Radio Slovakia International has confirmed that it will stop broadcasting on shortwave on 31 December 2010, due to budget cuts. Explaining that broadcasting on shortwave uses a whopping 60 percent of its budget, the English presenter on Sunday’s listener contact programme said that the station had the choice of closing down completely or continuing on satellite and Internet. She asked disgruntled shortwave listeners to stop sending angry emails to the broadcasting team, who are not responsible for the decision.
You can stream or download the programme on this page (select the transmission for 28 November).
on Dec 1st, 2010 at 22:17
I don’t think the presenter is right to tell listeners how they should react to the end of shortwave broadcasts. I do agree with the points about the sound quality. The signal was usually of medium quality.
Radio Slovakia can continue to reach people who don\’t find the station online by broadcasting on the World Radio Network.
on Dec 1st, 2010 at 23:28
Hi,
The perssonel at the Spanish language section have reacted in other diferent way in relation with the possible end of the Radio Slovakia International\’s trasnmissions. They have taken pleasure in to receive listeners letters to support the station to keep on the air.
If yoy want to listen some about RSI in Spanish, I recorded a program about the station\’s story with some historical clips on the end of broadcast on 2006.
Greetings to everyone,
Leonardo Santiago
Venezuela.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 00:14
It\’s sad to see many short wave stations going off as the year move ahead. Radio Sweden is gone in OCT 2010 and now Radio Slovakia International this coming DEC 2010. In afew years from now, the short wave band will be completely empty of stations.What will be next ??.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 04:35
You can tell from the presenters they have no experience in presenting programs for an international audience. This was the maybe the second time in years I have ever listened. For international broadcasting they are talking to fast and the god awful music in the back ground.
Also some of the points they made about shortwave you can tell neither of them have never listened to the medium.
When I tune to the BBC or VOA on shortwave here or RNW the English broadcasts are for the most part as clear as any local MV station.
I think the real reason has to be is anyone listening? Are people really going to spend their time to tune in to a 30min program on shortwave? Is there a need for RSI? If I was interested in Slovakia I can find hundreds if not thousands of websites with any information I needed. I suspect that RSI\’s audience today is mostly just dxers. True there are parts of the world that SW is still widely used, in many part of Asia, Africa and Latin America. But In Asia or Africa when people want news they tune to the VOA or the BBC, they are not going to tune to a 30min program from Slovakia. That\’s just a fact. I think over the next few years your going to see many more of these small international broadcasters go off air. But in todays world there are so many other options.
There was a time when broadcasters like RSI or Radio Sweden had a reason, but listening habits have changed. The idea of listening to someone thousands of miles away and writing a letter to say you heard them is gone. In regions where SW still plays a vital role. What possible importance would listening to RSI have on someone listening in Botswana or Indonesia have? None what so ever.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 09:57
Its always sad when a shortwave station closes. When I started dxing in the early 60s the shortwave band was a thrilling place, being able to listen around the world was a miracle! Now the world is there at the press of a button, plus thousands of other stations, on the internet at home or on the move. I am still a dxer on shortwave, its a lifelong habit. As the power stations close hopefully it opens new opportunities for for lower power stations to be heard around the globe via good old-fashioned shortwave. That’s assuming no electrical intereference…but that’s another story”
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 09:59
The presenter was lamenting the fact that some people have sent really nasty comments to the people who produce the programmes. I have a lot of sympathy with that, because we’ve had them too. In my experience, these are often from people with no real interest in the station or the country it represents, but just hobby listeners who don’t like the way international broadcasting is going. Letters of support that don’t insult the staff are of course welcome. The fact that the Spanish section didn’t mention nasty emails is hopefully because Spanish-speaking SWLs and DXers are more polite
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 14:21
I am very sad that rsi is closing.Already sweden has closed and I dont know what will happen to radio prague.Now a days none of the stations are sending stickers,calendars and pennants and only a qsl card.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 14:56
Keith, I cannot really agree with you on the importance of small stations. If you argue that there are so many other options on the web, you could as well say that CNN or BBC are useless. If anything, the number of websites on American or British news, and world news in general, is much greater than the number of English language websites on Slovakia. For example, when I looked for Slovakia news on the web, I first stumbled across a site called sktoday.com which seems to be updated nearly once a month. Of course there are some others which might offer even more than one news item per day.
