will be equipped with the latest broadcasting equipment and a 100-Kilo Watt (KV) Short Wave (SW) transmitter and have a link up with an Indian satellite.

The 1,600 square metre-center, to be constructed with Indian assistance, will house a master control room, news and production control rooms, a voice-over booth, a set maintenance shed, a graphics and creative unit, and office space for engineers, journalists, cameramen, and producers all of which was absent so far.

“The urgent need to separate the radio and TV was long felt,” said BBS managing director, Mingbo Dukpa. “Besides helping improve the quality of TV programmes, the center will enhance the professionalism of the staff.”

BBS TV was hastily launched in June 1999 with minimal infrastructure and merged with BBS radio for want of space to house a separate TV studio. Thus, BBS TV broadcast began from a small 30 square metre-studio adjacent to the 50 KW short wave transmitter at Sangaygang in Thimphu. Due to strong transmission interference from the SW transmitter, the radio transmission had to be shut down daily by 5 pm to allow TV transmission which affected the radio broadcast.

“In January, 2003, a 100 square metre room inside the radio station in Chubachu was converted into the present TV studio,” said Mingbo Dukpa. “This temporarily took care of some of the problems enabling both radio and television transmission to go on air simultaneously.”

Besides, BBS, over past two years, increased its airtime for both radio and TV. This further aggravated the space crunch at the present radio station with about 200 regular staff squeezed in single building. BSS TV also lacked trained and skilled journalists, according to the managing director.

BBS chief engineer, Sonam Tobgyal, said the present complex was meant for radio only, and all essential things for TV broadcast were missing.

However, once the center is in place BBS will have separate editorial and production department for radio and TV.

Apart from the capital, which remained the sole recipient of live service for a couple of years, BBS TV today goes live to Phuentsholing and Paro through Bhutan Telecom's fibre optic network.

The management says that BBS TV will go live nationwide latest by February, 2006, once the satellite link is up.

The government of India has also made additional commitment of procuring Nu. 119.0 million worth of equipment for the new TV center, purchasing and installing a Nu. 86.0 million 100 KW transmitter and providing an additional Nu. 18.0 million for hiring of a satellite for three years. The total assistance comes to about Nu. 280 million.

BBS today has about 205 staff including 40 technical personnel, 20 journalists, and 65 producers. This year alone it recruited about 50 people to fill in as journalists and producers as part of strengthening its professional staff for both radio and TV.

The sa-lang (ground breaking) ceremony for the TV center was done on December 11.

By Gopilal Acharya
gopiacharya@kuensel.com.bt

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Winners' List of the CRI Quiz on Mysterious Tibet

The CRI English Service Survey and Quiz of Mysterious Tibet finally concluded. The quizzes attracted thousands of listeners, some of whom not only gave their answers to the questions, but also raised issues, gave suggestions and made comments. We'd like to thank all of those who devoted their time and efforts to write to us. Here is the list of winners. Congratulations to those who have won, and thank you to all participants. We hope you'll continue to actively take part in CRI quizzes. Next time you might be the lucky one!

Winners' List of the Quiz on Mysterious Tibet

First Prize:
Prize: a MP3, a Radio or a Cushion Cover
James West £¬USA
Hector Frias£¬Chile
Gerry Neumann£¬England
Qi Chen£¬Australia
Yasir Ishfaq Qurashi£¬Pakistan
Isuru Hapuarachchi£¬Sri Lanka



Second Prize:
Prize: a Waistcoat£¬a Chinese Style Bag£¬or a Snuff Bottle
Hui Zhou£¬USA
Anthony Stratton£¬USA
K-J. Kar¨¦n£¬ Finland
Roland Sigge£¬Sweden
Hans Verner Lollike£¬Denmark
Pantelis Paizanis£¬Greece
Zenka Dyulgjarova£¬Bulgaria
Bessarab Milana£¬ Russia
Maria do Socorro Silva Almeida£¬Brazil
Carmelo Mintoff£¬Malta Malik Ameer Bakhsh, Pakistan
Abid Hussain Sajid£¬Pakistan
Muhammad Yasir Khan£¬ Pakistan
Shaikh Muhammad Younis£¬Pakistan
Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry£¬Pakistan
P. V. Ramana Rao£¬India
Mukesh Kumar, India
Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Bangladesh
Eric Douglas£¬Tanzania
Bezazel Feraht Ben Rabah£¬Algeria



