BBC WS stops shortwave broadcasts to US (foolish)

[Peter George <radiojunkie3@yahoo.com>]

     I think there was some kind of special "feel" to
listening to the BBC World Service direct via SW
rather than listening to it on somebody's SAP or via
the internet.  Both SAP (for the most part) and live
Internet audio streaming are still somewhat of a
"stationary" medium.  
     Shortwave, on the other hand, goes with you
anywhere your little heart desires.  I find it very
hard to purchase a portable radio with SAP-TV audio.
It not exactly your run-of-the-mill type of portable
radio.
     The BBC has made a big blunder in dumping the
North American service of the WS.  The Internet is
still NOT an exact science (the perfect Internet is
still years away from now.)
     9 times out of 10 (prior to this BBC shutdown),
you would be able to get the BBC fairly well on even
the worst propagation paths.  But, Auntie Beeb has
spoken.  "Boy, what a revolting development this
is.....".


Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts
(Regular BBC listener since 8/69)

   
--- Joseph Pappalardo <joepappalardo2001@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> I think that credible SW broadcasting may indeed be
> doomed.  Some may keep
> broadcasting on SW as long as their current
> facilities hold up....and until
> they have to funnel some $$$ into it.  Then it will
> be gone for good.
> 
> Obviously the band will still be there....leaving it
> to the nuts a kooks who
> have an agenda of propaganda to spread.
> 
> The only exception to the practicality of SW would
> probably be
> Africa....with many poor disconnected villages...and
> a lot of territory to
> cover.  (Have you heard, in recent years they have
> even come up with a
> "crank" SW radio that would generate it's own power
> after you wind it  (like
> a watch)...for listening in areas where there is no
> electricity.
> 
> At the same time...While SW may be dying on the
> vine...."International
> Broadcasting" is not going away......just finding
> newer distribution
> methods.  I think BBC World Service will keep
> creating an audio
> product...but will find it much more conducive to
> send out via internet,
> sattelite, cable, NPR, etc.  (My guess is they have
> looked at the data and
> found a more responsive audience to these newer
> distribution avenues than
> they've had with SW b'casting in many recent years.)
> 
> I believe most contries will continue to fund an
> some audio effort to
> propagate their perspective on the world and to the
> world.  BBC, CBC, etc.
> It's just a question of how to distribute it.  And
> yes, 'spoken world'
> (radio) distribution of information may indeed get
> replaced by text.  Have
> you been to the BBC web site recently?  It's
> imaginable that one might go to
> that web site for information an never realize that
> there is a broadcast
> component to the BBC!
> 
> BTW...Is it me, or does listening to the BBC on 'BUR
> lack the same
> excitement of listening to it bounce across the
> ocean (imaginary as it might
> be).
> 
> JP
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Keith W. Barry" <barry@massed.net>
> To: <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2001 5:02 PM
> Subject: Re: BBC WS stops shortwave broadcasts to US
> 
> 
> > A few years ago Radio Canada International
> severely cut back international
> > broadcasts, and almost ended them altogether. As
> for the Beeb, I think you
> > can still catch it on SAP on WGBH
> >
> > - Keith Barry
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Hakim Madjid <HMadjid@mindspring.com>
> > To: Howard Glazer <hmglaz@webtv.net>;
> > <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2001 9:54 AM
> > Subject: RE: BBC WS stops shortwave broadcasts to
> US
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Alas, you're right. As I myself have pointed
> out, such financial
> > > considerations probably spell doom for
> international SW broadcasting.
> > >
> > > 73 de Hakim, (N1ZFF)
> >
> 
> 
>
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=====
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts
                           "Scanning the bands since 1967"
radiojunkie1@yahoo.com
radiojunkie3@yahoo.com
***********************************************************

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