[Swprograms] Re: [dxld] Why is BBC World Service reducing its short wave provision?

[John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Dave:

I think there's a certain aspect of people believing what they want to 
believe in all this--including those who might agree with me.  While it 
is said that audience research bears out what you say, there is no 
where for you and me (as regular, everyday listeners) to access this 
research because it's all been deemed proprietary. The conclusions are 
public, but the methods, raw data, etc. are not. So I have no way to 
assess whether the BBC is telling the truth or not in this regard.  
Perhaps you've chosen to believe them.  I'm not so trusting.  Some 
"research" is emerging that shortwave usage is on an upswing.  But I 
don't have access to that either.  Which to believe?

FWIW, I think you're correct if you're speaking of the urban areas. 
Shortwave use is down there, I think (but certainly not out). That's an 
intuitive conclusion simply based on the introduction of more 
alternatives. But everyone does not live near or in a major city.  Now 
if the BBC wants to say that it has no interest in serving people 
outside major cities, that's their prerogative I suppose.  But that 
sort of attitude is not one that I usually associate with a public 
service broadcaster.

As to what people use a radio for, I think your assessment is a guess 
at best.  The fact is that if a radio has a shortwave band, there's at 
least a chance that it will be used. Heck, if the BBC had spent as much 
time, expense and effort promoting its availability on shortwave as it 
has its recent use of the internet and local placement...  well, you 
can finish that sentence.

Far from just reflecting reality, the BBC is attempting to create it.  
Given its influence in international broadcasting circles, it can do 
that.  I think it's efforts have been disingenuous at best and not in 
keeping with the best practices of an international public broadcaster.

John

On Sunday, March 20, 2005, at 04:36  AM, bdxcuk wrote:

>
> I don't believe that sales of very cheap radios from China which 
> happen to
> have shortwave bands on them is relevant. These radios are also sold 
> in the
> UK in large numbers, but the vast majority of them are used for 
> listening to
> FM and mediumwave (AM) stations and are probably never switched to
> shortwave. The fact is that shortwave audiences have been plummeting in
> recent years, both in industrialised countries here in the West and 
> now in
> the poorest parts of Africa and Asia. The BBC is simply reflecting the
> reality of the current dwindling shortwave audiences by making these 
> cuts.
> There is no dishonesty in this.
>
> The BBC is probably the only international broadcaster that carries 
> out very
> extensive audience research around the world and this provides 
> conclusive
> evidence that shortwave audiences are disappearing fast - even in the
> poorest countries where TV and FM are now widespread.
>
> Dave
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Figliozzi" <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <dxld@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Shortwave discussion"
> <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: "HCDX CONTRIBUTIONS - LATEST" <hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; 
> "CUMBREDX
> list" <cumbredx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "BDXC News" 
> <bdxc-news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
> <shortwaveBasics@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 2:21 AM
> Subject: Re: [dxld] Why is BBC World Service reducing its short wave
> provision?
>
>
>
> Complete and utter b.s. IMHO.
>
> The sales figure for shortwave radios in the US alone is UP each and
> every one of the past seven years.  The number being manufactured in
> and pumped out of China continues to go up almost exponentially.
>
> The BBC would like everyone to believe that sw listening is down, so it
> uses (cleverly, but dishonestly) figures for *its* shortwave audience.
> Well, if you've eliminated both North America and Australasia from your
> shortwave coverage area (two primary English language regions of the
> globe) and reduced the hours you cover the other areas with shortwave,
> of course your audience figures for shortwave will go down. It's a
> self-serving and self-fulfilling prophecy.
>
> Next week on "Write On", Dilly Barlow will read a raft of letters from
> irate listeners once again.  The BBC spokesman will intone (once again)
> that these are really a minority of listeners either too old, out of
> touch, unimportant or otherwise insignificant to matter.  (Of course,
> he'll say it all much nicer that.)
>
> What the "official" BBC won't tell you is that, internally, management
> was surprised by the volume, level and depth of protest the BBC
> received the last time they did this.  But its management team is
> committed--in "non-crisis" regions--to reducing distribution costs by
> de-emphasizing high cost methods (like shortwave) and transferring an
> increasing amount of those costs to the listener.
>
> The BBC claims that its audience accessing its broadcasts by means
> other than shortwave is increasing.  As far as it goes, that's
> true--but not to the extent claimed.  The BBC's figures don't
> differentiate between a listener who accesses its broadcasts for a few
> minutes a week and one who listens for hours a day.  It also tends to
> fudge figures reflecting availability by equating overnight broadcasts
> via local FM with prime time hours on local radio and an occasional
> five minute newscast with the broader info/entertainment service that
> characterizes (or characterized) its shortwave service.
>
> It is interesting to observe that, as the BBC reduces global access to
> its broadcasts, China Radio International is dramatically increasing
> such access by actively embracing ALL distribution methods, including
> shortwave.  Shortwave hours and relays targeting NA by CRI are up just
> as dramatically as BBC hours are down.  And CRI's use of the internet,
> satellite (including WRN on Sirius Satellite Radio) and local (FM)
> placement also has increased.  There is even talk that CRI is planning
> to inaugurate a 24 hour English language news service in direct
> competition to the BBC.
>
> I'm sure the rather smug management at Bush House will chuckle at all
> this and shrug it off.  But I wouldn't be surprised if, while the BBC
> is dithering and dicing up audiences, CRI begins to eat the BBC's lunch
> in North America.  Call it "Old Europe Makes Way for New Asia".  While
> the BBC steadily abandons and discards the public service broadcasting
> principles it historically created, perfected and nurtured, CRI seems
> to--more and more--be embracing those very principles.
>
> JMHO
>
> John Figliozzi
> Halfmoon, NY
>
> On Saturday, March 19, 2005, at 01:47  AM, Mike Terry wrote:
>
>>
>> "Short wave listening around the world is declining.
>>
>> The downward trend is accelerating: the global short wave audience for
>> BBC
>> World Service has dropped from 122 million in 1996 to 97 million in
>> 2003.
>>
>> Like other international broadcasters, BBC World Service has been
>> adjusting
>> its short wave provisions in line with global demand changes.
>>
>> Alternative ways to listen
>>
>> At the same time BBC World Service has been investing in new delivery
>> methods, all with the improved audibility now preferred by audiences,
>> such
>> as FM, cable, satellite and online.
>>
>> BBC World Service is committed to making the best use of the money it
>> receives from the government and has had considerable success in
>> attracting
>> audiences to these new methods of delivery; more than 50 million are
>> using
>> these and the numbers are growing fast.
>>
>> Separately, online usage has grown from three million page impressions
>> every
>> month in late 1998 to almost 300 million by 2004, which is equivalent
>> to 18
>> million unique users.
>>
>> Alongside in-depth news and information, programmes are available
>> streamed
>> both live and on demand at the convenience of the listener.
>>
>> There are now more ways to listen to BBC World Service broadcasts than
>> ever
>> before. To check for availability in your region please click here."
>>
>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/050318_short_wave.shtml
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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