Third Prize:
Prize: a Scarf£¬a Fish-Shaped Bag£¬or a Sweat Band
Mamnoon Kazmie£¬USA
Harry Werlitz£¬Canada
Gilles Letourneau£¬Canada
Karim Turay£¬Finland
Andy Martynyuk, Russia
Johan Olivier, Belgium
Sergey M. Kolesov£¬Ukraine
Wayne Bastow, Australia
Ray Davey, New Zealand
Al-Suleimann Ibrahim£¬Jordan
Mitsunori Kawazoe£¬Japan
A. K. M. Nuruzzaman£¬Bangladesh
Sujan Parajuli, Nepal
Mariz kay M. Flores£¬Philippines
Chin Fok Min, Malaysia
Mubashir Hussain£¬Pakistan
Salisu M. Dawanau, Nigeria
Enobong Gibson John, Nigeria
Mohammad Elabd£¬Egypt
Hhjia Hadiza, Ghana

Winners' List for English Service Survey£¨16£©
Prize: a Small Bell Bag or a Bag for Storing Letters
Victor Prieto£¬USA
John Brutza£¬USA
Josh N. Wolfenbarge£¬USA
Daniel Say£¬Canada
Patrlck Flaherty£¬ U.K.
Peter Lawes£¬ U.K.
H M Holmden£¬ U.K.
Eddie Steadman, Ireland Andreas Marschall£¬Germany
Eldred Francis£¬Australia
Stephen Hogan, Australia
Khatri Shakeel Ahmed£¬Pakistan
Ravind Kumar Shukl£¬India
Herculean Mascarenhas£¬India
Kadri Selim Kovan£¬Turkey
Peter Toit£¬South Africa
CONGRATULATION ALL THE LISTENERS AND DXERS

NEW EDITION OF BROADCASTS IN ENGLISH

A new edition of Broadcasts in English is available now from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). Compiled by Dave Kenny, it has been completely revised and updated for the current Winter 2005-2006 (B05) season and includes details of all currently known international broadcasts in English on shortwave and mediumwave for the B05 schedule period. The 32-page booklet is in time order throughout and covers all
target areas. It gives a round the clock, hour by hour guide to what English broadcasts you can tune into and on what frequencies.

Transmitter sites are indicated where known. It also includes a comprehensive guide to DX and Media Programmes; schedules for Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) transmissions and World Radio Network in English to Europe.

Copies are available at the following prices (postage included):

United Kingdom - 2 pounds sterling
Overseas - 6 International Reply Coupons; 5 Euros or 5 US Dollars

Sterling payments by cheque/postal order to "British DX Club" Dollar or Euro payments in cash. We also can now accept Paypal - please email for details. Bdxc @ bdxc.org.uk

All orders/enquiries to:
British DX Club, 10 Hemdean Hill, Caversham, Reading RG4 7SB, UK
Or visit the BDXC-UK web site at http://www.bdxc.org.uk
(Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD)

PAKISTAN: SEMINARIES RUNNING OVER 90 ILLEGAL FM RADIO STATIONS IN BORDER AREA

Text of report by Ghafar Ali

"90 illegal FM radio stations in NWFP"
by Pakistani newspaper Daily Times website on 8 December

Peshawar: Seminaries are illegally running more than 90 FM radio stations to broadcast their teachings in various districts of the North West Frontier Province, a source told Daily Times on Tuesday [6 December].

The source said the channels often disturbed police wireless transmissions because they operate at frequencies reserved for security agencies. He said the channels had not been allocated frequencies by the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) but they were
using frequencies allocated for security agencies to circumvent the issue.

