[HCDX] CRW 117 Extra

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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.


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