------------- CRW 117 Extra
October 1, 2002 [CRW 117 itself follows on October 4, 2002] Afghanistan: Information Radio Programming Changes By Takuya Hirayama, CRW Japan Bureau on assignment in Kabul [Oct 1] Information Radio continues to be monitored in Kabul on 8700 kHz AM and 864 kHz. 6100 kHz, which European monitors continue to report despite a lack of a definitive identification or noted parallel frequency, has not been heard. The station's programming, CRW can confirm, has undergone tremendous changes since re-launching from Bagram Air Force Base. Morning broadcasts (*? - 0630 GMT) include popular Afghan music with announcements in Dari and Pashto approximately every twenty minutes. The generic announcement is "Now you will listen to (name of singer) singing (title of song)." Station ID is currently (Dari) "In radyio-i mau'lumati" and (Pashto) "Da radyio mau'lumati." Occasional public service announcements on behalf of the U.S. military and Afghan transitional government are also broadcast in the morning, however, not as often as previously done. One such announcement on behalf of the transitional government explains the importance of polio vaccination for children, and advises residents to go to public health centers for more information. Between 0630 and approximately 1930 GMT Information Radio broadcasts only music and does not seem to identify. In fact, no announcements have been noted. The station's programming does not appear to be prerecorded. In fact, technical glitches are often heard. For example, the transmission sometimes breaks for periods of ten minutes or more and then returns without any announcements. Music also skips from time to time, indicating that the station uses both cassettes and CDs. During a September 13 broadcast, for example, a CD skipped for over a minute before the song was switched. The station also broadcast two songs simultaneously on September 17. On occasion, music is switched in the middle of a song. Technical issues of this nature are, in fact, common here so it is unlikely that it "turns off" its listeners. Reception of 864 kHz here in Kabul is fair during the day and becomes unstable after sunset. The transmission is not heard after 2300 Kabul time (1930 GMT). 8700 kHz is received a bit better than 864 kHz, however, but its sign-off time seems at this time to be earlier than the medium wave frequency. Gauging the effectiveness of Information Radio among Afghans is difficult but it is clear among people we have spoken to that the station is no longer paid much attention to in Kabul. It is possible and perhaps probable that its impact is greater in Kandahar and the Afghan countryside. ---[Start Commercial]--------------------- Check out HCDX 2.0 beta: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/index.php ---[End Commercial]----------------------- ________________________________________ Hard-Core-DX mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www2.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/hard-core-dx http://www.hard-core-dx.com/ _______________________________________________ THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License published by Michael Stutz at http://dsl.org/copyleft/dsl.txt