According to the source, 27 channels are operating illegally in Swabi district alone. The actual number could be much higher than these, which were detected by intelligence agencies. "These channels are very popular among residents as people know the religious scholars," said a Swabi resident, wishing not to be named. The source said that certain individuals in Swabi had also installed FM radio transmitters in hujras (religious gathering areas). He provided data showing that the broadcasting range was from half a kilometre to 29 kilometres radius.
Transmitters are locally manufactured and cost between Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000, and Swabi district is the main market, he added.

The source said that an FM transmitter was also installed in MNA [Member of National Assembly] Maulana Muhammad Qasim's Darul Uloom at Shergarh in Mardan, and religious sermons were aired between Fajr (morning prayers) and Isha (evening prayers). Talking to Daily Times, Naqeeb Ahmad, personal assistant to Maulana Qasim, confirmed a transmitter was installed. But he added, "We broadcast Koranic translation and ulema's speeches. We do not use the transmission to promote religious hatred."

Sources in Malakand confirmed such channels and said that sectarian leaders from different sects were using the medium to promote religious hatred against each other's sects. They added that various Sunni sects were illegally transmitting their sermons and no Shia sect was using this medium. Source: Daily Times website, Lahore, in English 8 Dec 05 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? Outside 88-108 apparently (gh)

Very similar story: PAK SEMINARIES BECOME TECH SAVVY, RUN ILLEGAL FM
RADIO STATIONS Lahore | December 08, 2005 5:06:32 PM IST
http://www.netindia123.com/showdetails.asp? id=185300&cat=Asia&head=Pak+seminaries+become+tech+savvy%2C+run+illegal+FM+radio+stations
(via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD)

NEW ETON SW PORSCHE RADIOS

Hi, all! Just got a new Sharper Image catalog in the mail yesterday.
Oddly enough, it does NOT include the new Eton E1-XM radio, though
most of the people who now have one of those seem to have bought
theirs through Sharper Image. But it DOES include an Eton SW (& XM)
radio I had never seen before, a "Porsche Design P'7131" model. I went
to the Eton website and found this page:
http://www.etoncorp.com/US/porschedesign/product_specs.aspx?specs=true&prodID=1&subID=1

Note that this shows two new radios, the P'7131 and P'7136. But there
are specs (sort of) only on the larger P'7131. And these so-called
"specs" don't give any details of the SW coverage.

It appears that this is aimed at the designer/appearance-is-what-
matters market; Sharper Image is selling this toy at $349.95, plus $50
for the XM-antenna add-on VX300 unit (& of course the XM subscription
cost).

That brings up another question. The picture of the VX300 unit, which
I cannot find on the Eton site but only on the Sharper Image site, at
http://www.sharperimagebest.com/vx300.html

does NOT exactly match the image of the XM-antenna add-on unit that is
pictured with the Eton E1 image all over the net. THAT is by Audiovox,
the CNP-1000; here is a picture of that XM antenna unit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009GE7G8/ref=e_deav_acc_1_1/102-7785761-1430500?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I find this odd. Why would Eton (& Sharper Image) want to handle two
different XM-antenna units? Are they really interchangeable or not?
The mind reels.

Anyway, I look forward to finding out more about these new Porsche-
designed Eton SW radios. If anyone finds more-detailed specs, and
especially performance evaluations, please post! Could this P'7131
really be worth $350? It IS physically small for something supposedly
a non-portable ((6" High X 5" Wide X 8.5" Deep) and has a remote.
Maybe you want to add that to your Christmas want-list? :-) If it
performs decently on SW, the wife-acceptance-factor could be higher
than for many other radios... 73, (Will Martin, Dec 7, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

Ray, I'll address only the antenna question. If XM is like Sirius,
then the antenna units are interchangeable within their intended
function. The two examples you show are the antennas for a home
installation; they would optimally be set on a windowsill or on the
roof. I have mine snugged under a couple roof shingles to give it more
vertical visibility.

