The Voice of America (VOA) has expanded radio broadcasts to Western and Southern Africa in response to listener requests for increased programming to the region.
VOA’s Hausa Language Service has expanded its popular breakfast program to a full hour. The new hour-long program, airing from 0430-0530 UTC will offer listeners a comprehensive and timely broadcast of news about Nigeria, Ghana, Niger and Cameroon from a network of stringers in West Africa. The program will also offer more international news, special reports, political discussion and interviews, as well as features on health, agriculture, religion, youth, lifestyle, and traditional Hausa music.
Studio 7, VOA’s news program for Zimbabwe, features a new evening lineup in response to listener requests for increased broadcasts in the Shona and Ndebele languages. From Monday through Friday, Studio 7 will provide daily 30-minute reports in those languages and in English, expanding the broadcast from 60 to 90 minutes. Zimbabweans will hear Shona at 1700 UTC, followed by English at 1730, then Ndebele at 1800.
Studio 7 is funded through a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and is produced and managed by VOA’s Africa Division. Recent survey data show that Studio 7 has doubled its audience since late 2003.
on Nov 1st, 2005 at 15:28
I’m surprised the BBC isn’t expanding in African languages as well. International broadcasters are all popular there, because of the lack of free press in the region. It should be as much of a priority as the Middle East therefore.