So far for the English service. Now I am from Germany and after a short search it looks like there is pretty much nothing newsy on Slovakia on the German language web, except for the odd article in German newspapers, and RSI.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 16:33
Hello everyone!
It is true SW is not actually the best way to broadcast radio programing at this time. It is also true governments spend lot of money by using transmitters to broadcast those programs. I agree this point with many of you.
What I don’t agree completely is that SW has not listeners and just dxers who are seeking for the QSL cards only. Let me tell you there are many listeners those who have a deep interest to be informed thanks to SW and those who are doing feedback with the responsables of the many international radio stations.
It is sad that many people look just by the perspective of developed countries. There are still the need to broadcast on SW and MW because there are a big breach between developed and underdevelopment countries. While a young guy is chacting on the messenger/facebook in Europe or North America, at the same time there is a young guy in Africa, Latin America or part of Asia who is trying to get informed through radio because Internet is conspicuous by its absence and radio means the only way to get informed.
Do you know how much windows cots to us in Latin America? Do you know how much a computer? Do you know how much an Internet conection? Do you know how much costs for us a antivirus licence? I can not image someone in India, in Guatemala or in some parts of my country’s countryside traying to pay an Internet conection which is very expensive while she or he does not have money to feed her or his children before go school and then. The reality is very diferent when you tune on a portable SW receiver: it results too much cheap than Internet!
What I think it is the changes between SW and Internet are going so fast. Radio Slovak International means no only but yes one of the bests ways to get informed about Slovak Republic. Listeners might no pay for listen that because SW is completely free of costs to them. Of course, people involved in radio production are seeking to reduce costs because of the resent worldwide financial crisis but it seems to go slowly.
It is sad Slovak Radio International will leave SW. Perssonally I have found very well organized their programs and the announcers always try to attend listeners in the best way as possible. I’ve admired the kind of feedback between they and us as it doesn’t happen in most international radio stations. Radio maight be democratic and not for a reduced group of priviliged people!!
Excuse me for my poor English.
Thanks Mr. Andy for this excelent way to share our points of view about the international radio scene.
Greetings to everyone,
Leonardo Santiago
Venezuela.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 16:51
Yes, Leonardo, in your part of the world there are indeed many shortwave listeners who are interested in the content. That’s why we at RNW are still broadcasting in Spanish on shortwave to your part of the world. The same applies to Africa and South Asia, to which we continue to broadcast on shortwave in English.
But the situation in North America and Europe is totally different. When we stopped shortwave in English to Europe, there was negligible reaction. Strangely, our English service had more listeners in Germany than in the UK. From North America, we had reactions from a few hundred people in total - and half of them agreed with our decision to stop shortwave!
We expect to continue on shortwave for the forseeable future, but we too are awaiting clarity from the Dutch government on funding over the next few years. It’s a difficult time for all publicly-funded international broadcasters, but we battle on precisely for the reasons you give in your comments. No need to apologise for your English - you have expressed yourself very eloquently.
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 18:26
The confluence between signal-seekers and content listeners in shortwave has always been an interesting debate. I suspect one of the things RSI will have to adjust to is that they can actually see how many (or how few) listeners they really have. With shortwave, there is always a large amount of guesswork and estimation of audience size. With streaming audio, you can log every time someone selects your stream. The loss of any international broadcaster means one less voice, one less perspective, and that is never a good thing.
on Dec 3rd, 2010 at 22:35
The problem with stations like RSI is simple. Who’s listening. If you look at what been happening over the last 20 years most stations have stopped giving away free stuff. Some stations for many years who use this to get listeners to write so they could ask their governments for money. Some stations were notorious for this some still are. If you look at who was writing in these stations, who this “free stuff” was going to. Mostly dxers. That’s a fact. Let’s take Radio Havana Cuba as an example. I remember when hosting Mailbag in the early 90s always asking the letters department for letters not from dxers, but from “regular listeners”. I think out of every batch of 10 from the dx community there was maybe 1 from a regular listener. Even at CRI it was the same. In fact at CRI if you just mention dxers the staff cringe, as well as with many other stations. It is also a known fact that stations that stopped issuing QSLs and other free stuff will have a drop in letters.