While this is just my opinion, $350 seems expensive, without knowing
more about its technical performance specs. Based on the rather sparse
description at the website, I personally wouldn't buy one. I'd rather
save my money for an E1XM which has received very favorable reviews.

You should contact Eton and volunteer to review one for the hobby
community, and sell that review to Monitoring times (Richard Cuff /
Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD)

Caution! The antenna "module" for the E1XM and the P-7131 is different
from the antenna unit provided with the plug and play units. See:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0101cnp.html
A number of "XM-Ready" receivers are coming on market that require
only the "antenna module" (and a subscription, of course) in order to
become functional (John Figliozzi, ibid.)

So that means the antenna module contains the digital decoder chip,
not the radio? (Rich Cuff, ibid.) Yeah, I think you're right about
that (John Figliozzi, ibid.)

WRTH 1947 to 1958 REPRINT

Twelve editions with fully text search function on a CD! This is a joint venture between the WRTH Co. and ADDX on the occasion of the 60th edition of the WRTH! The rare old copies of the first editions of the WRTH occasionally can be found at eBay auction. Thus the 1949 edition was sold this summer for 750 U.S. Dollars! The first twelve editions have now been scanned and are sold on a CD which I have had a look at. It is very easy to work with and highly recommendable to all people interested in broadcast radio history.

More at http://www.addx.de/Service/CDreprint.php

Until Jan 31, 2006, it is sold for 40 Euro including postage. After that date the CD will cost 50 Euro. Send your order and payment directly to ADDX, Scharsbergweg 14,
D-41189 Moenchengladbach, Germany. Bank transfer to ADDX-Konto Nr. 8686800 at Deutschen Bank, Duesseldorf, BLZ 30070024 (IBAN: DE 7030 0700 1000 0868 6800, BIC: DEUT DE DB DUE). (Schmitz and Petersen) ( Anker Peterson via DX-Window No. 287)

Thursday, December 08, 2005

A visit to AIR Tutucorine

STATION PROFILE
A visit to AIR Tutucorine

Tutucorine is a district Head Quarters in Tamil Nadu state of South India. It was pronounced in Tamil as Thoothukkudi. Major industries such as SPIC, Chemical Industries, Heavy water plant and Thermal plant are located here. It is also called “Pearl city” in the view of the pearl fishing being conducted periodically.

The city is also famous for the production of salt. Sri Sankara Rameshwarar Temple and one Sri Vaikundapathy Temple built by the Pandya King Sankara Pandyan. I went Tutucorine for present one program to AIR Tutucorine on the topic of “Radio: Yesterday, Today and tomorrow”. It was the 6th AIR Station that I visited and here are some of the details of the station.

All India Radio, Tutucorine was inaugurated on May 31, 1994 with a 2 x 100 KW. Its offices and studios are located at Millarpuram, about 5 Kms away from the town.

The present studio block was inaugurated on 1994 May 31 and consists of Talk, playback and Music studios. There are three transmissions daily viz in the morning, noon and evening/night. The morning broadcasts start at 05.30 am (0000 UTC) and night broadcast close down at 09.00 pm (15.30 UTC).

The Morning transmitter starts with External service of Tamil to South East Asia (SEA) starts at 05.30 to 06.15 relays from AIR Delhi. 06.15 to 06.45 Sinhala language relay from AIR Delhi. AIR chennai relay for news at 06.45 to 06.55 and 08.10 to 0815 (Special News bulletin to SEA). AIR Tutucorine programs start from 06.55 to 09.00.

The second transmitter start at 03.30 to 04.30 pm with General Overseas Service from AIR Delhi, 04.30 to 04.45 AIR Tutucorine program and again the SEA Tamil starts at 04.45 to 0545 pm. It is relay from AIR chennai. Then again AIR Tutucorine broadcast from 05.45 to 06.30. The evening Sinhala Service starts at 06.30- 08.30 pm relays from AIR Delhi. In night again the original production of AIR Tutucorine start from 08.30 to 09.00 pm.

