K
KeithE
Guest
Re: VOA = Shortsighted
> While it may be an anachronism here in North America, I
> maintain that such services continue to be useful when
> beamed to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The
> majority of people in those places DO NOT have laptops with
> WiFi or even regular internet access. But, SW radios are
> still plentiful.
According to the <a target="_blank" href=http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=133&mode=general>Broadcasting Board of Governors press release</a>, VOA English to Africa will be continuing (currently 11 hours a day), not just 1/2 hour to Zimbabwe, as well as the Special English programming and the website.
Currently, English to Europe, N. Africa, and the Middle East is only 2 hours a day on shortwave, 90 minutes on AM, and 24 hours on FM. The biggest cut is to Southeast Asia and Oceana, which runs about 12 hours per day on average (varies on weekends) and is really not necessary anymore.
From the press release:
<font color=red>Faced with the increased costs of expanding critically needed television and radio programming to the Arab and non-Arab Muslim world, the Board has had to make some painful choices. As a result, the budget proposes reductions in English language programming, by eliminating VOA News Now radio while maintaining VOA English to Africa, Special English and VOA's English website.
The budget reflects the Board's commitment to English language programming in the medium of the future, the Internet, and for excellence in Special English programming. Research shows that millions more are benefiting from Internet programming than from shortwave transmission, which VOA News Now relies on.</font>
Am I reading this wrong, or are they saying that News Now might continue online, but not over the air?
> While it may be an anachronism here in North America, I
> maintain that such services continue to be useful when
> beamed to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The
> majority of people in those places DO NOT have laptops with
> WiFi or even regular internet access. But, SW radios are
> still plentiful.
According to the <a target="_blank" href=http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=133&mode=general>Broadcasting Board of Governors press release</a>, VOA English to Africa will be continuing (currently 11 hours a day), not just 1/2 hour to Zimbabwe, as well as the Special English programming and the website.
Currently, English to Europe, N. Africa, and the Middle East is only 2 hours a day on shortwave, 90 minutes on AM, and 24 hours on FM. The biggest cut is to Southeast Asia and Oceana, which runs about 12 hours per day on average (varies on weekends) and is really not necessary anymore.
From the press release:
<font color=red>Faced with the increased costs of expanding critically needed television and radio programming to the Arab and non-Arab Muslim world, the Board has had to make some painful choices. As a result, the budget proposes reductions in English language programming, by eliminating VOA News Now radio while maintaining VOA English to Africa, Special English and VOA's English website.
The budget reflects the Board's commitment to English language programming in the medium of the future, the Internet, and for excellence in Special English programming. Research shows that millions more are benefiting from Internet programming than from shortwave transmission, which VOA News Now relies on.</font>
Am I reading this wrong, or are they saying that News Now might continue online, but not over the air?