At Radio Taiwan International I have been told by a number of people within the station that for some regions like North America and Europe the vast majority of those who write in are dxers. For some time now the question has been raised at the top levels of government. Why are we spending this mount of money for so few listeners. At the beginning of 2010 they have started looking at ways to reach regular listeners. There is talk also about dropping shortwave, but for the foreseeable future shortwave will remain for political reasons (i.e China), not really for broadcasting to China, but only to keep a presents on SW. Ma Ying-Jeou even said at a meeting with the NCC, if China’s political system changes RTI would be gone from shortwave. But right now if his government or if the DPP was elected and wanted to cut it, because of the anti-China feeling here they would be kicked out of office.
Now saying that. Yes we have seen how important SW is in many regions of the world. Sw will survive for example to Africa, parts of Asia and Latin America. But in these regions the “big players” will survive. When I was in Indonesia this past summer finding shortwave radios and listeners is very easy. In Jakarta not so much as there are many choices on FM and AM, but outside the city is a different story. You can find taxi drivers, local vendors, people in parks. Almost anywhere tuning to international broadcasters. Those who also understand English tune to English broadcasts as well. But who do they listen to? BBC, VOA, RNW, DW, CRI, Radio Australia. Why? Because they can get news about Indonesia that they can not get on local radio or television. I met a group listeners in a small community 200km outside Jakarta and I remember asking them do they tune to let’s say to RCI, Radio Sweden or Spanish Foreign Radio. Answer. No. Why? We want news about what is going on in our country and our region. Now that’s not to say they don’t or won’t, but for them it’s not so important. In Africa it’s the same. Across the continent you will find communities and villages that maybe have 1 radio for 10 people. Can you see them gathering around the radio at night to listen to Radio Slovakia Int? And saying to each other oh we can not miss it. It’s very important we find out what is going on in Slovakia? No!
I have seen time and time again when an international broadcaster cut a service receive angry letters and emails from irate dxers mostly from certain regions and a certain group of hobbyists.
Not all but I have at least 5 that have come in since October 15th of these “so called” reception reports who are fake. But each of the letters goes on (please send me……..). How did I find out. It’s very easy. The shows lets say that go out on shortwave have very obvious changes and are totally different from the ones being broadcast. The funniest one came from Montana with the silly SINPO code and everything. But I know for a fact that night WRMI had a powercut and the program did not go out. Hummmm! Interesting don’t you think.
on Dec 4th, 2010 at 08:44
IN SOME WAYS THE FAULT IS THE PUREST DXER LOBBY. SNEDING IN A REPORT,OFTEN ON 1 DAYS LISTENING ONLY AND ASKING FOR A PRETTY POSTCARD WAS SCORNED ON WHEN I BEGAN LISTENING,BACK IN 1959,AND I WAS ASKED \’NEVER\’TO SEND A 1 DAY REPORT,AND NEVER ASK FOR A QSL WITHOUT SOME COOMENTS ON THE PROGRAMS AND OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COUNTRY.
EITHER WAY ITS A PITY,I SUPPOSE ITS A SPIN OFF FROM THE LAST WORLDWIDE FINANCIAL PROBLEM.
on Dec 4th, 2010 at 09:34
Collecting QSL cards for me in some respects used to be like another of my hobbies, collecting stamps. So I am possibly one of the guilty ones but I grew up loving some stations like WNYW, Radio Australia, Radio Netherlands, Radio Sweden, SBC and they had superb DX programmes which I listened and contributed to regularly.
on Dec 4th, 2010 at 13:54
It is unavoidable that most governments will eventually come to the conclusion that SW broadcasting is now (and has been for quite a few years) an expensive waste of money, with certain exceptions. If as a country you wish to advertise your culture internationally, then a satellite channel with meaningfull programming, such as France 24 and BBC World, is the best option.