The target area of this station transmitter is the South East Asian countries. But mainly concentrate on Sri lanka. Most of the programs are in the Sinhala and Tamil. “Thirai Kadal Adivarum Tamizh Natham” (The name of the External Service Tamil) morning transmitter relayed from Delhi and the Evening transmitter from Chennai.

The recording and playback equipment consists of Turntables, Spool tapes and CD players. There is also facility for phone in program. Most of the allied equipment is made by Keltron and Meltron.

The transmitting station is at a little remote area called Meelavittan, about 15 Kms away from the studios. The transmitter is a 2 X 100 KW BEL HMB 140, which was commissioned on 31, may 1994. The antenna is a self-radiating mast 130 meters high. The studio to transmitter link is via UHF link operating on 1440 Mhz.

In the transmitter site they monitor with SONY ICF 7600 DS (1989 Model). The station operates on 1053 KHz. The postal address is All India Radio, Millarpuram, Tutucorine – 8, Tel: 0461 2310 228.and the Transmitter site address is Asst. Station Eng., All India Radio, Meelavittan, Tutucorine – 628 002.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

60th anniversary of WRTH

This year is the 60th anniversary of the bestselling directory of world broadcasting on LW, MW, SW and FM.

An Extended Features section includes special anniversary articles on The History of WRTH, 60 Years of Reception, 50 years of DXing, 60 Years of Technology and The Future of Radio

The remaining pages are, as usual, full of information on:

• National and International broadcasts and broadcasters
• Clandestine and other target broadcasters
• MW and SW frequency listings
• Equipment reviews and articles
• TV by country
• Extensive Reference section

What is WRTH?

World Radio TV Handbook or WRTH is now in its 60th edition. It is the most accurate and complete guide to the world of radio on LW, MW, SW and FM, available in any form.

It is divided into the following sections

Features - This section is in full colour and contains reviews of receivers and ancillary equipment, articles on topical issues such as digital radio, interviews with broadcasters , reception conditions, colour maps showing the location of SW transmitters, and other topics of interest to Listeners and DXers.

National Radio - This section covers the world's domestic radio services. The listings are by country and include all stations broadcasting on LW, MW and SW, together with contact details, and most stations broadcasting on FM.

International Radio - Full details of all broadcasters transmitting internationally are given in this section and are listed by country. The schedules shown are the 'A' or 'winter' SW frequencies as supplied by the broadcasters and confirmed by monitoring, together with any LW or MW frequencies used. It also contains a new sub-section showing Clandestine and Other Target Broadcasters arranged by target country. The 'B' or 'summer' schedules, along with updates to broadcaster details, are available as a pdf download from this website in May each year.

Frequency Lists - This section contains MW frequency lists grouped by frequency within regions, lists of international and domestic SW broadcasts in frequency order, and international SW broadcasts in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish shown by UTC.

Television - The TV section has details of the main national broadcasters, and large regional networks, arranged alphabetically by country.

Reference - This section has tables and listings of Transmitter sites, Standard Time and Frequency Transmissions, DX Club information, Internet resources and other essential information.

To see what other people think of WRTH please read the comments made about WRTH 2005, or go right ahead and order a copy of WRTH 2006.

“GAMBIRA KURALON” S.Ganeshwaran Died on 07.12.2005

Ceylon Radio Announcer Mr S.Ganeshwaran is a popular announcer since 1980. He is called by his fans as “GAMBIRA KURALON(Majestic Voice)”. He is not only an announcer but also a script writer, director, singer, and cine actor. His versatility and knowledge is now well shown in “THENDRAL“ (SLBC), Colombo International Radio, Ceylon Asian Service. He died on the live show itself on 07.12.2005. [Thanks to Mr.Attur Viyaram A.Kannan, Mobile:98946 70004. For more details visit http://www.vijayramonline.com/kannan-page/index2.htm]