Radio Slovakia International (RSI) is, as earlier announced, closing down its shortwave service today. On the final edition of the English-language programme Slovakia Today to be broadcast on shortwave, presenter Pete Miller, says: “The sad news is that this is the last broadcast from Radio Slovakia International on shortwave from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and right in the heart of Europe. We will of course continue via satellite on the World Radio Network, and we’ll also be available on the Internet.” He continues:
“Well, in spite of all the hard work put in by many, this is our last broadcast on shortwave. I realise that some broadcasters have realised the folly of this policy, and have gone back to shortwave. I just hope that the light will dawn on the movers and shakers here in Slovakia. Today, therefore, is a special programme. For, as well as leaving shortwave, a number of our presenters are also leaving for pastures new. There has been, to use the common jargon, a measure of downsizing as far as the staff here are concerned.”
Miller explains that in future, there will be just two full-time staff for the English section, assisted by two part-timers. After explaining the schedule of RSI via the World Radio Network, the rest of the programme features the departing presenters talking a little about themselves and saying goodbye to the listeners.
The MP3 file of the broadcast (dated 30 June) can be downloaded or streamed from the links on this page.
on Jul 1st, 2006 at 06:09
It’s a pity, and ‘m sure they’ll be missed in some parts of the world.
But it isn’t exactly unexpected (given the recent changes at Radio Prague).
As I (and others) have said before - today the audience for International broadcasting is not on MF/HF - they are on Internet, Satellite and Cable over most of the planet.
International broadcasting is not a cheap option, you nowadays (more than ever) have to get value for money - this means spending the cash where it will reach the greatest potential audeience …
on Jul 1st, 2006 at 10:31
Distribution costs are indeed a major issue. But RSI is also cutting the number of production staff without reducing the length of the daily programmes. Two full-time and two part-time staff will have a hard job maintaining high quality, interesting output 365 days a year. There seems to be no allowance for holidays, illness etc. If this adversely affects the quality of the output, they will lose listeners on all platforms, not just shortwave.
on Jul 2nd, 2006 at 11:17
I just heard that the future of the WRN transmissions is now subject of internal rumours at SRo as well.
On the German service apparently all former editors decided to leave, yesterday the programme was presented by a novice to the mic. Under the circumstances (only two editors for daily half-hour broadcasts anymore) the German word “verheizen” (a certain variant of “burning”) comes to mind here.
And, by the way, the German service of Radio Budapest no longer broadcasts news every day. At least on Saturdays they had to cut them due to lack of resources.