Even broadcasting in English via the internet is largely a waste of time, unless as a country you have the funds to invest in programme content that is of interest to listeners. I was a DXer and became and remain an ardent listener to programmes with content, currently dominated by the BBC with the World Service and BBC Radio 4. These and other speech based stations such as RTE1, BBC R5Live, NPR, WRN English and many others can be picked up easily through a satellite receiver, on digital TV systems or, as in the case of the BBC speech stations, on DAB in the UK. A single, powerful mediumwave transmitter makes a lot more sense for Europe, during the hours of darkness, than shortwave.
Broadcasters think that they will attract many radio listeners on the internet. I doubt it, somehow.
Listening to SW DX stations motivated me to become a radio amateur. This is also a hobby that is declining sharply. The majority of radio amateurs are men over the age of 60. It has never appealed to many women and although younger people are attracted into the hobby, they often drop out quite soon, to pursue other interests. It still gives me a thrill to hear the distinct tone of an RTTY signal from a amateur station 10.000km away and to work that station with 50W through a vertical antenna in the back garden.
We have to accept that times are changing and that what was available in the past will no longer be available in the future.
But SW and MW DX will be available for some time yet for those of us who, like myself and most of the people who have commented on this site.
There is no point in complaining, or sending e-mails to SW stations, asking them to stay on the air. They won\’t. Enjoy what there is as long as it is there.
on Dec 4th, 2010 at 14:16
Since the Iron Curtain came down,we have lost several memorable call-signs - Radio Czechoslovakia was a particular favourite of mine.In the 60\’s the short wave band seemed to be dominated by the Kremlin bells of Radio Moscow.
Nowadays, it\’s all China Radio International. Not difficult to work out where the balance of power has shifted!
on Dec 5th, 2010 at 03:39
I don’t know how many of you remember the Conference On International Broadcasting that was help in West Berlin in 1989. David Monson formerly of Belgium Radio International was the main organizer. At the beginning of the summer as he was in the middle of moving I was helping him go through boxes and boxes of files, transcripts and tapes of the sessions that were held. It is quite funny to see how back in 1989 there was a very bright future.
But then we came across a transcript of one of the seminars. And the question was posed. What will you do after the wall and the USSR are gone. (it should be noted that the wall did come down only a few months after the conference). It seems no one had the answer.
It seems when you read it now that the the feeling of most international broadcasters DW who was represented by the Dieter Wernich is quoted as saying. Germany will “never cut shortwave” and then he goes on how the German government put great importance on Deutsche Welle and that the service will “never be cut or reduced”. Betty Zimmerman from Radio Canada International also said RCI will expand shortwave in the next 15 years. One thing you get from listening to the tapes and reading the transcripts is an arrogance that “we are untouchable”.
David Smith who I worked with at RCI, who left for Radio Netherlands in 1993 where he hosted Africa Newsline said back then in an interview I did with him the downfall of most international broadcasters will be poor planning, lack of innovation and no insight. It’s true. Look at how long it took many of the international broadcasters to embrace the digital platform and new ways of distributing there programs. In Canada I remember domestic stations were years ahead of the CBC and RCI in this regard, almost the same as in other countries. I remember as recent as 1999 and 2000 some international broadcasters were still using tape. The private sector had already made the switch in the mid 1990s.
I remember a meeting of international broadcasters I went to in Canada in in the mid 90s organized by RCI. One of the first stations to go on the web I remember was Radio Netherlands. I still remember looking at the site back there. Very funny when I think back now, because it was only text and I was using a 56k modem. There were some who said that RNW was crazy to look at the web, because no one will go to the internet for content. Now back then considering how slow it was they were right. But RNW had the vision that one day it would. RCI, RA, RS and others got on the web years after RNW did.
No I know that from my previous posts it may sound like I hate shortwave. I don’t. I say it again shortwave is still an important broadcast medium in many regions of the world. Some of you have said I hate dxers. This is also untrue. I do dislike a certain group of dxers who make lots of noise and just refuse to see that the world has moved on. The sad this is this group does not represent the vast majority, but they have given the the hobby a black eye. I know many dxers who have told me they wish that certain fractions of the hobby would just go away and be quiet.